Patents Represented by Attorney Richard T. Guttman
  • Patent number: 4931903
    Abstract: An electrical consumer unit comprises a moulded plastics baseplate (10) and a cover member (280), the baseplate (10) being adapted to mount a live busbar (24) and a neutral bar (90) to which a main, power-supply switch (196) and a plurality of circuit-breakers (212), for protecting a number of outgoing sub-circuits may be mounted. The unit is particularly intended for use with plug-in type switches and circuit breakers whereby a clip for mounting the switch also establishes electrical connection with the live busbar (24) and neutral bar (90). The present invention concerns an adaptor (300) which may be mounted on the baseplate (10) to allow the utilization of components and accessories other than those for which the unit was specifically configured.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Anthony R. Cole
  • Patent number: 4931902
    Abstract: An electrical consumer unit comprises a moulded plastics baseplate (10) and a cover member (280), the baseplate (10) being adapted to mount a live busbar (24) and a neutral bar (90) to which a main, power-supply switch (196) and a plurality of circuit-breakers (212), for protecting a number of outgoing sub-circuits may be mounted. The unit is particularly intended for use with plug-in type switches and circuit breakers whereby a clip for mounting the switch also establishes electrical connection with the live busbar (24) and neutral bar (90). The present invention concerns a flexible plastic cover piece (252), adapted to clip onto the baseplate (10) in order to shield unused portions of the live busbar (24) against accidental contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Anthony R. Cole
  • Patent number: 4931898
    Abstract: An electrical consumer unit comprises a moulded plastics baseplate (10) and a cover member (280), the baseplate (10) being adapted to mount a live busbar (24) and a neutral bar (90) to which a main, power-supply switch (196) and a plurality of circuit-breakers (212), for protecting a number of outgoing sub-circuits may be mounted. The unit is particularly intended for use with plug-in type switches and circuit breakers whereby a clip for mounting the switch also establishes electrical connection with the live busbar (24) and neutral bar (90). The present invention concerns an arrangement, comprising mouldings (46 and 48) of the baseplate (10) and a clip member (108), for retaining the live busbar (24) and neutral bar (90) in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 1989
    Date of Patent: June 5, 1990
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Anthony R. Cole
  • Patent number: 4906958
    Abstract: A multi-pole circuit breaker apparatus includes first and second circuit breakers having first and second handles extending therefrom for switching the circuit breakers between "On" and "Off" positions. The circuit breakers are connected together with the handles extending generally parallel to each other. A handle tie connects the first and second handles for simultaneous operation. The handle tie has first and second handle openings disposed therethrough. The first and second handles extend all the way through the first and second handle openings, respectively, so that a forwardmost extension of the combined handles and handle tie is no greater than a forwardmost extension of the handles in the absence of the handle tie. The handle tie is slidably received about the handles so that it is free to float along at least a portion of a length of the handles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Wayne G. Adamson
  • Patent number: 4906967
    Abstract: An electronic circuit breaker having withstand capability. When the fault current exceeds the required withstand level, the mechanism force trips the circuit breaker. The forces generated by a blow-on contact loop are exerted on the various components of the operating mechanism, including the quick trip latch and secondary latch. As the fault current exceeds the required withstand level, the forces on the operating mechanism exceed the spring force holding together the quick trip latch and secondary latch. These two components rotate as one assembly during a trip operation initiated by energizing the trip coil. In the force trip operation, these two components separate unlatching the mechanism and opening the circuit breaker contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1990
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: John M. Winter
  • Patent number: 4864287
    Abstract: A monitor for an electric motor, the monitor capable of connection to a supply of electrical energy for the motor, has a microcomputer for measuring the power factor of a voltage applied to the motor and a current flowing to the motor, for storing a desired value of power factor, for comparing a measured value of power factor with the desired value of power factor, and for disconnecting the motor from the supply of electrical energy if the measured value of the power factor differs from the desired value of power factor by an amount that exceeds a predetermined amount. Further, the monitor has means for operating the motor while driving a desired load; means for commanding the microcomputer to measure a power factor of the voltage applied to the motor and the current flowing to the motor while the motor is driving the desired load; and, means for storing the measured value of the power factor, measured while the motor is driving the desired load, as the desired power factor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1986
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Bruce E. Kierstead
  • Patent number: 4849589
