With Positive Lock (against Movement) Patents (Class 335/168)
  • Patent number: 10994717
    Abstract: In a solenoid valve for a hydraulic braking system, a valve body has a receiving region which at least partially accommodates a guide assembly, the valve armature running axially through at least one through-opening of the guide assembly. A mechanical detent device is formed between the guide assembly and the valve armature, the detent device releasing the valve armature when the latter is in a de-energised closed position, such that the restoring spring drives the valve armature and pushes the closing element sealingly into the valve seat to produce a sealing function, and said detent device fixes the valve armature in a de-energised open position against the force of the restoring spring in an axial detent position, such that the closing element is raised from the valve seat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolf Stahr, Massimiliano Ambrosi, Michael Eisenlauer, Edgar Kurz, Dietmar Kratzer
  • Patent number: 10892114
    Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure can include an inertial short-circuit and seismic hook for an electrical equipment disconnect switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Riyad Kechroud, Clement Rollier, Pascal Babin
  • Patent number: 9799463
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an automatic control device for a padlock which enables automatic control of the padlock connected to a circuit breaker installed in a distribution board of semiconductor or LCD equipment. In the present invention, a pair of cylinders, which can supply and cut off electric power to and from a load terminal, is directly installed on top of the circuit breaker installed in the distribution board, so that a switch of the circuit breaker is turned on/off as the pair of cylinders selectively operates according to an external control signal. As a result, it is unnecessary to separately install the padlock for switching on/off the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignee: METIS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Heung-Ryol Yoo, Chung-Yeop Sin, Cheol-Ho Jeong, Byung-Rae Hyung
  • Patent number: 9437375
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay assembly includes a switching unit to push a sliding member and to place a locking portion of a locking member to lock the sliding member at a first position where the switching unit switches a first conductive plate and a second conductive plate to an electrically disconnected state. When a coil is energized, the sliding member is moved to a second position, and the locking portion of the locking member is placed to lock the sliding member in the second position where the switching unit is actuated by the sliding member to switch the first and second conductive plates to an electrically connected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Excel Cell Electronic Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ming-Chang Kuo
  • Patent number: 8975990
    Abstract: An switching mechanism is disclosed for an electrical switching device. In at least one embodiment, the switching mechanism is for a low-voltage circuit-breaker. Further, an electrical switching device is disclosed, in particular a low-voltage circuit-breaker, with a switching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Ludvik Godesa
  • Patent number: 8736406
    Abstract: A latch for a washing machine or other appliance provides two interengaging elements on a lid and housing each having a magnet oriented for mutual repulsion. Proper repulsion of the magnets is necessary to signal that the lid is properly closed such as may be used to determine if the appliance may be locked and safely operated, for example, in a clothes spinning mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventors: Kenyon A Hapke, Joel C Bragg, Michael K Hintz, Randy S McDonald, Mark R Heckenkamp, Jonathan H Olson, Adrian J. Tengler, Jarod M Sulik
  • Patent number: 8471654
    Abstract: A flux shifter for a circuit protection device including a trip mechanism includes a trip arm and a pin assembly. The pin assembly includes a pin, a biasing member positioned proximate to the pin, and a latch coupled to the pin and to the biasing member. The pin assembly is configured to enable the trip arm to rotate into an engagement with the trip mechanism when the flux shifter enters a trip state and to prevent the trip arm from rotating into the engagement with the trip mechanism when the flux shifter is in one of an operational state and a reset state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Umashankar Shanmugaraj, Lars Pommerencke, Amit Bose
  • Patent number: 8258901
    Abstract: An energy-saving electromagnetic switching device in the present invention includes a housing, and an electromagnetic assembly and a movable magnetic pole within the housing. The movable magnetic pole connects a resilience means which engages with the movable magnetic pole to control the electromagnetic switching device switched on and off. At least one locking assembly is set between the movable magnetic pole and the housing, via which the electromagnetic switching device can automatically and repeatably change from an on-state to an off-state if the electromagnetic assembly is momentarily energized. The electromagnetic switching device is energy-saved, has higher automatization degree, simple operation, and lower cost.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Inventor: Chungtai Hao
  • Patent number: 8183962
    Abstract: A leakage protective plug comprises a case and electric contacts. A protective cap is fixed on the top of the case and includes a reset button protective cap and a test button protective cap. The reset button protective cap is interiorly provided with a reset button connected with a push rod which in order penetrates an electric contact upper panel, an upper spring, an electric contact lower panel and a lower spring. The electric contact upper panel is provided at a right side thereof with a locking member linked with a brake connecting rod which is linked with a brake plate. The brake plate is located at a lower right side of the locking member. Below the brake plate are disposed an electromagnet pole shoe, an electromagnet coil, and an electromagnet core. The test button protective cap is provided with a test button having a test electric contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventors: Keqing Zhang, Junxin Li
