Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Charles E. Kosinski
  • Patent number: 7520152
    Abstract: A door lock device includes a lock having a deadbolt with a first end and a second end. The second end is structured to disengage from an object, such as a portion of a door frame, in a first position and to engage the object in a second position. A spring directly engages and biases the first end of the deadbolt toward the second position thereof. A solenoid includes a plunger structured to engage the deadbolt, in order to hold the deadbolt in the first position thereof. A sensor is structured to sense at least one of the first and second positions of the deadbolt. A wireless controller is structured to receive a wireless signal and responsively energize the solenoid, in order to disengage the plunger of the solenoid from the deadbolt and release the deadbolt to the second position thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Russ C. Sabo, John J. Crowley, III
  • Patent number: 7521645
    Abstract: An arc plate for a circuit breaker arc chute assembly includes first and second portions coupled to opposing sidewalls of the arc chute assembly, first and second ends, and a throat portion between the first and second portions and including an aperture. The aperture extends from the first end toward the second end and includes an end section, an intermediate neck section adjacent the end section, and an interior section adjacent the intermediate neck section and distal from the end section. The end section has a first width and attracts and directs an arc toward the intermediate neck section. The intermediate neck section tapers from the first width of the end section to a second width, further attracting the arc and directing it into the interior section. The interior section includes a taper and turns with respect to the intermediate neck section, in order to attract and retain the arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Shea, Nathan J. Weister
  • Patent number: 7518476
    Abstract: A trip actuator reset assembly for a circuit breaker includes a cradle assembly, a reset lever, a trip actuator, and a resilient element. The cradle assembly is pivotably coupled to the circuit breaker pole shaft. The reset lever includes first and second ends, and a pivot pivotably coupling the reset lever to the circuit breaker housing. The resilient element is pivotably coupled to the housing proximate the second end of the reset lever. In response to a trip condition, an actuating element of the trip actuator moves the first end of the reset lever. To reset the trip actuator, a guide member guides the cradle assembly into engagement with the resilient element which pivots the reset lever. The first end of the reset lever then resets the trip actuator. After reset, if the cradle assembly continues to move, then the resilient element bends to accommodate the additional motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Yuri C. Spitsberg, Nathan J. Weister
  • Patent number: 7518074
    Abstract: A pivot assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, including a housing having a molded cover and a molded base, a stationary contact assembly with stationary electrical contacts, and a movable contact assembly. The movable contact assembly includes at least one carrier assembly with a pivot, movable contact arms pivotably coupled to the carrier assembly, and movable electrical contacts coupled to the movable contact arms. The pivot assembly includes pivot members. Each pivot member includes an aperture for pivotably receiving the pivot of the carrier assembly in order that the carrier assembly is pivotably coupled between a corresponding pair of pivot members. Each pivot member is a separate independent component disposed between the molded cover and molded base of the circuit breaker housing. An electrical switching apparatus and a carrier assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, Paul R. Rakus
  • Patent number: 7504940
    Abstract: A sensor node or a control device node is for a home system including a server and a fob. The node includes a household object, and a sensor, control or display device embedded in or substantially within the household object. The sensor, control or display device includes a first wireless port adapted to wirelessly communicate with the server, a second port adapted to communicate with the fob when the fob is proximate to the second port, and a processor operatively associated with the first wireless port and the second port. The processor is adapted to receive proximity information from the second port and responsively communicate with the server through the first wireless port, in order to configure the sensor, control or display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Luebke, Luis R. Pereira, William J. Murphy, John C. Schlotterer, Javier E. Piraneque, Michael L. McManus, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 7488915
    Abstract: An arc baffle for an arc chute assembly of a circuit breaker includes a first baffle member disposed at or about the second end of the arc chute assembly and including a plurality of first venting holes, a second baffle member including a plurality of second venting holes and being coupled to and disposed opposite from the first baffle member, and a filter assembly disposed at or about the second baffle member and including a number of filter elements. The first and second venting holes of the first and second baffle members are offset to induce turbulent flow of ionized gases being discharged from the arc chute assembly. The filter elements of the filter assembly filter the turbulent flow. An arc chute assembly and an electrical switching apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William C. Pollitt, John J. Shea, Aaron T. Kozar, Nathan J. Weister
  • Patent number: 7486183
