Abstract: The present invention discloses a gas venting system for use in metallic enclosures housing electrical circuit breakers of the type having gas vents in the circuit breaker case for venting gases produced during the interruption of a fault current. The enclosure includes one or more covers which provide access to the interior of the enclosure and one or more vents through which the circuit breaker gases can exit the enclosure. The gas venting system includes a gas chute made from an electrically nonconductive and substantially flame retardant material. The gas chute is generally tubular and hollow in shape and has a breaker end aperture and at lease one vent end aperture. The apertures communicate with one another through the hollow gas chute.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical distribution board and meter socket assembly. The distribution board includes a framework for a meter compartment which is partially defined by a side panels, a bottom electrically insulating barrier and by a bus. The distribution board also includes an opening through each side panel and between each side face of the framework and the bottom barrier. The opening is of sufficient size to allow electrical connections therethrough. An L-shaped insulating barrier connects to the bottom barrier and is disposed in front of the bus. The meter socket assembly includes a socket pan, a socket molding assembly for an electrical meter, a test block assembly, and a plurality of load terminals adapted for electrically connecting to branch lines which overlap one another and extend from the load terminals in a direction generally parallel to the bottom edge. The meter socket assembly also includes a plurality of line terminals adapted for electrically connecting to line bars.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit for limiting voltage surges in load centers, panelboards and other electrical distribution devices. The circuit includes at least one high potential terminal adapted for connecting to at least one corresponding service line and a low potential terminal adapted for connecting to a low potential means. The circuit also includes a plurality of varistors connected in parallel to one another between each high potential terminal and the low potential terminal and a plurality of fuses corresponding in number to the plurality of varistors. Each fuse is connected in series to one of the varistors. Each fuse opens the circuit therethrough upon failure of the associated varistor. The circuit further includes monitoring the status condition of the fuses.

Abstract: The present invention provides a meter socket pan and assembly for connection of an electrical meter between a line bus terminal and a branch load terminal. The pan includes a one-piece support base having a generally flat front face and a back face, and a top, bottom and side edges. The base is made of a non-conductive plastic material adapted to support the electrical meter. A socket base is integrally formed on one end of the front face of the support base. The socket base electrically and mechanically connects to an electrical meter. A test base is integrally formed on the opposite end of the front face of the support base. The test base secures thereto a line and load terminal. The test base also reversibly closes the circuit between the line and load terminals. The socket pan also electrically connects the socket base and the reversibly closing test base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a wireway assembly for mounting to the housing wall of an electrical distribution device to enclose and protect electrical wiring therein. Generally rectangular, u-shaped channels have at least one aperture positioned in the channel wall to overlap the aperture of an adjacent channel to define a wireway through which the electrical wiring extends from the bight portion of one channel to the bight portion of the adjacent channel. An interlocking means manually attaches and detaches each channel with an adjacent channel and with the housing wall.The present invention also includes a method of safely protecting electrical wiring extending across a housing wall of an electrical distribution device. The method includes the step of interlocking a plurality of u-shaped channels in an abutting position to each other and the housing wall.

Abstract: This present invention provides an inexpensive and easily installed supplementary joint cover system for preventing dripping or splashing water from entering the joint between two adjacent sections of electrical busway. Each busway section includes a housing having an enclosure for surrounding and protecting a plurality of electrical conductors. A pair of housing sides are attached to and spaced apart by the enclosure such that two generally U-shaped troughs are formed. The joint cover system includes four dam assemblies, four sealing strips, two cover plates, two inspection hole plugs, and two connecting channels. Each of the two adjacent busway sections requires two dam assemblies to seal the busway housing at the joint. The dam assemblies form a water resistant block in the troughs formed by the busway housing. The sealing strips are placed across the dam assemblies and provide a seal for the cover plates.

Abstract: This invention provides for a tilt adjuster for a speaker support frame to adjust the tilt or position of a speaker which has been recessed mounted in a wall or the like. The tilt adjuster includes a wedge-shaped, one-piece adaptor frame body which attaches to a speaker on the front side and attaches to a speaker support frame structure on the back side. The frame structure is mounted on the wall. The tilt adjuster is preferably assembled with a speaker cover.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing an electrical switching contactor provides a more effective electro-magnetic pulling force in a smaller sized package. The method includes forming at least two adjacent closed-loop laminated metal cores from a substantially continuous length of magnetic metal, providing a coil bobbin separated into first and second sections through a vertical axis, arranging the first and second sections about a center portion of the closed-loop laminated cores, such that the center potion includes a part of each adjacent closed-loop. A coil is wrapped around the coil bobbin, and the coil bobbin is arranged with respect to the coil to electrically insulate the coil from the adjacent closed-loop laminated cores.

Abstract: A device for resolving axial and angular misalignments between electrical conductors of adjacent sections of a pre-bussed rigid conduit electrical feeder system. The variable phase positioning device includes a flexible housing with an end piece attached to each end. A number of flexible electrical conductors are enclosed within the housing. Each conductor is enclosed in an electrically insulating sheath. A substantially rigid terminal is fixedly attached to each end of each conductor. At each end of the housing the terminals are loosely captivated within a terminal support such that each terminal can rotate freely. The terminal supports are made from an electrically insulating material. A retaining sleeve is loosely received over each terminal support and attached to the end piece in a manner that permits the terminal supports to rotate freely within the retaining sleeve.

