Abstract: A low NOx water heater including a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the water container, a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the burner comprising a plenum chamber having a combustion surface and a fuel/air conduit adapted to receive fuel and air, and a fuel nozzle positioned to supply fuel into the fuel/air conduit at an angle that is between about 1.5° and about 2.5° out of horizontal relative to a horizontal plane extending along a central axis of the fuel/air conduit.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container, a combustion chamber adjacent the water heater, a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, a flue having an upper portion and a lower portion operatively connected to the combustion chamber and extending through at least a portion of the water container, and a catalytic converter located in the upper portion of the flue. The water heater may also reduce NOx and CO emissions generated by a water heater having a radiant burner including activating the burner in response to the temperature of water in the water heater as needed, and substantially removing accumulated foreign matter on the burner by periodically activating the burner irrespective of the water temperature for a selected amount of time.

Abstract: A low NOx water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the water container; and a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the water container, the burner comprising a plenum chamber having a combustion surface and a device to detect the presence of the collection of lint, dirt and/or oil.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a thermodynamically activated flue damper for a gas water heater that includes a flue damper for controlling the passage of exhaust gases through the flue; and a thermally sensitive member that is capable of contracting when the exhaust gasses in the flue heat the thermally sensitive member to its transition temperature and expanding when the temperature of the thermally sensitive material falls below its transition temperature. The thermally sensitive member is connected between the flue damper and a support member in the flue to control the pivoting of the flue damper as the thermally sensitive metal expands or contracts at the transition temperature. The flue damper system may also include a counter-balancing member to provide a counter-balancing force to the said thermally sensitive metal, such as a coil spring. The thermally sensitive member may be formed in the shape such as a rod, a wire, and an elongated bar, and may be made from Nytinol or other similar metals.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the container, the combustion chamber having at least one air inlet to admit air and extraneous fumes into the combustion chamber and confine ignition and combustion of the extraneous fumes within the combustion chamber; a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the container; and an air diverter positioned between the air inlet and the burner and adapted to channel at least a portion of combustion air passing through at least a portion of the air inlet to a position for mixture with the fuel prior to entering the burner to slow combustion and thereby reduce combustion temperatures and NOx emissions.

Abstract: A water heater including a water container; a combustion chamber adjacent the container, the combustion chamber having at least one air inlet to admit air and extraneous fumes into the combustion chamber and confine ignition and combustion of the extraneous fumes within the combustion chamber; a burner associated with the combustion chamber and arranged to combust fuel to heat water in the container; and an air diverter positioned between the air inlet and the burner and adapted to channel at least a portion of combustion air passing through at least a portion of the air inlet to a position for mixture with the fuel prior to entering the burner to slow combustion and thereby reduce combustion temperatures and NOx emissions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a static dissipative composition as a method of removing electric potential from an arc extinguishing device in an electrical distribution device. The inventive composition includes a thermoplastic base resin and an effective amount of a conductive modifier to exhibit static dissipative properties and remove electric potential from the arc extinguishing device of an electrical distribution device. Arc extinguishing devices for use in circuit breakers and the like are made of these inventive compositions.

Abstract: An improved miniature circuit breaker is provided which is adapted to improved automatic assembly of all components thereof. Key components of the breaker are individually and collectively designed to be susceptible to total Z-axis assembly. In particular, the circuit breaker operating mechanism which operates the contacts thereof to make or break the electric circuit is formed of elements designed to interact in a Z-axis assemblable fashion. The movable contact is defined on a contact carrier or blade assembly which is adapted for Z-axis assembly and also provides increased arc erosion resistance and improved opening of the breaker contacts.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a circuit breaker comprises the steps of preassembling the movable parts of the circuit breaker between a pair of frame members and providing a housing that is configured for supporting the unitary breaker assembly without attachments. Other circuit breaker components, attached to the unitary breaker assembly, are also supported in the housing without attachments. A cover is secured to the housing to complete the circuit breaker. Another version of the invention preassembles the movable parts of the circuit breaker and the stationary contact mechanism and trip coil, with the line and load terminals attached, between a pair of supporting frame members to form an operable circuit breaker module. The module is in turn supported in a housing without attachments. The circuit breaker module may be tested and adjusted prior to final assembly.

Abstract: An improved miniature circuit breaker is provided which is adapted to improved automatic assembly of all components thereof. Key components of the breaker are individually and collectively designed to be susceptible to total Z-axis assembly. In particular, the magnetic-yoke and armature which comprise the current response mechanism for the circuit breaker are designed to interact with each other so that the magnetic armature can easily be Z-axis assembled onto the magnetic yoke.

