Patents by Inventor Ronald Ciarcia
Ronald Ciarcia 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: 6985059Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a crank for coupling a rotary arm breaker mechanism to the cradle. The crank has a protrusion which cooperates with a handle yoke to restrict movement of the operating handle when the contacts of the circuit breaker are welded. The crank protrusion is arranged such that it does not interfere with the handle under normal operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2003Date of Patent: January 10, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ananthram Subramanian, Ronald Ciarcia, Narender Macha, Luis Brignoni, Paul Douglas Lafferty
-
Patent number: 6980071Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker having a support frame, a trip unit, a crossbar, and a trip bar, is disclosed. The trip unit is responsive to an electric current for generating a trip force, the crossbar is directly coupled to the trip unit and to the support frame, and the trip bar is directly coupled to the support frame. The electric current at the trip unit generates a trip force that acts upon the trip bar to trip the circuit breaker. The crossbar remains substantially stationary during the tripping action.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: December 27, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Navin Kumar, Christian Daehler, Ronald Ciarcia, Narender Macha, Anantharam Subramanian, Luis A. Brignoni
-
Patent number: 6965292Abstract: An electrically isolated rotor assembly for a cassette assembly of a circuit breaker includes a rotor having a first side and an opposing second side, a first isolation cap disposed on the first side, a second isolation cap disposed on the second side. Each isolation cap preferably includes a centrally located knob with a bushing surrounding each knob, wherein the bushings are sized for securement within apertures within first and second cassette half pieces.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: November 15, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Ananthram Subramanian, Macha Narender, Luis Brignoni, Samuel Kim, Paul Lafferty
-
Patent number: 6956452Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker having a calibration system is disclosed. The calibration system includes a retainer, a tripping member responsive to an electric current, an actuator retained by the retainer, a spring adjuster adjustably engaged with the actuator and the tripping member, and a bias spring disposed for biasing the actuator in a first direction. Movement of the spring adjuster absent movement of the actuator and the tripping member results in a change in the bias spring force and no change in the position of the tripping member, and movement of the tripping member absent movement of the spring adjuster results in a change in the position of the tripping member and no change in the bias spring force.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: October 18, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Navin Kumar, Ronald Ciarcia, Narender Macha
-
Patent number: 6952149Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing, an operating mechanism, and a cassette. The cassette includes a separable current path having a movable contact arm, two arc receptors each disposed for receiving an electrical arc in response to a short circuit overcurrent condition, and two slot motors each disposed proximate the movable contact arm for magnetically driving the movable contact arm to a blown open position in response to a short circuit overcurrent condition. The slot motors each have two side legs opposing each other and defining a space therebetween for receiving the movable contact arm, each side leg having a magnetic core and an insulative layer and being biased toward the interior of the side walls of the cassette, wherein each side leg is restrained from being magnetically attracted toward the movable contact arm during a short circuit condition.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: October 4, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Ananthram Subramanian, Macha Narender, Luis Brignoni, Samuel Kim
-
Patent number: 6933814Abstract: A molded case, cassette type circuit breaker for a multi-pole electrical distribution circuit includes a number of cassettes equal to the number of poles in the multi-pole electrical distribution circuit and a pin disposed through each cassette. The pin is formed from a dielectric material. The pin may be further disposed through a portion of an operating mechanism for aligning the cassettes and the operating mechanism. Each cassette may include a rotor, a pair of electrical contacts, and a contact arm supported in the cassette by the rotor. In this embodiment, the pin may be a cross pin that extends between each rotor. The dielectric material may include phenolic, melamine, silicone, epoxy, polyester, fiberglass and the like. Alternatively, the pin includes a steel bar coated with the dielectric material, where the dielectric material may include, for example, epoxy, silicon, Teflon, and the like. A pair of end caps may be disposed over end surfaces of the rotor.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: August 23, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Luis Brignoni, Narender Macha, Anantharam Subramanian, Samuel Stephen Kim
-
