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:
Mar. 08, 2005
Filed:
May. 19, 2004
Steven Zhenghong Chen, Coraopolis, PA (US);
Daniel Evan Palmieri, Aliquippa, PA (US);
Paul Thomas Bottegal, Lower Burrell, PA (US);
Anthony Thomas Ricciuti, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Robert Nicklas Krevokuch, West Newton, PA (US);
Steven Zhenghong Chen, Coraopolis, PA (US);
Daniel Evan Palmieri, Aliquippa, PA (US);
Paul Thomas Bottegal, Lower Burrell, PA (US);
Anthony Thomas Ricciuti, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Robert Nicklas Krevokuch, West Newton, PA (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An improved circuit breaker includes an inertial time delay mechanism that permits a self-powered trip unit to become fully operational before inputting into the trip unit a signal indicating a change in the state of the circuit breaker. The time delay mechanism includes an inertia member, a first spring, and a second spring, and is activated upon the rotation of a lay shaft of an operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The first spring extends between the inertia member and a housing of the circuit breaker and biases the inertia member from an initial position toward a terminal position. The second spring extends between the lay shaft and the inertia member and biases the inertia member toward the initial position when the circuit breaker is in an OFF condition. The combined action of the first and second springs on the inertia member provides a time delay using a relatively small inertial mass.