Automatic Circuit-interrupting Devices (e.g., Circuit-protective Devices) Patents (Class 335/6)
  • Patent number: 7839241
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electrical service switching device, e.g., a circuit breaker, having a magnetic release with a magnet armature, a thermal release, a fixed and moving contact piece, a switching mechanism which can be tripped by the thermal and magnetic release and has a latching point which is formed by a tripping lever and a catch lever which is mounted in a fixed position such that it can rotate and has an elongated hole in order to guide a clip, wherein the magnet armature can act on the contact lever, to which the moving contact piece is fitted, in order to open the contact point in the event of a short, and the switching mechanism can hold the contact lever permanently in the open position, having a switching toggle for manual operation of the switching mechanism, and having an intermediate lever which is articulated at one of its ends with the contact lever and at its other end on the clip, wherein the clip is articulated with at least one limb on the switching toggle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Ralf Weber, Erwin Muders, Klaus-Peter Eppe, Joachim Becker
  • Patent number: 7830231
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip unit cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts. The trip unit includes a sensor structured to sense current flowing through the contacts, a processor structured to output a trip signal responsive to the sensed current, and a trip actuator. The trip actuator includes a housing including a recess, a coil within the recess, the coil having an opening therethrough, a magnet within the recess, a thermoplastic bushing including a conduit therethrough, the thermoplastic bushing being coupled to the housing, and an armature disposable within the opening of the coil and slidably disposed within the conduit of the thermoplastic bushing. The magnet attracts the armature toward the housing. A spring biases the armature away from the housing, in order to cause the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Harry James Carlino, Lloyd Allen Maloney, Joseph Bell Humbert, Martha Suryani
  • Patent number: 7830230
    Abstract: A handle arm assembly is for a circuit interrupter including an undervoltage release mechanism having a reset mechanism. The handle arm assembly includes a body portion rotatable through an arc between an on position, an off position, and a reset position beyond the off position and an arm portion projecting laterally from the body portion out of the plane of the arc through which the body portion rotates. The body portion and the arm portion are formed from a single piece of material wherein the body portion and the arm portion are different portions of the single piece of material. The arm portion is structured to engage the reset mechanism in a manner such that arcuate movement of the arm portion as the body portion moves to the off position is translated into actuation of the reset mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian J. Schaltenbrand, Robert W. Mueller, Mark A. Janusek, William M. Randal
  • Publication number: 20100265016
    Abstract: A magnet core (1) that is suitable for use in a fault current circuit breaker and that is made of a helically wound, magnetically soft band has a top (4) and a bottom (5), the top (4) and the bottom (5) being formed by side surfaces (16) of the magnetically soft band. The magnet core (1) is fixed in a protective housing (6), and there is a contact cement (11) between the bottom (5) of the magnet core (1) and an inside wall (10) of the housing for fixing the magnet core (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2008
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicant: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co. kg
    Inventors: Joerg Petzold, Markus Brunner
  • Patent number: 7791846
    Abstract: An arc flash system for a circuit breaker and a method of operation is provided. The arc flash system includes a first sensor such as a photo-detector and a second sensor that detects a circuit breaker parameter. The arc flash system is responsive to signals from the first sensor and second sensor to determine if an arc flash event is occurring to avoid nuisance tripping of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: George William Roscoe, Thomas Frederick Papallo, 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
  • Patent number: 7768758
    Abstract: An anti-serial cascade circuit including two silicon carbide JFETs and two silicon MOSFETs is known. Disclosed is a combination of a JFET, a smart power MOSFET SPM and a thyristor with an associated trigger circuit, which is connected in parallel to the SPM. According to an embodiment of the invention, a logic circuit co-ordinates the functional sequence.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Reinhard Maier, Jürgen Rupp, Michael Schröck
  • Patent number: 7750766
    Abstract: Embodiments of an automatic single- or multi-pole circuit breaker for use in low-voltage applications are disclosed. The circuit breaker includes at least a first fixed contact this is coupled/uncoupled with a first moving contact. The moving contact is operatively connected to an operating mechanism that enables its displacement. The circuit breaker includes a kinematic tripping device driven by means of a first separating movement of the moving contact away from the fixed contact. The kinematic tripping device includes an operative member capable of tripping the operating mechanism, which in turn takes effect on the moving contact, thus determining a second rapid separating movement until the circuit breaker tripped position is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2010
    Assignee: ABB S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Bonetti, Nicola Bresciani
  • Publication number: 20100148893
    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: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Inventors: JAMES GERARD MALONEY, LUIS ENRIQUE BETANCES SANSUR
