Patents by Inventor Thomas Natili

Thomas Natili 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).

  • Publication number: 20070159738
    Abstract: A receptacle for a power circuit includes a receptacle housing, a line terminal structured to receive a voltage including one of a nominal voltage and a greater excessive voltage, a load terminal, a neutral terminal, a load neutral terminal, separable contacts electrically connected between the line and load terminals, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a trip circuit structured to detect a first trip condition associated with the power circuit and to responsively actuate the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism also includes an overvoltage circuit structured to detect a sustained excessive voltage condition between the at least one neutral terminal and the line or the load terminals and to responsively actuate the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 9, 2006
    Publication date: July 12, 2007
    Inventors: Thomas Natili, Robert Elms
  • Publication number: 20060018059
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a test circuit having one or two indicators, an arc fault signal generator, and first and second test switches. A first indicator is electrically connected in series with the first test switch. This series combination provides a first alternating current signal to the arc fault signal generator, which provides an arc fault signal to an arc fault trip circuit, in order to trip open separable contacts in response to closure of the first test switch. The series combination of the second test switch and the second indicator provides a second alternating current signal to a ground fault trip circuit, in order to trip in response to closure of the second test switch. The indicators provide a visual indication of failure of the arc fault or ground fault trip circuits to trip in response to closure of the first or second test switches, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 20, 2004
    Publication date: January 26, 2006
    Inventors: Robert Elms, Thomas Natili
  • Publication number: 20050073780
    Abstract: Apparatus for protecting a two-line electric power distribution system includes a circuit breaker pole in each line. Each pole includes a fault detector generating a fault signal in response to either an arc fault or a ground fault in the protected line, and a trip unit responsive to the fault signal. Each trip unit includes a trip coil and an SCR connected in series at a node with the trip coil connected to the neutral conductor and the SCR connected to the associated line conductor. A jumper connects the two nodes together directly without electrical isolation so that a fault signal from either detector energizes both trip coils to open both poles in response to an arc fault or a ground fault in either line, even if one of the line conductors is not energized.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 7, 2003
    Publication date: April 7, 2005
    Inventors: Robert Elms, Thomas Natili