Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6815626
-
Patent Number
6,815,626
-
Date Filed
Tuesday, May 25, 200419 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, November 9, 200419 years ago
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Inventors
-
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 200 6108
- 200 3023
- 200 303
- 200 308
- 200 310
- 200 339
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
An overload breaker includes a receptacle having three slots to receive three prongs, and a housing extended from the receptacle and having a space formed by a partition. An intermediate prong has a contact, and a conductor blade includes one end secured to one side prong and the other end for contacting with the contact of the intermediate prong. A neon lamp and a resistor are coupled between the intermediate and the other side prongs, and a switch button is pivotally attached to the housing and pivotally coupled to the other end of the conductor blade with a lever, to control the conductor blade to engage with or to be disengaged from the contact of the intermediate prong.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an overload breaker, and more particularly to an overload breaker having an improved configuration for allowing the overload breaker to be easily manufactured and assembled.
2. Description of the Prior Art
Various kinds of typical overload breakers have been developed and provided for coupling to electric wires or cables, electric facilities, or the like, particularly for coupling in front of electric facilities, to prevent overload electric power source from supplying to the electric facilities, and thus to prevent the electric facilities from being damaged by the overload electric power energy.
For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,393,289 to Grenier discloses one of the typical overload circuit breakers, and comprises a number of parts or elements received in a receptacle, and a number of spring members disposed in the receptacle, and engaged with the parts or elements, for biasing the parts or elements. In addition, a magnetic actuation device includes a magnetic actuation coil disposed in the receptacle.
However, it will be difficult to assemble the parts or elements and the spring members and the magnetic actuation coil of the magnetic actuation device within the tiny receptacle. Furthermore, the magnetic actuation device is expensive and may greatly increase the manufacture cost of the overload breakers.
The present invention has arisen to mitigate and/or obviate the afore-described disadvantages of the conventional overload breakers.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The primary objective of the present invention is to provide an overload breaker including an improved configuration for allowing the overload breaker to be easily manufactured and assembled.
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, there is provided an overload breaker comprising a receptacle including a chamber formed therein, and including three slots formed in bottom and communicating with the chamber thereof, the receptacle including a housing provided on top thereof and having a space formed therein and defined by a partition which is located between the housing and the receptacle, a first and a second and a third prongs engaged in the slots of the receptacle respectively, the second prong including a contact provided thereon, a conductor blade including a first end secured to the third prong, and a second end for selectively contacting with the contact of the second prong, and including an intermediate portion located between the first and the second ends thereof, a neon lamp received in the space of the housing, and including a first terminal extended through the partition and coupled to the second prong, and including a second terminal extended through the partition and coupled to the first prong, a resistor coupled to the second terminal of the neon lamp, a switch button pivotally attached to the housing with at least one pivot axle, and including a first end and a second end, and a lever including a first end pivotally coupled to the first end of the switch button, and including a second end having an actuator provided thereon, to engage with the second end of the conductor blade, and to move the second end of the conductor blade relative to the second prong, and to selectively engage and disengage the second end of the conductor blade from the contact of the second prong. The second end of the conductor blade is engageable with the contact of the second prong when the first end of the switch button and the lever are moved toward the second prong, and is movable away from the contact of the second prong when the second end of the switch button is moved toward the second prong, to move the lever away from the second prong.
The housing includes a groove formed therein and defined by at least one projection, to receive the first terminal of the neon lamp. The housing includes a groove formed therein and defined by at least one jut, to receive the second terminal of the neon lamp. The housing includes a width smaller than that of the receptacle, to form a shoulder between the housing and the receptacle.
A positioning device may further be provided for positioning the intermediate portion of the conductor blade in the receptacle, and includes an extension extended from the partition, to engage with the intermediate portion of the conductor blade, and to position the intermediate portion of the conductor blade in the receptacle.
The positioning device includes a bar engaged in the receptacle, and having a protrusion extended from the bar, to engage with the intermediate portion of the conductor blade, and to position the intermediate portion of the conductor blade in the receptacle. The receptacle includes an inverted T-shaped channel formed therein, to receive and retain the bar therein.
The housing includes a stud extended into the space thereof from the partition, to engage with the neon lamp, and to retain the neon lamp in the housing. The housing includes a fin extended into the space thereof from the partition, to engage with the neon lamp, and to retain the neon lamp in the housing.
Further objectives and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from a careful reading of the detailed description provided hereinbelow, with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an exploded view of an overload breaker in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a front plan view of the overload breaker, in which a portion of the receptacle is removed or cut off to show an inner structure of the overload breaker;
FIG. 3
is a front plan view similar to
FIG. 2
, illustrating the operation of the overload breaker;
FIG. 4
is a front plan view similar to
FIGS. 2 and 3
, in which a switch button of the receptacle is removed or cut off to show an inner structure of the overload breaker;
FIG. 5
is a top plan view illustrating a receptacle of the overload breaker; and
FIG. 6
is a front plan view of the receptacle of the overload breaker as shown in FIG.
