Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a case having an opening, and separable contacts having a closed position and an open position housed within the case. An operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts includes a pivot and a pair of extension springs for moving the operating mechanism to close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism further includes an operating handle for operating the operating mechanism. The operating handle includes a first or handle portion extending through the opening of the case and a second arm portion having a pair of elongated arms within the case. Each one of the extension springs extends between a corresponding one of the elongated arms and the pivot. The operating mechanism further includes a pair of links having an unbroken state corresponding to the closed position of the separable contacts and a broken state. One of the links pivots about the pivot.

Abstract: A transfer switch includes a miniature circuit breaker housing, a first line terminal, a second line terminal, a load terminal, and separable contacts electrically connected to the first line terminal. A transfer arm is electrically connected to the load terminal and is adapted to move between a first position in which the transfer arm is electrically connected to the separable contacts and a second position in which the transfer arm is electrically connected to the second line terminal. A solenoid having a first coil, a second coil and a plunger moves the transfer arm between the first and second positions thereof. An operating mechanism opens and closes the separable contacts.

Abstract: A vacuum arc interrupter that includes a vacuum chamber assembly having a first conductor and a pressure chamber assembly having a second metal conductor, with an opening, and a bullet assembly. The first conductor is coupled to a power line and the second conductor is coupled to a ground. The bullet assembly has a metal lance structured to engage the opening. The lance is shaped to create an arc when engaging the opening so that the second conductor and the lance are welded together.

Abstract: A vacuum arc interrupter that includes a vacuum chamber assembly and a pressure chamber assembly. The vacuum chamber assembly includes a first, fixed contact disposed within the vacuum chamber and a second, movable contact disposed within the vacuum chamber. A rod is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the second contact. The rod is structured to move between a first position wherein the second contact is spaced from the first contact and a second position where the first and second contacts are in electrical communication with each other. The pressure chamber assembly has a gas generation device and a cylindrical barrel defining a pressure chamber with a first end and a second end. The barrel second end has an opening. A piston assembly is disposed in the pressure chamber and coupled to the rod, which passes through the second, open end. The gas generation device is coupled to the pressure chamber assembly and in fluid communication with the barrel and the piston assembly.

Abstract: A trip unit includes a housing, a rotary plunger mounted in the housing and a pivotal trip bar also mounted therein. The trip bar latches the plunger in an on position, releases the plunger to a tripped position and re-latches the plunger. A set of springs biases the plunger to the tripped position. A rotary trip lever is pivotally mounted in the housing. A trip solenoid includes a linear plunger, which resets the solenoid when retracted, and which engages and rotates the trip lever when extended, in order to rotate the trip bar and release the rotary plunger. The rotary plunger engages the rotary trip lever when reset and rotates the same in an opposite direction, in order to retract the linear plunger and reset the solenoid. During that reset operation, the rotary plunger also cams the trip bar, in order to re-latch the rotary plunger in the on position.

Abstract: A circuit analyzer tests a power circuit including an earth leakage ground fault circuit interrupter, a receptacle, and a line, a neutral and a ground electrically connected between the circuit interrupter and the receptacle. The circuit analyzer includes a plurality of pushbuttons for inputting a plurality of test requests. A microprocessor outputs a plurality of test signals responsive to the test requests. A plurality of load circuits selectively provide a load between the line and the neutral responsive to one of the test signals. A display confirms tripping of the ground fault circuit interrupter responsive to the load, in order to determine if the neutral is electrically connected to the ground between the circuit interrupter and the receptacle.

Abstract: A trip unit includes a housing, a rotary plunger, and a pivotally mounted trip bar, which latches the plunger in an on position and releases the plunger to a tripped position. A first plunger portion is biased outside the housing in a tripped position by a spring mechanism. A pivotally mounted rotary trip lever includes an elastic arm. A second plunger portion is inside the housing in a reset position and engages the elastic arm. When a trip solenoid is energized, its linear plunger rotates the rotary trip lever, in order to engage and rotate the trip bar and release the rotary plunger. The rotary trip lever rotates in an opposite direction in response to the rotary plunger reset position and engages the trip solenoid linear plunger, in order to reset the same. The elastic arm flexes after the linear plunger is reset and accommodates overtravel of the rotary plunger.

Abstract: A multi-mode transfer switch selectively operates in a first operating mode in which the utility source alone is connected to the load bus, a second operating mode in which only the microturbine is connected to the load bus, and a third operating mode in which both sources are connected to the load bus in parallel. The microturbine is commanded to operate in a voltage mode when connected alone to the load bus and in a current mode when connected in parallel with the utility source. If the utility source fails while operating in parallel with the microturbine, the utility source is disconnected from the load bus and the microturbine is reconfigured in a voltage mode. The transfer controller sends a wake-up signal to the microturbine upon loss of power for starting and providing power to the load bus.

Abstract: An operating mechanism assembly for a circuit breaker that includes a frame assembly, a metal pivot structure, and a trip device. The trip device has a cradle member structured to pivot about a pivot point and a trip assembly. The trip assembly is coupled to the frame assembly. The cradle member is pivotally disposed on the metal pivot structure.

Abstract: A shorting switch eliminates arcing faults in power distribution equipment. The shorting switch includes an insulating tubular housing; a first contact; a second contact; and an insulator between the first and second contacts in the insulating housing. The insulator prevents electrical connection of the first and second contacts. First and second terminals are respectively electrically connected to the first and second contacts. A wave spring mechanism moves the first and second contacts toward closure. A slug and an activated charge mechanism drive the insulator from between the first and second contacts, in order to electrically connect the first and second contacts.

