Claims:We claim:

1. A plug in adaptor configured to connect to a miniature circuit breaker, the plug in adapter comprising:
a housing with a cover;
a fixed terminal configured within a housing, the fixed terminal capable of being connected to any one of top terminal and bottom terminal of the miniature circuit breaker;
a copper braid connected to the fixed terminal;
a movable plug in contact fixed over a copper braid; and
a contact holder capable of guiding the movable plug in contact therein, the contact holder adjusts and locks the movable plug in contact at four predefined positions of lines L1, L2, L3, and L4 to be connected, the contact holder is marked with four predefined colors that can be viewed through an opening configured on the housing, wherein each predefined color corresponds to the current position of the plug in contact.

2. The plug in adaptor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one end of the copper braid is welded over the movable plug in contact and other is to the fixed terminal.

3. The plug in adaptor as claimed in claim 1, the plug in contact includes a spring connected thereto.

, Description:Field of the invention

The present invention relates to plug-in adaptor for modular devices and more particularly, the present invention relates to the plug-in adaptor with four variable positions for miniature circuit breaker.

Background of the invention

Miniature circuit breaker (MCBs) used in the low voltage distribution boards are connected to bus bars through cables. In case of replacing the MCB or adding a new MCB to the distribution boards, the entire feeder needs to be de-energized till all the connections are made. This activity causes an unwanted interruption to all other loads connected to that particular feeder.

The present solutions available are either dedicated MCBs used for plug in or a fixed adaptor type that needs to be changed if we want to use the same MCBs for other lines/phases.

Specifically, US Patent No. 7061348 discloses a dedicated Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) that has movable contacts with three locking positions and can be plugged onto a desired bus bar. The MCB also has an indicator at the front face that indicates the bus bar to which the contacts are plugged onto. However, the US Patent 7061348 discloses a plug-in type MCB that cannot be used for conventional wiring type, and has only three locking positions. Further, the adapter disclosed in abovementioned patent has the top terminal modified into the plug in contacts whereas the bottom terminal is of conventional box clamp type, which restricts use of other terminal for conventional wiring.

Another European Patent No. EP2104193 discloses a removable apparatus that can be connected to a miniature circuit breaker (MCB) to make it work like a plug in MCB. However, the apparatus disclosed in EP2104193 can be connected only to the top terminal. Further, the apparatus disclosed in EP2104193 has fixed plug in contacts so that four different adaptors are required for four conductors.

Accordingly, there exists a need to provide a plug-in adaptor for miniature circuit breaker, which overcomes abovementioned drawbacks.

Objects of the invention

An object of the present is to provide a plug-in adaptor for miniature circuit breaker (MCB) which has four variable positions.

Another object of the present invention is to provide plug-in adaptor which can be connected to top or bottom terminal of the miniature circuit breaker (MCB).

Yet another object of the present invention is to provide plug- in adapter for miniature circuit breaker (MCB) which allows using of other terminal of the MCB for conventional wiring.

Summary of the invention

Accordingly, the present invention provides a plug in adaptor configured to connect to a miniature circuit breaker. The plug in adapter comprises housing with a cover, and a fixed terminal configured within housing. The fixed terminal is capable of being connected to any one of top terminal and bottom terminal of the miniature circuit breaker. The plug in adapter further comprises a copper braid connected to the fixed terminal, a movable plug-in contact fixed over a copper braid, a contact holder capable of guiding the movable plug in contact therein. Specifically, the contact holder adjusts and locks the movable plug-in contact at four predefined positions of lines L1, L2, L3, and L4 to be connected. Further, the contact holder is marked with four predefined colors that can be viewed through an opening configured on the housing. More specifically, each predefined color corresponds to the current position of the plug-in contact.

Brief description of the drawings

Figure 1 shows an assembled view of a miniature circuit breaker (MCB) with plug-in adaptor, in accordance with the present invention.

Fig.ure 2 shows an exploded view of the miniature circuit breaker (MCB) with plug-in adaptor figure 1;

Figure 3a shows a plug-in adaptor of figure 1 and 2;

Figure 3b shows cross sectional view of the plug-in adaptor of figure 3a;

Figure 4 shows rear view of the plug in adaptor of figure 3a;

Figure 5 shows a front view of the plug-in adaptor of figure 3a;

Figure 6 shows components of the plug-in adaptor of figure 3a in the current carrying path; and

Figure 7 shows a contact holder that supports the plug in contact of the plug-in adaptor of the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

The foregoing objects of the present invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art, techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.

