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:
Apr. 25, 2006
Filed:
Jan. 02, 2003
Peter K. Moldovan, Cascade, WI (US);
Edward L. Wellner, Colgate, WI (US);
Michael R. Larsen, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Paul J. Rollmann, Brown Deer, WI (US);
Xin Zhou, Brookfield, WI (US);
John R. Skibinski, Hubertus, WI (US);
Randal D. Gazdecki, Monaca, PA (US);
Peter K. Moldovan, Cascade, WI (US);
Edward L. Wellner, Colgate, WI (US);
Michael R. Larsen, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Paul J. Rollmann, Brown Deer, WI (US);
Xin Zhou, Brookfield, WI (US);
John R. Skibinski, Hubertus, WI (US);
Randal D. Gazdecki, Monaca, PA (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
The auxiliary switch includes a non-contact sensor, such as a Hall effect device, that is switched by the condition of a magnetic field. The magnetic field condition is effected by a movable contact indicator that moves between open and closed positions with the separable contacts of the electric power apparatus. A magnet may be attached to the movable contact indicator, or the movable contact indicator can be magnetized to form the magnet. Alternatively, the moving contact indicator can intercept or not intercept a magnetic field produced by a fixed magnet spaced from the sensor. The Hall effect device may be mounted on the outside of the nonmagnetically permeable housing of the electric power apparatus, or inside if there is sufficient room. In either case, no mechanical coupling is required for the sensor.