US1800710A - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

April 14, 1931. c. wElGAND CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed Feb. 3, 1930 Patented Apr. 14, 1931 PATENT OFFICE M WEIGAND, OF CINCINNATI, OHIOV CIRCUIT BREAKER Application led February 3, 1930. Serial No. 425,400.

This invention has for an object to produce a circuit breaker which is designed to v be used in lieu of the usual or universal fuse plug with which electric fuse boxes are equip ed, and especially to be used in such fuse oXes as are equipped with the screw type of plug of standard size and designed to occupy sockets of the size of lamp bulb ases.

An object of my invention is also to produce such a circuit breaker as will permit of restoration to normal conditions the moment a condition causing short circuit has been removed froml the line, without having to change the entire or an portion of the circuit breaker after it has unctioned to prevent damage to the line following a condition of short circuit. v

These and other objects are attained in the 2 circuit breaker described in the following specification and'illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which:

Fig. 1 is a sectional elevation of my improved circuit breaker, disclosing the breaker in the condition itoccupies when set to carry the line load. Y

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the breaker disclosing its on or load carrying set condition.

Fig. 3 is a plan view similar to Fi 2, but with the protecting cap or top of the reaker removed.

My breaker in preferred form has a body 5 of cup shape and made of insulatin material. At the constricted closed end of t e body is mounted a metal screw base 6, which formsr one terminal of the breaker. This is held in position by a screw 7 which forms the opposite terminal of the breaker and is insulated therefrom in the usual manner. This screw holds a centrally located tubular rod, standard or support 8 upon and within which the vital, elements of the breaker are mounted. At theto of the sup ort a washer 9 is lo- 5 Y cated and eld thereon y being connected, as,

. by soldering, with the upper end of an expansion element 10 extending 'from screw 7 to which it is attached. U on and fastened to washer 9 are the spring gers 10, of the 5 contact terminating the upper end of element 10. This element 10 is preferably a wire of such material as German silver which will heat and expand readily as to len h when forced to carry a load above normal or which the line is designed.

Upon support 8 the-bracket 11 is fastened as at a point 12, so that a knife 13 may be pivoted thereto for movement between the fingers of contact 10 as shown in Fig. 1. This knife is controlled by a spring 14 which would hold it away. from contact 10, as indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 1, were it not for latch keeper or trigger 15 which is pivoted at its lower end to bracket 11 and has a detent 16 which holds knife 13 in engagementwith contact 10 as shown. A spring 17 holds trigger 15 ieldingly in position to close the circuit. Ilowever, there is a lu 18 on trigger 15 which engages a conica collar 19 loosely mounted on su port 8, which functions movement of the kni e 13 to dotted line position and to disengage the knife for breaking the circuit. This movement at trigger 15 1s caused by upward movement of collar 19 in response to pressure of a sprin 20 when the expansion element 10 is heate A metal connection 21 which is connected with bracket 11, connects with screw base 6 to complete the circuit therefrom, through bracket 11, knife 13, contact 10, element 10 and screw 7. A slot 22 in closure cap 23 of the breaker is occupied by extension 24 of knife 13, whereby, in one position, the

on position of the breaker will be indicated, and, in the opposite sition, the off condition will be shown. f course, this extension 24 will also permit the breaker to be reset by merely moving said extension manually from off to on position as soon as the cause ofI a short circuit has been removed from the line.

Having thus described my invention what I claim 1s:

1. A circuit breaker comprising a shell, terminals at the base of the shell, a support within the shell, a heat expansible element within the support, a collar movable on the support, a knife pivoted onthe support, a contact on the support to be engaged by the knife,|a trigger plvoted on the support to retain the knife in contact-engaged position, a spring to move the knife from the contact when released by movement of the trigger, and means on the support to cause the collar to release the trigger, functioned by expansion of the element upon passage of excess current through the element.

2. A circuit breaker comprising a shell of insulating material, terminals at the base of the shell, a support of insulating material within the shell and held therein by one of the terminals, a heat expansible metal element within the support and connected with one of the terminals, a collar of insulating material movable on the support, a knife of metal pvoted on the support, a metal contact on the support to be engaged by the knife, a metal trlg to retain the kni e in contact-engaged position, a spring to move the knife from engaged posltion with the contact when it is released by the trigger, and a spring on the support to move the collar upon expansion of the element, said collar and trigger being associated whereby movement of the collar will release the trigger.

In witness whereof, I airlx my signature;

CARL WEIGAND.

er pivoted on the support

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