Eaton Corporation

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Kurt Von Eckroth

Mark Allan Juds

Jerome Kenneth Hastings

Christopher John Wieloch

Paul Jason Rollmann

James A Becker

Roger James Briggs

Jeffrey Troy Johnson

Patrick J Griesemer

James E Hansen

John Trublowski

Charles J Tennies

Slobodan Krstic

David S Hunter

Mark G Solveson

Karthik Satyanarayanan

Scott A Reid

Naresh Kumar Kodela

Jan J Walker

Kaushik Naidu Kona

Peter J Theisen

Earl T Piber

Peter K Moldovan

Engelbert Hetzmannseder

Abhijeet Nitin Rathi

Abhijeet Rathi

Mark George Solverson

Mike T Little

An electrical connection element is for a power connector. The power connector includes an electrical component having a number of first electrical mating members. The electrical connection element comprises: a housing including a number of second electrical mating members structured to be electrically connected to the number of first electrical mating members; a contact assembly enclosed by the housing and being electrically connected to the number of second electrical mating members; and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the contact assembly. The contact assembly is structured to electrically connect and disconnect power while the number of first electrical mating members remain mechanically coupled to the number of second electrical mating members.

Switching power connector and electrical connection element with safety interlock

An electrical connection element is for a power connector. The power connector has an electrical component including a first insulative housing and a first mating assembly having a number of first electrical mating members structured to be substantially enclosed by the first insulative housing. The electrical connection element includes a second insulative housing; and a second mating assembly comprising a number of second electrical mating members structured to be electrically connected to the number of first electrical mating members. The second mating assembly is structured to move between a first position corresponding to the number of second electrical mating members being substantially enclosed by the second insulative housing, and a second position corresponding to the number of second electrical mating members being partially disposed external the second insulative housing.

Power connector, and electrical connection element and assembly method therefor

Power connector, and electrical connection element and operating method therefor

Multi-layer capacitor divider voltage sensors include a plurality of voltage sensor conductive layers having sensor to ground interface surfaces. Respective voltage sensor conductive layers are connected to each other and sensor output voltage Vs by continuations of material forming the interface surfaces extending therebetween. The voltage sensors also include a plurality of conductive ground layers connected to electrical ground, the ground layers interleaved with the voltage sensor conductive layers so that a conductive ground layer resides between adjacent conductive voltage sensor layers. A first voltage sensor conductive layer (closest to a line conductor) is electrically connected to the other conductive voltage sensor layers and output voltage Vs and has a sensor to conductor interface surface with a corresponding interface area. The interface areas and the gap distances are configured to provide desired capacitance for attenuation of conductor voltage Vc for a suitably sized Vs in a compact sensor package.

Multiple layer capacitor divider voltage sensors suitable for circuit breakers and related circuit breakers

An electrical connection element is for a power connector. The power connector has an electrical component having a number of first electrical mating members. The electrical connection element includes a housing having a number of second electrical mating members structured to be electrically connected to the number of first electrical mating members, a contact assembly structured to move between an OPEN position and a CLOSED position, the contact assembly including a number of sets of separable contacts each structured to be electrically connected to at least one of the number of second electrical mating members, and an arc suppression system for redirecting current away from at least one of the sets of separable contacts in order to suppress arcing.

Power connector, and electrical connection element and arc suppression method therefor

An electrical connection element is for a power connector. The power connector has an electrical component including a first insulative housing and a first mating assembly having first electrical mating members structured to be substantially enclosed by the first insulative housing, and a first driving apparatus. The electrical connection element includes: a second insulative housing; and a second mating assembly including: second electrical mating members structured to be electrically connected to the first electrical mating members, a second driving apparatus cooperating with the first driving apparatus, and a link assembly including linking members cooperating with the second electrical mating members and the second driving apparatus. The second mating assembly moves between a first position corresponding to the second electrical mating members being substantially enclosed by the second insulative housing, and a second position corresponding to the second electrical mating members being partially disposed external the second insulative housing.

An electrical connection element is for a power connector. The power connector includes an electrical component having a number of first electrical mating members. The electrical connection element includes: a housing including a number of second electrical mating members electrically connected to the first electrical mating members; a contact assembly comprising a number of sets of separable contacts each structured to be electrically connected to at least one of the second electrical mating members; and an arc suppression system including: a number of electronic devices each electrically connected to a respective set of separable contacts, and a control mechanism for controlling the electronic devices. When the contact assembly moves between an OPEN position and a CLOSED position, the control mechanism redirects current from the respective set of separable contacts to a corresponding one of the electronic devices in order to suppress arcing across the respective set of separable contacts.

