OPERATING MECHANISM OF CIRCUIT BREAKER

Circuit breakers have two working positions open and close. During the closing
operation the circuit breaker contacts close against the following opposing forces
Electromagnetic forces between contacts, Action of operating spring, Inertia of
movable sub assembly, Opposing forces due to medium & Friction.
(a) Electromagnetic forces between contacts :- When the contacts touch during
closing operations electromagnetic forces appear, their magnitude being
proportional to square of the current and opposing to the direction of closing
while closing, on existing short circuit, these forces are large.
(b) Action of operating spring :- If the moving contacts are opened by spring
pressure. While closing these springs oppose the closure.
(c) Inertia of movable sub assembly :- The movable parts are contacts, their
holders, tension rods, operating links of operating mechanism etc. The mass of
these sum-assemblies are quite large and their inertia tries to oppose rapid
acceleration.
(d) Opposing forces due to medium :- The movable sub assembly has to move in
dielectric medium which is compressed air, gas, oil at high pressure and density.
(e) Friction :- Static and dynamic.

While closing, the contact closure should be fast, sure without hesitation,
with adequate contact pressure at the end of contact travel. If these conditions
are not satisfied, contact welding can result.
During the opening operation, the closed contacts are separated as early as
possible. The opening should be fast, in order to reduce circuit breaker opening
time. The opening time between the instant of receiving trip signal and final
contact separation is of the order of 0.030 second (i.e.) 1.5 cycles.
Opposing forces during opening operation are Electromagnetic forces due to
contact grip, Frictions, Opposing forces due to quenching medium & Inertia of
movable parts

(a) Electromagnetic forces due to contact grip :- The current transfer from fixed
contacts to movable contacts and then grip oppose the movement of moving contacts.
During the short circuit condition, the electromagnetic forces tends to increase
the grip of the contacts assembly. The forces of contact grip increases in
proportion to the square of current.
(b) Frictions :- The various operating links, bearing surfaces, mating surfaces
between fixed and movable parts etc. offer static friction.
(c) Opposing forces due to quenching medium :- The quenching medium (Compressed
air, dielectric oil, SF6 Gas) may offer substantial opposing forces to the
movement.
(d) Inertia of movable parts :- Energy in the operating mechanism is utilized in
accelerating the movable sub assemblies to the required speed.
Types of Mechanism :-
The operating mechanism in Circuit breakers are either dependable or stored
energy type. Dependent operating mechanisms depend on continuity of power supply
manual forces during closing.
The stored energy type are called independent operating mechanism as
they are independent of continuity of power supply or skill of the operator. In
such mechanism the energy required for closing is stored in a charged springs or in
compressed air-hydraulic oil.
They can be classified as
1.Spring opened, spring closed mechanism
2.Solenoid closed, spring opened mechanism
3.Hydraulic mechanism
4.Pneumatic mechanism etc.
Spring Operating Mechanism of CB :- The closing springs charged by rotating the cam
which is linked to a system of ratchet gears. The rotation is carried out
manually by a handle or through an electric motor. The cam developing on roller
compresses the closing springs. At the end of the stroke the loading cam frees
itself from the roller. The motor stops through limit switch. The closing spring
held by a latch / hook.
To close the Circuit Breaker, release the latch/hook using either the control
handle or the closing coil supplied by the station battery with a load of at least
300 VA through the dragging latch/hook, the closing springs transmit their stored
energy to the lever and its shaft. The latter, acting on lever, closes the Circuit
Breaker and loads the opening springs at the same time. The position of circuit
breaker closed and opening springs loaded is ensured by another latch/hook. The
control mechanism is now ready to carry out the opening/tripping operation. The
closing springs charging is possible by closing the limit switch of the motor or
manually.
To open/trip the circuit breaker disengage the opening hook/latch by means of
control handle or of trip coil.
In closing operation the mechanism force will be transmitted to the main
shaft assembly through the ratio linkages and in turn bell crank connected in main
shaft will push the contact spring, insulated drive rods and moving portion of
interrupter up to the point of contact touching. After the contact touch the main
shaft moves continuously towards the end of the stroke, further compressing the
contact springs, up to the level to give enough contact pressure. During the
closing movement the opening spring compressed. When the mechanism is tripped, the
initial opening acceleration is provided by the contact spring and the opening
spring together until the point of contact separation is reached, after which the
drive is maintained by the opening spring along the full stroke.
TROUBLE SHOOTINGS - MECHANISM :-
The circuit breakers are set for life at the factory to the appropriate setting
instructions and should not be disturbed unnecessarily. Before gaining access to
Circuit breaker ensure that the instructions given by the manufacturer the contact
wear, the snatch gap setting decreases and length of contact pressure setting
increases in closed position. The contact pressure spring give sufficient pressure
for full 3 mm wear of the vacuum interrupter contacts. Mechanism in over travel
setting
Where it becomes necessary to read just any of the settings originally made in the
factory due to disturbance or wear close the Circuit Breaker, adjust nuts at the
bottom of the spring post until latch just moves fully under latch pin, check
contact pressure spring length, snatch gap and hold open spring length. Reset
wherever necessary.
Trip / closing coil setting :- Trip coil setting : Loosen trip coil assembly fixing
screws adjust gap setting between trip pin and trip coil plunger link to the
specified limit say 2-to 2.2mm lock off using locktite 241.
Closing Coil Setting : -Adjust the gap between release roller and electrical
release closing coil plunger to 2 to 2.5 mm by adjusting release assembly within
its mounting and lock off using locktite 241.