Abstract: An electrically powered, fast acting transfer switch utilizes a single action solenoid that, alternately, through a mechanical assembly, moves the handle of one electric power switch between OFF and ON positions. A coupling including a rigid strap operates the handle of a second electric power switch oppositely between ON and OFF positions. The mechanical assembly includes an electromagnet drive plate to which the electromagnet of the solenoid is secured and an armature drive plate carrying the solenoid armature. A latch mechanism alternately holds one drive plate and then the other stationary so that the electromagnet and armature alternately move to effect reciprocal movement of the handle of the one electric power switch, and through the rigid strap, the handle of the second electric power switch.

Abstract: An electrically powered, fast acting transfer switch utilizes two electric power switches mounted in spaced relation with the handles confronting and moveable in a common plane, but in opposite directions, so that when simultaneously operated by an electrically powered operator positioned between the two switches, one switch is ON and the other is OFF. A mechanical assembly converts the motion of a single acting solenoid into reciprocal operation of the switch handles.

Abstract: A pair of spring mounted masses have sufficient inertia to remain stationary in response to a shock force applied to the housing of a trip assembly in a circuit breaker to block movement of the trip bar and thereby prevent a nuisance trip.

Abstract: A pair of shunt wire spacer pins provides for proper spacing between the shunt wires extending from the movable arm to the bimetal within a circuit breaker, thereby ensuring that the shunt wires do not come together during over-current conditions within the circuit breaker, and preventing the shunt wires from interfering with the movement of the trip bar.

Abstract: A shock-resistant solenoid assembly includes a trip solenoid and an inertia lock, the inertia lock being operable to resist unintended engagement of a core of the trip solenoid with a trip plunger of a trip unit of a circuit breaker. The core is movable along a tripping path between a retracted position and an extended position, with the core engaging the trip plunger in the extended position. The inertia lock includes an inertia member and a latch. In response to shock loading, the inertia member interposes the latch into the tripping path to engage the core and resist the core from operatively engaging the tripping plunger under inappropriate conditions. The Abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the Claims.

Abstract: A motor operator for an electric power switch having a handle moveable along a rectilinear path includes a threaded shaft mounted for rotation parallel to movement of the handle. A molded flexible coupling has a drive section with a threaded through bore engaging the threaded shaft and a yoke section having a hole engaged by the handle. The yoke section is joined to the drive section by an integral flexible intermediate section formed by a pair of slits extending generally parallel to the through bore. As the threaded shaft is rotated by a motor, the drive coupling, and with it the handle, are driven between OFF and ON positions. During startup of the motor, toggling of the handle by a toggle mechanism in the switch, and deceleration at the end of travel, when the drive section of the drive coupling and the yoke section travel at different speeds, one or the other of the slits closes as the intermediate section bends to dampen the effect.

Abstract: An electrically powered, fast acting transfer switch utilizes two electric power switches mounted in spaced relation with the handles confronting and moveable in a common plane, but in opposite directions, so that when simultaneously operated by an electrically powered operator positioned between the two switches, one switch is ON and the other is OFF. A mechanical assembly converts the motion of a single acting solenoid into reciprocal operation of the switch handles.

Abstract: An electrically powered, fast acting transfer switch utilizes a single action solenoid that, alternately, through a mechanical assembly, moves the handle of one electric power switch between OFF and ON positions. A coupling including a rigid strap operates the handle of a second electric power switch oppositely between ON and OFF positions. The mechanical assembly includes an electromagnet drive plate to which the electromagnet of the solenoid is secured and an armature drive plate carrying the solenoid armature. A latch mechanism alternately holds one drive plate and then the other stationary so that the electromagnet and armature alternately move to effect reciprocal movement of the handle of the one electric power switch, and through the rigid strap, the handle of the second electric power switch.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an electrically insulating housing, an arc chamber, line and load terminals, separable contacts in series with the terminals, and an operating mechanism. The open position of the separable contacts causes arcing therebetween and the development of ionized gases. The housing includes a first wall, an opposite second wall, a pair of side walls, and a barrier wall forming a compartment for containing the line terminal. The barrier wall has an opening between the arc chamber and the compartment. The first wall has an aperture aligned with the line terminal. A baffle member includes a base portion, a flap and a pair of leg members. The flap extends over the aperture and is deflectable by a tool inserted through the aperture for adjustment of the line terminal. The leg members engage the side walls, thereby supporting the baffle member within the compartment.

Abstract: Strain relief for the electrical leads of attachment devices for electric power switches is provided by pairs of diverging through apertures extending through a molded wall of the switch casing from a first face to a second face to form opposed acute angles at the second face. Each lead is routed through a first aperture of a diverging pair from the first face to the second face, then along the second face and back through the second aperture to the first face. Separate pairs of diverging apertures can be provided for each lead, or they may all be routed through a common, laterally widened pair of apertures. Any tension applied to the leads so routed causes the edges created by the opposed acute angles to bite into and restrain the leads. An adhesive can be injected into the apertures to prevent the leads from being pushed back through the apertures.

Abstract: A terminal wire clamp is provided with a fastener and a connection plate, in which the connection plate has a connection surface that is formed with a retention channel, and in which the retention channel is structured to receive a wire therein and resist movement of the wire after the wire has electrically conductively engaged a conductor. The abstract shall not be used for interpreting the scope of the claims.

