text:
|Publication number
|Publication type
|Application number
|Publication date
|Mar 11, 2003
|Filing date
|Jun 2, 2000
|Priority date
|Jun 4, 1999
|Fee status
|Publication number
|Michael Padulo, Imad Ghanem, Denis Mayer
|Original Assignee
|Astec International Limited
|Export Citation
|BiBTeX, EndNote, RefMan
|Patent Citations (30), Referenced by (17), Classifications (17), Legal Events (6)
|External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, Espacenet
This application is a continuation-in-part (CIP) application of U.S. application Ser. No. 09/326,737, filed on Jun. 4, 1999, now issued as U.S. Pat. Ser. No. 6,315,580, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein.
The present invention relates generally to a DC distribution module for mounting a plurality of overcurrent protection devices, such as circuit breakers or fuse modules. More particularly, the present invention is directed to an assembly of one or more modular busbar modules for mounting a plurality of plug-in circuit breakers and fuse modules, wherein the busbar modules contain female receptacles for line and load male plugs, also known as positive and negative power terminals, along with female plugs for auxiliary alarm contact terminals.
There are numerous electrical system applications which require the use of a plurality of overcurrent protection devices, such as circuit breakers or fuse modules, to shut off current in one or more portions of the electrical system in response to an overcurrent condition. Fuses typically have a conductive wire element that rapidly heats and melts in response to an overcurrent condition, forming an open circuit. Fuses are often packaged in fuse modules containing additional circuit elements which transmit an alarm signal if the fuse opens in response to an overcurrent condition. Circuit breakers commonly comprise a movable electrical breaker contact and a stationary breaker contact. The movable electrical contact is typically coupled to an actuator mechanism that utilizes an electromagnetic device to open the breaker contacts when an over-current condition is detected. During normal circuit operation, the actuator mechanism electrically couples the breaker contacts so that the circuit breaker is in a conducting, or on-state. However, when an over-current condition is detected, the circuit breaker trips, and enters a non-conducting, or off-state. A handle on the external surface of the circuit breaker is commonly coupled to the actuator mechanism. The actuator-handle provides a visual indication of the state of the circuit breaker (e.g., on, tripped, and off) while also permitting the user to reset the circuit breaker after the circuit breaker has been tripped or to deliberately turn the circuit breaker off during routine repair or maintenance. Some circuit breakers include an additional alarm circuit, which sends an alarm signal to other circuits when the alarm circuit senses that the circuit breaker has been tripped.
FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of a prior art circuit breaker module 100 used in a power distribution module. A plurality of circuit breakers 110, 120, 130 are coupled by frictional forces or by mechanical connectors to base 180 and front face plate 122. Each circuit breaker 110, 120, 130 has a corresponding actuator handle 105. As shown in FIG. 1, screw connectors 131 are commonly used to electrically couple circuit breakers 110, 120, 130 to busbars 162, 164 and connectors 160, 161, 151 to couple current to a rear connector 134 on panel 124. Bus bars 162, 164 couple a negative polarity power terminal, often called a line terminal, of each circuit breaker 110, 120, 130 to a negative power terminal. Connectors 160, 161, 151 separately couple the load terminal, often called the positive power terminal, of each circuit breaker 110, 120, 130 to separate electronic loads.
While circuit breaker module 100 provides the benefit of several circuit breakers 110, 120, 130 arranged to control the current or power in different portions of a power distribution module, it has several drawbacks. One drawback is that it may be inconvenient to replace one of the circuit breakers 110, 120, 130. Replacement of circuit breakers may be required if a circuit breaker is damaged. Additionally, circuit breakers may need to be replaced if it is determined that a different response is required by the circuit breaker. For example, the user may determine that a higher amperage circuit breaker is required for a particular application. The time to replace a circuit breaker 110, 120, 130 in module 100 may be significant because the total time to replace a circuit breaker includes the time to: 1) withdraw the module; 2) remove any exterior housing elements surrounding the screw connectors 131; 3) disconnect the screw connectors 131; 4) extract the old circuit breaker; 5) insert a new circuit breaker; 6) connect screw connectors 131 to the new circuit breaker; 7) attach any exterior housing elements; and 8) re-insert module 100.
Another drawback with circuit breaker module 100 is that the housing and connector are comparatively bulky. There is a general trend to miniaturize all aspects of power supply and power distribution systems. Unfortunately, the total volume of circuit breaker module 100, including connectors 131; busbars 162, 164; and connectors 160, 161, 151 is significant.
