Abstract: A switchable thermal circuit breaker (10) has an automatically resettable, current carrying thermostatic disc (14) cantilever mounted in a housing (12) and carries a movable contact (14b) into and out of electrical engagement with a stationary contact (14c). A disc coupling member (16) is pivotally mounted above the disc and has fingers (16e, 16f) to capture opposed sides of the disc so that the disc coupling member pivots concomitantly with movement of the disc. A radially extending blade (18c) of a pivot member is biased by a spring (18k) into engagement with a stop surface (16k) of the disc coupling member when the contacts are in the engaged position and is movable under the stop arm (16g) when the disc moves to the contacts disengaged position to prevent reengagement of the contacts.

Abstract: A thermally compensated circuit breaker has a movable contact assembly (24) which mounts a movable electrical contact (24m) for movement between open and closed contacts positions with a stationary electrical contact (26). The contacts are maintained in the closed circuits position by a latching mechanism (24b, 28g) which prevents opening of the contacts through an opening contacts force provided by a spring (24e). A current carrying trip arm (40a, 44a) deflects upon sufficient I2R heating to transfer motion to the latch to separate the latch (24b) from the latch receiving catch (28g) to trip the circuit breaker. The trip arm (40a, 44a) is part of a pivotably mounted actuator assembly (40, 44) having a movable end portion spaced from the pivot disposed adjacent a motion transfer member (28c). A calibration screw (42a) is located so that the longitudinal axis is in line with a movable end portion of the actuator assembly and the motion transfer member.

Abstract: A method, and corresponding system to implement the method, for managing access to concurrent software licenses at a licensee facility includes the steps of (i) determining whether a user has a valid software license to run a software application using a license management system (or a license server); and (ii) permitting a recognized user to run the software application (optionally with a punishment) if the license server is inaccessible. The permitting step can be performed only if the user has previously been authorized with a license management system. The punishment can be, for example, a time delay imposed between when the user attempts to run the software application and when the recognized user is permitted to run the software application. The time delay can be stored on a local workstation used by the user, as for example, an encrypted code key in a register of the local workstation.

Abstract: An electric circuit breaker (10) has a toggle mechanism (18) having two movable over center joints (3, 4) connected between a push-button (16) and a movable contact mechanism (30). When the push-button is depressed a first link rotates bringing the first movable over center joint (3) across a center position represented by a first imaginary straight line (1) to a stop surface (28). A spring member (36) provides a bias which acts on the second movable over center joint (4) normally maintaining the second movable joint against the stop surface so that with the two movable over center joints biased against the stop surface the movable contact mechanism is moved to a closed contact position when the push-button is depressed.

Abstract: A switching element (40, 40′) for use in a snap-acting electrical switch (10) has a pair of outer legs (40a, 40b; 40a′, 40b′) and a center leg (40c) extending in substantially the same direction from a junction portion. The outer legs have a semi-annular band portion which blend together at the junction portion and a center leg at one end of the band portion. A mounting portion extends from the other end of the semi-annular band portion and is provided with mounting apertures (40k, 40l) for placement on mounting posts (18, 20) in a warped, stressed condition. A strengthening portion (40n, 40r) is formed in each semi-annular band portion, preferably along the outer portion thereof, i.e., the outer portion being away from the junction portion. An electrical contact (32) is mounted on the distal free end of the center leg for snap-movement between a pair of stationary electrical contacts (28b, 30b).