US4272687A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Power manageable circuit breaker
Assignee: KEN BOSLER
•
Filing: 1979-03-05
•
Granted: 1981-06-09
•
Expires: 1999-03-05
Abstract
Abstract A single circuit breaker housing containing a circuit breaker to disconnect the line terminal from the load terminal for a current overload and means to disconnect and reconnect the line terminal from the load terminal for power management. The power management means, activated by an internal or external timer or remote modulated signal, may include a switch in series with circuit breaker contacts or fusible element or electromechanical device to set and reset the circuit breaker contacts. The external timer or other remote activation signals are provided via external terminals on the housing or via a wireless or powerline modulated signal. Electro-optical isolator functionally interconnects and electrically isolates the power management means and the circuit breaker.
Inventors
- 👤 William N. Borkan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 15:13
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02J; H02J3/00; H02J3/12; H02J3/14; H01; H01H; H01H43/00; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/66; H01H71/68; H01H89/00; H01H89/06; H01H89/08; H01H9/00; H01H9/10; F; F02; F02B; F02B1/00; F02B1/02; F02B1/04; H01H2071/665; H02J2105/00; H02J2105/50; H02J2105/52; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y02B70/3225; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/20; Y04S20/222
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 56
Claim 1
Independent Claim
98 words
A power management and control device comprising: a rectangular housing having a pair of terminals accessible from the exterior of said housing for installation into a power panel as a normal circuit breaker; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts connected in series with said terminals which open in response to current overload; actuator means in said housing for opening and closing said contacts; and electrical timer means in said housing for controlling said actuator means independent of current overload to open said contacts and automatically reclose said contacts after a period of time.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
98 words
A power management and control device comprising: a rectangular housing having a pair of terminals accessible from the exterior of said housing for installation into a power panel as a normal circuit breaker; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts connected in series with said terminals which open in response to current overload; actuator means in said housing for opening and closing said contacts; and electrical timer means in said housing for controlling said actuator means independent of current overload to open said contacts and automatically reclose said contacts after a period of time.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
A power management and control device according to claim 1 wherein said timer means controls said actuator means to open said contact as a function of time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A power management and control device according to claim 2 wherein said electrical timer means includes an integrated circuit and a battery power source.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
45 words
A power management and control device according to claim 2 wherein said electrical timer means includes a terminal exterior to said housing for connecting said electrical timer means to ground and said timer means is also connected electrically to one of said circuit breaker terminals.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A power management and control device according to claim 1, wherein said actuator means includes a motor and a cam driven by said motor to open and close said contacts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
28 words
A power management and control device according to claim 1 wherein said actuator means includes an electromagnet means for opening and closing said contacts by a magnetic field.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A power management and control device according to claim 1 including adjustment means on said housing for adjusting a timer variable of said timer means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power management and control device according to claim 1 including indicating means on said housing for indicating timer variables.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
83 words
A power management and control device comprising: a housing having external threads to be received in a threaded socket of a power panel; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts which open in response to a current overload; actuator means in said housing for opening and closing said contacts; and electrical timer means in said housing for controlling said actuator means independent of current overload to open said contacts and automatically reclose said contacts after a period of time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
83 words
A power management and control device comprising: a housing having external threads to be received in a threaded socket of a power panel; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts which open in response to a current overload; actuator means in said housing for opening and closing said contacts; and electrical timer means in said housing for controlling said actuator means independent of current overload to open said contacts and automatically reclose said contacts after a period of time.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
27 words
A power management and control device according to claim 9 wherein said timer means controls said actuator means to open said contact as a function of time.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
41 words
A power management and control device according to claim 10 including a pair of external terminals connected in parallel to said timer means, said actuator means being responsive to timing signals from said timer means or provided to said external terminals.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
30 words
A power management and control device according to claim 9 wherein said means includes a motor and a cam driven by said motor, said cam opens and closes said contacts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
A power management and control device according to claim 9 including adjustment means on said timer housing for adjusting a time variable of said means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power management and control device according to claim 9 including indicating means on said housing for indicating timer variables.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
A power manageable circuit breaker comprising: a housing; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts opening in response to a current overload and a manual operator extending from said housing for controlling said pair of contacts; and actuator means for manipulating said operator to open and close said contacts in response to a signal independent of current overload.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
62 words
A power manageable circuit breaker comprising: a housing; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts opening in response to a current overload and a manual operator extending from said housing for controlling said pair of contacts; and actuator means for manipulating said operator to open and close said contacts in response to a signal independent of current overload.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
24 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 15 wherein said activator means includes a pair of opposed electro-magnetic plungers with said operator therebetween.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
15 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 15 wherein said operator is a plunger.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
31 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 17 wherein said plunger includes a magnetic section and said actuator means includes an inductor surrounding said magnetic section for manipulating said plunger.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
33 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 17 wherein said actuator means includes a solenoid and a member interconnecting said solenoid and said plunger, said solenoid manipulating said plunger via said member.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
21 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 15 wherein said actuator means is connected in series with said circuit breaker.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
A power management and control device comprising: a housing: a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts opening in response to a current overload; cam means interposed between said pair of contacts, having conductive and non-conductive portions for electrically opening and closing said contacts; and actuator means in said housing for rotating said cam means to open and close said contacts in response to a signal independent of current overload.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
73 words
A power management and control device comprising: a housing: a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts opening in response to a current overload; cam means interposed between said pair of contacts, having conductive and non-conductive portions for electrically opening and closing said contacts; and actuator means in said housing for rotating said cam means to open and close said contacts in response to a signal independent of current overload.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
