With Contact Biasing, Holding Or Pressure Control Means Patents (Class 335/15)
  • Patent number: 11694856
    Abstract: A high voltage relay resistant to instantaneous high-current impact is disclosed, and includes an electromagnet system, a control system, a contact system, and a base support. In the present solution, an electromagnetic force generated by the contact system is used to resolve a problem of contact separation caused by an electric repulsion force generated by an instantaneous high-current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignees: Xi'an Jiaotong University, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chunping Niu, Yi Wu, Xufeng Kang, Fei Yang, Mingzhe Rong, Guangchao Yan, Qingyin Fang
  • Patent number: 11588316
    Abstract: Disclosed are a circuit with a timing function and a leakage protection plug. An output terminal of a timing chip U2 is connected to an isolating switch U3; the isolating switch U3 is connected to a rectifier module D3; the rectifier module D3 is connected to a circuit breaker X1; a switch tube Q4 and the switch tube Q3 are connected to a resistor R21, and a second switch terminal of the switch tube Q4 is grounded; an output terminal of a zero sequence current transformer is connected to a first input terminal of a microprocessor U1; and an output terminal of the microprocessor U1 is connected to a control terminal of the switch tube Q4. The leakage protection plug of this disclosure has both leakage protection and timing functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Inventor: Juntuo Yang
  • Patent number: 11211219
    Abstract: A multi-level feedback actuator assembly for a circuit breaker assembly includes a rotary solenoid, an electric actuator assembly and a manual actuator assembly. The electric actuator assembly includes a switch assembly with an actuator. The manual actuator assembly includes a number of primary actuators, a linkage assembly, and a cam assembly. The number of primary actuators includes a first actuator with a body. The first actuator body is structured to move over a path having at least a first portion and a second portion. The rotary solenoid is operatively coupled to the linkage assembly. The linkage assembly is further operatively coupled to an operating mechanism crossbar. In this configuration, the linkage assembly is structured to apply at least a first bias and a second bias to the first actuator body. Further, the first bias is noticeably different from said second bias.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Andrew L. Gottschalk, Robert Michael Slepian
  • Patent number: 10460897
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a magnetic trip device for a circuit breaker capable of maintaining fault information indication until a user removes the cause of an accident subsequent to a trip operation and resets the magnetic trip device. The device comprises an actuator coil part having a plunger; an output plate; a micro switch outputting an electrical signal indicating a state of the circuit breaker; a switch driving lever mechanism rotating to press and releasing the micro switch; a driving lever bias spring elastically biasing the switch driving lever mechanism to rotate; an automatic reset mechanism pressing the plunger to a retracted position; and a driving lever latch rotating to a restraining position for preventing the switch driving lever mechanism from rotating to a first position, and a release position allowing the switch driving lever mechanism-to rotate to the first position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: LSIS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyuho Lee
  • Patent number: 9805895
    Abstract: A movable contact assembly for an electrical switching apparatus is provided. The movable contact assembly includes a number of shunts, and, a carriage assembly including two sidewalls and a contact arm assembly. The carriage assembly sidewalls are disposed in a spaced relation. The contact arm assembly includes a plurality of contact arms, a number of isolation members, a number of movable contacts, and an axle. Each contact arm defines an opening, One movable contact is disposed on each contact arm. Each contact arm is rotatably coupled to the axle with the axle extending through the contact arm opening. Each isolation member is disposed adjacent at least one contact arm. Each isolation member is coupled to, and in electrical communication with the adjacent contact arm. The shunts are coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the isolation members. In this configuration, no shunt operatively engages a contact arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, Paul Richard Rakus, Edward A. Prince, William Charles Pollitt
  • Publication number: 20150015349
    Abstract: An electrical contactor has a first terminal having an electrically-conductive fixed member with fixed contacts on opposite faces thereof, and a second terminal having a terminal body and an odd-number of electrically-conductive movable arms extending from the terminal body. Each movable arm has a movable contact thereon remote from the terminal body. The movable arms are arranged to oppose each other such that their movable contacts are on either side of the fixed member and aligned with the fixed contacts. The arrangement of the fixed member and the movable arms is such that, when the contacts close, current flowing through the movable arms produces a force which urges the movable arms towards each other thereby increasing a force between the fixed and movable contacts. The number of movable arms at each side of the fixed member is different.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Richard Anthony Connell
  • Publication number: 20150015348
    Abstract: An electrical contactor has a pair of first terminals and a pair of second terminals. Each first terminal has a fixed member with at least one fixed electrical contact facing the other fixed member. The second terminals having back-to-back electrically-conductive movable arms with an electrically-insulating partitioning element there between. Each second terminal is associated with a different one of the first terminals, and has a movable electrical contact on the associated movable arm which faces the corresponding fixed contact. When the contacts close, contra-flowing current through the back-to-back movable arms produces a repulsive force between the movable arms increasing a force between the fixed and movable contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventor: Richard Anthony Connell
