Responsive To Predetermined Or Abnormal Current Condition (e.g., Direction, Phase Angle Or Amplitude) Patents (Class 335/18)
  • Patent number: 11837424
    Abstract: In an embodiment a contact arrangement includes a retaining element with a cylindrical hole having a cylinder axis configured to arrange the retaining element on a shaft and a contact bridge attached to the retaining element, wherein the contact bridge has a top side with at least one contact region and a bottom side opposite the top side, and wherein, via a rotation around the cylinder axis, the contact bridge is transferable to a locked state on the retaining element in a direction along the cylinder axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: TDK Electronics AG
    Inventors: Robert Hoffmann, Robert Minkwitz
  • Patent number: 11342152
    Abstract: Multi-pole and single-pole circuit breakers include a housing and a reset lockout mechanism disposed within the housing. The reset lockout mechanism disables electrical communication between line and load terminals of the circuit breaker if a predefined condition exists. Some circuit breakers include a single actuator, transition between ON and OFF states, and are capable of performing test functions. The test functions may involve testing AFCI and/or GFCI functions of the circuit breakers. The test functions may be performed when the circuit breaker transitions from an OFF state to an ON state. Some circuit breakers including a reset lockout mechanism may be powered only on its line side. Some circuit breakers provide an electrical indication when they are in the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Ostrovsky, Michael Kamor, Alfred J. Lombardi, Adam Kevelos, James Bugryn
  • Patent number: 11329476
    Abstract: A manually switched Testguard circuit with auto-monitoring and end-of-life circuitry is provided. The manually switched Testguard circuit interrupts the flow of current through a pair of lines, wherein one of the pair of lines extends between a line input and a line output and the other line extends between a neutral input and a neutral output. The manually switched Testguard circuit includes a monitoring module for detecting an end-of-life condition. The monitoring module includes a simulated ground fault generator for simulating a ground fault; an auto-monitoring logic module; a relay synchronized switch; and an end-of-life switch for disabling the manually switched Testguard circuit if certain Testguard component failures are detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2022
    Inventors: Victor V. Aromin, Louis J. Shatkin
  • Patent number: 11322328
    Abstract: Arc Fault Circuit Interrupter (AFCI), Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) or AF/GF circuit breakers which may optionally have relatively small or compact bodies that have shaped neutral busbars and/or load terminals with an arm that extends through a window of a current transformer in a circuit breaker housing. The neutral busbar and/or load terminal can have a rigid or semi-rigid shaped body with a first segment that extends through the window of the current transformer and a second segment that extends behind the first segment about a printed circuit board. A plug-on, pigtail or bolt-on neutral can engage an electrical pad of the neutral busbar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Somashekharayya Hiremath, Sandy Omar Jimenez
  • Patent number: 11322927
    Abstract: A dropout recloser is capable of in accordance with its operating programming after a predetermined number of fault interrupting operations, e.g., 1, 2, 3 or more but typically 3, to drop out of a cutout and hang freely in a hinge contact of the cutout providing sectionalization with an observable visible gap. The recloser includes fault interrupting and reclosing components, a drop out mechanism and a controller. The drop out mechanism may include a bi-stable actuator to affect fault interrupting operation and dropout operation. The device may include motion limiting structures. The recloser may have a number of operating modes or sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard G. Smith, Yujian Zhou, Jorge Montante, Alejandro Montenegro, Michael Ross
  • Patent number: 11258299
    Abstract: A method for generating charge for a service disconnect operation for an electric meter includes: charging a service disconnect capacitor for an electric meter to a voltage higher than a voltage provided by a power supply of the electric meter; monitoring the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor; receiving, by the electric meter, a service disconnect switch instruction signal; determining, based on the monitoring, whether the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor exceeds a specified voltage threshold value; and in response to receiving the service disconnect switch instruction signal and determining that the voltage on the service disconnect capacitor exceeds the specified voltage threshold value, discharging the service disconnect capacitor through windings of a service disconnect actuator. The service disconnect actuator may be configured to cause contacts of a service disconnect switch to change position to make or break a circuit connection between a line voltage and a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Landis+Gyr Innovations, Inc.
