Patents by Inventor Vincent P. Acampora

Vincent P. Acampora 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: 5617946
    Abstract: A push-button switch includes a base, a cover and a button subassembly. The button subassembly attaches to the underside of and extends through an opening of the cover. The cover includes tabs that extend from each side with a locking element further extending from an inner surface of each tab that engages slots in the base to hold the base and cover together. The switch can include different length fixed contacts and rivets in place of contact pads. The contacts can include the fixed contacts extending in parallel horizontal planes and the same or spaced transverse planes. The switch can also employ a pivot arm and an adjustable member to control the gap between the fixed contacts and moveable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 1995
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1997
    Assignee: C & K Components, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent P. Acampora, William J. Vumback
  • Patent number: 4211989
    Abstract: An actuating arm, coupled with the breaker contacts, is pivotally mounted to an accessory latch normally constrained from pivotal movement by a latch lever. Upon automatic tripping of the breaker, the actuating arm is swung about its pivotal mounting to a breaker lockout position, incidentally releasing an operating lever for movement from a de-actuating position to a bell alarm switch actuating position. Unlatching of the latch by the latch lever allows the actuating arm to swing about the latch pivot to a defeat position, removing the breaker lockout and returning the switch operating lever to its de-actuating position. The accessory latch is relatched, via the actuating arm, coincidentally with closure of the breaker contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 8, 1980
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Vincent P. Acampora
  • Patent number: 4167988
    Abstract: A ratchet wheel is advanced by an oscillating driving pawl in conjunction with a holding pawl to charge circuit breaker mechanism closing springs. A latch operates in response to the initial lifting of the holding pawl as the ratchet wheel is rapidly advanced by the closing springs to detain the holding pawl in an inoperative position while the closing springs discharge. Lifting of the driving pawl by the advancing ratchet wheel leaves the driving pawl in an inoperative position by virtue of a unique slip clutch coupling between it and its driving motor. The latch releases the holding pawl for return to its operative position automatically during the initial oscillation of the driving pawl to start a new charging cycle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1979
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Vincent P. Acampora, James I. Smith
  • Patent number: 4001739
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an operating mechanism having powerful mechanism springs to achieve the requisite contact pressure for high current carrying capacity. A rotary handle resets the operating mechanism via a reciprocating slide and latching mechanism, while loading the mechanism springs. Return of the handle to its original position achieves rapid closure of the circuit breaker contacts. The circuit breaker is equipped with a trip solenoid and an accessory which includes a bell alarm switch and a breaker lockout operating automatically in response to tripping of the circuit breaker by the trip solenoid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1975
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1977
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: David B. Powell, Vincent P. Acampora