  • Publication number: 20140139301
    Abstract: An auxiliary trip unit for a circuit breaker comprises: a drive part with a movable blade, a latch fitted pivoting around a swivelling axis and designed to secure the blade in a neutral position, against a flexible bias force, until movement of the latch takes place to a released position, a nose of the latch salient in a direction passing through the swivelling axis so as to comprise a salient end where positive latching of the blade on the latch takes place in the neutral position. The latch collaborates with the blade to receive a thrust force acting in the direction of resetting of the latch to its latching position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Publication date: May 22, 2014
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventor: Mickael BERTRAND
  • Publication number: 20140062623
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having a movable contact arm for opening and closing the circuit which is controlled separately by a circuit breaker mechanism for circuit protection and by a switch lever mechanism which does not require actuation of the circuit breaker mechanism to function. The switch lever may be activated by a solenoid or other suitable means, and various interlocking mechanical states exist among the elements that provide added safety features.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2012
    Publication date: March 6, 2014
    Inventor: Michael Fasano
  • Patent number: 8593240
    Abstract: A short-circuit release is disclosed, in particular for a power circuit-breaker, including an armature and a pole, that are located inside of a coil element; and a yoke plate and a terminal connection, which are arranged around the coil element. In at least one embodiment, a coil is wound on the coil element, the two ends of which are weldable on corresponding coil terminals from the same side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bernhard Rösch, Yi Zhu
  • Publication number: 20130307647
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, when a switchgear operating state is shifted from a close state to a cutoff state, a solenoid lever is pushed and rotated by a plunger of an electromagnetic solenoid for cutoff so that the solenoid lever rotates in a direction opposite from the direction of the urging of a solenoid-lever return spring. A trigger roller pin and the solenoid lever become disengaged from each other, an eccentric pin and a trigger lever are rotated by the urging force from a latch leading end become disengaged from each other, whereby a latch lever is rotated by the released energy of a cutoff spring.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2013
    Publication date: November 21, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoshi Marushima, Yoshikata Kobayashi, Yoshiaki Ohda, Masaharu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 8487721
    Abstract: A circuit interruption device includes a conductive element configured to be coupled to a circuit, a contact arm configured to move with respect to the conductive element between a first position and a second position, and a biasing element configured to apply a biasing force on the contact arm to maintain contact between the contact arm and the conductive element when the contact arm is in the first position, wherein the contact arm is configured such that a current flow through the contact arm causes an electromagnetic repulsive force to act on the contact arm in a second direction that is opposite the first direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Praneeth Kumar Madamshetty
  • Publication number: 20130106539
    Abstract: A force amplification module is disclosed for an electrical switching device, in particular a circuit-breaker, that is designed to amplify the release force of a shunt release which is designed to switch off the electrical switching device. A unit including a shunt release and the force amplification module for an electrical switching device is also disclosed, as well as an electrical switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventors: Michael FREIMUTH, Jürgen RENNER
  • Patent number: 8390405
    Abstract: A circuit breaker comprises a latching plate rotatably coupled to a moveable plate, and tensile type latching springs, each latching spring having two ends fixed to the latching plate and the moveable plate, respectively. Time taken for a moveable contact to be lifted up from a contact time point between the moveable contact and a fixed contact may be shortened, and thus a time duration for which an accident current flows may be reduced. Accordingly, the amount of energy applied to the circuit breaker may be reduced, and a breaking function of the circuit breaker may be enhanced. Furthermore, since a contact pressure between the moveable contact and the fixed contact has a constant change, a reliability on a conductive state of the moveable contact and the fixed contact may be enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Pil Shin
  • Publication number: 20130049904
    Abstract: A trip unit includes an actuator and a cylindrical housing container the actuator. The actuator includes a cylindrical pin; a cylindrical closed chamber; a biasing member; a permanent magnet; a coil housing; and a coil supported by the coil housing. The pin is axially movably disposed in the chamber and extends out of the chamber through a sealed opening. The biasing member may comprise a spring, such as a helical spring, and may be configured to bias the pin for an axial movement in a direction out of the chamber. The permanent magnet may at least partly surround the pin during a latched condition of the trip unit. The coil housing may at least partly define the cylindrical closed chamber. In embodiments, an annular gap is provided between the pin and the permanent magnet. Methods associated with the manufacturing trip units are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Eaton Industries (Netherlands) B.V.