  • Patent number: 7733199
    Abstract: An actuating unit or actuating mechanism and release for a circuit breaker. The magnetic mechanism of the release includes a magnet armature, which can move linearly in a magnet coil, is in the form of a tripping plunger and can be moved towards a permanent magnet counter to the force of a storage compression spring and is held fixedly by said permanent magnet in the case of a magnet coil through which no current is flowing. The tripping unit is in the form of a mechanical force store. After a tripping action, the mechanical force store needs to be reset manually again. For this purpose, a rotary movement of the drive shaft with an angular displacement of from 20 to 30 degrees takes place in the opposite direction to the ON switching rotary movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2010
    Assignee: Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Dauer, Guenter Baujan, Anke Juelich
  • Patent number: 7683745
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Erik J. Gouhl, Gregory G. Moreinis, Gunter A. Gallas
  • Publication number: 20100057225
    Abstract: A protection relay with integrated communications may include a protective relay portion to perform protective relay operations associated with a load operatively connected to the protection relay, and a communications server portion to perform communications operations as an independently operating communications server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 28, 2008
    Publication date: March 4, 2010
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: David John Allcock, Jeffrey Glenn Mazereeuw
  • Patent number: 7671711
    Abstract: A remote operation includes an electromagnetic linear actuator that has a moving part linked to a handle of a circuit breaker, and drives the handle according to a remote operation command to perform change-over operations on the handle to ON, OFF, and RESET positions. The electromagnetic linear actuator is composed of permanent magnet type linear pulse motors each including a field section having a plurality of permanent magnets arranged in a row and a coil section having a three-leg type magnetic yoke and actuation coils wound around the legs of the magnetic yoke and opposing the field section. Electric current in the actuation coils is controlled by sequentially changing-over excitation patterns during the operation process, and the moving part is driven in a stepwise motion to drive the handle of the circuit breaker to the end position of the changeover operation process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Fuji Electric FA Components & Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenji Suzuki
  • Patent number: 7663457
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Bela Peter Szeifert, Michael Peter Dunk
  • Publication number: 20100019873
    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: Application
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Publication date: January 28, 2010
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Ralf Mueller, Frank Hustert, Hans-Peter Weyand
  • 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
  • Publication number: 20090322452
    Abstract: A handle arm assembly is for a circuit interrupter including an undervoltage release mechanism having a reset mechanism. The handle arm assembly includes a body portion rotatable through an arc between an on position, an off position, and a reset position beyond the off position and an arm portion projecting laterally from the body portion out of the plane of the arc through which the body portion rotates. The body portion and the arm portion are formed from a single piece of material wherein the body portion and the arm portion are different portions of the single piece of material. The arm portion is structured to engage the reset mechanism in a manner such that arcuate movement of the arm portion as the body portion moves to the off position is translated into actuation of the reset mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2008
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Inventors: Brian J. Schaltenbrand, Robert W. Mueller, Mark A. Janusek, William M. Randal
  • Patent number: 7633364
    Abstract: A dampening apparatus has a housing with a plurality of first guide members and a plurality of second guide members coupled together. A first biasing member is located in an area proximate to the first guide members and within the housing. A first planar member is provided having a plurality of first apertures with the first guide members or the second guide members passing through the first apertures. A plurality of second planar members is provided having a plurality of second apertures with the second guide members passing through the second apertures. A plurality of second biasing members is located in an area proximate to the second guide members. An elongated shaft is coupled to the first planar member. The dampening apparatus could be included in a circuit interrupter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: John R. Moffat, Timothy G. Robirds
  • Patent number: 7623011
    Abstract: A device for remotely operating a circuit breaker apparatus is provided. Such a circuit breaker apparatus includes a trip device and a reset device that are externally accessible with respect to an enclosure enclosing the circuit breaker apparatus. The device comprises at least one actuator capable of being operably engaged with the circuit breaker apparatus, externally to the enclosure, and in physical engagement with at least one of the trip and reset devices. A remotely disposed controller device is in communication with the at least one actuator and is capable of selectively actuating the at least one actuator, from a remote location with respect to the circuit breaker apparatus, so as to at least one of actuate the trip device to trip the circuit breaker apparatus and actuate the reset device to reset the circuit breaker apparatus. An associated assembly and method are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: R. J. Reynolds Tobacco Company
