Did You Know...
...that power steering was invented by independent inventor Francis W. Davis? As chief engineer in the 1920s of the truck division of the Pierce Arrow Motor Car Company, he saw how hard it was to steer heavy vehicles. So that he would be able to keep the profits from his future invention, Davis left his job, rented a small engineering shop in Waltham, Mass., and developed a hydraulic power steering system that led to power steering.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7397339 | Method for ambient temperature compensating thermostat metal actuated electrical devices having a plurality of current ratings A thermally actuated device, such as an electrical circuit breaker (10) is provided with an ambient temperature compensation thermostat metal member (38) selected so that it bends when subjected to changes in temperature and compensates for ambient tem... | 07/08/2008 |
| 7310041 | Circuit breaker The invention relates to a re-settable, single-phase, thermo/electric circuit breaker utilizing a U-shape bimetallic element of substantial resistance properties in the circuit, so that when a predetermined overload current occurs the bimetallic element self heats a... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7135953 | Adjusting device for a thermal trip An adjusting device is for a thermal trip of a switchgear. It includes a bimetal, which is held in a fixed manner on a bimetal support, whose free end is located at a distance from a tripping lever, and which increasingly acts upon this tripping lever in a tripping ... | 11/14/2006 |
| 6940374 | Overload/open-phase tripping device for circuit breaker An overload/open-phase tripping device for a circuit breaker includes a plurality of bimetallic elements arranged in a row; a differential shifter mechanism; and a tripping lever for transmitting a force applied by the differential shifter mechanism to a switching m... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6816055 | Adjusting device for a thermal trip element An adjusting device is for a thermal trip element of a switchgear. It includes a bimetallic element that is stationarily fixed on a bimetallic support. The free end of the bimetallic element is spaced apart form a trip lever and increasingly impinges the same in the... | 11/09/2004 |
| 6803850 | Thermal trip assembly and method for producing same A heater element for use in a circuit breaker whose initial shape can be varied to achieve various trip ratings for different circuit breakers. The material composition of the heater element and the bimetal strip indirectly heated by the heater element are kept the ... | 10/12/2004 |
| 6720856 | Calibration structure for circuit breakers having bimetallic trip member A thermally compensated circuit breaker has a movable contact assembly (24) which mounts a movable electrical contact (24m) for movement between open and closed contacts positions with a stationary electrical contact (26). The contacts ar... | 04/13/2004 |
| 6661329 | Adjustable thermal trip assembly for a circuit breaker The circuit breaker current/time characteristic value at which the bimetal in a thermal trip assembly actuates a trip mechanism is adjusted by an adjustable coupler that includes first and second pivoted members separately rotatable about a common pivot a... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6160470 | Circuit breaker A circuit breaker includes an upper rail mounting device defined by a line terminal having a pair of spaced-apart jaws. A bimetal is adjusted by means of a calibration screw. An aperture is provided in an upper sidewall portion of a base of the circuit br... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6104273 | Calibration assembly and process for use in a circuit protective device In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a calibration arrangement and process for use in a circuit protective device are presented. An exemplary calibration assembly for use in the calibration process of the present invention includes a split clamp a... | 08/15/2000 |
| 6028757 | Process for adjusting a thermal overload cut-out In a the method for adjusting thermal overload cutouts, after a synchronization of bimetallic strips and optionally a preadjustment of a cutout mechanism, the bimetallic strips are acted upon by current for a specific time, at the end of which the actual ... | 02/22/2000 |
| 5825273 | Differential thermal tripping device with bimetallic strips Differential thermal tripping device with bimetallic strips for electrical protection appliance such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a tripping assembly with two contact strips 30, 40 free to move along the X direction, and for each bim... | 10/20/1998 |
