Patent · US Expired

Advanced electrical circuit breaker system and method

US6538549B1 · kind B1 · utility

43Cited by
45References
34Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateAug 30, 2001
Grant dateMar 25, 2003
Priority date
Expiry dateAug 30, 2021

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH01H73/24
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

An advanced circuit breaker system and method includes first and second terminals to electrically couple the advanced circuit breaker to an electrical circuit. A cam applies a first torque to a rotatable contact arm, having an arm contact electrically coupled to the first terminal, from a first position to a second position of the contact arm and a second torque to the contact arm from the second position to a third position. A bimetal blade, having a blade contact electrically coupled to the second terminal, changes shape when electrical current flowing through it exceeds a threshold for at least a predetermined amount of time. The arm contact maintains contact with the blade contact when the first torque occurs and separates from the blade contact when the second torque occurs. The blade contact changes shape to increase separation from the arm contact if electrical current exceeds at least a certain amount above the threshold.

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