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An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing having an opening, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism to trip open the operating mechanism. The trip mechanism includes a first

An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing having an opening, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism to trip open the operating mechanism. The trip mechanism includes a first bimetal to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to a thermal fault, a second ambient compensation bimetal to compensate the first bimetal, and an arc fault trip circuit to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to an arc fault. An indicator includes an indicator portion and a leg disposed from the indicator portion. A spring biases the indicator portion. The second bimetal holds the leg of the indicator, thereby holding the indicator against the spring bias. The second bimetal releases the leg of the indicator responsive to the arc fault trip circuit and the arc fault, thereby releasing the indicator to the spring bias.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A circuit breaker comprising: a housing including an opening; separable contacts disposed in said housing; an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts; a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with said operating mechanism to trip open said ope

What is claimed is: 1. A circuit breaker comprising: a housing including an opening; separable contacts disposed in said housing; an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts; a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with said operating mechanism to trip open said operating mechanism, said trip mechanism comprising a first portion structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to a thermal fault, a second portion structured to compensate said first portion, and a third portion structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to an arc fault; an indicator comprising an indicator portion and a leg disposed from said indicator portion; and a bias mechanism structured to bias said indicator, wherein the second portion of said trip mechanism is normally structured to hold the leg of said indicator, thereby holding said indicator against the bias of said bias mechanism, and wherein the second portion of said trip mechanism is also structured to release the leg of said indicator responsive the third portion of said trip mechanism and said arc fault, thereby releasing said indicator to the bias of said bias mechanism. 2. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the first portion of said trip mechanism comprises a bimetal structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to the thermal fault; and wherein the third portion of said operating mechanism comprises a solenoid structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to the arc fault. 3. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the leg of said indicator is a first leg; wherein said indicator comprises a second leg disposed from said indicator portion; wherein said housing comprises a bezel including said opening and an interior surface; wherein the first leg of said indicator includes a hook which is normally held by the second portion of said trip mechanism; wherein said bias mechanism biases said indicator portion external to said housing; and wherein the second leg of said indicator includes a foot, said foot being structured to engage the interior surface of said bezel after the second portion of said trip mechanism releases the first leg of said indicator responsive to said arc fault, thereby limiting travel of said indicator portion external to said housing. 4. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the first portion of said trip mechanism comprises a first bimetal structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to the thermal fault; wherein the second portion of said trip mechanism comprises a second ambient compensation bimetal structured to compensate said first bimetal for changes in ambient temperature; and wherein both of said first bimetal and said second ambient compensation bimetal are elongated and comprise a first end, a second end opposite said first end and an intermediate portion between said first and second ends, said intermediate portion of said first bimetal being structured to move in a first direction responsive to an increase in current flowing through said separable contacts, said intermediate portion of said first bimetal being structured to move in an opposite second direction responsive to a decrease in current flowing through said separable contacts, said intermediate portion of said second ambient compensation bimetal being structured to move in the first direction responsive to an increase in said ambient temperature, said intermediate portion of said second ambient compensation bimetal being structured to move in the opposite second direction responsive to a decrease in said ambient temperature. 5. The circuit breaker of claim 4 wherein the third portion of said trip mechanism comprises an arc fault trip circuit and a solenoid including a coil and a plunger; wherein said second ambient compensation bimetal comprises a spring normally holding the first end of said second ambient compensation bimetal fixed with respect to said housing, the first end of said second ambient compensation bimetal carrying a latch member, said latch member normally latching the leg of said indicator; wherein said arc fault trip circuit is structured to detect said arc fault and energize said coil; and wherein said plunger, responsive to said coil being energized, is structured to move the intermediate portion of said second ambient compensation bimetal in the opposite second direction in order to trip open said separable contacts, and also move the first end of said second ambient compensation bimetal, in order that said latch member releases the leg of said indicator responsive to said arc fault. 6. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said operating mechanism comprises a stem passing through the opening of said housing and an operating member disposed on said stem external to said housing; wherein said indicator portion is a conduit surrounding said stem; wherein the first portion of said trip mechanism comprises a first bimetal structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to the thermal fault; wherein the second portion of said trip mechanism comprises a second ambient compensation bimetal structured to compensate said first bimetal for changes in ambient temperature, said second ambient compensation bimetal comprising a spring and an end holding a latch member, said spring normally holding the end of said second ambient compensation bimetal fixed with respect to said housing, said latch member normally latching the leg of said indicator, the second ambient compensation bimetal and said third portion of said trip mechanism being responsive to said arc fault independent from said first bimetal. 7. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said indicator is made of a liquid crystal polymer. 8. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said indicator portion is a halo shaped conduit having an internal portion, an external portion, an opening therethrough and a thickness between said internal portion and said external portion, said halo shaped conduit being disposed within the opening of said housing, said thickness being about 0.015 to about 0.020 inch. 9. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the leg of said indicator is flexible and includes a hook portion; and wherein the second portion of said trip mechanism engages said hook portion and deflects the leg of said indicator, thereby holding said indicator against the bias of said bias mechanism. 10. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said operating mechanism comprises an operating stem passing through the opening of said housing and an operating handle disposed on said operating stem external to said housing; wherein said indicator portion is a conduit surrounding said operating stem; wherein the first portion of said trip mechanism is structured to release said operating stem and extend said operating handle further external to said housing responsive to said thermal fault; and wherein the second portion of said trip mechanism is structured to hold the leg of said indicator in the absence of said arc fault. 11. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said operating mechanism comprises an operating stem passing through the opening of said housing and an operating handle disposed on said operating stem external to said housing; wherein said indicator portion is a conduit surrounding said operating stem; and wherein the second portion of said trip mechanism cooperates with the third portion of said trip mechanism to release said operating stem and extend said operating handle further external to said housing responsive to said arc fault. 12. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said housing comprises a bezel including said opening; and wherein said bezel has an outside diameter of about 0.4375 inch. 13. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said operating mechanism comprises an operating handle, a clevis disposed from said operating handle, a first slide portion structured to capture said clevis absent said thermal fault, and a second slide portion structured to capture said clevis absent said arc fault; wherein the first portion of said trip mechanism comprises a bimetal structured to move said first slide portion and release said clevis responsive to said thermal fault; and wherein the third portion of said trip mechanism comprises a solenoid structured to move the second portion of said trip mechanism and said second slide portion and to release said clevis responsive to said arc fault. 14. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the leg of said indicator is a first leg; wherein said indicator comprises a second leg disposed from said indicator portion; wherein said housing comprises a retaining member and a bezel including a conduit forming said opening; wherein said operating mechanism comprises an operating stem passing through the opening of said housing and an operating handle disposed on said operating stem external to said housing; and wherein said indicator portion is a conduit surrounding said operating stem, said second leg being disposed between said retaining member and the conduit of said bezel. 15. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the first portion of said trip mechanism comprises a first bimetal structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to the thermal fault; wherein the second portion of said trip mechanism comprises a second ambient compensation bimetal structured to compensate said first bimetal for changes in ambient temperature, said second ambient compensation bimetal comprising a number of springs and an end holding a latch member, said number of springs normally holding the end of said second ambient compensation bimetal fixed with respect to said housing, said latch member normally latching the leg of said indicator, the second ambient compensation bimetal and said third portion of said trip mechanism being responsive to said arc fault independent from said first bimetal. 16. The circuit breaker of claim 15 wherein said latch member normally latches the leg of said indicator with a force; and wherein said second ambient compensation bimetal further comprises a number of adjustment members, which cooperate with said number of springs to adjust said force. 17. The circuit breaker of claim 16 wherein an increase of said force results in a relatively slower release of said indicator responsive to said arc fault; and wherein a decrease of said force results in a relatively faster release of said indicator responsive to said arc fault. 18. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the leg of said indicator is a first leg; and wherein said indicator comprises a second leg disposed from said indicator portion, said indicator portion being disposable through the opening of said housing, said second leg being structured to limit travel of said indicator portion through the opening of said housing. 19. An aircraft circuit breaker comprising: a housing including an opening; separable contacts disposed in said housing; an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts; a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with said operating mechanism to trip open said operating mechanism, said trip mechanism comprising a first bimetal structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to a thermal fault, a second ambient compensation bimetal structured to compensate said first bimetal, and an arc fault trip circuit structured to trip open said operating mechanism responsive to an arc fault; an indicator comprising an indicator portion and a leg disposed from said indicator portion; and a bias mechanism structured to bias said indicator, wherein the second ambient compensation bimetal is normally structured to hold the leg of said indicator, thereby holding said indicator against the bias of said bias mechanism, and wherein the second ambient compensation bimetal is also structured to release the leg of said indicator responsive to said arc fault trip circuit and said arc fault, thereby releasing said indicator to the bias of said bias mechanism. 20. The aircraft circuit breaker of claim 19 wherein said arc fault trip circuit comprises an electromechanical mechanism; wherein said first bimetal moves responsive to said thermal fault to trip open said operating mechanism independent from said electromechanical mechanism; and wherein said electromechanical mechanism is structured to move said second ambient compensation bimetal responsive to said arc fault to trip open said operating mechanism. 21. The aircraft circuit breaker of claim 20 wherein said arc fault trip circuit further comprises an arc fault detection circuit; and wherein said electromechanical mechanism comprises a solenoid including a coil and a plunger, said arc fault detection circuit energizing said coil responsive to said arc fault, said plunger moving said second ambient compensation bimetal responsive to said coil being energized. 22. The aircraft circuit breaker of claim 21 wherein said second ambient compensation bimetal moves independently from said first bimetal; wherein said first bimetal moves responsive to said thermal fault and independent from the plunger of said solenoid; and wherein said plunger moves said second ambient compensation bimetal responsive to said arc fault and independent from said first bimetal. 23. The aircraft circuit breaker of claim 19 wherein said aircraft circuit breaker is a subminiature aircraft circuit breaker.