Field of the Invention
[0001] The present invention relates to circuit breakers with auxiliary switch mechariisms.
More particularly, the invention relates to auxiliary switch mechanisms which indicate
the status of the breaker. Still more particularly, the invention relates to auxiliary
switch actuator mechanisms which, once set, operate only during an overcurrent condition
to indicate an electrically tripped condition of the breaker, and which remain in
- their set state during normal manual operation of the circuit breaker.
Description of the Related Art
[0002] Circuit breakers having auxiliary switch mechanisms are known. The auxiliary switch
is usually connected in an alarm circuit with an indicating device (eg a light; bell,
etc) to provide a remote indication of the condition of the breaker. Some of the
more complex auxiliary circuits provide differing outputs responsive to the three
basic breaker conditions: manually OFF, manually ON, and electrically tripped. Other
common mechanisms provide an indication only when the breaker has been electrically
tripped.
[0003] More particularly, in some known breakers, the auxiliary switch indicates whether
the breaker is on or off, the latter state being indicated whether the breaker has
been manually turned off or electrically tripped. Breakers of this type thus do not
discriminate between manual operation and overcurrent conditions, and cannot be used
effectively in applications which require an alarm signal to be generated when the
breaker is tripped by an overcurrent condition occurring in the circuit.
[0004] Other known breakers overcome this problem by providing an auxiliary switch actuator
mechanism which discriminates between on, manual off, and overcurrent tripped conditions.
However, breakers of this type, one example of which is shown in U.S. Patent 3,742,402,
issued June 26, 1973 to Nicol, require a complicated mechanical operating mechanism
having a multitude of parts which must be closely fitted into a small space.
[0005] These known breakers had the problem that in order to provide a remote indication
which distinguished between normal breaker on and off conditions and the electrically
tripped condition and provide signals responsive to each, a complicated mechanism
was required. The less complicated mechanisms were capable of distinguishing only
between on and off positions of the breaker, whether the off position was attributable
to manual operation or an 'overcurrent condition. These problems were partially overcome
by the development of a simpler auxiliary switch actuator mechanism that was capable
of distinguishing between manual on/ off operation and the overcurrent tripped condition
of the breaker. An example of such a mechanism is shown in U.S. Patent No. 3,593,232,
issued July 13, 1971, to Shibuya et al. However, these predecessor actuator mechanisms
also have certain disadvantages. Their designs present manufacturing difficulties,
particularly in trying to ensure reliability of operation. These mechanisms do not
operate reliably leading to increased manufacturing costs and in some cases to excessive
numbers of returns. Furthermore, the commercial. embodiment of the Shibuya device
is unduly complex and would desirably be made using fewer parts.
[0006] The present invention is directed to providing a circuit breaker auxiliary switch
actuator mechanism which utilizes a simpler, more positive, and less critically dimensioned
mechanism than known devices, which provides a signal which indicates whether the
breaker is in normal operation (whether the breaker contacts are open or closed) or
has tripped.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] The invention comprises an auxiliary switch actuator mechanism for a circuit breaker.
The breaker has a frame, and a breaker mechanism mounted to the frame. The breaker
mechanism includes a manually operable handle, a breaker contact pivotably mounted
to the frame and movable between open and closed positions, a collapsible linkage
coupling the handle and movable contact, and a sear pin cooperating with the collapsible
linkage to collapse the linkage upon detection of an overcurrent through the breaker.
The actuator mechanism includes an auxiliary switch having a movable contact and an
actuator member coupled to the auxiliary switch movable between first and second positions
for moving the auxiliary switch contact between normally-open and normally-closed
positions, respectively.
[0008] The actuator member has a base member including a locking arm receiving recess. The
recess has a stepped bottom surface, including a lower bottom portion and an upper
raised portion, having a definite edge. An arm portion extends upwardly from the base
member to abuttingly- engage the movable breaker rontact when the movable breaker
contact is moved to its closed position. In this way, closing of the movable breaker
contact also closes the auxiliary switch.
[0009] The actuator mechanism also includes a locking member having a central portion pivotably
mounted directly to the frame, preferably coaxially with the movable breaker contact.
