Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Martin J. Moran
  • Patent number: 7969750
    Abstract: A support assembly is provided for supporting an electrical enclosure with respect to an electrical busway and with respect to a support structure, such as a wall, which is disposed proximate to the electrical busway. The support assembly includes at least one mounting assembly having a plurality of mounting elements. A first one of the mounting elements is coupled to the electrical enclosure. A second different one of the mounting elements is coupled to the support structure. A number of coupling assemblies interconnect the mounting elements. The first one of the mounting elements is movable with respect to the second different one of the mounting elements, in order to enable the electrical enclosure to move with the electrical busway and with respect to the support structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Arthur J. Jur, Phillip D. Miller, Douglas V. Taylor
  • Patent number: 7965529
    Abstract: A medium voltage adjustable frequency drive includes an input isolation transformer having a three-phase input and a three-phase output, a converter having a three-phase input electrically connected to the three-phase output of the input isolation transformer and an output providing a direct current bus, an inverter having an input electrically connected to the output of the converter and a three-phase output, and a pre-charge circuit. The pre-charge circuit includes a ferro-resonant transformer circuit having a primary winding structured to input a low voltage and a secondary winding structured to output a medium voltage and provide a constant current source. The pre-charge circuit also includes a medium voltage diode bridge having an input receiving the medium voltage from the secondary winding of the ferro-resonant transformer circuit and an output structured to provide the constant current source to the direct current bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Irving A. Gibbs, Andrew C. Stevenson
  • Patent number: 7965493
    Abstract: A subunit is provided for a motor control center including an enclosure, a number of compartments, a plurality of power lines, and a number of covers for covering the compartments. The subunit includes a housing removably disposed within a corresponding one of the compartments, a plurality of electrical contacts movably coupled to the housing, and an actuating assembly for moving the electrical contacts into and out of electrical contact with the power lines. The subunit further includes at least one of a locking assembly, a panel assembly, and a secondary disconnect assembly. The locking assembly locks the position of the electrical contacts and restricts access to the actuating assembly. The panel assembly is pivotable and translatable with respect to the subunit housing. The secondary disconnect assembly is independent from the actuating assembly in order that movement of the electrical contacts does not move the secondary disconnect assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Jason Leeman, Edgar Yee, Robert Allan Morris, Marsha Jean Harris
  • Patent number: 7952042
    Abstract: A seal apparatus is disposed between a switchgear cabinet and a circuit breaker between the racked and unracked positions of the circuit breaker. The seal apparatus sealingly extends between the switchgear cabinet and the circuit breaker to resist fluid flow, such as exhaust gases and other matter, between an interior region of the switchgear cabinet and the exterior of the switchgear cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Jarrod Lyle Coomer, David Aaron Metcalf, Timothy Fair, Michael Howard Abrahamsen, Daniel Edward Hrncir, Stanley Ervin Moore, Amy Wilcox Rowell
  • Patent number: 7952044
    Abstract: An actuator subassembly is provided for a rocker switch including a housing, a plunger and a number of contact elements. The actuator subassembly includes an operating member movably coupled to the rocker switch housing at or about an opening, and including at least one projection which extends into a cavity of the housing. A sub-actuator is removably coupled to such projection and includes a shaped portion, a number of contacting portions and a depth. The shaped portion cooperates with a plunger to provide a plurality of operating characteristics of the operating member, including a plurality of positions thereof. Each contacting portion contacts a corresponding one of the contact elements when the operating member is disposed in a corresponding one of the positions. When the actuator subassembly is coupled to the housing, the depth of the sub-actuator occupies less than one-third of the width of the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Davin R. Lee
  • Patent number: 7952842
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes separable contacts; a load conductor; a neutral conductor; and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. An arc fault trip circuit cooperates with the operating mechanism and trips open the separable contacts responsive to detection of an arc fault condition associated with current flowing through the separable contacts. A ground fault trip circuit cooperates with the operating mechanism and is structured to trip open the separable contacts responsive to detection of a ground fault condition associated with current flowing through the separable contacts, the load conductor and the neutral conductor. The arc fault trip circuit includes an integration capacitor, and the ground fault trip circuit includes an output to the integration capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Joseph C. Engel
  • Patent number: 7953327
    Abstract: A commissioning tool includes a laser pointer structured to reflect light from a wireless lighting ballast, a directive antenna, a ranging module structured to determine distance to the ballast, and a housing. The pointer, antenna and ranging module are each mounted in the same common orientation with respect to the housing. A 3D gyroscope determines azimuth angle and elevation angle of the same common orientation. A GPS and dead reckoning system determines the global position of the tool. A wireless transceiver cooperates with the antenna. A processor cooperates with the transceiver to receive a unique device identifier from the ballast. The processor receives the distance, the azimuth and elevation angles, and the global position of the tool, and controls the light source. The processor may output the distance, the azimuth and elevation angles, the global position of the tool and the unique device identifier to another processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Luis R. Pereira, Marco Naeve