Abstract: A shunt trip assembly having a tripping solenoid and a locking solenoid selectively blocks movement of the tripping solenoid to prevent inappropriate tripping of a circuit breaker during shock loading thereof. The tripping solenoid includes a tripping plunger that is longitudinally translatable along a tripping path to operatively engage a trip button of the circuit breaker. The locking solenoid includes a locking plunger that is selectively translatable along a locking path to selectively block movement of the tripping plunger, the locking path being substantially perpendicular to the tripping path. A longitudinally-facing first abutment surface on the tripping plunger is engaged by the locking plunger to prevent inappropriate movement of the tripping plunger during shock loading. A peripherally-disposed second abutment surface on the tripping plunger prevents misconfiguration of the shunt trip assembly after the shunt trip assembly has been deenergized.

Abstract: This invention provides a residual current detector comprising a trip circuit; a magnetic lock assembly including a solenoid that operates in response to a signal from the trip circuit, causing movement of an operating member, with the magnetic lock further including a reset mechanism for resetting the residual current detector following a trip operation; and means for preventing reset of the magnetic lock by restraining movement of the solenoid when the trip circuit is disabled. In the preferred embodiment, a plunger assembly is mounted adjacent to the solenoid of the magnetic lock assembly and fusible link is connected in series with the trip circuit and mounted to prevent movement of a plunger in the plunger assembly. When the trip circuit is subjected to excessive current, the fusible link will melt, thereby permitting the plunger to interfere with movement of the armature of the solenoid. This prevents rest of the magnetic lock assembly.

Abstract: A pneumatic operator has a reciprocally mounted actuator is mechanically coupled to an operating handle from a molded case circuit breaker or a molded case switch for moving the operating handle between an open position or, alternatively, to a closed position. The pneumatic operator includes a piston for driving a handle actuator assembly which is coupled to the handle. The pneumatic piston may be coupled to a remote high pressure gas source or to a high pressure gas cylinder located adjacent to the molded case circuit breaker. The pneumatic operator may be controlled either remotely or by a handle mounted adjacent to the circuit breaker.

Abstract: The secondary cover of a molded case electric power switch housing is removably secured in place to enclose cavities in a primary cover for auxiliary devices by an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly includes one or more studs having a first end section with self-tapping threads which fix the studs to the molded primary cover with a second end section having a conventional screw thread projecting outward from the top face of the primary cover. The attachment assembly also includes fasteners in the form of nuts rotatably captured in mounting holes in the secondary cover. Each nut includes a head configured for grasping by a tool and an integral cylindrical collar which extends through the associated mounting hole in the secondary cover. The nuts are retained in place by an outward flair on the free end of the collar.

Abstract: A shock resistant under-voltage release mechanism for a circuit breaker includes a magnetic tripping device resiliently mounted onto a mounting bracket with one or more resilient mounts. The magnetic tripping device includes a plunger that selectively engages a trip button of the circuit breaker when the voltage supplied to a coil of the magnetic tripping device drops below a given preset limit voltage. The resilient mounts each include first and second flanges, with a hub extending between the first and second flanges. The resilient mount is mounted on the mounting bracket of the under-voltage release mechanism such that the hub is disposed against a mounting hole formed in the mounting bracket, and the first and second flanges are disposed against the opposite faces of the mounting bracket. A fastener is slidingly received through an opening formed in each resilient mount and is attached onto an attachment hole formed on a coil frame of the magnetic tripping device.

Abstract: An apparatus for mounting a motor operator on a circuit breaker comprising two mounting bracket portions, each lying in a plane generally perpendicular to a face of a circuit breaker housing, and a device for slideably coupling the motor operator to the bracket portions, thereby permitting the motor operator to slide between the mounting brackets in a direction substantially perpendicular to the face of the circuit breaker housing.

Abstract: Molded case electric power switches such as circuit breakers, disconnects and transfer switches have an energy storage spring which rotates a cam assembly to close and initiate opening of the switch contacts. The cam assembly includes a drive cam with a cam lobe which engages a drive cam follower on the moving contact assembly. Due to space limitations, the cam assembly is positioned so that the drive cam follower initially moves toward the cam assembly during closing. To accommodate for this, the cam lobe has a generally radial leading edge to prevent binding of the drive cam follower. A single latch mechanism latches the cam assembly in a spring charged position and in a closed position. A Y-shaped latch member has one leg which is engaged by a latch, a second leg which engages stops on the drive cam at the charged position and the closed position, and a third leg which sequentially engages the stops to reset the latch mechanism.

Abstract: A motor operator for a circuit breaker has a motor driven carriage which engages a circuit breaker handle and drives it between an on position and a reset position beyond off. When the carriage drives the handle to the on position, an on limit switch is actuated to deenergize the motor. A fastener releasably secures a bracket slidably mounted on the carriage to a fixed member when the carriage reaches the on position of the handle so that if the circuit breaker is not reset and rebounds toward a trip position, the bracket is extended and maintains actuation of the on limit switch. Hence, the motor is not repeatedly energized and burned out in unsuccessful attempts to turn on the circuit breaker. A similar arrangement prevents the motor from cycling when the off relay is latched.