Abstract: An improved miniature circuit breaker is provided which is adapted to improved automatic assembly of all components thereof. Key components of the breaker are individually and collectively designed to be susceptible to total Z-axis assembly. In particular, the trip mechanism including the trip lever, and the associated activation means, tension means and reset means are defined by elements designed to interact in a Z-axis assemblable fashion. The trip mechanism components are also designed for improved trip action and enhanced breaker performance in repeated OPEN, CLOSED, and TRIP operations.

Abstract: A remotely controllable circuit breaker device for interrupting power in a circuit path between a source and a load includes local and remote monitoring capabilities and a worm-gear mechanism for reliable control of the interruption mechanism. The device includes a first contact and a second contact cooperatively arranged in the circuit path so as to provide current from the source to the load. At least one of the contacts are movable for interrupting the power provided to the load. The worm gear mechanism includes a motor with a rotatable shaft which responds to open and closed control signals generated from a remote location, and a gear, rotatably responsive to the rotatable shaft, for controlling the movable contact so that the circuit path is interrupted and established, respectively. The worm gear mechansim controls the movable contact using a coupling arrangement, which has a first part coupled to the movable contact and a second part coupled to the gear.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a circuit breaker comprises the steps of preassembling the movable parts of the circuit breaker between a pair of frame members and providing a housing that is configured for supporting the unitary breaker assembly without attachments. Other circuit breaker components, attached to the unitary breaker assembly, are also supported in the housing without attachments. A cover is secured to the housing to complete the circuit breaker. Another version of the invention preassembles the movable parts of the circuit breaker and the stationary contact mechanism and trip coil, with the line and load terminals attached, between a pair of supporting frame members to form an operable circuit breaker module. The module is in turn supported in a housing without attachments. The circuit breaker module may be tested and adjusted prior to final assembly.

Abstract: An assembly frame having first and second frame plates secures the movable parts of a breaker assembly together for ready assembly of the breaker assembly in a housing. A pivot pin supports the trip lever between the frame plates. The movable contact carrying blade has an elongated hole through which the pivot pin passes, the elongate hole forming a floating point for the pivot pin.

Abstract: An accessory module (104) for use with a circuit breaker (10) is configured for mounting to the breaker, and has a rotor (142) which follows the movement of the circuit breaker blade (24) in the breaker by means of a coupling member (118) passing through a passage (110) in the circuit breaker wall. A portion of the rotor is configured as a cam (162) operating a switch (152) in the module, the switch thus giving a reliable indication of the position of the breaker blade. The breaker is preferably of the type which has a trip lever (50) carried on the breaker blade and mounted for slight movement thereon, and the rotor is preferably coupled to the trip lever. A solenoid (148) within the accessory module is disposed to rotate the rotor when energized, this rotation being coupled to trip the breaker to provide for remote tripping. Since the trip lever is carried with the breaker blade, the blade position is monitored by the switch.

Abstract: A circuit breaker auxiliary device is housed in its own separate enclosed container and is accessible by a drive pin through an opening in the container mounting surface. A drive pin is inserted into an opening in a circuit breaker housing mounting surface. The container is snap-fitted flushly to a side of the circuit breaker housing. The internal trip mechanism of the circuit breaker and the operative mechanism of the auxiliary device communicate via the drive pin cooperatively linked to each mechanism and operating through the aligned openings in the container and the circuit breaker housing.

Abstract: An assembly frame having first and second frame plates secures the movable parts of a breaker assembly together for ready assembly of the breaker assembly in a housing. A pivot pin supports the trip lever between the frame plates. The movable contact carrying blade has an elongated hole through which the pivot pin passes, the elongated hole forming a floating point for the pivot pin.

Abstract: A circuit breaker consisting of a housing having a fixed contact and a movable contact mounted on a blade which in turn is pivotally supported on a blade carrier that is pivoted within the housing and a handle that cooperates with the blade carrier to pivot the carrier between positions. A trip lever is pivotally mounted in the housing and has biasing means interposed between the blade and the trip lever to pivot the blade between respective positions with latch means holding the trip lever in a position where the blade and blade carrier are biased to close the contacts. The handle and carrier have cooperating camming surfaces that magnify the forces applied to the handle for pivotal movement of the carrier.