Patents Examined by George Andrews
  • Patent number: 4571566
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay includes at least one permanent magnet provided with pole pieces and a soft magnetic armature the ends of which cooperate with the pole pieces. The pole shoes are electrically insulated from each other and serve as fixed contacts. In the rest position of the armature, contact forces are obtained from the attraction force exerted by the permanent magnet. In order to exploit the total available permanent magnet force as contact force while, at the same time, achieving high responsiveness and resistance to mechanical stresses and shocks, the armature ends or the ends of the pole pieces facing away from the magnet poles are provided with contact springs which cooperate with the respective opposite pole pieces or armature ends to form contact couples so that, when the armature is switched-over, contact is made first through the contact spring or springs and then, upon bending of the actuated contact spring or springs, the respective armature end engages the pole pieces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1983
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1986
    Assignees: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd., Hans Saur
    Inventor: Hans Saur
  • Patent number: 4570138
    Abstract: A balanced armature type relay includes a coil assembly 2 with a coil 20 and an ion core 21 extending through the coil 20, an armature assembly with a pair of frame-shaped upper and lower armatures 3, 4 disposed parallel to each other and so as to surround the coil 20, and a pair of contact units 6, 8 operated by the armature assembly. The coil 20 is covered with a molded portion 23 which has a pair of lateral studs 24 integrally formed with it, the studs 24 defining a horizontal axis about which the armature assembly is pivotal. High accuracy in the positional relation between the pole faces formed by extending ends of the iron core 21 and the respective ends of the armatures 3, 4 cooperating with the pole faces is achieved by the fact that both the pole faces provided on the iron core 21 and the studs 24 form part of the coil assembly which is formed as one common block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1984
    Date of Patent: February 11, 1986
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masanori Motoyama, Toyotaka Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 4559511
    Abstract: A vacuum contactor having a compact DC electromagnet with an improved force watts ratio. The DC electromagnet consisting of a dual pickup coil and holding coil winding assembly and a solid U-shaped core having removable legs secured to a base with an adhesive backed aluminum shim positioned intermediate the legs and base, the ampere turns of the pickup coil being approximately 7.5 times those of the holding coil with the legs of the core being approximately 1/3 the length of those in a conventional DC electromagnet having substantially the same force watts ratio. The shorter legs of the core reduce magnetic losses and provide increased magnetic coupling with the moving armature of the contactor closing mechanism. This allows the smaller magnet to exert a greater force upon the armature during closing of the vacuum interrupter. With decreased magnetic losses, the size of the windings can be reduced, facilitating removal of the heat generated therein and producing a small, efficient magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 17, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert T. Basnett, Walter V. Bratkowski
  • Patent number: 4558355
    Abstract: In a color TV receiver incorporating automatic kinescope bias (AKB) control circuits, a first train of monolevel pulses with timing suitable for retrace blanking purposes and a second train of monolevel pulses with "backporch" timing appropriate for burst gating purposes are applied to a circuit serving to generate at a first terminal a train of bilevel pulses exhibiting a first voltage level during periods of overlapping of the pulses of the first and second trains, and exhibiting a second, lesser voltage level during the remaining, non-overlapping portions of the pulses of the first train. A resistor interconnects the first terminal with a second terminal. A keyed voltage source, responsive to a third train of monolevel pulses timed to indicate recurring kinescope bias control intervals, develops a voltage of a third level, intermediate the first and second voltage levels, at the second terminal during the recurring control intervals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: RCA Corporation
    Inventor: James Hettiger
  • Patent number: 4554520
    Abstract: In a compact electromagnetic miniature relay comprising a contact spring (12) which is firmly clamped at one end, and which bears double contacts (9, 10) arranged on each side, and with the connecting line thereof extending vertically in relation to the longitudinal axis of the contact spring, and which are capable of being moved by an actuator (6) arranged on the armature (5), from stationary break contacts (7) to stationary make contacts (8), with said contact spring (12) being divided by a longitudinal slot (16) partly into two parallel spring legs (19, 20) pretensioned against the break contacts (7), and in which the actuator (6) engages between the clamping point (13) and the free end (11) of the contact spring, the actuator (6), according to the invention, is designed to have at least the same width as the contact spring (12) at the actuating point (17), with the longitudinal slot (16) beginning at a small spacing from the actuating point (17) and extending up to the end (11) of the contact spring (12),
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: International Standard Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Werner Minks
  • Patent number: 4554522