This locking member comprises- first and second arms extending outwardly from the
central portion. The first arm has its distal end portion disposed in the recess in
the locking arm housing of the acuator member, and is biased thereagainst.
Ldistal end of the first arm locks the actuator member when the actuator member is
disposed in the closed position, locking the auxiliary switch. The second arm extends
into the path of movement of the sear pin when the sear pin is tripped. When tripped,
the second arm is pivoted by the sear pin to pivot the first arm out of locking engagement
with the actuator member, thus releasing the auxiliary switch upon detection of an
overcurrent condition. The sear pin does not contact the second arm when the breaker
is manually opened, such that the auxiliary switch is not thereby affected.
[0010] The above-described features and advantages are best understood in view of the subsequent
description of the preferred embodiments of the present invention, and in view of
the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011]
Figure 1 is a side view of the circuit breaker mechanism not forming part of the present
invention with the circuit breaker in the ON position;
Figure 2A is a front elevational view of the locking arm of Fig 1;
Figure 2B is a side elevational view of the locking arm of Fig 1;
Figure 3A is a top plan view of the actuator member of Fig 1;
Figure 3B is a side elevational view of the actuator member of Fig 1;
Figure 4 is a side perspective view of the locking arm, the actuator member, and the
auxiliary contact switch of Fig 1, showing the circuit breaker in the tripped position;
Fjgure 5 is a side view of the circuit breaker mechanism in accordance with an embodiment
of the present invention with the circuit breaker in the ON position;
Figure 6A is a front elevational view of the locking arm of Fig 5;
Figure 6B is a side elevational view of the locking arm of Fig 5.
Figure 7A is a top plan view of the actuator member of Fig 5;
Figure 7B is a side elevational view of the actuator member of Fig 5; and
Figure 8 is a side perspective view of the locking arm, the actuator member, and the
auxiliary contact switch in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention,
showing the circuit breaker in the tripped position.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0012] As mentioned, Shibuya et al US Patent 3,593,232 shows a circuit breaker including
an auxiliary switch which provides an unambiguous indication of tripping due to overcurrent.
The device shown therein (and the commercial embodiment thereof) is unduly complex,
has a large number of parts, and is difficult to manufacture.
[0013] In particualr the Shibuya device includes a first frame, not shown in the Shibuya
patent, on which are mounted the coil 3 and the armature 31. The pivot axis of the
moving contact arm-5 is defined by a pin 30 carried in recesses in the two halves
of the breaker housing. (This design is the source of some of the assembly difficulties
mentioned above). The collapsible linkage and sear pin triggering assembly 21, 24,
25 and 23 is carried between pin 30 and a second pin 20, which in turn is retained
by a boss on the handle 18. In the Shibuya patent, handle 18 includes two . pins 19
which fit into recesses in the casing halves. In the commercial device, these were
molded integrally with the handle. Finally, the locking lever for the auxiliary switch
is carried by a second frame 29.. In the '232 patent, second frame 29 is located by
pin 19. The second frame in the commercial embodiment of the Shibuya device is located
by pin 30 and by yet another pin fitting into recesses in the case halves, which is
not shown in the patent.
[0014] Figure 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the auxiliary contact switch mechanism of
the present invention as incorporated into a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker
10 comprises a case 12 formed of an electrically insulating material, such as plastic.
The case contains a breaker mechanism, generally designated 14, which includes a collapsible
linkage mechanism operatively connecting a handle 16 and a movable contact arm 18.
A trigger mechanism which includes a sear pin 20, comprises a portion of the breaker
mechanism which controls the collapsible linkage. The breaker mechanism 14, handle
16, and contact arm 18 are all mounted to a frame 22. Upon passage of an overcurrent
through coil 1, connected in circuit between B.H, 4/11/86 TERMINALS 2 and 3, an end
4a'of armature 4 pivoted about a pin 5 carried by frame 22 is attracted to the coil.