The present invention provides a plug in adapter with four position movable/adjustable plug-in contact that can be connected to the miniature circuit breaker (MCB) otherwise used for normal wiring with cables. The plug in adapter of the present invention is a interconnection device that eliminates the complexity of cable connection on the line side and also avoids unwanted line interruption to other loads connected to that particular feeder while adding a MCB or replacing it.

The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures.

Referring to figures- 1-7, there is shown a plug-in adaptor (100) configured to connect to a miniature circuit breaker (200), in accordance with the present invention. Specifically, figure 1 shows a miniature circuit breaker (MCB) (200) with plug-in adaptor (100) otherwise intended for normal cable connection on the line side. Figure 2 shows an exploded view of the plug-in adaptor (100) with MCB (200).

The plug in adapter (100) as shown in figure 3a and 3b, of the present invention allows a normal MCB (200) to be converted to a plug in type MCB just by connecting the plug in adaptor (100) thereto.

The plug in adapter (100) comprises housing (90) with a cover (80). Further, the plug in adapter (100) comprises fixed terminal (20) configured within housing (90).

The fixed terminal (20) is capable of being connected to any one of top terminal and bottom terminal of the miniature circuit breaker (200). For the purpose of explanation, the preferred embodiment of the present invention shows the fixed terminal (20) connected to a screw terminal of the MCB (100). This makes the MCB (200) a plug in type and the plug in adaptor (100) acts as the line side of the MCB (200). Specifically, the other terminal of the MCB (200) is connected as in normal wiring to the load.

The plug in adapter (100) furthermore comprises a copper braid (30) connected to the fixed terminal (20). In an embodiment, the copper braid (30) is connected to the fixed terminal (20) by welding.

The plug in adapter (100) also comprises a movable plug in contact (40) fixed over the copper braid (30). In an embodiment, the movable plug in contact (40) is connected to the copper braid (30) by welding. The plug in contact (40) includes a spring (40a) connected thereto.

The plug in adapter (100) moreover comprises a contact holder (50). The contact holder (50) is capable of guiding the movable plug in contact (40) therein. Specifically, the contact holder (50) adjusts and locks the movable plug in contact (40) at four predefined positions of lines L1, L2, L3, and L4 to be connected. The plug in contact (40) is moved and fixed to any of the four positions with the help of the contact holder (50) that slides inside the cover (80) and housing (90). The contact holder (50) is marked with four predefined colors that can be viewed through an opening (90a) configured on the housing (90) as shown in figure 5.

Each predefined color marked on the contact holder (50) corresponds to the current position of the plug in contact (40). Specifically, figure 7 shows a contact holder (50) with four different color markings corresponding to the four possible locking positions of the plug in contact (40).

The plug in contact (40), the copper braid (30), a fixed terminal (20) and the contact holder (50) are housed between the cover (80) and housing (90). The cover (80) and the housing (90) are held together with at least two rivets (80a).

In an embodiment, the MCB (200) with a plug in adaptor (100) can be mounted on a DIN rail.

Advantages of the invention

1. The plug in adapter (100) can be used with the conventional MCB, considered as an external adaptor.

2. The plug in adapter (100) allows MCB to connect with any position by sliding the movable contact (40) and fixing it at the desired position.

3. The plug in adapter (100) indicates the position reference through color marking on contact holder (50).

4. The plug in adapter (100) allows the plug in adaptor to be connected at bottom terminal or the top terminal of the MCB.

Invention allows the Plug in MCB to be mounted on DIN rail without the need of any special mounting arrangements.

The foregoing descriptions of specific embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration and description. They are not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the present invention to the precise forms disclosed, and obviously many modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teaching. The embodiments were chosen and described in order to best explain the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to thereby enable others skilled in the art to best utilize the present invention and various embodiments with various modifications as are suited to the particular use contemplated. It is understood that various omissions and substitutions of equivalents are contemplated as circumstances may suggest or render expedient, but such omissions and substitutions are intended to cover the application or implementation without departing from the spirit or scope of the claims of the present invention.