    Inventors: Aloysius Hemmer, Ronaldus Niehoff, Stefan Van Vlijmen
  • Publication number: 20130009731
    Abstract: A magnetic actuator includes a coil bobbin that has electrical wire wound around a core. The magnetic actuator also includes a plunger located in a central portion of the magnetic actuator and configured to move within a bore located in the central portion, and at least one spring located adjacent the central portion. When electrical current is provided to the electrical wire, an electromagnetic field causes the plunger to move from a first position to a second position, and stored energy associated with the spring aids in moving the plunger to the second position. The magnetic actuator further includes a linking portion coupled to the plunger, wherein the linking portion is configured to initiate an action based on movement of the plunger.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 10, 2013
    Applicant: Thomas & Betts International, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Fong, Geoffrey Reed
  • Patent number: 8324992
    Abstract: An electromagnetic contactor includes a fixed core into which a bobbin of an electromagnetic coil is inserted and fitted, a movable core, a movable insulating base, a retracting spring, a fixed insulating base, and a supporting mechanism. The supporting mechanism is inserted into a through-hole formed in a thickness direction of the fixed core, and is configured in such a manner that a buffer spring is arranged between both ends of a supporting member that is arranged so as to protrude from the through-hole and a lower surface of the coil bobbin. An elastic member is provided between the fixed insulating base and a lower surface of the fixed core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Industrial Equipment Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Kurashige, Takashi Sato, Katsuhiko Shiraishi
  • Publication number: 20120268223
    Abstract: A magnetic actuator unit is disclosed for a circuit-breaker arrangement, having an armature arranged to be movable between first and second, closed and opened end switching positions of the circuit-breaker, a single electrical coil for moving the armature to the second position due to electrical current feed, a permanent magnet for loading the armature in the direction of the second position, an outer ferromagnetic yoke at least partly surrounding the single electrical coil and the ferromagnetic core for directing magnetic flux to the armature, and an opening spring for permanent loading of the armature in the direction of the first position, which is coaxially arranged between the armature and the front side of the electrical coil. The opening spring can be at least partly accommodated inside an armature groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2012
    Publication date: October 25, 2012
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Christian Reuber
  • Patent number: 8264306
    Abstract: A movable contactor assembly for a current limiting type MCCB comprising: a terminal base; a plurality of movable contactors having a cam surface portion; a pair of holder plates supporting the movable contactors; a plurality of first springs providing an elastic force to the movable contactors; a plurality of extending plate portions provided to face the side of one end portion of each of the movable contactors so as to be electrically connected with the movable contactors; a plurality of flexible wire plates electrically connecting the movable contactors and the terminal base and having a portion bendable toward the movable contactors or toward the extending plate portions; and a second spring providing an elastic force to the flexible wire plates so as to be tightly attached to the movable contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki Ho Baek
  • Patent number: 8138862
    Abstract: An installation switching device having at least one pole current path comprises two stationary contact pieces; a moving contact bridge including two moving contact pieces forming a double-break pole with the two stationary contact pieces; a contact pressure spring exerting a pressure on the moving contact bridge in a closing direction of the moving contact bridge; a pusher configured to act on the moving contact bridge counter to the pressure of the contact pressure spring in an opening direction, the pusher including a slide and a striking pin disposed moveably relative to the moving contact bridge and to one another in a movement direction of the moving contact bridge; a switch latch having a latching point; an operating lever configured to act on the pusher; and an electromagnetic release having an impact armature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Ralf Mueller, Frank Hustert, Hans-Peter Weyand
  • Patent number: 8134428
    Abstract: A circuit breaker and method includes a mechanical pole moveable between a latched position and an unlatched position to open an electrical connection between a pair of electrical contacts. An electronic tripping device is configured to respond to a sensor signal. The sensor signal is output from a condition sensor wherein upon receiving the sensor signal the electronic tripping device trips the mechanical pole into the unlatched position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Russell T. Watford, Kevin Miller
  • Publication number: 20110193660
