Circuit breaker trip unit interlock
US5239144A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 7, 1992 |
| Grant date | Aug 24, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 7, 2012 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H71/7409
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit breaker including a trip unit interlock. The trip unit interlock provides a trip unit having a plug connectable with a mating plug which is slidable with respect to the circuit breaker. The trip unit engages a pair of pins mounted to the circuit breaker when the trip unit is in its operating position. The pins are oriented to prevent separation of the plug from the receptacle during circuit breaker tripping. Since it is undesirable to insert a trip unit into a circuit breaker where the trip unit is not compatible with the circuit breaker, the pins and openings in the trip unit are configured such that they will not mate if the trip unit is not appropriate for the circuit breaker. When the trip unit is in its operating position, the trip unit holds an interlock lever for the contact operating mechanism of the circuit breaker in a position where the contact operating mechanism may close the contacts and hold the contacts closed when the circuit breaker is in its ON state.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.