Abstract: A coupling member for securing a spring to a rotatable motor shaft so that the spring rotates with the motor shaft. The coupler has a cylindrical hollow middle which fits snugly onto the motor shaft and includes a main body portion having a smaller cylindrically shaped nose portion extending therefrom for receiving one end of the spring therearound. The main body portion includes a ramp portion, extending upwardly therefrom, a wall behind the ramp portion and a slot therein for receiving a hook portion extending from the spring. The hook portion is snugly secured in the slot and behind the wall so that as the motor shaft rotates, the coupler member causes the spring to rotate with the motor shaft.

Abstract: A metering unit, located in a distributed power network carrying a power-related waveform, comprises a sensor, a generator, and a memory. The sensor senses power-related parameters associated with the power-related waveform. In response to the sensor, the generator generates and transmits data representative of the power-related waveform. The memory is a sector-erasable flash EEPROM having stored therein programmable logic and main functionality firmware for execution by the generator. The logic is programmable by a user and executable by the generator to increase operations performed by the metering unit.

Abstract: An electrical contact for use in an electrical switching device is provided having low contact resistance, high wear resistance and high anti-weld characteristics. The contact includes a material composition of between 0.2 and 8% by weight Gr, between 10 and 90% by weight W and the remaining mixture consisting of Ag. The contact is manufactured using a process which yields a unique microstructure characterized by not having an interconnected Gr network around the Ag thereby providing a strong Ag to Ag bond. This process includes the steps of adding the appropriate amounts of Ag, W and Gr powder material together, blending together under low shear conditions to provide a homogenous powder mixture while prohibiting the Gr from smearing onto the Ag, pressing the material mixture to form a contact, and then sintering and coining the contact.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device for interrupting current in a circuit path between a source and a load. The device includes a first contact and a second contact cooperatively arranged in the circuit path so as to provide current from the source to the load. At least one of the contacts is disposed on a contact carrier which is movable for interrupting the current provided to the load. A contact status indication arrangement is provided for indicating the status of the contacts. The contact status indication arrangement includes a trip flag, a status insert, a clear plastic lens, a flag guide, and a status flag. The trip flag, status insert and status flag are viewable through the lens, which is disposed in an aperture in the circuit breaker housing. Only one status indicator is viewable through the lens at any one time, each indicating a different circuit breaker status.

Abstract: A portable programming device is provided for communicating with and downloading tripping characteristics to a circuit breaker electronic trip unit. The programming device incorporates an umbilical cable which is attached to a connector on the trip unit, over which power is supplied to the trip unit and data is exchanged, a keypad with function keys including On/Off, Function, Breaker/Pane, Sensor and Program keys, and a LCD display which is capable of showing pertinent parameters such as circuit breaker type, sensor size, pickup and delay settings, current flowing through the circuit breaker and the trip characteristics to be downloaded to the trip unit. The portable programming device has a provision to operate from power supplied by a built in battery or from an external AC adapter. The programming device is presented with a fiber optic cable which, when coupled to a trip unit which is attached to a powered circuit breaker, can pass data to the device display.

Abstract: An integrated protection system for an electrical distribution system including a panelboard for receiving power from a utility source and distributing the power to a plurality of branch circuits each having line and neutral conductors for delivering the power to a load. The integrated protection system comprises a plurality of arcing fault detectors and line interrupters attached to positions in the panelboard. The arcing fault detectors detect the occurrence of an arcing fault in either of the branch circuits, while the line interrupters disconnect the load from the power source in response to the detection of an arcing fault in either of the branch circuits. The line interrupters and arcing fault detectors may comprise separate modules, each being connected to one of the positions in panelboard or being attached externally to the other module.

