Patents by Inventor Ralph Mason Ennis

Ralph Mason Ennis 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: 6801110
    Abstract: A shunt wire spacer 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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 5, 2004
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Kenneth Daniel Kolberg, Brian John Schaltenbrand, Ramon Javier Ojeda, Ralph Mason Ennis, Arthur Dale Carothers
  • Publication number: 20030222739
    Abstract: A shunt wire spacer 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.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2002
    Publication date: December 4, 2003
    Inventors: Kenneth Daniel Kolberg, Brian John Schaltenbrand, Ramon Javier Ojeda, Ralph Mason Ennis, Arthur Dale Carothers
  • Patent number: 6489867
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: David Curtis Turner, Brian John Schaltenbrand, Ramon Javier Ojeda, Ralph Mason Ennis
  • Patent number: 6407354
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: David Curtis Turner, Craig Joseph Puhalla, Ramon Javier Ojeda, Ralph Mason Ennis
  • Patent number: 6392513
    Abstract: A miniature circuit breaker incorporating ground fault protection and arc fault protection has a common rocker button for selectively actuating a ground fault test switch and an arc fault test switch. A leaf spring seated in a groove in the rocker button has converging legs which bias the common rocker button from the ground fault test position, and in the opposite direction from the arc fault test position, respectively, toward a central, neutral position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2002
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Michael Jerome Whipple, Ralph Mason Ennis
  • Patent number: 6084756
    Abstract: A tester for an arc fault circuit breaker plugs into a socket in the protected branch circuit. An actuator includes a first spring biasing a moveable contact carried by a pivoted contact arm away from a fixed contact and a momentary closer for momentarily closing the contacts. The momentary closer includes a push button and a second spring coupling the push button to the pivoted contact arm to close the contacts when actuated. Closing of the contacts completes a circuit across the branch circuit resulting in a current producing a magnetic repulsion force which blows the contacts open thereby striking an arc. The arc, which should trip the arc fault circuit breaker is visible through a translucent or transparent section of the molded tester housing. A fuse interrupts any overcurrent and a test light verifies initial energization of the protected circuit and operation of the arc fault circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas M. Doring, Ralph Mason Ennis, Joseph Charles Engel
  • Patent number: 6052046
    Abstract: A two pole circuit breaker having arc fault and ground fault protection circuits, in addition to a standard thermal-magnetic trip units, that is designed to fit in a standard knock-out, three-quarter inch or one-inch, of a circuit breaker load center panel. The circuit breaker is divided into three compartments with two side-by-side compartments housing the electro-magnetic trip mechanism respectively for each pole, and a third compartment in tandem with the other two for housing the electronics associated with the ground fault and arc fault protection circuits. The circuit breaker spans the area allocated to a single knock-out with portions of the electro-magnetic trip compartments seated within the knock-out opening and with the third compartment hidden behind the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Ralph Mason Ennis, Thomas Michael Doring