Abstract:
An electrical connection strip with a releasable mounting for attaching to mounting brackets of different configurations. The electrical connection strip includes an elongated block of electrically non-conductive material and a first mounting assembly. The mounting assembly comprises two longitudinal members that extend from an end of the block with a cross member running between them. Attached to the cross member is a vertical locking member which extends above and below the longitudinal members. The vertical locking member includes a locking formation located above the longitudinal members and a boss located below the longitudinal members. The locking formation and boss are configured to cooperatively engage a locking recess in a tabbed mounting bracket and tabless mounting bracket respectively. A rotational fixity member comprises a region of the longitudinal members formed with a first notch and a second notch with each notch configured to receive an edge of the tabless mounting bracket and an edge of the tabbed mounting bracket respectively. A preferred embodiment also includes a second mounting assembly which is located opposite the first mounting assembly and is a mirror image of it.
Abstract:
A circuit breaker arraignment includes at least two trip mechanisms. The first trip mechanism acts to immediately trip to open contacts of the circuit breaker upon reaching a first threshold current level, and the second trip mechanism acts to trip to open the contacts once both a second current threshold is reached and a time delay has elapsed. The contacts are moved by a linkage assembly that is held under mechanical advantage such that when acted on by one of the two trip mechanisms, the mechanical advantage is released to rapidly open the contacts.
Abstract:
A circuit breaker includes a housing having a channel formed therein, the channel being defined by at least one side wall having a detent formed therein, a circuit breaker mechanism, a switch handle configured to toggle the circuit breaker, and an actuator module adapted to move the switch handle from the off position to the on position. The module includes a flexible portion having a protrusion formed thereon, the protrusion being sized, shaped and located to engage the detent when the module is mounted within the channel. The module also includes a locking clip moveable from an unlocked position, in which flexing of the at least one flexible portion is permitted, and a locked position, in which flexing of the at least one flexible portion is limited or prevented, such that when the module is mounted within the channel, removal of the module is inhibited.
Abstract:
A circuit interrupter having a compact design. According to some implementations, the circuit interrupter includes a conductor from a terminal to a contact having a portion that is angled with respect to the housing sides. This allows a fastener sleeve used to secure the device housing to be positioned closer to the center of mass of the housing, reducing the area of the housing. In some implementations, an arc splitter is provided which includes conductive plates that are angled with respect to the housing sides, allowing the area of the housing to be reduced. In some implementations, a terminal is designed to accommodate a connection without being doubled back, reducing the clearance required for the terminal and the overall area of the circuit interrupter.
Abstract:
A circuit breaker having a movable contact arm for opening and closing the circuit which is controlled separately by a circuit breaker mechanism for circuit protection and by a switch lever mechanism which does not require actuation of the circuit breaker mechanism to function. The switch lever may also be activated remotely by a remote actuator, for example, a solenoid. A manual reset mechanism is provided so that, actuation of which, when power has been lost to the remote actuator when the remote actuator is in the off position, moves the remote actuator to the on position, thereby resetting the circuit to the closed state.
Abstract:
A circuit breaker which includes a shielding component. The shielding component includes an external portion which defines a space external to the circuit breaker housing. The external portion prevents insertion of the circuit breaker into a breaker box closer than the distances defining the space. This can have the advantage of preventing arcing from the breaker contacts to the breaker box. The external portion may also prevent insertion of the circuit breaker into a breaker box such that a vent in the circuit breaker housing is blocked. In some implementations, the shielding component contains an internal portion which extends into the circuit breaker housing and is disposed to impede debris generated by contact arcing, or other debris, from entering the mechanism of the circuit breaker.
Abstract:
A circuit interrupter for cooling and quenching an electrical arc having a housing with a first contact and a second contact movable with respect to the first contact. An arc splitter is located in an arcing chamber, and an arc runner is located near the second contact. The arc runner has an arc strap facing toward the first contact, a first wall shaped as a rectangular spiral perpendicularly extending from the arc strap, a second wall shaped as a rectangular spiral perpendicularly extending from to the arc strap and opposite the first wall. The arc runner generates a magnetic force on the arc forcing the arc toward the arc splitter.
Abstract:
An individual telephone subscriber circuit module for use with laminar type connector blocks employing conventional three-element gas tubes of diameter greater than the thickness of an individual lamina. The module houses two gas tubes in side-by-side relation and straddles two adjacent laminae on the block to protect a pair of adjacent circuits.
Abstract:
A test shoe adapted to engage a discrete area on a telephone connector block, normally mounted upon a telephone main frame for the purpose of interfacing with a plurality of individual subscriber circuits appearing on the block, either directly, or through protector modules. The establishment of communication with each subscriber circuit involves the engagement of a large number of contact prongs with corresponding circuits, creating substantial frictional contact tending to retain the shoe in position. Means is provided for facilitating the disengagement of the shoe after completion of testing procedures, whereby the friction is conveniently overcome, and the shoe disengaged in a direction perpendicular to the plane of the connector block.