Snap action circuit breaker

Abstract

Disclosed is a snap action circuit breaker with a compact one piece steel frame in a two part, telescoping molded circuit breaker case. The compact construction is combined with a symmetrical toggle actuator to provide a pleasing appearance suitable for mounting at readily accessible and visible locations on the front of an instrument panel. A variety of handle constructions are usable with the same basic mechanism. By providing a snap actuated contact construction with substantial overcurrent trip delay the device combines the best features of modern manual switches and circuit breakers so that it is in effect a manual switch with nuisance free over-current trip protection.

What is claimed and desired to be secured by United States Letters Patent is: 
     
       1. A circuit breaker comprising an electrically insulating plastic housing, and overcurrent trip coil and armature in said housing, a stationary and a movable contact in said housing, a latch mechanism coupled to said movable contact for manually moving it between contacts open and contacts closed positions, said latch mechanism having a sear for collapsing it in response to movement of said armature, means coupled to said movable contact for opening and closing said contacts with a snap action, a handle link coupled to said latch mechanism, said case having a handle opening communicating with said handle link, and a handle passing through said opening and coupled to said handle link, the pivot axis of said handle link lying at least substantially in a central transverse plane through the shorter dimension of said circuit breaker case with said handle opening symmetrically located in said case. 
     
     
       2. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein said snap action means comprises an overcenter spring. 
     
     
       3. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a toggle. 
     
     
       4. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a rocker. 
     
     
       5. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 wherein said handle comprises a push button. 
     
     
       6. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 comprising a frame of magnetic material supporting said coil in said case. 
     
     
       7. A circuit breaker according to claim 1 comprising a one piece frame of magnetic material supporting said coil, armature, toggle and handle link in said case. 
     
     
       8. A circuit breaker according to claim 7 wherein said armature comprises a pair of legs remote from said coil, one of said legs operating as a trip for said sear, and the other of said legs acting as a counterweight for the portion of the armature adjacent said coil. 
     
     
       9. A circuit breaker according to claim 8 including a delay tube surrounded by said coil. 
     
     
       10. A circuit breaker according to claim 9 wherein said counterweight leg of said armature carries a portion of a pin and slot combination of coupling said counterweight leg to an inertial time delay wheel. 
     
     
       11. A circuit breaker according to claim 9 wherein said counterweight leg of said armature is provided with a slot at a location adjacent the portion of it most remote from said coil for coupling to the pin of a inertia wheel. 
     
     
       12. A circuit breaker comprising a molded plastic housing formed of an upper outer section and a lower section telescoped into said upper section, a one piece frame carried by the lower section of said housing, an overcurrent trip coil and armature mounted on said frame, a stationary contract on the lower section of said housing, a movable contact mounted on said frame, a latch mechanism on said frame coupled to said movable contact for manually moving it between contacts open and contacts closed positions, said latch mechanism having a sear for collapsing it in response to movement of said armature, an overcenter spring coupled to said movable contact for opening and closing said contacts with a snap action, a handle link pivoted to said frame and coupled to said latch mechanism, said upper case section having a central symmetrical opening, the pivot axis of said handle link lying below the center of said opening to permit a symmetrical handle construction, and a handle passing through said opening and coupled to said handle link. 
     
     
       13. A circuit breaker according to claim 12 including a contact blade carrying said movable contact, and a carrier coupled to said latch mechanism, said contact blade being pivoted to said carrier. 
     
     
       14. A circuit breaker according to claim 13 wherein said overcenter spring comprises a coiled tension spring connected between said contact blade and said frame. 
     
     
       15. A circuit breaker according to claim 12 wherein said latch comprises a cam link coupled to said handle link, and a link housing coupled to said movable contact. 
     
     
       16. A circuit breaker according to claim 5 wherein said link housing is of substantially U-shaped cross section, the lower end of said cam link being pivotally received in the upper end of said link housing. 
     
     
       17. A circuit breaker according to claim 12 wherein said upper housing section comprises a boss surrounding said handle opening, said boss including opposing interior projections, said handle comprising a toggle type with a recess on each side receiving a corresponding projection, said handle link including a drive pin, said handle having a slot in its lower end received over said handle link pin. 
     