  • Patent number: 8143980
    Abstract: A switching device, for example a circuit breaker, has an input terminal and an output terminal for connection to electrical conductors, and two switching contacts which, when closed, close a current path between the input terminal and the output terminal. A disconnect device is provided for disconnecting the two switching contacts. For triggering the disconnect device, an overcurrent trigger device and/or a short-circuit trigger device are in mechanical operative connection with the disconnect device by way of a reversing lever. The reversing lever includes a first lever arm with a trigger extension that can be actuated by the overcurrent trigger device and/or by the short-circuit trigger device, and a second lever arm with an actuating extension for triggering the disconnect device. To ensure safe operation, the actuating extension is configured to be resiliently compliant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2012
    Assignee: MOELLER Gebäudeautomation GmbH
    Inventor: Adolf Tetik
  • Patent number: 8138861
    Abstract: A catch assembly coupled to the operating mechanism of the ATS is provided. The catch assembly is structured to arrest movement within the operating mechanism when the operating mechanism moves at more than the speed for which it was designed. That is, the catch assembly does not engage when the operating mechanism is stationary, or moving at a standard speed, i.e. the speed at which the operating mechanism was intended to move. When there is a strong over-current, such as during a withstand test, a magnetic field causes a movable contact to separate from a fixed contact assembly which, in turn, causes the operating mechanism to move at a speed that is faster than the standard speed. The catch assembly is structured to engage and arrest the motion of the operating mechanism when the operating mechanism moves at a speed that is faster than the standard speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James William Krieger, Paul Alan Merck, Robert Michael Slepian, Amelia Marie Stay
  • 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: 7817001
    Abstract: In actuating devices such as, e.g., multifunctional actuators, it is necessary in many cases to block at least one specific direction of movement. A simple and reliably operating device is proposed for this purpose, which uses an electromagnet to bring a ball from a rest position into a blocking position. In the blocking position, the ball mechanically blocks the relative movement between two parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2010
    Assignee: Preh GmbH
    Inventor: Andreas Kramlich
  • Patent number: 7268654
    Abstract: A latching mechanism for a movable member mounted for movement between first and second positions. The latching mechanism includes a primary latching mechanism mounted for movement between a latched position where the primary latching mechanism engages the movable member to allow the movable member to move between the first and second positions, and an unlatched position where the movable member is disengaged for movement to the second position. A secondary latching element engages the first latching mechanism to hold the primary latching mechanism in the latched position, the secondary latching element being movable to move the primary latching mechanism to the unlatched position while remaining in engagement with the primary latching mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2007
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Jeremy D. Dorn, Jeffrey M. Kaufman, Kenneth L. Winter, Cameron L. Woodson, Chad R. Mittelstadt
  • Patent number: 6677842
    Abstract: A load-disconnecting switch has a permanent-magnetic holding circuit. A coil (5), upon excitation thereof, generates a magnetic flux that is opposite to the magnetic flux of the permanent magnet (9). The armature (6) is biassed to an open position by an armature spring (10), so that the armature spring (10), when a defined operational excitation is exceeded, detaches the armature (6) from the core (7) of the magnet system, allowing said armature to open and thereby disconnecting a switching contact (15) and a fixed contact (16). The load-disconnecting switch can be switched on again by means of a spring clip (12) acting on said armature (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Logistics AG
    Inventors: Martin Hanke, Bernd Saffian, Thomas Hähnel, Rainer Vogel, Karsten Pietsch
  • Patent number: 6628185
    Abstract: A circuit breaker for interrupting the flow of current upon the detection of excess current or temperature is provided that has a current conducting blade mounted on a blade cross bar, which has a blade biasing spring for urging the blade to a first pivotal position on the blade cross bar during the open, closed, and tripped operation of the breaker, and for latching the blade in a second pivotal position on the blade cross bar upon the occurrence of a blown-open action of the breaker. The spring is a torsion spring that is coiled around a spring mounting pin, having a first end leg extending outwardly and formed into a hook anchored in a hook accommodating opening, and having a second end leg extending outwardly and cantilevered in contact with a spring follower pin. The second end of this leg is bent away from the spring follower pin to reduce the spring force exerted between the blade cross bar and the blade upon the occurrence of a blow-open action of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Rodney Raabe, Jason Colsch, Laurent L. Previeux
  • Patent number: 6437670
    Abstract: A magnetic release system for a circuit breaker, the magnetic release system includes a contact structure; a strap configured to conduct a first level of electrical current and a second level of electrical current; a u-shaped collar having a pole face, the u-shaped collar disposed around the strap; a release lever disposed proximate the pole face, the release lever rotatably mounted on the strap; wherein the release lever is releasably engaged with the contact structure; and wherein the release lever prevents movement of the contact structure at the first level of electrical current and releases the contact structure at the second level of electrical current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2002
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger N. Castonguay, David Arnold
  • Patent number: 6232860