Still another drawback with module 100 is that it does not address the problem of circuit breakers with alarm circuits. Circuit breakers with alarm circuits typically have additional auxiliary terminals for sending an alarm signal that is indicative of the operating state of the circuit breaker. For example, an alarm circuit preferably sends a logical "high" signal from an alarm terminal to indicate that the circuit breaker has been tripped due to an overcurrent event. The alarm signal may, for example, be used to trigger an indicator light to alert the user that a circuit breaker has been tripped. Circuit breakers have two alarm contact terminals. More commonly, however, circuit breakers have three alarm contact terminals corresponding to normal-off, normal-closed, and common terminals. An electrical connection must be provided to each alarm contact terminal of each circuit breaker of a circuit breaker module. Unfortunately, this increases the complexity of the electrical connection required in a circuit breaker module.
FIG. 2 is a prior art side-view drawing of a circuit breaker 210 with an alarm circuit 220 providing an alarm signal via stab-type alarm terminal 216. Line contact 212 and load contact 214 also comprise stab-type connectors. Stab-type connectors are a type of connector that has a comparatively thin, blade-like connector surface which is pressed into a female connector slot or socket (i.e., "stabbed") to form a tight mechanical and electrical coupling. Stab-type connectors have the advantage that the small surface area of a male stab-type connector permits a significant penetration pressure to be applied in inserting the male connector. However, stab-type connectors have the disadvantage of having a comparatively small cross-sectional area for current to flow.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a prior art circuit breaker module 254 designed to be loaded with a plurality of circuit breakers 210 having stab-type line and load terminal connectors 212, 214 (not shown) and stab-type alarm contact terminal connectors 216 (not shown) as illustrated on the circuit breaker 210 of FIG. 2. For the purposes of illustration, three circuit breakers 210 are shown installed in a module 254 designed to hold a total of four circuit breakers. A busbar 288 is used to provide an electrical connection to line contacts 212. Contacts 256 are spring-biased receptacles configured to contact load contacts 214. Additional connector legs 282 facilitate installation of module 254 as an integral unit.
FIG. 3B is a top view of module 254 with circuit breaker 210 removed, to more clearly show the electrical connectors. Each aperture 260 allows passage of a line contact 212 (not shown) in order to receive power from a power source. Spring biased alarm contacts 262 are dimensioned to mate with corresponding alarm terminals 216 (not shown) for respective circuit breakers 210. The alarm contacts 262 are electrically connected to each other by alarm contact line 264. Load connectors 258 provide a bolt and screw connection site to secure external electrical lines.
While circuit breaker module 254 provides several benefits, it has several drawbacks. One drawback of stab-type connectors is that they have a limited structural strength, i.e., the comparatively small cross-sectional area of each stab-type terminal 212, 214 provides only limited resistance to transverse and rotational forces. However, if circuit breaker 210 is mounted to a socket perpendicular to a vertical surface, the force of gravity will generate transverse and rotational forces acting to dislodge the stab-type connectors. This may necessitate the use of long stab-connectors with a high contact pressure, which increases the difficulty of inserting or removing a circuit breaker. In some cases, additional support structures, such as a frame and screw connectors, are required to maintain a circuit breaker with stab-type connectors within their sockets. Another drawback with circuit breaker connector module 254 is that it does not address the need for reducing the cost per electrical connection. The cost of circuit breakers, like other electronic components, continues to decrease over time. It is desirable that the cost of the connector module divided by the number of circuit breakers decreases as the connector module is increased in size to accommodate a larger number of circuit breakers. This is commonly known as "increasing returns to scale." Stab connector receptacles 256, 262 will tend to have a substantially constant price per female receptacle, assuming that they are purchased from a commercial vendor in large production lots. However, as can be seen in FIGS. 3A and 3B, circuit breaker module 254 requires a substantial support structure including connector legs 282 and support surfaces 284 to facilitate removing or installing module 254 as an assembled unit into an electrical system. The material cost of the support structure will tend to increase as the module 254 is increased in size to connect additional circuit breakers. Consequently, it can be expected that there will be no significant cost reduction to increasing the size of module 254 to accommodate additional circuit breakers.
