Integrated maglatch accessory

Abstract

An apparatus for indicating a condition of a molded case circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker defining an accessory pocket in communication with an operating mechanism and a trip unit of the circuit breaker, including a mount member operatively coupled to one of the operating mechanism and trip unit in the accessory pocket. A housing coupled to the mount member, with the housing defining a compartment. A magnetic latch device disposed in the compartment and operatively coupled to the mount member. A switch disposed in the compartment and operatively coupled to the mount member. Wherein a condition of the circuit breaker is indicated by a condition of one of the switch and magnetic latch, and the condition of the circuit breaker is operatively transmitted via the apparatus to a remote location.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is an exemplary embodiment of an integrated maglatch assembly including a maglatch and a plurality of switches disposed in a housing.

FIG. 2 is an exemplary embodiment of a mount assembly configured to engage and couple to the integrated maglatch assembly illustrated in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the magnetic latch assembly and mount assembly illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of the circuit breaker with the mount assembly illustrated in FIG. 2 disposed in an accessory pocket defined in the circuit breaker housing.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the circuit breaker illustrated in FIG. 4 with the integrated magnetic latch assembly mounted on the mount assembly illustrated in FIG. 4.

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the circuit breaker shown in FIG. 5 as used to describe the operation of the circuit breaker.

Claims

1. An apparatus for indicating a condition of a molded case circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker defining an accessory pocket in communication with an operating mechanism and a trip unit of the circuit breaker, the apparatus comprising: a mount member operatively coupled to one of the operating mechanism and trip unit in the accessory pocket;a housing coupled to the mount member, with the housing defining a compartment;a magnetic latch device disposed in the compartment and operatively coupled to the mount member;a switch disposed in the compartment and operatively coupled to the mount member, andwherein a condition of the circuit breaker is indicated by a condition of one of the switch and magnetic latch, and the condition of the circuit breaker is operatively transmitted via the apparatus to a remote location.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch is operatively connected to the trip unit.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the switch is operatively connected to the operating mechanism.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, including a least one additional switch contained in the compartment and coupled to the mount member.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein one switch provides a trip signal to a bell alarm.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the additional switch is configured only for external access.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the additional switch is configured only for communication of whether the circuit breaker is open or closed.

8. A circuit breaker comprising: a housing including a cover;a first terminal and a second terminal mounted in the housing;a contact electrically coupled to the first terminal;a movable contact electrically coupled to the second terminal;an operating mechanism mounted in the housing and coupled to the movable contact;a trip unit coupled to the movable contact and the second terminal; andan accessory pocket defined in the cover, with the accessory pocket in communication with the operating mechanism and trip unit, and configured to accept an accessory apparatus, with the accessory apparatus comprising:a mount member operatively coupled to one of the operating mechanism and trip unit in the accessory pocket;a housing coupled to the mount member, with the housing defining a compartment;a magnetic latch device disposed in the compartment and operatively coupled to the mount member;a switch disposed in the compartment and operatively coupled to the mount member,wherein a condition of the circuit breaker is indicated by a condition of one of the switch and magnetic latch, and the condition of the circuit breaker is operatively transmitted via the apparatus to a remote location.

9. The circuit breaker of claim 8, wherein the switch is operatively coupled to the trip unit.

10. The circuit breaker of claim 8, wherein the switch is operatively coupled to the operating mechanism.

11. The circuit breaker of claim 8, including at least one additional switch contained in the housing and coupled to the mount member.

12. The circuit breaker of claim 11, wherein one switch provides a trip signal to a bell alarm.

13. The circuit breaker of claim 11, wherein the additional switch is configured only for external access.

14. The circuit breaker of claim 11, wherein the additional switch is configured only for communication of whether the circuit breaker is open or closed.

15. A method for maximizing utilization of an accessory pocket in a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker including an operating mechanism and a trip unit in communication with the accessory pocket, the method comprising: providing a housing defining a compartment;installing a magnetic latch device including a reset lever in the compartment;installing at least two switches in the compartment;coupling the housing to a mount member, with the mount member including an actuator configured to selectively couple with at least one of the switches; andinstalling the mount member in the accessory pocket and aligning the actuator with one of the operating mechanism and trip unit,wherein the use of the accessory pocket is maximized by integrating the magnetic latch device and switches in a single housing mounted in the accessory pocket.

16. The method of claim 15, including the step of indicating a condition of the circuit breaker based on a condition of one of the switch and magnetic latch device.

17. The method of claim 16, including the step of transmitting the condition of the circuit breaker to a remote location.

18. The method of claim 15, including the step of coupling one of the switches to a bell alarm.

19. The method of claim 15, including the step of installing at least one additional switch in the compartment.

20. The method of claim 15, including the step of coupling at least one switch to the trip unit.