Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Eaton Corporation

Birch L DeVault

Kurt A Grunert

John J Henwood

John J Dauer, Jr

Rick A Hurley

Charles R Paton

Walter J Kellogg

Ricky A Hurley

Kenneth L Paape

Glenn H Edwards

A multiphase contactor with solid state circuity gating rectified pulses to an electromagnetic coil to close and hold closed contacts for each phase, sequentially for each successive opening of the contactor adjusts the delay angle of the last pulse to rotate the sequence in which the individual phase currents are interrupted. By alternately making the last pulse positive or negative the polarity of the interrupted current alternates to further promote even contact wear.

Microprocessor based electrical contactor with distributed contactor

An interlock, for a pair of electromagnetic switches, includes operating members which are pivoted by movement of armatures of the switches between off and on positions. Ring segment cams are carried by the respective operating members along arcuate paths which intersect such that movement of one switch out of the off position mechanically blocks movement of the armature of the other switch out of the off position. For side by side electromagnetic switches, the operating members are directly confronting. For other arrangements of the switches, such as one above the other, the operating member of one switch includes a first pivot member pivoted by the associated armature, and a second pivot member on which the ring segment cam is carried, confronting the second operating member, and connected to and pivoted with the first pivot member by a connecting member.

Mechanical interlock for a pair of electromagnetic switches

An electromagnetic contactor is taught having an E-shaped movable magnetic armature and a complementary E-shaped permanent magnet. The outboard legs of the E-shaped members abut at closure. Each of the central legs of the complementary magnetic members have significant magnetic material removed from the face thereof leaving complementary abutting nipples or protrusions which mate or make with each other as the outer legs make or mate with each other. The total reluctance of the magnetic system when in the abutted state is significantly lower than if the air-gap material had not been removed. This allows the kickout spring to operate effectively to separate the magnets at an appropriate time. The lower the magnetic reluctance the higher the residual magnetism and the more difficult it is for the kickout spring to separate the magnetic members and thus the contacts of the contactor during an opening operation. The central nipple portions or protrusions abut against each other to prevent longitudinal movement of one magnetic central leg member relative to the other. This reduces wear and noise. This is particularly important when the magnets are maintained in the closed state by the utilization of an assisting HOLD pulse which is continuously supplied to the electromagnet.

Electromagnetic contactor with reduced noise magnetic armature

An electrical control apparatus characterized by a pair of separable contacts with electromagnetic means for opening and closing the contacts and including a U-shaped core having spaced legs and a yoke, a permanent magnet across the yoke, and the magnet having a cross-section greater than that of either leg.

Electrical control apparatus with electromagnetic latch

This invention provides an electric control device comprising a unique and novel auxiliary contact structure is made an integral part of the operating coil. This new arrangement greatly expands the interlocking capabilities of electric control devices without causing an increase in the device's overall size.

Electric control device

This invention provides a novel and unique electric control device which utilizes a new auxiliary contact device. This new auxiliary contact device has a contact-carrying structure that is directly engaged with the operating mechanism of the electric control device whereby the operating mechanism directly moves the auxiliary contact device to all operating positions eliminating any requirement for biasing the auxiliary contacts into any normal position.

A circuit interrupter with an optical indicator characterized by a housing, a stationary contact structure within the housing, a movable contact carrier structure within the housing and movable between open and closed positions relative to the stationary contact carrier, said carrier structure also being movable between remote and proximate positions of the lens, indicator means for observing the position of said carrier structure and including a lens in the housing and directed to said carrier structure, indicia on the surface of said carrier structure facing the lens and having two indicia portions, and the lens showing different indicia portions when the carrier structure is in remote and proximate positions, thereby indicating to an observer whether the circuit interrupter is in the open or closed circuit condition.

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Arden, NC, United States of America

Birch L DeVault