Abstract: A circuit interrupter has a first contact, a second contact, and a trip arm which moves the second contact between a closed position where the second contact is touching the first contact and an open position in which the second contact is spaced apart from the first contact. A first trip mechanism has a first solenoid, a first overcurrent sensor, and a first arm. A second trip mechanism has a second solenoid, a second overcurrent sensor, and a second arm. The first trip mechanism activates the first arm after a first threshold amount of time which actuates the trip arm when the first overcurrent sensor detects a first threshold level. The second trip mechanism activates the second arm after a second threshold amount of time which actuates the trip arm when the second overcurrent sensor detects a second threshold level, the second threshold level being different than the first.

Abstract: In one aspect, the present invention provides an electromagnetic circuit interrupter for use in a high voltage direct current (DC) aircraft power distribution system. The electromagnetic circuit interrupter comprises a contact mechanism operable to separate first and second electrical contacts by a first predetermined distance d1 for a predetermined time ? so as to sustain an arc when the contact mechanism is opened. The contact mechanism is further operable to separate the first and second electrical contacts by a second predetermined distance d2 after the predetermined time ? so as to extinguish the arc. The first predetermined distance d1 is less than said second predetermined distance d2. By deliberately sustaining the arc for a relatively long period of time, this aspect of the present invention is particularly useful for extending the operational lifetime of the contacts and thereby of the electromagnetic circuit interrupter itself.

Abstract: A contactor for air conditioning unit includes a first magnetic coil, having a first set of contacts for the compressor; a second magnetic coil, having a second set of contacts for the fan motor; and a time delay device connected in series with either the first magnetic coil or the second magnetic coil. The contactor provides for independent control of the compressor and the fan motor. During the time period when the fan continues running and the compressor is switched off, the device equalizes the pressure difference between different portions of the air conditioning unit.

Abstract: A solenoid assembly for a circuit breaker having a clapper with an increased mass is provided. The mass, preferably at least one non-ferrous slug, increases the mass of the clapper so that the solenoid response time is slowed. That is, the added mass creates an inertial delay that slows the solenoid clapper as the clapper moves between the first position and the second position. Preferably, the delay is between 48 ms and 60 ms, and more preferably 50 ms. The clapper having a non-ferrous slug may also be incorporated into existing circuit breakers by, for example, coupling the non-ferrous slug to the preexisting clapper, or replacing the clapper with a clapper assembly having at least one non-ferrous slug thereon.

Abstract: This publication discloses a switching device combination for capacitive loads (3) connected to a direct voltage. The switching device combination includes an actual switch component (1) for connecting voltage to the capacitive load (3), a charging switch component (2) for connecting charging voltage to the capacitive load in the initial stage, which charging switch component is dimensioned for a lower current than the actual switch component (1), a controller component (4), by means of which the actual switch component (1) is controlled from an open state to a closed state and vice versa, with the aid of a mechanical lever (5), which is connected to a first shaft (6), and delay elements (11) for delaying the connection of the actual switch component (1), so that the closed charging switch component (2) will have time to charge the capacitive load (3) before the connection of the actual switch component (1).

Abstract: A terminal block time delay relay includes a terminal block, a plurality of terminals, a first timing control, and a timing circuit. The terminal block defines a socket operable to receive an electrical relay. The plurality of terminals are accessible at edges of the terminal block. The first timing control is supported by the terminal block. The timing circuit is housed by the terminal block and coupled to the terminals, the first timing control, and the socket.

Abstract: A parallel pole magnetohydraulic circuit breaker (10), having a single trip element (271) and a pair of trip mechanisms (101, 102), achieving an increased current carrying capacity with reduced nuisance trips. The tip mechanisms (101, 102) are contained within separate housings (14, 16), with electrical connections (30, 40) and multipole trip mechanism (101, 102) communicating through apertures in the common wall (14′). Preferably, the armature (260) of the trip element (271) acts on a single trip mechanism (101, 102), which multiplies the available force to trigger a trip of the other tip mechanism.

Abstract: An electro-magnetic operating device 10 for a circuit breaker includes a coil 12 defining a cavity 14. A stator frame 20 which includes a pole piece 18 is arranged about the coil 12. A tube, which is closed off at one end by an end wall and at an opposed end by the pole piece 18 is arranged in the cavity 14. The tube 24 carries a core 22 therein. The plunger 22 is urged away from the pole piece 18 by a coil spring 28 arranged in the tube 26. The spring 28 is selected so that, when a load current of 100% is carried in the coil 12, the electro-magnetic force imparted to the core 18 exceeds the spring force imparted by the spring 28 to the core 22.

