Abstract: An operating mechanism for a vacuum interrupter which includes a spring driven multi-linked system moving the interrupter contacts open or closed with precise, controlled movement to minimize opening rebound, closing rebound and contact opening overtravel. Such a multi-linked system provides high contact separation forces and movement to a specific contact gap while simultaneously loading a closing spring to it's fully charged and latched state. This mechanism provides and maintains full contact pressure from the instant of contact make to the instant of contact separation.

Abstract: An encapsulation for an interrupter includes a main body that includes an internal cavity; the internal cavity including a space at a first end thereof for the interrupter; the internal cavity including an internal wall extending from the interrupter space to a second end of the encapsulation; a surface at the second end of the encapsulation for mounting the encapsulation; the internal wall including a convolution.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a spark plug electrode (14) of a first material having good thermal conductivity having a core (24) of a second material having good corrosion resistance. The first material may be copper, or a copper alloy, and the second material may be nickel, a nickel alloy, silver, or a silver alloy. The electrode (14) may be produced by a method comprising the steps of: providing a tubular cup (28) formed of the first material; positioning a billet (34) of the second material within the cup (28); and extruding the assembled cup and billet.

Abstract: A fuse includes a tube, a pair of blade terminals projecting from opposite ends of the tube, at least one fuse element disposed in the tube and electrically coupled between the terminals, and a pair of metallic end caps disposed on opposite ends of the tube. Electrically insulative elements are disposed between the end caps and the terminals. The tube is filled with an arc-quenching material inserted through a fill hole that is plugged by a plastic drive rivet. Each terminal is attached to a metallic end plate by means of a staking tang inserted into a slot of the end plate, and by means of a separate solder joint. Each insulative element includes an axial sleeve through which a respective terminal extends for a part of its length. The fuse element having a one-piece metal element bent to form a pair of parallel, superimposed strips divided into sections by means of fusible weak points.

Abstract: An electrical apparatus, such as a transformer, includes an expandable internal chamber that is nonventing and completely and permanently sealed from the ambient environment. The chamber houses a core and coil assembly or other current-carrying conductor and is completely filled with dielectric fluid having a pressure less than one atmosphere. The enclosure walls are flexible and are permitted to bow inwardly and outwardly as the volume of the dielectric fluid changes due to thermal expansion and contraction. A method of processing the dielectric fluid and filling and sealing the transformer at sub-atmospheric pressure is also disclosed.

Abstract: An emergency sign is mounted to a canopy that is attached to a support such as a ceiling or vertical wall. The canopy includes a post, and the sign includes a housing having a slot for receiving the post. The slot includes a wide portion and a narrow portion. The post is insertable into the wide portion and then slidable into the narrow portion. The sign housing includes a pair of locking arms that are spread apart by movement of the post into the narrow portion, and then snap back to a position blocking reverse travel of the post out of the narrow portion. The canopy includes through-holes for receiving mounting screws to secure the canopy to a support. Each through-hole includes radially inwardly projecting ears which are deformable in response to the entry of a screw into the through-hole to retain the screw in the through-hole during the mounting procedure.

Abstract: A miniature female fuse includes a casing; a pair of clips inside the casing; and a fusible link electrically connecting the clips, the fusible link being constructed from a low temperature melting alloy such as Pb(82)/Sb(18), Sn(96.5)/Ag(3.5), or Au(80)/Sn(20).

Abstract: An encapsulation for an interrupter includes a main body that includes an internal cavity, the internal cavity including a space at a first end thereof for the interrupter, a second end of the main body including a surface for mounting the encapsulation, an insert assembly mounted in the second end for facilitating mounting the encapsulation, the insert assembly including a rigid connector and a plurality of fasteners fixed to the rigid connector.

Abstract: A spiral wound fuse includes an elongated housing, a supporting substrate formed of an electrically non-conducting, resiliently deformable, and flexible material, disposed in the housing, a fusible conductor wound around the supporting substrate and end caps mounted to the housing and connected to the conductor at the first and second ends of the supporting substrate. The fusible conductor may be impressed into the resiliently deformable substrate to form ridges of material between adjacent windings of the conductor. The ridges physically separate the windings and help to prevent arcing or bridging when the conductor melts to interrupt the circuit.

Abstract: An emergency exit sign has a housing in which a pair of LED units are disposed. Each LED unit has two rows of diodes, the rows connected in reverse polarity to an A.C. source so that said rows are illuminated alternatingly. A diffuser plate disposed between the LED units and a stencil plate is formed of a translucent plastic material having a light transmittance frequency to the peak wavelength of light emitted from the diodes. The diodes are exposed to the diffuser plate so that the diffuser plate receives both direct and indirect light therefrom.