    Inventors: Ronald Lee Rowe, John Larkin Nelson
  • 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: 7598828
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of receptacle load terminals. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle load terminals. The circuit interrupter includes a latch mechanism configured to electrically couple the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle load terminals in a reset state and decouple at least one of the plurality of line terminals from at least one of the plurality of load terminals and at least one of the plurality of receptacle load terminals from each other in a tripped state. A reset assembly is coupled to the latch mechanism. The reset assembly includes a substantially non-metallic reset button assembly configured to engage the latch mechanism to thereby drive the circuit interrupter from the tripped state into the reset state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: Pass & Seymour, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard Weeks, Thomas N. Packard
  • Patent number: 7595710
    Abstract: An electrical contact assembly includes a magnetic latch solenoid for actuating a moveable contact of a contact pair. The magnetic latch solenoid includes a magnet that latches the contact assembly in an open position, and a coil that moves an armature to the latched position under current in one polarity, and disrupts the permanent magnet field to release the armature from the latched position under current in a reverse polarity. A spring biases the contacts to the closed position. The spring is separate from the magnetic latch solenoid. The contact assembly may also include a printed circuit board for providing pulses to the coil to operate the assembly. The contact assembly is part of a remote operated circuit breaker assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2009
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: John DeBoer, Brian Timothy McCoy
  • Patent number: 7586395
    Abstract: A trip actuator assembly is provided for a circuit breaker including a housing having a mounting surface, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts. The trip actuator assembly includes a trip actuator cooperable with the operating mechanism, and a planar member having first and second ends, first and second edges, and an aperture. The trip actuator is at least partially disposed within the aperture and is further disposed between the planar member and the mounting surface of the housing. The first edge of the planar member is removably coupled to the mounting surface, thereby removably coupling the trip actuator to the housing. The circuit breaker may include an accessory tray which is insertable on and is removable from the mounting surface. When inserted, the accessory tray abuts the body of the trip actuator enclosure further securing the trip actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Nathan J. Weister, Lance Gula
  • Patent number: 7579933
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electrical installation switching device, having a switching mechanism with a latching point which can be unlatched manually by means of a switching toggle or by means of an electromagnetic or thermal release, having a tripping lever which can be operated by the electromagnetic and thermal release and acts on the latching point, having a latching lever which forms one element of the latching point, and having a movable contact lever, which can pivot, is acted on by the electrical release in the event of a short-circuit and is moved permanently to the disconnected position by the switching mechanism in the event of a short-circuit or overcurrent. The latching lever (which is mounted in the enclosure such that it can rotate) together with the tripping lever forms the latching point. The tripping lever is mounted such that it can rotate on the same rotation axis as the switching toggle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Ralf Weber, Jürgen Christmann, Klaus-Peter Eppe, Peter Pfirrmann
  • Publication number: 20090201109
    Abstract: A circuit breaker of different interruption speeds, and a spring operation mechanism is standardized for designing and manufacturing the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a power transmission mechanism for driving a movable contact 63 and a fixed contact 64 and an interruption spring 26 that imparts a driving force to separate the contacts through the power transmission mechanism. A latch mechanism restricts movement of the power transmission mechanism, and a pull-out operation section releases the restriction of the power transmission mechanism by the latch mechanism. The pull-out operation section is arranged to oppose a first arm of a lever to rotate the first arm. The lever is arranged so that a tip of a second arm is able to engage with and rest on the latch mechanism, and release the restriction of the power transmission mechanism by the latch mechanism.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2007
    Publication date: August 13, 2009
    Applicant: JAPAN AE POWER SYSTEMS CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroaki Hashimoto, Hideo Kawamoto, Kenichi Okubo
  • Patent number: 7564329
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2009
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Gregory G. Moreinis, Gunter A. Gallas
  • Patent number: 7558034
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a family of resettable circuit interrupting devices that eliminates the need to rewire a resettable circuit interrupting device after it is installed and powered up to correct for a reverse wiring conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Gaetano Bonasia, Benjamin Moadel, James A. Porter, Steve Campolo
  • 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: 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.