Abstract: A current monitoring assembly 12 of a circuit breaker includes a coil 16, a tube 18 slidably mounted in the coil 16, a core 20 slidably housed within the tube 18, a first pole piece 22 mounted on an end of the tube 18 and an "O"-shaped magnetic frame 24 having a second pole piece 26 aligned with the first pole piece 22. A retarding fluid is contained within the tube 18 and a core spring 46 is arranged intermediate an end of the core 20 and the pole piece 22.

Abstract: An electromagnetic apparatus has a connecting mechanism which transmits the operation of an actuator (28) of a main body to electric contact parts (13, 14) of a time delay unit 34 mounted on the main body. The connecting mechanism comprises a movable frame (31, 41, 51) for making the open/close operation of the electric contact parts (13, 14), and a connecting bar (30,60, 70) for connecting between the actuator (28) and the movable frame (31, 41, 51). The connecting bar (30, 60, 70) detachably engages with the actuator (28) and is connected to the movable frame (31, 41, 51) through a spring (32) which adjusts difference of operation stroke when the actuator (28) is moved over the operation stroke of the movable frame (31, 41, 51).

Abstract: An electromagnetic circuit breaker has a housing that includes a separately defined arc chamber in which the moving contact travels as the breaker is tripped, and the chamber has a divergent shape to facilitate exhausting the hot gases from the arc chamber through a metal screen and through vent openings in the end wall of the breaker housing. The housing is made in two half sections that are held together by rivets and the location of one of these rivets is isolated from the fixed contact at the lower end of the arc chamber by the unique arc chamber configuration. The lower wall of the circuit breaker housing is adapted to receive either a molded switch subassembly or to receive a terminal strip that is held in place by the primary terminals of the breaker and is adapted also to support auxiliary terminals that operate a shunt coil. The shunt coil itself is fitted on a bobbin that is selectively mounted on the bobbin that contains the primary electromagnetic coil for the breaker.

Abstract: Improvement in a circuit breaker employing a fixed pole piece associated with a movable magnetic core within a tube containing damping fluid wherein the side walls of the tube are transparent in order to facilitate the inspection of internal components. Calibrations can be provided on the side walls as well. Additionally, the tube is preferably made of resinous materials which is heat sealable to the end cap carrying the pole piece to which the breaker tripping armature is attracted by overload sensed by a coil surrounding the movable core and upon overload causing the armature to move to the pole piece and open the circuit breaker contact.

Abstract: An electromagnetic circuit breaker having a frame is supported in fixed position relative to the housing and provides a platform for a bobbin on which is wrapped the electromagnetic coil of the breaker. One flange of the bobbin rests on the frame platform. The other flange supports a flange at the end of a non-magnetic tube containing the movable magnetic core to support the tube and the core in position extending through the center of the coil. The tube is closed by the pole piece which on overload attracts the armature of the breaker. A clamping member is supplied to hold the flange of the tube against the flange of the bobbin and to clamp the entire structure against the frame securely so that it will not move. The clamping means is arranged to contact a wall of the housing having a component generally parallel to the flange. The clamping means is preferably composed of a sheet metal member bent away from the plane of the flange to a point of contact with the housing then bent to conform to the housing.

Abstract: A relay comprises a yoke, an armature, a movable contact spring having a movable contact, at least one stationary contact mounted thereon, and a core. An air damper is mounted on a free end of the movable spring, or on a free end of the armature, to reduce sound generated by the impulsive force of the movable contact and the impulsive force of the armature.

Abstract: A push-to-trip button for a circuit breaker characterized by a circuit breaker within an insulating housing and having trip means for releasably holding a circuit breaker operating mechanism in an untripped position and including a trip bar biased in an untripped position, a trip delay member biased away from the trip bar and including an adjustment bar for applying a pressure on the member, a trip button extending through the housing and having a first surface contacting the trip bar, and the adjustment bar having a second surface for applying limited pressure on the trip button for holding the first surface in contact on the trip bar, without moving the trip bar to a tripped position.

Abstract: A circuit breaker with a magnetic circuit for delaying the trip function and characterized by a dual variable magnetic circuit air gap which allows a time delay at low level overcurrents, such that motor starting transient currents do not prematurely trip the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A mechanical time delay mechanism is shown which provides a predetermined time delay between the movement of the moving contact blade on a circuit breaker and the activation of a switch. The control circuit design of the circuit breaker provides for tripping at one level when the breaker is in the closed position and at a second lower fault level when the circuit breaker is closing and for a predetermined number of cycles thereafter. The subject time delay mechanism activates a switch to change the tripping level from the second level to the first level at the appropriate time. The mechanism includes a pivot link assembly connected directly to the moving contact arm, a ratchet assembly, and a pivot link connecting the two. The pivot link assembly includes a set of springs to delay the movement of the link with respect to the movement of the pivot link in response to an opposing pull on the link.

