Eaton Corporation

Trent A Chontas

Richard Paul Malingowski

Lance Gula

William David Munsch

Craig Allen Rodgers

Mark O Zindler

Teresa I Hood

Roger William Helms

Joseph F Changle

Kenneth N Skoug

William C Farrow

Robert Michael Slepian

Todd Matthew Lathrop

Joseph Bell Humbert

H Richard Beck

James Alan Trax

Dean Basil DeGrazia

Kathryn M Palmer

Yu Wei Chou

Dominic Patrick Martelli

Keith Lynn Mayhood

Robert Michael Pomaybo

Henry Kenneth Pruszynski

Edward M Roberts

Karen L Panian

Michael A Brown

An adjustable magnetic trip device for a molded case circuit breaker is provided where the trip device includes a plunger and a stationary core as well as a plunger support structure with a movable plunger carriage. The position of the plunger assembly and carriage relative to the stationary core is determined by a cam assembly having a body with a plurality of sections, each section having a different radius. The plunger carriage is responsive to rotation of said cam assembly and may be adjusted by rotating the cam. The over-current condition for the trip device is a function of the distance between the plunger assembly and the stationary core. Accordingly, the over-current condition may be changed by rotating the cam. As each section of the cam has a constant radius, the over-current condition remains the same no matter where the carriage contacts a certain section of the cam.

Cam and axle for adjustable magnetic trip device

A plunger assembly support structure for a molded case circuit breaker magnetic trip mechanism for aligning a trip mechanism plunger assembly. The plunger assembly support structure includes a base member assembly having a plurality of guide members, and a plunger carriage assembly slidably disposed adjacent to said base member assembly.

Support and alignment structure for magnetic trip device

A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts disposed in the housing, and an operating mechanism disposed in the housing and interconnected with the contacts. The operating mechanism includes a handle having a base into which is formed a channel. The base includes a compressible protrusion that is disposed within the channel. The operating mechanism further includes a handle assembly having a platform that inserts into the channel of the base. The platform includes an indent that mates with the protrusion.

Circuit interrupter with improved handle

The secondary cover of a molded case electric power switch housing is removably secured in place to enclose cavities in a primary cover for auxiliary devices by quick release fasteners. These quick release fasteners have a shaft with self taping threads which engage mounting holes in the top face of the primary cover. In an unlatched position, the non-circular heads register with complimentary non-circular apertures in the secondary cover which passes down over the heads of the quick release fasteners and seats on the top face of the primary cover. The quick release fasteners are then rotated clockwise &frac14; turn by a tool to a latched position to clamp down on the secondary cover. A pair of diametrically opposite arcuate recesses in the secondary cover at each non-circular aperture assure that the quick release fasteners can only be rotated clockwise to the latched position as side walls of these recesses form stops at the &frac14; turn position.

Molded case power switch with secondary cover removably secured by quick release fasteners

A circuit interrupter including a housing, separable main contacts disposed in the housing and rotatable between a contact open position and a contact closed position, and an operating mechanism disposed in the housing and interconnected with the contacts for rotating the contacts alternatively between the contact open position and the contact closed position. The operating mechanism includes a handle moveable by an operator between handle open and handle closed positions normally corresponding to and resulting in the contact open position and the contact closed position, with the handle including a protrusion. The operating mechanism further includes a crossbar assembly for rotating with the contacts as the contacts rotate between the contact open position and the contact closed position. The crossbar assembly includes a stop member that is positioned to abut against the protrusion as the handle is moved towards the handle open position when the contacts and the crossbar assembly remain in the contact closed position. The operating mechanism also includes a sideplate assembly having stops that prevent disengagement of the handle.

Circuit interrupter with improved welded contact interlock

A molded case circuit breaker is taught with a housing base and a primary cover disposed on the housing base. The primary cover has a recess therein for an auxiliary module which is disposed in the recess. A secondary cover is disposed on the primary cover for covering the recess when the auxiliary module is disposed therein. A combination manual trip and secondary cover interlock is provided which is accessible from outside of the secondary cover for manually opening separable main contacts or for automatically opening separable main contacts when the secondary cover is removed. There is also provided on the back plane of the housing a single piece DIN rail attachment for securing the back plane to a DIN rail. There is provided an under voltage release mechanism for actuating the circuit breaker to trip on the occurrence of an under voltage condition of predetermined magnitude across the lines served by the circuit interrupter. The under voltage release mechanism has an adjustment spring which is controlled by a nut or thumb screw on a shaft to vary the spring force for calibrating the under voltage release mechanism. There is also provided a self-retaining collar member for the load and line terminals of the circuit interrupter. The collar member comprises a locating protrusion in the bottom thereof which aligns with a hole in the load or line conductors. Side entrapment members which entrap the line or load conductor therebetween and between the bottom of the collar member are also provided.

