Eaton Corporation

Michael J Fajner

Peter J Theisen

Edward A Mallonen

William E Grass

Kenneth A Forsell

Marian M Rzepecki

John J Siebenlist

Ronald E Zepnick

Jack E Jones

In a plural phase overload relay, a pivot lever (12) is mounted to the ambient compensator deflector (9), and a second pivot lever (34) is mounted to both driver and follower slide bars (36 and 38) and driven thereby to engage and pivot the first lever on the ambient compensator deflector to trip a cut-out switch. The ambient compensator deflector adjusts both the three phase current trip threshold and the loss of phase current trip threshold, and also affords ambient compensator of each. A constant ratio relationship between these two thresholds is provided throughout the entire range of current trip threshold settings. The driver bar moves a first distance for three phase trip and a second shorter distance for loss of phase trip. The ratio of these distances is constant notwithstanding adjustment by the ambient compensator deflector changing the length of such distances.

Overload relay having adaptive differential mechanism

A push-push lamp socket having a socket member (2) into which a conventional lamp bulb (28) can be mounted by a first axial push and released by a second axial push for removal. In a first version, a cylindrical socket member (2) has four entry recesses (W,N,E,S) or grooves for receiving the radial lugs (24,26) of a conventional lamp bulb in either of two ninety degree orientations (W,E or N,S) and a horizontal groove (4) having slopes (16, 38) leading to pockets (30,40) on its inward and outward sides for latching the bulb lugs (24,26) in response to a first push and disengagement. Additional slopes (42,46) and pocket (44) control the lugs on a second push and disengagement to rotate the bulb lugs into the recesses (N,S) for release from the socket. A second version of lamp socket (50) has a pair of slots (76,78) in its sides, each having a sloping edge (82) and a resilient snap finger (84) providing tactile and audible signals when the bulb (28) follows cam edges or slopes (96 and 100 or 98 and 102) as it is pushed in, and an outwardly sloping track (88) on the finger (84) for guiding the lug (24) under the force of a connector spring (72) into a latch pocket (92). On the second push, an inwardly sloping surface (94) on the finger (84) returns the lug (24) for release of the bulb from the socket. A polarized modification has bulb lugs (112,114) and socket slots (76,120) at different levels for two-filament lamp bulbs.

Push-push bayonet lamp socket

A circuit breaker having a pivotal movable contact arm (6) operated between open and closed positions with a stationary contact (14c) by an overcenter drive spring (8) in response to pivotal movement of a manual operating handle (4). A latch lever (10) is provided to locate the other end of the drive spring (8) and is releasable upon overload currents to carry the point of connection (10d) of the drive spring and latch lever essentially downward in line with the line of action of the drive spring to quickly reduce its force and stored energy, thereby quickly reducing the contact pressure provided thereby and enabling constriction and/or repulsion forces to separate the contacts (6c,14c). A further amount of movement of the latch lever (10) carries the point of connection (10d) of the drive spring and latch lever across the pivot plane of the movable contact arm (6) to separate the contacts. The latch lever (10) is released by a pivotally supported latch arm (12). A bimetal current sensing member (20) is supported upon a high resistance terminal (18) to concentrate heat in the bimetal member (20) adjacent its fixed end, thereby causing greater deflection at the free end of the bimetal. An extension (18b) of the terminal (18) projects inwardly of the breaker and it is disposed adjacent an arc extinguishing structure (26) to provide a bypass path for high overload current existing in the arc to protect the bimetal from damage.

Circuit breaker with improved latch trip mechanism

A narrow width, molded case circuit breaker having parallel, oppositely directed current paths in a conductive stationary contact support (8c) and a pivoting movable contact arm (12b) to cause separation of the contacts (10, 16) by repelling electromagnetic forces independently of a manual operating mechanism (6, 22) or a trip mechanism (18, 20, 22, 24, 26). An arc runner (8e) integral with the stationary contact support (8) has a slot communicating with a vent opening (2d) in the case for venting the arc gasses through the arc runner and vent opening. Arc plates (42, 44) are oriented parallel to the arc runner (8e) to reduce resistance to movement of the arc therethrough by means of gas pressure. Insulators (14, 52) are disposed over conductive members comprising the parallel current paths on the opposite side of the contacts from the arc runner to impede any tendency toward arc movement in an undesired direction.

Growing community of inventors

Bayside, WI, United States of America

Michael J Fajner