Abstract: A dry type transformer has an iron core, high voltage windings embedded in cast resin, and low voltage windings resin encapsulated. The low voltage winding is constructed with flexible sheet conductors. Insulating material includes an apparatus to secure the windings in place during a vacuum and pressure resin impregnation process. The result is a coil that exhibits high short circuit protection due to the tightly bond conductors comparable to completely resin encased molded transformers at a substantially reduced cost.

Abstract: A weld controller employs a stepper program for increasing heat boost in one percent increments or steps to provide compensation for contact tip wear. The weld controller acquires weld current data in the form of current samples for each step to create a characteristic curve or nominal current profile for the stepper program. Subsequent operations of the weld control utilize high and low current limit thresholds that track the nominal current profile. The thresholds can be defined as a fixed offset from the profile or as a percentage of the profile at each step of the stepper program. This allows the use of current limits to be established in close proximity to the nominal weld current at all times, enabling the use of tighter tolerances.

Abstract: A dry type transformer has an iron core, high voltage windings embedded in cast resin, and low voltage windings resin encapsulated. The iron core is manufactured with stacked core steel. After the core is stacked, instead of using banding straps, a heat shrinkable material is wrapped around the core legs and is heated to enable the shrunken material to apply uniform compression over the core legs. This will facilitate coil loading, reduces audible core noise and reduce core losses. In place of shrink wrappable material, a film material with elastic properties could be used.

Abstract: A high current capacity blade for a circuit breaker, comprises a conductive blade body having front and rear sections connected to one another, where the rear section includes a surface attachment area for fastening a flexible connector of the circuit breaker thereto. A strain relief tang extending from the rear section of the blade body is used to engage the flexible connector so as to stabilize the fastening of the flexible connector to the surface attachment area. A broad conductive lateral section is connected to and extends laterally from the front section, and includes a blade tab for engaging a toggle spring of the circuit breaker. A broad moveable contact is mounted on the broad lateral section and is adapted to interface with a stationary contact of the circuit breaker. A pair of substantially parallel L-shaped blade legs are spaced from one another to permit the toggle spring to pass therebetween.

Abstract: A current mode control apparatus generates an AC power output from a DC input source. The apparatus includes a pulse width modulator (PWM) to produce gate drive signals for driving a power output section having an output inductor and connected across the DC input source. An inner current error control loop coupled between the AC power output and the PWM, controls the average current in the output inductor by generating a current error signal for inputting to the PWM for conversion to the gate drive signals. The current error signal is the difference between the average current and a voltage controlled input signal. An outer voltage error control loop coupled between the AC power output and the inner current error control loop generates a voltage error signal based on the difference between the AC power output and a reference AC voltage.

Abstract: A power output driver circuit that converts a DC voltage into an AC voltage includes a gate driver circuit for turning on electronic switching devices. The gate driver circuit allows for a rapid turn-off of the conducting electronic switching device by having a first conduction path for the gate drive signals that turn-on the switching devices and a second conduction path that rapidly discharges stored energy in the gate/drain capacitance of the switching devices, resulting in a faster turn-off time. A transistor in the gate circuit shunts the stored charge directly to the source terminal of the switching device.

Abstract: There is provided an enclosure that encapsulates a current transformer by utilizing a snap together design while allowing for electrical coupling between the transformer and external wiring. Two housing members will snap together while capturing the transformer in a rigid fashion to avoid excess vibration or friction, which could fatigue the transformer's wiring.

Abstract: A blade suspension assembly for a circuit breaker includes a first electrical contact, an elongated contact arm having a second electrical contact adjacent a first end of the contact arm, a compression spring, and an elongated lever. The second electrical contact is movable about a first pivot axis between a contacts-closed position and at least one contacts-open position with respect to the first electrical contact. The lever has a first end adjacent a second pivot axis, a second end supported by the compression spring, and a contoured support surface between the first and second ends which supports a second end of the contact arm. The compression spring exerts a force against the second end of the lever so that the contoured support surface biases the second end of the contact arm about the first pivot axis in the contacts-closed position during normal operation and in the contacts-open position in response to the contact arm moving to the contacts-open position.

Abstract: A signal distribution and communication arrangement controls the broadcast of different types of signals through speakers located in various zones. The system includes a telephone interfaced with a door speaker controller to allow communication between the telephone and a door speaker. A page may be broadcast over the speakers and subsequently muted to allow private communication when the page is answered. Also included is a doorbell interface circuit that responds to a doorbell source. The doorbell source may be activated by any one of a plurality of doorbell switches.

Abstract: The invention provides a spring exerting a non-linear force between a contact carrier and a contact blade in a circuit interrupter. The inventive spring includes at least one elongated cantilever. The length of the cantilever has the shape of an arch made with a non-uniform angle and is formed from an elastic material. The cantilever is supported at one end against the carrier with the length of the cantilever positioned parallel to the carrier and the opposite end of the cantilever abutting the contact blade so that the carrier supports more of the length of the cantilever as the displacement between the carrier and the contact blade decreases.The invention also includes a method of operating a circuit interrupter by non-uniformly increasing the force exerted against a movable contact as it engages a stationary contact to complete a circuit.