Eaton Corporation

Labinal, LLC

Easton Corporation

Richard George Benshoff

Patrick Wellington Mills

James Michael McCormick

Kevin D Gonyea

James Michael Mccormick

Kevin Francis Hanley

Steven Christopher Schmalz

Peter Nerstrom

Michael F Walz

Jeffrey C Lawton

Maurice R Ellsworth

Ernest R Remillard

Peter J Almanza

Robert J Innes

James M Mccormick

Steven Christopher Shmalz

A method of manufacturing a load buss array assembly includes placing a plurality of load conductors within a thermally conductive substrate, placing a portion of a load connector within the thermally conductive substrate, and electrically connecting the load conductors to the portion of the load connector within the thermally conductive substrate.

Load buss assembly and method of manufacturing the same

A connector assembly includes a non-conductive block assembly defining a plurality of passages and a resilient wire support defining a plurality of passages. The resilient wire support is coupled to the block assembly with each resilient wire support passage aligned with one block assembly passage. A conductor unit includes a plurality of conductor assemblies. Each conductor assembly includes a first socket and a second socket, and each such conductor assembly is disposed partially in a block assembly passage.

Connector assembly with a conductor assembly partially disposed in a block assembly

An electrical switching apparatus includes a ferromagnetic frame having first and opposite second portions, a ferromagnetic core disposed therebetween, a permanent magnet disposed on the first portion, a first tapered portion on the opposite second portion; a coil disposed about the core; and a ferromagnetic or magnetic armature including a first portion, an opposite second portion and a pivot portion pivotally disposed on the core between the portions of the armature. The armature opposite second portion has a complementary second tapered portion therein. In a first armature position, the armature first portion is magnetically attracted by the permanent magnet and the first and second tapered portions are moved apart with the coil de-energized. In a second armature position, the armature opposite second portion is magnetically attracted by the opposite second portion of the frame and the first tapered portion is moved into the second tapered portion with the coil energized.

Electrical switching apparatus and relay including a ferromagnetic or magnetic armature having a tapered portion

An improved bus apparatus includes a generally rigid substrate and a conductor apparatus. The conductor apparatus includes a number of bus elements that are embedded within the substrate and which are electrically connected with connection elements that each have an end that is situated external to the substrate. Additional connection elements extend through the substrate and are connectable with loads. Circuit interrupters and other devices are connectable with pairs of the connector elements, wherein one connector element is connected with a line and wherein another connector element is connected with a load. The bus apparatus is formed by receiving the bus elements in channels formed in layers of a thermally conductive and electrically insulative material, and the layers are bonded together with the use of a bonding material to cause the bus elements to become laminated within the interior of the substrate.

Bus apparatus for use with circuit interrupters or other devices

An adaptor () mating a non-plug-in type circuit breaker () to a bus structure () of a plug-in breaker panel () includes a first portion () coupled to a terminal () of the non-plug-in type circuit breaker () and an opposite second portion () engaging a portion () of the bus structure (). The first portion is formed from a first conductive material and the opposite second portion is formed from a second conductive material. The firs portion and the second portion form a conductive pathway between the terminal () of the non-plug-in type circuit breaker () and the portion () of the bus structure ().

Circuit breaker adaptor for plug-in circuit breaker panel

A faceplate for use in a panel for electrical switching apparatus includes a generally planar member having a first surface, an opposite second surface and a number of apertures disposed through the first surface and the opposite second surface. Each aperture is configured to receive an actuatable mechanism of an electrical switching apparatus. The faceplate further includes a number of inclined features, each extending from the opposite second surface about a respective aperture of the number of apertures. At least one inclined feature includes an inclined surface disposed opposite the opposite second surface of the generally planar member. The inclined surface is disposed at a non-zero angle with respect to the generally planar member.

Faceplate for electrical switching apparatus panel and electrical switching apparatus panel including same

A circuit breaker module is provided. The circuit breaker module includes: a frame assembly, a faceplate assembly, and a number of circuit breakers, the circuit breakers having an electrically conductive surface and an extending handle, the frame assembly having a front member and a back member, the frame assembly front member and the frame assembly back member being spaced from each other and defining an enclosed space, the frame assembly front member being electrically conductive, the faceplate assembly having an electrically conductive faceplate, the faceplate being a planar member with a number of openings therein, the faceplate coupled to the frame assembly front member, the circuit breaker disposed in the frame assembly enclosed space, and wherein the circuit breaker is in electrical communication with the faceplate and the frame assembly front member, whereby a current may pass from the circuit breaker to the frame assembly front member.