    Inventor: Doug Busekrus
  • Patent number: 11205552
    Abstract: In one example, a hybrid circuit interrupter may include a three-coil architecture, first coil circuitry, leakage detection circuitry, and a main processing circuit including a processor. The three-coil architecture may include a coil housing, three coils, and a plurality of coil assembly conductors. The coils may be disposed within the coil housing. The coil assembly conductors may be at least partially disposed within the coil housing. The first coil circuitry may be connected to the first coil and may generate first coil signals. The leakage detection circuitry may be connected to the other two coils and may generate a leakage signal. The processor may receive the first coil signals, receive the leakage signal, determine whether an arc fault exists based on the first coil signals, determine whether a ground fault exists based on the leakage signal, and generate a first trigger signal if a fault is determined to exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2021
    Inventor: Ze Chen
  • Patent number: 11054171
    Abstract: Automatic house vent is a house vent system that automatically closes all house vents when electrical power is shut off to the house. Automatic house vent is a fire prevention mechanism that closes all house vents in order to prevent burning ambers from entering the house through a house vent and starting a fire from the inside of the house. It is standard procedure during forest fires for the authorities to shut off electrical power to communities in the path of the fire. Each house vent is mechanically opened and closed by an electric solenoid actuator that is connected by electrical wiring to a special circuit breaker located in the house electrical panel or breaker box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventors: Daniel George Andrus, Anthony David Funes
  • Patent number: 10971319
    Abstract: A circuit breaker and panel system includes a panel including a base pan having a plurality of base pan electrical connections. A circuit breaker including a housing having a plurality of circuit breaker electrical connections arranged to contact the base pan electrical connections when the circuit breaker is coupled to the base pan. The circuit breaker is rotatably coupleable with the base pan via a pivot joint for engaging the plurality of base pan electrical connections with the plurality of circuit breaker electrical connections per a predetermined electrical connection coupling sequence. One of the housing and the base pan includes a protrusion and the other of the housing and the base pan includes a corresponding recess which, when engaged with each other, retain the housing to the base pan to prevent reverse rotational movement of the breaker with respect to the base pan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2021
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Kamor, Justin Berghoff, Adam Kevelos, Timothy Lindh, Nicholas Ryan Goodine, Steven Tommell
  • Patent number: 10782114
    Abstract: A sensor assembly includes a first magnetic field sensor that is a first type of sensor and has a first magnetic field sensitivity in a first primary sensing direction. The first primary sensing direction is along a longitudinal axis of the sensor assembly. The sensor assembly further includes a second magnetic field sensor that is a second type of sensor different than the first type of sensor and has a second magnetic field sensitivity in a second primary sensing direction that is less than the first magnetic field sensitivity. The second primary sensing direction is along a second axis that is different than the longitudinal axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 22, 2020
    Assignee: Boston Scientific Scimed Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew Hein, Daniel J. Foster
  • Patent number: 10692678
    Abstract: A fault detector test device includes a test switch including a pivotable lever arm having a first end pivotably connected to rotate about an axis and a second end pivotable in an arc around the axis between an active position and an inactive position. A slide member has a first end accessible by an operator and a second end that cooperates with the second end of the lever arm, the slide member being slideable with respect to the axis of the lever arm such that the second end of the slide member slides in a plane that is substantially tangential to the arc in which the second end of the lever arm pivots. The second end of the slide member and the second end of the lever arm cooperate such that generally planar sliding motion of the slide member is translated into pivoting motion of the lever arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2020
    Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Fasano, James Bugryn
  • Patent number: 10630089
    Abstract: An electric vehicle charging circuit breaker for charging an electric vehicle with power from a power source. The electric vehicle charging circuit breaker includes a circuit protection unit structured to provide circuit protection between the power source and the electric vehicle, an electric vehicle charging unit structured to control charging of the electric vehicle, a metering unit structured to meter power flowing between the power source and the electric vehicle, and a display unit structured to display information including at least one of metering information and a status of electric vehicle charging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Kevin Zhong, Tom Xiong, Darron Kirby Lacey, Sophia Zhang, Lily Du
