Abstract: An overload relay is disclosed in which a single operator coil is controlled for both tripping and resetting. A permanent magnet and a spring make the device bi-stable, so the coil may be unpowered when in the trip and reset states. Energization of the coil overcomes the magnet to allow tripping, while energization in an opposite direction adds to the magnet force to reset the device. An electromagnetic activation path overrides a mechanical activation path for electromagnetic tripping despite attempted manual resetting. The device may be pulse width modulated to reduce power consumption.

Abstract: A shunt separator is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed within the housing, an operating assembly including a trip bar, and a trip assembly. The trip assembly cooperates with the trip bar to trip open the separable contacts in response to a fault condition. The trip assembly includes a number of shunts. The shunt separator includes a molded projection, which extends outwardly from the housing of the electrical switching apparatus. The molded projection at least partially surrounds a portion of the trip bar, thereby separating the number of shunts from the trip bar.

Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter device is described.

Abstract: Resettable circuit breakers having an independent trip mechanism and a reset lockout are provided. The trip mechanism operates independently of the fault protection operations, and the reset lockout prevents the resetting of the circuit breaker if the fault protection is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include a reset lock-out mechanism are provided. The reset lock-out mechanism prevents the resetting of electrical connections between input and output conductors if the circuit interrupting mechanism used to break the connection is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments comprise a device comprising: a trip mechanism adapted to engage an operating mechanism of an alternating current circuit breaker, said trip mechanism comprising: a bi-metal element arranged lengthwise into a first end zone, a central zone, and a second end zone, a load bus coupled to said first zone, said second end zone adapted to engage an armature latch that is adapted to trip on operating mechanism of the circuit breaker; and an electromagnetic element coupled to the load bus.

Abstract: Resettable circuit breakers having an independent trip mechanism and a reset lockout are provided. The trip mechanism operates independently of the fault protection operations, and the reset lockout prevents the resetting of the circuit breaker if the fault protection is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Abstract: A breaker includes a housing (10) having two terminals (11, 12), two bars (17, 18) electrically coupled to the terminals (11, 12), an arm (30) supported in the housing (10) and movable to engage with the bars (17, 18) to electrically couple the terminals (11, 12) together. A control device (4) may control the arm (30) to engage with the bars (17, 18), and includes a lever (50) to maintain the arm (30) in engagement with the bars (17, 18). A spring (33) may bias the arm (30) away from the bars (17, 18), and another spring (53) may be engaged with the lever (50) to bias and disengage the lever (50) from the arm (30).

Abstract: The movable conductors of a three phase isolation switch are incorporated into the electrically insulative molded shaft, thereby mechanically supporting them and isolating them from the metal axle of the shaft. Movable contacts on the ends of each movable conductor are angularly spaced by ? degrees, where ? is less than 180° and is 90° in the exemplary embodiment. A common fixed load contact is located angularly between, and spaced ? degrees from, both the fixed line and ground contacts so that the shaft is rotated only ? degrees between a first, closed position, in which the movable conductors connect the fixed load contact for each phase to the corresponding fixed line contact, and a second, grounded position, where the fixed load contact of each phase is connected by the movable conductor to the corresponding fixed ground contact.

Abstract: Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include a reset lockout mechanism, an independent trip mechanism and reverse wiring protection. A conical reset plunger is notched to force a successful test before reset.

Abstract: An electrical protective device that includes a reset mechanism uses a resistor body to act as a hold-off to a spring driven lockout for the reset mechanism. Upon the failure of an internal component of the protective device, the spring driven lockout mechanism is released by I2R thermal action which causes a resistor to burn in half, or in the alternative, to melt solder mounting the resistor, thereby eliminating the hold-off and locking out the reset mechanism.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Abstract: A fail-safe immersion detector has a reset button which may be operated to return an appliance to operation after an immersion-caused short circuit has disappeared. However, if the short circuit remains, an operation of the reset button has no effect. Therefore, the user cannot defeat the fail-safe detector by the expedient of taping or otherwise holding down the reset button. A rocker switch enables a testing of the immersion detector, to be conducted to either side of the A.C. power line while preventing a short circuit across the line if an effort is made to simultaneously conduct tests to both sides of the line. Two test wires extend from the detector through the power cord to the appliance, where they are joined. The immersion detector operates via one of the two wires. The rocker switch conducts the test via the two test wires in series. Therefore, the rocker switch controlled test verifies the integrity of the one test wire.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having a switch mechanism consisting basically of a pivotally mounted latch which is releasably mounted on a release member and which carries a pivotally mounted contact, and of a pivotally mounted manually operable element for operating the circuit breaker. A spring is connected to the manually operable element at a position offset with respect to the pivotal axis of the element and is arranged to apply a force to the pivotable latch at a position close to the pivotal axis of the latch. A latch lever interconnects the manually operable element and the pivotable latch and is connected to the manually operable element eccentrically with respect to the pivotal axis of the latter and is connected to the pivotable latch in a manner as to form the pivotal axis of the latter.

Abstract: A trip-free contact operating mechanism is provided with a latching system for maintaining a releasable cradle in its reset position. The latching system includes a lever mounted on a fixed pivot and having one end latchable by a cam member movable by a fault current responsive automatic trip means. A latch pin mounted in slots at the other end of the lever is engageable with the cradle for maintaining the latter in reset position. The latch pin is movable mounted on the lever in a manner such that the former may rotate about its axis, it may move lengthwise of the mounting slots, and the pin may pivot about an axis perpendicular to the pin axis and in the vicinity of one end of the pin.

Abstract: A double break, trip free circuit breaker is disclosed which is compensated for variations in ambient temperature. A biased rocker arm carries a contact bridging bar at one end and engages a heater/bimetal or electromagnetic back at the other. A segmented reset plunger allows for a manual trip capability in addition to circuit breaking even when the plunger is held in the reset position. High current handling capabilities result from the separating of the heater/bimetal circuit from the main current flow path.

Abstract: A circuit breaker with contacts which are not engageable when the electrical sensing unit thereof is energized above a predetermined level (at which the contacts would be tripped open if closed) even though the handle of the linkage mechanism of the circuit breaker is moved to the contacts closed (or contacts engaged) position.

Abstract: A circuit breaker designed for automated assembly includes pairs of fixed and movable contacts, the latter carried by a carrier mounted for reciprocating movement in the breaker case. Operating and trip mechanism parts are mounted on a frame positioned in the case. A handle slideably mounted by the case actuates the operating mechanism to open and closed circuit positions. A fixture is utilized with the frame for calibrating the thermal trip setting and for partial assembly of the operating mechanism.

Abstract: This invention relates to a push-button operated bipolar, faulty current protective switch, with a trip-free release and a switched-on position that is not affected by the push-button.Such a circuit breaker includes a bell crank and a switching bar which is controlled by an electromagnetic tripping device.