Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Martin J. Moran
  • Patent number: 7868262
    Abstract: An auxiliary switch tray is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, an actuating mechanism, and a plurality of auxiliary switches. The housing has a mounting mechanism. The auxiliary switch tray includes a module having first and second sides, and a plurality of mounts disposed on the first side. At least a plurality of the mounts is structured to receive a corresponding one of the auxiliary switches. A base is disposed on the second side of the module and is coupled to the mounting mechanism in order to install the auxiliary switches in a predetermined position with respect to the actuating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The module, the mounts, and the base comprise one single-piece molded member. At least a plurality of the mounts are molded compartments of the single-piece molded member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Whitaker, Erik R. Bogdon, Glen C. Sisson, Ronald W. Brand, James M. Smeltzer, Robert S. Estok, Craig A. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 7863537
    Abstract: A gassing insulator assembly for a line conductor assembly of an electrical switching apparatus is provided having a line conductor and first and second gassing insulator members. The insulator members are constructed from a gassing material. The first gassing insulator member is disposed near a first end of the line conductor and the second gassing insulator member is generally disposed between the line conductor and a cantilevered arc runner near a second end of the line conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John J. Shea, Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, David M. Olszewski, James R. Schachner, Ronald W. Brand
  • Patent number: 7864509
    Abstract: An electrical distribution panel includes an enclosure, a first power input, a first circuit interrupter including a first terminal electrically connected to the first power input and a second terminal, a first bus electrically connected to the second terminal, a plurality of second circuit interrupters powered from the first bus, a second bus electrically connectable to the first bus through one of the second circuit interrupters, and a number of third circuit interrupters powered from the second bus. The first bus and a number of the second circuit interrupters power a number of first loads. The second bus and the number of third circuit interrupters power a number of different second loads. The electrical distribution panel is converted for operation with a second power input to power the second bus. The second power input receives power from at least one of a separately derived system, and a portable generator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Scot E. Remmert
  • Patent number: 7862342
    Abstract: An electrical interface includes a nano-particle layer. The electrical interface also includes a first conductor and a second conductor. The nano-particle layer and the first and second conductors are electrically coupled together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Alaa Abdel-Azim Elmoursi, Javed Abdurrazzaq Mapkar, James Jeffery Benke, William E. Beatty, Robert W. Mueller
  • Patent number: 7864044
    Abstract: A system for monitoring an unsupervised worker is provided that includes a plurality of sensors and a base station provided at the monitored location, a service provider server located remotely from the monitored location and operated by a third party service provider, and a computing device associated with a subscriber to the system. At least a portion of the sensed data is sent to and stored by the service provider server so that a report based thereon may, at the request of the system subscriber, be selectively generated and provided to the system subscriber. The computing device is also adapted to generate configuration data for one or more of the sensors and transmit the configuration data to the service provider server. The configuration data is then sent to the base station and used to control the operation of the sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian Stewart Randall Armstrong, Jose Alejandro Gutierrez
  • Patent number: 7859369
    Abstract: A circuit breaker test system includes a circuit breaker under test having a deformable frame with an elongated slot, an elongated deformable portion adjacent the elongated slot and a movable portion adjacent the deformable portion, and a thermal trip assembly coupled to the movable portion. A calibration device includes a forked tool straddling the deformable portion. The trip assembly has a first thermal response. The calibration device rotates the tool in a first rotational direction and responsively deforms the deformable portion and moves the movable portion in a first direction, in order to calibrate the trip assembly for a second different thermal response. The calibration device rotates the tool in an opposite second rotational direction and responsively deforms the deformable portion and moves the movable portion in an opposite second direction, in order to re-calibrate the trip assembly for a third thermal response between the first and second thermal responses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Edward E. Lias, Michael J. Whipple, Jeffrey S. Gibson
  • Patent number: 7859398
    Abstract: A method of maintaining and controlling a plurality of wireless light fixtures includes providing the light fixtures in a structure, wirelessly receiving respective operational data from each of the light fixtures at a central location, aggregating the received respective operational data to form an aggregation of operational data, and analyzing at least a portion of the aggregation of operational data. The method further includes performing one or both of (i) controlling the operation of a first selected one or more of the light fixtures based on a result of the analyzing step by wirelessly transmitting respective operational commands from the central location to each of the first selected one or more of the light fixtures, and (ii) causing a maintenance related action to be taken with respect to each of a second selected one or more of the light fixtures based on a result of the analyzing step.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: David L. Davidson, Charles J. Luebke