Grounded circuit breaker panel electrical module and method for grounding same

A circuit breaker assembly includes a housing, an electrical bus structure within the housing, a number of first plug-in members coupled to the bus structure, and a number of insulative retainers coupled to the bus structure. A corresponding one of the number of insulative retainers is operatively associated with a corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members. Each of a number of circuit breakers includes a manual operator and a number of second plug-in members disposed opposite the manual operator. The number of second plug-in members electrically engage a number of the number of first plug-in members. The corresponding one of the number of insulative retainers is disposed about the corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members, in order to insulate the corresponding number of the number of first plug-in members, and to retain the number of second plug-in members.

Plug-in circuit breaker assembly including insulative retainers

An electrical switching apparatus, such as a subminiature circuit breaker, includes a housing assembly, separable contacts, an operating mechanism having an actuator device and a latching assembly, a first trip device for tripping open the separable contacts in response to an overcurrent condition, and a second trip device for tripping open the separable contacts in response to an arc fault, a ground fault or a remotely transmitted signal. The subminiature circuit breaker includes a reset solenoid and a trip solenoid. The resent solenoid is coupled to the actuator device, and includes a coil operable to electrically reset the separable contacts. The trip solenoid is coupled to the latching assembly, and includes a coil operable to move the catch lever, thereby electrically tripping open the separable contacts.

Electrical switching apparatus with embedded arc fault protection and system employing same

A circuit breaker panel includes a number of circuit breaker modules each having a number of connectors, a plurality of circuit breakers and a circuit structure supporting the circuit breakers and electrically interconnecting the circuit breakers with the number of connectors. The panel also includes a monitoring module having a connector and a monitoring circuit to monitor at least one line voltage and, for each of the circuit breakers, at least one load voltage. The panel further includes a frame having a first connector for the monitoring module connector, a number of second connectors for the circuit breaker module connectors, and a number of third connectors for outputs from the circuit breaker modules. Conductors are connected to the connectors. Any of the monitoring module and the number of circuit breaker modules can be installed into or removed from the frame without change to the conductors.

Circuit breaker panel

A circuit interrupter includes a housing having a molded case made of liquid crystal polymer. Separable contacts are disposed within the housing. An operating mechanism is disposed within the housing and is structured to open and close the separable contacts. A trip mechanism is disposed within the housing and is structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes an electronic trip circuit and a rigid, conductive base providing a ground to the electronic trip circuit. The rigid, conductive base is insert molded to a portion of the molded case.

Circuit interrupter including a molded case made of liquid crystal polymer

An arc fault circuit breaker includes a panel having a first side and an opposite second side, a housing coupled to the opposite second side of the panel, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a test circuit structured to simulate a trip condition to trip open the separable contacts, and a proximity sensor disposed on or within the housing proximate the opposite second side of the panel. The proximity sensor is structured to sense a target to actuate the test circuit when the target is disposed proximate the first side of the panel and opposite the proximity sensor.

Method of actuating a test function of an electrical switching apparatus at a panel and electrical switching apparatus employing the same

A system is for an aircraft including a plurality of rows of seats. The system includes a plurality of monitors, a plurality of arc fault circuit interrupters each of which includes three poles having a line terminal and a load terminal. Each of a plurality of electronic enclosures is capable of being energized from a corresponding one of the load terminals of a corresponding one of the poles of a corresponding one of the AFCIs. A panel holds the AFCIs. A single-phase power source powers the line terminals of the poles of the AFCIs. Each of the poles corresponds to one row of the aircraft. Each of the electronic enclosures corresponds to one of a plurality of zones. Three of the rows are disposed in each of the zones. One of the AFCIs is associated with a corresponding one of the zones.

Aircraft system and method of arc fault protection for an aircraft system

An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing having an opening, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip mechanism structured to cooperate with the operating mechanism to trip open the operating mechanism. The trip mechanism includes a first bimetal to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to a thermal fault, a second ambient compensation bimetal to compensate the first bimetal, and an arc fault trip circuit to trip open the operating mechanism responsive to an arc fault. An indicator includes an indicator portion and a leg disposed from the indicator portion. A spring biases the indicator portion. The second bimetal holds the leg of the indicator, thereby holding the indicator against the spring bias. The second bimetal releases the leg of the indicator responsive to the arc fault trip circuit and the arc fault, thereby releasing the indicator to the spring bias.

Growing community of inventors

Sarasota, FL, United States of America

Richard George Benshoff