     
       18. A circuit breaker according to claim 17 in which said handle has a groove on each side communicating with said recesses whereby said handle may be assembled to said case by sliding it into said boss until said projections snap into said recesses. 
     
     
       19. A circuit breaker according to claim 12 wherein said lower case section is provided with arc baffle slots on each side, corresponding arc baffle plates being retained in said lower case section by the surrounding outer case section. 
     
     
       20. A circuit breaker according to claim 19 wherein said lower case section is provided with a pair of spaced projections on each side, said upper case section having corresponding slots into which said projections snap when said case sections are telescoped together, said upper case section having a pair of spaced vertical slots on each side communicating with its lower edge for increased resiliency during assembly. 
     
     
       21. A circuit breaker according to claim 17 wherein said upper case section includes opposing inferior projections, said handle comprising a rocker with a recess on each side receiving a corresponding projection, said handle link including a drive pin, said handle having a slot in its lower end received over said handle link pin. 
     
     
       22. A circuit breaker according to claim 21 in which said handle has a groove on each side communicating with said recesses whereby said handle may be assembled to said case by sliding it into said handle opening until said projections snap into said recesses. 
     
     
       23. A circuit breaker according to claim 22 wherein the interior underside of said rocker handle is hollow, a lamp bracket carried by said frame, and a lamp supported partly within said hollow interior of said rocker handle by said lamp bracket. 
     
     
       24. A circuit breaker according to claim 23 including a projection on the central bottom of said lower case section, a pair of lamp terminals extending outwardly from said projection, and a pair of electrical leads coupling said lamp to said terminals. 
     
     
       25. A circuit breaker according to claim 24 wherein said bracket has an elongated semicircular recess in which said lamp rests. 
     
     
       26. A circuit breaker according to claim 22 wherein the upper section of said circuit breaker case has a pair of wings and an annular rim for mounting said circuit breaker to an instrument panel. 
     
     
       27. A circuit breaker according to claim 12 wherein said handle comprises a push button. 
     
     
       28. A circuit breaker according to claim 27 wherein said handle and handle link cooperate to impart a push-to-open and push-to-close manual action to said circuit breaker. 
     
     
       29. A circuit breaker according to claim 28 wherein said handle link is provided with a pair of spaced grooves, said push button having an actuator which is received in each of said grooves with successive depressions of said button to rock said handle link back and forth about its pivot axis. 
     
     
       30. A circuit breaker according to claim 29 comprising a coiled tension spring in said handle, said actuator being pivoted for rocking movement and having a pair of shoulders which alternately engage a central area of said handle spring. 
     
     
       31. A circuit breaker according to claim 30 comprising a spring support in said handle, said spring support receiving the opposite ends of said spring and having a central opening permitting deflection of the central portions of said spring. 
     
     
       32. A circuit breaker according to claim 31 wherein said spring support has projections on each end received in recesses in said handle. 
     
     
       33. A circuit breaker according to claim 32 wherein said push button has a hollow center, and a lamp in said center. 
     
     
       34. A circuit breaker according to claim 27 including a pair of external ribs on each side of said push button, the tops of said ribs engaging said upper section of said housing and limiting the outward movement of said push button. .Iadd. 
     
     
       35.  A circuit breaker, comprising: an insulated housing;   a frame located in said insulated housing;   an overcurrent sensor mounted to said frame in said housing;   a stationary contact and a movable contact in said housing;   a latch mechanism coupled to said frame and engageable by said overcurrent sensor and adapted to be tripped by said sensor in response to a sensed overcurrent;   a flat blade member having said movable contact mounted to one end portion thereof;   a movable carrier coupled to said latch mechanism and movable between first and second positions in response to movement of said latch mechanism, said carrier comprising; a generally flat top plate,   a pair of side plates integral with and extending downwardly from said top plate,   a first pair of tabs integral with and extending upwardly from the front portion of said top plate for movably coupling said latch mechanism to said carrier,   a back end portion integral with and exending downwardly from said top plate and having a recess for pivotally receiving the other end portion of said flat blade member, and   a second pair of tabs integral with and extending laterally outwardly from the bottom portion of said side plate; and     an overcenter spring coupled at one end with said blade member and at its other end to said frame;   said frame also having a pair of pivot mounts located below and forward of said spring mounting means for pivotally receiving said second pair of tabs of said movable carrier. .Iaddend. .Iadd.   
     