  • Patent number: 7551047
    Abstract: A receptacle including a front surface including one or more slots for receiving contact blades; a rear surface including one or more terminals for connecting the contact blades to a power source, the one or more terminals being line terminals and load terminals; a shutter positioned between the front surface and the rear surface of the receptacle, the shutter configured to be misaligned in relation to the one or more slots in order to obstruct a direct path between the contact blades and the one or more terminals, wherein insertion of an object in the one or more slots causes displacement of the shutter; and a shutter lock operatively connected in the receptacle to receive power from the power source connected to the receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2009
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Sokolow, Edward Bazayev
  • Patent number: 7545247
    Abstract: A terminal shield is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a case having a first housing member, a second housing member coupled to and disposed opposite from the first housing member, a first end, a second end, a number of terminals, and a number of terminal openings. Each of the first and second housing members has a first side and a second side. The terminal shield includes at least one pair of protrusions extending outwardly from the case on opposing sides of a corresponding one of the terminal openings. Each protrusion has an interior surface facing a corresponding one of the terminals, and an exterior surface disposed opposite the interior surface. The exterior surface of each protrusion aligns with the first side of a corresponding one of the first and second housing members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark O. Zindler
  • Patent number: 7541899
    Abstract: Disclosed are a multi-pole circuit breaker and an apparatus for preventing deformation of a driving shaft thereof. The multi-pole circuit breaker includes: a plurality of single pole breaking units having a pair of fixed contactors, a movable contactor, and shafts; a switching mechanism disposed on a certain one of the plurality of single pole breaking units; a pair of driving shafts connected to each shaft; and a driving shaft deformation prevention unit disposed between the single pole breaking unit, spaced relatively far from the switching unit among the plurality of single pole breaking units, and the adjacent single pole breaking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2009
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Byoung-Soo Ahn
  • Patent number: 7538644
    Abstract: Disclosed is a multi-pole circuit breaker. The multi-pole circuit breaker includes: a substrate disposed between the single pole breaking unit, spaced relatively far from the switching mechanism as compared to the other single pole breaking units among the plurality of single breaking units, and the adjacent single pole breaking unit; a link mechanism rotatably supported on the substrate; and springs having one ends supported by the substrate and the other ends supported by the link mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 7538647
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2009
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Howard S. Leopold
  • Publication number: 20090128264
    Abstract: There is disclosed a circuit interrupting device with symmetrical inputs comprising a first input configured for connection to a power source or a load circuit and a second input configured for connection to a power source. There are a plurality of electrical conductors extending from the first and second inputs and a third input configured for connection to a load provided by a user. There is also a first set of transformers comprising at least one differential transformer and at least one neutral transformer connected to detect leakage current in a load circuit coupled to the first set of terminals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 21, 2008
    Publication date: May 21, 2009
    Applicant: Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas L. DiSalvo, James A. PORTER
  • Patent number: 7532095
    Abstract: An apparatus for remotely actuating a circuit breaker with two stable positions corresponding to a switch-on position and a switch-off position, has a drive mechanism with an electric motor. The apparatus further has first and second switches for switching the motor on and off, a transmission, a coupling mechanism for mechanically coupling the drive mechanism to the circuit breaker and a lever. The transmission can be positioned in two basic positions, and the lever is capable of being moved from a first end position into a second end position with the aid of the drive mechanism. The drive mechanism is configured such that, in the event of the lever being moved over manually from one end position into the other end position, one of the switches is actuated, with the result that the transmission is moved over from one basic position into the other basic position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2009
    Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen mbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Schmidt, Johann Kellermann
  • Patent number: 7528690