Thereupon a second end 4b of the armature is pivoted to strike sear pin 20 of the
trigger mechanism, causing the collapsible linkage to collapse, tripping the breaker,
and separating contacts 7 and 8 from one another. ' Representative breaker mechanisms
with which the present invention may be- used are disclosed in detail in commonly
assigned U.S. Patent No. 4,117,285 issued September 26, 1978 to Harper and U.S. Patent
Application Serial No. 486,716, filed April 20, 1983, by Harper; the disclosures of
the
1285 patent and '716 application are incorporated herein in their entirety by reference
as though set forth in full. Where not discussed herein, other elements of the breaker
of the invention are as shown in these additional disclosures.
[0015] An auxiliary switch 24 is mounted in the lower portion of casing 12. Typically, casing
12 is composed of two halves, each of which contains pin members 26 which mate with
holes 28 in the auxiliary switch 24 for mounting the auxiliary switch 24 in the proper
position in the breaker 10. Typically, the switch 24 comprises a microswitch assembly
having a set of auxiliary contacts which are operated by an internal contact (not
shown). A movable pin 30 is spring biased to extend upwardly through the plastic housing
of switch 24. Pin 30 engages the internal contact to control its on-off operation.
Such switches are known in the art and are exemplified by the switch shown in the
Shibuya et al. U.S. Patent 3,593,232, discussed above. The disclosure of the '232
Shibuya patent is incorporated herein in its entirety by reference as though set forth
in full.
[0016] In a first embodiment of. the present invention, the movable pin 30 and hence the
switch 24 are under the immediate control of an actuator member 32. Referring to Figures
3A and 3B, actuator member 32 comprises a base plate 34 and an arm 36 extending upwardly
from the base plate 34. The distal end of the arm 36 terminates in a flange 38 having
a downwardly bent lip 4.0 at its end..
[0017] A pair of pivot pins 42 extend laterally outwardly from the plate 34 near an end
44 thereof. The longitudinally opposite end 46 of plate 34 has a channel 48 formed
therein to thereby define a bifurcated or forkshaped end portion, whose purpose will
be described in more detail below. Pivot pins 42 seat in corresponding pivot mount
openings 50 in the casing of switch 24. Base plate 34 rests on movable pin 30. An
end portion 44 cooperates with the switch casing to act as a stop to limit the pivotal
motion of actuator 32 in the direction away from pin 30.
[0018] The auxiliary switch actuating mechanism of the first embodiment of this invention
also includes a locking member or arm, generally designated 52. Referring to Figures
2A and 2B, the locking member 52 has a central portion 54 which defines a central
opening 55 therein. A first arm 56 extends radially from central portion 54 in a first
direction. A finger 60 and a shoulder 62 are formed at the distal end of first arm
56. Arm 56 of locking member 52 rides in channel 48 of actuator member 32. A second
arm 58 extends from central opening 54 at an angle to arm 56. Second arm 58 has a
generally J-shaped configuration. Arm 58 has an intermediate body portion 64 and a
hooked end portion 66, extending from the distal end of intermediate body portion
64. A connecting leg portion 68 extends from the proximal end of the intermediate
body portion 64 substantially at right angles thereto and connects it to the central
portion 54 substantially at right angles to the first arm 56. Intermediate portion
64 therefore extends substantially parallel to the first arm 56.
[0019] The locking member 52 is mounted on frame 22 by means of a pivot pin 70 which passes
through opening 55 and corresponding counting holes in the frame 22. Pin 70 also mounts
contact arm 18 to the frame 22. Pin 70 thus defines an axis about which both contact
arm 18 and locking arm 52 pivot. (Mounting pin 70 corresponds to the mounting pin
83 shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of the aforementioned '716 application.) A bias spring 72
also mounts on pin 70 over a spring bushing (not shown) and engages arm 56 to bias
the locking member 52 toward a normally locked position. That is, spring 72 urges
member 52 to rotate counterclockwise in Fig. 1. A second spring (not shown) is coaxial
with spring 72, and acts similarly to bias contact arm 18 in the counterclockwise
direction, to ensure that the contacts 7 and 8 are separated when the breaker is tripped.