  • Patent number: 10504677
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes contacts movable between a closed position wherein a line terminal and a load terminal are in electrical communication, and an open position wherein the line and the load terminals are electrically isolated. A primary trip coil and a secondary trip coil are connected to the contacts, each causing the contacts to move from the closed position to the open position when activated, thereby tripping the breaker. A monitoring circuit, upon a determination being made that the breaker is not operating within acceptable trip parameters, causes activation of the primary coil, and, upon a determination being made that the breaker is not operating within acceptable disable parameters, causes activation of the secondary coil. The breaker is user resettable if the breaker has been tripped by the primary trip coil, but is not user resettable if the breaker has been tripped by the secondary trip coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Inventor: Richard W. Sorenson
  • Patent number: 10453638
    Abstract: An overcurrent tripping device includes a tripping conductor connected to the main circuit; a fixed core inside which the tripping conductor penetrates and which is excited by current flowing through the tripping conductor; a movable core which is arranged to be opposed to the fixed core with a magnetic gap therebetween, and which forms a magnetic circuit in cooperation with the fixed core, and moves by being attracted by the fixed core when overcurrent flows through the tripping conductor; and a shaft fixed to the movable core to guide the movement of the movable core, and linked to the tripping mechanism of the circuit breaker, wherein the fixed core has a narrow gap formed in such a direction as to cross the magnetic circuit, so that magnetic saturation is suppressed by the narrow gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2019
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sasaki, Yuta Sagara
  • Patent number: 10410816
    Abstract: In one example, a hybrid circuit interrupter may include a three-coil architecture, first coil circuitry, leakage detection circuitry, and a main processing circuit including a processor. The three-coil architecture may include a coil housing, three coils, and a plurality of coil assembly conductors. The coils may be disposed within the coil housing. The coil assembly conductors may be at least partially disposed within the coil housing. The first coil circuitry may be connected to the first coil and may generate first coil signals. The leakage detection circuitry may be connected to the other two coils and may generate a leakage signal. The processor may receive the first coil signals, receive the leakage signal, determine whether an arc fault exists based on the first coil signals, determine whether a ground fault exists based on the leakage signal, and generate a first trigger signal if a fault is determined to exist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Ze Chen
  • Patent number: 10312679
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a first set of separable contacts, a second set of separable contacts, a first operating mechanism structured to open the first set of separable contacts, a second operating mechanism structured to open and close the second set of separable contacts, and an electronic trip unit including a routine structured to detect a fault condition and a type of the fault condition, to control the second operating mechanism to open the second set of separable contacts in response to detecting a first type of fault condition, and to control the second operating mechanism to close the second set of separable contacts a predetermined amount of time after controlling the second operating mechanism to open the second set of separable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2019
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: Jason Okerman
  • Patent number: 10170265
    Abstract: A leakage current protection device includes an electrical and mechanical assembly which includes: a circuit board; moving contact plates; an auxiliary switch; a reset shaft, having a hook in its lower portion, a bottom end of the reset shaft being set against one end of a reset spring, another end of the reset spring being set against the base; a disconnect mechanism, having a hook at its upper portion to engage with the hook of the reset shaft in a vertical direction; a trip coil and a trip plunger disposed on a side of the disconnect mechanism, where the disconnect mechanism is driven by the trip plunger to move horizontally. The disconnect mechanism further includes a pushing end that controls the auxiliary switch and lifting levers that control the moving contact plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2019
    Inventor: Chengli Li
  • Patent number: 10079484
    Abstract: A circuit interrupting device includes an input conductor for electrically connecting to an external power supply, a load conductor for electrically connecting to a downstream load, a face conductor for electrically connecting to an external load, and a brush conductor in electrical communication with the input conductor and movable between a closed position and an open position. The brush conductor includes a second portion offset from a first portion such that a first terminal and a second terminal are positioned on separate planes. When the brush conductor is in the closed position, the first terminal contacts the load terminal and the second terminal contacts the face terminal to provide electrical communication between the input conductor, the load conductor, and the face conductor. When the brush conductor is in the open position, the first terminal is spaced apart from the load terminal and the second terminal is spaced apart from the face terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2018