     
       36.  The circuit breaker according to claim 35, wherein: said blade and carrier means are pivotally mounted to said frame about said pair of pivot mounts such that when said latch means is moved towards the contacts closed position, said blade carrier pivots about said pair of pivot mounts in one direction until said recessed blade pivot mounting lies above said spring mounting means, whereby said overcenter spring exerts a force on said movable contact in the direction toward said stationary contact, and when the latch means is moved toward the contacts open position, said blade carrier pivots about said pair of pivot mounts in an opposite direction until said recessed blade pivot mounting lies below said spring mounting means, whereby said overcenter spring exerts a force on said movable contact in the direction away from said stationary contact. .Iaddend. .Iadd.37. The circuit breaker according to claim 36, wherein said frame comprises:   a central strap having an outwardly bent tab at one end, and a pair of substantially aligned side plates integral with and extending from opposite lateral sides of said strap, said side plates having first aligned openings for receiving spring mounting means for securing said overcenter spring to said frame and second aligned openings for receiving said movable carrier for pivotal movement of said carrier between said   
     
     
        first and second positions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.38.  The circuit breaker according to claim 37, wherein said overcurrent sensor includes an overcurrent trip coil mounted to said outwardly bent tab of said frame and an armature pivotably mounted to a pivot mounting means received in third aligned openings of said frame side plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.39. The current breaker according to claim 38, further   comprising handle link means coupled to said latch mechanism for manually moving said movable contact between closed and open positions; said frame side plates having fourth aligned openings for receiving a pivot mounting means for pivotably mounting said handle link means. .Iaddend. .Iadd.40. A circuit breaker comprising an electrically insulating housing, an overcurrent trip coil and armature in said housing, a stationary and movable contact in said housing, a latch mechanism coupled to said movable contact for manually moving it between contacts open and contacts closed positions, said latch mechanism having means for collapsing it in response to movement of said armature, means coupled to said movable contact for opening and closing said contacts with a snap action, a handle link coupled to said latch mechanism, an overcenter spring coupled to said movable contact for opening and closing said contacts with a snap action, and a one piece frame supporting said coil, armature, latch mechanism,   
     
     
        spring, and handle link in said case. .Iaddend. .Iadd.41.  A circuit breaker, comprising: an insulated housing;   an overcurrent sensor located in said housing;   a stationary contact in said housing;   a latch mechanism engageable by said overcurrent sensor and adapted to be tripped by said sensor in response to a sensed overcurrent;   a movable carrier coupled to said latch mechanism and a movable contact carried by said carrier and movable between closed and open positions into and out of contact with said stationary contact in response to movement of said carrier;   an overcenter spring coupled to said movable contact for opening and closing said contacts with a snap action; and   a frame located in said insulated housing and having a unitary structure, including; a central strap having an outwardly bent tab at one end for mounting said overcurrent sensor, and   a pair of substantially aligned side plates integral with and extending from opposite lateral sides of said strap, said side plates having first aligned openings for receiving spring mounting means for securing said overcenter spring to said frame and second aligned openings for receiving said movable carrier for pivotal movement of said carrier between said     
     
     
        first and second positions. .Iaddend. .Iadd.42.  The circuit breaker according to claim 41, wherein said overcurrent sensor includes an overcurrent trip coil mounted to said outwardly bent tab of said frame and an armature pivotably mounted to a pivot mounting means received in third aligned openings of said frame side plates. .Iaddend. .Iadd.43. The circuit breaker according to claim 42, further comprising handle link means coupled to said latch mechanism for manually moving said movable contact between closed and open positions; said frame side plates having fourth aligned openings for receiving a pivot mounting means for pivotally mounting said handle link means. .Iaddend.