Abstract: A remotely controllable circuit breaker device for interrupting current in a circuit path between a source and a load includes local and remote monitoring capabilities and a gear mechanism for reliable remote control of the interruption mechanism. The device includes a first contact and a second contact cooperatively arranged in the circuit path so as to provide current from the source to the load. At least one of the contacts is disposed on a contact carrier which is movable for interrupting the current provided to the load. The gear mechanism includes a motor with a rotatable shaft which responds to open and closed control signals generated from a remote location, and a gear, rotatably responsive to the rotatable shaft, for controlling the contact carrier so that the circuit path is interrupted and established, respectively. The gear mechanism controls the contact carrier using a coupling arrangement, which has a first part coupled to the contact carrier and a second part coupled to the gear.

Abstract: An adjustable torque clutch assembly is provided for use in a motor operator. The clutch assembly includes a cylinder ring disposed between upper and lower clutch plates and houses a pair of friction discs, a drive plate disposed between the friction discs, and a spring for forcing the friction discs together to create a frictional coupling force between the drive plate and the friction discs. The exact amount of frictional force is determined by the distance between the upper and lower plates. A rubber gasket is disposed between the housing and one of the clutch plates for allowing adjustment of the distance between the clutch plates, thereby allowing the frictional force, and hence the overall clutch torque to be adjusted. A plurality of screws are provided to secure the clutch plates together once the distance between them, and hence the frictional force has been adjusted to a desired amount.

Abstract: A trip indicator for a circuit breaker in an electrical distribution system. The trip indicator provides a visual indication of the activation of a trip signal caused by arcing fault detector (AFD) or ground fault interrupter (GFI) circuitry. The trip indicator comprises one or more light sources, one or more plungers having a colored tip or one or more bimetal disk having a colored top. In response to activation of a trip signal by the AFD or GFI circuitry, the light source(s) illuminate, the plunger(s) move from a retracted position to an extended position and the bimetal disk(s) move from a generally flat position to a convex position. A conduit is provided within the housing of the protective device for conveying light or the reflection of light between the light source(s), plunger(s) or bimetal disk(s) and an opening of the housing.

Abstract: An accessory module monitoring and controlling the status of a circuit breaker. The accessory module attaches to the side of a circuit breaker and has a mechanism similar to the mechanism in a circuit breaker. The mechanism has multiple positions that correspond to the multiple states of a circuit breaker. Suitably shaped actuators transform the relatively large-scale motions of the mechanism into small-scale motions and transfers these to buttons on switches. Depressing these switches, depending on the position of the mechanical assembly makes and breaks circuits that are in communication with a remote site thereby indicating the status of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A system for detecting arcing faults in a line conductor carrying an electrical current between a power source and a load, the electrical current defining an AC waveform comprising a series of alternating positive half cycles and negative half cycles. In one embodiment, the method comprises the steps of obtaining current samples in a series of half cycles of the waveform, determining the peak current of each of the half cycles, and comparing the peak currents to determine changes in slope between half cycles. The number of changes in slope occurring within a selected time interval are counted and an arc indicative signal is produced when the number of reversals in polarity in slope occurring within the selected time interval equals or exceeds a predetermined threshold number.

Abstract: A coupling member for securing a spring to a rotatable motor shaft so that the spring rotates with the motor shaft. The coupler has a cylindrical hollow middle which fits snugly onto the motor shaft and includes a main body portion having a smaller cylindrically shaped nose portion extending therefrom for receiving one end of the spring therearound. The main body portion includes a ramp portion, extending upwardly therefrom, a wall behind the ramp portion and a slot therein for receiving a hook portion extending from the spring. The hook portion is snugly secured in the slot and behind the wall so that as the motor shaft rotates, the coupler member causes the spring to rotate with the motor shaft.

Abstract: An apparatus for demonstrating and testing the operation of an arcing fault detector. The apparatus comprises an electrical circuit including line and neutral conductors connected between a power source and a load. A selector switch is movable between a first position and a second position in order to selectively route load current across either an arcing fault detector or standard circuit breaker. A pair of electrodes is positioned between said selector switch and the load for producing an arcing condition on the line conductor.

