General Electric Company

Dennis C Zuffelato

Joseph G Nagy

Anilkumar Dinker Pandit

Thuong Phung

Roger N Castonguay

Craig Benjamin Williams

David J Lesslie

Heather Ellen Pugliese

Narayansamy Soundararajan

Robert A Wall, Jr

Joseph P Smith

Javier I Larranaga

Andre J M'Sadoques

David A Hibbert

Yatin Vilas Newase

Alberto Anibal Figueroa

Ramesh Kempanna Babu

Joseph F Noonan

Charles Stephan Pitzen

Anthony L Richards

Harold F Larkin

Madhu Sudan

K V Sridhar

M Natarajan

Daniel Schlitz

A Ramadevi

Kadaba Venkatarangan Sridhar

Conrad R Turmelle

Richard J Stendardo

Michael Thomas Gerken

Patrick McGill

Joseph E Noonan

Mani Natarajan

Jose F Gonzalez

Agali Ramadevi

Efrain Ralat

Sujit Kumar Piri

Robert J Cassagrande

Natarajan Mani

Ramadevi Agali

Chakrapani Shankar Ganesh

Mitchell E Johnson

A circuit breaker configured to be remotely operated is disclosed. The circuit breaker includes a set of main contacts configured to connect between an electrical source and an electrical load, an operating mechanism in operable communication to open and close the main contacts, and a remotely operable drive system configured to open and close the main contacts separate from actuation of the operating mechanism. The drive system includes a motor responsive to first and second control signals, a primary drive responsive to the motor, and an opening spring responsive to the primary drive, the main contacts being responsive to the opening spring. In response to the first control signal, the primary drive moves to charge the opening spring, and in response to the second control signal and the main contacts being closed, the primary drive moves to allow the opening spring to discharge thereby resulting in the main contacts opening independent of the motor.

Circuit breaker configured to be remotely operated

A multi-pole mounting base for interfacing a circuit breaker and/or circuit interrupter with an electrical panel is disclosed. The electrical panel has an interior configured to receive remote operated circuit breakers (ROCBs) in signal communication with a communication board internal to the electrical panel, non-ROCBs, and ground fault circuit interrupters (GFCls). The mounting base includes a unitary support platform assemblable to the interior of the electrical panel and having first mounting regions with common structure configured to receive any one of the ROCBs, the non-ROCBs, and the GFCls. The support platform also has second mounting regions configured to receive the communication board. The support platform is configured to assemble adjacent to another support platform in the electrical panel.

Apparatus for interfacing remote operated and non-remote operated circuit breakers with an electrical panel

A method for restricting travel of a moving contact in a lighting contactor is provided. The lighting contactor includes the moving contact and a contact carrier. The method includes the steps of providing a spacer, and a biasing member and positioning the biasing member though the spacer. The method also includes installing the biasing member and the spacer in the contact carrier.

Method for limiting movement in electrical contactors

An electronic circuit for use on a contactor is disclosed. The electronic circuit may be encased in a housing and mounted to a coil cover on the front of a contactor for applying control power to the coil for a selected time period to enable the contactor to change its state and be held in the changed state. Thereafter, the electronic circuit disconnects the supply to the coil thereby preventing coil burn out. The control power is only applied after initiation of an input signal from a switch and after a controller in the electronic circuit has slept for a first predetermined period of time so as not to register any bounce from the input signal. The electronic circuit may include an auxiliary contact status check for providing error free activation of the mechanically held contactor when changing state of the contactor. A contactor employing the electronic circuit of the present invention and a method of using the electronic circuit on a contactor are further disclosed.

Electronic actuation for mechanically held contactors

A field configurable contactor is disclosed. The contactor preferably includes a plurality of spaces adapted to receive any number, up to its limit, of contact modules. Each contact module preferably includes a pair of contacts and a spring biased cam follower which opens and closes the contact pair when a cam profile of the contactor moves according to energization or de-energization of the contactor. The contact module can be either &ldquo;normally open&rdquo; or &ldquo;normally closed&rdquo; depending on its initial placement onto the contactor relative to the cam profile. A latch assembly in the contactor may hold the contactor mechanically during de-energization.

Field configurable contacts and contactor

A multiple pole sub-feed for a panel board is disclosed. The sub-feed of the present invention includes extension bus bars which connect to the bus bars of the panel board and preferably linearly extend the length of the sub-feed. The sub-feed further includes bus connectors supported generally perpendicular to the extension bus bars and preferably extending the width of the sub-feed. The design allows for a plurality of poles of sub-feed to be accommodated by adding bus connectors to the end of the sub-feed, where each bus connector includes an opening for electrically connecting to one of the extension bus bars. Current passes from the extension bus bars to a metal retainer connecting the bus connector to the extension bus bars, to a current carrying strap in the bus connectors, to a current carrying spool located in a turret on the bus connectors, and then to a circuit breaker positioned above the bus connector about the turret.

Multiple poles of sub-feed in lighting panel

A circuit breaker lighting panelboard is adapted for both top and bottom feed connections with no field modification requirements. The panelboard interior accepts a variety of branch circuit breaker mounting arrangements and the mounting rails are interconnected by steel straps to reduce shipment damage.

Modular circuit breaker and modular lighting panelboard for field assembly

A two-piece extruded aluminum alloy housing is shaped to provide support and ground conduction facility to power busway conductors contained therein. The two-piece housing is attached together with snap-fit connectors along its top and bottom surfaces. The housing is attached to the busway power conductors by means of insulated bolts. The bolts may be hollow so that air can flow through the bolts to aid in cooling the conductors within the housing by convection.

Thermally efficient power busway housing

Growing community of inventors

Kensington, CT, United States of America

Dennis C Zuffelato