Schneider Electric Usa, Inc.

Square D Company

Other

William J Broghammer

Chad Raymond Mittelstadt

Jason D Potratz

David R Pearson

Brett E Larson

Paul Andrew Reid

Cameron L Woodson

Darrell P Ophaug

Randy L Siebels

Robert Erger

Dave Pearson

Rodney D Raabe

David W Barenz

Kim D Wheeler

Holly S Gerdes

Richard W Niccolls

A neutral bus baris provided for an electrical distribution apparatus, such as an electrical panel. The neutral bus bar includes an elongated bodythat includes a plurality of wire connectorsand plug-on neutral landing sectionsdistributed along a length of the body. Each wire connector includes a side holeand a top landing holeon the body. The top landing hole can receive a hold down screwto secure an electrical wire received in the side holefrom a wire-type circuit breaker. Each plug-on neutral landing section is able to receive a plug-on neutral clip from a plug-on neutral type circuit breaker. Adjacent plug-on neutral landing sections have at least one wire connector arranged therebetween on the body. The plug-on neutral landing sections are also distributed with a pitch spacing that corresponds to a pole spacing of circuit breakers connectable on the electrical distribution apparatus.

Hybrid neutral plug on bar with distributed pitch

The invention disclosed is a circuit breaker, comprising a casethat houses circuit breaker components. The case has a handle openingfor an operating handleto project through the handle opening. The handle opening has a viewing cut-outformed on a side of the handle opening. An operating handleis pivotallymounted inside the case, with an outer portionextending through the handle opening in the case. The operating handle is operatively coupled to a contact operating mechanismand a current-responsive tripping mechanismin the case. An indicatoris positioned on a sideof the operating handle. The indicator is visible through the viewing cut-out when the operating handle has been moved to a central position (FIG.C) in the handle opening, in response to a trip event in the circuit breaker.

Miniature circuit breaker color-coded state indicator

A method of assembling a load center featuring a dielectric barrier that securely retains a plug-on neutral rail without requiring any fasteners. The dielectric barrier and the rail are installed in the same Z-axis direction, which is orthogonal to a rear wall of an enclosure into which the load center is installed. Retention features in the dielectric barrier can create a snap-fit connection between the rail and the barrier, or the barrier can feature a support feature onto which the rail snaps as the rail is installed relative to the dielectric barrier in the Z-axis direction. The snap fit connections eliminate the need for any fasteners, and together with the Z-axis assembly, the assembly process is simplified and accelerated and the possibility of assembly error is reduced or eliminated.

Methods of assembling a neutral rail to a plug-on neutral load center

Identification accessories, circuit breaker caps, and labeling kits for labeling electrical switch devices, such as circuit breakers, are presented herein. An identification accessory is disclosed for identifying an electrical switch device in proximity to its operating mechanism. The identification accessory includes an accessory shell with a lid having first and second endwalls projecting from the lid.

Circuit breaker identification accessory

A plug-on load center featuring snap-in or snap-on neutral rails that are retained securely in the load center on or between a dielectric barrier without requiring any fasteners and assembled by installing the dielectric components and neutral rail along the same direction orthogonal to a rear wall of an enclosure that houses the load center. The snap-in configurations feature dielectric barriers with fingers that create a snap-fit connection between the neutral rail and a shield member. The neutral rail is forced between the fingers, which separate and then snap back to their original position once the neutral rail is fully seated in the dielectric barrier. The snap-on configurations feature a neutral rail that is snapped onto the dielectric barrier and retained in the load without any fasteners. The barrier can include retention members that snap-fit into corresponding features of the neutral rail when it is installed onto the barrier.

Snap-in and snap-on neutral rail assemblies in a plug-on neutral load center

A circuit breaker (such as a miniature circuit breaker) that wirelessly communicates state and fault information to a main energy monitoring module. The wireless circuit breaker includes a transceiver and a power supply that harvests energy inductively from the line current conductor without the need for a connection to a neutral conductor. The wireless circuit breaker can be implemented in the same package as existing circuit breakers, eliminating the need to replace the panel when upgrading to a system that employs a main energy monitoring module. The wireless circuit breaker can also include an energy storage device for supplying power to the circuit breaker after it has tripped, allowing the circuit breaker to transmit information after a trip. The main energy monitoring module includes a processor and a gateway for evaluating and transmitting information received from the circuit breaker to other applications, such as webpages and smartphones.