Abstract: An interlock assembly is provided for use in a manually operated multi-phase fusible switch having a fuse in series with a blade for each phase and a handle for simultaneously controlling the position of the blades. Each fuse is CONDUCTIVE when it allows current to flow therethrough and is BLOWN when it does not allow current to flow therethrough. The handle is coupled to a drive rod and is movable between an OPEN position and a CLOSED position wherein the blades conduct current therethrough when the handle is in the CLOSED position and do not conduct current therethrough when the handle is in the OPEN position. The interlock assembly includes an interlock mechanism for preventing the handle from being moved from the OPEN position to the CLOSED position when one or more of the fuses are BLOWN or missing, thereby preventing the blade for each phase from moving into the CLOSED position when one or more of the fuses are BLOWN or missing.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device for interrupting current in a circuit path between a source and a load. The device includes a first contact and a second contact cooperatively arranged in the circuit path so as to provide current from the source to the load. At least one of the contacts is disposed on a contact carrier which is movable for interrupting the current provided to the load. A contact status indication arrangement is provided for indicating the status of the contacts. The contact status indication arrangement includes a trip flag, a status insert, a clear plastic lens, a flag guide, and a status flag. The trip flag, status insert and status flag are viewable through the lens, which is disposed in an aperture in the circuit breaker housing. Only one status indicator is viewable through the lens at any one time, each indicating a different circuit breaker status.

Abstract: An electrical contact for use in an electrical switching device is provided having low contact resistance, high wear resistance and high anti-weld characteristics. The contact includes a material composition of between 0.2 and 8% by weight Gr, between 10 and 90% by weight W and the remaining mixture consisting of Ag. The contact is manufactured using a process which yields a unique microstructure characterized by not having an interconnected Gr network around the Ag thereby providing a strong Ag to Ag bond. This process includes the steps of adding the appropriate amounts of Ag, W and Gr powder material together, blending together under low shear conditions to provide a homogenous powder mixture while prohibiting the Gr from smearing onto the Ag, pressing the material mixture to form a contact, and then sintering and coining the contact.

Abstract: A metering unit, located in a distributed power network carrying a power-related waveform, comprises a sensor, a generator, and a memory. The sensor senses power-related parameters associated with the power-related waveform. In response to the sensor, the generator generates and transmits data representative of the power-related waveform. The memory is a sector-erasable flash EEPROM having stored therein programmable logic and main functionality firmware for execution by the generator. The logic is programmable by a user and executable by the generator to increase operations performed by the metering unit.

Abstract: An integrated protection system for an electrical distribution system including a panelboard for receiving power from a utility source and distributing the power to a plurality of branch circuits each having line and neutral conductors for delivering the power to a load. The integrated protection system comprises a plurality of arcing fault detectors and line interrupters attached to positions in the panelboard. The arcing fault detectors detect the occurrence of an arcing fault in either of the branch circuits, while the line interrupters disconnect the load from the power source in response to the detection of an arcing fault in either of the branch circuits. The line interrupters and arcing fault detectors may comprise separate modules, each being connected to one of the positions in panelboard or being attached externally to the other module.