5
.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
Referring to the drawings, and initially to
FIGS. 1 and 2
, an overload breaker in accordance with the present invention comprises a receptacle
10
including a chamber
11
formed therein, and including three slots
12
,
13
,
14
formed in the bottom portion thereof and communicating with the chamber
11
thereof, to receive three prongs
40
,
41
,
42
respectively.
One of the prongs
40
-
42
, such as the intermediate prong
41
includes a contact
43
formed or provided thereon. A conductor blade
44
includes one end
45
secured to the other prong
42
, and the other end
46
for selectively contacting or engaging with the contact
43
of the intermediate prong
41
(FIGS.
2
-
4
), and includes an intermediate portion
47
formed or provided or located between the ends
45
,
46
thereof. The prongs
40
-
42
may be retained or positioned within the receptacle
10
by a number of protuberances
48
(FIGS.
1
-
3
).
The receptacle
10
includes a groove
15
formed therein, and defined by one or more juts
16
, and aligned with the slot
12
thereof (FIG.
6
), and includes another groove
17
formed therein, and defined by one or more projections
18
, and includes an inverted T-shaped channel
19
formed therein.
The receptacle
10
further includes a housing
20
formed or extended or provided on top thereof, and having a width or length smaller than that of the receptacle
10
, to form one or more shoulders, or a peripheral shoulder
21
between the housing
20
and the receptacle
10
.
The housing
20
includes a space
22
formed therein and defined by a partition
23
which is preferably located between the housing
20
and the receptacle
10
, and includes one or more apertures
24
formed therein, and includes two orifices
25
,
26
formed in the partition
23
(FIG.
5
), and includes a stud
27
(
FIG. 5
) and a fin
28
(
FIGS. 1
,
5
) extended into the space
22
of the housing
20
from the partition
23
.
The housing
20
further includes an extension
29
extended downwardly from the partition
23
(FIGS.
2
-
4
), to engage with the intermediate portion
47
of the conductor blade
44
. A bar
30
is engaged and received in the channel
19
of the receptacle
10
, and; includes a protrusion
31
extended therefrom, to engage with and: to position the intermediate portion
47
of the conductor blade
44
, and to prevent the intermediate portion
47
of the conductor blade
44
from moving up and down relative to the receptacle
10
.
A neon lamp
50
includes one prong or terminal
51
extended through one of the orifices
25
of the partition
23
of the housing
20
, and engaged into and received in the groove
17
formed and defined between the projections
18
, and secured or electrically coupled to the intermediate prong
41
with such as welding processes or the like.
The other prong or terminal
51
of the neon lamp
50
is extended through the other orifice
26
of the partition
23
of the housing
20
, and engaged into and received in the other groove
15
formed and defined between the juts
16
, and secured or electrically coupled to the prong
40
with such as welding processes or the like. A resistor
53
is attached or coupled to the other prong or terminal
51
of the neon lamp
50
.
Accordingly, the resistor
53
and the neon lamp
50
may be electrically coupled between the prongs
40
,
41
with the other prongs or terminals
51
,
52
of the neon lamp
50
. The conductor blade
44
may selectively contact or couple the prongs
41
,
42
together. The neon lamp
50
may be positioned or retained or secured within the space
22
of the housing
20
with the stud
27
and/or the fin
28
of the housing
20
.
A switch button
55
includes one or more axles
56
extended therefrom, and engaged into the apertures
24
of the housing
20
, to pivotally or rotatably attach the switch button
55
to the housing
20
, and to allow the switch button
55
to be rotated relative to the housing
20
with the pivot axles
56
. The switch button
55
includes a pin
57
extended from one end thereof.
A lever
60
includes a hole
61
formed in one end thereof to receive the pin
57
, and to pivotally or rotatably attach or couple the lever
60
to the switch button
55
. The lever
60
is slidably engaged through the partition
23
of the housing
20
, and includes a cavity
62
formed in the other end thereof, and defined by a finger or an actuator
63
, to receive and to engage with the other end
46
of the conductor blade
44
, in order to move the other end
46
of the conductor blade
44
up and down relative to the prong
41
, and to selectively engage and disengage the other end
46
of the conductor blade
44
from the contact
43
of the intermediate prong
41
(FIGS.
2
-
4
).