The need for a compact, low-cost circuit breaker connector module is especially important in the context of plug-in circuit breakers. As shown in FIG. 4, compact plug-in circuit breakers 400 commonly have power connections comprised of male plug-shaped connectors 410. Additionally, plug-in circuit breakers commonly include additional alarm contact terminal connectors 420 for transmitting an alarm signal. Typically there are three alarm contact terminals 420 corresponding to a common terminal, a tripped signal terminal, and an off-terminal. The alarm contact terminals may be any style of male plug, but are typically in the form of pins, prongs, or blades with planar surfaces.
It is desirable in many applications, such as telecommunication applications, to utilize a large number (e.g., ten to twenty) of plug-in circuit breakers 400 as part of a power distribution system. Unfortunately, there is no commercially available connector module that provides electrical connections to both the male plugs 410 and alarm contact terminals 420 of a single plug-in circuit breaker 400. Typically, separate wire connections are soldered to each of the alarm contact terminals 420 after the male plugs are plugged into two female socket receptacles.
Part of the problem of designing a connector module for a plug-in circuit breaker 400 is the different requirements of male plugs 410 and alarm contact terminals 420. The male plugs 410 of plug-in circuit breaker 400 preferably fit into female sockets (not shown in FIG. 4) with a friction fit so that the male plugs may be inserted or withdrawn in order to insert or remove the circuit breaker. In the context of circuit breakers without alarm contact terminals, this permits what is commonly known as "plug and play" operation, since both mechanical and electrical connection to the circuit breaker is made by inserting the plugs 410 into their sockets. However, the compact male alarm contact terminals 420 also require a reliable electrical connection in order to provide reliable alarm signals. Unfortunately, the differences in size, shape, and length of planar alarm contacts 420 compared with male plugs 410 make it difficult to design a low-cost connector socket that simultaneously mates with an appropriate friction fit to both types of male plugs 410 and auxiliary contact terminals 420.
The two different styles of male terminal connectors 410, 420 makes it difficult to achieve a friction fit with the appropriate connection length and pressure for both types of male connectors 410, 420 in a low-cost structure with reasonable fabrication tolerances. This problem is exacerbated in the context of circuit breaker modules in which the circuit breakers are mounted with the axis of the male connectors disposed perpendicular to the force of gravity, i.e., with the force of gravity acting to torque the male connectors. One potential solution to this problem is to use additional clamps or screws to apply a pressure between the male connectors and sockets. Clamps and screws are commonly used in some types of electrical connectors to facilitate the mating of different types of male connectors to a common female connector. However, additional clamps or screws increase the cost of the connector and also require the user to spend additional time to adjust the clamp or screws in order to remove or install the male connector. Moreover, clamps and screws are inconsistent with "plug and play" operation.
As none of the conventional approaches meet these needs in a fully satisfactory manner, what is desired is a distribution assembly for accommodating a plurality of overcurrent protection devices in which all of the male connectors of each overcurrent protection devices are demountable with the female sockets of the assembly by friction coupling. There is a need to expand the connector modules in an easy and convenient manner to enable a large number of plug-in circuit breakers and fuse modules to be accommodated as a part of a power distribution system for telecommunications applications. No known prior art connector module design possesses all of the desired characteristics in a modular distribution assembly.
A first embodiment of the present invention is directed towards a connector module for providing what is called "plug and play" electrical connections to a plurality of overcurrent protection devices in which the electrical connections to each overcurrent protection device are automatically made by inserting the overcurrent protection device into the connector module. The present invention generally comprises a connector module for mechanically mounting and providing electrical connections to a plurality of overcurrent protection devices each having first and second male electrical plugs, including: a mounting substrate having a first side and a second opposed side; first and second plug passageways disposed in said substrate for each overcurrent protection device, the plug passageways shaped and spaced apart from each other to permit the passage of the two male plugs of each overcurrent protection device through the passageways in the direction from the first side to the second side; a conductive load busbar member for each of the first plug passageways, each of the conductive members mounted by a mechanical connector to the second side of said substrate and having a socket shaped and positioned to mate with a friction fit with a corresponding male plug extending through the first connector passageway; and a conductive common busbar member mounted by a second mechanical connector to the second side of the substrate, the support member having sockets shaped and positioned to mate with a friction fit with a corresponding male plug extending through the second connector passageway; wherein the substrate contains insulating surface regions on the first and second sides so that the first male plugs of each overcurrent protection device and their corresponding load busbar members are electrically insulated from the second male plugs and from each other.
