Howard Thomas Shaffer

US Patent:

41186087, Oct 3, 1978

Filed:

Dec 2, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/746835

Inventors:

Frank W. Kussy - Randallstown MD
Howard R. Shaffer - Westminster MD

Assignee:

I-T-E Imperial Corporation - Spring House PA

International Classification:

H01H 922
H01H 916

US Classification:

200 56R

Abstract:

An electric switch mounted within an enclosure having a hinged cover is manually operated from outside the enclosure by a handle mechanism secured to the enclosure. The cover is provided with a single aperture near the edge thereof remote from the cover hinges, with this aperture providing clearance for the operating handle and housing of the mechanism when the cover is closed and also providing clearance for a catch which holds the cover closed. A defeatable cover interlock prevents opening of the cover when the switch is closed, and a defeatable switch interlock prevents closing of the switch when the cover is open. The handle mechanism housing is provided with a front recess having a pivoted indicator member therein which is connected by a wire link to the cradle of the trip free contact operating mechanism. When the cradle is in its tripped position the indicator member is operated so as to be viewable through a transparent cover portion of the recess to indicate that opening of the switch resulted from fault conditions.

US Patent:

41445139, Mar 13, 1979

Filed:

Aug 18, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/825584

Inventors:

Howard R. Shaffer - Westminster MD
G. Erich Heberlein - Sykesville MD
Norman P. Perkins - Westminster MD

Assignee:

Gould Inc. - Rolling Meadows IL

International Classification:

H01H 7700

US Classification:

335 46

Abstract:

A multipole circuit breaker is constructed with a single rod pivotally mounting all of the movable contact arms to a common one piece molded insulating carrier. Individual torsion springs engage each of the contact arms to provide contact pressure when the circuit breaker is closed. The construction of the contact arms and carrier are such that under severe overcurrent conditions electrodynamic blowoff forces acting on the contact arms may bring about contact separation that is substantially as great as the contact separation that takes place when the circuit breaker is opened normally by its contact operating mechanism. An individual anti-rebound pin for each pole engages the contact arm of the associated pole to prevent rebound reclosing after electrodynamic opening. A camming means on the carrier releases the anti-rebound latches to permit manual closing of the contacts.

US Patent:

41186079, Oct 3, 1978

Filed:

Dec 2, 1976

Appl. No.:

5/746834

Inventors:

Howard R. Shaffer - Westminster MD

Assignee:

I-T-E Imperial Corporation - Spring House PA

International Classification:

H01H 922

US Classification:

200 50A

Abstract:

An electric switch mounted within an enclosure having a hinged cover is manually operated from outside the enclosure by a handle mechanism secured to the enclosure. The cover is provided with a single aperture near the edge thereof remote from the cover hinges, with this aperture providing clearance for the U-shaped operating handle of the mechanism when the cover is closed and also providing clearance for a catch which holds the cover closed. The mechanism also includes a defeatable cover interlock to prevent opening of the cover when the switch is closed, and a defeatable switch interlock to prevent closing of the switch when the cover is open. Each interlock comprises a flat member biased to an active position by a U-shaped wire spring, positioned for cooperation with different arms of the operating handle, and mounted for movement in planes perpendicular to the cover when the latter is closed. A formed wire loop pivotally mounted to the housing of the handle mechanism is provided to receive a padlock to lock the cover closed.