Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Larry T. Shrout
  • Patent number: 6169653
    Abstract: An apparatus for providing precise alignment between primary and secondary contacts mounted on a circuit breaker and associated stationary primary and secondary contacts located with substantial precision with respect to X, Y and Z coordinates and mounted on a back panel of a switchgear breaker compartment. A locking/locate cradle is provided with two generally parallel guide rails that slidably receive and support the circuit breaker within the breaker compartment. The precise X, Y and Z-axes alignment of the guide rails with the X, Y and Z axes position of the stationary primary and secondary contacts on the back panel is crucial for proper mating and connection with the associated breaker primary and secondary contact. The back panel is provided with at least one alignment slot having two indexing sections spaced apart by an aligning section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Edward Ira Engel
  • Patent number: 6157033
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for remote detection of gas leak and determination of the relative concentration of a gas using nondispersive infrared absorption of backscattered laser light with background compensation. The method includes source of coherent infrared radiation, sealed reference cell, filled with air with admixture of reference gas of known concentration, sealed control cell filled with air, sensitive elements which are sensitive to radiant fluxes in a determined band of wavelengths. The method includes measuring output signals, calculating the difference of the signals from control cell for different points, the difference of signals from reference cell and control cell, the ratio of said differences and relative concentration, and means for converting said concentration into visual image and audio signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: Power Distribution Services, Inc.
    Inventor: Bella Helmer Chudnovsky
  • Patent number: 6103973
    Abstract: A knockout providing either bundled wiring or multiple electrical conduit connector access to an electrical enclosure. The knockout provides one large knockout for use with bundled wiring or a large conduit connector when activated and a number of small knockouts, each for use with one small conduit connector when activated. The small knockouts are arranged tangentially within the larger knockout in a radial pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey O. Sharp
  • Patent number: 6070297
    Abstract: The present invention provides a concealed hinge for a removable cover and includes an integrally formed locking mechanism which prevents vertical movement of the cover when it is in the closed position. The hinge is made from two parts, one being welded to the cover and one being welded to the enclosure. One of the parts includes an integrally formed locking arm which continuously engages the other hinge part except when the cover is completely open, thus preventing any vertical movement of the cover which might defeat a cover safety interlock. The hinge is completely concealed by a flange of the cover to which it attached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Brent R. Borer
  • Patent number: 6065206
    Abstract: A method of making a surge protection system for use on sectionalized electrical busway distribution system housings. The surge protection system includes a number of surge clamps; each cut to a particular length from an extruded rawstock. The extruded rawstock is of a length easily manipulated by one person. The extruded rawstock defines at least one generally flat longitudinal surface and a passage extending along its longitudinal axis. When each surge clamp is installed the generally flat longitudinal surface engages a generally flat surface of a top or bottom of the busway housing. Each end of the surge clamp engages one of two generally parallel sides of the busway housing. Apertures are defined in the sides at the point of engagement with the surge clamp ends. Fastening devices such a screw pass through the apertures and into the passage defined by the surge clamps thus providing a means for attaching the surge clamp to the busway housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Rodney Joe West
  • Patent number: 6064162
    Abstract: An anti-regeneration circuit for preventing a regenerated current produced by an overhauling DC motor from setting a series brake. The anti-regeneration circuit includes a current blocking device 90 which blocks the flow of regenerated current in the crane control circuit 10 and a surge suppresser 94 for protecting the current blocking device 90 from a high inverse peak voltage produced by de-excitation of a crane control circuit 10 upon the sudden loss of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Patrick J. Bowers
  • Patent number: 6060797
    Abstract: A solenoid operated remote resetting device with a protective solenoid activation circuit is disclosed. The device includes a housing for enclosing and protecting a solenoid with a movable plunger, a movable mechanical operator having an operator arm extending through an opening defined in the housing and a circuit board on which a solenoid activation circuit is mounted. The solenoid activation circuit includes circuitry for protecting the solenoid from overheating due to intentional or unintentional prolonged current flow in the solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Matthew R. Harris, Gregory R. Lawrence, Timothy B. Phillips
  • Patent number: 6022231
    Abstract: A sectionalized electrical distribution feeder system for carrying electrical power from a source point to a use point or a distribution point. Each section of the distribution system includes a cylindrical enclosure capable of being easily cut with a handsaw. The enclosure also provides support and protection from physical damage to a plurality of electrical conductors that are disposed within the enclosure. The conductors are held firmly in place by a continuous electrically insulating support that snugly fits inside the enclosure. Each conductor can be easily cut with a metal cutting hand saw, and is enclosed in an electrically insulating sheath, a portion of which can be removed from a newly cut end to provide a contact surface. A joint connecting member is provided for electrically connecting the conductors of adjacent sections of the electrical distribution feeder system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2000
