Patents Represented by Attorney L. P. Johns
  • Patent number: 4802919
    Abstract: A method for processing metallurgical waste characterized by collecting metallurgical waste containing oxides of such metals as lead and zinc which when reduced form volatile and non-volatile metals; compacting a mixture of metallurgical waste, carbonaceous material and silica into pellets; heating the pellet at a temperature sufficient to reduce the oxides to vapors of elemental metals; and condensing the vapors to liquid or solid status of the elemental metal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 7, 1989
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Maurice G. Fey
  • Patent number: 4791255
    Abstract: An electrical transfer switch for providing electrical power from either one of two sources of electrical power to a load, and characterized by at least a pair of spaced power contacts disposed on a base which contacts are electrically connected to different sources of power; a load contact on the base and interconnected with a load; an electrically conductive bridge pivotally supported intermediate the ends thereof on the base for rotation between different angular positions as power for the load is transferred from one power source to another power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Robert B. Eliezer
  • Patent number: 4768014
    Abstract: A non-verbal communication system for work stations characterized by a work station for the assembly of parts by an assembly operator into a workpiece which work bench includes a plurality of bins for storage of various parts; a punch card reader at the work station including a light source and an array of separate aperture areas disposed in juxtaposed columns and rows, and a plurality of fiber-optic cables having first terminal ends disposed at the aperture areas and having second terminal ends located in the several parts bins, thereby illuminating indicators at the bins of specific parts to be selected by an assembly operator for assembly into a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 30, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Michael C. Pettit
  • Patent number: 4766408
    Abstract: A current limiting fuse with an indicator characterized by a generally tubular, electrically insulating casing having a pair of tubular terminal members at opposite ends of the casing. A fusible element extends between the terminal members and through the casing. An indicator plunger extends from one end terminal member and is movable between a retracted and extended positions and is biased in the extended position. A restraining wire extending between the other end terminal member and the indicator plunger. The wire having a smaller diameter portion in the casing. An electrically conductive grease disposed between the plunger and the tubular terminal member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 23, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Frank L. Cameron, George A. Smith
  • Patent number: 4761521
    Abstract: A drawout and interlock assembly for manually inserting a low-voltage molded case circuit breaker into positive electrical engagement with the plug-in power terminals of a distribution switchboard panel and then withdraw the breaker into a disconnected-test position is disclosed. The drawout position of the assembly comprises a pair of guide rails and a pair of drive rails that are secured to the back of the circuit breaker housing and cooperate with a pair of support rails and a drive mechanism that are secured to the stationary power blocks of the switchboard panel to effect a sliding telescopic interfitting of parts that permits the circuit breaker to be manually racked into connected and disconnected-test positions in an efficient reliable manner with a minimum number of parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 2, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Henry R. Beck, James E. Ferree, Alan J. Ludwig, deceased
  • Patent number: 4760216
    Abstract: A method for making an electrical bushing having an enlarged intermediate portion and reduced portions at opposite ends. The method is characterized by the steps of mounting an annular flange around one of the reduced portions to form a peripheral gutter adjacent to the one portion, mounting a cap on the other of the reduced portions to form a peripheral gutter adjacent to the other portion, placing a solid solder ring in each gutter, and with the open sides of the gutters upright, heating the solder rings to a molten temperature and cooling the molten solder to below its melting temperature in order to provide a joint between the flange and the one portion and the cap and the other portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 26, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Peter H. Thiel, James R. Gamble
  • Patent number: 4757166
    Abstract: A vacuum interrupter characterized by an all-ceramic envelope forming an evacuated chamber in which a pair of separable contacts are disposed. The envelope is comprised of two substantially half portions having abutting end surfaces that are secured together in a vacuum-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 12, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Paul G. Slade
  • Patent number: 4743876
    Abstract: A circuit breaker characterized by a voltage-responsive device having an electromagnet including an armature. A linkage connects the armature to the trip latch of the circuit breaker in order to open the circuit breaker contacts when a voltage occurs that is less than a predetermined voltage value. Under normal operating conditions, when the contacts are closed, the armature is retained in place by an electromagnetic force, but is biased away therefrom when the voltage drops below that voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Stanislaw A. Milianowicz, Charles K. Wallace
  • Patent number: 4743875
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having a direct current measuring shunt characterized by a molded insulating housing having line and load terminals with two conductors extending between the terminals, a current measuring sensor between overlapping end portions of the conductors and having a laminated structure of two outer conductor blocks and an intermediate body of an electrically resistance alloy having opposite sides brazed to corresponding facing sides of the blocks, each conductor block having an electrical terminal connected to a measuring millivolt surface for measuring the volt differential across the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: May 10, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: William J. Murphy
  • Patent number: 4738119
