US 11,869,736 B2
Circuit interrupter with brake system for shaft that opens separable contacts
Andrew L. Gottschalk, Monaca, PA (US); Robert Michael Slepian, Murrysville, PA (US); and Xin Zhou, Franklin Park, PA (US)
Assigned to EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED, Dublin (IE)
Filed by EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED, Dublin (IE)
Filed on Dec. 29, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/564,453.
Prior Publication US 2023/0207245 A1, Jun. 29, 2023
Int. Cl. H01H 75/04 (2006.01); H01H 71/66 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 75/04 (2013.01) [H01H 71/66 (2013.01); H01H 2071/665 (2013.01)] 8 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A circuit interrupter comprising:
a frame;
a set of separable contacts comprising a stationary contact and a movable contact;
the stationary contact being affixed to the frame;
a shaft movably situated on the frame, the movable contact being situated on the shaft;
a drive system situated on the frame and operable to move the shaft with respect to the frame between a first position and a second position, the set of separable contacts being in a CLOSED state in the first position of the shaft and being in an OPEN state in the second position of the shaft; and
a brake comprising a mass movably situated on the frame, the shaft being structured to engage the mass and to cause the mass to be in motion when moving from the first position toward the second position,
wherein the drive system comprises a first actuator that is operable to move the shaft at a first velocity from the first position toward the predetermined position and engage the mass, and wherein the drive system comprises a second actuator that is operable to move the shaft at a second velocity greater than the first velocity from the first position toward the predetermined position and the engage the mass.