Abstract: A method of assembling a three phase current transformer for printed circuit board installation. Three current transformers, each having a spin wound coil positioned about one leg of an unassembled continuous lamination core, are placed side-by-side in a transformer carrier such that two parallel core legs of the center transformer overlap the adjacent core legs of the two outside transformers and further such that printed circuit board terminal pins attached to the coils pass through stand-off sleeves formed from the transformer carrier. Rivets are placed through holes in the laminations of the overlapped core legs and in the transformer carrier thereby simultaneously riveting the three transformer cores and the transformer carrier together making a three phase transformer assembly.

Abstract: A circuit breaker device for interrupting current in a circuit path between a source and a load includes a first contact and a second contact cooperatively arranged in the circuit path so as to provide current from a source to a load. A trip mechanism assembly, which includes an armature, a bimetal and a yoke, is provided for interrupting the current. The armature includes an aperture in which a latch point is provided to engage a latching surface of a trip lever for latching the trip lever thereon. The amount of current that is required to cause the trip mechanism to interrupt the circuit path is determined by the amount of overlap between the latching surface and the latch point. This overlap is adjusted by bending a calibration plate by tightening a calibration screw which extends through an aperture in a circuit breaker housing and a slotted aperture in the calibration plate. A substantially square shaped nut secures the calibration screw tightly against the housing.

Abstract: A weld control system, supplied by a polyphase voltage source, consists of an isolation contactor supplying power to separate single phase weld controllers. The single phase weld control systems have their separate power modules combined into a single power module assembly for more efficient cooling and electrical interfacing. The single power module consists of a semiconductor switch for each phase of the polyphase voltage source and a single chiller plate for mounting and cooling the switches. The chiller plate functions as a heat sink and is machined to create a series of channels that become coupled together to form a continuous tube having a single input and a single output for a coolant liquid. A SCR pair, housed in a single package in a back-to-back configuration having an isolated base construction. The base has good thermal conductivity between the heat generating semiconductors in the package and the base.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker control arrangement that is reliable, accurate and cost-effective to manufacture, install and maintain. This circuit breaker arrangement also provides increased modularity by alleviating the need for installing wires to connect each circuit breaker with the control station. The present invention uses circuit breakers that contain internal control technology for interrupting and establishing an associated current path. At least one coded signal designates each circuit breaker, and a communication bus carries these coded signals to each circuit breaker. Decoding technology located on each circuit breaker determines whether the coded signal corresponds to that circuit breaker. If the coded signal does correspond to that circuit breaker, then the decoding technology responds by sending the appropriate response signal over the communication bus, and the circuit breaker's internal control technology either interrupts or establishes the associated current path.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical switch locking assembly for inhibiting movement of a switch handle. The switch handle is enclosed in a casing or housing and moves operatively along a path between first and second positions to open or close electrical contacts for opening or closing a circuit. First and second recesses are molded into the casing to receive a locking device across the path of the switch handle. The locking device has first and second legs pivotally connected like scissors. The first leg has an integral first foot projecting away from the second leg, and the second leg has an integral second foot projecting away from the first leg, like scissor-blade tips having opposing projections. The first and second legs each have an opening opposite the first and second foot, respectively, somewhat like scissor handles. The first foot is inserted into the first recess and the second foot is inserted into the second recess.

Abstract: A locking device is provided for use with a circuit breaker operating handle to selectively keep the handle locked and prevented from moving between ON and OFF positions. The locking device includes a support frame with at least two oppositely directed mounting grips for securing the frame to the circuit breaker housing, and a locking arm movably disposed on support means extending from the support frame for movement between at least first and second engaged positions and a disengaged position. The locking arm prevents the operating handle from moving from the ON position to the OFF position when it is in the first engaged position and prevents the operating handle from moving from the OFF position to the ON position when it is in the second engaged position. A bracket on the support frame receives a locking member for securing the locking arm in either of the one engaged positions.

Abstract: A programmable data link module is used on a time division multiplex data bus. The module receives data from the data bus during a selected time slot for a selected number of frames. The data link module includes an input circuit for generating a data output signal data to the data bus in response to input signals from an input device coupled to the module. The input circuit includes a data bus integrity checker for determining whether the data bus is intact. A test signal is sent by a master clock source to the data link module and if it is properly received, the integrity checker will permit the data link module to received data signals from the data bus.

