Patent · US Expired

Miniaturized solenoid operated trip device

US5343179A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
3References
14Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateJan 29, 1993
Grant dateAug 30, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateJan 29, 2013

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H2083/205
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A solenoid operated circuit breaker trip device has a base defining a guide channel and an actuator that slides in the guide channel and interacts with a contact breaking mechanism having a trip bar operable to make or break electrical contacts. A spring biases the actuator toward the trip bar. A solenoid on the base electromagnetically displaces a plunger along a linear path and is coupled to a trigger having a latching surface that holds or releases the actuator. The guide channel runs parallel to the path of the plunger, adjacent the solenoid. The trigger is L-shaped and pivoted on a pivot pin between two legs of its L-shape, on an axis transverse to the path of the plunger. One of the two trigger legs is coupled to the plunger, and the other has an engagement surface that is moved behind a complementary surface of the actuator to selectively block its displacement. The base can be a slotted frame attached to the solenoid or a molded housing having an interior cavity for receiving the solenoid. A return spring urges the trigger toward the latching position.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.