    Abstract: A movable contactor assembly for a current limiting type MCCB comprising: a terminal base fixedly installed on a case; a plurality of movable contactors having a cam face portion; a pair of holder plates supporting the movable contactors at both sides thereof; a plurality of first springs providing an elastic force to the movable contactors; a plurality of extending plate portions provided to face the side of one end portion of each of the movable contactors; a plurality of flexible wire plates electrically connecting the movable contactors and the terminal base and having a portion bendable toward the movable contactors or toward the extending plate portions; and a second spring providing an elastic force to the flexible wire plates so as to be tightly attached to the movable contactor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Inventor: Ki Ho BAEK
  • Patent number: 7986203
    Abstract: A multi-pole circuit breaker and method include at least two breaker modules including circuit breakers therein. The circuit breakers include a moveable arm configured to connect and disconnect contacts therein. The at least two modules including armatures connectable to the moveable arms of each of the at least two modules. A center module connects the at least two modules. The center module includes an actuator and a beam connected to the actuator at a mid-portion. The beam connects to each armature of the at least two modules wherein under a trip condition the actuator displaces the beam to simultaneously trip the at least two modules using the armatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventor: Russell T. Watford
  • Patent number: 7978032
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for protecting a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) from being faultily reset. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism has a blocking member secured onto a lateral side of the movable assembly, a resilient member, and a locking member having a first end portion positioned against the resilient member, a second end portion positioned in relation to the blocking member, and a body portion defined between the first end portion and the second end portion. When the movable assembly is in a first (tripping) position, the expanding force of the resilient member applied to the first end portion of the locking member causes the second end portion of the locking member to be positioned against the blocking member so that no movement of the movable assembly from the first position to a second (resetting) position is allowed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: General Protecht Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Wusheng Chen, Fu Wang, Huaiyin Song
  • Patent number: 7920365
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a housing having a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of user-accessible terminals accessible via apertures disposed in a front major surface of the housing. A fault detection assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the fault detection assembly. The circuit interrupter includes a first set of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the plurality of user-accessible terminals in a reset state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2011
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Weeks, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7777601
    Abstract: A movable contacting device in a circuit breaker comprises: a crossbar linked with the opening/closing mechanism and carried so as to pivot cooperatively with the opening/closing mechanism; a movable contact arm engaged, so as to cooperational with the crossbar, with a shaft fitted into a mutually opposing recesses in the crossbar; and a movable contact arm support fixed to the case accomodating the opening/closing mechanism and having mutually opposing through-holes through which the shaft is passed; and the movable contact being configured so that the movable contact slides between surfaces of movable contact arm support having the mutually opposing through-holes; and the construction of a single-pole portion of the movable contact arm is constituted by arranging in parallel two movable contact arm members each having a movable contact at one end, and in a shaft-supporting portion at the other end, an elastic member is sandwiched between the two movable contact arm members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 17, 2010
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kakisako, Hitoshi Ito, Kozo Maeta, Masanori Kawamura, Shigeki Koumoto
  • Publication number: 20100073113
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a trip unit and an electronic fault detection unit sharing a common trip latch for causing the circuit breaker to trip upon detection of a fault by either unit. The circuit breaker has an electromagnet for causing the circuit breaker to trip upon detection of a fault by an electronic fault detection unit. The electromagnet is oriented in the housing proximal the trip latch without any components interposed between them, and directly attracts the latch. Advantageously the electromagnet orientation does not impact operation or the range of motion of the latch or other trip unit components. Advantageously the circuit breaker of the present invention does not increase the trip latch mass, its bulk swept volume through its range of motion or require additional linkage components that potentially might increase trip cycle time. In some embodiments the electromagnet core is reciprocable.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Publication date: March 25, 2010
