The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 23, 1999
Filed:
Aug. 22, 1997
Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Shorewood, WI (US);
Earl T Piber, Oconomowoc, WI (US);
Peter K Moldovan, Cascade, WI (US);
Kurt V Eckroth, Oconomowoc, WI (US);
Peter J Theisen, West Bend, WI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An electric motor control apparatus includes an electrical current control apparatus which is operable to limit current to an electric motor. When the electric motor is a three-phase motor, three current limiting switch assemblies are provided in the electric current control apparatus. A single stack of laminations concentrates magnetic fields emanating from conductors in all three current limiting switch assemblies. Each of the current limiting switch assemblies includes two movable contacts which are mounted on contact arms. The contact arms are movable in slots in the stack of laminations. A first series of splitter plates is disposed in an array along a path of movement of the contact on the first movable contact arm and a second series of splitter plates is disposed along a path of movement of the contact on the second contact arm for each of the current limiting switch assemblies. A short circuit splitter plate conducts electrical current between the two series of splitter plates. A bypass splitter plate is connected in a bypass circuit which conducts excessive current around a motor starter to protect the motor starter.