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Zhouxiang He
  • Patent number: 10072942
    Abstract: Systems and methods for environmental monitoring of high activity facilities, generally comprising low profile devices having sensing elements for various environmental uses, designed to provide the wireless communications network as a basis for performing a wide variety of tasks. The devices may be installed on an existing electrical system and may measure, among other things, electrical current on various circuits.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Ivani, LLC
    Inventors: Matthew Wootton, Justin McKinney, Michael Crowell-Ingram, Evan Dorsky, Saarth Mehrotra, Erin Pierce, Victoria Preston, Jonathan Clark, Zhen Wei
  • Patent number: 10042001
    Abstract: A testing apparatus that is usable with a circuit interruption apparatus includes an enclosure that is similar to a switchgear enclosure and within which the circuit interruption apparatus for testing is received. The testing apparatus includes instrumentation that is automatically electrically connected with the circuit interruption apparatus when the circuit interruption apparatus is received within the interior region of the enclosure, and the instrumentation is operable to perform various tests on the circuit interruption apparatus. The testing apparatus further includes output devices and a switching apparatus at the exterior of the enclosure that enable a technician to control testing operations that are performed on the circuit interruption apparatus and to view the results of the testing operations. All of the electrical connections with the circuit interruption apparatus are made within the interior region of the enclosure, and the enclosure itself is configured to resist the transmission of X-rays.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Anthony Thomas Ricciuti, Thomas Kenneth Fogle
  • Patent number: 10027115
    Abstract: A power wiring device includes a front housing having a power component at a user interface and a rear housing having a wire interface. The front and rear housings define a cavity. Control electronics are received in the cavity and include a circuit board and a controller coupled to the circuit board. The controller has control circuitry for controlling a power function of the power wiring device. The power component is coupled to the circuit board and affected by the power function. A plurality of power terminals are coupled to the circuit board. The power terminals each have a base, circuit board contacts extending from the base and being terminated to the circuit board, and wire contacts extending from the base. The wire contacts have quick connect interfaces for direct, quick connection to corresponding wires of building wiring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Assignee: TE CONNECTIVITY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ronald Martin Weber, Christopher George Daily, Matthew Edward Mostoller
  • Patent number: 9952178
    Abstract: A closed and open contact method to predict a usable life of vacuum interrupters in the field can include using computer instructions in the data storage to instruct the processor to position a calculated amp or calculated pressure on an ionic or current versus pressure calibration curve for the installed vacuum interrupter and identify trend data from a library of trend data corresponding to the installed vacuum interrupter and to the calculated pressure or calculated amp of the installed vacuum interrupter; thereby determining the anticipated life expectancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: Finley Lee Ledbetter
  • Patent number: 9947500
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter includes a reset key, a reset mechanism, a conductive assembly configured to connect a power supply input side to a load side, a leakage signal detection circuit, and an electromagnetic tripping mechanism. The reset mechanism comprises a reset support and a support return mechanism. The reset support comprises a reset bracket and a support reset spring. The support return mechanism comprises a reset pole, a reset key spring, a compression spring, a reset block, a compression spring container, a reset slider, and a contact conductive part. The contact conductive part is disposed at a lower end of the reset slider and is configured to align with a position of a switch contact on a first PCB board. A state of contact or separation between the contact conductive part and the switch contact is configured to control an on-off state of the conductive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Inventor: Ze Chen
  • Patent number: 9906012
    Abstract: A circuit protection device includes a housing with a base and an upper cover, a clapboard, a circuit board, an AC power source path, a synchronous unit, a synchronous control switch, a tripping and resetting mechanism, a ground fault detection drive unit and a test and reset switch, to perform a function of ground fault protection, and to switch synchronously on or off the AC power path. The device has a manual mechanical tripping and electrical reset function, ensuring that the AC power supply connecting to the load circuit is switched off when the device has malfunctioned or the load circuit has failed, and preventing the device from being reset in case that the circuit protection device is not energized, or the circuit protection device has failed, or the AC power supply is reversely connected with load terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2018
