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| 20090266793 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARTATUS, AND ARC CHUTE AND ARC MEMBER THEREFOR - An arc member is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus includes an operating mechanism for opening and closing separable contacts, and an arc chute disposed proximate the separable contacts to attract an arc generated thereby. The separable contacts include a stationary contact and a movable contact. The stationary contact has an edge, which is disposed in a plane. The arc member includes an arc element disposed between the stationary contact and the arc chute. The arc element has first and second portions and first and second arc attractors. The first arc attractor extends outwardly from the first portion toward the plane of the edge of the stationary contact to draw the arc from the separable contacts to the arc member. The second arc attractors, which are disposed on the second portion of the arc element, direct the arc into the arc chute. | 10-29-2009 |
| 20110132875 | SPLATTER RESISTANCE IN CIRCUIT BREAKERS - A circuit breaker includes at least trip mechanism component that has been provided with a splatter resistant surface. The splatter resistant surface significantly reduces the amount of metal splatter that adheres to the component, increasing the reliability of the circuit breaker. The splatter resistant surface may be created by coating the trip mechanism component with a solid lubricant or by applying a solid lubricant to the trip mechanism component in tape form. | 06-09-2011 |
| 20130146428 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS INCLUDING TWO POLES AND A SINGLE OPERATING HANDLE - An electrical switching apparatus includes an enclosure having an opening, a single operating handle disposed through the enclosure opening, a first pole disposed in the enclosure and including first separable contacts, a first operating mechanism to open and close the first contacts, and a first operating member cooperating with the first operating mechanism to open and close the first contacts. A second pole is disposed in the enclosure and includes second separable contacts, a second operating mechanism to open and close the second contacts, and a second operating member cooperating with the second operating mechanism to open and close the second contacts. The single operating handle, centered between parallel poles, includes a first projection within the enclosure cooperating with the first operating member to open and close the first contacts, and a second projection within the enclosure cooperating with the second operating member to open and close the second contacts. | 06-13-2013 |
| 20140083828 | SPLATTER RESISTANCE IN CIRCUIT BREAKERS - The disclosed concept pertains to coating compositions, methods of applying the compositions, and coated components produced therefrom. The coating compositions include alkyd or modified alkyd. The coatings are formed on surfaces of one or more internal components positioned within an electrical system, such as a circuit breaker. In the event of electrical arcing and the metal splatter produced therefrom, the coatings of the disclosed concept are effective to at least partially protect the component surface from the metal splatter and to at least partially impart splatter resistance to the component surface such that the metal splatter does not tend to adhere thereto. | 03-27-2014 |
| 20140151200 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS AND CONDUCTOR ASSEMBLY THEREFOR - A conductor assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing having an interior and an exterior. The conductor assembly includes a first conductor member, a second conductor member, and a plurality of fasteners, such as rivets, mechanically fastening and electrically connecting the first conductor member to the second conductor member. The first conductor member is made from a first material, such as copper, and the second conductor member is made from a second different material, such as aluminum. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140151206 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS AND MOVABLE CONTACT ARM ASSEMBLY THEREFOR - A movable contact arm assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The movable contact arm assembly includes a first member, and a second member attached to the first member. The first member is made from a first material, such as steel, and the second member is made from a second different material, such as copper. The first and second members each include first and second ends. The first end of the first member cooperates with the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The first end of the second member is attached to the second end of the first member. A movable contact is disposed on the second end of the second member. | 06-05-2014 |
| 20140251773 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS AND LINK ASSEMBLY THEREFOR - A link assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a movable contact arm. The separable contacts comprise a stationary contact and a movable contact. The movable contact is disposed on the movable contact arm. The link assembly includes a pivot assembly pivotably coupled to the movable contact arm, a link element pivotably coupled to the pivot assembly, and a biasing element, such as a spring. A first end of the spring is coupled to the link element, and a second end of the spring is coupled to the circuit breaker housing. | 09-11-2014 |