    Abstract: Apparatus for simultaneously applying two independent forces to the contact blades of a movable contact assembly. The contact assembly has three contact blades joined at the base. The circuit breaker mechanism exerts a closing force through a blade carrier to the center blade which in turn exerts a closing force on the outer main blades. To increase the contact force on the outside main blade contacts without increasing the contact force of the center blade contact and without changing the relative distances between the blade carrier and the main blade contacts and center blade contacts, a compression spring is positioned between each main blade and the blade carrier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1988
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: James W. Dickens, Clark L. Oster
  • Patent number: 4847453
    Abstract: A limit switch includes a housing which encloses a snap switch having first and second pairs of spaced fixed contacts and first and second movable contacts supported on a carrier and operated by first and second reciprocating plungers that are biased to a first position. Toggle springs are interposed between the respective plungers and the carrier to move the carrier and the associated contacts between fixed pairs of fixed contacts during reciprocation of the respective plungers. An actuator head is mounted on the switch housing and has cams for actuating the respective plungers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: July 11, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Edwin R. Newell, Simon S. Smith, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4843533
    Abstract: A transient protection circuit for an inverter has a rectifier capable of supplying direct current from an alternating current power source, where protection is provided against a voltage transient in the AC power source. A DC bus is fed by the rectifier. A bus capacitor is connected across the DC bus. Solid state switches are connected to the DC bus for supplying alternating current to a load. The DC bus voltage is sensed. In response to a transient rise in the DC bus voltage, a resistor is connected across the bus capacitor to provide a discharge path, the solid state switches are disconnected from the DC bus, and after the transient dies away from the DC bus, the solid state switches are reconnected to the bus and the discharge resistor is disconnected from across the bus capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Richard W. Roof, G. Marshall Horne
  • Patent number: 4839477
    Abstract: The inventions solves the problem of convenient mounting of parts of controllers, and solves the problem of interchangeability of vacuum and air break contactors within a controller. A controller has a housing, an isolation switch mounted within the housing, a contactor mounted within the housing and connected electrically downstream from the isolation switch, and the controller has a receptacle which can accept either a vacuum contactor or an air break contactor. Also, the contactor has an operating coil and control components mounted on a side facing a door of the housing so that the coil can be replaced and the control components serviced without disturbing the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: June 13, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Miklos J. Orosz, Dominick Tringali, Donald B. Monson, Gerald J. Kuiper
  • Patent number: 4834680
    Abstract: The invention provides a terminal for a coil. One embodiment of the invention is a housing made of molded insulating material; a projection molded into the housing; a lug made of electrically conductive material and having a recess therein for accepting the projection molded into the housing for preventing motion of the lug in a first direction; a support molded into the housing for supporting the lug and for preventing motion of the lug in a second direction; a lip, molded into the housing, and the lip accepts a first end of the lug for preventing motion of the first end of the lug in a third direction; and, a finger molded into the housing for securing a second end of the lug and preventing motion of the second of the lug in the third direction, thereby retaining the lug in the housing. The lug may snap under the finger. The housing may be a cup for retaining at least one coil bobbin, and there may be two coil bobbins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: James P. Schmiedel, Lawrence D. Moye
  • Patent number: 4831347
    Abstract: Warping and twisting of the armature of a polyphase alternating current air break contactor is reduced by mounting the operating coil near the middle of the armature. A polyphase alternating current air break contactor has a frame, an armature having two ends, the ends being rotatably mounted within the frame so that the armature may rotate within the frame, at least three movable contacts and at least three stationary contacts forming a contact pair of each phase of the polyphase alternating current, and the contactor has an operating coil for the armature mounted in the frame substantially midway between the two ends of the armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 1988
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Miklos J. Orosz
  • Patent number: 4823226
    Abstract: A phase loss detection circuit for a three phase electrical system providing three phase power as to a motor, the three phase electrical being subject to a phase loss condition and a transient condition is disclosed. The transient condition includes starting transients, stopping transients or severe load transients. The phase loss detection circuit distinguishes between a phase loss condition and a transient condition and indicates when a loss of phase has occurred.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 18, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Ryan T. Reed, Earl J. Curran, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4820177
    Abstract: An electrical distribution system having specially formed and insulated bus bars in back to back, stacked relationship with each other along the length of the busway and spaced apart where tap-off or other connection may be made. The bus bars are formed to be interchangeable, to the extent possible, within a busway section. For example, in a four bar plug-in section, the two inner bus bars are identically formed and interchangeable by rotating the bars 180.degree.. Similarly, the two outer bus bars are also identically formed and interchangeable. The electrical insulation between bus bars is provided by the use of insulating tubes comprising one layer of varnished glass cloth between two layers of polyethylene terephthalate. Each bar is provided with a hump located for tap-off connection along the length of the busway. The insulating tubes are spaced apart from each other on each bus bar to provide a tap-off contact surface on each hump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Allan E. Slicer
  • Patent number: 4820205
    Abstract: The invention provides a terminal for a coil. One embodiment of the invention is a housing made of molded insulating material; a projection molded into the housing; a lug made of electrically conductive material and having a recess therein for accepting the projection molded into the housing for preventing motion of the lug in a first direction; a support molded into the housing for supporting the lug and for preventing motion of the lug in a second direction; a lip, molded into the housing, and the lip accepts a first end of the lug for preventing motion of the first end of the lug in a third direction; and, a finger molded into the housing for securing a second end of the lug and preventing motion of the second of the lug in the third direction, thereby retaining the lug in the housing. The lug may snap under the finger. The housing may be a cup for retaining at least one coil bobbin, and there may be two coil bobbins.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: James P. Schmiedel, Lawrence D. Moye
  • Patent number: 4812674
    Abstract: A proximity switch has at least three Hall effect magnetic field sensitive transducers mounted in a transducer housing and has at least two magnets mounted in a magnet housing. The transucers produce logic signals, and a logic circuit responsive to these logic signals activates an electrical switch only when the magnets are in a proper position relative to the transducers. The electrical switch may be used to control a machine, and the machine is not activated until the proximity switch is activated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 1987
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Horace O. Sue, Richard T. Guttman, David M. Pendley, William C. Keys
  • Patent number: 4810213
    Abstract: A low resistance electrical connecting assembly, each assembly including a plurality of operably arranged conductive elements, each element comprising a pair of relatively narrow, thin, outwardly convex, conducting contact surfaces supported on opposite sides of a latitudinal plane between them. The outwardly convex contact surfaces of each element are conductively associated to provide parallel current paths between source-side and load-side conductors in contact respectivley with opposite ones of said conductive surfaces of each element. Such elements may be embodied in the form of a helical coil of conductive wire, each ring of the coil constituting one element. Another embodiment may be individual disks of conductive metal arranged in stacking relationship. Any number of other embodiments are possible which provide a plurality of elements as described, thin, outwardly convex conductive surfaces on opposite sides of a latitudinal plane, in closely adjacent side by side arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1980
    Date of Patent: March 7, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Ferdinand E. Chabot
  • Patent number: 4802053
    Abstract: A system for sensing the phase of a three-phase AC system and detecting phase reversal and undervoltage and phase unbalance and for providing a switching function when the system is not functioning properly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Roger C. Wojtak, John S. Hoelzer, James T. Libert
  • Patent number: 4797516
    Abstract: An electric switch has a first molding for supporting an isolation switch and at least one line side power fuse clip, where the line fuse clip is capable of retaining a first end of a power fuse fed by the isolation switch. A second molding for supporting at least one load side power fuse clip is provided, where the load fuse clip is capable of retaining a second end of the power fuse. At least one projection is formed into the second molding for supporting a control circuit fuse, where the projection is substantially parallel to and beside an installed power fuse, and a control circuit line side fuse clip and a corresponding load side clip is mounted to each of the projections formed into the second molding, so that installed control and power fuses are spaced apart and substantially parallel. A conductor behind a terminal of the power fuse connects the load side power fuse clip to the control circuit line side fuse clip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 10, 1989
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Michael R. Clark, Gerald J. Kuiper, Donald B. Monson, Dominick Tringali
  • Patent number: D307003
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 3, 1990
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Anthony R. Cole