Patent number: 6930573Abstract: A multipole cassette assembly having a center pole cassette assembly includes a first side and a second side, a first outer pole cassette assembly having a first side and a second side, a first spacer interlocking receptacle positioned on one of the first side of the center pole cassette assembly and the second side of the first outer pole cassette assembly, and a first interlocking spacer positioned on one of the first side of the center pole cassette assembly and the second side of the first outer pole cassette assembly, wherein the first interlocking spacer is engaged with the first spacer interlocking receptacle. A method for maintaining spacing between poles of the multipole cassette assembly includes providing an interlocking spacer on the first cassette assembly, providing an interlocking receptacle on a second cassette assembly, and engaging the interlocking spacer with the interlocking receptacle.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Ananthram Subramanian, Macha Narender, Luis Brignoni, Samuel Kim
-
Patent number: 6930577Abstract: A molded insulator cover for a circuit breaker molded case includes a terminal connector attachable to the strap terminal. The terminal connector is disposed in the circuit breaker molded case and an insulator discrete from the molded case is disposed around the terminal connector. The insulator is trapped into the circuit breaker molded case by attachment of the terminal connector to the strap terminal. The insulator is configured to be used with a plurality of different field installable terminal connectors.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 16, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ananthram Subramanian, Ronald Ciarcia, Narender Macha, Luis Brignoni, Paul Douglas Lafferty
-
Patent number: 6903635Abstract: An assembly for interacting with a circuit breaker operating mechanism of a circuit breaker including a housing and a pair of contacts within the housing, the operating mechanism arranged to separate the pair of contacts upon the occurrence of a trip event is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of linkages arranged to transmit mechanical energy from the operating mechanism to a plunger of an accessory device for changing a state thereof. The system of linkages is configured to compensate for any over-travel resulting from possible tolerance variations.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: June 7, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Luis Brignoni, Ronald Ciarcia, Ananthram Subramanian, Narender Macha
-
Publication number: 20050062568Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker having a calibration system is disclosed. The calibration system includes a retainer, a tripping member responsive to an electric current, an actuator retained by the retainer, a spring adjuster adjustably engaged with the actuator and the tripping member, and a bias spring disposed for biasing the actuator in a first direction. Movement of the spring adjuster absent movement of the actuator and the tripping member results in a change in the bias spring force and no change in the position of the tripping member, and movement of the tripping member absent movement of the spring adjuster results in a change in the position of the tripping member and no change in the bias spring force.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2003Publication date: March 24, 2005Inventors: Navin Kumar, Ronald Ciarcia, Narender Macha
-
Publication number: 20050062569Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker having a support frame, a trip unit, a crossbar, and a trip bar, is disclosed. The trip unit is responsive to an electric current for generating a trip force, the crossbar is directly coupled to the trip unit and to the support frame, and the trip bar is directly coupled to the support frame. The electric current at the trip unit generates a trip force that acts upon the trip bar to trip the circuit breaker. The crossbar remains substantially stationary during the tripping action.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 24, 2003Publication date: March 24, 2005Inventors: Navin Kumar, Christian Daehler, Ronald Ciarcia, Narender Macha, Anantharam Subramanian, Luis Brignoni
-
Publication number: 20050057333Abstract: A molded insulator cover for a circuit breaker molded case includes a terminal connector attachable to the strap terminal. The terminal connector projects outwardly from the circuit breaker molded case and an insulator discrete from the molded case is disposed around the terminal connector. The insulator is trapped into the circuit breaker molded case by attachment of the terminal connector to the strap terminal. The insulator is configured to be used with a plurality of different field installable terminal connectors.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2003Publication date: March 17, 2005Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ananthram Subramanian, Ronald Ciarcia, Narender Macha, Luis Brignoni, Paul Lafferty
-
Publication number: 20050051414Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a crank for coupling a rotary arm breaker mechanism to the cradle. The crank has a protrusion which cooperates with a handle yoke to restrict movement of the operating handle when the contacts of the circuit breaker are welded. The crank protrusion is arranged such that it does not interfere with the handle under normal operating conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 10, 2003Publication date: March 10, 2005Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Ananthram Subramanian, Ronald Ciarcia, Narender Macha, Luis Brignoni, Paul Lafferty
-
Publication number: 20050046528Abstract: A multipole cassette assembly having a center pole cassette assembly includes a first side and a second side, a first outer pole cassette assembly having a first side and a second side, a first spacer interlocking receptacle positioned on one of the first side of the center pole cassette assembly and the second side of the first outer pole cassette assembly, and a first interlocking spacer positioned on one of the first side of the center pole cassette assembly and the second side of the first outer pole cassette assembly, wherein the first interlocking spacer is engaged with the first spacer interlocking receptacle. A method for maintaining spacing between poles of the multipole cassette assembly includes providing an interlocking spacer on the first cassette assembly, providing an interlocking receptacle on a second cassette assembly, and engaging the interlocking spacer with the interlocking receptacle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2003Publication date: March 3, 2005Inventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Ananthram Subramanian, Macha Narender, Luis Brignoni, Samuel Kim
