Patents by Inventor Curtis J. Ayers

Curtis J. Ayers has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 5381119
    Abstract: A circuit breaker including a trip unit interlock. The trip unit interlock provides a trip unit having a plug connectable with a mating plug which is slidable with respect to the circuit breaker. The trip unit engages a pair of pins mounted to the circuit breaker when the trip unit is in its operating position. The pins are oriented to prevent separation of the plug from the receptacle during circuit breaker tripping. Since it is undesirable to insert a trip unit into a circuit breaker where the trip unit is not compatible with the circuit breaker, the pins and openings in the trip unit are configured such that they will not mate if the trip unit is not appropriate for the circuit breaker. When the trip unit is in its operating position, the trip unit holds an interlock lever for the contact operating mechanism of the circuit breaker in a position where the contact operating mechanism may close the contacts and hold the contacts closed when the circuit breaker is in its ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1995
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Dale Robbins, Curtis J. Ayers, David A. Leone
  • Patent number: 5239144
    Abstract: A circuit breaker including a trip unit interlock. The trip unit interlock provides a trip unit having a plug connectable with a mating plug which is slidable with respect to the circuit breaker. The trip unit engages a pair of pins mounted to the circuit breaker when the trip unit is in its operating position. The pins are oriented to prevent separation of the plug from the receptacle during circuit breaker tripping. Since it is undesirable to insert a trip unit into a circuit breaker where the trip unit is not compatible with the circuit breaker, the pins and openings in the trip unit are configured such that they will not mate if the trip unit is not appropriate for the circuit breaker. When the trip unit is in its operating position, the trip unit holds an interlock lever for the contact operating mechanism of the circuit breaker in a position where the contact operating mechanism may close the contacts and hold the contacts closed when the circuit breaker is in its ON state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Dale Robbins, Curtis J. Ayers, David A. Leone
  • Patent number: 4801910
    Abstract: A magnetic actuating or trip mechanism for use with a circuit breaker including an armature, a permanent magnet for biasing the armature to a biased position, a first magnetic member having an armature guide, a second magnet member, an electromagnetic coil including a first winding for urging the armature from the biased position and a second winding for urging the armature from the biased position, a compression spring for urging the armature from the biased position, a fastener for fastening the first and second members to the permanent magnet, and recesses for locating the electromagnetic coil relative to the first and second members. The coil includes an armature opening and the first and second members each include a permanent magnet mounting surface and a coil mounting surface, the permanent magnet mounting surface includes a ridge for preventing the members from rotating relative to the permanent magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Curtis J. Ayers, Janerio N Morgan, William E. May