Patent · US Expired

Circuit breaker for use in wall mounted plug

US5459444A · kind A · utility

4Cited by
61References
17Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 19, 1994
Grant dateOct 17, 1995
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 19, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H83/04
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes a normally open switch having first and second contacts and a movable leaf spring supporting the first contact. The leaf spring is normally oriented in a first position wherein the first contact is not in electrical contact with the second contact. The leaf spring is deformable into a second position wherein the first contact is in electrical contact with the second contact. An armature is movable between an open and a closed position and is located adjacent an electric coil which generates a magnetic field which moves the armature into the closed position when the coil is energized. The leaf spring biases the armature into its open position when the coil is not energized. The armature causes the leaf spring to deform into the second position, so as to place the first contact into electrical contact with the second contact, when the coil is energized. A housing for the circuit breaker is also provided, and the circuit breaker is a modular unit which may be assembled and tested before being installed in the housing. The housing has an aperture or window for viewing the position of the armature.

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