    Abstract: A latching system for a circuit breaker is arranged to actuate a trip unit and interrupt circuit current upon occurrence of a short circuit or an overcurrent condition. The latching system employs an armature having a recess formed therein and a cradle having a cradle tip arranged to releasably engage the recess. A thermal magnetic trip unit is depicted within the circuit breaker for the purposes of detecting overcurrent conditions through the electric path. During current transport through the circuit breaker, the current is thermally sensed by means of the bimetal and magnetically sensed by means of the magnet. The armature rotates against the return bias of a compression spring to release the cradle tip from the recess and allow counterclockwise rotation of the contact arm. The rotation of the contact arm causes the separation of the movable and fixed contacts under the urgence of a mechanism spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2000
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pedro Acevedo, Javier I. Larranaga, Joseph Criniti, Thomas R. Campbell, Jose Velez
  • Patent number: 5290982
    Abstract: A pair of lock links straddling and pivoted on the same pin as the latchable cradle of a circuit breaker follow the toggle device of the breaker either by riding on the toggle knee pin or through a pin which bears against the edges of the toggle arms. The lock links have extensions which engage the handle yoke to prevent the handle from being moved to the off position when the circuit breaker contacts are welded closed causing the toggle device to remain erected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: March 1, 1994
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Henry R. Beck, Charles W. Pipich
  • Patent number: 5213206
    Abstract: A pair of lock links straddling and pivoted on the same pin as the latchable cradle of a circuit breaker follow the toggle device of the breaker either by riding on the toggle knee pin or through a pin which bears against the edges of the toggle arms. The lock links have extensions which engage the handle yoke to prevent the handle from being moved to the off position when the circuit breaker contacts are welded closed causing the toggle device to remain erected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Henry R. Beck, Charles W. Pipich
  • Patent number: 5184717
    Abstract: The handle of a circuit breaker is blocked from movement to the off positiion, when the contacts are welded closed, thereby preventing rotation of the common cross-bar on which contact arms carrying the movable contacts are mounted, by an interlock which includes radial extensions on the arms of a pivoted handle yoke which radially engage projections on the cross-bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 9, 1993
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Yu W. Chou, Henry K. Pruszynski
  • Patent number: 5165532
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes an interlock which prevents movement of the handle to the off position when the contacts are welded closed. The interlock includes a pair of floating links which jam between slots in arms of the yoke of a spring powered operating mechanism which carries the handle, and recesses in the rotatable cross-bar carrying the movable contact arms. The recesses are offset from the rotational axis of cross-bar so that an attempt to move the switch to the off position generates a moment which will break open lightly welded contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1991
    Date of Patent: November 24, 1992
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: Charles W. Pipich, William E. Beatty, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4789848
    Abstract: An industrial rated molded case circuit breaker having an electronic trip circuit contained within the circuit breaker enclosure includes a reset spring in cooperation with the circuit breaker latch spring to insure manual reset of circuit breaker after an automatic trip function. The reset spring allows the circuit breaker latch assembly to be manually reset upon minimum travel of the circuit breaker operating handle due to internal circuit breaker component space restrictions. The circuit breaker latch assembly is robotically loaded to the operating mechanism which is then attached to the circuit breaker case by an automated fastening process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 6, 1988
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Roger N. Castonguay, David J. Meiners
  • Patent number: 4701733
    Abstract: An electricity power supply circuit including a trip switch having at least one fixed electrical contact (110, 111), a moving electrical contact (120, 121) facing the fixed electrical contact, a control member (130) movable between a working position in which the control member brings the moving electrical contact to bear against the fixed electrical contact and a rest position in which the moving contact is distant from the fixed contact, a holding spring (140) fixed to the control member, a cocking lever (150) movable between a locking position and an unlocking position, said lever including a notch (151) suitable for engaging said holding spring (140), a resilient member (160) suitable for urging the cocking lever towards the unlocking position, an electrical winding (170), and a magnetic body associated therewith.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 1986
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1987
    Inventor: Max R. V. Osmond
  • Patent number: 4628289
    Abstract: A latching relay includes a housing and a coil secured to the housing. An armature is electromagnetically coupled to the coil such that current to the coil biases the armature to a first position. A spring is coupled to the armature to bias the armature to a second position. The relay includes a switch which includes a movable contact coupled to the armature such that the switch is in a first state when the armature is in the first position and the switch is in a second state when the armature is in the second position. A magnet is movable in the housing between a blocking position, in which the magnet acts as a mechanical block to prevent the armature from moving to the second position, and an unblocking position, in which the magnet allows the armature to move to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 9, 1986
    Assignee: Nuvatec, Inc.
