With Time Delay (e.g., Thermal) Patents (Class 335/39)
  • Publication number: 20140327501
    Abstract: A Sabbath adapted electrical device configured to enable normal usage on Sabbath without manually changing the electrical status of the electrical circuitry; open circuits remain open and closed circuits remain closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2012
    Publication date: November 6, 2014
    Inventor: Aharon Cohen
  • Patent number: 8749329
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter has a first contact, a second contact, and a trip arm which moves the second contact between a closed position where the second contact is touching the first contact and an open position in which the second contact is spaced apart from the first contact. A first trip mechanism has a first solenoid, a first overcurrent sensor, and a first arm. A second trip mechanism has a second solenoid, a second overcurrent sensor, and a second arm. The first trip mechanism activates the first arm after a first threshold amount of time which actuates the trip arm when the first overcurrent sensor detects a first threshold level. The second trip mechanism activates the second arm after a second threshold amount of time which actuates the trip arm when the second overcurrent sensor detects a second threshold level, the second threshold level being different than the first.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Fasano
  • Patent number: 8358187
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an electrical overcurrent tripping device for a circuit breaker. The tripping device includes an actuating member which in case of an overcurrent is driven to interact directly or indirectly with a movable contact piece of the circuit breaker to open a contact point in the circuit breaker if the overcurrent is exceeding a preset tripping threshold for a predetermined tripping delay time. The actuating member is coupled to a magnetic circuit such that the driving force acting on the actuating member is created by the magnetic field of the magnetic circuit, said magnetic field being induced by the overcurrent. The actuating member is coupled to an electromagnetic damping arrangement to set the tripping delay time, and is connected to a coupling spring configured to adjust the overcurrent tripping threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Marley Becerra, Stefan Valdemarsson, Henrik Breder
  • Publication number: 20120119855
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments are directed to an electrical overcurrent tripping device for a circuit breaker. The tripping device includes an actuating member which in case of an overcurrent is driven to interact directly or indirectly with a movable contact piece of the circuit breaker to open a contact point in the circuit breaker if the overcurrent is exceeding a preset tripping threshold for a predetermined tripping delay time. The actuating member is coupled to a magnetic circuit such that the driving force acting on the actuating member is created by the magnetic field of the magnetic circuit, said magnetic field being induced by the overcurrent. The actuating member is coupled to an electromagnetic damping arrangement to set the tripping delay time, and is connected to a coupling spring configured to adjust the overcurrent tripping threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 15, 2011
    Publication date: May 17, 2012
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Marley BECERRA, Stefan VALDEMARSSON, Henrik BREDER
  • Patent number: 8004376
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James Gerard Maloney, Luis Enrique Betances Sansur
  • Patent number: 7969263
    Abstract: A fiber wrap and a method of rotating the fiber wrap without twisting a data cable are disclosed. The fiber wrap includes a sun gear, a sun cylinder coupled to the sun gear, a planetary gear in contact with the sun gear, a planetary cylinder coupled to the planetary gear, an outer housing in contact with the planetary gear, and a data cable coupled to the sun cylinder, the planetary cylinder, and the outer housing. The maximum bend radius of the data cable is determined by the equation: 2 ? ?? ? ? DGD ? c ? wherein ? is optical wavelength and ? ? ? DGD = 0.5 ? C s ? ( r R 2 ) 2 ? ? ? ? L c - 0.5 ? C s ? ( r R 1 ) 2 ? ? ? ? L c wherein Cs is the stress-optics coefficient, c is the speed of light, R1 is the bend radius at the end of the wrap motion, R2 is the bend radius at the start of the wrap motion, r is the radii of the sun cylinder and the planetary cylinder, and ? ? ? L = 10 360 ? 2 ? ? ? ? R 2 .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignees: Associated Universities, Inc., University of Kent
    Inventors: Silversun Sturgis, Nathan J. Gomes, Pengbo Shen
  • Publication number: 20100219916
    Abstract: A power supply switch comprising a power input assembly receiving power from a power source, a power output assembly connected to an appliance and a control circuit between the power input assembly and power output assembly. The control circuit comprises a switch having an open position and a closed position and being manually resettable by a user to the closed position, wherein power is supplied from the power input assembly to the power output assembly when the switch is in the closed position; a current detection circuit sensing a current passing from the power input assembly to the power output assembly, the current detection circuit outputting an activation signal indicative of the presence of the sensed current; and a timer circuit receiving the activation signal and automatically activating a timer in response, wherein the timer sends a signal to the switch causing the switch to move to the open position after a delay time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Publication date: September 2, 2010
    Inventor: Jamie H. Meltzner
  • Patent number: 7557682