A protective sleeve
70
may be attached or engaged onto the housing
20
, and engaged with the peripheral shoulder
21
formed between the housing
20
and the receptacle
10
, to shield the axles
56
of the switch button
55
and the apertures
24
of the housing
20
. A cover
71
(
FIG. 1
) may be attached or secured to the receptacle
10
, to retain the prongs
40
-
42
and/or the other parts or elements within the chamber
11
of the receptacle
10
.
In operation, as shown in
FIG. 2
, when the other end
59
of the switch button
55
is depressed by the users or moved toward the receptacle
10
or the prong
41
, the lever
60
may be elevated and moved away from the prong
41
, to disengage the other end
46
of the conductor blade
44
from the contact
43
of the intermediate prong
41
, and thus to switch off or cut off the electric coupling between the prongs
40
,
42
.
As shown in
FIG. 3
, when the other end
59
of the switch button
55
is released by the users, or when the one end of the switch button
55
is depressed by the users or moved toward the receptacle
10
or the prong
41
, the lever
60
may be moved toward the prong
41
, to allow the other end
46
of the conductor blade
44
to be engaged with the contact
43
of the intermediate prong
41
, and thus to switch on or to actuate the electric coupling between the prongs
40
,
42
.
The resistor
53
and the neon lamp
50
are electrically coupled between the prongs
40
,
41
, and may be damaged automatically when an overload electric energy is supplied to the resistor
53
and the neon lamp
50
, and thus to switch off or cut off the electric coupling between the prongs
40
,
41
automatically when an overload electric energy is supplied to the overload breaker in accordance with the present invention.
It is to be noted that the prongs
40
-
42
, and the conductor blade
44
, and the bar
30
may be easily assembled into the chamber
11
of the receptacle
10
, and the resistor
53
and the neon lamp
50
and the switch button
55
and the lever
60
may be easily assembled into the space
22
of the housing
20
, such that the parts and the elements of the overload breaker may be easily assembled, and such that the overload breaker is good for mass production processes.
Accordingly, the overload breaker in accordance with the present invention includes an improved configuration for allowing the overload breaker to be easily manufactured and assembled.
Although this invention has been described with a certain degree of particularity, it is to be understood that the present disclosure has been made by way of example only and that numerous changes in the detailed construction and the combination and arrangement of parts may be resorted to without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
Claims
- 1. An overload breaker comprising:a receptacle including a chamber formed therein, and including three slots formed in bottom and communicating with said chamber thereof, said receptacle including a housing provided on top thereof and having a space formed therein and defined by a partition which is located between said housing and said receptacle, a first and a second and a third prongs engaged in said slots of said receptacle respectively, said second prong including a contact provided thereon, a conductor blade including a first end secured to said third prong, and a second end for selectively contacting with said contact of said second prong, and including an intermediate portion located between said first and said second ends thereof, a neon lamp received in said space of said housing, and including a first terminal extended through said partition and coupled to said second prong, and including a second terminal extended through said partition and coupled to said first prong, a resistor coupled to said second terminal of said neon lamp, a switch button pivotally attached to said housing with at least one pivot axle, and including a first end and a second end, and a lever including a first end pivotally coupled to said first end of said switch button, and including a second end having an actuator provided thereon, to engage with said second end of said conductor blade, and to move said second end of said conductor blade relative to said second prong, and to selectively engage and disengage said second end of said conductor blade from said contact of said second prong, said second end of said conductor blade being engageable with said contact of said second prong when said first end of said switch button and said lever are moved toward said second prong, and being movable away from said contact of said second prong when said second end of said switch button is moved toward said second prong, to move said lever away from said second prong.
- 2. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a groove formed therein and defined by at least one projection, to receive said first terminal of said neon lamp.
- 3. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a groove formed therein and defined by at least one jut, to receive said second terminal of said neon lamp.
- 4. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a width smaller than that of said receptacle, to form a shoulder between said housing and said receptacle.
- 5. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 1 further comprising means for positioning said intermediate portion of said conductor blade in said receptacle.
- 6. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes an extension extended from said partition, to engage with said intermediate portion of said conductor blade, and to position said intermediate portion of said conductor blade in said receptacle.
- 7. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 5, wherein said positioning means includes a bar engaged in said receptacle, and having a protrusion extended from said bar, to engage with said intermediate portion of said conductor blade, and to position said intermediate portion of said conductor blade in said receptacle.
- 8. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 7, wherein said receptacle includes an inverted T-shaped channel formed therein, to receive and retain said bar therein.
- 9. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a stud extended into said space thereof from said partition, to engage with said neon lamp, and to retain said neon lamp in said housing.
- 10. The overload breaker as claimed in claim 1, wherein said housing includes a fin extended into said space thereof from said partition, to engage with said neon lamp, and to retain said neon lamp in said housing.
US Referenced Citations (8)