    Assignee: JIAXING SHOUXIN ELECTRICAL TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shaohua Gao, Qianhui Gao
  • Patent number: 9842719
    Abstract: A fusible disconnect switch devices includes dual sets of switch contacts to connect or disconnect a current path through an overcurrent protection fuse with reduced arcing severity. Faster acting and longer contact path switch mechanisms are described providing satisfactory switching of DC circuits without excessive electrical arcing in a reduced physical package size.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 12, 2017
    Assignee: COOPER TECHNOLOGIES COMPANY
    Inventors: John Joseph Shea, Hongbin Wang, Paul J. Rollmann, Matthew Rain Darr
  • Patent number: 9797865
    Abstract: An electromagnetic testing assembly to predict a usable life of an installed vacuum interrupter in the field, which can include an electromagnetic testing device connected to a flexible magnetic field coil to generate a potential in a vacuum interrupter in an installation, magnetically monitor ion flow across one or more gaps in the vacuum interrupter, and apply trend data, tube chart information, and an algorithm to predict the usable life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Inventor: Finley Lee Ledbetter
  • Patent number: 9774145
    Abstract: There is provided a connector comprising: a given-polarity electrode jack terminal coupled to a given-polarity electrode of a power supply; a first other-polarity electrode jack terminal coupled to an other-polarity electrode of the power supply through a resistor and a capacitor; and a second other-polarity electrode jack terminal coupled to the other-polarity electrode of the power supply; wherein the first other-polarity electrode jack terminal and the second other-polarity electrode jack terminal are respectively in contact with a plug terminal of the other-polarity electrode included in another connector, the first other-polarity electrode jack terminal and the second other-polarity electrode jack terminal are disposed on a line extended in a length direction of the plug terminal of the other-polarity electrode, and the first other-polarity electrode jack terminal is disposed at a position closer to the other connector than a position of the second other-polarity electrode jack terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2017
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventors: Takashi Yuba, Koichi Kiryu, Akio Nakamura, Hideo Miyazawa
  • Patent number: 9759773
    Abstract: A closed and open contact method to predict a usable life of vacuum interrupters in the field can include using computer instructions in the data storage to instruct the processor to position a calculated amp or calculated pressure on an ionic or current versus pressure calibration curve for the installed vacuum interrupter and identify trend data from a library of trend data corresponding to the installed vacuum interrupter and to the calculated pressure or calculated amp of the installed vacuum interrupter; thereby determining the anticipated life expectancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Inventor: Finley Lee Ledbetter
  • Patent number: 9685779
    Abstract: A current limiting device including a transformer including an element made from a magnetothermal material, a primary conductor, and a secondary winding. Heat is generated by the current flowing through the primary conductor and when the current exceeds a certain threshold it modifies the coupling coefficient of the transformer, which makes it possible to limit the current in the primary conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2017
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Philippe Schuster, Nathalie Caillault
  • Patent number: 9679731
    Abstract: In one embodiment, there is a fault interrupter device comprising at least one sensor comprising at least one first transformer having at least one outer region forming an outer periphery and at least one inner hollow region. There is also at least one second transformer that is disposed in the inner hollow region of the at least one first transformer. The transformers can be substantially circular in configuration, and more particularly, ring shaped. In another embodiment there is a rotatable latch which is used to selectively connect and disconnect a set of separable contacts to selectively disconnect power from the line side to the load side. The rotatable latch is in one embodiment coupled to a reset button. In at least one embodiment there is a slider which is configured to selectively prevent the manual tripping of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC.
    Inventors: Michael Kamor, James Porter, Kurt Dykema
  • Patent number: 9647447
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a circuit interrupter assembly coupled to a solenoid actuator and configured to move along an assembly axis in a direction normal to a major surface of the electrical isolation member to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle contact structures in a reset state and to interrupt the electrical continuity to effect a tripped state. The circuit interrupter assembly including at least one portion configured to pivot relative to the assembly axis to effect the reset state or the tripped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2017
    Assignee: PASS & SEYMOUR, INC.
    Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent R. Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Bruce F. Macbeth
  • Patent number: 9640969
    Abstract: An arc fault circuit interrupter includes: an insulating casing, electrical input terminals and electrical output terminals, first and second electrical path connected between the electrical input terminals and electrical output terminals, and a movement mechanism. The movement mechanism includes: first and second moving contact arms, electrically coupled to the first and second electrical paths, respectively; a control circuit board; an arc detection mechanism, electrically coupled to the control circuit board, for detecting an arc signal and causing the control circuit board to generate a trip signal; a tripping mechanism, electrically coupled to the control circuit board, for receiving the trip signal to disconnect the electrical coupling between the first moving contact arm and the first electrical path and/or the electrical coupling between the second moving contact arm and the second electrical path. The device can immediately cut off the power when detecting an arc signal to prevent fire hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 2, 2017
    Assignee: Chengli LI
    Inventor: Chengli LI
  • Patent number: 9607797
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a trip mechanism having reduced trip movement and an integrated signal flag. The trip mechanism includes a spring-biased trip lever and a latching member for keeping the trip lever in an on or latched position. Upon occurrence of an abnormal current condition, the latching member is moved away from the trip lever to trip the trip mechanism. The latching member also has a catch mechanism designed to catch the trip lever after it is released, thereby halting further progress of both the trip lever and the latching member. As a result, less space is needed within the circuit breaker for trip movement compared to existing solutions. Moreover, the location of the catch mechanism on the latching member is selected such that the halting of the latching member places the integrated signal flag in an optimal viewing position within a viewing window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Gerardo Rodriguez Najera, Daniel Reynoso Ortiz, Juan Ignacio Melecio Ramirez, Efrain Gutierrez Villanueva, Vicente Noguez Salazar
  • Patent number: 9601289
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter includes a reset key, a reset mechanism, a conductive assembly configured to connect a power supply input side to a load side, a leakage signal detection circuit, and an electromagnetic tripping mechanism. The reset mechanism comprises a reset support and a support return mechanism. The reset support comprises a reset bracket and a support reset spring. The support return mechanism comprises a reset pole, a reset key spring, a compression spring, a reset block, a compression spring container, a reset slider, and a contact conductive part. The contact conductive part is disposed at a lower end of the reset slider and is configured to align with a position of a switch contact on a first PCB board. A state of contact or separation between the contact conductive part and the switch contact is configured to control an on-off state of the conductive assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Inventor: Ze Chen
  • Patent number: 9543742
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device including a fault protection circuit configured to provide a fault detection stimulus in response to detecting at least one type of predetermined fault condition. A circuit interrupter is disposed on a first side of a PCB and an auxiliary switch is at least partially disposed on a second side of the at least one PCB. The auxiliary switch includes a switch throw element movably extending through an opening in the PCB between the first state and the second state, the auxiliary switch being configured to decouple at least a portion of the fault protection circuit assembly from the plurality of line terminals in the second state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Weeks, Richard Rohmer
  • Patent number: 9484735
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a circuit interrupter assembly coupled to a solenoid actuator and configured to move along an assembly axis in a direction normal to a major surface of the electrical isolation member to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle contact structures in a reset state and to interrupt the electrical continuity to effect a tripped state. The circuit interrupter assembly including at least one portion configured to pivot relative to the assembly axis to effect the reset state or the tripped state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2016
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Weeks, Kent R. Morgan, Jeffrey C. Richards, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Bruce F. Macbeth
  • Patent number: 9478382
    Abstract: A circuit interrupting safety device (CISD) interrupts the flow of current through a pair of lines extending between a source of power and a load. The CISD includes a column reset assembly functioning as a circuit breaker and latching device, a relay circuit including a solenoid, and a fault detecting circuit packaged in a circuit assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Tower Manufacutring Corporation
    Inventor: Victor V Aromin
  • Patent number: 9455564
