Ground fault circuit breaker with cold temperature bimetal constriction

申请号 US42157373 申请日 1973-12-04 公开(公告)号 US3858130A 公开(公告)日 1974-12-31
申请人 WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP; 发明人 MISENCIK J;
摘要 A ground fault circuit interrupter characterized by a circuit breaker and a ground fault detector contained within an insulating housing. The circuit breaker comprises an elongated current-carrying bimetal element for tripping a pair of cooperable contacts from the closed to the open position, one end portion of the bimetal element being fixedly mounted and the other end being free to move in one direction in response to an increase in temperature. A bi-metal stop projection within the housing to prevent movement of the bimetal element from its latched position to the other direction in response to extremely cold ambient temperatures.
权利要求
1. A circuit breaker comprising an electrically insulating housing and including a box-like container and a cover therefor, a circuit breaker structure within the housing and comprising a pair of separable contacts operable between open and closed positions, a releasable member in an initial position and movable when released to a tripped position to effect automatic opening of the contacts and comprising an elOngated current-carrying bimetal for tripping the releasable member when a predetermined current overload effect deflection of said bimetal in one direction from a latched position, the bimetal being mounted at one end portion and disposed in an unbiased position, bimetal stop means for preventing said bimetal from moving in the other direction from said latched position when the bimetal is subjected to extremely cold ambien temperature, and the container and the cover being molded members one of which comprises an integral molded projection at the other end of the bimetal.
2. A ground fault circuit interrupter for use in a load center and comprising a circuit breaker, a ground fault detector, and an insulation housing therefor; the circuit breaker comprising a pair of cooperable contacts operable between open and closed positions, a releasable member in an initial position and movable when released to a tripped position to effect automatic opening of the contacts, an elongated current-carrying bimetal element for tripping the releasable member when a predetermined current overload effects deflection of said bimetal element in one direction from a latched position, the bimetal being mounted at one end portion and disposed in an unbiased position, bimetal stop means for preventing said bimetal element from moving in the other direction from said latched position when the bimetal is subjected to extremely cold ambient temperature; the ground fault detector comprising a current monitoring core, a plurality of primary windings on the core, each being one of a line and a neutral conductor of an A.C., electrical distribution system, a secondary winding sensing current imbalance between the primary windings, means responsive to a predetermined sensing signal to open said line conductors, the means responsive to a predetermined sensing signal including a pivotally movable member movable against said bimetal element to unlatch the releasable member, and the pivotally movable member being adjacent to the bimetal element on the side of the bimetal stop means.
3. The ground fault circuit breaker of claim 2 in which the bimetal stop means comprises a projection extending into a position on the side of the bimetal element opposite the direction of deflection thereof.
4. The ground fault circuit breaker of claim 3 in which the projection is an integral portion of one of the container and cover.
5. The ground fault circuit breaker of claim 4 in which the bimetal element is fixedly mounted at one end portion and the other end portion is unattached, and in which the projection is a portion of the container and located at said other end portion thereof.
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