A motor overload coil control is disclosed for use in a motor starter/relay contactor. The control includes an 8-bit, 8-pin microcontroller that together with an I/O reduction circuit, is capable of functioning 13 I/O's with only 5 I/O pins on the microcontroller. Three remote signals are prioritized and reduced on one input line to the microcontroller. The control includes three-phase current measurement from three Hall effect current sensors positioned one on each leg. The system includes current integration to provide a single current input to the microcontroller. A full load amperage (FLA) adjustment allows use on a wide range of motors. The microcontroller uses the FLA adjustment and the current signal to find an appropriate I t value for real-time monitoring of the operating temperature of the motor. A status indicator is provided having an LED output to show the status of the system and indicate the motor temperature, when appropriate. After the coil is initially pulled in, the microcontroller generates a PWM signal to keep the appropriate coil pulled in with reduced power. The system includes an internal 24VDC sensor to ensure proper DC voltage level, and to adjust the PWM for variances in voltage levels. Pushbutton test and reset switches are provided, as well as a solid state remote reset.

Motor overload coil control

Motor overload coil control and method of calculating operating temperature

A solid state motor starter, commonly referred to as a soft starter, is constructed in a manner to be easily manufacturable while at the same time combining all the required components in a relatively small package. A solid state power switch is clamped between a pair of bus bars in an offset manner to accommodate a discrete switching relay mounted in an inverted manner between the line input and the bus bar in communication with the load outputs. When in a motor run mode, current is shunted away from the solid state power switching device and through the switching relay, a substantially linear current path is achieved to reduce power loss and heat buildup. The arrangement allows for a heat sink mounted to one of the bus bars with adequate spacing between the heat sink and the discrete relay for insertion of a cooling fan. Current sensing is achieved with a Hall effect sensor mounted to the bus bar in a small current sensing region that is created by having a pair of slots in the bus bar to direct current. A pair of magnetic pins extend perpendicular from the bus bar to create the magnetic flux for the Hall effect sensor to sense current flow through the current sensing region. The Hall effect sensor circuit board also contains a thermistor which is mounted with adequate insulation yet in thermal communication with the bus bar.

Integrated soft starter for electric motor

An electrical current sensing apparatus includes a magnetic flux sensor which may be disposed adjacent to or within an opening in a conductor. The magnetic flux sensor may be disposed adjacent to a corner of the opening around which magnetic flux resulting from a current conducted through the conductor tends to concentrate. The magnetic flux sensor includes a Hall effect device having a flux sensitive surface. In one embodiment, the conductor has a tubular cylindrical side wall with an opening in which the magnetic flux sensor is disposed. In another embodiment, the conductor has a rectangular configuration with an opening in which the magnetic flux sensor is disposed. In another embodiment, the magnetic flux sensor is mounted on the surface of the conductor adjacent to the opening.

Electrical current sensing apparatus

A motor overload coil control is disclosed for use in a motor starter/relay contactor. The control includes an 8-bit, 8-pin microcontroller that together with an I/O reduction circuit, is capable of functioning 13 I/O's with only 5 I/O pins on the microcontroller. Three remote signals are prioritized and reduced on one input line to the microcontroller. The control includes three-phase current measurement from three Hall effect current sensors positioned one on each leg. The system includes current integration to provide a single current input to the microcontroller. A full load amperage (FLA) adjustment allows use on a wide range of motors. The microcontroller uses the FLA adjustment and the current signal to find an appropriate I,t value for real-time monitoring of the operating temperature of the motor. A status indicator is provided having an LED output to show the status of the system and indicate the motor temperature, when appropriate. After the coil is initially pulled in, the microcontroller generates a PWM signal to keep the appropriate coil pulled in with reduced power. The system includes an internal 24 VDC sensor to ensure proper DC voltage level, and to adjust the PWM for variances in voltage levels. Pushbutton test and reset switches are provided, as well as a solid state remote reset.

Growing community of inventors

Wales, WI, United States of America

Kurt Von Eckroth