| 20140262709 | HEAT REDUCING TERMINALS INCLUDING A SURFACE HAVING PROTRUSIONS AND ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A terminal includes a fastener; a conductor member having a plurality of protrusions on a surface thereof facing the fastener; and a collar member. The collar member includes first, second, third and fourth surfaces, a tapped opening on the first surface engaging the fastener, and a conduit between the second and third surfaces. The tapped opening intersects and coincides with the conduit and is normal thereto. The fourth surface is opposite the first surface and contains another opening that intersects and coincides with the conduit. The other opening receives the conductor member. The protrusions and the surface of the conductor member are structured to engage a stranded conductor having a plurality of individual solid conductors. The fastener is structured to engage the stranded conductor. | 09-18-2014 |
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| 20100148893 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS AND SHUNT SEPARATOR THEREFOR - A shunt separator is provided for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed within the housing, an operating assembly including a trip bar, and a trip assembly. The trip assembly cooperates with the trip bar to trip open the separable contacts in response to a fault condition. The trip assembly includes a number of shunts. The shunt separator includes a molded projection, which extends outwardly from the housing of the electrical switching apparatus. The molded projection at least partially surrounds a portion of the trip bar, thereby separating the number of shunts from the trip bar. | 06-17-2010 |
| 20120063064 | POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM, AND ELECTRICAL BUS ASSEMBLY AND ELECTRICAL CONDUCTOR MECHANISM THEREFOR - An electrical conductor mechanism is provided for an electrical bus assembly of a power distribution system, such as a residential load center, which includes a number of electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The electric conductor mechanism includes at least one planar member having first and second opposing sides. The first side is attached to a corresponding stab of the electrical bus assembly. The second side is electrically connected to a corresponding one of the circuit breakers, thereby electrically connecting it to the stab of the electrical bus assembly. An electrical bus assembly and a power distribution system employing the aforementioned electrical conductor mechanism are also disclosed. | 03-15-2012 |
| 20120200986 | Side Accessible Circuit Breaker to Bus Connections - A load center assembly comprising a main circuit breaker configured to be connected with bus plates through side openings in the main circuit breaker is described. The openings in the main circuit breaker comprise plug-on clips by which the bus plates connect. The plug-on clips are configured to use friction to grasp the bus plates as the bus plates are slidably inserted between the jaws of the plug-on clips. | 08-09-2012 |
| 20120298627 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS, AND ARC CHUTE AND VENTING ASSEMBLY THEREFOR - A venting assembly is provided for an arc chute of an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing and separable contacts. An arc and ionized gases are generated in response to the separable contacts tripping open. The arc chute includes a plurality of arc splitters each having first and second opposing sides, an interior passage, and an exterior. The venting assembly includes a first portion coupled to the first side of at least one of the arc splitters and including a venting segment with first venting apertures. A second portion is coupled to the second side and includes a second venting segment having second venting apertures. The first and second venting segments are spaced from the exterior of the arc splitters to form first and second cooling chambers for cooling the ionized gases. The first and second venting apertures vent the ionized gases. | 11-29-2012 |
| 20130076461 | Collapsible Mechanism for Circuit Breakers - A device can be installed inside a circuit breaker assembly to reduce friction between an armature and a cradle, which in turn, allows the circuit breaker to trip without requiring significant force. Such device can be a collapsible mechanism configured to swivel about its hinged connection to the armature. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130076479 | Tool and Calibration Machine for Calibrating a Thermal Trip Apparatus of a Circuit Interrupter, and Improved Method - An improved calibration machine for calibrating a thermal trip apparatus of a circuit interrupter employs a tool having an elongated shank and a pair of engagement elements. The engagement elements are engageable with a support that carried a bimetal element. The engagement elements can deform the support in opposite directions to either increase or decrease the thermal trip setting of the thermal trip apparatus. If the support is over-deformed in one direction, it can be deformed in an opposite direction to enable a circuit interrupter whose thermal trip apparatus has been deformed beyond a desired target thermal calibration setting to be deformed in an opposite direction to reach the desired target thermal calibration setting. | 03-28-2013 |