  • Patent number: 7834579
    Abstract: A method and circuit enabling off-the-shelf controllers designed for use with a two-level AC drive inverter bridge (1920) to drive inverter bridges with three-or-more levels. Signals from an ordinary induction motor controller or a two-level induction motor controller (2200) are used to drive the twelve-or-more switches of a three-or-more level inverter bridge (1920), as are used in medium-and-high voltage applications. The proper sequence and timing of switching for the three-or-more-level inverter bridge is based in-part upon either the output of the six pulse-width modulators, or the output of the flux and torque control device, or the voltage control device (2210), of the two-level controller (2200).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 16, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Geraldo Nojima
  • Patent number: 7830231
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip unit cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts. The trip unit includes a sensor structured to sense current flowing through the contacts, a processor structured to output a trip signal responsive to the sensed current, and a trip actuator. The trip actuator includes a housing including a recess, a coil within the recess, the coil having an opening therethrough, a magnet within the recess, a thermoplastic bushing including a conduit therethrough, the thermoplastic bushing being coupled to the housing, and an armature disposable within the opening of the coil and slidably disposed within the conduit of the thermoplastic bushing. The magnet attracts the armature toward the housing. A spring biases the armature away from the housing, in order to cause the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Harry James Carlino, Lloyd Allen Maloney, Joseph Bell Humbert, Martha Suryani
  • Patent number: 7829808
    Abstract: An accessory assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing. The accessory assembly includes at least one accessory and a mounting member structured to mount such accessory within the housing of the circuit breaker. The mounting member includes at least one mounting portion. Such mounting portion receives and secures a corresponding one of the at least one accessory, without a number of separate fasteners. The corresponding accessory is removable from such mounting portion, without a number of separate tools. The at least one mounting portion may be a first mounting portion and a second mounting portion, and the at least one accessory may be a plurality of primary accessories coupled to the first mounting portion, and a number of secondary accessories coupled to the second mounting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erik R. Bogdon, Thomas A. Whitaker, James M. Smeltzer, Robert S. Estok
  • Patent number: 7830230
    Abstract: A handle arm assembly is for a circuit interrupter including an undervoltage release mechanism having a reset mechanism. The handle arm assembly includes a body portion rotatable through an arc between an on position, an off position, and a reset position beyond the off position and an arm portion projecting laterally from the body portion out of the plane of the arc through which the body portion rotates. The body portion and the arm portion are formed from a single piece of material wherein the body portion and the arm portion are different portions of the single piece of material. The arm portion is structured to engage the reset mechanism in a manner such that arcuate movement of the arm portion as the body portion moves to the off position is translated into actuation of the reset mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Schaltenbrand, Robert W. Mueller, Mark A. Janusek, William M. Randal
  • Patent number: 7831282
    Abstract: A system includes fobs and sensors each of which has a wireless transceiver, a processor and a battery powering the transceiver and processor. A server includes a processor and wireless transceiver, both of which are mains-powered. A fob processor timer repetitively causes its processor to enter a normal mode from a sleep mode, cause the transceiver to enter a powered state from a reduced power state, and send a wireless message from its transceiver to the server transceiver to request data therefrom. A sensor processor timer repetitively causes its processor to enter a normal mode from a sleep mode, cause the transceiver to enter a powered state from a reduced power state, read an analog or digital input, and send a wireless message based upon the read input from its transceiver to the server transceiver to provide data thereto. Each of the timers times asynchronously with respect to other timers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Charles J. Luebke, Jeffrey A. Senn
  • Patent number: 7830648
    Abstract: A system includes an electrical busway, an electrical enclosure enclosing an electrical apparatus, the electrical enclosure including an interior and a mounting portion with an opening therethrough; and a tap apparatus electrically interconnecting the electrical busway and the electrical apparatus. The tap apparatus includes a first portion electrically interconnected with the electrical busway through the opening of the mounting portion, a second portion removeably coupled to the mounting portion of the electrical enclosure from the interior of the electrical enclosure, and a third portion including a flexible electrical connection electrically interconnected with the electrical apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Ryan J. Strong, Mark T. Teaken
  • Patent number: 7829814