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical switching device, having a thermal release, an electromagnetic release, and a switching mechanism with a latching point. A contact base for moving a contact member is located between the thermal release and the electromagnetic release. The thermal release is coupled to a release lever by means of a connecting rod passing over the contact base so that both the thermal release and the electromagnetic release open the latching point in the event of an overcurrent and/or short-circuit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2009
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Christmann, Ralf Weber
  • Patent number: 7525402
    Abstract: A circuit interruption device having an input for receiving AC power, an AC socket electrically connected to the power input, a reset switch electrically coupling the power source to the AC socket, a controller coupled to the power input, a stationary electromagnet connected to the controller, an electronic switch connected to the electromagnet and the controller, a pivotally mounted permanent magnet adapted to move between a first position apart from the electromagnet and a second position in contact with the electromagnet, and a mechanical connection connecting the pivotally mounted permanent magnet to the reset button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: Wenzhou Trimone Science and Technology Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shaohua Gao
  • Patent number: 7518475
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism including a latch. The operating mechanism opens the contacts responsive to actuation of the latch. A trip mechanism cooperates with the latch to trip open the contacts. The trip mechanism includes a thermal overload mechanism actuating the latch responsive to a thermal fault caused by current flowing through the contacts, a solenoid cooperating with the thermal overload mechanism to actuate the latch responsive to the electromagnetic device being energized, and a processor repetitively determining a value of the current flowing through the contacts, determining if the value exceeds a predetermined value for a number of occurrences, and responsively energizing the solenoid, in order to actuate the latch contemporaneous with actuation of the latch by the thermal overload mechanism, in order to decrease the time to trip open the contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Patrick W. Mills, Kevin D. Gonyea, Richard G. Benshoff, James M. McCormick
  • Patent number: 7515022
    Abstract: A trip lever for a shared tripping device, wherein the shared tripping device is structured to operatively couple at least two circuit breakers, a primary circuit breaker and a secondary circuit breaker, the trip lever having an elongated trip lever body with a mounting end and a distal end. The trip lever body mounting end pivotally is coupled to a cage in the primary circuit breaker and engages a trip bar in the secondary circuit breaker. The trip lever body distal end is disposed in a path of travel of an inter-phase link body distal end within the primary circuit breaker. The trip lever body distal end is structured to be engaged by the inter-phase link body distal end as the inter-phase link body distal end moves along the path of travel and the trip lever is structured to actutate the secondary circuit breaker trip bar when the trip lever is engaged by the inter-phase link body distal end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark O. Zindler
  • Patent number: 7504914
    Abstract: An electrical switchgear includes a thermal trip, an electromagnetic trip, and a switching mechanism with a latching point and at least one contact point that is continuously opened or closed. An operating handle is connected to one end of a lug by means of a coupling element and the other end of the lug is coupled to a contact base that carries a moving contact member. The thermal trip is coupled to a trip lever by a connecting rod that passes over the contact base so that both the thermal trip and the electromagnetic trip open a latching point in the event of an excess current and/or short circuit current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2009
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Jürgen Christmann, Ralf Weber
  • Patent number: 7498910
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter device is described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Gunter A. Gallas, Erik J. Gouhl, Howard S. Leopold, Gregory G. Moreinis
  • Patent number: 7498909
    Abstract: An improved ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacle with reverse wiring protection. If the power lines are incorrectly connected to the load end of the receptacle during installation, power output to both the input end of the receptacle and the insertion outlets on the faceplate is prevented. The GFCI receptacle includes two stationary terminals on two first output conductors electrically connected to the insertion outlet, two stationary terminals on two second output conductors adapted for electrically connecting to the load, and four moveable terminal on two moveable connector arm adapted for electrically connecting to the power lines. The four moveable terminals corresponds in position to the four stationary terminals, respectively, and operate to electrical connect or disconnect the power lines to and from the load and the insertion outlet in a manner controlled by a disconnecting mechanism assembly and a reverse wiring protection mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Shanghai ELE Manufacturing Corp.
