Abstract: A circuit breaker for interrupting the flow of current upon the detection of excess current or temperature is provided that contains an arc plate assembly which includes a pair of insulative mounting plates having mounted thereon a set of arc plates arranged in an arcuate array generally tracing the arcuate path of movement of a circuit breaker moveable contact blade. A baffle plate is mounted between the insulative mounting plates and positioned above the uppermost arc plate in the set of arc plates for blocking arc-formed debris from projection into the operating mechanism of said circuit breaker. Mounting tabs, which are extending toward the insulative mounting plates from edges of the arc plates, are being used to connect the mounting plates with the arc plates by passing the tabs through corresponding apertures located in the mounting plates. The tabs are crimped against the exterior surface of the mounting plates.

Abstract: An arcing fault protection assembly in an electrical outlet, and a corresponding method determine whether arcing is present in an electrical device connected to the outlet. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, a controller and s an electrical device. The sensor detects a current and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present. The sensor, the broadband noise circuit and the controller are mounted to the outlet receptacle or to an outlet box which houses the receptacle. The electrical device is connected in parallel to the first electrical outlet on the load side of the sensor.

Abstract: A system clock for a system for measuring at least one given quantity having a value which does not vary significantly from a given frequency, the system clock comprises a controller for sampling said given quantity at a rate determined by an oscillator frequency, and a programmable oscillator for generating the oscillator frequency, said programmable oscillator being programmable to produce said oscillator frequency at a frequency which is substantially identical to a high order harmonic of said given frequency of the quantity to be measured.

Abstract: A field replaceable wiring adapter for interfacing a remotely operable switching device to a control device. The wiring adapter contains a set of terminals coupled to control wires extending from the switching device, a conversion circuit, and a second set of terminals coupled to the control device. The conversion circuitry converts a bi-directional current flowing from the control device in a single current path into two separate current paths that share a common conductor. The conversion circuitry extends between the first and second sets of terminals. The mounting element is used to mount the adapter to the control device. Since the wiring adapter contains the interface circuitry and necessary terminals, it may be easily installed or replaced in the field, for upgrade or maintenance purposes, with minimal disruption to power distribution services.

Abstract: An online monitor that can be permanently attached to a device to be monitored continuously monitors a set of analog signals and initiates data capture over a window of time when a user programmable set of conditions is satisfied. The online monitor includes a digital signal processing unit, a modular, interchangeable, analog signal conditioning base unit that can be tailored to the specific requirements of the process to be monitored and a modular, interchangeable, communication interface unit. The interface unit permits the digital signal processing unit to exchange data with external equipment such as network computers via a number of industry standard communication fieldbus protocols. The online monitor provides the capability to define the trigger condition under which data capture is initiated by comparing a user defined signal to a function of the instantaneous value of another signal or constant.

Abstract: A method and device for immunizing a contactor circuit from the inductive effects of a holding coil derived power supply, including: sensing a voltage signal from a power supply, the voltage signal having a switching range comprising an upper voltage and a lower voltage; providing a drive output responsive to the upper voltage; holding the drive output at a constant level as the voltage signal remains above the lower voltage; and, disabling the drive output in response to the voltage signal droppings below the lower voltage.

Abstract: An economical digital voltage sag compensator for overcoming sags in distributed electrical power. The voltage sag compensator employs an inexpensive micro-controller, a full wave bridge rectifier, a DC power supply, a voltage divider and an output switch. The micro-controller continuously monitors and evaluates, with respect to a setpoint measured in volt-seconds, the rectified DC voltage. At regularly spaced trigger events, as determined by the micro-controller, the micro-controller concurrently monitors the rectified DC voltage, evaluates the monitored voltage with respect to the setpoint, produces an output signal and sends that output signal to the output switch. The output switch supplies an electrical device, connected electrically in series with the full wave bridge rectifier and the output switch, with a constant average current of sufficient level to maintain the electrical device in a desired operating condition.

Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for use in arcing fault detection systems within circuit breakers and which is adapted for automated production by top-down assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a circuit board and a two-piece sensing coil within a two piece housing with its center oriented horizontally relative to the circuit board. In other embodiments the sensing coil is one-piece and is either preassembled with a sensing bus and oriented horizontally or oriented vertically relative to the circuit board. The invention also includes several methods for making electrical connections to the circuit breakers.

Abstract: An electronic trip device including an analog measuring for measuring electrical signals, analog-to-digital conversion having an input connected to the analog measuring an output having a first output signal, a digital processing means connected to the conversion for performing protection functions, and an offset correction. The offset corrections means are connected to the output of the conversion, and include high-pass digital filtering for computing an output signal value for each sample signal supplied by the conversion, according to an equation.

