Patents by Inventor James A. Trax

James A. Trax 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: 7369021
    Abstract: The reset lever on a circuit breaker undervoltage relay is actuated by translating arcuate movement of a handle arm pin as the circuit breaker handle is moved to the off position into rotation of the reset lever through a complaint interface lever that is stiff enough to actuate the reset lever, but flexible enough to accommodate for overtravel of the handle arm pin when the circuit breaker is reset and for the stackup of tolerances in the operating mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erik R. Bogdon, Dominic P. Martelli, James A. Trax, Craig A. Rodgers
  • Patent number: 7023303
    Abstract: A U-shaped accessory actuator clip that snaps onto the crossbar of a multipole circuit breaker is integrally molded of a compliant material with a flexible finger that actuates/deactuates an accessory, such as an auxiliary switch, as the contacts of the breaker close and open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Erik R. Bogdon, Dave E. Little, Dave A. Parks, Dave C. Turner, James A. Trax, Dominic P. Martelli
  • Patent number: 6747534
    Abstract: This concerns a molded case circuit breaker having separable main contacts and an operating mechanism utilized to cause the separable main contacts to open and close. A trip unit is provided to actuate the operating mechanism in desirable circumstances. The trip unit has a magnetic trip level adjustment dial, which has an adjustment face with a series of detents therein. The dial has a cam service, which interacts with internal portions of the trip unit to set or calibrate the level at which a magnetic trip actuation occurs. The aforementioned detent interacts with a spring loaded L-shaped member which fits into the casing of the trip unit along with the dial as a single unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Mueller, Wayne C. Sumpman, James A. Trax
  • Patent number: 5519558
    Abstract: A current throttle resistor external to a contactor device protects an electrical power distribution circuit coupling a load to a power line. The contactor has electrical switching contacts in series with the load and the line, and for example, an electromagnetically controllable switch for opening the contacts. A current sensor is coupled to the controllable switch for opening of the contacts upon occurrence of a high current fault in the power distribution circuit exceeding a predetermined threshold. A resistive element in series with the power distribution circuit between the line and the load, provides a voltage drop for limiting current during the high current fault. The resistive element can be a nichrome strip or similar positive temperature coefficient resistance having a low cool resistance, and is thermally isolated from the controllable switch by mounting in a resistor housing external to the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 21, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph M. Ennis, James A. Trax, Yun-Ko N. Chien