Abstract: A self-resetting current limiter includes: a first connecting contact for bringing the current limiter into contact with a first electrical conductor a second connecting contact for bringing the current limiter into contact with a second electrical conductor; a first movable contact member; and a second movable contact member, wherein the first and the second movable contact members are electrically interconnected in a first position of the first and the second movable contact member, such that a current path between the first and the second connecting contact is closed, and wherein the first and the second movable contact members are separated from one another in a second position of the first and the second movable contact member, such that the current path between the first and the second connecting contact is interrupted.

Abstract: A resettable switching apparatus, useful in a GFCI receptacle, has an auto-monitoring circuit for automatically testing various functions and structures of the device. The auto-monitoring circuit initiates an auto-monitoring routine which, among other things, establishes a test fault situation on either the positive or negative half-wave of the power cycle and determines whether the detection mechanisms within the device appropriately detect the test fault and whether the device would trip in the event of an actual fault. Additional functionality of the auto-monitoring circuit permits automatic verification that the device is properly wired, that is, not miswired, and determines whether the device has reached the end of its useful life.

Abstract: An interface assembly is for a trip unit of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The trip unit cooperates with the operating mechanism and includes an enclosure, a controller, and a cover member having a plurality of indicia. The interface assembly includes at least one adjustment knob assembly having a post member and a ring member, which includes a cutout. The post member has first and second opposing ends. The ring member is disposed on the second end. The adjustment knob assembly pivots among a plurality of positions to adjust the controller. Each position corresponds to a predetermined setting of the trip unit. The ring member substantially overlays all but one of the indicia, which is exposed by the cutout to indicate the adjustment knob assembly position and corresponding trip unit setting.

Abstract: A monitoring module for a fusible switch disconnect device includes an open fuse detecting element and wire leads for completing an electrical connection with a fuse.

Abstract: A fusible switch disconnect device includes a housing adapted to receive at least one fuse therein, and a switchable contact for connecting the fuse to circuitry. A tripping mechanism and control circuitry are provided to displace the switchable contact, as well as multiple other components in the device, in response to a predetermined electrical condition.

Abstract: Fuse state indicators for use with disconnect devices having a fuse are provided. Fuse state indicators include a housing having circuitry, a detecting means for detecting an open circuit condition, conductors adapted for electrical connection to a disconnect device so as to complete a circuit connecting the detecting means with a fuse of the disconnect device, and a signal transmitting means The detecting means is configured to transmit a signal to the signal transmitting means for determining an operational state of the fuse. The signal transmitting means, in turn, is configured to transmit a signal to a remote device the state of the fuse.

Abstract: A monitoring module for a fusible switch disconnect device includes an open fuse detecting element and wire leads for completing an electrical connection with a fuse.

Abstract: A safety device for a switch includes a first terminal, a second terminal and a conductive plate connected between the two terminals. A first contact point is connected to an end of the second terminal. The conductive plate has a first end fixed to the first terminal and a second contact point connected to a second end of the conductive plate and corresponding to the first contact point. A push rod is located at a side of the conductive plate and a gap is defined between the distal end of the push rod and the conductive plate. The push rod pushes a mediate portion of the conductive plate when the mediate portion of the conductive plate is overheating to bend toward the push rod under a current overload condition. The push rod applies a force to further separate the first and second contact points so as to ensure the circuit is cut off.

Abstract: A fusible switch disconnect device includes a housing adapted to receive at least one fuse therein, and switchable contacts for connecting the fuse to circuitry. A tripping mechanism is provided to disconnect the switchable contacts when predetermined circuit conditions occur.

Abstract: A panelboard for fusible switching disconnect devices. The panelboard includes a chassis coupled to a mounting enclosure, The mounting enclosure can be used indoors or outdoors. The chassis is configured to receive one or more fusible switching disconnect devices. Each of the fusible switching disconnect devices includes both a fuse and a circuit breaker-like disconnect in a single, relatively compact housing. The compactness of the housing allows the panelboard to provide a higher level of overcurrent interruption in a smaller sized mounting enclosure than conventional panelboards. For example, the panelboard can have an interruption per volume rating of at least about 33 amps per cubic inch, as compared to about 2 amps per cubic inch for most conventional panelboards.

Abstract: Fuse state indicators for use with disconnect devices having a fuse are provided. Fuse state indicators include a housing having circuitry, a detecting means for detecting an open circuit condition, conductors adapted for electrical connection to a disconnect device so as to complete a circuit connecting the detecting means with a fuse of the disconnect device, and a signal transmitting means. The detecting means is configured to transmit a signal to the signal transmitting means for determining an operational state of the fuse. The signal transmitting means, in turn, is configured to transmit a signal to a remote device the state of the fuse.

