Eaton Corporation

Safran Electrical & Power

Peter Nerstrom

Paul Jason Rollmann

Edward Louis Wellner

Thomas Michael Hall

James Michael McCormick

Michael F Walz

Patrick Wellington Mills

Steven Christopher Schmalz

Peter K Moldovan

Mark Allan Juds

Richard George Benshoff

David Michael Geier

Jeffrey Alan Muckefuse

Justin M Clay

James Mccormick

Thomas c/o Eaton Corporation Hall

A circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts, a trip mechanism, a first terminal member, and a second terminal member. The separable contacts are received in the housing and include a first contact and a second contact. At least one of the contacts is moveable with respect to the other to open and close the separable contacts. The trip mechanism can include a bimetal strip and selectively open the separable contacts. The first terminal member includes a first socket configured to receive a pin located on an associated bus structure. The first terminal member is electrically connected with the first contact. The second terminal member includes a second socket configured to receive another pin located on the associated bus structure. The second terminal can contact the bimetal strip and is electrically connected with the second contact. The first and second sockets can be received in the housing.

Integral contact socket for plug-in circuit breakers

A circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts, a trip mechanism, a first terminal, a second terminal, a first press fit connector, a second press fit connector, a first socket, and a second socket. The first terminal is electrically connected with a first contact of the separable contacts and includes a first base section disposed outwardly from the housing. The second terminal is electrically connected with a second contact and includes a second base section disposed outwardly from the housing. The first press fit connector is attached to the first base section via a first press fit. The second press fit connector is attached to the second base section via a second press fit. The first socket is attached to the first press fit connector. The second socket is attached to the second press fit connector.

Circuit breaker with interference fit socket

An improved electrical switching apparatus comprises a plurality of electrical switching assemblies in a ganged configuration. A bridging device mechanically connects together the actuator devices of the electrical switching assemblies to cause the simultaneous tripping of all of the electrical switching assemblies when an overload or an arc fault is detected on any electrical switching assembly of the gang.

Switching apparatus comprising a plurality of switching assemblies, and associated method

A miniature circuit breaker comprising a non-conductive housing assembly; a pair of separable contacts including a first, fixed contact coupled to said housing assembly and having a terminal extending outside said housing assembly, and a second, movable contact having a terminal extending outside said housing assembly; an operating mechanism coupled to, and structured to move, said movable contact between a first position, wherein said movable contact engages said fixed contact, and a second position, wherein said movable contact is spaced from said fixed contact; a trip device coupled to said operating mechanism and structured to actuate said operating mechanism to separate said separable contacts upon the occurrence of a trip condition; an arc fault trip mechanism having an arc fault detector and a shape memory alloy element; said arc fault detector structured to detect an arc fault on the load side of said separable contacts and to provide an electrical pulse; said shape memory alloy element structured to transform between a first shape and a second shape during the application of an electrical pulse, said shape memory alloy element having a first end and a second end, said shape memory alloy element first end coupled to said housing assembly, said shape memory alloy element coupled to said trip device; said arc fault detector further coupled to said shape memory alloy element and structured to provide an electrical pulse to said shape memory alloy element sufficient to transform said shape memory alloy element from said first shape and said second shape; and wherein when said shape memory alloy element is in said second shape, said trip device is actuated and said operating mechanism separates said separable contacts.

Shape memory alloy trip mechanism for arc/ground fault circuit interruption

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

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 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.

Growing community of inventors

Sarasota, FL, United States of America

Peter Nerstrom