Abstract: A portable programming device is provided for communicating with and downloading tripping characteristics to a circuit breaker electronic trip unit. The programming device incorporates an umbilical cable which is attached to a connector on the trip unit, over which power is supplied to the trip unit and data is exchanged, a keypad with function keys including On/Off, Function, Breaker/Pane, Sensor and Program keys, and a LCD display which is capable of showing pertinent parameters such as circuit breaker type, sensor size, pickup and delay settings, current flowing through the circuit breaker and the trip characteristics to be downloaded to the trip unit. The portable programming device has a provision to operate from power supplied by a built in battery or from an external AC adapter. The programming device is presented with a fiber optic cable which, when coupled to a trip unit which is attached to a powered circuit breaker, can pass data to the device display.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device for interrupting current in a circuit path between a source and a load includes a first contact and a second contact cooperatively arranged in the circuit path so as to provide current from a source to a load. A trip mechanism assembly, which includes an armature, a bimetal and a yoke, is provided for interrupting the current. The armature includes an aperture in which a latch point is provided to engage a latching surface of a trip lever for latching the trip lever thereon. The amount of current that is required to cause the trip mechanism to interrupt the circuit path is determined by the amount of overlap between the latching surface and the latch point. This overlap is adjusted by bending a calibration plate by tightening a calibration screw which extends through an aperture in a circuit breaker housing and a slotted aperture in the calibration plate. A substantially square shaped nut secures the calibration screw tightly against the housing.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker control arrangement that is reliable, accurate and cost-effective to manufacture, install and maintain. This circuit breaker arrangement also provides increased modularity by alleviating the need for installing wires to connect each circuit breaker with the control station. The present invention uses circuit breakers that contain internal control technology for interrupting and establishing an associated current path. At least one coded signal designates each circuit breaker, and a communication bus carries these coded signals to each circuit breaker. Decoding technology located on each circuit breaker determines whether the coded signal corresponds to that circuit breaker. If the coded signal does correspond to that circuit breaker, then the decoding technology responds by sending the appropriate response signal over the communication bus, and the circuit breaker's internal control technology either interrupts or establishes the associated current path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical switch locking assembly for inhibiting movement of a switch handle. The switch handle is enclosed in a casing or housing and moves operatively along a path between first and second positions to open or close electrical contacts for opening or closing a circuit. First and second recesses are molded into the casing to receive a locking device across the path of the switch handle. The locking device has first and second legs pivotally connected like scissors. The first leg has an integral first foot projecting away from the second leg, and the second leg has an integral second foot projecting away from the first leg, like scissor-blade tips having opposing projections. The first and second legs each have an opening opposite the first and second foot, respectively, somewhat like scissor handles. The first foot is inserted into the first recess and the second foot is inserted into the second recess.

Abstract: A locking device is provided for use with a circuit breaker operating handle to selectively keep the handle locked and prevented from moving between ON and OFF positions. The locking device includes a support frame with at least two oppositely directed mounting grips for securing the frame to the circuit breaker housing, and a locking arm movably disposed on support means extending from the support frame for movement between at least first and second engaged positions and a disengaged position. The locking arm prevents the operating handle from moving from the ON position to the OFF position when it is in the first engaged position and prevents the operating handle from moving from the OFF position to the ON position when it is in the second engaged position. A bracket on the support frame receives a locking member for securing the locking arm in either of the one engaged positions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker assembly having a base, cover, and switch handle adapted to withstand an external force applied to a lever of the switch handle. During normal operation the handle rotates on small-diameter pivots in elongated bearing slots. Under abnormal conditions that occur when the lever of the switch handle is inadvertently struck, such as when the circuit breaker is dropped on the lever of the switch handle, the pivots slide in the elongated bearing slots. The force is borne by large-diameter hubs which come in contact with mating bearing surfaces. Thus, the pivots are not shorn off during such incidents, which would damage the circuit breaker.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for welding together current carrying members of an electrical distribution device which are made of similar conductive material. The arrangement includes an electron beam gun capable of generating an electron beam sufficient to penetrate and heat the material, thereby providing mixing of the material to form a joint which is constructed substantially of a portion of each of the current carrying members.

Abstract: A guard for preventing movement of a handle by an operator from a locked position to a second position. The handle is coupled to an operating mechanism which controls a distribution device. The handle extends outwardly from the surface of the distribution device. The guard includes a cover which is configured to substantially enclose the handle while in the locked position. The cover is supported about the handle by abutting the surface of the distribution device. The cover is also configured to allow the handle to move from the locked position to the second position wherein the cover prevents an operator, but not the operating mechanism, from moving the handle from the locked position to the second position and the handle positively indicates the state of the operating mechanism between the positions. The guard also locks the cover to the distribution device.