Abstract: An over-center handle mechanism is provided to operate electrical equipment, such as a switch or breaker, housed in an electrical enclosure. The over-center handle mechanism includes an adaptor knob, a rotary actuator and a spring. The adaptor knob interfaces with the electrical equipment. The rotary actuator is connected to the adaptor knob, and includes a cam. A through-door handle is used to operate the rotary actuator, which in turn operates the electrical equipment via the adaptor knob. To optimize an angular torque feeling at the through-door handle, the over-center handle mechanism further includes the spring to provide an opposing force against movement of the cam of the rotary actuator, and thus, the through-door handle. A solid lubricant of PTFE may also be provided as an interface between the cam and the spring to reduce friction therebetween.

Abstract: An over-center handle mechanism is provided to operate electrical equipment, such as a switch or breaker, housed in an electrical enclosure. The over-center handle mechanism includes an adaptor knob, a rotary actuator and a spring. The adaptor knob interfaces with the electrical equipment. The rotary actuator is connected to the adaptor knob, and includes a cam. A through-door handle is used to operate the rotary actuator, which in turn operates the electrical equipment via the adaptor knob. To optimize an angular torque feeling at the through-door handle, the over-center handle mechanism further includes the spring to provide an opposing force against movement of the cam of the rotary actuator, and thus, the through-door handle. A solid lubricant of PTFE may also be provided as an interface between the cam and the spring to reduce friction therebetween.

Abstract: An overload relay trip mechanism includes a housing, a reset button, a leaf spring, a test button, a coil spring, and an actuator. The reset button can be actuated from a normal position to a reset position to cause the leaf spring to transition from a first position to a second position, which causes a reset actuator-engaging element to move the actuator from a tripped position to a closed position. The test button can be actuated from a normal position to a test-stop position to cause a first test actuator-engaging element to move a moveable contact from an electrically connected position to an electrically disconnected position. The test button can further be moved from the test-stop position to the test-trip position to cause a second test actuator-engaging element to move the actuator from the closed position to the tripped position.

Abstract: An overload relay trip mechanism includes a housing, a reset button, a leaf spring, a test button, a coil spring, and an actuator. The reset button can be actuated from a normal position to a reset position to cause the leaf spring to transition from a first position to a second position, which causes a reset actuator-engaging element to move the actuator from a tripped position to a closed position. The test button can be actuated from a normal position to a test-stop position to cause a first test actuator-engaging element to move a moveable contact from an electrically connected position to an electrically disconnected position. The test button can further be moved from the test-stop position to the test-trip position to cause a second test actuator-engaging element to move the actuator from the closed position to the tripped position.

Abstract: An operating shaft which provides compensation for axial and spatial misalignment between a rotatable component mounted within an enclosure and a rotating apparatus generally outside the enclosure is disclosed. The operating shaft has a first end dimensioned to be slidably received within a receiving portion of the rotating apparatus such that the shaft is maintained in a fixed angular position with respect to the rotating apparatus. The shaft is axially slidable with respect to the rotating apparatus such that it will provide compensation for axial misalignment between the rotatable component and the rotating apparatus. The shaft has a second end configured to engage the rotatable component such that rotation of the rotating apparatus will produce a corresponding rotation of the rotatable component. The shaft also has a spatial compensation device which is integrally formed from the shaft between the first and second ends.

Abstract: An operating shaft which provides compensation axial and spatial misalignment between a rotatable component mounted within an enclosure and a rotating device generally outside the enclosure. The operating shaft has a first end which is dimensioned to be slidably received within a receiving portion of the rotating device such that the shaft is maintained in a fixed angular position with respect to the rotating device. The shaft is axially slidable with respect to the rotating device such that it will provide compensation for axial misalignment between the rotatable component and the rotating device. The shaft has a second end formed to engage the rotatable component such that an rotation of the rotating device will produce a corresponding rotation of the rotatable component. The shaft also has a spatial compensation device which is integrally formed in the shaft between its first and second ends.

Abstract: An enclosure is for a solid state overload relay mechanism or other device. The enclosure includes a mounting plate (12) defining a pair of upwardly extending flanges (14). A housing includes a lower housing (18) and an upper housing. The mounting plate flanges (14) are received through slotted openings (22) defined by the lower housing (18) and define openings (26) for engaging a tab member (28) defined by the lower housing (18). Each tab member (28) is received within and engaged with a corresponding opening (26) defined by a flange (14). A constant pressure is maintained between the tab member (28) and the mounting plate flange opening (26) such that the relative position between the two is fixed. Mounting profiles are defined by the mounting plate (12) and extend away from the lower housing (18) for retrofitting an existing device. The upper and lower housings (18,20) are held in a conventional snap-fit manner.

