Eaton Corporation

Michael R Larsen

Donald A Link

Edward Louis Wellner

Peter J Theisen

Denis J Leveque

Dean A Hubbard

Peter K Moldovan

David S Hunter

Walter M Zoller

Xin Zhou

Paul Jason Rollmann

Richard G Smith

Michael G Taranowski

Ruth E Hubbell

Randal D Gazdecki

John Robert Skibinski

Douglas E Wickert

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 two piece molded housing shell is connected by inserting connector terminals on one of the shells into receptacles on the other shell with the connected shells configured for mounting over a vehicle steering column. One of the shells has a stalk/lever pivotally mounted thereon with multiplex adaptive circuitry mounted on the other shell. A two-shot molded plastic insert has conductive strips plated on the surface thereof and is inserted into the housing shells to provide an interconnect from the circuitry to the stalk/lever The stalk/lever has switching contacts on a carrier portion thereof. The switching contacts wipe directly on the plated strips of the insert to effect a switching function.

Steering column stalk switch for use with multiplexed electronic

A push-push latching switch assembly having a switching member with a pushbutton which is received for sliding movement in a switch housing. The housing has spring tabs for snap locking insertion into a hole in a mounting panel. The switching member has lamps disposed in a receptacle portion beneath the button which has translucent lens portions for illumination by the lamps. The switching member has conductive strips formed by plating over two-shot integrally molded plastic strips, with the conductive strips interconnecting the lamps and wiper contacts attached to the switching member. A conductive wiper member with plural wiper fingers is also attached to the switching member. A base member formed of two-shot molded plastic has conductive switching contact strips formed by plating the second shot molded plastic and which are inserted in the housing, with the base releasably attached. User pressure on the button causes the switching member to move relative to the housing sliding the wipers on the strips for switching and continuously providing power to the lamps. The conductive plated strips extend externally to form connector pins. A cardiod cam and latch provide the push to latch, push to unlatch function.

Latching pushbutton switch assembly

In a molded case circuit breaker with an interchangeable thermalmagnetic trip unit, the C-shaped heater transformer core is permanently held in place in the casing by a load bus strap with the gap in the core facing the trip unit. When the interchangeable trip unit is inserted into the molded casing, a magnetically permeable member mounted in the trip unit is aligned in the gap in the heater transformer core. The bimetal of the trip unit is fixed at one end to an electrically conductive sleeve surrounding the magnetically permeable member and forming the secondary of the heater transformer. The length of the magnetically permeable member is selected to establish the current conditions at which the bimetal trips the circuit breaker. The bus strap has an off-set section forming a first shoulder against which one wall of the housing of the interchangeable trip unit seats, and a second shoulder against which a pole piece backed by the heater transformer core seats to fix a gap between the pole piece and the armature in the interchangeable trip unit providing the instantaneous magnetic trip function.

Molded case circuit breaker with interchangeable trip unit having

A capacitance change switch with a resiliently deformable conductive pad compressible against a dielectric coating on the surface of a pair of spaced coplanar thin foil plates formed on a refractory substrate. The pad forms with the plates a pair of capacitors electrically in series. User movement of an actuator causes pad compression and a significant electrically detectible change in capacitance for effecting a switching function. In one embodiment the pad is formed of conductive elastomer and in another embodiment the pad is formed of non-conductive elastomer with a conductive foil covering.

Capacitive switching assembly

A subframe is coaxially pivotally mounted with a movable frame of the operating mechanism of a molded case circuit breaker and is locked to the frame by a bell crank pawl which is pivotally mounted on the subframe. A leaf spring assembly rigidly attached to the subframe overlies the movable contact finger to engage the same in the circuit ON condition of the circuit breaker to provide desired contact force. The bell crank pawl is released upon an incrementally small amount of initial movement of the movable contact arm in response to blow-open magnetic repulsion forces to release the movable contact finger for pivotal opening movement relative to the movable frame of the circuit breaker operating mechanism.