| 20130153381 | Shield Apparatus for Use in Circuit Interrupter - An improved shield apparatus is structured to resist contamination due to an electrical arc event of an open region that is formed within an interior of a circuit interrupter. The open region is one within which a coil spring is movably disposed. The improved shield apparatus is formed of a flexible sheet of arc-resistant material and includes a support apparatus having an elongated leg, at least a portion of which extends through an elongated longitudinal opening in the coil spring and connects with an end of the coil spring. The shield apparatus further includes a shield element that is situated on an exterior surface of the coil spring and is structured to overlie at least a portion of an opening into the open region. | 06-20-2013 |
| 20140312996 | BIMETAL AND MAGNETIC ARMATURE PROVIDING AN ARC SPLATTER RESISTANT OFFSET THEREBETWEEN, AND CIRCUIT BREAKER INCLUDING THE SAME - A trip mechanism includes a bimetal having a first side and an opposite second side, a magnetic yoke disposed proximate the first side of the bimetal, and a magnetic armature pivotally connected to the bimetal and disposed proximate the opposite second side thereof. The armature has a first side with a surface, an opposite second side, and an opening extending from the first side to the opposite second side of the magnetic armature. The opening has a latch surface structured to engage the latch surface of an operating mechanism. The first side of the magnetic armature is structured to engage the opposite second side of the bimetal. At least one of the bimetal and the magnetic armature is structured to provide an offset between the bimetal and the surface of the first side of the magnetic armature at the opening of the magnetic armature. | 10-23-2014 |
| 20140335708 | Connection Apparatus Connectable With Neutral Bus - An improved connection apparatus is connectable with an elongated neutral bus to electrically connect a neutral conductor to the neutral bus. The connection apparatus is movable among any of a variety of positions along the neutral bus in order to facilitate connection of the various neutral conductors with the neutral bus at various desirable locations within an electrical enclosure. The connection apparatus is also advantageously removable from the neutral bus and is reinstallable thereon to facilitate changing the locations of the connections between the neutral conductors and the neutral bus and to avoid interference between any of a neutral connection, a connection apparatus, a neutral bus, and a circuit interrupter. | 11-13-2014 |
| 20150043134 | CIRCUIT INTERRUPTERS AND ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURES WITH REJECTION FEATURES - A set of circuit interrupters and electrical enclosures that are configured to permit an electrical enclosure having a current rating to have connected therewith a circuit interrupter having a current carrying rating no greater than the current rating. However, a current interrupter having a current carrying rating less than the current rating of the electrical enclosure potentially may be connected therewith. Such electrical interruption equipment employs threaded studs on bus bars that are of varying sizes and/or are separated by varying distances in order to resist an electrical enclosure having a current rating from being electrically connected with a circuit interrupter having a current carrying rating greater than the current rating. Alternatively or additionally, the circuit interrupter and/or the electrical enclosure may have interference elements that physically interfere with the mounting and/or the electrical connection of a circuit interrupter having a current carrying rating with an electrical enclosure having a current rating less than the current carrying rating. | 02-12-2015 |
| 20150060723 | HEAT SINK COMPOSITION FOR ELECTRICALLY RESISTIVE AND THERMALLY CONDUCTIVE CIRCUIT BREAKER AND LOAD CENTER AND METHOD OF PREPARATION THEREFOR - The disclosed concept relates to compositions and methods for the manufacture of electrically resistive, thermally conductive electrical switching apparatus. The composition includes a polymer component and a nanofiber component. The thermal conductivity of the nanofiber component is higher than the thermal conductivity of the polymer component such that the electrical switching apparatus which includes the composition of the disclosed concept has improved heat dissipation as compared to an electrical switching apparatus constructed of the polymer component in the absence of the nanofiber component. Further, the disclosed concept relates to methods of towering the internal temperature of an electrically resistive, thermally conductive electrical switching apparatus by forming the internals of the apparatus, e.g., circuit breakers, and/or the enclosure from the composition of the disclosed concept. | 03-05-2015 |
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| 20090141433 | SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR A POWER BUS - A sensor assembly is provided for a power bus. The power bus exhibits a number of characteristics, such as a temperature. The sensor assembly includes an enclosure having a housing and a base. At least one sensor such as, for example, a temperature sensor, is housed within the enclosure. The sensor (e.g., temperature sensor) senses a corresponding one of the number of characteristics (e.g., temperature) of the power bus. A power supply is housed within the enclosure, and cooperates with the power bus to provide electrical power to the sensor. An elongated fastener fastens the enclosure to the power bus. The base of the enclosure is adjustable with respect to the housing of the enclosure in order to secure the power bus between the housing and the base. The elongated fastener extends around the enclosure and the power bus in order to secure the enclosure to the power bus. | 06-04-2009 |
