Patents Represented by Attorney Robert A. Cahill

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  • Portable ground fault protector
    Patent number: 4216516
    Abstract: In the absence of a ground fault, a triac completes an AC energization circuit for a relay whose contacts then close to provide load circuit continuity. Gate drive for the first triac is obtained from a secondary winding of a transformer whose primary is driven by an oscillator for the purpose of producing a differential transformer unbalancing current signal in the event of a desensitizing ground fault on the load circuit neutral conductor. When the differential transformer senses a ground fault, the oscillator is disabled, and the resulting loss of gate drive renders the triac non-conductive to drop out the relay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: August 5, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Edward K. Howell
  • Circuit breaker bell alarm and lockout accessory apparatus
    Patent number: 4211989
    Abstract: An actuating arm, coupled with the breaker contacts, is pivotally mounted to an accessory latch normally constrained from pivotal movement by a latch lever. Upon automatic tripping of the breaker, the actuating arm is swung about its pivotal mounting to a breaker lockout position, incidentally releasing an operating lever for movement from a de-actuating position to a bell alarm switch actuating position. Unlatching of the latch by the latch lever allows the actuating arm to swing about the latch pivot to a defeat position, removing the breaker lockout and returning the switch operating lever to its de-actuating position. The accessory latch is relatched, via the actuating arm, coincidentally with closure of the breaker contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Vincent P. Acampora
  • Circuit breaker auxiliary switch apparatus
    Patent number: 4209761
    Abstract: Actuating elements, operatively coupled with an external circuit breaker manual operating handle and with a circuit breaker internal trip actuating member, are selectively operated to activate an auxiliary switch when the circuit breaker is opened either manually via its operating handle or automatically in response to an abnormal external circuit condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Keith W. Klein, Joseph M. Palmieri
  • Ground fault protection system
    Patent number: 4205358
    Abstract: A sensor develops a ground fault signal in response to a ground fault on a power distribution circuit, which signal is processed by a signal processor of a conventional, residential ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) pursuant to developing a trip signal resulting in energization of a light emitting device. The light signal emitted by this device triggers a solid state, light activated switch to complete an energization circuit for a solenoid acting to shunt trip a power circuit breaker operating to interrupt the distribution circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Forest L. Washington
  • Multiple metering panelboard assembly
    Patent number: 4203146
    Abstract: A multiple metering panelboard has an enclosure accommodating a plurality of watt-hour meter sections. Each section includes a molded plastic meter socket base and a molded plastic circuit breaker base mounted in interconnected relation to the enclosure in overlying relation to an array of busbars common to all meter sections of the assembly. The socket base of each section includes means for positioning at appropriate locations within the meter socket a plurality of jaws which are supported against meter insertion forces by rigid straps respectively electrically connecting the jaws to the underlying busbars and to circuit breaker line stabs mounted by the breaker base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 13, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Robert J. Sabatella, Andre J. M'Sadoques, Joseph F. Rich
  • Meter jaw and spring clip assembly
    Patent number: 4201439
    Abstract: A watt-hour meter socket jaw comprises a pair of upstanding contact segments which are engaged by the arms of a C-shaped spring clip. The clip includes an integrally formed tab for guiding a meter stab into electrical engagement between the contact segments. Tabs lanced from the clip arms engage in apertures in the contact segments to securely mount the spring clip to the jaw.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Andre J. M'Sadoques
  • Circuit breaker drawout with engaged position latch
    Patent number: 4202027
    Abstract: Drawout apparatus includes a carriage mounting a circuit breaker and supported on rails to facilitate racking screw induced movement of the breaker into and out of an electrically engaged position with respect to switchboard primary disconnect contacts. A carriage mounted latch lever is controllably positioned in response to the turning of the racking screw so as to latchably engage a switchboard mounted latch as the circuit breaker arrives at its engaged position, thereby assisting in holding the breaker thereat against blowout forces attending a high fault current interruption. Initial rotation of the racking screw to withdraw the breaker from its engaged position incidentally disengages the latch lever and latch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1978
    Date of Patent: May 6, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Eric A. Ericson
  • Busway ground bus joint
    Patent number: 4195198
    Abstract: Separate conductive foils, riveted in electrical connection to each end of the ground bus in a busway section, are wrapped over the flange of the busway section housing. Upon joining two busway sections end-to-end, the foils of adjacent ground bus ends are sandwiched between the lapped flanges of adjacent busway sections. The ground bus joint is perfected by bolts clamping the lapped flanges together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 1979
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Werner A. Krause
  • Dual voltage ground fault protector
    Patent number: 4194231
    Abstract: A ground fault protector includes a conventional ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) electronic module which receives operating power over a separate supply circuit to render the protector operable in affording personnel ground fault protection for a circuit whose nominal voltage is inappropriate to power the module. The protector includes contacts operating in both the supply and protected circuits such that, in the event of a ground fault on the protected circuit, both circuits are interrupted. The supply circuit is also equipped to simulate a ground fault condition for verifying operability of the protector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: March 18, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Keith W. Klein
  • Control circuit for resetting circuit breaker UVR solenoid
    Patent number: 4183071
    Abstract: DC control voltage derived from the system voltage activates a first relay to apply the control voltage across a dropping resistor and an undervoltage release (UVR) solenoid, thereby holding the UVR solenoid in while the system voltage remains above a minimum level. An energy storage RC network holds the UVR solenoid in for momentary drops in system voltage. In the event of a protracted system undervoltage condition, the first relay drops out to drop out the UVR solenoid and trip a system circuit breaker. When nominal system voltage is restored, the control voltage activates the first relay and, via an RC charging circuit, temporarily actuates a second relay to switch out the dropping resistor, thereby temporarily applying full control voltage across the UVR solenoid to reset it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 8, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald R. Russell