-
Publication number: 20050046539Abstract: An electrically isolated rotor assembly for a cassette assembly of a circuit breaker includes a rotor having a first side and an opposing second side, a first isolation cap disposed on the first side, a second isolation cap disposed on the second side. Each isolation cap preferably includes a centrally located knob with a bushing surrounding each knob, wherein the bushings are sized for securement within apertures within first and second cassette half pieces.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 29, 2003Publication date: March 3, 2005Inventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Ananthram Subramanian, Macha Narender, Luis Brignoni, Samuel Kim, Paul Lafferty
-
Patent number: 6842096Abstract: A magnet assembly for actuating a trip latch in a circuit breaker. The magnet assembly includes a core and an armature. The core is disposed around a conductor forming a primary current path in the circuit breaker, and includes an end forming a pole face. The armature is biased by a force acting in a direction away from the pole face. The armature includes a generally planar surface and a projection extending from the generally planar surface toward the pole face. The generally planar surface is separated from the pole face by a first air gap, and the projection is separated from the pole face by a second air gap. The first air gap is larger than the second air gap.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2003Date of Patent: January 11, 2005Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Luis Brignoni, Narender Macha, Anantharam Subramanian, Samuel Stephen Kim
-
Patent number: 6822543Abstract: A trip system for a circuit breaker includes a current sensor and a stop surface, the current sensor having a contact surface, a first end that is supported, and a second end with a degree of freedom. The current sensor, arranged for receiving an electric current, undergoes a first deflection in response to a first current and a second deflection in response to a second current, the first deflection resulting in clearance between the contact surface and the stop surface, and the second deflection resulting in contact between the contact surface and the stop surface.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2003Date of Patent: November 23, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Anantharam Subramanian, Ronald Ciarcia, Macha Narender, Luis A. Brignoni, Samuel Stephen Kim
-
Publication number: 20040227598Abstract: A molded case, cassette type circuit breaker for a multi-pole electrical distribution circuit includes a number of cassettes equal to the number of poles in the multi-pole electrical distribution circuit and a pin disposed through each cassette. The pin is formed from a dielectric material. The pin may be further disposed through a portion of an operating mechanism for aligning the cassettes and the operating mechanism. Each cassette may include a rotor, a pair of electrical contacts, and a contact arm supported in the cassette by the rotor. In this embodiment, the pin may be a cross pin that extends between each rotor. The dielectric material may include phenolic, melamine, silicone, epoxy, polyester, fiberglass and the like. Alternatively, the pin includes a steel bar coated with the dielectric material, where the dielectric material may include, for example, epoxy, silicon, Teflon, and the like. A pair of end caps may be disposed over end surfaces of the rotor.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Luis Brignoni, Narender Macha, Ananthram Subramanian, Samuel Kim
-
Publication number: 20040227602Abstract: A magnet assembly for actuating a trip latch in a circuit breaker. The magnet assembly includes a core and an armature. The core is disposed around a conductor forming a primary current path in the circuit breaker, and includes an end forming a pole face. The armature is biased by a force acting in a direction away from the pole face. The armature includes a generally planar surface and a projection extending from the generally planar surface toward the pole face. The generally planar surface is separated from the pole face by a first air gap, and the projection is separated from the pole face by a second air gap. The first air gap is larger than the second air gap.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Inventors: Ronald Ciarcia, Luis Brignoni, Narender Macha, Anantharam Subramanian, Samuel Stephen Kim
-
Publication number: 20040227601Abstract: An assembly for interacting with a circuit breaker operating mechanism of a circuit breaker including a housing and a pair of contacts within the housing, the operating mechanism arranged to separate the pair of contacts upon the occurrence of a trip event is disclosed. The assembly includes a plurality of linkages arranged to transmit mechanical energy from the operating mechanism to a plunger of an accessory device for changing a state thereof. The system of linkages is configured to compensate for any over-travel resulting from possible tolerance variations.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 13, 2003Publication date: November 18, 2004Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Luis Brignoni, Ronald Ciarcia, Ananthram Subramanian, Narender Macha