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.

Abstract: A timing attachment for a relay that is programmable to provide an ON Delay or an OFF Delay operation of a pair of switches having either normally open or normally closed contacts. The attachment includes a housing that is mountable in either of two positions on an assembly that is attached to the relay to program the OFF and ON Delay timing functions and indicia on the switches that indicate the contact operation of the switches when the switches are inserted in sockets in the attachment. A cover for the attachments has openings there through that expose indicia on the switches indicating the normally open and normally closed operating condition of the switches when the switches are inserted into the sockets and a slider that is movable along a rear surface of the cover to positions indicating the programmed operation of the attachment and the mode of operation of the switches when the attachment is mounted on the relay.

Abstract: An electromagnetic circuit breaker comprising a solenoid coil and an armature actuatable by the coil. A tube of nonmagnetic material within which is a movable magnetizable core, the tube having a pole piece at one end toward which the armature is attracted on predetermined overload conditions, the core being biased toward the end of the tube away from the pole piece.An inertial mass is carried by the armature and is pivotally and eccentrically connected to a link at one end. The link has another end pivotally mounted to a fixed support.Thus, when the armature is attracted to the pole piece the inertial mass is caused to rotate at an angular velocity greater than the angular velocity of the armature, so that the current in the coil required to overcome the bias on the armature with substantially no time delay, when the gap between the core and the pole piece is at its maximum, is substantially higher than the current required for a similar device but which omits the inertial mass.

Abstract: An improved movement for a time delay relay cooperates with an electromagnet and a timer to provide either "On Delay" or "Off Delay" operation of the relay contacts. The movement has an elongated operating plunger that is movable in forward and backward strokes, a latch, and a contact actuator coupling the latch to the relay contacts. A pair of springs are disposed in a spring cage formed in the actuator and at least one spring-compressing flange is carried by the plunger and disposed between the springs. In the on delay mode of operation, one spring is loaded against the actuator upon a forward stroke of the plunger. In the off delay mode of operation, the other spring is loaded against the actuator upon a backward stroke of the plunger. The latch is restrained upon the movement of the plunger to load one of the springs, and is subsequently released from its restraint after a time delay to operate the relay contacts with spring action.

Abstract: A motor driven timing device is provided with a molded plastic frame having an electromagnet, a motor, a contact assembly, and a contact actuator attached thereto. The molded plastic frame is partially sandwiched between the electromagnet and a mounting base member to which the electromagnet is fixed.

Abstract: A pneumatic timer is disclosed which includes a base plate, a vertical frame member consisting of a frame perpendicular to the base plate and a horizontal frame. The horizontal frame portion includes a central opening, the vertical frame portion includes a pair of vertically extending grooves. A timing mechanism is received in the central opening in the horizontal frame portion including a displaceable element displaceable axially of the central opening in the base plate and a knob disposed on top of the horizontal frame portion. An electromagnet is fixed inside the vertical frame portion in a region surrounded with the horizontal and vertical frame portions.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic circuit breaker having improved delay characteristics and particularly improved pulse tolerance. The trip coil of the breaker is spaced from the magnetic pole piece of a delay tube by a non-conductive, non-magnetic gap and the delay core is elongated. An inertia wheel is mechanically coupled to the trip armature to further increase pulse tolerance so as to reduce nuisance tripping in the presence of high but very short term overcurrents. The circuit breaker provides a significantly improved motor protection characteristic.

Abstract: An electrical circuit breaker comprising an electromagnetic device including a linearly movable armature and a linearly movable time delay assembly. The time delay assembly has a forward end portion which carries a lever. The forward end portion includes a catch to latch the movable contact arm in the contacts "on" position. On predetermined electrical conditions, the armature moves linearly, engages the lever, which then pivots and engages the movable arm, moving the latter out of engagement with the catch, whereupon the contacts open. The contacts may be opened manually by rotating the time delay assembly, whereupon a portion of the assembly engages the movable arm and moves the latter out of engagement with the catch, and the contacts then also open. The contacts, in both instances, may be manually reclosed by moving the time delay assembly toward the contacts, if the electromagnetic device is no longer energized sufficiently to trip open the circuit breaker.

Abstract: Disclosed is a magnetic circuit breaker having improved delay characteristics and particularly improved pulse tolerance. The trip coil of the breaker is spaced from the magnetic pole piece of a delay tube by a non-conductive, non-magnetic gap and the delay core is elongated to extend in its normal biased position through the electrical center of the coil. An inertia wheel is mechanically coupled to the trip armature to further increase pulse tolerance so as to reduce nuisance tripping in the presence of high but very short term overcurrents.