| 5550524 | Thermostat range limit device An adjustable thermostat range limit apparatus consists of a base member having a pair of adjustable temperature limit means. The thermostat range limit apparatus is attached in the proximity of a conventional thermostat so that the adjustable temperature... | 08/27/1996 |
| 5317471 | Process and device for setting a thermal trip device with bimetal strip A thermal setting process of the bimetal strip consists in securing an adjusting pin to the trip bar by means of laser welding when the bimetal strip reaches a first preset temperature, and then checking tripping at a second temperature with or without ac... | 05/31/1994 |
| 5257001 | Device for adjusting the bimetal blade of a circuit breaker A circuit breaker comprises a connector (17) connected to a bimetal blade (1) having an adjustable inclination. An end of the bimetal blade is embedded in an isolating axle (2) parallel to the plane of the bimetal blade (1), the position in rotation of th... | 10/26/1993 |
| 5191310 | Adjustable cycling switch for electric range A thermally responsive load cycling switch assembly user adjustable for varying the time of cycling current to load connecting terminals and having a contact blade cantilevered from an insulator block pivoted in the switch housing. A bimetal blade actuato... | 03/02/1993 |
| 5153552 | Thermally tripped circuit breaker with adjustable tripping sensitivity A push button operated circuit breaker with thermal tripping by way of a bimetal strip includes an angled contact bridge which is mounted within a switch housing to be freely pivotal and is urged in a tripping direction by a tripping spring against a cont... | 10/06/1992 |
| 5008645 | Circuit breaker with tamper indicating calibration means A circuit breaker with a thermal trip has a calibration opening in the electrically insulating housing through which a tool may be inserted and rotated to distort a support plate on which a bimetal is mounted to calibrate the thermal trip after the circui... | 04/16/1991 |
| 4922220 | Adjustable circuit breaker thermal trip unit Apparatus for adjusting the calibration of a thermal trip unit which is to be used in conjunction with an electrical circuit breaker. A rotatable knob is provided which adjusts the trip unit to between one hundred percent of the rating of the circuit brea... | 05/01/1990 |
| 4815312 | Device for adjusting the relative position of two parts of the same piece by deformation, by means of a conical screw, of an intermediate zone connecting these two parts together A device is provided for adjusting the relative position of two parts of the same piece by deforming an intermediate zone connecting these two parts together, by means of a conical screw, and having a tapped bore in which said screw may be screwed, and a ... | 03/28/1989 |
| 4763096 | Device for adjusting the thermal current of a thermal bimetallic strip trip and a protection switch including such a device A device is provided for adjusting the thermal current of a bimetallic strip thermal tripping device and a protection switch including such a device, said adjustment device including a graduated wheel accessible from outside the switch box and having inne... | 08/09/1988 |
| 4704593 | Circuit breaker with adjustable thermal mechanism A circuit breaker having means for varying the thermal rating characterized by a circuit breaker mechanism including a releasable cradle for automatically tripping contacts to an open position in response to overload current conditions. A trip bar movable... | 11/03/1987 |
| 4698606 | Circuit breaker with adjustable thermal trip unit A circuit interrupter responsive to abnormal currents in conductors of an electrical distribution system characterized by a circuit breaker mechanism for opening and closing separable contacts and which mechanism comprises a releasable member operable bet... | 10/06/1987 |
| 4691184 | Bimetal releaser A method for calibrating a bimetal releaser for a switch, e.g. a motor protection switch, the releaser including a release bridge and a differential bridge which is movable relative to the release bridge, with the ends of the bimetal strips being disposed... | 09/01/1987 |
| 4675641 | Rating plug for molded case circuit breakers A selectable rating plug allows a standard molded case circuit breaker design to be used over a wide range of ampere ratings. The rating plug is used to control the thermal load on the thermally responsive trip element within the breaker. Movement of the ... | 06/23/1987 |
| 4672350 | Vibration and shockproof overload protection subassembly for an electric device A bimetal operated latch subassembly (600) for an electrical device such as an overload/switch device which is a self-contained unit that can be mounted into operative position relative to the trippable member (012) of the electrical device. A bimetal ass... | 06/09/1987 |