  • Tap changing electrical connector for static trip circuit breakers
    Patent number: 4181389
    Abstract: A receptacle having a pocket accommodating the insertion of an insulative printed circuit card is equipped with one set of contacts disposed to one side of the pocket and individually electrically connected to a breaker static trip unit. Two additional sets of contacts, disposed to the other side of the pocket, are respectively connected to different secondary winding taps of each of a plurality of phase current transformers. Plural pairs of electrically interconnected conductive strips are printed on opposite sides of the card in positions to connect the contacts of the one set individually to the contacts of either one of the two additional sets, depending upon the orientation of the card when inserted in the pocket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George W. Kiesel, Henry G. Willard
  • Aluminum-copper electrical joint
    Patent number: 4181396
    Abstract: An aluminum insert, friction welded to a copper plate, is projected through a close-fitting aperture in an aluminum busbar and joined to the busbar by a circumferential weld at the exit end of the aperture, using conventional arc welding techniques, to complete a high ampacity, aluminum-copper electrical joint. The copper plate is then bolted to a copper strap in conventional high ampacity, bolted electrical joint fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 1978
    Date of Patent: January 1, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: William F. Olashaw
  • Control circuit for circuit breaker DC motor operator
    Patent number: 4179646
    Abstract: A circuit breaker motor operator control circuit utilizes the voltage developed across a dynamic braking resistor during breaking of a permanent magnet DC motor to prevent re-energization of the motor until it has been braked to a virtual stop. The control circuit also includes a timing network operating to prevent continued pumping of the breaker operating mechanism by the motor operator should the operating mechanism for some reason fail to become charged within a prescribed time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 18, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Ronald R. Russell
  • Rejection type fuse clip assembly
    Patent number: 4178063
    Abstract: A fuse clip assembly includes opposed clamping arms defining a pocket for receiving a fuse terminal ferrule. A rejection member, secured in operative relation with the fuse clip, includes a body arranged transversely of the pocket beyond the clip and three rejector arms extending from the body toward the clip. Two of the rejector arms are situated in opposed, spaced relation immediately above the pocket, while the third rejector arm is situated between the clamping arms beneath the pocket. The arms carry interference portion to obstruct the path of downward or endwise insertion into the pocket of a fuse ferrule not specially keyed with an annular groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: December 11, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Howard Reynolds
  • Fusible circuit interrupter with ground fault circuit protection
    Patent number: 4172271
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter is secured to a mounting pan together with an insulative block in turn mounting a transverse array of fuse load terminals in individual, spaced alignment with associated interrupter load terminals. A differential current transformer is mounted to the pan with its window located in the space between the interrupter and fuse load terminals. Plural fuses extend through the transformer window with their opposed end terminals in respective electrical connection with associated interrupter and fuse load terminals, whereby the transformer monitors the vectorial sum of the phase currents flowing through the fuses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1978
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Charles F. Hobson, Jr.
  • Ratcheting mechanism for circuit breaker motor operator
    Patent number: 4167988
    Abstract: A ratchet wheel is advanced by an oscillating driving pawl in conjunction with a holding pawl to charge circuit breaker mechanism closing springs. A latch operates in response to the initial lifting of the holding pawl as the ratchet wheel is rapidly advanced by the closing springs to detain the holding pawl in an inoperative position while the closing springs discharge. Lifting of the driving pawl by the advancing ratchet wheel leaves the driving pawl in an inoperative position by virtue of a unique slip clutch coupling between it and its driving motor. The latch releases the holding pawl for return to its operative position automatically during the initial oscillation of the driving pawl to start a new charging cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vincent P. Acampora, James I. Smith
  • Combination circuit breaker-lightning arrestor
    Patent number: 4168514
    Abstract: A conventional automatic electric circuit breaker is combined with a varistor to provide both overcurrent and overvoltage circuit protection. The varistor is connected between the load end of the circuit breaker and neutral to shunt to ground the currents associated with lightning induced voltage surges. As a fail-safe feature, abnormal leakage current drawn by the varistor under normal line voltage conditions directly and/or indirectly heats the thermal element of the breaker trip unit, ultimately tripping the breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1977
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Edward K. Howell
  • Compact three-pole circuit breaker
    Patent number: 4166988
    Abstract: A compact three-pole circuit breaker is modularly constructed utilizing two identical operating mechanisms in controllably articulating three movable contact arms. The operating mechanisms are ganged together for concerted manual operation by an external handle tie and internal means intercoupling the three movable contact arms and the operating mechanisms. Trip units, one in each breaker pole, independently act on an internal common trip bar to simultaneously trip the two operating mechanisms and thereby effect concerted opening movement of the contact arms in quick break fashion under the urgence of mechanism springs and assisting helper springs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 4, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ronald D. Ciarcia, Raymond K. Seymour
  • Combined molded case circuit breaker and accessory package
    Patent number: D254666
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: John A. Morby
  • Ground fault protection system
    Patent number: RE30304
    Abstract: A conventional residential ground fault circuit interrupting (GFCI) device is utilized to control a traditional circuit interrupter in protecting a large power distribution circuit against ground faults. The GFCI device is connected in an energization circuit for a solenoid operable to open the interrupter contacts. A sensor responds to ground faults on the distribution circuit by impressing the current signal on one side of the energization circuit, thus creating a current imbalance effective to trip the GFCI device. Interruption of the energization circuit causes the solenoid to initiate opening of the interrupter contacts. In an alternative embodiment, the GFCI device is adapted to initiate opening of the interrupter contacts upon degradation of ground circuit continuity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 10, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Gregory C. Eckart