    Abstract: A solenoid assembly for a circuit breaker having a clapper with an increased mass is provided. The mass, preferably at least one non-ferrous slug, increases the mass of the clapper so that the solenoid response time is slowed. That is, the added mass creates an inertial delay that slows the solenoid clapper as the clapper moves between the first position and the second position. Preferably, the delay is between 48 ms and 60 ms, and more preferably 50 ms. The clapper having a non-ferrous slug may also be incorporated into existing circuit breakers by, for example, coupling the non-ferrous slug to the preexisting clapper, or replacing the clapper with a clapper assembly having at least one non-ferrous slug thereon.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony Thomas Ricciuti, Mark Allan Juds, John Joseph Hoegle, Thomas Kenneth Fogle, Robert Nicklos Krevokuch, Russel William Long, Daniel Evan Palmieri
  • Patent number: 7391289
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Timothy McCoy, Thomas William Holland
  • Patent number: 6420948
    Abstract: A parallel pole magnetohydraulic circuit breaker (10), having a single trip element (271) and a pair of trip mechanisms (101, 102), achieving an increased current carrying capacity with reduced nuisance trips. The tip mechanisms (101, 102) are contained within separate housings (14, 16), with electrical connections (30, 40) and multipole trip mechanism (101, 102) communicating through apertures in the common wall (14′). Preferably, the armature (260) of the trip element (271) acts on a single trip mechanism (101, 102), which multiplies the available force to trigger a trip of the other tip mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2002
    Assignee: Airpax Corporation, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel Runyan
  • Patent number: 5245302
    Abstract: An improved miniature circuit breaker is provided which is adapted to improved automatic assembly of all components thereof. Key components of the breaker are individually and collectively designed to be susceptible to total Z-axis assembly. In particular, the trip mechanism including the trip lever, and the associated activation means, tension means and reset means are defined by elements designed to interact in a Z-axis assemblable fashion. The trip mechanism components are also designed for improved trip action and enhanced breaker performance in repeated OPEN, CLOSED, and TRIP operations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 1992
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1993
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Rodney J. Brune, Thomas A. Edds, James V. Fixemer, Charles H. Wagner, Matthew D. Sortland, Duane L. Turner, John M. Winter
  • Patent number: 4675641
    Abstract: A selectable rating plug allows a standard molded case circuit breaker design to be used over a wide range of ampere ratings. The rating plug is used to control the thermal load on the thermally responsive trip element within the breaker. Movement of the thermally responsive element articulates the breaker trip mechanism in response to predetermined overload conditions to interrupt circuit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Thomas G. Hampton, James M. Mitsch, Joseph M. Palmieri, David S. Parker, James I. Smith
  • Patent number: 4276527
    Abstract: A molded case multi-pole circuit breaker comprises an interchangeable trip unit having a magnetic circuit surrounding a main stationary conductor and provided with a U-shaped core secured to circuit-breaker assembly and a magnetic rod fastener to the trip unit. The rod is inserted between the legs of the core, and a single turn secondary winding surrounds the rod. A bimetal is attached to the winding, and the thermal tripping characteristics are independent of the relative position of the magnetic core and rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1979
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1981
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Alain Gerbert-Gaillard, Robert Morel
  • Patent number: 4214219
    Abstract: A switch which is opened and closed by successively depressing a manual operating handle is provided with one spring for separating the switch contacts and a separate spring for closing the switch contacts. Interrupting capacity is improved without increasing overall size by utilizing a J-shaped movable contact arm mounted on a pivot located a substantial distance from the movable contact. The closing spring is located adjacent to the arcing or interrupter area. A metal shield is positioned to protect the closing spring from hot arcing gases as they exit from the interrupter area. The speed of instantaneous or magnetic tripping is improved by providing the magnet coil with at least one complete current carrying loop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1980
    Assignee: Gould Inc.
    Inventors: Bernard DiMarco, John C. Hempstead
  • Patent number: 4165502
    Abstract: The following specification describes a bimetal in the limiter assembly of a circuit breaker to operate the trip crossbar for opening the main circuit breaker contacts. An arm is also provided on one blade of the current limiter contacts to also operate the trip crossbar for ensuring rapid opening of the main contacts of the circuit breaker in response to high fault currents. The bimetal is connected between the electromagnet winding and one of the current limiter contact blades in shunt with a path of selected resistance. The resistance is selected as desired by connecting pigtail conductors of desired size either in shunt with or to selected portions of the bimetal to control the current passing through the bimetal for controlling the heat of the bimetal in accordance with the rating of the breaker. A calibration assembly for the bimetal is carried by the electromagnetic assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1977
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1979
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Paul R. Andersen