[0020] Fig. 1 shows a side view of the auxiliary switch and switch actuator and breaker
mechanism of this embodiment of the invention with the breaker in the ON position,
i.e. the main contacts 7 and 8 are abutting. Fig. 4 shows a partly cut-away perspective
view of this breaker in the OFF position. Comparison of these two figures will make
the operation of the breaker of the invention clear to those of skill in the art.
[0021] When the breaker handle 16 is moved from the OFF position to the ON position, that
is, to the right in Fig. 1, the breaker mechanism 14 acts on movable contact arm 18,
causing it to pivot about the pivot axis defined by mounting pin.70, bringing the
movable contact 7 on arm 18 into engagement with the fixed breaker contact 8 as shown
in Fig. 1. The electrical circuit through the breaker is then completed and current
can flow through the breaker in the normal manner. As the movable contact arm 18 pivots
under the action of the breaker mechanism 14, the bottom surface 19 of arm 18 engages
the flange 38 of actuator arm 36. This causes actuator member 32 to pivot about the
axis defined by mounting pins 42 against the spring pressure exerted by the internally
sprung contact of the auxiliary switch, acting through movable pin 30. Continued movement
of actuator 32 causes the inward edge 48a of the slot 48 formed by the bifurcated
end shape of actuator member 32 to slide past shoulder 62 of locking member 52. Due
to the bias of spring 72, urging member 52 to pivot counterclockwise about pin 70,
shoulder 62 overrides the upper surface of base plate 34 at this.point, forming a
stop and preventing movement of actuator member 32 in the opposite direction, i.e.
upwardly in Fig. 1. Finger 60 engages the back edge 48a of the slot 48, limiting the
counterclockwise motion of arm 52. The auxiliary switch is then held in the actuated
position until the shoulder 62 of locking arm 56 is moved out of engagement with the
actuator member 32.
[0022] Typically, auxiliary switch 24 will have three contact terminals: a common or "C"
terminal (to which the spring contact is connected), a normally open or "N/O" terminal,
and a normally closed or °N/C" terminal. Current flows through the auxiliary switch
spring contact member between the common'or "C" terminal and either the N/C or N/O
terminal. When the circuit breaker is turned ON (closing the circuit through the main
breaker contacts), the actuator member 32 sets the auxiliary switch 24, in the manner
described above, to close a circuit between the C and N/O terminals. This is the N/O
state of auxiliary switch 24. Operation of the auxiliary switch in the opposite sense,
i.e. such that the C terminal is connected to the N/C terminal when the main breaker
contacts abut, is, of course, also within the scope of this invention.
[0023] During normal operation of the circuit breaker, when the hadle 4/11/86 16 is manually
moved between the ON and OFF positions, shown respectively in Figs. 1 and 4, sear
pin 20 engages the link members of the breaker mechanism 14 to prevent the linkage
from collapsing. When the handle 16 is manually moved from the ON to the OFF position
by an operator under normal operating conditions, the link mechanism 14 remains locked
by the engagement of the sear pin 20. As the handle pivots from the ON to the OFF
position, sear pin 20 follows a first path of travel which keeps the sear pin 20 clear
of contact with the arm 58 of locking member 52. As movable contact arm 18 pivots
upwardly about pivot pin 70, moving movable contact 7 out of engagement with the fixed
contact 8, and thereby opening the main circuit, the force exerted by arm 18 on pin
30 of auxiliary switch 24 through arm 36 of actuator member 32-is released. In the
absence of any restraint on actuator 32, the bias on pin 30 exerted by the internal
spring of switch 24 would cause the internal contact to be returned to the N/C position.
This is prevented, however, by the' action of the locking member 52. The shoulder
62 of arm 56 acts as a stop against base plate 34 of actuator member 32 to restrain
the upward movement of actuator member 32 due to the biasing force exerted thereon
by the auxiliary switch internal contact through movable pin 30. Therefore, when the
breaker is manually opened, the contacts of auxiliary switch 24 remain in the N/0
state.