    Abstract: A vacuum circuit interrupter having a pole unit structure and an operating mechanism structured to move the vacuum circuit interrupter contacts between a first, closed position, wherein a movable contact is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a fixed contact, and a second, open position wherein the movable contact is spaced from, and not in electrical communication with, the fixed contact, as well as being structured to rotate a housing assembly rotatable portion between a first position, wherein a rotatable terminal is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a line terminal, and a second position, wherein the rotatable terminal is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a grounded terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Francois J. Marchand, Haiyan Ma, Brad R. Leccia, Ying Che, Chun Jiang Zhang
  • Patent number: 7830918
    Abstract: A method of network communication includes employing a communication network protocol stack with a plurality of independent communication layers providing a plurality of different corresponding services. A plurality of circular communication buffers are employed. A buffer manager is employed for the circular communication buffers, the buffer manager being independent of the independent communication layers. One of the circular communication buffers is requested from the buffer manager by one of the independent communication layers. A plurality of different operations are provided in the buffer manager to read first data from or write second data to such one of the circular communication buffers for a number of the independent communication layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Sujit R. Das, Luis R. Pereira
  • Patent number: 7830834
    Abstract: A wireless communication network includes a network coordinator (NC) having plural channels and plural wireless transceivers, and plural nodes. Each node has status information, a number of channels and a number of wireless transceivers. Each node and the NC communicate in a Carrier Sense Multiple Access mode. Each node communicates the status information thereof to or toward the NC in a Time Division Multiple Access mode having plural time slots. The NC assigns the time slots and the channels to the nodes to provide a plurality of collision-free schedules therefor. The NC sends, for each node, a corresponding one of the collision-free schedules to or toward a corresponding one of the nodes. Each collision-free schedule includes a corresponding number of the time slots and a corresponding number of the channels that the corresponding one of the nodes employs to communicate the status information thereof to or toward the NC.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Sujit R. Das, Ting Yan, Luis R. Pereira
  • Patent number: 7830232
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a conductor, a fixed contact connected to the conductor, and an arc runner disposed on the conductor adjacent the fixed contact. The arc runner includes a first portion abutting the fixed contact and a second portion disposed in a recess of the circuit breaker housing. The arc runner is adapted to draw an arc from the fixed contact. A circuit breaker operating mechanism cooperates with a movable contact for opening and closing the fixed contact and the movable contact. An arc chute is adjacent the arc runner. A trip unit cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the fixed and movable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Louis F. Grahor, Roger W. Helms, Kimberley I. Morris, William M. Randal
  • Patent number: 7826233
    Abstract: A cassette matrix having a first cassette and a second cassette disposed immediately adjacent to each other is provided. The outer sides of the cassettes are in contact and there are no fastener components, such as, but not limited to, a bolt head or nut, disposed between adjacent sidewalls. In this configuration, the cassette matrix requires a reduced amount of space within a larger housing assembly. Each cassette utilizes threshold mounting fasteners to coupled any components to the lateral sidewall. A threshold mounting fastener does not extend outwardly beyond the general plane of the lateral sidewall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Lawrence T. Connor, Frankie K. Ostrowski, Raymond P. Gundy, II, Aaron T. Kozar
  • Patent number: 7812276
    Abstract: An arc member is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes an operating mechanism for opening and closing separable contacts, and an arc chute disposed proximate the separable contacts to attract an arc generated thereby. The separable contacts include a stationary contact and a movable contact. The stationary contact has an edge, which is disposed in a plane. The arc member includes an arc element disposed between the stationary contact and the arc chute. The arc element has first and second portions and first and second arc attractors. The first arc attractor extends outwardly from the first portion toward the plane of the edge of the stationary contact to draw the arc from the separable contacts to the arc member. The second arc attractors, which are disposed on the second portion of the arc element, direct the arc into the arc chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James G. Maloney, Michael J. Erb
  • Patent number: 7800478
    Abstract: A heater assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The heater assembly includes a heater element and an elongated bimetal. The heater element includes first and second ends, an intermediate portion disposed therebetween and an aperture disposed proximate the first end. The elongated bimetal includes opposing first and second ends, and is movable between first and second positions corresponding respectively to the separable contacts of the electrical switching apparatus being closeable, and to the first end of the elongated bimetal cooperating with a trip bar to cause an operating mechanism to open the separable contacts. The second end of the elongated bimetal is coupled to the intermediate portion of the heater element. When the elongated bimetal is disposed in the first position, the first end of the elongated bimetal extends beyond the upper surface of the first end of the heater element into the aperture of the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Craig J. Puhalla, David E. Little, Kelly J. McCarthy, Robert W. Mueller, Wilbert E. Lindsay