Abstract: A wide input range switching power supply for a circuit protection device includes a rectifier circuit for rectifying an AC line voltage at a supply input, and a switch-mode DC-to-DC converter coupled to the rectifier circuit for providing a low voltage DC power to a load at a supply output. The converter includes a switch having an open state and a closed state and a control circuit for controlling the state of the switch. The control circuit is operatively coupled to receive operating power from the supply output.

Abstract: A wide input range power supply for a circuit protection and/or fault detector device includes a passive supply for providing power to a load under nominal input voltage conditions at or near the nominal line voltage with minimum power loss, and a linear regulating supply path for assisting the passive supply at an input line voltage substantially below the nominal line voltage value.

Abstract: A fuse base assembly for electrical fuses, including an electrical bus on which a load end fuse clip of the end-user's choice can be attached. The electrical bus is provided with means for attaching the selected load end fuse clip in a linearly adjustable manner such that the end user can adjust the spacing between the line and load end fuse clips as required for the desired fuse. The electrical bus is also provided with a load terminal attaching point such that wiring between the load device and the fuse is easily accomplished.

Abstract: A blade assembly for use in a circuit breaker, the blade assembly comprising a plurality of blades, including one or more pairs of adjacent side-by-side blades having coplanar contact surfaces and coplanar bearing surfaces, at least one set of blade springs, each having one end in operative contact with the bearing surface of each of a pair of adjacent side-by-side blades, the at least one set of blade springs comprising at least one compression spring.

Abstract: An arcing fault protection assembly in an electrical device, and corresponding methods determine whether arcing is present in the device. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, and a controller. The sensor detects a current and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present. The sensor, broadband noise circuit, and controller are mounted to the device.

Abstract: A power line communications apparatus and method for providing communications over power leads connecting two pieces of electrical equipment. One power lead is split into similarly sized first and second parallel conductors. The first and second conductors pass through a current transformer, the first conductor having a load current flow opposite the second conductor with respect to the current transformer. The transmitted communications signal is applied to the secondary of the current transformer and is induced on the primary of the transformer, namely a loop formed by the first and second conductors. A second current transformer serves as a receiving transducer and senses the communications signal on the first and second conductors.

Abstract: An apparatus for housing and securing a switch operating mechanism. The switch mechanism housing includes a housing member with an integral pivot bushing, a housing cover, an operating mechanism including a push rod assembly, a rotor cam, and mechanism shaft. The operating mechanism is installed and fixed in the housing member. The housing member holds captive the operating mechanism without requiring that the housing cover be in place, thereby facilitating fabrication and assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for interrupting the flow of electrical current in a line is disclosed. The invention provides for better limitation of current than can be achieved in the prior art. With effective current limitation, the magnetic force generated by the circuit breaker coil will not be excessive thereby reducing potential damage to the circuit breaker armature, increasing the interruption rating of the circuit breaker and end-use equipment and decreasing the interruption pressure within the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A method for providing electrical current to a contactor circuit, by providing a power supply circuit having a power supply resistor, the power supply circuit supplies electrical current to the contactor circuit in response to the electrical specifications of the contactor; selecting a value for the power supply resistor in response to the contactor's electrical specifications and requirements of the contactor circuit; and, inserting the selected power supply resistor into the power supply circuit.

Abstract: A method for detecting, in real time, high energy transients in an electrical power system, the method including obtaining real time data defining a power waveform, converting the data to digital data, calculating from the digital data a plurality of test point values, calculating incremental area values corresponding to differences between each adjacent pair of the plurality of test point values, an incremental time interval between adjacent the test point values being defined as a unit width of the area, such that the cumulative area under the waveform at a given testpoint is equal to the sum of the area calculated at that test point and the area, calculated at the previous test point, calculating the area of the waveform between adjacent pairs of test points by substracting the cumulative area at the later in time of the test points from the cumulative area at the earlier in time of the test points, and comparing each the area calculated under the waveform with an area at corresponding points in time on an

Abstract: The electrical protection device comprises a plurality of sensors, a multiplexer and a sigma-delta type analog-to-digital converter. The converter comprises a sigma-delta modulator in series with a numerical decimation filter. The decimation filter comprises weighting coefficients ki, of level 1 to n, such that the product of the measuring range of the signals measured by the sensors and of the ratio ∑ l m ⁢ k i / ∑ l n ⁢ k i is less than the precision required for said signals, the coefficients of level 1 to m being the coefficients used during the stabilization time of the modulator. The coefficients of the filter of level 1 to m are preferably zero.