    Applicant: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Guang Yang, John Quentin Cowans
  • Patent number: 7646270
    Abstract: A spring assembly is provided for a yoke assembly of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft. The yoke assembly is coupled to the pole shaft and is movable among first and second positions corresponding to the separable contacts being closed and open, respectively. The spring assembly includes a number of first springs having a first spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly, and a number of second springs having a second spring rate and being coupled to the yoke assembly. The second spring rate is different than the first spring rate. The number of first springs and the number of second springs bias the yoke assembly toward the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Yuri Spitsberg, Robert M. Slepian, Perry R. Gibson, David A. Parks, Douglas C. Marks, Paul R. Rakus, Nathan J. Weister, Henry A. Wehrli, III
  • Patent number: 7642480
    Abstract: In order to reduce the breaking energy of a high-voltage or medium-voltage circuit-breaker, the interrupting chamber (10) contains two contacts (12, 14) mounted to move in opposite directions, and actuated via a single device (20). The two contacts (12, 14) are surrounded by an insulating casing (18) of tubular shape, coupled in fixed manner to the main contact (12). The contacts (12, 14) are actuated by a device having a lever (24) in which each lever arm is coupled to a link, one of the links (32) being secured to the insulating casing (18) and the other link (34) being secured to the second contact (14). The guiding of the drive tube (18) on the main contacts (12b, 14b) makes it possible to improve breaking by keeping clean gas between said main contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Areva T&D SA
    Inventors: Joel Ozil, Christophe Creusot, Jean-Luc Bourgeois, Yannick Kieffel
  • Publication number: 20090315652
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for protecting a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) from being faultily reset. In one embodiment, the locking mechanism has a blocking member secured onto a lateral side of the movable assembly, a resilient member, and a locking member having a first end portion positioned against the resilient member, a second end portion positioned in relation to the blocking member, and a body portion defined between the first end portion and the second end portion. When the movable assembly is in a first (tripping) position, the expanding force of the resilient member applied to the first end portion of the locking member causes the second end portion of the locking member to be positioned against the blocking member so that no movement of the movable assembly from the first position to a second (resetting) position is allowed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 24, 2009
    Applicant: General Protecht Group, Inc.
    Inventors: Wusheng Chen, Fu Wang, Huaiyin Song
  • Patent number: 7623010
    Abstract: An electrical switch for connecting and breaking a circuit including a connecting and breaking mechanism for connecting and breaking the circuit provided with at least a set of movable contacts and stationary contacts; a electromagnetism drive mechanism for controlling the contacts to be actuated so as to realize closed circuit; a housing for accommodating the movable contact and stationary contact; an arc-extinguishing mechanism disposed in the housing and corresponded to the movable and stationary contact; a case connected to a base for accommodating the electromagnetism drive mechanism; a bedplate associated with the case; and a holding mechanism disposed on the bedplate for holding the contacts to connect the circuit, the electromagnetic holding mechanism is electromagnetic and has a set of electromagnetic attracting mechanism in which the movable iron core is made to be a pothook or a baffle mechanism, the movable iron core is attracted so that the pothook or baffle keeps the switch closed by means of hi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Inventor: Ping Liu
  • Patent number: 7554781
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a fault detection assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals. The fault detection circuit is configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The circuit interrupter includes a first set of contacts, the first set of contacts being configured to close to establish at least one electrically continuous path between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in a reset state. The first set of contacts are also configured to open to disconnect the at least one electrically continuous path in response to the fault detection output to enter a tripped state. An auxiliary switch is coupled to the fault detection assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Weeks, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20090128265
    Abstract: A mechanism for a circuit breaker contact arm that allows current limiting by reducing the opening time is disclosed. A secondary trip assembly is arranged to actuate due to magnetic forces generated during an undesirable electrical condition such as a short circuit. The secondary trip system releases a contact arm assembly allowing the contact arm to rotate to an open position that interrupts the flow of electrical power.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sapuram Sudhakar, Deepak Raorane, Arvind Pai, Kapil Bavikar