[0024] By comparison, when the breaker is tripped by an overcurrent through the main circuit,
the armature 4 strikes the sear pin 20, causing it to collapse the linkage mechanism
in a known manner, and opening the main circuit. The collapsing- action of the linkage
mechanism causes the sear pin 20 to move in a second path of travel which brings it
into contact with the second arm 58 of locking member 52. Continued movement of sear
pin 20 causes locking member 52 to rotate about pivot pin 70, against the bias provided
by spring 72. This, in turn, causes shoulder 62 to be disengaged from plate 34, releasing
the actuator member 32. Movable pin 30 can then be moved outwardly by the internally
biased spring contact, so that the auxiliary switch 24 switches from the N/O state
to the N/C state. An alarm circuit connected between the C and N/C terminals of the
auxiliary switch 24 thus will be closed. This can be used to provide a remote indication
of the tripped breaker condition.
[0025] Figures 5-8 show a second embodiment of the auxiliary switch mechanism of the present
invention. Elements which are identical to those of the first embodiment retain the
same reference numbers. Elements which are modified forms of those shown in the first
embodiment are represented by primed reference numbers, and totally new elements are
shown with new reference numbers.
[0026] Fig. 5 shows a side view of the breaker mechanism of the second embodiment with the
main contacts closed, and Fig. 8 shows a cutaway perspective view of the second embodiment
with the main contacts open. Fig. 8 shows the auxiliary switch in the H/0 state, that
is, after a manual opening of the main contacts. Except as discussed below, the operation
of the breaker in the second embodiment is the same as that in the first embodiment.
[0027] Referring to Figure 5, the movable pin 30 is under the immediate control of an actuator
member 80. As shown in Figures 7A and 7B, actuator member 80 comprises a base portion
82 and an arm 84. Arm 84 extends upwardly from the base portion 82. The base portion
82. further has a box-shaped housing for receiving locking member 52
1. A recess 92 in housing 90 terminates in a floor portion 94 and a raised edge portion
96. A lower wall portion 95 joins floor portion 94 and raised edge portion 96, and
a back wall portion 97 joins raised edge portion 96 with the periphery of recess 92.
A step is thus formed at the junction of the bottom and back walls of the recess 92.
A shim 98 may be attached to the outer bottom surface of the actuator member 80, where
it engages the movable pin 30. The shim 98 can be used as needed to compensate for
varying tolerances due to the fit of the auxiliary switch in the casing, or to increase
the upward force exerted on the actuator member 80 by the spring biased movable pin
30.
[0028] A pair of pivot pins 86a and 86b extend laterally outward from the base portion 82
of the actuator-member 80 near an end 88 thereof opposite the end from which the arm
84 extends. Pivot pins 86a and 86b seat in corresponding pivot mounting openings in
breaker casing 12.
[0029] Figures 6A and 6B show the locking member 52' of the second embodiment. Locking member
52' has an arm 56' which terminates at a square end 63; whereas locking member 52
terminates in finger 60 and shoulder 62.
[0030] The second embodiment of the invention operates generally similarly to the first,
with some differences as noted below: When the movable contact arm 18 is pivoted under
the action of the breaker mechanism 14 during resetting of the breaker, the bottom
surface 19 of arm 18 abuttingly engages arm portion 84 of actuator. member 80. This
causes the actuator member 80 to pivot about the axis defined by mounting pins 86a
and 86b against the spring bias acting through movable pin 30. When actuator 80 is
pivoted clockwise about the axis defined by pins 86a and 86b during resetting of the
breaker, the end 63 of the locking member 52' slides upwardly along wall portion 95
connecting the floor 94 of recess 92 in actuator.80 toward the raised edge portion
96. When, the end 63 reaches the level of raised edge portion 96 of locking arm housing
80, bias spring 72 urges member 52' to pivot about pin 70, so that end 63 overrides
the raised edge portion 96, to abut the back wall 97 of ; recess 92, as shown in Fig.
5. This forms a stop against movement of actuator member 80 in the opposite direction,
i.e. prevents it from pivoting upwardly if the breaker contacts are opened normally.