    Abstract: In a relay according to this invention the terminal elements (17) are injection-molded into wall members (2,3) which are so designed that they during assembly, and if so required, together with parts of the flange (35) of the coil (16) of the electromagnetic driving system, form a cup-shaped member having a bottom part (4). The rim portion (9) of the cover member (1) which is capable of being placed thereon, projects over the bottom part (4). The thus resulting space may be filled with a sealing compound (casting resin) (13). From this there results a tight relay consisting of a few individual parts only, which is easy to manufacture and which, moreover, is solder- and wash-tight.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 19, 1985
    Assignee: International Standard Electric Corporation
    Inventor: Werner Minks
  • Patent number: 4553115
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes a single coil solenoid operator for placing the handle of the circuit breaker in its ON position or in its OFF position. The solenoid operator includes a single coil solenoid formed by an electromagnet secured to a movable electromagnet drive plate and by an armature secured to a movable armature drive plate. The drive plates are disposed for rectilinear movement and are configured alternately to engage a formed trigger plate secured to the handle to move the trigger plate and the handle between the ON position and the OFF position of the handle. A pair of pivotable, bistable mechanical latches are configured to engage and stop further movement of alternate drive plates depending upon the state of the latches. Successive actuations of the single coil solenoid operator cause the handle to be placed alternately in its ON position or in its OFF position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Grunert, Walter K. Huffman
  • Patent number: 4553118
    Abstract: Having a core wound with the magnetizing winding, and a yoke separated from the core, and an armature which has the permanent magnets, both pole pieces of the core and the facing-surfaces of the yoke being positioned apart in a predetermined space; in said space the magnetic poles of the permanent magnets being stationed; and through a joint-work of the magnetic flux created by the magnetizing winding and the armature flux created by the permanent magnets the armature is made to relatively reverse-displace against the core and the yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Omron Tateisi Electronics Co.
    Inventor: Shunichi Agatahama
  • Patent number: 4553116
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes a manually resettable undervoltage trip mechanism for initiating a trip operation of the circuit breaker upon an undervoltage condition. The undervoltage trip mechanism includes a solenoid having a fixed electrical coil surrounding a pair of separable movable ferromagnetic plungers. Disposed between and captured by the two plungers is a compression spring for physically separating the two plungers upon the occurrence of an undervoltage condition. Upon such an undervoltage condition, one of the plungers is positioned to engage and rotate a trip lever for initiating a trip operation of the circuit breaker. The other plunger is secured to an elongated manually depressible reset button that extends through the molded case of the circuit breaker. After a trip operation, the reset button can be depressed to reestablish physical engagement between the first and second plungers, enabling the circuit breaker to be reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Dante Bagalini
  • Patent number: 4553117
    Abstract: A timing attachment for a relay which may be programmed to provide an ON DELAY or an OFF DELAY operation of a pair of switches with each switch having either normally open or normally closed contacts. The attachments includes a bellcrank having a lever arm actuated by the relay. The bellcrank has a ball and socket type connection in either of two sockets in a slider to program the attachment to operate in the time delay after energization mode or a time delay after deenergization mode when a housing enclosing the slider is mounted in either of two positions on a support for the bellcrank. The attachment includes a pair of switch cartridges which are insertable in either of two positions in sockets selectively to provide a normally open or normally a closed contact operation when the relay is energized and deenergized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1985
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Allin W. Schubring
  • Patent number: 4551697
    Abstract: The invention concerns a very simple and effective current limiting circuit breaker of great versatility which is especially adaptable for motor control centers and combinations starters. That breaker can be used with various interchangeable trip units always with the same basic mechanism.(a) for instantaneous trip type circuit breakers of various current ratings having high interrupting capacity and low I.sup.2 t value to protect control equipment at high fault currents.(b) for high interrupting capacity thermal magnetic circuit breakers at various current ratings.(c) for circuit breakers with solid state tripping units to protect against overloads, short circuits, single phasing, underloads, etc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Inventor: Frank W. Kussy
  • Patent number: 4551698
    Abstract: A polarized electromagnetic relay including a coil body positioned over a core, and having at least one winding thereon. A permanent magnet is positioned in close proximity to the coil body. An armature externally embraces the coil winding and with the permanent magnet forms two working air gaps. Contact elements are provided embedded in a pedestal, the contact elements being disposed below the coil body. A monostable or a bistable switching behavior of the relay can be achieved by varying the design and disposition of the coil body, the windings, and one or more permanent magnets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1983
    Date of Patent: November 5, 1985
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Martin Aidn
  • Patent number: 4549153
    Abstract: A residential or commercial circuit breaker of the narrow width type, typically having a width of 3/4 inch or 1 inch, is provided with a magnetically permeable slot motor 102 mounted within the case 2 and around both current carrying conductors 8 and 12 for concentrating magnetic repulsive force and boosting the contact separating force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1985