Abstract: A thermal detection system (10) contains a plural pole circuit breaker (12) and a resistance temperature detector adhesive tape (22, 24) connected to an electric circuit (34) that detects the resistance change in the adhesive tape (22, 24), which in turn sends a signal to a shunt trip (40) connected to the circuit breaker (12).

Abstract: A unitary operating mechanism assembly for a circuit breaker that includes a frame assembly having a planar member with a first pivot point located thereon, a handle member rotatably attached to the frame assembly at the first pivot point and structured to move between a first, closed position, a second, open position having an intermediate position therebetween, and a third, reset position, an operating arm coupled to the handle member and structured to move between a first and second position, and a trip device attached to the frame assembly and structured to move the handle member between the first, closed position and the intermediate position upon the occurrence of a predefined condition. The trip device causes the handle member to rotate upon the occurrence of a predefined condition, such as an overcurrent, thereby causing the operating arm to rotate and wherein none of the components except the frame assembly is attached to the housing.

Abstract: An upper slot motor assembly for a circuit breaker slot motor assembly where the upper slot motor assembly includes a housing assembly and a plurality of plates, and the plates generally correspond to the shape of the housing assembly. The house assembly has a U-shape with a bight, a first and second leg, and a gap between said legs. The gap has a narrow portion and a wide portion. When installed about the circuit breaker separable contacts, the gap narrow portion is located near the stationary contact and the gap wide portion is located near the movable contact when the movable contact is in the open position.

Abstract: A power bridge rollout service system for removing and installing a power bridge, the power bridge having a housing with an external bus assembly. The power bridge rollout service system includes a roller assembly, an enclosure assembly, and a dolly assembly. The roller assembly is structured to support the power bridge and has a plurality of wheels. The enclosure assembly has a frame assembly structured to support the power bridge and has two wheel tracks. The dolly assembly has a frame assembly, a vertical lifting device, and a plurality of wheels. The vertical lifting device and wheels are coupled to the dolly frame assembly. The vertical lifting device acts upon a work platform such as a skid table assembly. The skid table assembly has a generally flat lifting plate. The skid table assembly may be raised so that the lifting plate is at the same general height as the frame assembly wheel tracks.

Abstract: An improved enclosure apparatus that can be used in conjunction with electrical excitation apparatus or other equipment is convertible between a rack-mountable configuration and a wall-mountable configuration. The enclosure apparatus includes a housing having first and second walls. A user interface is securable to the first wall when the enclosure apparatus is in the rack-mountable configuration and is securable to the second wall when the enclosure apparatus is in the wall-mountable configuration. The enclosure apparatus may additionally include a console apparatus having a console wall that protrudes outwardly from the second wall and to which the user interface can be secured.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, a trip mechanism having an armature mechanism responsive to selected conditions of current flowing through the contacts, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the contacts. The operating mechanism includes an open position, a closed position, a tripped open position, a lock, a first link and a second link having a base and a pair of legs. The lock is pivotally mounted to and substantially between the legs of the second link. The first link is pivotally mounted to the second link. The first link and the second link have an unbroken state in the closed position and a broken state in the tripped open position. The lock maintains the unbroken state in the closed position and responds to the armature mechanism to release the first link and the second link to the broken state in the tripped open position.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a case, separable contacts, an operating mechanism having an open position, a snap closed position, a closed position, an operating handle for moving the operating mechanism between the open and closed positions, a movable contact arm carrying a movable contact, a link having a first end pivotally mounted with respect to the case, a second end and a projection, and a linkage. A first end of the linkage is pivotally mounted to the link second end. A second end of the linkage is pivotally mounted to the movable contact arm. A flexible cantilever lever is fixed within the case, engages the link projection and holds the link in the open position of the operating mechanism. The flexible cantilever lever flexes and releases the link projection and releases the link as the operating handle moves the operating mechanism from the open position to the snap closed position.

Abstract: A remotely controllable circuit breaker includes main contacts, secondary contacts and an arc plate drawing an arc from a fixed main contact when an operating mechanism opens the main contacts. A primary circuit electrically connects the main and secondary contacts between line and load terminals. A solenoid actuator selectively moves the secondary contacts between open and closed states. A magnetic bypass circuit is electrically connected between the arc plate and the load terminal. A movable magnetic armature cooperates with a fixed magnetic armature and is coupled to a movable arm controlled by the actuator. The circuits pass between the magnetic armatures, which respond to short circuit current flowing in the primary circuit and to arcing current flowing in the magnetic bypass circuit, in order to hold the secondary contacts in the closed state during both current conditions.

Abstract: A vacuum arc interrupter that includes a vacuum chamber assembly and a pressure chamber assembly. The vacuum chamber assembly has a first conductor coupled to a power line, a non-conductive housing and a seal cup. The pressure chamber assembly has a second conductor coupled to a ground, a pressure chamber and a bullet assembly. The pressure chamber assembly is disposed adjacent to the vacuum chamber assembly. The bullet assembly is disposed in the pressure chamber and is structured to move between a first position and a second position. The bullet assembly has a metal lance with a blade portion. The blade portion is structured to puncture the seal cup.

Abstract: A single locking member secures bus bars of different current ratings in the elongated support of a load center interior. The locking member has a lip on an outer end forming an inwardly facing locking surface that engages an outer edge of either size bus bar. A first outwardly facing locking surface formed by a first transverse groove in the locking member engages an inwardly facing abutment surface on a flange on the elongated support to secure the narrower bus bar in a lateral slot in the elongated support. The flange on the elongated support seats in a second groove in the locking member, spaced farther from the lip to secure a wider bus bar in the slot in the elongated support. The invention also embraces a load center interior incorporating the locking member.