    Inventor: William B. Huber
  • Patent number: 4595895
    Abstract: A circuit breaker characterized by a roller guide member, 1a, provided on the inside wall of an upper part of the case 1. The roller quite member, 1a, has a curved shape designed to form or smooth curved path, 100, in cooperation with the roller receiving indents 5a and 56, so that the roller can be reliably reset in the roller-receiving indents 5a and 5b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1986
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujii, Hiroaki Fujihisa, Hirotoshi Ohishi, Yoshiaki Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 4490702
    Abstract: A coupling piece (12) which is connected to a mobile component (18) of the contactor, has two stepped thrust surfaces (19, 20), each able to cooperate with one of two locking levers, (23, 24), both of which are repelled by an electromagnet (32) when the contactor is turned off. This device is particularly advantageous when the mobile components of the contactors move over different distances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 25, 1984
    Assignee: La Telemecanique Electrique
    Inventors: Alain D. G. Dumont, Rene Fouret
  • Patent number: 4394648
    Abstract: A critical brush wear circuit for a dynamoelectric machine which is not sensitive to stray voltages and currents resulting from brush dust accumulation within the machine, and which may be used over a wide range of voltages, is disclosed. The brush wear detection circuit is provided with a novel memory device shown as a latching relay, formed by two conventional relays disposed perpendicular to each other, with the armatures of each disposed to perpendicularly overlap a portion of the other armature and latch it in energized position when it has been moved to energized position by energizing its coil. One relay is provided with contacts for disabling the coil of the other relay, so that the other relay coil is automatically de-energized after a momentary period of connection, so that it can be allowed to draw high current, since it is not connected long enough for damaging heat to occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: July 19, 1983
    Assignee: Allied Corporation
    Inventor: Richard W. Mattson
  • Patent number: 4314217
    Abstract: A locking device includes a housing, a plunger slidably supported in the housing for displacement in a first direction between two end positions and an electromagnet disposed in the housing and having a solenoid and an armature displaceable in a second direction by the force of a magnetic field generated upon energization of the solenoid and a coupling arrangement for operatively connecting the armature with the plunger for affecting the position of the plunger dependent upon the position of the armature. The coupling arrangement comprises a switch-over device which has two stable end positions and which is force-transmittingly connected to the plunger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 1979
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1982
    Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
    Inventor: Fritz Krasser
  • Patent number: 4305054
    Abstract: An auxiliary add-on attachment is disclosed for use in combination with an existing rocker switch. The attachment includes a spring loaded latch mechanism which upon release drives the rocker button to an OFF position. The latch mechanism is released upon retraction of a solenoid plunger when the solenoid is energized by a trip signal which may, for example, be delivered from a timing circuit when a designated machine should be automatically turned off after a certain length of time, such as cathode ray tubes, computers, photocopy machines, etc. Depressing the rocker button back to its ON position loads and resets the latch mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 1979
    Date of Patent: December 8, 1981
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Tony O. Woodard
  • Patent number: 3936780
    Abstract: This device comprises means for detecting, respectively, overcharges, by means of bimetallic strips and short-circuiting, by means of mobile magnetic plates effecting independently from each other the controlling of the switching off of a circuit-breaker for the protection of a circuit. The thermal safety means operate through a mechanical power amplifier comprising a cage with uprights, a rotating catch dependent on the thermal phase-detectors and a plunger transmitting the power of a spring to effect the switching off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: February 3, 1976
    Assignee: UNELEC
    Inventor: Jean Hennemann
  • Patent number: RE33400
    Abstract: A circuit breaker characterized by a roller guide member, 1a, provided on the inside wall of an upper part of the case 1. The roller quite member, 1a, has a curved shape designed to form or smooth curved path, 100, in cooperation with the roller receiving indents 5a and 56, so that the roller can be reliably reset in the roller-receiving indents 5a and 5b.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1988
    Date of Patent: October 23, 1990
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Hiroshi Fujii, Hiroaki Fujihisa, Hirotoshi Ohishi, Yoshiaki Kobayashi