Patents by Inventor WILLIAM MICHAEL CROOKS

WILLIAM MICHAEL CROOKS 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: 20240106204
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing (e.g., a housing having a form factor of a molded case circuit breaker) and at least two phase terminals supported by the housing and configured to be connected to respective ones of at least two phase buses in an electrical panelboard. The apparatus further includes at least one fault generation device supported by the housing and including an arc containment chamber and first and second spaced-apart electrodes in the arc containment chamber and electrically coupled to respective ones of the at least two phase terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2023
    Publication date: March 28, 2024
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Joe W. Kirstein, William Michael Crooks
  • Patent number: 11791611
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing (e.g., a housing having a form factor of a molded case circuit breaker) and at least two phase terminals supported by the housing and configured to be connected to respective ones of at least two phase buses in an electrical panelboard. The apparatus further includes at least one fault generation device supported by the housing and including an arc containment chamber and first and second spaced-apart electrodes in the arc containment chamber and electrically coupled to respective ones of the at least two phase terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Joe W. Kirstein, William Michael Crooks
  • Publication number: 20220045484
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing (e.g., a housing having a form factor of a molded case circuit breaker) and at least two phase terminals supported by the housing and configured to be connected to respective ones of at least two phase buses in an electrical panelboard. The apparatus further includes at least one fault generation device supported by the housing and including an arc containment chamber and first and second spaced-apart electrodes in the arc containment chamber and electrically coupled to respective ones of the at least two phase terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Joe W. Kerstein, William Michael Crooks
  • Patent number: 11183817
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing (e.g., a housing having a form factor of a molded case circuit breaker) and at least two phase terminals supported by the housing and configured to be connected to respective ones of at least two phase buses in an electrical panelboard. The apparatus further includes at least one fault generation device supported by the housing and including an arc containment chamber and first and second spaced-apart electrodes in the arc containment chamber and electrically coupled to respective ones of the at least two phase terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Joe W. Kirstein, William Michael Crooks
  • Publication number: 20200373741
    Abstract: An apparatus includes a housing (e.g., a housing having a form factor of a molded case circuit breaker) and at least two phase terminals supported by the housing and configured to be connected to respective ones of at least two phase buses in an electrical panelboard. The apparatus further includes at least one fault generation device supported by the housing and including an arc containment chamber and first and second spaced-apart electrodes in the arc containment chamber and electrically coupled to respective ones of the at least two phase terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 22, 2019
    Publication date: November 26, 2020
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Joe W. Kirstein, William Michael Crooks
  • Patent number: 9548170
    Abstract: A guard assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus of an electrical system. The electrical system includes a number of conductors each having an insulated portion and an exposed portion that meet at a junction. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing and a number of terminals connected to the exposed portion of a conductor. The guard assembly comprises: an interconnect member coupled to the housing; and a number of guard members each comprising: a first portion coupled to the interconnect member, and a second portion extending from the first portion away from the housing, the second portion comprising: a first distal end located at the first portion, and a second distal end opposite and distal from the first distal end. Each of the guard members has an opening. The opening receives a conductor. Each junction is located between a second distal end and a terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Michael Crooks, Charles Bradley Anderson, Michael Paul Puskar, David Michael Olszewski, Javvad Qasimi
  • Publication number: 20160211093
    Abstract: A guard assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus of an electrical system. The electrical system includes a number of conductors each having an insulated portion and an exposed portion that meet at a junction. The electrical switching apparatus includes a housing and a number of terminals connected to the exposed portion of a conductor. The guard assembly comprises: an interconnect member coupled to the housing; and a number of guard members each comprising: a first portion coupled to the interconnect member, and a second portion extending from the first portion away from the housing, the second portion comprising: a first distal end located at the first portion, and a second distal end opposite and distal from the first distal end. Each of the guard members has an opening. The opening receives a conductor. Each junction is located between a second distal end and a terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2015
    Publication date: July 21, 2016
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Michael Crooks, Charles Bradley Anderson, Michael Paul Puskar, David Michael Olszewski, Javvad Qasimi
  • Patent number: 9362723
    Abstract: A support assembly is for an electrical system including an electrical enclosure, an electrical switching apparatus removably disposed in the electrical enclosure, and a plate member coupled to the electrical switching apparatus. The plate member includes a distal portion facing away from the electrical enclosure. The electrical switching apparatus includes an operating handle extending through the distal portion. The support assembly includes a base assembly. The base assembly includes a base. The support assembly further includes a number of brace assemblies each coupled to the base and structured to be coupled to the distal portion of the plate member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Michael Crooks, Donald Ray Hardee
  • Patent number: 9263860
    Abstract: A mounting member for a switchgear assembly is provided. The switchgear assembly includes a mounting element, an electrical switching apparatus having a number of terminals and being coupled to the mounting element, a metering module having a number of terminals and being spaced from the electrical switching apparatus, a number of electrical conductors electrically connecting the terminals of the metering module to the terminals of the electrical switching apparatus, and a support member adjacent the electrical switching apparatus. The mounting member includes a base portion structured to retain the metering module; a number of coupling portions structured to couple the mounting member to the support member; and a number of directing portions, each directing portion being structured to receive a corresponding one of the electrical conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: William Michael Crooks, Dawn S. Florence
  • Publication number: 20150311683
    Abstract: A support assembly is for an electrical system including an electrical enclosure, an electrical switching apparatus removably disposed in the electrical enclosure, and a plate member coupled to the electrical switching apparatus. The plate member includes a distal portion facing away from the electrical enclosure. The electrical switching apparatus includes an operating handle extending through the distal portion. The support assembly includes a base assembly. The base assembly includes a base. The support assembly further includes a number of brace assemblies each coupled to the base and structured to be coupled to the distal portion of the plate member.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Publication date: October 29, 2015
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: WILLIAM MICHAEL CROOKS, DONALD RAY HARDEE
  • Publication number: 20150200525
    Abstract: A mounting member for a switchgear assembly is provided. The switchgear assembly includes a mounting element, an electrical switching apparatus having a number of terminals and being coupled to the mounting element, a metering module having a number of terminals and being spaced from the electrical switching apparatus, a number of electrical conductors electrically connecting the terminals of the metering module to the terminals of the electrical switching apparatus, and a support member adjacent the electrical switching apparatus. The mounting member includes a base portion structured to retain the metering module; a number of coupling portions structured to couple the mounting member to the support member; and a number of directing portions, each directing portion being structured to receive a corresponding one of the electrical conductors.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2014
    Publication date: July 16, 2015
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: WILLIAM MICHAEL CROOKS, Dawn S. Florence