Patents Represented by Attorney L. P. Johns

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  • Circuit breaker with contact support and arc runner
    Patent number: 4654491
    Abstract: A circuit breaker characterized by a movable contact on a contact-carrying arm movable between open and closed positions of a stationary contact mounted on one leg of a U-shaped conductor with another leg secured to the circuit breaker housing, a U-shaped brace between the legs and having a first support supporting and insulated from the other leg and having second supports on opposite sides of the one leg for retaining it against opposing repulsion magnetic forces due to current overloads.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Alfred E. Maier, Douglas C. Marks, David A. Leone
  • Current limiting solenoid operated circuit breaker
    Patent number: 4654614
    Abstract: A current limiting solenoid operated circuit breaker characterized by an arc quenching chamber having spaced arc guide rails along opposite sides of the chamber, stationary and movable contacts in an arcing zone adjacent to the chamber and electrically connected to corresponding guide rails, and a conductor around the arcing zone to generate a transverse magnetic field through an arc to drive the arc from the contacts and along the guide rails to the arc quenching chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Yun-Ko N. Chien, John A. Wafer, Walter V. Bratkowski
  • Reverse loop circuit breaker with high impedance stationary conductor
    Patent number: 4654490
    Abstract: A reverse loop circuit breaker characterized by a movable contact mounted on a contact-carrying arm movable between open and closed positions of a stationary contact that is mounted on one leg of a U-shaped conductor with another leg secured to the circuit breaker housing, an insulating block between the legs and including a pair of separable block portions having oppositely facing grooves for receiving edge portions of at least one leg to restrain its deflection, and means for securing the block portions together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 31, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Leone, Douglas C. Marks
  • Circuit breaker with arc gas vent baffle
    Patent number: 4650940
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with an arc gas vent baffle characterized by a molded insulating housing containing circuit breaker and an arc quenching chamber, the housing having walls forming a compartment containing a terminal, the walls having spaced vent openings communicating with the compartment one of which openings is covered with a baffle to turn aside the flow of gases, and the baffle being yieldably mounted to permit access through the opening from the outside of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Grunert, Roger E. Walker, Charles R. Paton, David A. Leone, David C. Turner
  • Circuit breaker with stop plate for contact arm
    Patent number: 4650946
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with a shock-absorbing mechanism characterized by a movable contact arm operable between open and closed positions of separable contacts, a stop member for stopping movement of the contact arm which member is integral with a housing for the circuit breaker, and a shock-absorbing plate on the member for spreading the energy released when the contact arm collides with the stop member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Alfred E. Maier, David L. Haggerty
  • Circuit breaker contact arm with variable force pivot
    Patent number: 4644121
    Abstract: A circuit breaker characterized by a movable contact carrying arm movable about a pivot and a helical torsion spring movable on the arm to and from the pivot for applying a varying force as the arm moves from closed to open positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Jere L. McKee, John P. Majcher, William E. Smith, Donald E. Schlosser
  • Circuit breaker with interface flux shunt trip
    Patent number: 4639701
    Abstract: A circuit breaker characterized by a circuit breaker structure having separable contacts and a releasable mechanism which mechanism is retained in untripped position by a latch including a rotatable trip bar. A solenoid, that is operable automatically in response to overload current conditions, is located adjacent to the trip bar and has a plunger movable parallel to the axis of the trip bar. A lever is disposed between the plunger and the trip bar to translate longitudinal motion into rotational trip bar motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Alan B. Shimp
  • Circuit interrupter with shock resistant mechanism
    Patent number: 4639700
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter with shock resistant mechanism characterized by a circuit breaker/contactor device in combination with an electromagnetic actuator which comprises a pair of opposed and facing solenoids having aligned armatures for actuating a linkage to open and close contacts of the circuit breaker contactor, and the linkage having a coupler link for movement between co-linear alignment with the armatures when the contacts are closed and for non-linearity when the contacts are open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Edward J. Shestak, David Marschik
  • Circuit breaker with arc chamber vent
    Patent number: 4639564
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with arc chamber vent characterized by a molded insulating housing containing circuit breaker means and an arc quenching chamber, the housing having wall means forming a compartment containing a terminal, and the wall means having gas vent opening communicating between the chamber and the compartment and a tubular wall surrounding the terminal for preventing any arc gases exhausting from the chamber into the compartment from causing electrical breakdown between the terminal and any proximate conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 27, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Kurt A. Grunert, Roger E. Walker, Charles R. Paton, David A. Leone
  • Circuit breaker with blow open latch
    Patent number: 4638277
    Abstract: An electric circuit breaker with blow open contact arm characterized by a pair of separable contacts one of which is mounted on a contact arm that is rotatably mounted on mounting bracket. The contacts maintain a repulsion magnetic force which operates to separate the contacts when a predetermined current overload occurs. A trip mechanism is connected to the mounting bracket or automatic opening of the contacts in response to a predetermined current overload condition. The contact arm comprising a cam and the mounting bracket comprising a cooperable cam follower whereby the contact arm is movable to an open contact independently of the mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 20, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Glenn R. Thomas, Jere L. McKee
