Square D Company

Darrell P Ophaug

Ronald J Etscheidt

Robert E Dietz

Henry J Zylstra

William J Broghammer

Peter D Raine

Lynn B Steve

Richard W Niccolls

Beryl W Layton

A method and apparatus for interrupting the flow of electrical current in a multiphase circuit path between at least one source and at least one load including a circuit breaker having an electro-mechanical assembly and a blade carrier corresponding to each phase of the multiphase circuit path and a phase barrier between each blade carrier. The blade carriers are interconnected, preferably, with a crossbar wherein, when one or more phases of the circuit path are interrupted, opening one or more of the blade carriers, the crossbar moves all of the blade carriers to open positions. The phase barrier is positioned circumferentially around the crossbar between each blade carrier and includes a thermoplastic material. The electro-mechanical assembly is housed within a circuit breaker enclosure having an insulating base wall and cover wall. The phase barrier has a main body planar surface perpendicular to the blade carriers and extending from the base wall to the cover wall. The phase barrier is preferably manufactured entirely from the thermoplastic material, or in another embodiment, the phase barrier is manufactured of a fiberglass material having a thermoplastic material covering.

Phase barrier for use in a multiphase circuit breaker

A receptacle is provided which snaps into and seals an opening in a circuit breaker case. A pair of opposed, resilient tabs hold the receptacle within the opening, and substantially prevent withdrawal of the receptacle from the opening. A pair of resilient legs form a flexible U-shaped notch which is adapted to receive and hold a male member attached to a circuit breaker access cover. Therefore screws are not needed for securing the circuit breaker access cover to the circuit breaker case, and the cover is easily removed and replaced any number of times without the use of special tools.

Self-sealing snap-in receptacle, especially for circuit breaker cover

A field installable motor operator for a circuit breaker includes a bidirectionally controllable motor that is coupled through a torque limited module to a circuit breaker operating mechanism. The motor is bidirectionally driven by a transistor switching bridge that supplies output current in reversible flow directions through one of the windings of the motor to the input of a rectifier bridge that supplies the other winding with currents that flow in the same direction. The torque limited module includes a centering and spacing ring which precisely confines the clutch elements to provide consistent torque. The motor is supplied with a current pulse of 250 milliseconds duration that is longer than the time required to fully operate the breaker. The clutch slips when breaker opeation is completed and permits the motor to overrun without damage.

Clutch module with predetermined torque

A field installable motor operator for a circuit breaker includes a bidirectionally controllable motor that is coupled through a torque limited module to a circuit breaker operating mechanism. The motor is bidirectionally driven by a transistor switching bridge that supplies output current in reversible flow directions through one of the windings of the motor to the input of a rectifier bridge that supplies the other winding with currents that flow in the same direction. The torque limited module includes a centering and spacing ring which precisely confines the clutch elements to provide consistent torque. The motor is supplied with a current pulse of 250 milliseconds duration that is longer than the time required to fully operate the breaker. The clutch slips when breaker operation is completed and permits the motor to overrun without damage.

Field installable electrical operator for a circuit breaker

An electric receptacle for ordinary household or trade size junction boxes having a complete ground fault circuit interrupter incorporated in the receptacle, including electronic components to detect a ground fault on the load side of such receptacle, and a coil and trip mechanism which is actuated when a ground fault is detected. On occurrence of a ground fault, the coil and trip mechanism opens the protected circuit. Means to test the interrupting mechanism, means to indicate the interrupter contacts are open, means to reset after testing or occurrence of a ground fault, and means to provide an audible signal if improperly wired, are included.

Ground fault receptacle

An undervoltage trip coil and armature, with a pivotal member biased against and riding on the latch pin of the armature to sense its position. On occurrence of a low voltage condition, a trip lever causes the latch mechanism of the breaker to trip. The pivotal member then interferes with the latch and prevents reset. The undervoltage trip coil is normally energized to normally attract the undervoltage armature. On occurrence of a specified undervoltage condition the armature releases causing the trip lever to trip the latch mechanism and allowing the pivotal member to interfere with the latch of the breaker. During such condition, the breaker cannot be reset until the armature is attracted to the undervoltage coil under proper voltage condition.

Undervoltage release for circuit breaker

An electric receptacle for ordinary household or trade size junction boxes having a complete ground fault circuit interrupter incorporated in the receptacle, including electronic components to detect a ground fault on the load side of such receptacle, and a coil and trip mechanism which is actuated when a ground fault is detected. A number of the components are utilized in this invention in ways that enable them to perform multiple functions eliminating the need for separate components and the space they would require, thereby making it possible to install a complete ground fault circuit interrupter in a smaller space within a receptacle.

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Marion, IA, United States of America

Darrell P Ophaug