Hans G Hirsbrunner

US Patent:

48375454, Jun 6, 1989

Filed:

Feb 26, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/161069

Inventors:

Carleton M. Cobb - East Walpole MA
Hans G. Hirsbrunner - Attleboro MA
Edward M. Gonsalves - Swansea MA
Richard L. Jenne - Attleboro MA
Sepideh H. Nott - Portsmouth RI

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01H 7104
H01H 7312

US Classification:

337 66

Abstract:

A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts through an arc chute into a remote portion of the chamber. A push-button is connected through a kinematic linkage which transfers motion using minimal frictional engagement to a movable contact to bring the movable contact into and out of engagement with a stationary contact and to latch the contacts in engagement during normal operation. A cantilevered current carrying bimetal transfers motion caused by I R heating of the bimetal to an ambient compensating bimetal connected to the latch mechanism. The kinematic linkage includes a latch surface which engages a rollable cylindrical reaction surface of the latch mechanism to cause the movable contact to come into engagement with the stationary contact upon depression of the push-button. Upon overload, the latch mechanism is displaced with the latch surface moving away from the reaction surface allowing return springs to return the push-button to its unactuated position and separate the contacts.

US Patent:

48127990, Mar 14, 1989

Filed:

Feb 26, 1988

Appl. No.:

7/160792

Inventors:

Carleton M. Cobb - East Walpole MA
Hans G. Hirsbrunner - Attleboro MA
Edward M. Gonsalves - Swansea MA
Richard L. Jenne - Attleboro MA
Sepideh H. Nott - Portsmouth RI

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01H 7116

US Classification:

337 70

Abstract:

A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts through an arc chute into a remote portion of the chamber. A push-button is connected through a kinematic linkage which transfers motion using minimal frictional engagement to a movable contact to bring the movable contact into and out of engagement with a stationary contact and to latch the contacts in engagement during normal operation. A cantilevered current carrying bimetal transfers motion caused by I2R heating of the bimetal to an ambient compensating bimetal connected to the latch mechanism. The kinematic linkage includes a latch surface which engages a rollable cylindrical reaction surface of the latch mechanism to cause the movable contact to come into engagement with the stationary contact upon depression of the push-button. Upon overload, the latch mechanism is displaced with the latch surface moving away from the reaction surface allowing return springs to return the push-button to its unactuated position and separate the contacts.

US Patent:

44465009, May 1, 1984

Filed:

Jul 6, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/395532

Inventors:

Aime J. Grenier - North Attleboro MA
Hans G. Hirsbrunner - Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01H 7706

US Classification:

361103

Abstract:

A remotely controlled circuit control device has first and second load contact assemblies movable into circuit engagement and circuit disengagement positions relative to one another in which one load contact assembly is operatively connected to a solenoid so that alternate forward strokes of the solenoid moves the one load contact assembly between reset and tripped positions through a push-push mechanism having an indexing portion and a latching portion. An overload mechanism cooperates with the latch portion to cause the load contact assemblies to move to the circuit disengaged position upon occurrence of a fault condition. The second load contact assembly includes pivotably mounted contact members which are linked to the first load contact assembly in such a way that circuit engagement during solenoid energization is precluded. The push-push mechanism is operatively connected via a mode switch to either a reset circuit or a trip circuit and in turn to a remotely disposed indicator-control unit (ICU) through an optical coupler. Contact status and coordination between load contacts and ICU contacts are provided by a feedback circuit.

US Patent:

47806974, Oct 25, 1988

Filed:

Apr 2, 1987

Appl. No.:

7/034174

Inventors:

Carleton M. Cobb - East Walpole MA
Hans G. Hirsbrunner - Attleboro MA
Edward M. Gonsalves - Swansea MA
Richard L. Jenne - Attleboro MA
Sepideh H. Nott - Portsmouth RI

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01H 7116

US Classification:

337 70

Abstract:

A circuit breaker device has a chamber in which is disposed a single break contact system using low contact resistance material mounted on movable and stationary supports arranged in a loop configuration in order to direct arcs between the contacts through an arc chute into a remote portion of the chamber. A push-button is connected through a kinematic linkage which transfers motion using minimal frictional engagement to a movable contact to bring the movable contact into and out of engagement with a stationary contact and to latch the contacts in engagement during normal operation. A cantilevered current carrying bimetal transfers motion caused by I. sup. 2 R heating of the bimetal to an ambient compensating bimetal connected to the latch mechanism. The kinematic linkage includes a latch surface which engages a rollable cylindrical reaction surface of the latch mechanism to cause the movable contact to come into engagement with the stationary contact upon depression of the push-button. Upon overload, the latch mechanism is displaced with the latch surface moving away from the reaction surface allowing return springs to return the push-button to its unactuated position and separate the contacts.