This locking action caused by the interaction between the squared end 63 and the raised
edge portion 96 corresponds to the interaction between the finger 60 and shoulder
62 of locking arm 52 and the bifurcated end portion of actuator member 32 in the first
embodiment of the invention.
[0031] As in the first embodiment, when the breaker is tripped by an overcurrent through
the main circuit, sear pin 20 is pivoted by arm 46 to strike arm 58' of locking member
52' and rotate member 52' clockwise about the pivot pin 70 against the action of bias
spring 72. This, in turn, causes end 63 of the locking arm 52' to be disengaged from
raised edge portion 96 of recess 92. This releases the actuator member 80; as the
moving contact arm 18 has already moved out of engagement with arm 84, the bias on
movable pin 30 urges actuator 80 upwardly. This allows switch 24 to switch from the
N/O 9A. 4/11/86 state to the NH.1/11/86 N/C state.
[0032] When the breaker is manually turned off, the sear pin 20 travels in a path so that
it does not strike the locking member 52'. Hence the auxiliary switch is not disturbed,
and it remains it its N/O B.Z. 4/11/86 state.
[0033] The auxiliary switch actuator mechanism of this invention is composed of only three
essential parts: the actuator member 32 or 80, the locking member 52 or
52', and the bias spring 72. The actuator member 32 or 80 and locking member 52 or 52'
are mountable to almost any standard breaker mechanism. Since the two parts are mounted
in an interlocking arrangement, there is no need to manufacture them to close tole-
ranee. By virtue of their interlocking arrangement, they provide essentially trouble-free,
reliable operation over the normal life of the breaker. Further, the locking member
52 or 52' pivots on the same frame as does the contact arm, resulting in a simplified
construction over known devices.
[0034] The invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the
spirit or essential characteristics thereof. The present embodiments are therefore
to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, the scope of
the invention being indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing
description, and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency
of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced therein.
1. An auxiliary switch actuator mechanism for a circuit breaker having a breaker mechanism
including a manually operable handle, breaker contact means pivotably movable between
open and closed positions, collapsible linkage means coupling the handle and movable
contact means, means for triggering the collapse of said linkage upon an overcurrent
through said breaker, and an auxiliary switch having a contact means movable between
normally-open and normally-closed positions, said actuator mechanism comprising:
actuator means pivotally movable between first and second positions for moving said
auxiliary switch contact means between said normally-open and normally-closed positions,
respectively, said actuator means comprising a base plate, a locking arm housing having
a recess therein including a bottom portion and a raised edge portion, and an arm
portion extending at an angle to said base plate and adapted to engage with said movable
breaker contact means; and
- - a locking member having a central portion pivotably mounted coaxially with said
movable breaker contact means, and first and second arm portions extending outwardly
from said central portion in different directions, said first arm portion having its
distal end portion disposed in said recess and having means for engaging said raised
edge portion when said actuator is disposed into second position, to lock said actuator
means in said second position, and said second arm portion extending into the path
of movement of said triggering means when said breaker mechanism is tripped, said
second arm portion being pivoted by said triggering means to thereby pivot said first
arm portion out of locking engagement with said actuator means.
2. An auxiliary switch actuator mechanism according to Claim 1, wherein said means
for engaging said raised edge portion is a narrow finger portion adopted for abutting
engagement with said raised edge portion of said recess.
3. An auxialiary switch actuator mechanism according to Claim 2, wherein said second
arm portion of said locking member is hook shaped.
4. An auxiliary switch actuator mechanism according to any preceding Claim, wherein
said actuator means further comprises means for pivotably mounting said base plate
to said breaker casing in overlying engagement with said auxiliary switch contact
means.
5. An auxiliary switch actuator mechanism according to any preceding Claim, further
comprising means for normally biasing said first arm portion of said locking member
towards said raised edge portion of said recess.
6. An auxiliary switch actuator mechanism according to Claim 5, further comprising
means for normally biasing said actuator means towards the first arm portion of said
locking member.
7. An auxiliary switch actuator mechanism according to Claim 6, further comprising
means for pivotably°mounting said base plate in overlying engagement with_said auxiliary
switch contact means, and means for limiting the/extent of pivotal movement of said base plate toward said first arm portion.