Abstract: The present invention defines a convertible electrical contact. The convertible contact comprises two pair of movable contacts attached to an actuator which is supported by and enclosed within a housing. The actuator is biased to a first position and is slidably movable to a second position in response to a force applied to the actuator. The movable contacts are attached to the distal ends of a flexible member which is supported at its approximate midpoint by the actuator. The movable contacts are also movable between a first position and a second position as the actuator is moved. A pair of contact cavities are defined by the housing such that the one contact cavity lies on each side of the actuator and the flexible member and movable contacts are contained within the cavities. The housing defines a first pair of access apertures associated with the first position of the movable contacts and a second pair of access apertures associated with the second position of the movable contacts.

Abstract: A solid state overload relay mechanism designed for minimizing the forces required to open an electrical contact associated therewith in the event of a current overload in a protected circuit, and further designed for overcoming residual magnetism in a solenoid initiating the opening of the contact. The contact includes a pair of stationary contacts supported by a base and a pair of movable contact supported by a contact carrier. A latch defines a notch which is normally engaged with a lever. When so engaged, the contact carrier is positioned such that the movable contacts are in contact with the stationary contacts. When the lever becomes disengaged from the latch, the contact carrier is moved and contact between the movable contacts and stationary contacts is broken. The latch is provided with a counterbalance weight to aid in minimizing the force required to return the latch to its original position after the mechanism is tripped.

Abstract: A machine operator control station circuit which uses capacitive proximity switches to replicate the function of mechanical switches used in prior art control stations. A monitoring circuit for monitoring the "on" state of the capacitive proximity switches used in a two hand industrial machine control station is disclosed. The circuit also reduces the chance of unintended operation of the machine being controlled as a result of emitted or conducted radio frequency interference which might be detected by the capacitive proximity switches. An isolation transformer provides an isolated power supply for the monitoring circuit. The monitoring circuit includes a first capacitive proximity switch for detecting the presence of one of the machine operator's hands, and a second capacitive proximity switch for detecting the presence of the other of the machine operator's hands. Each proximity switch has a monitoring circuit for monitoring the length of time the proximity switch remains in the activated or "on" state.

Abstract: The rotational optical switch of the present invention includes a switch enclosure, a light conductor, an optical shutter, a torsion spring biasing the shutter towards a bistable state, and a shutter actuator. The switch enclosure generally encloses the remaining components. The light conductor is received in the switch enclosure and extends between the enclosure and a transceiver, which provides a signal reflective of the state of the optical shutter. The optical shutter is pivotally mounted within the switch enclosure and is bistable between a reflective state which reflects light into the light conductor, and a nonreflective state which does not reflect light into the light conductor. The shutter pivots on arms to either end of a support cylinder which have knife edges. The shutter actuator is pivotally connected to the optical shutter by the torsion spring to cause the optical shutter to snap between the bistable states. The optical shutter has two reflectors in opposite reflective states.

Abstract: A pressure responsive switch apparatus comprising a housing including a wall defining a passageway having an end adapted to communicate with a source of fluid under pressure, a switch supported by the housing, an actuator which is movably supported by the housing and which includes an end extending into the passageway, an actuator for actuating the switch in response to movement of the actuator, and a cup-shaped member detached from the actuator and located within the passageway and between the actuator and the end of the passageway for sealingly engaging the wall and moving the actuator away from the end of the passageway in response to pressure from the fluid source.

Abstract: A pressure sensitive switch has means for producing linear motion in response to pressure, means for springably resisting the linear motion, means for operating a switch after a predetermined linear motion, and a lifter pin having a projection on a first end for slidably engaging a hole in the means for springably resisting the linear motion, the lifter pin being mounted between the means for producing linear motion and the means for springably resisting the linear motion so as to transmit force from the means for producing linear motion to the means for springably resisting the linear motion, the lifter pin decoupling rotational motion between the means for producing linear motion and the means for springably resisting the linear motion. A piston may serve as the means for producing linear motion in response to pressure.

Abstract: A selector switch assembly includes modular switch units that are serially-arranged in a housing and are operated by a single rotatable control member that is biased to a first position by a biasing unit. A modular switch unit includes a housing that has an end wall and two opposite sidewalls that each have two recesses at opposite ends which receive planar blade portions of switches to define an enclosure. The control member includes a hollow tube that has a friction member which has cams on the periphery to actuate the switches and also has an opening for frictionally engaging a rotatable adjusting screw on the next modular switch unit. The modular units are sealed into a support and the hollow tube provides access to the adjusting screw outside the support.

Abstract: An industrial type switch having modular parts which may be assembled so the switch may be used in a wide range of installations. The switch includes a differential module which is easily adjustable to operate over a selected range of pressures, a plug-in snap switch module so the switch may be easily wired and serviced, a range module so the response of the switch to pressures within a range may be readily accomplished, and any one of a plurality of different type actuator modules which are mountable on the exterior of the switch so the switch may be used in a large variety of different type installations.

Abstract: A removable cover assembly is provided for an electrical switch. The assembly includes a casing having an apertured panel, on the interior surface of which are mounted an illuminating means and elongated contact means, the latter making electrical contact with conductors of the switch when the cover assembly and the switch are in assembled relation. A lens piece is accommodated in the panel aperture and the illuminating means is secured to the portion of the lens piece adjacent the panel interior surface.