  • Patent number: 7518074
    Abstract: A pivot assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, including a housing having a molded cover and a molded base, a stationary contact assembly with stationary electrical contacts, and a movable contact assembly. The movable contact assembly includes at least one carrier assembly with a pivot, movable contact arms pivotably coupled to the carrier assembly, and movable electrical contacts coupled to the movable contact arms. The pivot assembly includes pivot members. Each pivot member includes an aperture for pivotably receiving the pivot of the carrier assembly in order that the carrier assembly is pivotably coupled between a corresponding pair of pivot members. Each pivot member is a separate independent component disposed between the molded cover and molded base of the circuit breaker housing. An electrical switching apparatus and a carrier assembly are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, Paul R. Rakus
  • Publication number: 20090091407
    Abstract: A mechanism for a circuit breaker contact arm that allows current limiting by reducing the opening time is disclosed. A contact arm is coupled to a contact arm mechanism that includes a carrier coupled to a first pair of linkages. A second pair of linkages is coupled to the first pair of linkages. A second carrier coupled to the second pair of linkages attaches to the contact arm mechanism to a main circuit breaker mechanism through a lay shaft assembly. Upon the occurrence of an undesired electrical condition, the contact arm mechanism moves from a locked to an open position allowing the contact arm to blow open.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2007
    Publication date: April 9, 2009
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Sapuram Sudhakar, Deepak Raorane, Arvind Pai, Kapil Bavikar
  • Patent number: 7474179
    Abstract: A contact spring assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a movable contact assembly and a stationary contact assembly having stationary electrical contacts. The movable contact assembly includes a carrier assembly, and movable contact arms pivotably coupled to the carrier assembly and carrying movable electrical contacts. The contact spring assembly includes a first contact spring housing member, a second contact spring housing member coupled to and disposed opposite from the first contact spring housing member, a spring guide disposed between and coupled to at least one of the first and second contact spring housing members and including spring holes, springs received in the spring holes, and sliders coupled to the springs. The springs and sliders individually bias the movable contact arms and movable electrical contacts toward engagement with corresponding stationary electrical contacts. A movable contact assembly and an electrical switching apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corportion
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, John J. Shea, Douglas C. Marks
  • Publication number: 20080211607
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter device is described.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Publication date: September 4, 2008
    Applicant: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Gregory G. Moreinis, Gunter A. Gallas
  • Patent number: 7420446
    Abstract: The circuit breaker of this invention comprises a pair of stationary contactors 2, 3 which are respectively provided with stationary contacts 2a, 3a, a movable contactor 4 which includes a pair of movable contacts 4a and which is capable of bridging both the stationary contactors, a switching mechanism section 10 which operates when an overcurrent has flowed through the stationary contactors, a crossbar 5 which separates the movable contactor from the stationary contactors upon the operation of the switching mechanism section, a contact pressure spring 7 which is engaged with the crossbar at one end and with substantially the central part of the movable contactor at the other end and which urges the movable contactor toward the stationary contactors, and arc extinction chambers 8 which are respectively disposed near both the end parts of the movable contactor and which extinguish an arc struck at the separation of the movable contactor from the stationary contactors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Masahiro Fushimi, Susumu Takahashi, Kazumasa Watanabe
  • Publication number: 20080088395
    Abstract: A movable contactor of a circuit breaker, comprising: a cage for angularly rotating with one side as a axis; a plurality of fingers disposed at the cage, including a path body portion having a predetermined thickness and having one end of an inclined plane, a wire connecting portion extending from one end of the path body portion with steps so as to have a certain area and having one horizontal plane, and an arc discharge portion extending from another end of the path body portion with a predetermined length so as to induce the discharge of the arc; and terminals each coupled to each of the fingers and for contacting or being separated from a fixed contactor according to the angular-rotation of the cage. Accordingly, the fabrication process for fingers is facilitated and the material cost necessary to fabricate the fingers can be reduced, thereby reducing the fabrication cost.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 11, 2007