26 words
A power management and control device according to claim 21 wherein the relationship of said conductive to non-conductive portions of said cam means defines time periods.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
19 words
A power management and control device according to claim 21 wherein said actuator means includes a single cycle motor.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
89 words
A power manageable circuit breaker comprising: a housing having a pair of terminals accessible from the exterior of said housing for installation into a power panel as a normal circuit breaker; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts opening in response to a current overload; means in said housing for receiving a modulated signal and providing an activation signal; and timer means in said housing for opening and automatically reclosing said pair of contacts as a function of time in response to said activation signal.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
89 words
A power manageable circuit breaker comprising: a housing having a pair of terminals accessible from the exterior of said housing for installation into a power panel as a normal circuit breaker; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts opening in response to a current overload; means in said housing for receiving a modulated signal and providing an activation signal; and timer means in said housing for opening and automatically reclosing said pair of contacts as a function of time in response to said activation signal.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 24 wherein said timer means includes a motor and a cam driven by said motor to open and close said contacts.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
27 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 24 wherein said timer means includes an electromagnet means for opening and closing said contacts by a magnetic field.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
35 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 26 wherein said receiving means is connected in circuit with said circuit breaker for receiving said modulated signal from the power line circuit of said circuit breaker.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 26 wherein said receiving means receives said modulated signal via wireless means.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 28 wherein said wireless means includes an infrared receiver in said housing.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 28 wherein said wireless means includes an RF receiver in said housing.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 28 wherein said wireless means includes an ultrasonic receiver in said housing.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 28 wherein said wireless means includes a subsonic receiver in said housing.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
25 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 24 wherein said timer means has a predetermined timing cycle which is triggered by said activation signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
19 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 33 including adjustment means on said housing for adjusting timer variables.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
19 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 33 including indicating means on said housing for indicating timer variables.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
89 words
A power manageable circuit breaker comprising: a housing having external threads to be received in a threaded socket of a power panel; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts opening in response to a current overload through said circuit breaker; a switching means in said housing and connected in series with said circuit breaker; and control means in said housing for deactivating and automatically reactivating after a period of time said switching means to provide an open and subsequent close circuit independent of current overload.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
89 words
A power manageable circuit breaker comprising: a housing having external threads to be received in a threaded socket of a power panel; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts opening in response to a current overload through said circuit breaker; a switching means in said housing and connected in series with said circuit breaker; and control means in said housing for deactivating and automatically reactivating after a period of time said switching means to provide an open and subsequent close circuit independent of current overload.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
36 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 36 wherein said control means includes means in said housing for receiving a modulated signal and activating and deactivating said switching means in response to said modulated signal.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
35 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 37 wherein said receiving means is connected in circuit with said circuit breaker for receiving said modulated signal from the power line circuit of said circuit breaker.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
43 words
A power manageable circuit breaker according to claim 36 wherein said switching means includes an electronic-optical receiver and said control means includes an electronic-optical transmitter, said electronic optical receiver and transmitter functionally interconnect and electrically isolate said switching means and said control means.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
44 words
A power management and control device according to claim 36 wherein said switching means includes an electronic-optical receiver and said timer means includes an electronic-optical transmitter, said electronic optical receiver and transmitter functionally interconnect and electrically isolate said switching means and said timer means.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
29 words
A power management and control device according to claim 40 wherein said timer means is connected between the power line terminal of said circuit breaker and a ground terminal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
26 words
A power management and control device according to claim 36 wherein said switching means and said timer means are electronic circuits formed as an integrated circuit.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
33 words
A power management and control device according to claim 36 wherein said switching means includes a pair of contacts and said timer means includes an actuator means for opening and closing said contacts.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
30 words
A power management and control device according to claim 43 wherein said actuator means includes a motor and a cam driven by said motor to open and close said contacts.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
28 words
A power management and control device according to claim 43 wherein said actuator means includes an electromagnet means for opening and closing said contacts by a magnetic field.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
19 words
A power management and control device according to claim 36 wherein said timing means include a battery power source.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
20 words
A power management and control device according to claim 36 including means on said housing for adjusting said timer means.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
19 words
A power management and control device according to claim 36 including means on said housing for indicating timer variables.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
102 words
A power management and control device comprising: a rectangular housing having a pair of terminals accessible from the exterior of said housing for installation into a power panel as a normal circuit breaker; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts connected in series with said terminals which open in response to current overload; switching means in said housing connected in series with said circuit breaker; and timer means in said housing for deactivating and automatically reactivating said switching means as a function of time and independent of current overload to provide an open and a subsequent close circuit.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
102 words
A power management and control device comprising: a rectangular housing having a pair of terminals accessible from the exterior of said housing for installation into a power panel as a normal circuit breaker; a circuit breaker in said housing having a pair of contacts connected in series with said terminals which open in response to current overload; switching means in said housing connected in series with said circuit breaker; and timer means in said housing for deactivating and automatically reactivating said switching means as a function of time and independent of current overload to provide an open and a subsequent close circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1984-06-08 | 1984-12-08 | 1985-06-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1988-06-08 | 1988-12-08 | 1989-06-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1992-06-08 | 1992-12-08 | 1993-06-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |