Claims
- 1. A contact arrangement for a plug-in type circuit breaker, the contact arrangement comprising:
a first contact support; a stationary contact mounted in the first contact support; a second contact support, the second contact support having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a distal end and a proximal end, a slot extending through the proximal end for accepting a movable contact, the second portion extending from the distal end of the first portion, the second portion having a flange-shape prong adapted for alignment with an alignment recess within a circuit breaker; and, a movable contact mounted in the slot of the first portion of the second contact support, wherein the movable contact may be pushed within the first contact support and abut the stationary contact mounted in the first contact support.
- 2. The contact arrangement of claim 1 wherein the first contact support comprises a pair of adjoinable first contact support sections, each first contact support section having a portion of a slot for accepting the movable contact within the first contact support.
- 3. The contact arrangement of claim 2 wherein the first contact support further comprises a flat spring for providing pressure against the stationary contact and a received movable contact.
- 4. The contact arrangement of claim 2 wherein one first contact support section is provided with a protrusion and the other first contact support section is provided with a recess for accepting the protrusion.
- 5. The contact arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second contact support is formed from two symmetrical halves.
- 6. The contact arrangement of claim 1 wherein the second contact support is made from aluminum.
- 7. The contact arrangement of claim 1 further comprising a shutter system for protecting the stationary contact when the movable contact is withdrawn from the first contact support.
- 8. The contact arrangement of claim 7 wherein the shutter system comprises a first movable shutter and a second movable shutter, the first and second movable shutters movable in opposite directions from a closed position where the stationary contact is covered to an open position where the stationary contact is uncovered and accessible.
- 9. The contact arrangement of claim 8 wherein the shutter system is biased to the closed position.
- 10. The contact arrangement of claim 8 wherein the first and second movable shutters overlap, the first movable shutter having a cam profile on one end and a compressible spring on another end, wherein abutment of the movable contact with the cam profile moves the first movable shutter in a direction towards the compressible spring.
- 11. The contact arrangement of claim 10 further comprising a plurality of movable contacts, wherein the second movable shutter is provided with a cam profile on one end and a compressible spring on another end, wherein abutment of a second movable contact with the cam profile of the second movable shutter moves the second movable shutter in a direction towards the compressible spring of the second movable shutter, and in a direction opposite the direction of the first movable shutter.
- 12. The contact arrangement of claim 11 wherein the first and second movable shutters further include windows which are accessed by the movable contacts after the first and second movable shutters are forced to slide in opposite directions.
- 13. The contact arrangement of claim 8 further comprising a cover overlapping the shutter system, the cover having guiding slots for guiding a plurality of movable contacts into the shutter system.
- 14. The contact arrangement of claim 10 wherein the compressible spring is a plastic spring future.
- 15. A plug-in circuit breaker comprising:
a molded housing; a top surface of the molded housing having a circuit breaker handle extending therefrom and a bottom surface of the molded housing having an alignment recess; a contact support having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion having a distal end and a proximal end, a slot extending through the proximal end for accepting a movable contact, the second portion extending from the distal end of the first portion, the second portion having a flange-shape prong sized to snugly fit within the alignment recess in the bottom surface of the molded housing; and, a movable contact mounted in the slot of the first portion of the contact support, wherein the contact support with the movable contact mounted therein is removably positionable within the alignment recess in the bottom surface of the molded housing.
- 16. The circuit breaker of claim 15 wherein the contact support is formed from two symmetrical halves.
- 17. The circuit breaker of claim 15 wherein the contact support is made from aluminum.
- 18. A stationary contact assembly comprising:
a contact support having a slot adapted for accepting a movable contact of a plug-in circuit breaker; a stationary contact mounted in the contact support; and, a shutter system positioned adjacent the contact support for protecting the stationary contact by covering the slot when a movable contact is absent from the contact support.
- 19. The stationary contact assembly of claim 18 wherein the shutter system comprises a first movable shutter and a second movable shutter, the first and second movable shutters movable in opposite directions from a closed position where the slot is covered to an open position where the slot is uncovered and the stationary contact is accessible.
- 20. The stationary contact assembly of claim 19 wherein the shutter system is biased to the closed position.
- 21. The stationary contact assembly of claim 19 wherein the first and second movable shutters overlap, the first movable shutter having a cam profile on one end and a compressible spring on another end, wherein abutment of a movable contact with the cam profile moves the first movable shutter in a direction towards the compressible spring.
- 22. The stationary contact assembly of claim 21 wherein the second movable shutter is provided with a cam profile on one end and a compressible spring on another end, wherein abutment of a second movable contact with the cam profile of the second movable shutter moves the second movable shutter in a direction towards the compressible spring of the second movable shutter, and in a direction opposite the direction of the first movable shutter.
- 23. The stationary contact assembly of claim 22 wherein the first and second movable shutters further include windows which are adapted to be accessed by movable contacts after the first and second movable shutters are forced to slide in opposite directions.
- 24. The contact arrangement of claim 19 further comprising a cover overlapping the shutter system, the cover having guiding slots adapted for guiding a plurality of movable contacts into the shutter system, the guiding slots aligned with a plurality of stationary contacts.
- 25. The stationary contact assembly of claim 21 wherein the compressible spring is a plastic spring future.
- 26. The stationary contact assembly of claim 18 wherein the contact support comprises a pair of adjoinable contact support sections, each contact support section having a portion of the slot.
- 27. The stationary contact assembly of claim 18 further comprising a flat spring positioned within the contact support for providing pressure against the stationary contact and adapted to provide pressure against a movable contact received within the contact support.
- 28. The stationary contact assembly of claim 26 wherein one contact support section is provided with a protrusion and the other contact support section is provided with a recess for accepting the protrusion.
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is based upon, and claims the benefit of, United States Provisional Patent Application No. 60/190,747 filed on Mar. 20, 2000, which is herein incorporated by reference in its entirety.
Provisional Applications (1)
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Number |
Date |
Country |
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60190747 |
Mar 2000 |
US |