Patent application number | Description | Published |
20110141633 | CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH GROUND FAULT AND OVERCURRENT TRIP - A circuit breaker apparatus may be used to interrupt overcurrent and ground fault in a circuit. The circuit breaker apparatus may include an overcurrent coil for tripping the circuit breaker apparatus, a voltage coil also for tripping the circuit breaker apparatus located proximate to the overcurrent coil, ground fault electronics connected to the voltage coil and structured to detect a ground fault in the circuit when the ground fault exceeds a threshold level, and a solid state switch. The ground fault electronics can be structured to send a trip signal to close the solid state switch when a ground fault is detected, the solid state switch is configured to force a current through the voltage coil when the solid state switch is closed, the current being of sufficient magnitude to trip the circuit breaker apparatus. | 06-16-2011 |
20120037598 | CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER WITH ENHANCED ARC QUENCHING CAPABILITIES - A circuit interrupter has a first contact, a second contact movable with respect to the first contact, an arcing chamber, and an arc splitter. The arc splitter is located on a first side of the first contact, as is an arc runner. An electrical conductor is connected to the arc runner having a first portion running from the first side of the first contact towards a second side of the first contact, the second side being opposite the first side with respect to the first contact. A second portion is connected to the first portion and the second contact; the second portion is located on the second side of the first contact. A current running through the arc runner and the electrical conductor generates a magnetic force on the arc moving the arc toward the arc splitter. | 02-16-2012 |
20120168295 | Ultra Low Profile Rocker Design - A rocker switch having a housing and a rocker extending from the housing. The rocker has a first side with a first end and a second end, a second side adjacent to the first side, and a channel. The channel is disposed on the second side of the rocker and has a first end and a second end. A pivot point is disposed on a crank. A pin, disposed on the crank, is located in a first side of the channel. The depression of the first end of the rocker causes a rotational movement of the channel in a curvilinear path around the pivot point, causing a rotational movement of the crank, moving the pin from the first end of the channel toward the second end of the channel. | 07-05-2012 |
20120261382 | Arc Runner With Integrated Current Path That Develops A Magnetic Field To Boost Arc Movement Towards Splitter Plates - A circuit interrupter for cooling and quenching an electrical arc having a housing with a first contact and a second contact movable with respect to the first contact. An arc splitter is located in an arcing chamber, and an arc runner is located near the second contact. The arc runner has an arc strap facing toward the first contact, a first wall shaped as a rectangular spiral perpendicularly extending from the arc strap, a second wall shaped as a rectangular spiral perpendicularly extending from to the arc strap and opposite the first wall. The arc runner generates a magnetic force on the arc forcing the arc toward the arc splitter. | 10-18-2012 |
20120262255 | Magnetic Circuit Interrupter With Current Limiting Capability - A circuit interrupter has a first contact, a second contact, and a trip arm which moves the second contact between a closed position where the second contact is touching the first contact and an open position in which the second contact is spaced apart from the first contact. A first trip mechanism has a first solenoid, a first overcurrent sensor, and a first arm. A second trip mechanism has a second solenoid, a second overcurrent sensor, and a second arm. The first trip mechanism activates the first arm after a first threshold amount of time which actuates the trip arm when the first overcurrent sensor detects a first threshold level. The second trip mechanism activates the second arm after a second threshold amount of time which actuates the trip arm when the second overcurrent sensor detects a second threshold level, the second threshold level being different than the first. | 10-18-2012 |
20130180956 | Low-Profile Circuit Breaker - A circuit interrupter having a compact design. According to some implementations, the circuit interrupter includes a conductor from a terminal to a contact having a portion that is angled with respect to the housing sides. This allows a fastener sleeve used to secure the device housing to be positioned closer to the center of mass of the housing, reducing the area of the housing. In some implementations, an arc splitter is provided which includes conductive plates that are angled with respect to the housing sides, allowing the area of the housing to be reduced. In some implementations, a terminal is designed to accommodate a connection without being doubled back, reducing the clearance required for the terminal and the overall area of the circuit interrupter. | 07-18-2013 |
20140062623 | REMOTE OPERATED CIRCUIT BREAKER - A circuit breaker having a movable contact arm for opening and closing the circuit which is controlled separately by a circuit breaker mechanism for circuit protection and by a switch lever mechanism which does not require actuation of the circuit breaker mechanism to function. The switch lever may be activated by a solenoid or other suitable means, and various interlocking mechanical states exist among the elements that provide added safety features. | 03-06-2014 |
20140076700 | Circuit Breaker With Arc Shield - A circuit breaker which includes a shielding component. The shielding component includes an external portion which defines a space external to the circuit breaker housing. The external portion prevents insertion of the circuit breaker into a breaker box closer than the distances defining the space. This can have the advantage of preventing arcing from the breaker contacts to the breaker box. The external portion may also prevent insertion of the circuit breaker into a breaker box such that a vent in the circuit breaker housing is blocked. In some implementations, the shielding component contains an internal portion which extends into the circuit breaker housing and is disposed to impede debris generated by contact arcing, or other debris, from entering the mechanism of the circuit breaker. | 03-20-2014 |
20140251959 | Arc Shield - A circuit breaker includes a shielding component having an external portion which defines a space external to the circuit breaker housing and covers a vent in the circuit breaker housing to direct gasses and debris from the vent to an outlet. The external portion also prevents insertion of the circuit breaker into a breaker box closer than the distances defining the space. This can have the advantage of preventing arcing from the breaker contacts to the breaker box. The external portion may also prevent insertion of the circuit breaker into a breaker box such that a vent in the circuit breaker housing is blocked. In some implementations, the shielding component contains an internal portion which extends into the circuit breaker housing and is disposed to impede debris generated by contact arcing, or other debris, from entering the mechanism of the circuit breaker. | 09-11-2014 |
20140354380 | Remote Operated Circuit Breaker - A circuit breaker having a movable contact arm for opening and closing the circuit which is controlled separately by a circuit breaker mechanism for circuit protection and by a switch lever mechanism which does not require actuation of the circuit breaker mechanism to function. The switch lever may be activated by a solenoid or other suitable means, and various interlocking mechanical states exist among the elements that provide added safety features. | 12-04-2014 |
20150070114 | Remote Operated Circuit Breaker With Manual Reset - A circuit breaker having a movable contact arm for opening and closing the circuit which is controlled separately by a circuit breaker mechanism for circuit protection and by a switch lever mechanism which does not require actuation of the circuit breaker mechanism to function. The switch lever may also be activated remotely by a remote actuator, for example, a solenoid. A manual reset mechanism is provided so that, actuation of which, when power has been lost to the remote actuator when the remote actuator is in the off position, moves the remote actuator to the on position, thereby resetting the circuit to the closed state. | 03-12-2015 |