Gary Douville

US Patent:

6373357, Apr 16, 2002

Filed:

May 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/571810

Inventors:

Gary Douville - East Hartford CT
Palani Doma - Bristol CT

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H01H 900

US Classification:

335172, 218154, 335202

Abstract:

A pressure sensitive trip mechanism for actuating a circuit breaker operating mechanism to trip a circuit breaker includes a trip lever and a trip bar. The trip lever is rotatable about a first pivot. The trip bar is positioned proximate the trip lever. The trip bar is arranged to rotate about a second pivot in response to a predetermined level of pressurized gas created by separation of the pair of electrical contacts, thereby urging the trip lever to unlatch the circuit breaker operating mechanism. The pressure sensitive trip mechanism provides for very fast tripping of the circuit breaker in the event of a short circuit condition or an overcurrent fault condition within any one on the circuit breaker poles. In a multi-pole circuit breaker, the present invention provides for protection against single-phasing.

US Patent:

6396369, May 28, 2002

Filed:

Aug 27, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/384908

Inventors:

Dan Schlitz - Burlington CT
Gary Douville - East Hartford CT
Thomas OKeeffe - Farmington CT
Stephen Wuest - Bristol CT

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H01H 7300

US Classification:

335 16, 335147, 335195, 218 22

Abstract:

A circuit breaker rotary contact assembly employs a rotor assembly to operate the moveable contact arms. Separate pivots are provided to the rotor assembly and the moveable contact arms to ensure that the contacts close prior to complete rotation of the rotor assembly. The additional rotation force provided by the rotor assembly then translates into lateral displacement of the moveable contacts relative to the fixed contacts, resulting in contact wiping function. An alternate embodiment utilizes a common pivot for both the rotor assembly and the moveable contact arms, while providing post closure motion by means of a fixed contact compression spring.

US Patent:

6542057, Apr 1, 2003

Filed:

Aug 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/682319

Inventors:

Gary Douville - East Hartford CT
Palani Doma - Bristol CT

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H01H 900

US Classification:

335172, 218 22, 218155

Abstract:

A pressure sensitive trip mechanism for actuating a circuit breaker operating mechanism to trip a circuit breaker includes a trip lever and a trip bar. The trip lever is rotatable about a first pivot. The trip bar is positioned proximate the trip lever. The trip bar is arranged to rotate about a second pivot in response to a predetermined level of pressurized gas created by separation of the pair of electrical contacts, thereby urging the trip lever to unlatch the circuit breaker operating mechanism. The pressure sensitive trip mechanism provides for very fast tripping of the circuit breaker in the event of a short circuit condition or an overcurrent fault condition within any one on the circuit breaker poles. In a multi-pole circuit breaker, the present invention provides for protection against single-phasing.

US Patent:

6919785, Jul 19, 2005

Filed:

Feb 28, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/248912

Inventors:

Gary Douville - East Hartford CT, US
Palani Doma - Bristol CT, US

Assignee:

General Electric Company - Schenectady NY

International Classification:

H01H009/00

US Classification:

335172, 335202

Abstract:

A pressure sensitive trip mechanism for actuating a circuit breaker operating mechanism to trip a circuit breaker includes a trip lever and a trip bar. The trip lever is rotatable about a first pivot. The trip bar is positioned proximate the trip lever. The trip bar is arranged to rotate about a second pivot in response to a predetermined level of pressurized gas created by separation of the pair of electrical contacts, thereby urging the trip lever to unlatch the circuit breaker operating mechanism. The pressure sensitive trip mechanism provides for very fast tripping of the circuit breaker in the event of a short circuit condition or an overcurrent fault condition within any one on the circuit breaker poles. In a multi-pole circuit breaker, the present invention provides for protection against single-phasing.

US Patent:

20020117477, Aug 29, 2002

Filed:

Feb 27, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/794555

Inventors:

Gary Douville - East Hartford CT, US
David Barkus - Oakville CT, US
Jason Harmon - Bristol CT, US

International Classification:

H01H033/02

US Classification:

218/156000

Abstract:

A modular arc chamber assembly suitable for use in a cassette assembly in a circuit breaker comprising: an electrically insulative first side member, an electrically insulative second side member; a plurality of plates disposed between said first and second side members and arranged in a stacked spaced-apart relationship, and an arc runner plate disposed at one end and between the first and second side members capable of directing an arc to an arc dissipating chute comprised of the plurality of arc plates.