    Abstract: A home wellness system includes a base station having a wireless communication port, a telephone communication port and a memory with a plurality of digital images. The system also includes a plurality of network devices, with at least one of the network devices having a sensor adapted to detect an event, and a wireless communication port adapted to send the detected event to the wireless communication port of the base station. Another device, such as a cellular telephone, includes a telephone communication port and a display. The telephone communication port of the base station is adapted to send one of the digital images to the telephone communication port of the cellular telephone responsive to receipt of the detected event at the wireless communication port of the base station. The cellular telephone is adapted to responsively display the one of the digital images on the display thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Luebke, Russ C. Sabo, William C. Sabram, Joseph M. Ballay, Michael L. McManus
  • Patent number: 7474179
    Abstract: A contact spring assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a movable contact assembly and a stationary contact assembly having stationary electrical contacts. The movable contact assembly includes a carrier assembly, and movable contact arms pivotably coupled to the carrier assembly and carrying movable electrical contacts. The contact spring assembly includes a first contact spring housing member, a second contact spring housing member coupled to and disposed opposite from the first contact spring housing member, a spring guide disposed between and coupled to at least one of the first and second contact spring housing members and including spring holes, springs received in the spring holes, and sliders coupled to the springs. The springs and sliders individually bias the movable contact arms and movable electrical contacts toward engagement with corresponding stationary electrical contacts. A movable contact assembly and an electrical switching apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corportion
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, John J. Shea, Douglas C. Marks
  • Patent number: 7440767
    Abstract: A home wellness system includes a server having a wireless transceiver, a plurality of sensors each of which has a wireless transceiver adapted to communicate sensor information to the server wireless transceiver, and a portable display and configuration fob, the portable fob includes a rotary thumbwheel encoder, a display and a wireless transceiver communicating with the server wireless transceiver, the thumbwheel encoder and the display cooperate to provide a first rotary menu for displaying the sensor information of the sensors and a second rotary menu for configuring the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Milan Ballay, Michael Lawrence McManus
  • Patent number: 6633211
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts disposed in the housing, and an operating mechanism disposed in the housing and interconnected with the contacts. A trip mechanism is disposed in the housing and has an automatic trip assembly that generates a tripping operation. The automatic trip assembly includes an armature and a magnetic yoke having pivot supports. The armature includes a head portion having a first hook-like member and an oppositely facing second hook-like member. The first hook-like member has a first recess, and the second hook-like member has a second recess. The automatic trip assembly includes a pivot pin positioned on the pivot supports and extending through the first recess and the second recess to provide a rotatable disposition of the armature. The assembly also includes a biasing member applying a force to the armature in a direction to normally rotationally displace a bottom portion of the armature away from the magnetic yoke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark O. Zindler, Roger William Helms
  • Patent number: 6452470
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including separable main contacts, an operating mechanism interconnected with the contacts, and a housing in which the contacts and the operating mechanism are disposed. The housing includes a cover positioned on top of a base, the cover including first contact surfaces for contacting and mating with second contact surfaces of the base. The cover also includes a contact region. The operating mechanism includes a support member that is situated within the base and which has an upper surface with a raised region. The raised region is positioned to make contact with and pierce into the contact region before the first contact surfaces fully mate with the second contact surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Malingowski, Teresa I. Hood, Lance Gula, Craig A. Rodgers, William E. Beatty
  • Patent number: 6445274
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts within the housing, and an operating mechanism within the housing and interconnected with the separable main contacts. A trip mechanism is disposed within the housing that includes a trip bar assembly rotatable about an axis and that, when rotated, generates a tripping operation causing the operating mechanism to open the contacts. The trip bar assembly includes a trip member translatable along the axis. The trip mechanism includes a tripping actuator movable along a predetermined path of travel as a function of electrical current. The tripping actuator contacts a contact area of the trip member at a predetermined location along the predetermined path of travel of the tripping actuator and causes the trip bar assembly to rotate and generate the tripping operation upon a predetermined current threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard Paul Malingowski, Craig Allen Rodgers, Lance Gula, Teresa Inez Hood, Raymond Peter Gundy, Jonathan Moore Peifer
  • Patent number: 6437671
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a housing including an abutment wall, separable main contacts within the housing, and an operating mechanism within the housing and interconnected with the contacts. A terminal is at least partially disposed within the housing. A locking plate is positionable between the terminal and the abutment wall for securing the terminal within the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Lance Gula, Mark A. Janusek
