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:
Oct. 21, 2008
Filed:
Nov. 01, 2006
Dale Louis Gass, Brown Deer, WI (US);
Kevin Lynn Parker, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Birger Pahl, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Jerome Kenneth Hastings, Sussex, WI (US);
Joseph Charles Zuercher, Brookfield, WI (US);
Dale Louis Gass, Brown Deer, WI (US);
Kevin Lynn Parker, Pittsburgh, PA (US);
Birger Pahl, Milwaukee, WI (US);
Jerome Kenneth Hastings, Sussex, WI (US);
Joseph Charles Zuercher, Brookfield, WI (US);
Eaton Corporation, Cleveland, OH (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for repeatably generating electrical arcs for testing an electrical switching device, such as an arc fault circuit interrupter, includes a stationary electrode and a movable electrode that is moved along a path of travel by an electromechanical device under the control of a controller that receives data from either a current measuring device or a voltage measuring device to detect the initiation of an arc. The movable electrode is caused to first make physical contact with the stationary electrode, and then is moved away from the stationary electrode until an arc is detected. Additionally, the movable electrode may be moved towards and away from the stationary electrode according to a test profile to control the magnitude of the randomness of the arc.