| 20100085136 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS AND TRIP ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY THEREFOR - A trip actuator assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The trip actuator assembly includes a trip actuator with an actuating element, which is movable among unactuated and actuated positions corresponding to separable contacts of the circuit breaker being closeable and tripped opened in response to a trip condition, respectively. The trip actuator is disposed at a mounting portion of a frame. An interface assembly is movably coupled to the frame and includes an interface element disposed between the actuating element of the trip actuator and a portion of the circuit breaker operating mechanism. When the actuating element moves from the unactuated position toward the actuated position, it engages and moves the interface element, thereby moving the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The frame secures the trip actuator assembly in a desired orientation within a corresponding one of the housing compartments. | 04-08-2010 |
| 20120176719 | TRIP UNIT PROVIDING REMOTE ELECTRICAL SIGNAL TO REMOTELY INDICATE THAT AN ARC REDUCTION MAINTENANCE MODE IS REMOTELY ENABLED, AND ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - An electrical switching apparatus includes separable contacts; an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts; and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes an input structured to receive a remote signal to remotely enable an arc reduction maintenance mode, a first circuit structured to enable the arc reduction maintenance mode in response to the received remote signal, and a second circuit structured to provide an electrical signal remote from the trip mechanism in order to remotely indicate that the arc reduction maintenance mode is remotely enabled. | 07-12-2012 |
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| 20090206969 | TRIP ACTUATOR INCLUDING A THERMOPLASTIC BUSHING, AND TRIP UNIT AND ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS INCLUDING THE SAME - A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a trip unit cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts. The trip unit includes a sensor structured to sense current flowing through the contacts, a processor structured to output a trip signal responsive to the sensed current, and a trip actuator. The trip actuator includes a housing including a recess, a coil within the recess, the coil having an opening therethrough, a magnet within the recess, a thermoplastic bushing including a conduit therethrough, the thermoplastic bushing being coupled to the housing, and an armature disposable within the opening of the coil and slidably disposed within the conduit of the thermoplastic bushing. The magnet attracts the armature toward the housing. A spring biases the armature away from the housing, in order to cause the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts. | 08-20-2009 |
| 20130027162 | Miniature Neutral Toroidal Current Transformer - A toroidal current transformer that can be used as a neutral current transformer in a single or three phase system as a result of its compactness is described. The core is made of ferromagnetic material having a primary winding and a secondary winding. | 01-31-2013 |
| 20140254052 | DISPLAY UNIT CONFIGURED TO DISPLAY TRIP INFORMATION AND CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER INCLUDING THE SAME - A display unit is configured for use with a circuit interrupter which outputs a trip notification, trip information, and direct current power to the display unit The display unit comprises: a processor having a routine; a secondary power source configured to output secondary power; a memory display configured to receive the direct current power or the secondary power; and a power source selection circuit configured to switch the memory display from the direct current power to the secondary power in response to the display unit receiving the trip notification, wherein the routine of said processor is structured to control the memory display to display the trip information in response to the display unit receiving the trip notification. | 09-11-2014 |
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| 20080314194 | CLINCHING LINEAR SLIDE DEVICE - The present invention permits linear slide motion as well as rotational motion between two sheets or panels of metal. This linear rail system utilizes clinching end stays to hold a loop of wire taut in a milled or stamped slot in a sheet metal panel. The loop of wire is stretched in the milled slot, being wrapped through the undercuts of the clinching end stays. When the stays are pressed into the milled slot with the wire in place, the wire is locked in due to the cold flow of metal around it. The taut spring wire captivates a round follower with flanges above and below the wire runs. The follower is then free to move linearly and rotate in the panel. This follower is self-clinching and can attach a second sheet to the assembly by pressing a hole in the second sheet onto the follower. | 12-25-2008 |