  • Patent number: 6407653
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts disposed in the housing, and an operating mechanism disposed in the housing and interconnected with the contacts. A trip mechanism is disposed in the housing and has an automatic trip assembly that generates a tripping operation. The automatic trip assembly includes a magnetic yoke, an armature, and a plurality of abutment members. The magnetic yoke has pivot supports providing for a rotatable disposition of a head portion of the armature. The assembly also includes a biasing member having a first portion and a second portion, the first portion abutted against a selected one of the plurality of abutment members, the second portion abutted against the armature and applying a force to the armature in a direction to normally rotationally displace a bottom portion of the armature away from the magnetic yoke, wherein selecting a different one of the plurality of abutment members to be the selected one causes the force to vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark O. Zindler, Joseph B. Humbert, David Charles Funyak
  • Patent number: 6356175
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including separable main contacts, an operating mechanism interconnected with the contacts, and a housing in which the contacts and the operating mechanism are disposed. The housing includes a first attaching region and a mounting cutout. A shield is provided that includes a second attaching region attaching with the first attaching region for connecting the shield to the housing. The shield includes a tab adapted for covering the mounting cutout when the connection is made.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Dean B. DeGrazia, Mark A. Janusek, Kathryn M. Palmer, Erik R. Bogdon
  • Patent number: 6323748
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts disposed in the housing, and an operating mechanism disposed in the housing and interconnected with the contacts. The operating mechanism includes a handle having a base into which is formed a channel. The base includes a compressible protrusion that is disposed within the channel. The operating mechanism further includes a handle assembly having a platform that inserts into the channel of the base. The platform includes an indent that mates with the protrusion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Malingowski, Teresa I. Hood, William D. Munsch, Lance Gula, Trent A. Chontas
  • Patent number: 6307376
    Abstract: An improved system and method for detecting solenoid-related faults in a solenoid-controlled actuator assembly. The system includes a processing circuit which controls a solenoid driver circuit for energizing and de-energizing the solenoid, a current sense circuit for sensing the current in the solenoid, and a power supply switching circuit for selectively connecting and disconnecting a supply voltage from the solenoid driver circuit. The processing circuit implements fault detection logic wherein the processing circuit senses the current in the solenoid and, if the sensed current exceeds a predetermined current value for a predetermined time period, disconnects the supply voltage from the solenoid driver circuit and measures the rate of voltage decay in the solenoid driver circuit to determine if an open circuit fault or a short circuit fault exists.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Randy Alexander, David L. Wadas, Yei Dei Wang
  • Patent number: 6292076
    Abstract: A DIN rail adapter for a circuit interrupter including a backplate having two guide members and two substantially planar stabilizing tab. The backplate further includes a first spring attachment region. A slider is slideably disposed between the guide members and the stabilizing tabs, and includes a second spring attachment region. A spring is disposed between the first and second spring attachment regions for biasing the slider in a first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Dean B. DeGrazia, Erik R. Bogdon, Michael J. Spangler, Gary R. Funk, Roger W. Helms, David C. Turner
  • Patent number: 6281459
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts within the housing, and an operating mechanism within the housing and interconnected with the contacts. An arc extinguisher assembly is disposed within the housing. Also provided within the housing is a slot motor assembly having a cavity region within which the contacts are substantially located. The slot motor assembly electro-magnetically interacts with current flowing between the contacts, and includes magnetic plates positioned in a slot motor housing. The slot motor housing has a tendency to move an arc existing between the contacts toward the arc extinguisher assembly. The slot motor assembly also includes an insulation member positioned within the cavity region and between the magnetic plates and the slot motor housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: William David Munsch, Richard Paul Malingowski, Craig Allen Rodgers, Ronald William Brand, Jr., Lois Ann Gill
  • Patent number: 6262645
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts disposed in the housing, and an operating mechanism disposed in the housing and interconnected with the contacts. The operating mechanism includes a cradle for moving from a first position to a second position in the event of a tripping operation and thereby causing the contacts to open. A trip mechanism is disposed in the housing and includes a rotatable trip bar assembly that, when selectively rotated, generates a tripping operation. The trip mechanism includes a rotatable latch that engages the trip bar assembly and the cradle and keeps the cradle in the first position when a tripping operation has not occurred. The trip mechanism further includes a tension member that is positioned to bias the latch in a first rotational direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2001
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael McNeil, Mark O. Zindler, Amy L. Ondrey