    Abstract: A current and voltage module is provided that includes a housing having an opening extending at least partially therethrough in an axial direction. The housing is configured to receive a conductor within the opening. The module also includes a threaded metal insert extending radially through the housing and configured to align with a threaded opening defined in the conductor. The module further includes a fastening device configured to be inserted within the threaded metal insert and into the threaded opening to electrically couple the housing to the conductor. A voltage sensor is coupled to the threaded metal insert within the housing and is configured to sense an amount of voltage in the conductor. The module also includes a current sensor within the housing configured to sense an amount of current flowing in the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Cecil Rivers, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9384924
    Abstract: Provided are: a hermetically-enclosed tank that is filled with insulating gas; a blocking unit that is provided within the hermetically-enclosed tank and is configured with a movable arc contact and a fixed arc contact opposing each other; a plurality of energizing units, within the hermetically-enclosed tank, that are provided around the blocking unit about its axial line as a center and located away from each other; and a fixed-side auxiliary conductor that is provided between a gas space which stores the energizing units and a gas space on the side of the fixed arc contact. A communication hole is formed on the fixed-side auxiliary conductor so as to communicate the gas space provided between the energizing units with the gas space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: MITSUBISHI ELECTRIC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toru Yamashita, Daisuke Yoshida, Hirokazu Otani
  • Patent number: 9362075
    Abstract: A cover assembly for a circuit breaker includes a cover, the cover including a first portion and a second portion. The first portion is configured to at least partially cover a current sensing element within the circuit breaker, and has an interior surface and a cover opening. The second portion extends from the interior surface of the first portion, and has a terminal pocket opening aligned with the cover opening. The cover is configured to receive a load terminal through the terminal pocket opening and cover opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Yatin Vilas Newase, Maddela Rajesh Babu, Janakiraman Narayanan, Devendra Kumar Sharma
  • Patent number: 9031795
    Abstract: An electromagnetic testing assembly to predict a usable life of an installed vacuum interrupter in the field, which can include an electromagnetic testing device connected to a flexible magnetic field coil to generate a potential in a vacuum interrupter in an installation, magnetically monitor ion flow across one or more gaps in the vacuum interrupter, and apply trend data, tube chart information, and an algorithm to predict the usable life.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Finley Lee Ledbetter
  • Patent number: 9026375
    Abstract: A closed and open contact method to predict a usable life of vacuum interrupters in the field can include using computer instructions in the data storage to instruct the processor to position a calculated amp or calculated pressure on an ionic or current versus pressure calibration curve for the installed vacuum interrupter and identify trend data from a library of trend data corresponding to the installed vacuum interrupter and to the calculated pressure or calculated amp of the installed vacuum interrupter; thereby determining the anticipated life expectancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Inventor: Finley Lee Ledbetter
  • Publication number: 20150109078
    Abstract: A circuit for sensing a direct current includes a first resistance and a second resistance. A first portion of the direct current flows through the first resistance and a second portion of the direct current flows through the second resistance. The circuit further includes a current sensor having an opening, first and second conductors inductively coupled with the current sensor, and a switching circuit having a pair of switches structured to alternatingly switch in order that the second portion of the direct current alternatingly flows through the first and second conductors. The second portion of the direct current flowing through the first conductor passes through the opening of the current sensor in a first direction and the second portion of the direct current flowing through the second conductor passes through the opening of the current sensor in a second direction opposite to the first direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: GERALD ZHENG, JACK GU, BRUCE WU, VIJAY BHAVARAJU, XIN ZHOU
  • Patent number: 9013256
    Abstract: An improved solenoid having an enhanced magnetic field and failsafe operation is provided, wherein a primary winding and a secondary winding are constructed such that the combined force imparted on a plunger by both windings energized together is greater than the sum of the forces imparted by the primary and secondary windings energized separately, resulting in a smaller solenoid capable of providing a predetermined force, and providing a solenoid capable of tripping a circuit interrupting latch even if one of the windings is broken.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: Stephen P. Simonin
  • Patent number: 9007153