Abstract: A safety switch has a housing, a conducting assembly, a switching assembly and a resilient member. The housing has an on-end and an off-end. The conducting assembly is mounted in the housing and has two conductors and a bimetal strip. The conductors respectively correspond to the on and off-ends and are attached respectively to two separated ends of a circuit. The bimetal strip selectively connects the conductors. The switching assembly has a rocker and a connecting arm. The rocker is mounted pivotally on a top of the housing. The connecting arm connects the rocker and a contacting end of the bimetal strip. The resilient member is mounted between the on-end of the housing and the rocker to stably position the rocker when the circuit is on or off.

Abstract: A switch includes a body with a switch member on a top thereof, an extension extends from an underside of the switch member, and a substantially inverted L-shaped slot is defined through the extension. Two terminals extend through a bottom of the body, in which one of the terminals is fixed with a contact plate. The contact plate has a tongue with a free end, which contacts the other terminal when the circuit is ON, and is separated from the other terminal when the circuit is OFF. An operation member has a first end movably engaged with the slot and a second end connected with the contact plate. A positioning member having a first end pivotally connected to an inside of the body and a second end biasing the first end of the operation member. Under the current overload condition, the switch member is pivoted by a torsion spring to the OFF position.

Abstract: A switch includes a body with a switch member on a top thereof, an extension extends from an underside of the switch member, and a substantially inverted L-shaped slot is defined through the extension. Two terminals extend through a bottom of the body, in which one of the terminals is fixed with a contact plate. The contact plate has a tongue with a free end, which contacts the other terminal when the circuit is ON, and is separated from the other terminal when the circuit is OFF. An operation member has a first end movably engaged with the slot and a second end connected with the contact plate. Under the current overload condition, the contact plate deforms, the first end of the operation member move downward along the vertical space of the slot, and the switch member is pivoted by a torsion spring to the OFF position.

Abstract: A fusible disconnect device having auxiliary connections to line-side and load-side terminals and color coding features to indicate an amperage rating of a fuse.

Abstract: A switch includes a body with a switch member on a top thereof, an extension extends from an underside of the switch member, and a substantially inverted L-shaped slot is defined through the extension. Two terminals extend through a bottom of the body, in which one of the terminals is fixed with a contact plate. The contact plate has a tongue with a free end, which contacts the other terminal when the circuit is ON, and is separated from the other terminal when the circuit is OFF. An operation member has a first end movably engaged with the slot and a second end connected with the contact plate. Under the current overload condition, the contact plate deforms, the first end of the operation member move downward along the vertical space of the slot, and the switch member is pivoted by a torsion spring to the OFF position.

Abstract: Fusible switch disconnect modules including a housing means adapted to receive at least one fuse therein, switchable contacts for connecting the fuse to circuitry and having at least one stationary contact and at least one movable contact selectively positionable between an open position and a closed position to connect or disconnect an electrical connection through the fuse, and a means for biasing or bias element assisting movement of the movable contact to the open or disconnected position.

Abstract: A fusible switch disconnect device includes a housing adapted to receive at least one fuse therein, and switchable contacts for connecting the fuse to circuitry. A tripping mechanism is provided to disconnect the switchable contacts when predetermined circuit conditions occur.

Abstract: A switch includes a push rod which extends from an underside of a switch member and the push rod selectively pivots an action member in “ON” and “OFF” positions. A bi-metallic contact plate has a first end fixed to one of two terminals and a contact portion splits from the contact plate. A first contact point is connected to an underside of the contact portion so as to contact a second contact point on the other terminal when in “ON” position. A free end of the contact portion is connected with a free end of a spring member which is fixed on the contact plate. There is a sufficient space for the upward movement of the action member when overloaded.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a body having a neck member integrally connected thereto. A flange extends from an inner periphery of the neck member and a recess is defined in an inner periphery of the flange. Two terminals are connected to the body and a bi-metallic plate has an end fixed to one of the terminals and there other end of the bi-metallic plate is a free end on which a contact point is connected so as to be in contact with another contact point on one of the terminals. A button has a stop plate extending radially therefrom which is sized to move through the first recess of the flange, and the button is then rotated an angle to shift the stop plate away from the first recess. A resilient member is biased between the stop plate and an inside of the body. By the off alignment of the stop member and the flange, the button is not disengaged from the body.

Abstract: A push button switch includes a box with a button movably inserted in the box and an oscillation member is pivotally connected to a terminal plate. A bimetal plate is connected to the other terminal plate. A curved spring is connected to the oscillation member and a tongue of the button contacts the curved spring so that the bimetal plate contacts the oscillation member when pushing the button. A movable member has a U-shaped member which has an end engaged with an enclosed recessed area in the button. The inner periphery of the recessed area positions the end of the U-shaped member at open and close position. The movable member is pushed by the deformation of the bimetal plate and the U-shaped member is moved from the position in the recessed area.