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Patrick Williams, Rodney J. West, Anthony S. Locker, Daniel G. Witt, Daniel L. Wittmer
  • Patent number: 5986211
    Abstract: An improved viewing window construction for an electrical disconnect switch 10. The improved construction of the viewing window 70 permits easier installation of the viewing window 70 while at the same time reducing the complexity of the switch cover manufacturing process, eliminating the need for a window retainer 46 and increasing the resistance to the ingress of water when subjected to a stream of water under pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: David E. Greer, Terry A. Cassity, Jonathan H. Van Camp
  • Patent number: 5977492
    Abstract: A dual power source retrofit kit for a single power source service entrance panel. The retrofit kit is a field installable kit for retrofitting a single power source service entrance panel to a dual power source service entrance panel. The kit includes a power source selection assembly and a mounting bracket for attaching to the service entrance panel. A deadfront trim plate having a cut-out to accept the power source selection assembly is also supplied to replace the old trim plate of the service entrance panel. The power source selection assembly permits only the selected one of the primary or auxiliary power sources to provide power to the service entrance panel at any one time. The power source selection assembly is also designed such that overload protection devices/disconnect switches for both the primary power source and the auxiliary power source must be in the OFF position before switching from one power source to the other is permitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: John P. Taylor, Terry A. Cassity, Kenneth L. Uhlman
  • Patent number: 5966995
    Abstract: An operating shaft which provides compensation for axial and spatial misalignment between a rotatable component mounted within an enclosure and a rotating apparatus generally outside the enclosure is disclosed. The operating shaft has a first end dimensioned to be slidably received within a receiving portion of the rotating apparatus such that the shaft is maintained in a fixed angular position with respect to the rotating apparatus. The shaft is axially slidable with respect to the rotating apparatus such that it will provide compensation for axial misalignment between the rotatable component and the rotating apparatus. The shaft has a second end configured to engage the rotatable component such that rotation of the rotating apparatus will produce a corresponding rotation of the rotatable component. The shaft also has a spatial compensation device which is integrally formed from the shaft between the first and second ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 19, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Stanley H. Edwards, Jr., T. Ray Robbins, Barry Edward Powell
  • Patent number: 5966379
    Abstract: A multiplex extender 26 for permitting discrete I/O devices 34, not individually equipped to decode multiplex channel addresses, to be multiplexed on a time division multiplexed control bus 10. The multiplex extender 26 is connected intermediate the time division multiplexed control bus 10 and a branch line 30 and includes a multiplex channel address decoder 78, a data disconnect switch 82 and a branch line controller 90. The multiplex channel address decoder 78 is selectively programmed to one of the multiplex channel addresses of the time division multiplexed control bus 10. The multiplex channel address decoder 78 produces one or more output signals, each being determined by the multiplex channel address which has most recently been decoded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 12, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Timothy B. Phillips, George E. Burke, Jr.
  • Patent number: 5962998
    Abstract: A circuit for initiating the setting of a series brake upon detecting a loss of armature current in an overhauling DC crane motor. The circuit includes an ammeter shunt, a meter relay and associated contact, a meter relay power supply, a control relay and associated contact, a low current relay and associated contact and two static timers which can be added to an existing crane operating circuit. The ammeter shunt is located electrically in series with motor armature for monitoring current flow in the armature. The meter relay is connected to the ammeter shunt such that it will operate in response to a signal from the ammeter shunt indicating that current in the motor armature has dropped below a predetermined level. The meter relay requires power for operation, this power being provided by the 24 VDC power supply.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 5, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Patrick J. Bowers, Joseph M. Palma
  • Patent number: 5952648
    Abstract: A linear operating mechanism for a slotted optical switch 10 which produces a guaranteed OFF-point for a consistent linear displacement of a switch operator 58 with respect to a reference surface 66 of the device enclosure 62. The guaranteed OFF-point is consistently repeatable from one device to another. The device enclosure 62 defines an integrally formed support for receiving an emitter 14 and a receiver 18 of the slotted optical switch 10. The enclosure 62 further defines a fixed Off-plane 114 immediately adjacent the receiver 18 and precisely located with respect to a reference surface 66 on an outside surface of the enclosure 62. The switch operator 58 is received within the optical switch slot and has a distal end 86 extending outside the enclosure 62 a precise distance with respect to the reference surface 66 when the operator is in a normally biased first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Steven Lee Worm
  • Patent number: 5936834