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective electrical wiring device that includes at least one first stop member disposed proximate at least one first conductor. The at least one first stop member is configured to limit the movement of the at least one first conductor when the circuit interrupting assembly moves between the reset position and the tripped position such that a gap is established between the plurality of circuit interrupting contacts in the tripped state, the gap being substantially greater than or equal to a predetermined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard Weeks
  • Publication number: 20150084721
    Abstract: The invention relates to a line protection switch (1) for protecting an electrical load circuit from an over-current which exceeds a permissible load current. In order to provide a structurally simple, compact and rapidly actuating line protection switch, it is provided with a switching member (6) which can be moved from an operating position into a protection position. Contact elements (2A, 2C) of the line protection switch (1) which can be connected to the load circuit are closed in the operating position and opened in the protection position. The line protection switch (1) according to the invention further has a retention member (10) which produces a magnetic retention field (MH) which is independent of the load current and by means of which the switching member (6) is retained in the operating position, and a counter-force member (14) which is independent of the load current and by means of which the switching member (6) is retained in the protection position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2013
    Publication date: March 26, 2015
    Inventors: Titus Ziegler, Thomas Haehnel, Matthias Kroeker, Udo Gabel, Peter Sandeck
  • Publication number: 20150055260
    Abstract: A fault current limiter circuit including a fast switch fault current limiter (FSFCL) and a voltage control reactor (VCR) operative to conduct load current during a steady state operation and limit load current when the load current exceeds fault current limits. The FSFCL may include a breaker having electrical contacts, a coil electrically coupled to the electrical breaker contacts, a plunger mechanically coupled to the electrical breaker contacts, a parallel voltage control (VCR), a transient overvoltage control circuit (TOCC), wherein when current greater than a threshold level flows through the coil, a magnetic field having strength to move the plunger is generated, the movement of the plunger operates to open the contacts in the breaker and transfer fault current to VCR and TOCC and limit the overall system fault current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Inventors: Kasegn D. Tekletsadik, Charles L. Stanley
  • Publication number: 20150002246
    Abstract: The removable device (20) according to the invention is designed to be connected to an electronic trip unit (10). The trip unit (10) comprises an internal electrical power supply bus (55) and the device (20) is adapted to be supplied with electrical energy via the internal electrical power supply bus (55). The device (20) comprises a withdrawal member (68) for withdrawing electrical energy on the internal electrical power supply bus (55). The trip unit (10) includes a switched-mode power supply (54) capable of delivering a power supply signal (S1). The withdrawal member (68) comprises detection means for detecting each rising edge of the power supply signal (S1), and the electrical energy of the power supply signal (S1) is withdrawn as of the detection of a rising edge.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 13, 2014
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Pascal HOUBRE
  • Publication number: 20140347149
    Abstract: Air circuit breaker coil adapter for adapting an air circuit breaker, comprises: a coil unit housing for releasably receiving an air circuit breaker coil unit, the coil unit housing having a coil retainer element for preventing or limiting upward movement of an air circuit breaker coil unit therein; a locator at a bottom end of the coil unit housing for positively locating the coil unit housing in a plunger aperture of an air circuit breaker housing, the locator having a plunger aperture therethrough by which an interior of the coil unit housing is in-use communicable with an interior of the air circuit breaker housing; and a housing retainer element for at least in part preventing or limiting vertical displacement of the coil unit housing. An air circuit breaker using such an adapter and a method of adapting an air circuit breaker are also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventor: Peter Ward
  • Patent number: 8860535
    Abstract: A test button is disclosed for an electrical switching device, especially for a circuit breaker; and an electrical switching device is disclosed, especially a circuit breaker, with a test button. The test button is at least one embodiment is embodied for actuation of a tripping mechanism of the electrical switching device. In this case, the test button actuates the tripping mechanism on the one hand if the test button is actuated manually and on the other hand if a cover element of the electrical switching device is opened. The actuation of the tripping mechanism by way of the test button ensures that the electrical switching device cannot be switched on or tripped respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Zbynek Augusta, Lukas Kalous, Pavel Naiman, Milos Petracek, Pavel Safar