Abstract: A thermal triggering system includes bimetal strips a switching element for triggering a switching operation, and a differential lever which is fastened to the slide and which shortens its distance from the switching element as a result of the movement of said slide in the pushing direction, the mounting of the differential lever on the slide is improved in terms of adaption to the distance. For this purpose, the differential lever is fastened via a bearing point which is designed as a center of rotation and via which the distance can be set at a predetermined distance value.

Abstract: Differential thermal tripping device with bimetallic strips for electrical protection appliance such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a tripping assembly with two contact strips 30, 40 free to move along the X direction, and for each bimetallic strip, a single adjustment part 15 fixed to a free inclined edge 19 of the bimetallic strip head 13, adjustable along the X direction, in the position obtained after heating of the bimetallic strips for calibration. The assembly 30, 40 may consist of a frame supporting adjustment parts until they are fixed and provided with separable areas 36, 46 to generate two contact strips following cutting.

Abstract: A thermally and manually operable circuit breaker switch has a housing and first and second conductive plates mounted in the housing. This first plate has a first contact. A cantilevered bimetallic blade is mounted on the second plate and has a free end and a second contact. This second contact is mounted on the free end opposite the first contact. The switch also has a push button with a lateral isolating tab slidably mounted together in the housing. A spring is mounted in the housing for outwardly urging the push button and causing the tab to keep apart the first and second contacts. Also, included is a push rod slidably mounted in the housing transverse to the length of the bimetallic blade and aligned with its free end. Thus, depression of the push rod flexes the blade and separates the first and second contacts to allow the tab to keep the contacts apart.

Abstract: A push-button actuated overload protection switch, particularly an on-board protection switch having instant ON switching as well as manual, thermal and/or electromagnetic tripping. The switch has various components such as a switch housing, a pushbutton and an associated spring, a contact bridge and a toggle lever device, a detent lever and a detent pawl, as well as two switch rods, these parts being interconnected to obtain the desired switching function.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a bimetal releaser for a switch, e.g. a motor protection switch, the releaser including a release bridge and a differential bridge which is movable relative to the release bridge, with the ends of the bimetal strips being disposed between the two bridges through the use of calibrating elements. In order to provide a reliably adjusted bimetal releaser and to reduce the costs involved with adjustment, the free release end of each bimetal strip is equipped with a single calibrating element which, when the releaser is in its calibrated state, is fixed to the bimetal strip and, when seen in the direction of movement of the bimetal strip, lies, on the one hand, at the release bridge and, on the other hand, at the differential bridge.

Abstract: A temperature responsive switch having a bimetal disc disposed within a recess in the switch body is provided with a guide member having a hole extending therethrough and a sperical shaped transmitting member disposed in the hole in contact with the bimetal disc. A leaf spring is secured to the body at one end thereof in overlying relation to the hole in engagement with the spherical shaped transmitting member. A moveable contact is fixed to the other end of the leaf spring and a stationary contact is provided on the body adjacent the moveable contact. A spring normally disposed between the body and the leaf spring biases the leaf spring in a direction to separate the contacts and upon over center movement of the bimetal disc the spherical shaped transmitting member will move the leaf spring against the force of the spring to bring the contacts into engagement with each other.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to an electrical circuit breaker comprising a housing having a pair of external terminals for connection to a source of electrical current. Current responsive means is supported internally of the housing and electrically connected to said terminals and to separable internal contacts. Current flow through said current responsive means effects separation of said contacts upon the occurrence of a predetermined electrical condition. A fusible element disposed externally of said housing is electrically connected in series with said contacts and current responsive means and is operable to effect interruption of the electrical circuit through said circuit breaker upon failure of said current responsive means to respond to said predetermined electrical condition.

Abstract: A pushbutton-operated circuit breaker has a thermal release and an independent trip which can be mannually operated to trip the circuit breaker from the "on" position to the "off" position by depressing the pushbutton. A slide is provided within the switch which, when contacted by the pushbutton, forces a bimetallic spring to bend and release the switch. The slide is movable within the switch such that it is outside of the path of movement of the pushbutton when the circuit breaker is being switched from the "off" to the "on" position, but is engageable by the pushbutton when in the "on" position.

Abstract: A circuit breaker has a contact member with a pair of arms which extend from the member in spaced side-by-side relation. The contact member also has a thermostatic portion which moves in response to an increase in temperature to move the distal ends of the arms away from each other. A latching plate has a pair of spaced latch surfaces engaged with the distal ends of the respective contact member arms for manually moving the contact member into closed circuit position. The latch surfaces permit the distal arm ends to slide from the latch surfaces as the arms move apart when the thermostatic portion is heated to a selected temperature in response to the occurrence of an overload current in the breaker circuit, thereby to allow the contact member to move automatically to an open circuit position under a spring bias.