    Abstract: A meter stack wherein each single phase meter base in the meter stack can be selectively connected in the field to any one of the A-B, A-C or B-C phase combinations of the vertical three phase bus bars in the meter stack by moving only the meter base line connectors. The vertical bus bars of the meter stack lie in a common plane and are equally spaced apart from one another. The vertical center line of each meter base in the meter stack coincides with the center line of the center vertical bus bar of the meter stack. Each of the two line side terminals of each meter base is associated with one of the outside vertical bus bars, and is located approximately half way between it's associated outside vertical bus bar and the center bus bar. A generally "Z" shaped line connector attached to each of the line terminals can be easily rotated between its associated outside bus bar and the center bus bar, thus easily allowing a change in the A-B, A-C or B-C phase combinations of each meter base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 10, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Larry D. Polston, Larry E. Ward, Alfonso H. Loya
  • Patent number: 5914971
    Abstract: A data error detection method for a bit, byte or word oriented network wherein a protected data unit 46 and an associated data check unit 50 are addressed to a particular field device located on the network, 10 or 26. The data check unit 50 is derived in a particular manner either solely from the protected data unit 46 or from the protected data unit 46 and particular binary codes representing attributes of the network 10 or 26 and the field device sending the protected data unit 46. The particular configuration of the checking data unit 50 is such that the receiving field device or the host 22 can perform a bit-by-bit comparison of either the received protected data unit 46 or data check unit 50 with a protected data unit 46 or data check unit 50 derived in the particular manner by the receiving host 22 or field device 14 or 18.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 22, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Michael Carter, Mark Kocher, Rodney B. Washington, Timothy B. Phillips, George Edmund Burke, Jr., Dennis J W Dube
  • Patent number: 5894398
    Abstract: A solenoid operated remote resetting device with a protective solenoid activation circuit is disclosed. The solenoid activation circuit includes circuitry for protecting the solenoid from overheating due to intentional or unintentional prolonged current flow in the solenoid. The solenoid activation circuit receives an activation signal, in the form of an alternating current signal, from a remote activation means. The activation signal is coupled to a rectifier in the solenoid activation circuit that provides rectified DC power for the solenoid activation circuit. A solenoid power circuit is also coupled to the rectifier input such that the AC signal from the activation means can be rectified and passed to the solenoid positive DC signal. A timing circuit coupled between the rectifier output and the solenoid power circuit provides an active phase of a predetermined time and a blocking phase after each application of the activation signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1997
    Date of Patent: April 13, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Matthew R. Harris, Gregory R. Lawrence, Timothy B. Phillips
  • Patent number: 5860207
    Abstract: A method for high speed spin winding a coil on a continuous lamination core. A two piece or hinged bobbin having two flanges is placed around a leg of the transformer core and snapped together. Both flanges include an outwardly facing surface which defines a concentric groove. One flange includes passages for receiving printed circuit board terminating pins which are installed prior to winding the coil. The other flange has a circumferential gear located in its outwardly facing surface. The core with bobbin and terminating pins installed is placed into a spin winding fixture. A bobbin bearing having a bearing surface including a circumferential ridge is placed adjacent the outwardly facing surfaces of the two flanges such that the circumferential ridges are partially received within the concentric grooves of the outwardly facing surfaces of the two flanges. A wire feeder terminates the leading end of the coil wire on one of the terminating pins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Michael W. Knight, Greg Lawrence, Gregory Link, James T. Tucker
  • Patent number: 5859592
    Abstract: A reduced current consumption circuit for multiple optical switches 10 having associated status indicator LEDs 26. The reduced current consumption is achieved by electrically connecting the emitter IREDs 14 of each optical switch 10 in series with the status indicator LEDs 26 and a constant current source Ccs 12. Each status indicator LED 26 includes a shunting circuit 34 which removes the LED 26 from the series circuit in response to an output signal from the receiver 18 of its associated optical switch 10 without breaking the series circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Charles Kevin Carlin
  • Patent number: 5819397
    Abstract: A method of assembling a three phase current transformer for printed circuit board installation. Three current transformers, each having a spin wound coil positioned about one leg of an unassembled continuous lamination core, are placed side-by-side in a transformer carrier such that two parallel core legs of the center transformer overlap the adjacent core legs of the two outside transformers and further such that printed circuit board terminal pins attached to the coils pass through stand-off sleeves formed from the transformer carrier. Rivets are placed through holes in the laminations of the overlapped core legs and in the transformer carrier thereby simultaneously riveting the three transformer cores and the transformer carrier together making a three phase transformer assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 1996
    Date of Patent: October 13, 1998
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Michael W. Knight, Greg Lawrence, Gregory Link, James T. Tucker