General Electric Company

Other

James Arthur Marple

Michael Roger Koller

Melvyn James Marple

Robert Allan Morris

Alan Joseph Messerli

Michael H Thomas

Charles Stephen Pitzen

Aaron Soucy

A clamping device is configured to ensure that a workpiece fixed between the jaws of the clamp is self centered by coupling the jaws to a pair of linkages that rotate through the same angle as the application of a first causes the jaws to translate in linear fashion across the surface of the device. In particular, the clamping device utilizes coupled linkage (e.g., a 180&#xb0; bell crank), in combination with slots for retaining opposing jaws and maintaining only linear movement of the jaws, thus providing a fast and accurate self-centering arrangement. The clamping device may also be located within a hollow workpiece and controlled to move the jaws outward and engage the inner surface of the hollow workpiece in a self-aligned configuration.

Self-centering clamp

An apparatus for cutting a pipe includes a housing with a central aperture for holding the pipe in a fixed position. A rotatable collar is mounted on the outer surface of the fixed housing, with a cutting head attached to the collar. The cutting head is configured to translate forward and backward such that the combination of the rotational movement of the collar and the translational movement of the cutting head is capable of performing complex cuts without ever moving the pipe. A number of different cutting tools (laser, plasma, etc.) may be attached to the cutting head, and a variety of different tasks may be performed including cutting completely through the entire pipe, inscribing on the pipe surface, forming through-holes along the pipe, and the like.

Pipe cutting apparatus and method of using the same

A trip unit connection tester ( ) is arranged to test the electrical connections ( ) and ( ) between a trip unit ( ) and actuator ( ) mounted within a circuit breaker ( ). Tester ( ) includes a power source ( ) including a positive lead ( ), and a negative lead ( ). The positive lead ( ) is coupled to a two-loop switch ( ). The two loop switch ( ) toggles between a first loop ( ), and a second loop ( ). The first loop ( ) includes the power source ( ), the two-loop switch ( ), and the energy storage element ( ) wherein the energy storage element ( ) stores energy coming from the power source ( ). The second loop ( ) includes the two-loop switch ( ), and the energy storage element ( ), connections ( ) and ( ), and the actuator ( ), wherein energy stored within the energy storage element ( ) is released to the actuator ( ).

Connection tester for an electronic trip unit

An improved rating plug housing is presented for use with circuit breakers having electronic trip units. The housing ( ) for the rating plug has a series of protruding tabs ( ) on the bottom of the housing ( ). A trip unit housing ( ) forms part of a circuit breaker housing. Trip unit housing ( ) includes a recess ( ) for receiving the trip unit housing ( ). Recess ( ) has a series of castellations ( ) on the bottom of the recess ( ). If a rating plug is appropriate for a given trip unit, the pattern of tabs ( ) and castellations ( ) will not interfere, and insertion will be permitted. If a rating plug is not appropriate for a given trip unit, the pattern of tabs ( ) and castellations ( ) will interfere, and insertion will not be permitted. Tabs ( ) or projections ( ) may be removed from housing ( ) or recess ( ) using a hand-held tool.

Rating plug for circuit breakers

A combination circuit breaker/motor starter includes a circuit breaker trip unit having a microprocessor and at least one removably connectable contactor or other functional module. The functional module is encoded with an identifier, such that the microprocessor can determine the type of functional module and appropriate configuration parameters, such as trip times, for the particular application of the functional module. Power is supplied continuously to the trip unit during motor overload or short circuit conditions.

Breaker/starter with auto-configurable trip unit

A method of performing instantaneous protection in a trip unit is presented. The electronic trip unit includes a microcontroller and associated ROM having trip unit application code, e.g., main functionality firmware, including initializing parameters, and boot code, stored therein and EEPROM having operational parameter code stored therein. An instantaneous protection algorithm (program) stored in the memory of the trip unit has a `WAIT` state and a `RUN` state. In the RUN state samples of the sensed current that classify as points that are accumulated in a point register. Accumulation of a determined number of points qualifies as a peak. These peaks are accumulated in a peak register. If a point is not detected within a determined time period, then the count of peaks accumulated in the peak register is decremented, thereby provided a cooling function. When the count in the peak register exceeds the sensor limit a signal is generated by the microcontroller to initiate the trip.

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Newtown, CT, United States of America

James Arthur Marple