Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Whitaker

Thomas A. Whitaker 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: 6084188
    Abstract: 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 circuit breaker has external terminals which are connectable with an external load and an external power supply. A collar is used to interconnect the circuit breaker terminals with the load and power supply. The terminal collar in this case is non-symmetrical. The non-symmetrical collar provides two functions: the first function is that the path of electrical continently between adjacent collars is enlarged for higher voltage applications because of the non-symmetrical nature of each collar; secondly, the circuit breaker case has a seat therein which has the same cross-section as the non-symmetrical collar, so that the collar can only be inserted therein in one cross-sectional orientation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Mueller, Thomas A. Whitaker, Wayne C. Sumpman
  • Patent number: 5927484
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing, an operating mechanism and separable main contacts, and a rotatable crossbar which rotates to open and close the contacts. The crossbar interacts by way of a protrusion thereon with a rotatable, positive off-link. A handle mechanism is disposed in the housing and has a handle protruding from the housing which is normally movable from a closed to open disposition. However, if the operating mechanism has reacted in such a way as to open the separable main contacts but, in fact, they have not opened because, for example, they are welded shut, the protrusion on the crossbar will interact with the positive off-link and prevent the handle mechanism from moving to the opened position thus warning personnel that the contacts have not opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Malingowski, Todd M. Lathrop, Robert M. Slepian, Jere L. McKee, Lance Gula, Thomas A. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 5910760
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing, an operating mechanism and separable main contacts, and a rotatable crossbar which rotates to open and close the contacts. The crossbar interacts by way of a protrusion thereon with a rotatable, positive off-link. A handle mechanism is disposed in the housing and has a handle protruding from the housing which is normally movable from a closed to open disposition. However, if the operating mechanism has reacted in such a way as to open the separable main contacts but, in fact, they have not opened because, for example, they are welded shut, the protrusion on the crossbar will interact with the positive off-link and prevent the handle mechanism from moving to the opened position thus warning personnel that the contacts have not opened.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 8, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Richard P. Malingowski, Todd M. Lathrop, Robert M. Slepian, Jere L. McKee, Lance Gula, Thomas A. Whitaker
  • Patent number: 5493084
    Abstract: An operating mechanism for an enclosure-mounted circuit breaker includes a slider for engaging the circuit breaker handle; a shaft-driven pivot for moving the slider between the handle on, off and reset positions; a holder for holding the slider in its reset position; a base plate for supporting the pivot and the slider; and a door-mounted rotary handle for rotating the shaft and operating the pivot. The rotary handle may engage the shaft in the on and off positions, and may be detached from the shaft in the reset position. The pivot may include a first pivot arm having a first cam surface for holding the slider in its reset position. A second cam surface on a second pivot arm may engage a first slider surface from off to on; a second slider surface from on to off, from off toward reset, and to resist reset to off; and an oblique slider surface when adjacent reset. The second cam surface may disengage the oblique surface at reset.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas A. Whitaker, Roger W. Helms, David C. Turner, Thomas T. Kuzniarski
  • Patent number: 5304765
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an interlock which prevents the operating handle from being moved from the on position after the main contacts have been welded together. By preventing the operating handle from being moved from the on position during such a condition, the operating handle will indicate the correct status of the main contacts and the operator will be made aware that the main contacts are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: April 19, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Parks, Thomas A. Whitaker, Yu W. Chou
  • Patent number: 5270564
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an interlock which prevents the operating handle from being placed in the off position after the main contacts have been welded together. By preventing the operating handle from being placed in an off position during such a condition, the operating handle will indicate the correct status of the main contacts and the operator will be made aware that the main contacts are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Parks, Thomas A. Whitaker, Yu W. Chou
  • Patent number: 5142112
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes an interlock which prevents the operating handle from being placed in the off position after the main contacts have been welded together. By preventing the operating handle from being placed in an off position during such a condition, the operating handle will indicate the correct status of the main contacts and the operator will be made aware that the main contacts are welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David A. Parks, Thomas A. Whitaker, Yu W. Chou