Eaton Corporation

Drs Power & Control Technologies, Inc.

Edward Louis Wellner

Paul Jason Rollmann

Michael R Larsen

Donald A Link

Peter J Theisen

Thomas Michael Hall

Peter Nerstrom

Peter K Moldovan

Michael F Walz

Mark Allan Juds

James Michael McCormick

Steven Christopher Schmalz

Xin Zhou

David S Hunter

Walter M Zoller

Jerome Kenneth Hastings

James E Hansen

Birger Pahl

James J Kinsella

David J Gritter

Henry Anthony Wehrli, Iii

Douglas Charles Marks

Richard G Smith

Alvin R Zemlicka

James A Becker

Engelbert Hetzmannseder

Michael Thomas Little

H Richard Beck

Scott A Reid

Raymond Clyde Doran

Jan J Walker

Erik Dannel Taylor

Francis Christopher Edrozo

Mary Jo Johnson Vander Heiden

Randal D Gazdecki

R Michael Slepian

John Robert Skibinski

William Edward Berkopec

Karen Sjaarda Bland

Engelbert Hetzmanseder

Thomas Edward Strunsee

Kevin S Sprinker

Francois Jean Machand

Richard F Schmerda

James Mccormick

Thomas c/o Eaton Corporation Hall

Electrically assisted safing of a solenoid linear actuator to provide shock tolerance is provided for a solenoid actuator, the actuator having an armature and at least one electromagnetic inductive coil. A controller, receiving an output from a motion sensor, adjusts an electrical power input to the electromagnetic inductive coil. When the output of the motion sensor indicates onset of an environmental transient exceeding a predetermined threshold of intensity, the controller adjusts the electrical power input such that an electromagnetic field generated by the coil is sufficient to restrain the armature in a desired position during the environmental transient.

Electrically assisted safing of a linear actuator to provide shock tolerance

The present invention provides an electrical isolation apparatus having independently controllable contactors. The isolation apparatus includes a contactor for each phase or pole of an electrical device as well as each phase or pole of a load. Each contactor is constructed so that each includes multiple contact assemblies that may be independently controlled to open and close. Moreover, the contactors within a single contactor assembly or housing can be independently controlled so that the contacts of one contactor can be opened without opening the contacts of the other contactors in the contactor assembly. Additionally, the contactors are construct and controlled such that a single line side contactor and a single load contactor open simultaneously when an open circuit condition is desired.

Isolation contactor assembly having independently controllable contactors

The auxiliary switch includes a non-contact sensor, such as a Hall effect device, that is switched by the condition of a magnetic field. The magnetic field condition is effected by a movable contact indicator that moves between open and closed positions with the separable contacts of the electric power apparatus. A magnet may be attached to the movable contact indicator, or the movable contact indicator can be magnetized to form the magnet. Alternatively, the moving contact indicator can intercept or not intercept a magnetic field produced by a fixed magnet spaced from the sensor. The Hall effect device may be mounted on the outside of the nonmagnetically permeable housing of the electric power apparatus, or inside if there is sufficient room. In either case, no mechanical coupling is required for the sensor.

Non-contact auxiliary switch and electric power apparatus incorporating same

A subminiature circuit breaker is equipped with an arc fault auxiliary switch actuated by the arc fault trip motor through an indicator actuator that also deploys a pop-up arc fault indicator. An additional auxiliary switch actuated by the drive link on the toggle mechanism provides an indication of the open/closed state of the circuit breaker separable contacts. Both the arc fault auxiliary switch and the contact state auxiliary switch are mounted on the outside of the subminiature circuit breaker housing and are operated by an operating member and a pivoted member, respectively, extending through openings in the housing.

Circuit breaker with auxiliary switches and mechanisms for operating same

A circuit breaker includes a housing; separable contacts mounted in the housing; and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. An overcurrent assembly is responsive to selected conditions of current flowing through the separable contacts and actuates the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. A bonnet forms a U-shape which surrounds the separable contacts and which cools and splits an arc when the operating mechanism trips open the separable contacts. A first bonnet piece forms a first leg of the bonnet, and a second bonnet piece forms a second leg and a base of the bonnet.

Circuit breaker

A vacuum arc interrupter that includes a vacuum chamber assembly having a first conductor and a pressure chamber assembly having a second metal conductor, with an opening, and a bullet assembly. The first conductor is coupled to a power line and the second conductor is coupled to a ground. The bullet assembly has a metal lance structured to engage the opening. The lance is shaped to create an arc when engaging the opening so that the second conductor and the lance are welded together.

Vacuum arc interrupter having a tapered conducting bullet assembly

An indicator reset tool is for a movable arc fault indicator of a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker further includes a housing enclosing separable contacts, an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts, and an operating handle protruding through an opening in the housing. An actuator actuates the movable indicator arc fault indicator and actuates the operating mechanism to trip the separable contacts open. The indicator reset tool includes a reset member having a first end with an indicator engaging portion structured to depress and reset the movable arc fault indicator. The second end of the reset member includes a handle portion for gripping by a user.

