Patents Assigned to Cooper Industries, Inc.
  • Patent number: 5597327
    Abstract: In a spring terminal, a central web and a left and a right spring assembly are provided. Each spring assembly is substantially U-shaped and includes first and second legs interconnected by a bight. A first leg of each spring assembly is attached to the central web and extends therefrom toward a respective bight. A second leg of each spring assembly extends toward the central web from a respective bight. Both second legs of the spring assemblies are disposed between the first legs and define a socket together with the central web. The second legs are flexible with respect to the central web in directions toward and away from each other. A socket assembly including spring terminals and a method of making a spring terminal are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James V. Agro
  • Patent number: 5597992
    Abstract: The current interchange includes a housing disposed on a high voltage circuit interrupter. The movable switch contact extends into the housing with a guide member attached to the end of the movable switch contact. The housing includes a base attached to one of the terminals of the interrupter and includes a pair of guide rods extending into the housing for guiding engagement with the guide member. A pair of electrical cables extend helically around the guide rods and have one end attached to the base and another end attached to the guide member to provide an electrical path between the movable switch contact and the terminal. The electrical cables produce an axial magnetic field which maintains the metallic vapor produced by the interruption of the circuit between the contacts to reduce the transport of ions from the gap and reduce the current chop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Jan J. Walker
  • Patent number: 5597234
    Abstract: A trim-ring auxiliary member system for capturing and supporting an auxiliary member relative to an interior and an open end or a lighting housing. The housing includes an annular groove formed in an interior of the housing. The groove is axially spaced from an open end of the housing. A support spring member is removably secured to the interior of the housing and disposed within and retained by the groove. A connecting spring removably attaches the auxiliary member to the support spring member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 28, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: William Winkelhake
  • Patent number: 5595500
    Abstract: An electrical connector comprises a cast housing (11) having at least one end for electrical coupling to another electrical connector. A shaft (23) is slidably mounted in or upon the housing (11) and comprises a locking lug (24) for engagement with a part of another electrical connector. The electrical connector comprises further means engageable with the shaft (23) resulting in sliding movement of the shaft (23) to effect movement of the lug (24) for interaction thereof with the part of the other connector. Such means might comprise a lever (12) pivotally attached to the housing and connected to the shaft (23), or other means such as a rack and pinion arrangement (51, 52).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 21, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael P. Page
  • Patent number: 5594613
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: January 14, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Jonathan J. Woodworth, Jeffrey J. Kester, Thomas C. Hartman
  • Patent number: 5592033
    Abstract: The present invention generally relates to a cost-effective photocell switching circuit which can be manufactured as a single, factory sealed unit suitable for use in Class I, Division 2 environments. In accordance with the present invention, the switching circuit can be wholly formed with electrical components (i.e., without movable parts such as electro-mechanical relays). Further, features of switching circuits designed in accordance with the present invention render the electrical components immune to noise such that the components can be combined in a single unit, explosion-proof housing, thus reducing overall switching circuit complexity and production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: John H. Gold
  • Patent number: 5592118
    Abstract: An improved turbine engine ignition exciter circuit. Energy stored in an exciter tank capacitor is subsequently switched to the load (igniter plug) through a novel thyristor switching device specifically designed for pulse power applications. The switching device is designed and constructed to include, for example, a highly interdigitated cathode/gate structure. The semiconductor switching device is periodically activated by a trigger circuit which may be comprised of either electromagnetic or optoelectronic triggering circuitry to initiate discharge of energy stored in exciter tank capacitor to mating ignition lead and igniter plug. Likewise, the present invention allows new flexibility in the output PFN (Pulse Forming Network) stage, eliminating need for specialized protective output devices such as saturable output inductors. Due to considerably higher di/dt performance of the device, true high voltage output pulse networks may be utilized without damage to the semiconductor switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1994
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Theodore S. Wilmot, John C. Driscoll, Steve J. Kempinski
  • Patent number: 5589808
    Abstract: An encapsulated transformer includes a transformer coil assembly, a rigid core insert having an upstanding portion positioned within the hollow interior of the core and a base portion on which the core rests, and a thermoplastic rubber jacket that completely surrounds the transformer coil assembly and is bonded to the base portion of the core insert to provide a completely waterproof encapsulated transformer which is impervious to liquid and gasses that could be detrimental to the performance of the transformer. A method for producing such an encapsulated transformer includes placing a rigid core insert in a mold cavity of a mold, and positioning a transformer coil assembly in the mold cavity so that the transformer coil assembly rests on the core insert. Thermoplastic rubber is then injected into the mold cavity to completely encapsulate the transformer coil assembly in a jacket of thermoplastic rubber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 31, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: William A. Clark, Carl C. Strickland, Jr., Mark C. Newman
  • Patent number: 5587890
    Abstract: A vehicle electric power distribution system having a plurality of conductive plates, wherein each conductive plate includes an arrangement of contact pads that are electrically connected to other contact pads via integrally formed conductive traces. These conductive plates can be vertically stacked, with electrical contact between selected contact pads on different conductive plates being provided by conductive pins. Each conductive plate is selectively coated with an insulating layer to obviate unwanted electrical contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Lawrence R. Happ, Jacek Korczynski, William R. Bailey, Alan Lesesky