| 4642597 | Overcurrent relay An overcurrent relay comprises a housing having an external portion, an overcurrent responsive mechanism, disposed within the housing, for opening or closing a pair of contacts in response to an overcurrent, an adjusting screw device for adjusting the ope... | 02/10/1987 |
| 4642598 | Adjusting device for thermal overload relay A thermal overload relay of the type which uses a shifter to transmit thermal bending of the main bimetallic element to one end of the temperature compensating bimetallic element which is connected to a release lever which controls the closing of the rela... | 02/10/1987 |
| 4630019 | Molded case circuit breaker with calibration adjusting means for a bimetal A molded case circuit breaker includes a new and improved calibration adjusting means for a bimetal in a trip mechanism. The trip mechanism also includes a bimetal having a portion movable in response to predetermined overload conditions, an intermediate ... | 12/16/1986 |
| 4570144 | Thermally actuated variable-rating circuit breaker having adjustable heat sink means A heater strip (12) is disposed in spaced relation to a temperature responsive actuator element (20) for indirectly heating that element in response to current flow in the heater (12). An adjustable heat sink (22) is disposed in spaced proximity to the ac... | 02/11/1986 |
| 4231010 | Thermostatic switch employing a stud member for calibration of the switch A thermostatic switch has a thermostatic subassembly located on a header so that movable contacts engage and disengage complementary contacts mounted on the header in response to temperature change. A knurled stud part has an interference fit in a header ... | 10/28/1980 |
| 4166994 | Thermostat with positive off position Thermostats for use in electrically heated appliances have a positive off position and are adapted for transition to a low temperature on position within a small amount (approximately one radian) of control shaft rotation. The thermostats comprise a stack... | 09/04/1979 |
| 4148004 | Circuit breaker with calibrating means A circuit breaker characterized by an electrically insulating housing containing a circuit breaker structure comprising a pair of separable contacts and having associated therewith a bimetal member having one end fixedly mounted on an outturned flange of ... | 04/03/1979 |
| 4023132 | Electrical circuit breakers An electric circuit breaker or overload protection apparatus includes a thermal element which, on being heated by a fault current, is deflected to initiate a circuit-breaking tripping of the apparatus. A supporting mechanism for varying the rating of the ... | 05/10/1977 |
| 4001752 | Calibrating adjustment of thermostat A thermostat includes a base plate supporting a switch and an ambient temperature sensing bimetal that actuates the switch. A set-point adjusting cam cooperates with the bimetal. An internally threaded bushing is supported upright on the base plate and is... | 01/04/1977 |
| 3975701 | Circuit breaker with one-way adjustment of tripping current level A molded case circuit breaker having a solid-state trip unit adjustable over a variety of ratings. One-way adjustment is provided, permitting a reduction in the rating of the circuit breaker and preventing an increase in the rating. A ratchet mechanism an... | 08/17/1976 |
| 3950717 | Multi-pole circuit breaker with adjustable thermal trip unit A multi-pole circuit breaker with adjustable thermal trip unit characterized by a circuit breaker mechanism having a plurality of pole units, means releasable when released from a latched position to effect simultaneous opening of the circuit breaker cont... | 04/13/1976 |
| 3950716 | Multi-pole circuit breaker with adjustable thermal trip unit A multi-pole circuit breaker with adjustable thermal trip unit characterized by a circuit breaker mechanism having a plurality of pole units, means releasable when released from a latched position to effect simultaneous opening of the circuit breaker cont... | 04/13/1976 |
| 3944959 | Electrical circuit breaker In an electrical circuit breaker having a bimetal element which deflects, upon passage of excess currents, to displace a movable member to trip the circuit breaker, an adjustable element, in the form of a wedge, is provided between the bimetal element and... | 03/16/1976 |
| 3943477 | Electrical circuit breakers An electrical circuit breaker having a thermal element which on being heated by fault current trips the breaker, and including an adjustable member to vary the action of the thermal element thereby to vary the rating of the breaker, said adjustable member... | 03/09/1976 |