Abstract: A subminiature circuit protector includes a plurality of layers of ceramic material in a laminate structure, each layer bearing a fuse element. The ends of laminate structure are coated with electrically conductive end terminations. The fuse elements of the layers may be connected in parallel, with fuse elements on each layer connecting to both end terminations, or interconnected in series from one end termination to the other. Each of the fuse elements of the individual layers may comprise two or more individual fuse elements connected in series or in parallel. A method for manufacturing the circuit protector in accordance with the invention includes the steps of printing a multiplicity of fuse elements on a plurality of substrates, stacking the substrates to form a laminate structure, cutting the laminate into individual units, and coating the opposite ends of the units with electrically conductive material to form end terminations.

Abstract: An improved surge arrester includes metal oxide varistors in series with spark gap assemblies arranged such that the MOV elements conduct the low magnitude, steady-state current through the arrester along a path that is separate and distinct from the path through which impulse current is conducted during an overvoltage.

Abstract: A cellular pleated shade material is provided for cellular pleated shades. Each pleat thereof is formed from a single strip of shade material which is folded longitudinally in half, and the edges thereof are glued together to form a fin. The side of one cell is affixed to the side of the next adjacent cell adjacent the centerline of the sides. The ratio of cell height to cell width may be varied, without affecting the overall aesthetic presentation of the shade, by varying the size of the fin.

Abstract: A method of improving fault current measurement accuracy on a power line is disclosed. A first sample is obtained from a first input channel. A current magnitude is calculated from the first sample. The current magnitude is compared to a possible current saturation value. If the current magnitude is less than the possible current saturation value, a second sample from a second input channel is obtained, and the current magnitude is recalculated from the second sample. Lastly, the current magnitude is scaled by a scale factor. Also disclosed is an apparatus for improving fault current measurement accuracy on electronic reclosure control.

Abstract: A locking device for a folding tool includes a spring member extending from a handle over a tool hub. The hub is formed with a notch shaped with obliquely directed sides and a stop wall spaced from the notch. The portion of the hub including the notch and the stop wall forms a bearing surface. The spring member includes a v-shaped bend that substantially matches the notch and a finger extending from the bend. In an extended position, the tool is secured by the engagement of the bend in the notch and the abutment of the finger on the hub on the bearing surface and stop wall.

Abstract: A cellular pleated shade material is provided for cellular pleated shades. Each pleat thereof is formed from a single strip of shade material which is folded longitudinally in half, and the edges thereof are glued together to form a fin. The side of one cell is affixed to the side of the next adjacent cell adjacent the centerline of the sides. The ratio of cell height to cell width may be varied, without affecting the overall aesthetic presentation of the shade, by varying the size of the fin.

Abstract: Evaluation apparatus for detecting the onset parameters of friction, wear and groan and squeal noise characteristics associated with a specimen of a particular brake friction material composition is provided with a movable apparatus table which carries both a variable-speed electric motor that drives a brake rotor and that has a near-zero speed capability and a reversible electric motor that may be selectively and independently actuated to advance the brake rotor into friction contact with a friction material specimen and with a normal-force that correlates to the output torque of the reversible electric motor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for non-destructively proof-testing the integrity of the bond between an integrally-molded disc brake pad assembly metallic backing plate element and its adhered molded friction material pad element advantageously tests the bond by tensile stressing rather than by conventional shear stressing.

Abstract: A bimetallic reed for a circuit protecting device includes an integral fusible portion as a failsafe interrupting mechanism. The bimetallic reed includes a body of electrical conductive materials and having a first end mountable to a terminal and a second end forming an interruptible contact portion. The body is shaped to deform at a central portion of the body when the body is heated to a predetermined temperature. The body includes a plurality of apertures adjacent to the contact portion defining a plurality of electrical conductive pathways connecting the central portion and the contact portion, wherein the plurality of conductive pathways is fusibly responsive to a predetermine electrical load condition to form a fusible link.

Abstract: An electrical connector includes a grounded cable joined to a coupler, with an electrically insulative casing molded around adjoining ends of the cable and coupler. The coupler is adapted to be electrically connected to an electric receptacle and includes an insulative insert containing rear electrical contacts connected to respective signal lines of the cable. The rear contacts are electrically connected to front contacts which are to receive the male contacts of the receptacle. An electrically conductive ferrule is mounted on the insert and extends rearwardly therefrom to a connection point with a ground wire of the cable. A cylindrical front portion of the ferrule extends across a gap between the casing and a threaded nut which is freely rotatably mounted on the insert, to provide ESD (electro-static filed) shielding for the cable. The nut, formed of an electrically conductive material, contacts the ferrule and maintains ground continuity between the ground wire and the receptacle.