  • Low voltage circuit breaker with remote switching function
    Patent number: 4636760
    Abstract: A low voltage circuit breaker with remote switching function characterized by an insulating housing containing manually actuator for opening and closing separable contacts and a remotely controlled solenoid for opening the contacts, and the solenoid means being spring biased in the closed contact position only when the manually actuator is in the closed contact position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 13, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Anthony Lee
  • Circuit breaker with arm latch for high interrupting capacity
    Patent number: 4635011
    Abstract: An electric circuit breaker with high interrupting capacity characterized by a multi-phase circuit breaker including a crossbar rotatable on its longitudinal axis and having an enlarged portion; a contact carrying arm pivotally mounted on the enlarged portion in response to an overload current at a positions paced from the axis; and a spring biased retainer contacting the arm for yieldingly retaining the arm in a contact closed position below a predetermined current rating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 1985
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Leone, Douglas C. Marks
  • Bridging joint for electric power busway
    Patent number: 4627680
    Abstract: A busway joint construction for electrically connecting and disconnecting busway sections of bus bars and characterized by a detachable joint assembly having pairs of plates extending between longitudinally spaced bus bars; one plate being an electrical conductor; the other plate being a non-conductor and having integral transversely extending spacers for maintaining the conductor plates of adjacent bus bars in spaced relation to facilitate insertion of the joint assembly; and the spacers including support surfaces for the electrical conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Charles L. Weimer, Barry R. Richards
  • Current limiting fuse with less inverse time-current characteristic
    Patent number: 4626817
    Abstract: A current limiting fuse with less-inverse time-current characteristics characterized by a tubular housing having electrical terminals at each end, a fusible structure in the housing and interconnected between the terminals, the fusible structure comprising first fusible portions of silver alloy and second fusible portions of tin alloy intermediate the first fusible portions, and an arc-extinguishing filler around the second fusible portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 2, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Frank L. Cameron
  • Remotely controlled solenoid operated circuit breaker
    Patent number: 4625190
    Abstract: A manually and remotely operated circuit breaker for use in energy management characterized by a manually operable overcenter toggle linkage mechanism for opening and closing a circuit, electromagnetic actuating current limiting means for opening the circuit in response to a short circuit, a bimetal in response to overload currents, and electromagnetic pulse actuated means for opening and closing the circuit in response to a control signal from a remote location when the manually operable means is open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 25, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: John A. Wafer, Walter V. Bratkowski
  • Amorphous metal transformer with low loss core
    Patent number: 4621416
    Abstract: A method of reducing core losses in a magnetic core characterized by the steps of winding a strip of a previously annealed amorphous magnetic alloy strip into a magnetic core; applying a primary winding onto the magnetic core to establish an AC exciting field in the core; applying a secondary winding onto the core; and applying a DC or a low frequency AC magnetic field to the core at an angle that is non-coincident to the AC exciting field to effect reduced high frequency core losses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1982
    Date of Patent: November 11, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Robert F. Krause, Curtis J. Gosik
  • Toroidal sensor coil and method
    Patent number: 4621231
    Abstract: A sensor coil characterized by an elongated insulating substrate, which substrate is folded and formed into a cylindrical toroidal core having adjacent substrate sections disposed at acute angles to each other forming a star-like cross-section, a winding on at least one side of the substrate which winding includes transverse and longitudinal portions on each substrate section which transverse portions are parallel to the axis of a current conductor on which the coil is mounted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Theodore M. Heinrich, Lawrence W. Frost
  • Control center with wedge and jaw connector for distributing electric power
    Patent number: 4621303
    Abstract: A control center for distributing electric power characterized by a cabinet enclosing bus bars, a drawout stab assembly comprising a dielectric housing containing a clamping jaw for each bus bar, each clamping jaw having a wedge and wedge-receiving means for clamping the jaws tightly on the bus bar, and a nut and bolt assembly for releasably clamping the wedge in place.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1984
    Date of Patent: November 4, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Neal E. Rowe
  • Circuit breaker apparatus with line terminal shields
    Patent number: 4620076
    Abstract: A circuit breaker apparatus characterized by a molded case forming a plurality of intercommunicating compartments with a circuit breaker structure within a compartment, arc-quenching means in an adjacent compartment, a line terminal in a next adjacent compartment and electrically insulating shield means between the line terminal and the arc-quenching compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 1985
    Date of Patent: October 28, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Stephen A. Mrenna, Gale C. Vosler
  • Electrical control apparatus with electromagnetic latch
    Patent number: 4617546
    Abstract: An electrical control apparatus characterized by a pair of separable contacts with electromagnetic means for opening and closing the contacts and including a U-shaped core having spaced legs and a yoke, a permanent magnet across the yoke, and the magnet having a cross-section greater than that of either leg.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 14, 1986
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Walter J. Kellogg, Birch L. DeVault, Kenneth L. Paape