  • Patent number: 5583729
    Abstract: A terminal bushing having integral overvoltage and fault current protection includes an insulator having an upper and a lower chamber. Nonlinear resistors are disposed in the upper chamber between a top terminal and an intermediate terminal which are mounted on the insulator. The top terminal, the nonlinear resistors and the intermediate terminal form a first current path through the bushing. The bushing also includes a pair of mounting arms which support a current limiting dropout fuseholder. The fuseholder is disposed in series between the top terminal and a bushing stud which is retained in the lower chamber of the bushing body. A second current path through the bushing is thus formed by the top terminal, the fuseholder and the bushing stud.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Hassler, Gary L. Goedde, John Lapp
  • Patent number: 5579979
    Abstract: An apparatus for soldering/unsoldering SMD components comprising a heating nozzle which both permits direct heating of the component by contact with a hot nozzle bottom and directs a stream of hot gas onto the leads of the components. The nozzle bottom is preferably made of highly thermoconductive material and the hot gas stream is directed onto the leads by means of at least one outlet slot in the nozzle bottom adjacent the nozzle wall. The nozzle further comprises a centered suction means for positioning/removing the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Gerhard Kurpiela
  • Patent number: 5577603
    Abstract: The remote, self adjusting operator for a circuit breaker according to the present invention allows a circuit breaker toggle to be operated from the exterior of the an explosion-proof enclosure over the circuit breaker panel. The operator includes a shaft having one end extending outside of an enclosure door and another end extending inside the enclosure door. A handle is attached to the shaft at the exterior of the door and an operating fork is attached to the shaft at the inside of the door. The operating fork having a slot for receiving the toggle is designed to prevent damage to the circuit breaker toggle or the operating fork if the door is close when the fork is not properly aligned with the toggle. A spring is provided on the shaft between the fork and the inside surface of the door which allows the fork to move axially on the shaft when it engages the toggle. A sloped surface on the bottom of the fork will cause the fork to move across the toggle until the slot is aligned over the toggle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 26, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Andris Bogdanovs, Paul J. Bartlett
  • Patent number: 5573319
    Abstract: A tamper-resistant transformer cabinet is provided, comprising: a tank including a front plate, for housing said transformer, said front plate including upper, lower and side edges, a riser extending from said front plate, said riser including two sides and a front, a cabinet door including a rear top edge, two rear side edges, two lower side edges, and a lower front edge, said door including along each of said edges a pair of 90.degree. bends that form a channel, said channel forming a tamper-resistant interface between said door and said tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Neal Dirk
  • Patent number: 5574600
    Abstract: A light assembly for a track lighting system includes a housing having releasable upper and lower parts. The lower housing part includes a shell and a baffle mounted in the shell. The baffle forms a light-emitting passage and defines a lens seat for receiving a lens that extends across the passage. The baffle carries spring clips which perform the dual function of non-releasably securing the baffle to the shell and retaining the lens on the lens seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: James V. Agro
  • Patent number: 5567886
    Abstract: A hydraulic impulse screwdriver includes a control circuit, a drive shaft, a compressed-air motor having a motor shaft, a compressed air inlet, and an outlet, a striker having a pressurizing cylinder chamber, the striker connected to the outlet of the compressed-air motor for impulse-like driving of the drive shaft, a shut-off device for torque-dependent interruption of the compressed-air inlet to the compressed-air motor, the shutoff device including a servoelement seated in the motor shaft of the compressed-air motor and forming a pressure-carrying link between the pressurizing cylinder chamber of the striker and the shut-off device, by which a torque-related signal is fed to the control circuit, which control circuit interrupts the compressed-air inlet to the compressed-air motor when a specified torque limit value is reached, a bending bar in the shut-off device that is arranged in cooperation with the servoelement, the bending bar being provided with a transducer to determine a bending moment dependent o
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Konrad K. Kettner
  • Patent number: 5566423
    Abstract: An apparatus for retarding rotation of a pin member, comprising: a sleeve having a body and a chamber within the body, the sleeve body comprising first and second coaxial body segments, the first body segment including a reduced-diameter portion and the second body segment including a counterbore sized to receive the reduced-diameter portion, the reduced diameter portion being axially longer than the counterbore, such that a circumferential recess is formed when the reduced diameter portion is slidingly received in the counterbore;a pair of aligned apertures in the body;a shaft disposed through the apertures and adapted for rotation within the chamber;viscous material surrounding the shaft and substantially filling the shaft and substantially filling the voids in the chamber;and extensions on the shaft for engaging the viscous material and retarding rotation of the shaft in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen P. Hassler, Stephen P. Johnson, John Lapp
  • Patent number: D376089
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 3, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Julian W. Allen
  • Patent number: D376415
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1996
    Assignee: Cooper Industries Inc.
    Inventor: Sami Shemtov
  • Patent number: D377231
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1996
    Date of Patent: January 7, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul G. Degelmann
  • Patent number: D378365
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 11, 1997
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Michael E. Fitzgerald, James P. Witek, John Clark, William A. Powell