The first embodiment of the connector module of the present invention is directed towards providing plug and play electrical connections to a plurality of circuit breakers, wherein each circuit breaker has both male plugs and auxiliary signal terminals. In the first embodiment, the mounting substrate is a printed circuit board and further comprises auxiliary signal terminal passageways and clips mounted to the second side of the substrate to provide an electrical connection to the auxiliary signal terminals.
One object of the present invention is a low-cost connector module adapted for plug-in circuit breakers with crown-style male plugs. In the first embodiment, the sockets comprise protruded holes dimensioned to mate with the crown-style male plugs.
Another object of the present invention is a low cost clip connector for making contact to the auxiliary signal terminals or the plug-in circuit breakers. Each clip is sized, shaped, and positioned to grasp a single auxiliary terminal whereas electrical connections to each clip are made by tracks on the substrate.
Still another object of the present invention is a low cost manufacturing method for fabricating the connector module.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a DC modular distribution assembly is provided with one or more busbar modules for mechanically mounting and providing electrical connections to a corresponding number of overcurrent protection devices each having first and second male electrical plugs. Each assembly comprises a first support member having a mounting substrate with a first side and a second opposed side. The support member includes a plurality of first plug passageways disposed adjacent the mounting substrate. At least one conductive line busbar member is mounted to the support member and includes at least one first socket shaped and positioned to mate by a friction fit with a corresponding first male plug extending through a corresponding one of the first plug passageways. The support member also has at least one load busbar module installed thereon. Each load busbar module includes a conductive load busbar member and a second plug passageway, wherein the plug passageway is shaped to permit passage of a second electrical plug of each overcurrent protection device in a direction from a first side to a second side. Each conductive load busbar member includes a second socket shaped and positioned to mate by a friction fit with the second male plug extending through the second plug passageway. The support member and load busbar module are non-conductive so that the first male plugs of each overcurrent protection device and corresponding line busbar members are electrically insulated from the second male plugs and from each load busbar member.
One important technical advantage of the preferred embodiment is that it permits one to install only as many load busbar modules as needed for the particular system. Another advantage is that with such a modular design, an assembly of busbar modules, for accommodating a plurality of plug-in circuit breakers, may be readily assembled very quickly and easily, without the need for additional tools or hardware. The use of snap-in load busbar modules also avoids having to include the entire complement of busbars with each assembly.
These and other objects of the present invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description and from the detailed drawings.
FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art circuit breaker module.
FIG. 2 is a side view of a prior art circuit breaker including an alarm circuit and stab-type current and alarm terminals.
FIG. 3A is a perspective view of a prior art circuit breaker module for mounting a plurality of circuit breakers with stab-type terminals.
FIG. 3B is a top view of the female connector surface of the circuit breaker module of FIG. 3A with the circuit breakers removed.
FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a prior art plug-in circuit breaker with plug-type male current connector terminals and plate-type alarm contact terminals.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of the circuit breaker module of the present invention.
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of the circuit breaker module of the present invention.
FIG. 7A shows a rear view of two circuit breaker modules of the present invention linked together in a housing.
FIG. 7B is a front view of the housing of FIG. 7A.
FIG. 8 is rear view of the circuit breaker module of FIG. 5.
FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional view of the circuit breaker module of FIG. 8 along line 9—9.
FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view of the circuit breaker module of FIG. 8 along line 10—10.
FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the circuit breaker module of FIG. 8 along line 11—11.
FIG. 12 is a perspective view of a conductive busbar member of the present invention.
FIG. 13 is a top view of the busbar of FIG. 12.
FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of the busbar of FIG. 13 along line 14—14.
FIG. 15 is a side view of a conductive busbar member of the present invention.
FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a preferred embodiment of a conductive clip.
FIG. 17(a) shows a top view of the conductive clip of FIG. 16.
FIG. 17(b) shows a front view of the conductive clip of FIG. 16.
FIG. 17(c) shows a side view of the conductive clip of FIG. 16.
FIG. 18 is a rear view of the circuit breaker module of FIG. 6 showing in more detail conductive traces linking rows of conductive clips.
FIG. 19 is a detailed portion of the cross-section of FIG. 10.
FIG. 20 is a front view of a clip attached to a substrate showing an installed auxiliary signal terminal in phantom.
FIG. 21 is a cross section similar to FIG. 10 but showing a circuit breaker module adapted for circuit breakers having crown-style male plugs.