Indicator reset tool, and circuit breaker and method employing the same

An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing; separable contacts mounted in the housing; a latchable operating mechanism including a latch member which when unlatched opens the separable contacts; and an overcurrent assembly responsive to selected conditions of current flowing through the separable contacts for unlatching the latch member to trip the separable contacts open. A movable and illuminable arc fault indicator has a first ring portion and second leg portions internal to the housing. An arc fault actuator which when energized moves one of the second leg portions. An arc fault current assembly responds to selected arc fault conditions of current flowing through the separable contacts to energize the arc fault actuator to move the second leg portions internal to the housing and the first ring portion external to the housing. The arc fault current assembly includes a light for illuminating the first ring portion.

Circuit breaker having a movable and illuminable arc fault indicator

A molded case circuit breaker incorporates vacuum switches operated by a toggle mechanism. Pole arms tied together by a cross bar are rotated simultaneously by the toggle mechanism. A drive link translates the rotational movement of each pole arm into linear movement of a driven member along the axis of the movable electrode of the associated vacuum switch. A coupling bracket has a base section secured to the movable electrode, longitudinal sections straddling the movable electrode axis and terminal sections extending inward toward the plane of rotation of the pole arm from the ends of the longitudinal sections. Coupling members extend from the driven member through slots in the terminal sections of the coupling bracket. Springs couple the free ends of the coupling members to the coupling bracket to open and close the vacuum switch with operation of the toggle mechanism.

Molded case circuit breaker including vacuum switch assembly

A circuit breaker includes a housing; separable contacts mounted in the housing; a latchable operating mechanism including a latch lever which when released opens the separable contacts; and an overcurrent assembly responsive to selected conditions of current flowing through the separable contacts for releasing the latch lever to trip the separable contacts open. The circuit breaker also includes an arc fault indicator; an arc fault trip actuator which when energized moves a first indicator latch for actuating the arc fault indicator and a second latch for releasing the latch lever to trip the separable contacts open; and an arc fault current assembly responsive to selected arc fault conditions of current flowing through the separable contacts for energizing the arc fault trip actuator to actuate the arc fault indicator and to trip the separable contacts open.

Circuit breaker including an arc fault trip actuator having an indicator latch and a trip latch

Electrical equipment is safeguarded from damage due to faults by a circuit that provides several levels of protection. A semiconductor switch and a current sensor are placed in series with the electrical equipment. When the current to the equipment exceeds a first threshold for a predefined period of time, the semiconductor switch is rendered non-conductive until the circuit is specifically reset. When the current to the equipment exceeds a greater second threshold, a pulsed signal alternately places the semiconductor switch in conductive and non-conductive states so that the average current applied to the equipment is within an acceptable level. Should the current exceed an even greater third threshold, the semiconductor switch is immediately rendered non-conductive until the circuit is manually reset.

Soild state protection circuit for electrical apparatus

The toggle mechanism of a circuit breaker is connected at one end to the pivoted contact arm and at the other end to a pivoted latch lever which is engaged to latch the toggle mechanism by a latch member pivoted for movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the toggle mechanism. The latch member serves as an armature for a trip motor energized by a trip circuit responsive to an arc fault and/or a ground fault to unlatch the toggle mechanism and trip the circuit breaker open. The latch member is also tripped by a helical bimetal responsive to persistent overcurrents and coupled to the latch member through an ambient compensator bimetal cantilevered from the latch member. A flexible shunt connected between the helical bimetal and contact arm passes through an extension of the magnetic circuit of the trip motor to generate a magnetic field of sufficient strength to trip the latch member instantaneously in response to a short circuit.

Circuit breaker with instantaneous trip provided by main conductor routed through magnetic circuit of electronic trip motor

Circuit breaker with latch and toggle mechanism operating in perpendicular planes

Electrical switching apparatus such as a power circuit breaker, network protector or switch has a self-supporting operating mechanism module including a cage formed by a pair of side plates rigidly clamped in spaced relation by spacers. The cage supports all of the operating mechanism components including a helical compression close spring mounted fully between the side plates and coupled to a cam member through a rocker in a manner which maintains the forces longitudinal to the spring. The cam member has a charging cam with a charge profile for compressing the close spring and a close profile through which the spring drives the cam member to effect a controlled release of stored energy to close the contacts of the apparatus. The cam shaft is captured between bushings seated in non-circular openings in the side plates thereby eliminating the need for any fasteners. Likewise, other parts mounted between the side plates and joined by pins having enlarged heads retained by the side plates do not need retainers. Various shafts extending between the side plates have reduced diameter ends of progressive lengths for successive insertion in one side plate to aid in assembly of the operating mechanism.

Electrical switching apparatus with modular operating mechanism for

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Colgate, WI, United States of America

Edward Louis Wellner