Patents by Inventor Brian S. Caffro

Brian S. Caffro has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 9025298
    Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current between the input terminal and the output terminal. The electrical switching apparatus also includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit configured to control pairs of separable contacts to separate based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit. The alternating current electronic trip circuit includes a rectifier circuit, an interface circuit, and a processor structured to output a control signal to control a trip actuator to cause an operating mechanism to separate the plurality of pairs of separable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Harry J. Carlino, Brian S. Caffro
  • Publication number: 20140111294
    Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes a transductor circuit that senses a direct current between at least one input terminal and at least one output terminal and outputs an alternating current proportional to the direct current between the input terminal and the output terminal. The electrical switching apparatus also includes an alternating current electronic trip circuit configured to control pairs of separable contacts to separate based on the alternating current output from the transductor circuit. The alternating current electronic trip circuit includes a rectifier circuit, an interface circuit, and a processor structured to output a control signal to control a trip actuator to cause an operating mechanism to separate the plurality of pairs of separable contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: April 24, 2014
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: XIN ZHOU, Harry J. Carlino, Brian S. Caffro
  • Patent number: 8508891
    Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes separable contacts; an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts; and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes an input structured to receive a remote signal to remotely enable an arc reduction maintenance mode, a first circuit structured to enable the arc reduction maintenance mode in response to the received remote signal, and a second circuit structured to provide an electrical signal remote from the trip mechanism in order to remotely indicate that the arc reduction maintenance mode is remotely enabled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Harry J. Carlino, David R. Olenak, Lloyd A. Maloney, Brian S. Caffro
  • Publication number: 20120176719
    Abstract: An electrical switching apparatus includes separable contacts; an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts; and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes an input structured to receive a remote signal to remotely enable an arc reduction maintenance mode, a first circuit structured to enable the arc reduction maintenance mode in response to the received remote signal, and a second circuit structured to provide an electrical signal remote from the trip mechanism in order to remotely indicate that the arc reduction maintenance mode is remotely enabled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Publication date: July 12, 2012
    Inventors: HARRY J. CARLINO, David R. Olenak, Lloyd A. Maloney, Brian S. Caffro
  • Patent number: 7948343
    Abstract: A settings emulator for a circuit breaker trip unit includes a handheld enclosure and a plurality of adjustable rotary switches mounted on the handheld enclosure. The adjustable rotary switches define a plurality of different trip settings for the circuit breaker trip unit. A communication channel is also mounted on the handheld enclosure. A microprocessor is enclosed by the handheld enclosure. The processor reads the different trip settings from the adjustable rotary switches and communicates the different trip settings through the communication channel to the circuit breaker trip unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Harry J. Carlino, Todd M. Shaak, Brian S. Caffro, Joseph B. Humbert
  • Publication number: 20090326900
    Abstract: A settings emulator for a circuit breaker trip unit includes a handheld enclosure and a plurality of adjustable rotary switches mounted on the handheld enclosure. The adjustable rotary switches define a plurality of different trip settings for the circuit breaker trip unit. A communication channel is also mounted on the handheld enclosure. A microprocessor is enclosed by the handheld enclosure. The processor reads the different trip settings from the adjustable rotary switches and communicates the different trip settings through the communication channel to the circuit breaker trip unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Harry J. Carlino, Todd M. Shaak, Brian S. Caffro, Joseph B. Humbert