FIG. 22 is detailed portion of FIG. 21 showing in more detail a region around one plug and one alarm contact terminal of a circuit breaker about to be inserted into the circuit breaker module.
FIG. 23 is a front perspective view according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention where an assembly of circuit breaker connector modules is shown with one load busbar module attached thereto and with a partially exploded view of a plug-in circuit breaker, a printed circuit board substrate and a common line busbar.
FIG. 24 is a front perspective view of the assembly of connector modules of FIG. 23 partially assembled with busbar holders and a plug-in circuit breaker installed.
FIG. 25 is a front perspective view of the assembly of connector modules of FIG. 23 with circuit breakers and busbar holders attached thereto when fully assembled.
FIG. 26 is a side view of the assembly of connector modules of FIG. 25 taken along the cross-sectional line 26—26.
FIG. 27 is detailed front perspective view of the assembly of connector modules according to still another embodiment of the present invention, where one busbar holder and plug-in circuit breaker are installed.
FIG. 28 is a detailed rear perspective view of the assembly according to yet another embodiment of the present invention, with one plug-in circuit breaker attached thereto.
FIG. 29 is front perspective view of another embodiment of the present invention showing a portion of the assembly for receiving the auxiliary signal terminals of a plug-in fuse block and with a busbar holder installed.
FIG. 30 is a side view of the portion of the assembly of FIG. 29 taken along cross-sectional line 30—30.
A first embodiment of the present invention generally comprises a connector module as shown in FIGS. 5-17 for holding a plurality of overcurrent protection devices on a single mounting substrate, wherein each overcurrent protection device, e.g., circuit breaker, has male current plug connectors and male auxiliary signal terminals. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention as seen in FIGS. 23-28, an assembly of one or more modular load busbar modules may be coupled together to provide for the desired number of plug-in overcurrent protection devices needed for a particular application. Potential applications for the inventive modular assembly includes its use with fuse modules having auxiliary alarm signal terminals, and circuit breakers having auxiliary terminals used to perform a control function such as circuit breakers with auxiliary terminals used to receive remote control signals (e.g., signals to reset or turn-off the circuit breaker). In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the combination of one or more fuse modules and circuit breakers each coupled to the connection modules of the modular distribution assembly: 1) permits additional fuse modules and circuit breakers to be coupled to a power distribution panel thereby being especially useful for telecommunications applications; 2) provides the benefit of safely insulated load and line bussing thereby minimizing the chance of deleterious short circuiting and hazardous user contact with live components; 3) minimizes system downtime during field upgrades and maintenance of components; 4) provides the benefit of automatically positioning fuse modules and circuit breakers in the assembly so that the user may remove or install such overcurrent protection devices easily, if necessary; 5) is well-suited for overcurrent protection devices mounted by plug-in or rail connection; and 6) reduces up-front manufacturing costs since only as many pre-fabricated components, such as load busbars, need to be used as required. FIGS. 29-30, as described in detail below, illustrate additional embodiments of a distribution assembly according to the present invention.
While the distribution assembly of the present invention is shown and described in detail as being used with plug-in circuit breakers having alarm contact terminals, it will be understood that the assembly of the present invention can be used with a variety of overcurrent protection devices and that plug-in circuit breakers are merely exemplary devices.
FIG. 5 is a front perspective view of one embodiment of a circuit breaker module 500 of the present invention showing one installed circuit breaker 400. Module 500 comprises a mounting substrate 510, which is preferably a printed circuit board substrate, patterned with two spaced apart male plug passageways 520, 525 and signal terminal passageways 530 for each circuit breaker 400. The passageways 520, 525, 530 may be fabricated using any conventional printed circuit board fabrication process. There is one signal terminal passageway 530 for each auxiliary signal terminal of the circuit breaker. Modem printed circuit board fabrication processes permit extremely accurate selection of the location, diameter, and spacing of passageways 520, 525, 530. Plug passageways 520, 525 and signal terminal passageways 530 are shaped, dimensioned, and spaced apart so that corresponding male plug connectors 410 and auxiliary signal terminals 420 (shown in FIG. 4) may be inserted into the passageways 520, 525, 530. Passageways 520, 525 are preferably at least one-tenth of an inch larger in diameter than plugs 410, since this enables the passageways to assist in aligning the plugs, i.e., the slightly larger diameter of the passageways 520, 525 compared with the plugs and sockets 570 (not shown in FIG. 5) assists the user aligning plugs 410 to the sockets 570 (shown in FIG. 6) disposed on the second side 512 of substrate 510. Generally, selecting the diameter of passageways 520, 525 to be several tenths (e.g., two or three) of an inch larger in diameter than plugs 410 provides an alignment benefit.