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Applicant: LS INDUSTRIAL SYSTEMS CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jae-Kwan SEO
  • Publication number: 20080088394
    Abstract: A contact spring assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a movable contact assembly and a stationary contact assembly having stationary electrical contacts. The movable contact assembly includes a carrier assembly, and movable contact arms pivotably coupled to the carrier assembly and carrying movable electrical contacts. The contact spring assembly includes a first contact spring housing member, a second contact spring housing member coupled to and disposed opposite from the first contact spring housing member, a spring guide disposed between and coupled to at least one of the first and second contact spring housing members and including spring holes, springs received in the spring holes, and sliders coupled to the springs. The springs and sliders individually bias the movable contact arms and movable electrical contacts toward engagement with corresponding stationary electrical contacts. A movable contact assembly and an electrical switching apparatus are also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 13, 2006
    Publication date: April 17, 2008
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, William C. Pollitt, John J. Shea, Douglas C. Marks
  • Patent number: 7215228
    Abstract: A circuit interrupting device has a circuit interrupter with a stationary contact and a moveable contact. The movable contact is movable relative to the stationary contact between a closed position that allows current to pass through the circuit interrupter and an open position separating the contacts and preventing current from passing through the circuit interrupter. The movable contact is controlled by a solenoid assembly. The movable contact is connected to a plunger of the solenoid assembly by a turnbuckle and weld break assembly. The turnbuckle and weld break assembly permits adjusting the contact wipe distance and generates a hammer force to break any welds between the contacts of the vacuum interrupter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2007
    Assignee: Hubbell Incorporated
    Inventor: David A. Rhein
  • Patent number: 7030722
    Abstract: A high-temperature shutdown protecting relay comprises a base; a L copper pin and a N copper pin are provided on the base with resting contacts provided at their bottoms respectively; stretchy copper blades are provided on the base, which are fit to the L copper pin and the N copper pin respectively, with movable contacts provided thereon, which are fit to said resting contacts; a stand is provided on the base and above the stretchy copper blades; grooves are provided on the lower side of the stand with ceramic rods for insulating the stand from the stretchy copper blades embedded therein. The high-temperature shutdown protecting relay provided by the present utility model can keep normal operating property under high temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2006
    Inventors: Fang Yu, Jianhua Han, Yinxiang Wang
  • Patent number: 6958895
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device including a housing assembly including at least one receptacle, the at least one receptacle being configured to receive plug contact blades inserted therein. The housing assembly includes a hot line terminal, a neutral line terminal, a hot load terminal, a neutral load terminal, a hot user-accessible receptacle contact, and a neutral user accessible receptacle contact. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the hot line terminal and the neutral line terminal. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault condition and provide a fault detect signal in response thereto. An interrupting contact assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. A weld breaker mechanism is coupled to the interrupting contact assembly. The weld breaker mechanism is configured to strike the first pair of contacts and/or the second pair of contacts in response to the tripping stimulus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2005
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Dejan Radosavljevic, Gerald R. Savicki, Jr., Richard Weeks
  • Patent number: 6456176
    Abstract: In a circuit breaker, bag-like insulating covers 15 are formed integrally with each holder support 14. The holder support 14 is combined with a movable contact holder 13 for holding a movable contact 4, so as to press and retain the movable contact 4 by a contact spring 5. A pair of leg portions of a magnetic drive yoke 6 are inserted into each of the insulating covers 15. Thus, the magnetic drive yokes 6 are covered with the insulating covers 15 so that there is no risk of an interphase short-circuit. In addition, the magnetic drive yokes 6 are unitized with a movable contact mechanism so that the work of assembling the circuit breaker becomes easy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takumi Fujihira, Naoshi Uchida, Koji Asakawa, Tatsunori Takahashi, Katsunori Kuboyama
  • Patent number: 6150909