Wireless branch circuit energy monitoring system

A circuit breaker assembly includes a housing, a trip mechanism, a vent channel, and a chamber. The trip mechanism is positioned within the housing can causes a movable contact to separate from a second contact in response to detection by the circuit breaker assembly of an electrical fault. The vent channel is formed in the housing and positioned to exhaust gas and debris produced as the movable contact separates from the second contact during the electrical fault to an aperture in the housing. The chamber has a chamber housing coupled to the housing adjacent the aperture such that the chamber receives the gas and debris exiting the aperture.

Circuit breaker with controlled exhaust

Electrical circuit breakers in an electrical panelboard are equipped with tie-down devices to secure the circuit breakers to the panelboard. Each circuit breaker includes a standard housing or case having a raised portion that forms a pair of end walls and a slot at the base of each of the end walls. The panelboard includes mounts for attaching the tie-down devices to the panelboard. Each tie-down device includes (1) a breaker-attachment portion adapted to be mounted on the circuit breaker housing around the raised portion and having a pair of mounting hooks adapted to fit into the slots for attaching the tie-down device to the circuit breaker housing, and (2) a panelboard attachment portion extending beyond the circuit breaker housing for attachment to the panelboard mount.

Circuit breaker with improved tie-down accessory

A bimetal in a circuit breaker can deflect in a first direction or a second direction depending upon conditions. If the bimetal deflects in the second direction it can increase the force necessary to operate a trip mechanism of the circuit breaker. A yoke stop helps to control bimetal deflection forces and thus, the amount of force necessary to operate the trip mechanism. This allows better control, size, and selection of operating parts for the circuit breaker.

Circuit breaker having reduced auxiliary trip requirements

A load center system includes a primary bus bar with primary stabs for receiving a first type of circuit breaker, the primary stab extending from a primary base portion of the primary bus bar. A secondary bus bar with a secondary base portion and secondary stabs is coupled to the primary bus bar in a generally overlapping position, for receiving a second type of circuit breaker. Both the primary and secondary bus bars can be formed from stamping. By utilizing bus bars with base portions, the primary and secondary bus bars together provide for ease of assembly, and structural integrity, while allowing either of the first type of circuit breaker and the second type of circuit breaker to be coupled to the load center.

Double bus bar load center

A switch-lock assembly for securing a circuit breaker in one of a plurality of circuit breaker positions, comprising a switch-lock attachment and an anti-twist insert. The switch-lock attachment includes a spring member adapted to engage a retaining area of the circuit breaker, a support member adapted to accommodate the spring member, and a locking member connected with the support member via the spring member. The insert includes a securing end adapted to engage a first area of the circuit breaker for limiting the movement of the insert relative to the circuit breaker, and an interface area adapted to engage the switch-lock attachment for limiting the movement of the switch-lock attachment relative to the insert.

Anti-twist insert for circuit breaker handler accessory

The present invention provides an armature assembly for adjusting the magnetic calibration of a tripping mechanism in a circuit breaker includes a bracket having a channel defined by a pair of legs and a bight with opposing sides. A first tab and a second tab are fixedly connected to opposing sides of the bight. The first and second tabs are positioned parallel to one another and perpendicular to the opposing sides of the bight. The first and second tabs have a respective first and second hole that are threaded. A first pin rotatably connects to the tripping mechanism within the interior of the circuit breaker. The first pin is affixed across the legs of the channel. An adjustment screw has an elongated body with a top portion on one end and at the opposing end a bottom portion. The adjustment screw has a plurality of screw threads defining an exterior side wall of the elongated body along the bottom portion. The plurality of screw threads configured to releasably engage the threaded fastener component. A washer has an approximate donut shape defined by relatively flat opposing surfaces. The washer is rotatably affixed though its center to the adjustment screw. A spring has one end attached to the washer and a second end attached to the interior of the circuit breaker to provide a bias with a force adjustable as the washer is moved by rotating the adjustment screw.

Adjustable armature assembly for a circuit breaker and method of using same

A method and apparatus for interrupting the flow of electrical current in a multiphase circuit path between at least one source and at least one load including a circuit breaker having an electro-mechanical assembly and a blade carrier corresponding to each phase of the multiphase circuit path and a phase barrier between each blade carrier. The blade carriers are interconnected, preferably, with a crossbar wherein, when one or more phases of the circuit path are interrupted, opening one or more of the blade carriers, the crossbar moves all of the blade carriers to open positions. The phase barrier is positioned circumferentially around the crossbar between each blade carrier and includes a thermoplastic material. The electro-mechanical assembly is housed within a circuit breaker enclosure having an insulating base wall and cover wall. The phase barrier has a main body planar surface perpendicular to the blade carriers and extending from the base wall to the cover wall. The phase barrier is preferably manufactured entirely from the thermoplastic material, or in another embodiment, the phase barrier is manufactured of a fiberglass material having a thermoplastic material covering.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

William J Broghammer