    Inventors: Long Zhang, Cheng Li Li
  • Patent number: 7495534
    Abstract: In a terminal of a standard, plug-in or box type molded case circuit breaker, a terminal module assembly for a molded case circuit breaker capable of being removable by easily selecting the terminal type, and a molded case circuit breaker having the terminal module assembly, the terminal module assembly comprising a plurality of terminals provided to selectively have a standard, plug-in or box type and electrically connected to fixed contactors, a plurality of terminal bases provided as many as the number of the terminals and selectively having the standard, plug-in or box type, thus to fixedly support each of the terminals, wherein each terminal is assembled to each terminal base to obtain a terminal module intermediate assembly, and a common supporting base for supporting all of the plurality of intermediate assemblies regardless of the terminal type or terminal base type, wherein the terminal module assemblies having the construction can be attached/detached to/from the molded case circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki-Hwan Oh
  • Patent number: 7479858
    Abstract: Contactor-circuit breaker comprising a control electromagnet and a protection device both capable of acting on mobile contacts in response respectively to a deliberate control and to a detected electrical fault, through a multi-pole device. An electromagnetic tripping device (41) is added onto a contact control mechanism (40). The protection device (30), preferably interchangeable, is connected to the electromagnet (20) through a control line (33B) and to the control mechanism (40) through a trip line (33A) so that it outputs an electrical power supply to the electromagnet on the control line, and in the case of a fault, a trip signal on the trip line. The electromagnet (20) is of the DC type, and the protection device (30) adapts its power supply voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2009
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SA
    Inventors: Gilles Baurand, Dominique Leglaye, Jean-Pierre Tellier
  • 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
  • Patent number: 7449983
    Abstract: An inter-phase link for a shared tripping device, wherein the shared tripping device is structured to operatively couple at least two circuit breakers, and the inter-phase link has an elongated body with a mounting end and a distal end. The inter-phase link body mounting end is structured to be coupled to the primary circuit breaker operating mechanism and the inter-phase link body distal end is structured to extend through a primary circuit breaker housing assembly shaped opening and a secondary circuit breaker housing assembly shaped opening to engage the secondary circuit breaker trip device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2008
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Mark O. Zindler
  • Patent number: 7439833
    Abstract: Located within a GFCI is a movable contact bearing arm which cooperates with at least one fixed contact. When the movable arm is moved up to allow the at least one contact on the arm to close with at least one fixed contact, the GFCI is in a conducting state and current flows from a source of electricity through the closed contacts to a load and to the contacts of a receptacle. When the movable arm is moved down to open the contacts, the GFCI is in a non-conducting state and current cannot flow from the source of electricity to either the load or the receptacle contacts. In this invention, the up and down movement of the movable contact bearing arm is harnessed to move a blocking member located within the housing of the GFCI to a first position to block at least one opening of the receptacle as the movable arm is moved down or to a second position to allow the prongs of a plug to enter the openings of the receptacle as the movable arm is moved up.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2008
    Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Frantz Germain, Stephen Stewart
  • Patent number: 7429906
    Abstract: An electrical feed through junction block includes a mountable housing comprising a front and a back, a first conductive terminal extending from the front of the housing, a second conductive terminal extending from the housing in a direction opposite the first conductive terminal, and an overcurrent protection device located within the housing. The overcurrent protection device is configured to provide a conductive path between the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal when in a non-overcurrent position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Jacek Michael Korczynski
  • 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