Abstract: A contactor arrangement for operation in a dielectric liquid environment may include a first connection terminal and a second connection terminal, a contactor having a fixed contact, and a movable contact that is movable relative to the fixed contact, the contactor having an open state in which the movable contact is spaced apart from the fixed contact and a closed state in which the movable contact is in contact with the fixed contact so as to provide an electric connection through the contactor via the movable contact. The contactor arrangement may further include a conductor section.

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: Magnetically latching and releasing a voice coil actuator for controlling electrical switchgear. The voice coil actuator includes a voice coil magnet disposed on a common longitudinal axis with respect to a voice coil assembly. A coil of the voice coil assembly exerts a magnetic force on the voice coil assembly, thrusting the voice coil assembly towards the voice coil magnet. At least one pair of latching members mounted to the voice coil assembly creates a permanent magnet circuit between the latching members and the voice coil magnet. The permanent magnet circuit maintains the position of the voice coil assembly relative to the voice coil magnet, even when power to the coil is removed. This latch can be released by applying a current in the coil or by applying an external, physical force to a member coupled to the voice coil assembly.

Abstract: An apparatus for sensing relative positions of mechanically coupled devices. The apparatus includes a magnetically actuated switch connected to a set of flux conductors to form a switch assembly. A permanent magnet is affixed to a set of flux conductors to form a magnet assembly. The flux conductors are positioned adjacently to conduct flux from the permanent magnet to the magnetically actuated switch. Movement of either assembly results in the reduction of flux conduction between the magnet and the magnetically actuated switch. The apparatus can be integrated into a helmet mount for night vision goggles to sense the relative position of the helmet mount for controlling the operation of the night vision goggle.

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: The invention relates to a trip assembly for use in an electro-mechanical device, such as a circuit breaker. The trip assembly is used for interrupting the flow of current upon the detection of excess current in a circuit breaker and comprises a trip bar, a stationary armature bracket, a movable armature, and a spring. The movable armature includes a first end coupled to a base portion of the armature bracket, and a trip-actuating surface being disposed proximate a trip finger of the trip bar. The spring is directly coupled at its respective ends to a spring-support portion of the armature bracket and to a spring tab of the movable armature.

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.

Abstract: The toggle mechanism of a circuit breaker is connected at one end to the pivoted contact arm and at the other end to a pivoted latch lever which is engaged to latch the toggle mechanism by a latch member pivoted for movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the toggle mechanism. The latch member serves as an armature for a trip motor energized by a trip circuit responsive to an arc fault and/or a ground fault to unlatch the toggle mechanism and trip the circuit breaker open. The latch member is also tripped by a helical bimetal responsive to persistent overcurrents and coupled to the latch member through an ambient compensator bimetal cantilevered from the latch member. A flexible shunt connected between the helical bimetal and contact arm passes through an extension of the magnetic circuit of the trip motor to generate a magnetic field of sufficient strength to trip the latch member instantaneously in response to a short circuit.

Abstract: A solenoid type magnetic trip assembly for a molded case circuit breaker includes an armature biased against an adjustable stop by a tension spring to set the initial gap for the magnetic trip, so that the spring bias remains constant for the full range of the initial gap. The armature includes an elongated magnetically permeable member mounted by a frame to slide longitudinally along a pair of guide rails. The frame defines a trip surface axially aligned with the elongated magnetically permeable member which engages a trip arm on a trip bar to trip the circuit breaker in response to a predetermined level of overcurrent. A bimetal providing a thermal trip function is cantilevered from a support spaced from the trip bar by the armature, but has a terminal portion at the free end projecting toward the trip bar and through which the elongated magnetically permeable member of the armature extends.

Abstract: A selective magnetic trip unit comprises a fixed magnetic armature located facing a movable magnetic armature and a damping device with a blade mounted on the movable magnetic armature. The damping device is designed to be in an inactive state up to an intermediate non-tripping position when the movable magnetic armature is attracted by polar parts of the fixed magnetic armature during a first travel, switching to the active state resulting from a deformation of the damping device during a second travel of the movable armature between the intermediate position and the final attraction position causing tripping of the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A mounting frame is provided for components of a circuit breaker. The frame is of metal and is designed so that it carries current and is not merely for supporting the components. The frame has a terminal portion, a field generating portion, pole piece defining portions, a reverse arc runner, a support post for a bi-metal strip, a latching projection for an armature, guide surfaces for the armature and a pivot pin for an operating handle. The invention further provides a circuit breaker which utilizes the frame and to a circuit breaker which uses a coil of varying resistance, in comparison with the constant resistance of a path between a terminal and a bi-metal strip, to vary the magnetic tripping characteristic of breaker.

Abstract: There are arranged at a magnetic trigger for a selectively operative switch, a plunger-type armature, a pivotable armature and a tripping device. A plunger of the plunger-type armature acts directly upon a movable contact of a pair of contacts and the plunger-type armature is actuated using a magnetic coil or winding when the current flowing through the magnetic coil at least corresponds to a predetermined threshold current for opening the contacts. A pivotable armature is actuated by the plunger-type armature and redirects the magnetic return flux. The tripping device acts upon a switch lock mechanism and is switched into or out of the magnetic return flux by the plunger-type armature. The degree of overlap between pole shoes of the pivotable armature and of the tripping device is preselectable by an adjusting screw. There is thus realized a current-dependent, selective tripping of the switch lock mechanism.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having a direct current measuring shunt characterized by a molded insulating housing having line and load terminals with two conductors extending between the terminals, a current measuring sensor between overlapping end portions of the conductors and having a laminated structure of two outer conductor blocks and an intermediate body of an electrically resistance alloy having opposite sides brazed to corresponding facing sides of the blocks, each conductor block having an electrical terminal connected to a measuring millivolt surface for measuring the volt differential across the body.

Abstract: A circuit breaker having a trip delay mechanism characterized by a variable magnetic air gap that is adjustable to permit time delay at low level overcurrents to avoid nuisance tripping during motor starting.

Abstract: A circuit breaker with a magnetic circuit for delaying the trip function and characterized by a dual variable magnetic circuit air gap which allows a time delay at low level overcurrents, such that motor starting transient currents do not prematurely trip the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A single pole circuit breaker comprising a single section. The single section, single pole comprises an electromagnetic sensing device and a pair of relatively movable contacts. The electromagnetic sensing device is electrically connected at one end to the load terminal. The movable contacts are engageable with a pair of stationary contacts carried by a line terminal. A metering or calibrating shunt device is connected on one side to the electromagnetic sensing device and is connected on the other side to the pair of movable contacts to thereby connect in electrical series the electromagnetic sensing device and the pair of movable contacts through the metering or calibrated shunt device. A volt meter connected across the calibration points of the metering or calibrated shunt device will then read a voltage proportional to the current flow through the circuit breaker.

Abstract: A contactor apparatus is provided comprising automatic opening means and a local control member.This apparatus uses a transmission piece (40) associated with a sudden tripping mechanism (46) which is released by a bolt (29) held in position by means of a lever (24) which may be struck by a magnetizable part and adapted to maintain a power contact (13) open, this part assuming, after the appearance of a fault, visible positions so as to inform the user about the state of the apparatus.This apparatus is usable in installations where it is desired to protect the lines and the loads.