Thomas E Natili

US Patent:

6671150, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

Nov 7, 2001

Appl. No.:

10/036277

Inventors:

Robert Tracy Elms - Monroeville PA
Thomas Edward Natili - Butler PA

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H02H 320

US Classification:

361 911, 361 42

Abstract:

A circuit breaker includes a line terminal adapted to receive a line voltage having a nominal voltage value and an excessive voltage value, a load terminal, one or more neutral terminals, and separable contacts electrically connected between the line and load terminals. An operating mechanism opens and closes the separable contacts. A trip circuit cooperates with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip circuit includes a solenoid having a trip coil with a threshold voltage for energization, a circuit adapted to detect an arc fault or ground fault trip condition and to responsively energize the trip coil with the line voltage, and a MOV adapted to detect an excessive voltage condition associated with the load and neutral terminals and to responsively energize the trip coil with at least the threshold voltage.

US Patent:

7149066, Dec 12, 2006

Filed:

Oct 7, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/680819

Inventors:

Robert T. Elms - Monroeville PA, US
Thomas E. Natili - Butler PA, US

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H02H 3/00

US Classification:

361 47

Abstract:

Apparatus for protecting a two-line electric power distribution system includes a circuit breaker pole in each line. Each pole includes a fault detector generating a fault signal in response to either an arc fault or a ground fault in the protected line, and a trip unit responsive to the fault signal. Each trip unit includes a trip coil and an SCR connected in series at a node with the trip coil connected to the neutral conductor and the SCR connected to the associated line conductor. A jumper connects the two nodes together directly without electrical isolation so that a fault signal from either detector energizes both trip coils to open both poles in response to an arc fault or a ground fault in either line, even if one of the line conductors is not energized.

US Patent:

7187529, Mar 6, 2007

Filed:

Apr 30, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/427020

Inventors:

Thomas E. Natili - Butler PA, US
David M. Tallman - Marshall Township PA, US

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H02H 5/00

US Classification:

361103, 361115

Abstract:

A receptacle interrupts a power circuit including a glowing contact and a gas, such as hydrogen chloride, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide or a combination of those gases, associated with the glowing contact. The receptacle includes a set of separable contacts for interrupting the power circuit, an operating mechanism controlling the set of separable contacts, and a trip mechanism, such as a trip coil, cooperating with the operating mechanism to open the set of separable contacts in response to a trip signal. A gas detector detects the gas and outputs a gas concentration signal based upon a level of the gas. A microprocessor outputs the trip signal responsive to the gas concentration signal whenever a predetermined concentration level of the gas is detected.

US Patent:

7215520, May 8, 2007

Filed:

Jul 20, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/894523

Inventors:

Robert T. Elms - Monroeville PA, US
Thomas E. Natili - Butler PA, US

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H02H 3/00

US Classification:

361 42

Abstract:

A circuit breaker includes a test circuit having one or two indicators, an arc fault signal generator, and first and second test switches. A first indicator is electrically connected in series with the first test switch. This series combination provides a first alternating current signal to the arc fault signal generator, which provides an arc fault signal to an arc fault trip circuit, in order to trip open separable contacts in response to closure of the first test switch. The series combination of the second test switch and the second indicator provides a second alternating current signal to a ground fault trip circuit, in order to trip in response to closure of the second test switch. The indicators provide a visual indication of failure of the arc fault or ground fault trip circuits to trip in response to closure of the first or second test switches, respectively.

US Patent:

20120212864, Aug 23, 2012

Filed:

Feb 21, 2011

Appl. No.:

13/031437

Inventors:

ROBERT T. ELMS - Monroeville PA, US
Thomas E. Natili - Butler PA, US

International Classification:

H01H 47/32

US Classification:

361 49

Abstract:

A fail-safe ground fault circuit interrupter includes separable contacts; operating mechanism; and GF trip circuit including analog GF circuit having power supply input, and a number of: GF current transformer, first resistor in series with the GF CT, capacitor in parallel with this series combination, and second resistor between the power supply input and a common connection point between the first resistor and the capacitor, trip actuator cooperating with the OM, and zener diode including cathode interconnected with the power supply input and anode interconnected with the trip actuator, trip solenoid cooperating with the OM, bi-directional light emitting diode, and resistor in series with the LED, this series combination in parallel with the trip solenoid, and first silicon controlled rectifier cooperating with the OM, and second SCR cooperating with the OM, the second SCR in parallel with the first SCR.

US Patent:

58315098, Nov 3, 1998

Filed:

Oct 22, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/955779

Inventors:

Robert Tracy Elms - Monroeville PA
Thomas Edward Natili - Jefferson PA
Michael Joseph Erb - Franklin PA

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H01H 7116
H01H 7500
H01H 7512
H01H 3752

US Classification:

337333

Abstract:

The stray inductance created by the loop formed by voltage sensing conductors connected to opposite ends of the bimetal in a miniature circuit breaker for determining load current is reduced by joining a voltage sense bar to the free end of the bimetal. The voltage sense bar extends beside the bimetal toward the fixed end of the bimetal where an insulated wire connected to the free end of the sense bar forms a twisted pair with an insulated wire secured to the fixed end of the bimetal.

US Patent:

58962620, Apr 20, 1999

Filed:

Feb 26, 1998

Appl. No.:

9/030990

Inventors:

Thomas Christopher Rae - Irwin PA
Thomas Edward Natili - Cabot PA
Robert Tracy Elms - Monroeville PA

Assignee:

Eaton Corporation - Cleveland OH

International Classification:

H02H 316

US Classification:

361 94

Abstract:

An arc fault detector of the type which generates a trip signal when a time attenuated accumulation of pulses produced each time an arc is struck reaches a selected value, includes a pulse conditioner which discriminates against false trips induced by phenomena such as tungsten bulb burn out and turn on of a cold tungsten bulb controlled by a dimmer. The pulse conditioner includes a zener diode which limits the amplitude of the pulses applied to the integrator, and stretches all of the pulses to reduce the variation in pulse duration. The latter can be accomplished by a peak detector which stretches pulses which reach the zener limit to a duration of at least about a half cycle.