    Abstract: An integral cooling garment for protection against heat stress characterized by a pair of separate linings stitched together to form tube-receiving chambers which microporous tubes are detachably connectable to a source of liquid carbon dioxide which converts to a solid phase and then gradually sublimates to carbon dioxide gas that is released into the chambers for cooling a wearer of the article of clothing, and the article being untethered to the source of liquid carbon dioxide when worn.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Paolo R. Zafred
  • Patent number: 4725800
    Abstract: A circuit breaker structure having a faster trip unit characterized by a circuit breaker operator and a trip unit comprising a coil, a core, and an armature, and a hold-back bracket extending from and retaining the armature in a spaced position from the core so as to cause the magnetic field lines to flow through the bracket and the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Grunert, Stephen A. Mrenna, James P. Ellsworth
  • Patent number: 4725799
    Abstract: A circuit breaker for use in remote load energy management systems and characterized by an insulating housing including opposite side walls, end walls and edge walls with a circuit breaker structure contained therein; a manual operator including a handle extending through an edge wall for actuating the structure between open and closed circuit conditions; an electromagnetic within the housing and including an armature for opening the circuit which armature is movable in an axis substantially perpendicular to the edge walls.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: February 16, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Walter V. Bratkowski, Stephen A. Mrenna
  • Patent number: 4719438
    Abstract: A circuit breaker structure having a faster trip unit characterized by a circuit breaker operator and a trip unit comprising a coil, a core, and an armature, a flux concentrating plate spaced from and on the side of the armature opposite the core and for concentrating the magnetic field between the core and the armature, and a hold-back bracket having extending from and retaining the armature in a spaced position from the core so as to cause the magnetic field lines to flow through the bracket and the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 12, 1988
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Mrenna, Kurt A. Grunert, Jonathan Weiss, Vijay K. Garg
  • Patent number: 4713640
    Abstract: The pivot shaft which couples the contact arm to the side support plates of a molded-case type circuit breaker is provided with a pair of spacer members that hold the contact arm in precise centered position relative to the support plates and prevent the contact arm from shifting laterally along the pivot shaft during trip and reset operations of the circuit breaker. The movable contact thus swings along a fixed predetermined arcuate path when the circuit breaker is tripped and subsequently reset. The toggle assembly is also simplified and reduced in size and cost by employing a single, upper toggle link and pivot shafts that are each anchored in place by an integrally-formed shoulder at one end and a force-fitted lock washer at the other end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Glenn L. Murphy, Russell T. Borona, Francis L. Gelzheiser
  • Patent number: 4713642
    Abstract: A face connected instrument transformer is disclosed having a plurality of transformation ratios comprised of two primary windings and a single secondary winding. Each primary winding is electrically connected to a pair of terminals disposed adjacent to opposite faces of the transformer housing for engaging contacts within a molded case circuit breaker housing. The transformation ratio of the instrument transformer is changed by removing the instrument transformer from the circuit breaker housing and inserting the opposite face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: William R. Wolfe, David Marschik
  • Patent number: 4713504
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with hinged arcing contact characterized by an insulating housing enclosing a circuit breaker mechanism, an electromagnetic trip device therefor, separable contact means including stationary contacts and movable main and arcing contacts and the arcing contacts being pivotally mounted on the main contacts whereby the arcing contacts are forced against the stationary contacts as the main contacts open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Alfred E. Maier
  • Patent number: 4713635
    Abstract: A multi-phase circuit breaker characterized by a plurality of phase compartments separated by spaced barriers, a circuit breaker structure within compartment and having separable contacts, manually operable handle within one compartment and including a crossbar extending laterally through the compartments and barriers and each barrier having a removable portion that is retained in place by an overlying portion of a handle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert H. Flick, Lawrence D. Dennis, Roger E. Walker
  • Patent number: 4713639
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Grunert, Donald E. Schlosser
  • Patent number: 4713637
    Abstract: A circuit breaker characterized by a ratchet mechanism for manual or electrical charging system and comprising a pair of separable contacts coupled with a rechargeable spring to close the contacts. The spring is indirectly connected to a drive shaft on which a ratchet wheel is fixedly mounted for rotation of the shaft in one direction. A drive wheel is rotatably mounted on the shaft for rotating the ratchet wheel and a brake wheel is mounted on the shaft for preventing rotation of the shaft in the other direction. Rotating means are provided for rotating the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 15, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Alfred E. Maier, David A. Leone, Louis N. Ricci
  • Patent number: 4710739
    Abstract: The trip mechanism of a molded case type circuit breaker is actuated by a plunger that is integral with and axially extends from the end of a reciprocally-movable core member of a solenoid mounted within the breaker housing. The free end of the plunger strikes the trip bar of the breaker when the solenoid is energized in response to a current overload condition in the circuit being protected. The solenoid core member and plunger are mechanically locked in NO-TRIP position by spring-biased keeper means that is automatically released from its "lock" position by the magnetic field generated by the solenoid coil when it is energized. A spring automatically resets the trip-actuating assembly when the current-overload condition has been corrected and the solenoid coil is deenergized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Carl J. Heyne, Nicholas A. Tomasic