8. An auxiliary switch actuator mechanism for a circuit breaker mechanism including
a manually operable handle, breaker contact means pivotally movable between open and
closed positions, collapsible linkage means coupling the handle and movable contact
means, means for triggering the collapse of said linkage responsive to an overcurrent
through said breaker, and an auxiliary switch having a contact means movable between
normally-open and normally-closed positions, said actuator mechanism comprising:
actuator means pivotally coupled to said auxiliary switch and movable between first
and second positions for moving said auxiliary search contact means between said normally-open
and normally-closed positions, respectively, said actuator means comprising a base
portion extending substantially perpendicular to its pivot axis:
an actuator arm portion for transferring the movement of said movable contact means
to said actuator means, such that when said movable contact means is moved between
its open and closed positions said arm portion causes said auxiliary switch contact
means to move between said normally-open and normally-closed positions; and
locking lever means having a central portion pivotally mounted coaxially with said
movable breaker contact means, and first and second locking lever arms extending outwardly
from said central portion in different directions, said first locking lever arm including
means for locking said actuator means in said second position, and said second locking
lever arm extending into the path of movement of said triggering means when said breaker
mechanism is tripped, said second locking lever arm being pivoted by said triggering
means upon tripping thereof to thereby pivot said first locking lever arm out of locking
engagement with said actuator means; - -
and wherein said base portion of said actuator means comprises a recess for receiving
a distal end of said locking lever means, said recess having a floor portion, a rear
wall portion, and a step portion defining a raised edge portion disposed generally
at the junction of said floor and rear wall portions.
9. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein said first locking lever arm is biased toward
the rear wall of said recess.
10. The mechanism of claim 8 or claim 9 wherein said actuator means is biased generally
toward the distal end of said locking lever means.
11. The mechanism of any of claims 8 to 10 wherein the second locking lever arm is
generally J-shaped.
12. The mechanism of any of claims 8 to 11 wherein said actuator arm portion is adapted
for abutting engagement with a generally planar surface of said movable breaker contact
means.
13. A circuit breaker including an auxiliary switch actuator mechanism for a circuit
breaker, comprising:
a frame;
a braker mechanism mounted to said frame, said breaker mechanism comprising: a manually
operable handle, breaker contact means pivotably mounted to said frame and movable
between open and closed positions, collapsible linkage means coupling the handle and
moveable contact means;
sear pin means adapted to control the collapsible linkage, means for tripping said
sear pin means to collapse said linkage responsive to an overcurrent through said
breaker, and an auxiliary switch having a contact means movable between normally-open
and normally-closed positions;
a movable contact arm mounting one of said breaker contacts;
an actuator arm biased for rotation about a first pivot axis and adapted to be moved
between first, free, and second, locked positions be said movably contact arm to control
said contact means within said auxiliary _ switch, said actuator arm having a recess
formed therein, said recess having a step formed in a-wall thereof; and
a locking lever pivotally mounted for rotation about a second pivot axis, said locking
lever having a locking arm extending into said recess formed in said actuator arm
and biased against the wall of said recess having said step formed therein, said step
together with said locking lever defining stop means, whereby when said acutator arm
is moved to a predetermined position, said stop means locks said actuator into its
second locked position.
14. The circuit breaker according to claim 13, wherein:
said locking arm terminates in a squared end portion; and
said squared end portion abuttingly engages said step within said recess in said actuator
arm when said actuator arm is in said second locked position.
15. The circuit breaker according to claim 13 or claim 14 further comprising a breaker
casing, and wherein said actuator arm is pivotally mounted to the breaker casing.
16. The circuit breaker according to any of claims 13 to 15, wherein said locking
lever is mounted to said frame.
17. The circuit breaker according to any of claims 13 to 16, wherein said actuator
arm is in abutting engagement with a planar surface of said breaker contact means.
18. The circuit breaker according to any of claims 13 to 17, wherein said actuator
arm is biased upwardly such that the upward motion of the actuator arm is limited
and controlled by the interaction between the end of said locking arm and the bottom
of said recess.