    Abstract: An electromagnetic switchgear unit has an electromagnetic drive appliance which acts as an auxiliary magnet system and by means of which the contact force is first increased on the occurrence of a short-circuit current, before the contacts are abruptly torn apart. For this purpose, the drive appliance actuates a lever rotatably supported on the contact bridge carrier, which lever displaces the contact bridge carrier and, by this means, compresses a contact compression spring and a further compression spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Markus Meier
  • Patent number: 6005206
    Abstract: The contact fingers of electrical switching apparatus have radial convex surfaces centered on the pivot pins which seat on concave surfaces in the molded contact carrier to transmit bending loads on the pin into the carrier. A seal member which snaps onto the end of the pivot pin has fins which extend between the contact fingers to block flow of arcing gases through the carrier. For lower current ratings, some of the contact fingers are replaced by annular spacers which also transmit bending moments into the carrier and restrict gas flow. A stop ledge on the carrier against which the contact springs bias the contact fingers has a recess which allows the center fingers to project farther toward the stationary contacts so that the arc toes on these fingers are the last to separate on opening and the arc is concentrated on them.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Paul Richard Rakus, Glen Charles Sisson, Perry Robert Gibson, Keith Lynn Mayhood
  • Patent number: 5986528
    Abstract: An electrical switching device prevents moving contacts from welding to stationary contacts in a switching device. This is achieved using an auxiliary magnet system in the main current path, which system produces a contact pressure force corresponding to the excitation current so that no arcs are produce between the contacts when overcurrents and short-circuit currents occur. The moving iron core of the auxiliary magnet system is for this purpose connected to the contact link mounting via which the contacts are switched on and off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Markus Meier, Bardo Koppmann
  • Patent number: 5793121
    Abstract: A low resistance current interrupter for detecting the occurrence of an unsafe condition and terminating power to an electrical circuit. The current interrupter comprises two in-line connectors having a gap formed therebetween. An electrically conductive pin is disposed in the gap for movement between a first, extended position, wherein the pin bridges the gap to establish electrical contact between the connectors, to a second, retracted position wherein electrical contact is broken. The device further includes means for sensing the occurrence of an unsafe condition and generating a signal indicative thereof, and an electromechanical means such as a solenoid which, upon receiving said electrical signal, is activated and causes the pin to move to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 11, 1998
    Assignee: Electro Mechanical Products, Inc.
    Inventor: James P. Burgess
  • Patent number: 5680084
    Abstract: A sealed contact device includes a sealed contact section having a sealed container defining therein a gas-tight space together with a bellows for housing therein electrodes and sealing therein a gas preferably consisting mainly of hydrogen, the electrodes including fixed electrodes and movable electrodes engageable with and separable from the fixed electrodes, a contact pressure spring biasing the movable electrodes in engaging direction with respect to the fixed electrodes, a resetting spring biasing the movable electrodes in separating direction from the fixed electrodes, and a movable shaft projected at an end out of the sealed container and coupled at the other end to the movable electrodes; a driving member providing at a movable part a drive force for driving the movable shaft in the direction of engaging the electrodes; and a relaying member interposed between the movable shaft of the sealed contact section and the movable part of the driving member and having a regulating element for regulating drivi
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 21, 1997
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Works, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideki Kishi, Takehiko Toguchi, Takaaki Chuzawa, Riichi Uotome
  • Patent number: 5574316
    Abstract: A vehicle battery disabling apparatus for disconnecting a battery of a vehicle including a solenoid having a retracted orientation when electrically energized and an extended orientation when de-energized; a first switch mechanism coupleable between an electrical system of the vehicle and its battery and further engaged with the solenoid and having a first orientation when the solenoid is de-energized for allowing electrical energy to be delivered from the battery to the electrical system and a second orientation when the solenoid is energized for preventing such delivery; a spring-loaded plunger having a biased and extended orientation when impact pressure is applied thereto and an unbiased and retracted orientation when no impact pressure is applied; and a second switch mechanism coupled to the solenoid and further positioned in juxtaposed relation to the plunger and having an activated orientation when the plunger is momentarily abutted thereagainst in its biased and extended orientation for energizing the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1995
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Inventor: Emil W. Nieschulz