  • Patent number: 7948343
    Abstract: A settings emulator for a circuit breaker trip unit includes a handheld enclosure and a plurality of adjustable rotary switches mounted on the handheld enclosure. The adjustable rotary switches define a plurality of different trip settings for the circuit breaker trip unit. A communication channel is also mounted on the handheld enclosure. A microprocessor is enclosed by the handheld enclosure. The processor reads the different trip settings from the adjustable rotary switches and communicates the different trip settings through the communication channel to the circuit breaker trip unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Harry J. Carlino, Todd M. Shaak, Brian S. Caffro, Joseph B. Humbert
  • Patent number: 7948724
    Abstract: A bracket is provided for supporting a current transformer on a printed circuit board including a first aperture and a second aperture. The bracket includes a base portion including first and second ends, the base portion extending therebetween; a first mounting portion extending laterally from the first end of the base portion to an end of the first mounting portion, the first mounting portion being structured to be coupled with the first aperture in the printed circuit board; and a second mounting portion extending laterally from the second end of the base portion to an end of the second mounting portion, the second mounting portion being structured to be coupled with the second aperture in the printed circuit board. The end of the first mounting portion forms a first tab and the end of the second mounting portion forms a second tab, which are structured to extend through and be coupled with the first and second apertures, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Bradley D. Colson, Luther L. Huey
  • Patent number: 7948117
    Abstract: A transfer switch controller is for a transfer switch, which cooperates with a plurality of loads including an air conditioner. The transfer switch controller includes a first input structured to input a thermostat start request signal for the air conditioner, a second input structured to determine power consumed by the loads, an output structured to output a start signal to the air conditioner, and a circuit. The circuit cooperates with the first input, the second input and the output. The circuit causes the start signal to be output by the output responsive to the thermostat start request signal of the first input if the determined power consumed by the loads is less than the difference between a predetermined maximum power output of a generator and a previous maximum peak start up power consumed by the air conditioner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Todd M. Lathrop, Bert Popovich, Jacob A. Hjemvick, Samuel E. Faylo
  • Patent number: 7910845
    Abstract: A modular racking system for an electrical switching apparatus is provided. The modular racking system includes a carriage assembly structured to support electrical switching apparatus and at least one cam follower structured to be removably coupled to the electrical switching apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Aaron T. Kozar, Frankie K. Ostrowski, Paul R. Rakus, Lawrence T. Connor, David M. Olszewski
  • Patent number: 7910850
    Abstract: A push-to-trip assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The push-to-trip assembly includes a push-to-trip actuator having first and second ends and being movable among a first position corresponding to the circuit breaker separable contacts being closeable, and a second position corresponding to the second end cooperating with a trip bar to cause the circuit breaker operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The first end is accessible from the exterior of the housing to actuate the push-to-trip actuator from the first position to the second position. A biasing element biases the push-to-trip actuator away from the base toward the first position. At least one cover stop of the push-to-trip actuator engages a corresponding portion of the housing cover to stop movement of the push-to-trip actuator. An overtravel restraint proximate the second end of the push-to-trip actuator restrains movement of the trip bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Puhalla, Kelly J. McCarthy, Mark A. Janusek, Ronald W. Brand
  • Patent number: 7911298
    Abstract: A trip actuator assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The trip actuator assembly includes a trip actuator with an actuating element, which is movable among unactuated and actuated positions corresponding to separable contacts of the circuit breaker being closeable and tripped opened in response to a trip condition, respectively. The trip actuator is disposed at a mounting portion of a frame. An interface assembly is movably coupled to the frame and includes an interface element disposed between the actuating element of the trip actuator and a portion of the circuit breaker operating mechanism. When the actuating element moves from the unactuated position toward the actuated position, it engages and moves the interface element, thereby moving the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The frame secures the trip actuator assembly in a desired orientation within a corresponding one of the housing compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Harry J. Carlino, Lloyd A. Maloney, Joseph B. Humbert, Martha Suryani
  • Patent number: 7911338
    Abstract: A wireless system includes a server having a port, a plurality of sensors or devices, each of which includes a wireless transceiver and a proximity sensor; and a wireless module. The wireless module includes a port interconnected with the port of the server, a wireless transceiver cooperating with the port of the wireless module, the wireless transceiver of the wireless module being structured to wirelessly communicate with the wireless transceiver of the sensors or devices, a proximity sensor structured to sense one of the sensors or devices, and a target structured to be sensed by the proximity sensor of such one of the sensors or devices. The port of the server is structured to cooperate with the port of the wireless module to transmit and receive wireless messages. The port of the wireless module cooperates with the wireless transceiver to transmit and receive the wireless messages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Marco Naeve, Charles J. Luebke, Luis R. Pereira