| 20100129174 | PIERCING STANDOFF - A piercing fastener is attachable to a panel without a hole by penetrating its surface. The fastener further includes means for attachment of a device to it so that the fastener acts as an intermediate component attaching the device to the panel. The fastener has either male or female attachment means and further includes an outside surface extending from a top end to a bottom end. Near the bottom end, a reinforcement collar includes an annular top surface for receiving a downward pressing force to install the fastener into the panel. A displacer and undercut are located immediately below the collar to effect and receive a cold flow of deformed panel material to secure the fastener to the panel. A plurality of axially extending circumferential teeth are located immediately below the undercut and comprise triangular knurls with sharp edges which penetrate the sheet as the fastener is applied. The bottom of the fastener terminates in a sharp circular cutting edge for penetrating the panel. | 05-27-2010 |
| 20100296255 | TWO-PIECE HEAT SINK STUD - A fastening system for a heat sink mounted on a circuit board utilizes a self-clinching stud assembly constructed by axially interfitting two flat sheet metal members. Each member has forked ends which when axially plugged together in criss-cross fashion create a unified fastener with side structures that can permanently clinch into a heat sink. After attachment to the heat sink, the stud presents two opposite attachment ends with tines which extend from the top and bottom of the heat sink. As finally assembled, a fan attaches to the top end of the studs above the heat sink while the opposite end of the stud which extends from the bottom of the heat sink passes through the circuit board to attach to a retaining leaf spring which presses against the back side of the board. Thus, all of the components are joined by a single stud. | 11-25-2010 |
| 20110097172 | Clinch Pin Fastener - A clinch-type fastener is formed by simultaneously creating an undercut during the same forging that creates the head and displacer of the fastener. A fastener blank is compressed end-to-end between top and bottom dies whereby the axial compression of a blank causes the outward bulging of the shank at its midline. Simultaneously, a tapered end point and a tangential interference band are formed provided by a curvilinear-shaped bulge in the shank. As the bulge is formed an undercut is created between the bulge and a shoulder which extends downwardly from a head of the fastener. This method of formation and the fastener produced thereby are particularly suited to the manufacture of small clinch pins having a diameter in the range of 1.0 mm. | 04-28-2011 |
| 20120324978 | Clinch Pin Fastener - A clinch-type fastener is formed by simultaneously creating an undercut during the same forging that creates the head and displacer of the fastener. A fastener blank is compressed end-to-end between top and bottom dies whereby the axial compression of a blank causes the outward bulging of the shank at its midline. Simultaneously, a tapered end point and a tangential interference band are formed provided by a curvilinear-shaped bulge in the shank. As the bulge is formed an undercut is created between the bulge and a shoulder which extends downwardly from a head of the fastener. This method of formation and the fastener produced thereby are particularly suited to the manufacture of small clinch pins having a diameter in the range of 1.0 mm. | 12-27-2012 |
| 20130056514 | Tack Pin Installation Press - An automated press feeds a string of tack pins loaded on a reel. The press shears the part from the string of fasteners and delivers each part individually to a punch for installation. The string of fasteners is pulled from the reel by a sprocket which includes peripheral teeth for engaging the fasteners and for feeding them in a vertical column to a shear station. A horizontally reciprocal shear block severs individual fasteners one-at-a-time from the end of the fastener string at the shear station, each fastener being indexed to the next shear position by incremental rotation of the sprocket. The punch includes vacuum retaining means for lifting each fastener from the shear block. | 03-07-2013 |
| 20140023452 | Tack Screw - The present clinch screw can be secured through a hole in a sheet of metal by a simple press-in application like a tack pin. An undercut clinch feature on the screw shank just underneath the head and above a threaded bulb portion of the shank secures the screw to the sheet as material from the sheet cold-flows into the undercut. Simultaneously, sheet material also flows around and between the bulb threads which forms partial female threads in the sidewall of the sheet hole and provides added pull-out resistance. The screw can then be simply turned out to remove it. In doing so additional female threads are cut into the upper portion of the hole sidewall as the threaded bulb moves upward and then out of the hole. A re-useable threaded hole in the sheet is left behind. | 01-23-2014 |
| 20150063944 | Fastener with a Belleville Head - The present invention relates to headed push-in fasteners of the type produced by Penn Engineering & Manufacturing Corp. known as TackPins and TackScrews. More specifically it relates to a Tack Pin or a Tack Screw with a Belleville head that provides the functionality of a Bellville washer without needing a separate part. When installed, the compression of the Bellville shaped head will cause a permanent loading to be applied under the head of the fastener, essentially creating a clamping force to the members being attached. | 03-05-2015 |