Molded case circuit breaker having movable contact finger releasably

A molded case circuit breaker having an operating mechanism including a collapsible toggle linkage, an operating handle and a movable frame. The collapsible toggle linkage includes a rectangular cross section knee pin non-rotatably held within an open rectangular slot in an upper link of the linkage. The operating handle pivots about a first pivot point when moving between ON, OFF and TRIPPED positions. The operating handle pivots about a second pivot point when moving to a RESET position thereby reducing the lateral force component of the operating springs of the operating mechanism for reliable return of the handle to the OFF position. Also, bifurcated movable contact fingers are provided for pivotal movement about a fixed pin to break contact welds and a trapezoidal cross section shaft interconnects the movable contact fingers.

Molded case circuit breaker having rectangular knee pin non-rotatably

Molded case circuit breaker having changing pivot locations for the

Molded case circuit breaker having collapsible toggle linkage with rectangular cross section knee pin non-rotatably held within open rectangular slots in upper link, bifurcated movable contact fingers loosely guided for pivotal movement about fixed pin to break contact welds, helical compression springs biasing bifurcations against faces of a stationary connector, trapezoidal cross section shaft biasing shaft against a fixed corner of clamping strap and frame, increasing clamping force and increasing tool clearance, operating handle which changes pivot point moving to RESET position, reducing lateral force component of operating springs for reliable return of handle to OFF position, dual stops for movable contact fingers to spread impact forces along fingers, greater contact separation in poles not containing operating mechanism, slot motor laminations providing metal reinforcement to separate arc chamber housing which is cooperatively interlocked with base to distribute structural strength, terminal cover with arc vent extension angled downwardly, extended lug cover with second arc vent extension interlocked to terminal cover and arc chamber housing for no-fastener securement, trip unit armature pivoted in crested surface of molded pocket and connected to trip bar by wire bail for space-efficient location of parts, and accessory devices supported on and secured to trip unit housing have throw-away pin locking.

Molded case circuit breaker having trapezoidally shaped shaft

Molded case circuit breaker having collapsible toggle linkage with rectangular cross section knee pin non-rotatably held within open rectangular slots in upper link, bifurcated movable contact fingers loosely guided for pivotal movement about fixed pin to break contact welds, helical compression springs biasing bifurcations against faces of a stationary connector, trapezoidal cross section shaft biasing shaft against a fixed corner of clamping strap and frame, increasing clamping force and increasing tool clearance, operating handle which changes pivot point moving to RESET position, reducing lateral force component of operating springs for reliable return of handle to OFF position, dual stops for movable contact fingers to spread impact forces along fingers, greater contact separation in poles not containing operating mechanism, slot motor laminations providing metal reinforcement to separate arc chamber housing which is cooperatively interlocked with base to distribute structural strength, terminal cover with arc vent extension angled downwardly, extended lug cover with second arc vent extension interlocked to terminal cover and arc chamber housing for no-fastener securement, trip unit armature pivoted in crested surface of molded pocket and connected to trip bar by wire bail for space-efficient location of parts, and accessory devices supported on and secured to trip unit housing have throw-away pin locking operator lever in correct position during installation.

Molded case circuit breaker having housing elements

Molded case circuit breaker

Case circuit breaker having improved attachment means for accessory

Molded case circuit breaker having improved trip unit

Rejection of a twin circuit breaker at panelboard mounting positions not designated to receive a twin breaker is achieved by extending the hook of the twin breaker outwardly beyond the panelboard rail to prevent anchoring the outboard end of the twin breaker at non-designated positions, thereby indicating obviously improper installation. The rail is provided with outward extensions at designated mounting positions which do engage with the twin breaker hook to anchor the outboard end, such extension in a preferred embodiment being part of an adapter attached to the panelboard.

Panel rejection feature for twin circuit breaker

A twin unit circuit breaker has a V-shaped stainless steel combination armature pivot and bias spring, a central offset portion on the armature to increase the armature surface area that is substantially uniformly spaced to pole faces of a pole piece, a thin profile connection of an operating spring with a latch lever, and a preformed U-shaped conductor attachable in circuit between a bimetal and a flexible conductor and insertable over a pole piece from one end thereof.

Growing community of inventors

Milwaukee, WI, United States of America

Michael R Larsen