  • Patent number: 7909508
    Abstract: A sensor assembly is provided for a power bus. The power bus exhibits a number of characteristics, such as a temperature. The sensor assembly includes an enclosure having a housing and a base. At least one sensor such as, for example, a temperature sensor, is housed within the enclosure. The sensor (e.g., temperature sensor) senses a corresponding one of the number of characteristics (e.g., temperature) of the power bus. A power supply is housed within the enclosure, and cooperates with the power bus to provide electrical power to the sensor. An elongated fastener fastens the enclosure to the power bus. The base of the enclosure is adjustable with respect to the housing of the enclosure in order to secure the power bus between the housing and the base. The elongated fastener extends around the enclosure and the power bus in order to secure the enclosure to the power bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Lloyd A. Maloney, Deborah K. Mort
  • Patent number: 7910852
    Abstract: A medium voltage circuit interrupter includes a circuit interrupter housing and a plurality of poles. Each of the poles includes an encapsulated pole unit. The encapsulated pole unit includes a first unit having a first conductor, a second conductor, a vacuum interrupter electrically connected between the first conductor and the second conductor, and a first housing housing the vacuum interrupter. A removable second unit includes a third conductor, a fourth conductor having a first portion electrically connected to the third conductor and a second portion removably electrically connected to one of the first conductor and the second conductor, an electronic device structured to sense a characteristic of the pole, and a second insulative housing encapsulating the third conductor, the first portion of the fourth conductor and the electronic device. An operating mechanism is structured to open and close the vacuum interrupter of each of the poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Steven Z. Chen, James J. Benke, Zachary R. Jenkins, Xin Zhou
  • Patent number: 7912164
    Abstract: A system includes first and second wireless nodes having a clock with plural times, a wireless transceiver, and a processor cooperating with the transceiver to transmit and receive packets. The second node transceivers wirelessly communicate with the first or other second node transceivers. The second nodes include a Kalman filter with an output, plural filter gains, and an input representing the difference between: about the time of the clock when a received packet should have ideally been received, and a time when the received packet was actually received as measured by the clock. A circuit provides dynamic adjustment of the filter gains. The Kalman filter output estimates the difference between the time of the receiving node clock and a corresponding one of the times of the transmitting node clock. The second processor cooperates with the Kalman filter output to adjust the times of the receiving node clock.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian S. R. Armstrong, Luis R. Pereira, Carlos H. Rentel
  • Patent number: 7881044
    Abstract: A dampening mechanism for an electrical for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a draw-out circuit breaker, includes a mounting bracket coupled to the circuit breaker, a pivot member, at least one biasing element, and a damper. The circuit breaker is movable into and out of an installed position within a switchgear enclosure. The pivot member pivots between first and second positions corresponding to the circuit breaker not being fully installed and being disposed in the installed position, respectively. The biasing element biases the pivot member toward the first position. When the circuit breaker is moved toward the installed position, the second end of the pivot member engages at least one of a back panel and a ledge of the enclosure, thereby pivoting the pivot member toward the second position. When the pivot member is disposed in the second position, the damper is biased against the ledge of the enclosure to dampen undesired vertical motion of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark William Jacobsen, Judith Robin Prince, Barry Tuck Rambo
  • Patent number: 7869192
    Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus mounting apparatus includes a base with a planar portion having a first side and an opposite second side. A number of first adjustable members are coupled to the opposite second side. Each of the first adjustable members includes a first end and an opposite second end. A number of second adjustable members are coupled transverse to the first adjustable members and include a first end and an opposite second end. At least one of the first end and the opposite second end of at least one of the first adjustable members and the second adjustable members is adjustable generally toward or generally away from the base. At least one of the first end and the opposite second end of the at least one of the first adjustable members and the second adjustable members is coupled to a number of walls of a switchgear enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Jacobsen, Jaymie L. Davenport, Barry T. Rambo
  • Patent number: 7869392
    Abstract: A home system includes a server having a first wireless communication port and a first non-wireless communication port. One or more fobs include a second wireless communication port adapted to communicate with the first wireless communication port of the server. One or more sensor nodes or device nodes different than the fobs include a third wireless communication port adapted to send information to or receive information from the first wireless communication port of the server. The server is adapted to determine if at least one of the fobs is out of range of wireless communication with the server and to responsively send information from the first non-wireless communication port of the server or to responsively send information from the first wireless communication port of the server to at least one of the sensor or device nodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Russ C. Sabo, Javier E. Piraneque, Michael L. McManus, William C. Sabram