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth A. Forsell, Peter J. Theisen
  • Patent number: 4546336
    Abstract: A residential or commercial circuit breaker of the narrow case type, typically having a width of 3/4 inch or 1 inch, is provided with a combination slot motor and arc chute 102 mounted within the case 2 and around the current carrying conductors 8 and 12. The combination slot motor and arc chute 102 concentrates the current-induced magnetic repulsive force between the conductors 8 and 12 to boost contact separation force, and also extinguishes the arc. The slot motor portion 106, 108 of the combination structure 102 continues to support the magnetic force which tends to force the arc into the arc chute portion 104 away from the contacts 10, 16 and operating mechanism. The combination slot motor and arc chute 102 is particularly simple and inexpensive, yet very effective within the size constraints of the narrow type breaker case 2.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis J. Petrie, Jerome K. Hastings
  • Patent number: 4546337
    Abstract: A residential or commercial circuit breaker of the narrow case type, typically having a width of 3/4 inch or 1 inch, is provided with a single-piece nonlaminated slot motor 102 mounted within the case 2 and around current carrying conductors 8 and 12 for concentrating magnetic repulsive force and boosting contact separation force. A dramatic increase in short circuit interruption capacity is achieved, at minimal cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1985
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Dennis J. Petrie, Robert B. Bridges, William E. Grass, Jerome K. Hastings
  • Patent number: 4542582
    Abstract: A method of forming a relay assemblage essentially consisting of a contact block and a coil block, comprising locating a united connection terminals in the base member of the contact block, cutting the joint uniting the terminals, and coupling the coil block with the contact block by elastic engagement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 24, 1985
    Assignee: Original Electric Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shoji Tsunakawa
  • Patent number: 4542359
    Abstract: A polar relay comprises a contact spring assembly, a permanent magnet assembly, a winding assembly and an armature assembly which are arranged on a frame body assembly made of an insulating material. All the assemblies are positioned adjacent to and parallel to each other and are fit in the base during assembly. When mounted on a printed circuit board, the polar relay requires a minimum of area and enhances productivity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventors: Tatsumi Ide, Masayuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 4542360
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay having a dual acting armature has a U-shaped armature with two divergent legs. The armature is pivoted on one of the legs with the pivoted leg being arranged adjacent to an electromagnetic field producing structure including an electrically energizable coil. A first movable electrical contact carrying means is arranged to cooperate with a first one of the legs of the armature to produce a motion of a first electrical contact between a first and a second position in response to an energized and a non-energized state of the coil, respectively. Concurrently, a second movable electrical contact carrying means is arranged to cooperate with the other or second leg of the armature to produce a motion of a second electrical contact between a first and a second position in response to an energized and deenergized state of the coil, respectively. The coil is located in the bight of the U-shaped armature with the pivoted first leg being urged by a spring away from the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1985
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: Elwyn H. Olson
  • Patent number: 4540961
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an operating mechanism having an integral or one-piece, rotatable, molded cross bar. The cross bar includes an enlarged section, associated with each phase or pole of the circuit breaker, having a window, pocket or enclosed opening formed therein for the receipt of a base portion of an upper movable electrical contact of a pair of separable electrical contacts. Also disposed in the opening is a compression spring and an associated spring follower positioned between the compression spring and the base portion of the upper electrical contact. The compressive spring force biases the upper electrical contact for movement in unison with the cross bar. Upon the occurrence of a high level short circuit or fault current condition, the spring follower may be downwardly deflected to enable the upper electrical contact to move independently of the cross bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 10, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Alfred E. Maier
  • Patent number: 4539538
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes a movable upper electrical contact having a base portion with a slot formed therein for releasably receiving a portion of an elongated spring biased locking pin disposed in a rotatable cross bar of an operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The locking pin is biased in the slot by a pair of tension springs secured to the cross bar, enabling the upper electrical contact to move in unison with the cross bar. Upon the occurrence of a high level short circuit or fault current of sufficient magnitude, the pin is displaced from the slot enabling the independent rotational movement of the upper contact arm. During such movement, an elongated leaf spring is downwardly deflected and then released by the base portion. Subsequently, the upper electrical contact is prevented from contacting the lower electrical contact by the engagement of the leaf spring with the base portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert H. Flick, Walter K. Huffman