Circuit breaker with improved impact resistance
US5808249A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Apr 2, 1996 |
| Grant date | Sep 15, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Apr 2, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H71/521
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a circuit breaker assembly having a base, cover, and switch handle adapted to withstand an external force applied to a lever of the switch handle. During normal operation the handle rotates on small-diameter pivots in elongated bearing slots. Under abnormal conditions that occur when the lever of the switch handle is inadvertently struck, such as when the circuit breaker is dropped on the lever of the switch handle, the pivots slide in the elongated bearing slots. The force is borne by large-diameter hubs which come in contact with mating bearing surfaces. Thus, the pivots are not shorn off during such incidents, which would damage the circuit breaker.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.