Circuit interrupter with covered accessory case, adjustable under voltage relay, self-retaining collar and one-piece rail attachment

A circuit interrupter including separable main contacts, an operating mechanism interconnected with the contacts, and a housing in which the contacts and the operating mechanism are disposed. The housing includes a cover positioned atop a base. The cover includes a recessed region in which are formed a first hole and a second hole. The first hole and the second hole extend through the cover and into the base, and the second hole extends through the base. A retainment device is positioned within the recessed region, and includes a first opening positioned above the first hole and a second opening positioned above the second hole. The second opening has an opening diameter. A first screw is inserted into the first opening and the first hole. A second screw is for inserting into the second opening and the second hole. The second screw includes a threaded portion having a first diameter and a non-threaded portion having a second diameter. The first diameter is greater than the opening diameter, and the second diameter is smaller than the opening diameter.

Circuit interupter with screw retainment

A molded case circuit breaker is taught with a housing base and a primary cover disposed on the housing base. The primary cover has a recess therein for an auxiliary module which is disposed in the recess. A secondary cover is disposed on the primary cover for covering the recess when the auxiliary module is disposed therein. A combination manual trip and secondary cover interlock is provided which is accessible from outside of the secondary cover for manually opening separable main contacts or for automatically opening separable main contacts when the secondary cover is removed. There is also provided on the back plane of the housing a single piece DIN rail attachment for securing the back plane to a DIN rail. There is provided an under voltage release mechanism for actuating the circuit breaker to trip on the occurrence of an under voltage condition of pre-determined magnitude across the lines served by the circuit interrupter. The under voltage release mechanism has an adjustment spring which is controlled by a nut or thumb screw on a shaft to vary the spring force for calibrating the under voltage release mechanism. There is also provided a self-retaining collar member for the load and line terminals of the circuit interrupter. The collar member comprises a locating protrusion in the bottom thereof which aligns with a hole in the load or line conductors. Side entrapment members which entrap the line or load conductor therebetween and between the bottom of the collar member are also provided.

Circuit interrupter with covered accessory case, adjustable under

A circuit breaker handle is provided with a curved bearing surface at its pivot point. The handle bearing surface has a substantially constant radius and is connected to the body of the handle with a necked down handle extension. The handle extension has a width that is less than the width of the curved bearing surface at the point of connection between the bearing surface and the necked down region. The handle pivot mates with a corresponding bearing surface on a notch in the side plate that it pivots within. The arc of the curved bearing surface in the side plate is greater than that of the corresponding bearing surface on the handle and captures the handle pivot within the notch in the sideplate, so the handle cannot lift off the bearing surface on the notch as it is moved.

Circuit breaker with an anti-lift pivot handle

A molded case circuit breaker or switch having the LOAD and/or LINE terminals thereof protected by a multifunctional terminal shield arrangement which also provides interphase barriers for the aforementioned terminals and associated wiring. The barrier also provides wire channels for lower voltage supplemental wiring.

Circuit interrupter with terminal shield and wire trough

A molded case circuit breaker is taught with a housing base and a primary cover disposed on the housing base. The primary cover has a recess therein for an auxiliary module which is disposed in the recess. A secondary cover is disposed on the primary cover for covering the recess when the auxiliary module is disposed therein. In order to secure the auxiliary module underneath the secondary cover in the recess of the primary cover, the module has deposed thereon a locking protrusion which is complimentary with a locking opening in the primary cover. The locking protrusion is flexible and has a longitudinal central bulge so that as the protrusion is pressed inwardly into the opening, the bulge causes the flexible protrusion to reduce diameter due to the presents of longitudinal slots therein until the bulge has passed the opening in which case it springs outwardly toward its normal position thus securing the protrusion in the base. A flexible pull tab is provided for displacement under the auxiliary or secondary cover so that when the auxiliary or secondary cover is removed the pull tab may be tugged upon to remove the module from the primary cover by providing the reverse operation to the insertion operation previously described.

Growing community of inventors

East Pittsburgh, PA, United States of America

Trent A Chontas