US Patent:

44465017, May 1, 1984

Filed:

Jul 6, 1982

Appl. No.:

6/395535

Inventors:

Robert W. Peterson - North Attleboro MA
Aime J. Grenier - North Attleboro MA
Hans G. Hirsbrunner - Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H02H 100
H01H 7110

US Classification:

361114

Abstract:

A remotely controlled circuit control device has first and second load contact assemblies movable into circuit engagement and circuit disengagement positions relative to one another in which one load contact assembly is operatively connected to a solenoid so that alternate forward strokes of the solenoid moves the one load contact assembly between reset and tripped positions through a push-push mechanism having an indexing portion and a latching portion. An overload mechanism cooperates with the latch portion to cause the load contact assemblies to move to the circuit disengaged position upon occurrence of a fault condition. The second load contact assembly includes pivotably mounted contact members which are linked to the first load contact assembly in such a way that circuit engagement during solenoid energization is precluded. The push-push mechanism is operatively connected via a mode switch to either a reset circuit or a trip circuit and in turn to a remotely disposed indicator-control unit (ICU) through an optical coupler. Contact status and coordination between load contacts and ICU contacts are provided by a feedback circuit.

US Patent:

44006772, Aug 23, 1983

Filed:

Dec 9, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/328974

Inventors:

Carleton M. Cobb - East Walpole MA
Roland G. Morin - Central Falls RI
Hans G. Hirsbrunner - Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01H 7116
H01H 8508

US Classification:

337 6

Abstract:

A circuit breaker has a thermally responsive bimetallic member of substantial resistance properties disposed in the breaker circuit so that it self-heats and moves to trip a mechanism to open the breaker circuit after a selected period of time when a selected overload current occurs in the circuit. Conductors are joined by a thermally separable bond and are disposed in the breaker circuit in selected heat transfer relation to the high resistance bimetallic member to be thermally separated after a selected delay period by heat transferred to the bond from the bimetallic means, thereby to open the circuit in the event that movement of the thermally responsive member is ineffective to open the circuit. Spring means preferably bias the conductors to separate to assure circuit opening when thermal separation of the noted bond occurs. Preferably one of the conductors has a part of reduced cross-section adapted to rupture and open the circuit under alternate circuit conditions.

US Patent:

41153251, Sep 19, 1978

Filed:

May 31, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/801700

Inventors:

Teuvo J. Santala - Attleboro MA
Hans G. Hirsbrunner - Attleboro MA

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

H01B 102

US Classification:

252514

Abstract:

An electrical contact material comprises from about 85 to 87. 5 percent silver and from about 0. 01 to 0. 10 percent cobalt in the form of an oxide, by weight. The material also comprises from about 10. 73 to 12. 82 percent cadmium oxide, from about 1. 6 to 2. 0 percent zinc oxide, and from about 0. 15 to 1. 0 percent lead oxide, by weight, internally oxidized in situ in the contact material in an oxygen enriched atmosphere.

US Patent:

41382510, Feb 6, 1979

Filed:

May 31, 1977

Appl. No.:

5/801503

Inventors:

Hans G. Hirsbrunner - Attleboro MA
Stephen B. Goldman - Dallas TX

Assignee:

Texas Instruments Incorporated - Dallas TX

International Classification:

B22F 300

US Classification:

75234

Abstract:

An electrical contact material comprising a homogeneous, pressed and sintered mixture of from 85 to 90 percent silver metal powder, from 7. 5 to 14. 3 percent cadmium oxide powder, and from 0. 50 to 3. 0 percent zinc oxide powder, by weight, and having a weight ratio of zinc oxide to cadmium oxide content in the range from 0. 05 to 0. 25, is shown to display remarkably improved arc erosion and welding properties.