Square D Company

Thomas C Leach

James P Mills, Jr

Duane Lee Turner

Larry D Polston

Marvin L Linder

Robert J Cooper

Kenneth L Uhlman

Jeffrey M Kaufman

Donald H Haase

Darryl Carter

James B MacBeth

James A Heise

Gary D Fornash

Steven A DeCook

The invention provides a combination service entrance device which contains a common enclosure, divided by a center barrier into two sections. One houses a watt-hour meter socket and the other houses a panel board containing circuit breakers. The panel board is installed on an elevated mounting pan placed in the circuit breaker section. One side of the mounting panel preferably has a pair of tabs, each of which slides into a separate lance or guide formed in the center barrier. A pair of spaced posts are attached between the side opposite the barrier and the back panel of the enclosure. The length of the posts defines the gap between the back panel and the panel board. An elevated neutral bar is attached to the back panel along and distant from the mounting panel. The panel board remains parallel to and raised from the back panel. The elevated mounting pan provides for routing wires in the circuit breaker section and easier access to the load connections of the circuit breakers compared to prior art devices. This reduces installation time and potential scratching of the installer's hands, something that frequently occurs in prior art devices. The panel board is easier to install and remove compared to the prior art devices. The elevated mounting panel allows for better air circulation underneath the panel board. Mounting provisions may be provided on the common enclosure for surface-mounting or semi-flush-mounting of the combination service entrance.

Electrical power distribution device with elevated removable load center

The present invention provides a meter socket arrangement wherein a tubular bus is coupled between each planar bus bar connected to the power source and meter input terminals for transporting electrical power from the planar bus bars to their respective meter input terminals. This invention also provides a novel boot for connection between the tubular bus and the planar bus bar to provide improved electrical connection between the bus bar and the tubular bus. The present invention may be utilized in any meter socket arrangement, including meter socket arrangements used in combination service entrance devices.

Tubular bus arrangement for power transport in electrical devices

The present invention provides an overhead/underground combination service entrance device having a common enclosure that is divided by a center barrier into a first section for housing a watt-hour meter socket and a second section for housing a panel board containing a number of circuit breakers. The top panel of the common enclosure has a hole bringing electrical conductors into the first section from top of the common enclosure. A rain cap made from a suitable material is securely placed on the top panel. The rain cap has a hole therein that lies above the hole in the top panel so as to provide access to the first section from the outside. A hub closure plate is attached on the rain cap to cover sealingly cover the hole in the top panel. Means are provided for mounting the combination service entrance device on a flat surface and on vertical poles for temporary use. The combination device is preferably factory-assembled as a semi-flush-mounted unit and having the provisions for converting the device from a temporary service to permanent service. The combination service entrance device is installed for temporary use at the location where the unit eventually will be installed for permanent use. After sufficient construction has taken place, the rain cap is removed and the device is semi-flush-mounted in a wall for permanent use.

Combination service entrance device for temporary and permanent use

The present invention provides a combination service entrance device which contains a common enclosure that is divided by a center barrier into a first section for housing a watt-hour meter socket and a second section for housing a panel board containing at least two service disconnects. The meter socket provides power for use at least two output terminals. A separate connector having at least two connection points in a first plane and at least one connection point in a second plane is coupled to each of the socket meter output terminals. Substantially flexible insulated conductors are coupled to the connection points in the connectors and the service disconnects to provide power to the service disconnects. The present invention provides a method for distributing power from a meter socket having at least two power output terminals to at least two service disconnects placed in combination service entrance device, which contains the steps of: connecting a separate connector having at least two connection points in a first plane and at least one connection point in a second plane to each output terminal of the meter socket; connecting a substantially flexible insulated conductor between each of the connectors and the service disconnects for providing power from the meter socket output terminals to each of the service disconnects.

Combination service entrance device with provisions for distributing

A conducting spring is provided for exerting a biasing force against a test button to open a circuit interrupter test circuit. The spring includes a one-piece, elongated cantilever having a first and second end. The cantilever is formed from an electrically conducting material. One of the cantilever ends is adapted to directly secure to a first terminal of the test circuit. The other cantilever end is adapted to directly and reversibly contact a second terminal of the test circuit. The spring also includes means for resiliently flexing the second end of the cantilever in relation to the first end. The flexing means is integrally formed with the cantilever. Also provided is a ground fault circuit interrupter and a ground fault circuit module for protecting a circuit interrupter with a push-to-test feature.

Conducting spring for a circuit interrupter test circuit

A ground fault module is provided for protecting a circuit interrupter connected between the load and line terminals of a phase and neutral power line. The module includes a sensor for detecting a current imbalance between the phase and neutral power lines. A phase conductor having a rigid, elongated body made of solid, electrically-conducting material with a first and second end is adapted for connection to the load and line phase power line. A neutral conductor having a rigid, elongated body made of solid, electrically-conducting material with a first and second end is adapted for connection to the load and line neutral power line. Preferably, terminals are used to clamp the ends of the phase and neutral conductors to the load power line and load neutral line. The phase and neutral conductor are operatively connected to the sensor. The present invention also provides a housing assembly for a ground fault circuit interrupter which includes a base made of electrically insulating material with a plurality of cavities for retaining the ground fault module and terminals therein.

Ground fault module conductors and base therefor

The present invention provides a wireway assembly for mounting to the housing wall of an electrical distribution device to enclose and protect electrical wiring therein. Generally rectangular, u-shaped channels have at least one aperture positioned in the channel wall to overlap the aperture of an adjacent channel to define a wireway through which the electrical wiring extends from the bight portion of one channel to the bight portion of the adjacent channel. An interlocking means manually attaches and detaches each channel with an adjacent channel and with the housing wall. The present invention also includes a method of safely protecting electrical wiring extending across a housing wall of an electrical distribution device. The method includes the step of interlocking a plurality of u-shaped channels in an abutting position to each other and the housing wall.

Interlocking wireway assembly for electrical distribution devices

The invention provides a spring exerting a non-linear force between a contact carrier and a contact blade in a circuit interrupter. The inventive spring includes at least one elongated cantilever. The length of the cantilever has the shape of an arch made with a non-uniform angle and is formed from an elastic material. The cantilever is supported at one end against the carrier with the length of the cantilever positioned parallel to the carrier and the opposite end of the cantilever abutting the contact blade so that the carrier supports more of the length of the cantilever as the displacement between the carrier and the contact blade decreases. The invention also includes a method of operating a circuit interrupter by non-uniformly increasing the force exerted against a movable contact as it engages a stationary contact to complete a circuit.

Non-linear spring for circuit interrupters

A circuit breaker drawout arrangement includes a drive mechanism for moving a circuit breaker along a pair of rails between a Connect and a Disconnect position by means of a drive tool. A torque limited clutch permits a lower maximum torque when moving the breaker to the Connect position and a greater maximum torque when moving from the Connect position to the Disconnect position. In one embodiment the clutch is formed by a pair of oppositely orientated unidirectional roller clutches in the drive nut and in another by a ball and detent arrangement in the drive nut.

Torque limited drawout mechanism for circuit device

A racking mechanism for a fused circuit breaker includes a drive assembly that is removable as a unit from the breaker and fuse truck. A modular assembly includes a drive unit having a drive shaft and a travelling nut and yoke for rotating a pair of levering arms for moving the breaker among a plurality of positions in a cubicle. All interlocks are included on the modular drive assembly. An indicator is cam operated by the travelling nut and includes a face having indicia that identifies the direction of rotation of the drive shaft.

Growing community of inventors

Lexington, KY, United States of America

Thomas C Leach