Circuit breaker for protecting electric circuits in road vehicles
US6590489B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 11, 2001 |
| Grant date | Jul 8, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 11, 2021 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2071/088
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit breaker for protecting electrical circuits, particularly in motor vehicles, includes a flat housing, which comprises an insulating material and has two adjacent flat plugs. A bimetal that is embodied as a snap-action element and is fixed to a flat plug serves in contacting the flat plugs together, with the contact end of the bimetal being located in an overlapping position with the counter-contact. During a contact opening as stipulated by an overcurrent, a contact separator automatically travels into the space between the opened contacts, and can be returned from its contact-separating position by the external exertion of a force acting counter to the spring pressure. A manual release device, which diverts the contact end of the bimetal from its contacting position into its contact-opening position, protrudes from the breaker housing.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.