Enhanced solenoid-armature interface
Certain exemplary embodiments comprise an apparatus, comprising: a circuit breaker comprising: an integral thermo-magnetic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a current overload and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a voltage spike of at least a predetermined level; and an integral electronic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of a ground fault and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of an arc fault, said integral electronic trip device comprising a solenoid adapted to actuate upon at least one of said ground fault and said arc fault, said solenoid comprising a plunger, said plunger comprising a plunger tip located at an end of said plunger and defined about a longitudinal axis of said solenoid, said plunger tip adapted to contact and move a biased armature.
1. An apparatus, comprising:
a circuit breaker comprising:
an integral thermo-magnetic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a current overload and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a voltage spike of at least a predetermined level;
an integral electronic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of a ground fault and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of an arc fault, said integral electronic trip device comprising a solenoid adapted to actuate upon at least one of said ground fault and said arc fault, said solenoid comprising a plunger, said plunger comprising a substantially paraboloidal plunger tip located at an end of said plunger and defined about a longitudinal axis of said solenoid, said plunger tip adapted to contact and move a biased armature.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said solenoid is adapted to actuate only upon detection of said ground fault.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said solenoid is adapted to actuate only upon detection of said arc fault.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plunger is substantially cylindrical.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said plunger tip is substantially radially symmetrical about said longitudinal axis of said solenoid.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said armature comprises an extension adapted to be contacted and moved by said plunger lip.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said armature is adapted to be coupled to a breaker handle.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said armature is adapted to be released from an ON position to a TRIPPED position.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said armature is adapted to be released from an ON position to a TRIPPED position upon detection of said ground fault.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said armature is adapted to be released from an ON position to a TRIPPED position upon detection of said arc fault.
11. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein release of said armature is adapted to expose a trip flag.
12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said armature is adapted to hide a trip flag when said circuit breaker is in an ON position.
13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said armature is adapted to retain a trip flag in a hidden position when said circuit breaker has an ON status.
14. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said armature is adapted to cause a trip flag to appear in an exposed position when said circuit breaker has a TRIPPED status.
15. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said integral thermo-magnetic trip device is adapted in not expose a trip flag upon said occurrence of said current overload.
16. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said integral thermo-magnetic trip device is adapted to not expose a trip flag upon said occurrence of said voltage spike.
17. An apparatus, comprising:
a circuit breaker comprising:
an integral thermo-magnetic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a current overload and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a voltage spike of at least a predetermined level;
an integral electronic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of a ground fault and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of an arc fault, said integral electronic trip device comprising a solenoid adapted to actuate upon at least one of said ground fault and said arc fault, said solenoid comprising a plunger, said plunger comprising a substantially paraboloidal plunger tip located at an end of said plunger and defined about a longitudinal axis of said solenoid, said plunger tip adapted to contact and release a biased armature, a predetermined movement of said armature adapted to trip said circuit breaker.
18. A method for indicating a cause of a trip of a circuit breaker, comprising:
providing said circuit breaker that comprises:
an integral thermo-magnetic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon an occurrence of a current overload;
an integral electronic trip device adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of a ground fault and adapted to trip said circuit breaker upon detection of an arc fault, said integral electronic trip device comprising a solenoid adapted to actuate upon at least one of said ground fault and said arc fault, said solenoid comprising a plunger, said plunger comprising a substantially paraboloidal plunger tip located at an end of said plunger and defined about a longitudinal axis of said solenoid, said plunger tip adapted to contact and move a biased armature; and
upon detection of said ground fault or said arc fault:
actuating said solenoid;
moving said armature; and
tripping the circuit breaker.
19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising detecting the ground fault or the arc fault.
20. The method of claim 18 , further comprising moving said plunger and contacting said armature.