Abstract: A busway elbow fitting for a busway electrical distribution system. The elbow includes a first straight busway section having a housing and a plurality of electrical busbars enclosed within the housing. The first straight section has one standard terminating end and one mitered end wherein the housing and the busbars are cut to a predetermined angle with respect to the first straight section. The elbow also includes a second straight busway section having a housing and a plurality of electrical busbars enclosed within the housing. The second straight section has one standard terminating end and one mitered end wherein the housing and the busbars are cut to a predetermined angle with respect to the second straight section. The mitered ends of the first and second busway sections are complementary such that when the mitered ends are placed in juxtaposed position a desired angle is formed between the first and second busway straight sections.

Abstract: The present invention provides a circuit breaker assembly having a base, cover, and switch handle adapted to withstand an external force applied to a lever of the switch handle. During normal operation the handle rotates on small-diameter pivots in elongated bearing slots. Under abnormal conditions that occur when the lever of the switch handle is inadvertently struck, such as when the circuit breaker is dropped on the lever of the switch handle, the pivots slide in the elongated bearing slots. The force is borne by large-diameter hubs which come in contact with mating bearing surfaces. Thus, the pivots are not shorn off during such incidents, which would damage the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A weld controller is coupled to a communications network which has an operator interface unit for monitoring and controlling the weld controller and other weld controllers on the network. A common database in the operator interface unit is accessible across the communication network by the weld controller regardless of the data structure of the database. The weld controller can use the database to obtain different weld schedules, duplicate its own weld schedule to provide for easy replacement, and as a data storage for its operating parameters and values. The weld controller has a dual communications port that allows for a variety of operator interface configurations. Data from weld controller can be accessed by the operator interface controller based upon the weld controller's individual data structure and type through embedded objects resident in the operator interface's operating system and program.

Abstract: A communication system between a programmable logic controller and a network of a plurality of remote input/output repeater modules uses a synchronous serial communications protocol. The programmable logic controller contains a transmitter module for generating a data packet containing the state of an output device connected to a remote input/output repeater module coupled to the network. A receiver module receives and decodes a returned modified data packet that indicates the state of input devices connected to the same or other remote input/output repeater modules also coupled to the network. The remote input/output repeater modules receive and decode the data packet to determine the state of the output devices that may be connected to it and modifies the data packet to indicate the state of its input device if there is one present. The modified data packet is sent to the next in-line remote input/output repeater module coupled to the network.

Abstract: An arrangement is provided for welding together current carrying members of an electrical distribution device which are made of similar conductive material. The arrangement includes an electron beam gun capable of generating an electron beam sufficient to penetrate and heat the material, thereby providing mixing of the material to form a joint which is constructed substantially of a portion of each of the current carrying members.

Abstract: The present invention provides a switch mechanism module and a line base module, useable separately or in combination, for an interior assembly of an electrical distribution device having a plurality of modules. The electrical distribution device has an enclosure with a handle external to the enclosure for operator control. The switch mechanism module and line base module include a modular housing having a generally planar base with upstanding side walls around the circumference of the base. The side walls have a top edge defining a mating surface. The modular housing is demountably secured to at least one adjacent module with a manually operated securement which is integrally formed with the modular housing.

Abstract: A guard for preventing movement of a handle by an operator from a locked position to a second position. The handle is coupled to an operating mechanism which controls a distribution device. The handle extends outwardly from the surface of the distribution device. The guard includes a cover which is configured to substantially enclose the handle while in the locked position. The cover is supported about the handle by abutting the surface of the distribution device. The cover is also configured to allow the handle to move from the locked position to the second position wherein the cover prevents an operator, but not the operating mechanism, from moving the handle from the locked position to the second position and the handle positively indicates the state of the operating mechanism between the positions. The guard also locks the cover to the distribution device.