Module 500 has one conductive (load) busbar member 540 to couple load current from each circuit breaker 400. A conductive support 550 is configured to provide a common conductive (line) busbar member linking one terminal of each installed circuit breaker 400 to a common line current connection. Support 550 is a preferred design because support 550 may be used to mechanically couple module 500 to a housing (not shown in FIG. 5). However, the electrical function of support 550 could also be accomplished using a plurality of individual conductive busbar members (e.g., members similar to member 540) each individually coupled to a common line connection site. Additionally, in some applications it may be desirable to replace support 550 with a plurality of individual conductive busbar members (similar to member 540) which are not electrically coupled to each other. This may be useful, for example, in an application for which the circuit breakers are connected to different voltage sources so that both line and load power connections to the two plugs 410 of each circuit breaker are completely independent of each other.
Support 550 and members 540 are mechanically coupled to substrate 510 by mechanical connectors 560. Mechanical connectors 560 are preferably rivets, but may comprise any mechanical coupling device or fastener (e.g., epoxy) consistent with attaching support 550 and members 510 to substrate 510. Bolt hole connectors 590 permit support 550 to be bolted to a housing (not shown in FIG. 5) or attached to other elements.
As shown in FIG. 5, substrate 510 has a first side 514 and second side 512. First side 514 is preferably a bare insulating surface, i.e., has no conductive metal in regions adjacent circuit breakers 400 to prevent deleterious shorting of circuit breaker contact terminals 410, 420.
FIG. 6 is a rear perspective view of module 500. Conductive clips 600 are disposed adjacent signal terminal passageways 530 above second surface 512 of substrate 510. Members 540 and support 550 have sockets 570, 575 dimensioned to mate with the plug terminals 410 of a plug-in circuit breaker 400 extending through plug passageways 520, 525. FIG. 6 shows, at far right, a plug terminal 410 of one installed circuit breaker extending through a socket 570 in a member 540. As can be seen in FIG. 6, members 540 are spaced apart from one another, i.e., do not touch one another. Members 540 are preferably in the shape of L-shaped members with a portion of the L-shaped member extending perpendicular from second surface 512 of substrate 510.
Second surface 512 of substrate 510 is preferably a bare (insulating) surface adjacent each member 540 so that the members are electrically isolated from one another and from support 550. However electrical traces, sometimes known as "tracks" are preferably disposed on second surface 512 adjacent to, and electrically coupled to, clips 600 in order to provide transmission paths (not shown in FIG. 6) for alarm signals from clips 600 to a signal receiving portion (not shown in FIG. 6) of substrate 510.
As shown in FIG. 5, a preferred design is for a module 500 designed to accept twelve plug-in circuit breakers 400. Limiting the number of circuit breakers 400 that module 500 accepts reduces the weight and stress upon substrate 500. This is desirable in order to increase the reliability of module 500, i.e., to prevent substrate 510 from cracking or warping during extended use. However, a module for mounting a larger number of circuit breakers may be achieved by mechanically coupling a plurality of individual modules 500 together. FIG. 7A is a rear perspective view of two circuit breaker modules 500-A, 500-B coupled by a plate 750 and bolts 760 to form a combined circuit breaker module 700. Support 500-A and 500-B are shown joined by a plate 750 and bolts 760. However, more generally, any conventional mechanical coupler may be used to physically couple two or more circuit breaker modules 500 into a larger unit capable of holding a larger number of circuit breakers than a single module 500. FIG. 7B is a front view of the housing of FIG. 7A. As shown in FIG. 7B, preferably additional housing segments 730, 740 and a front plate 720 coupled by screws 710 are used to house and support the combined module 700.
FIG. 8 is a rear view of module 500. FIG. 9 is cross-sectional view along line 9—9 of FIG. 8 showing a side view of an installed plug-in circuit breaker 400. FIG. 10 is a cross-sectional view along line 10—10 of FIG. 8 showing how the male plugs 410 and alarm contact terminals 420 are disposed in their respective sockets 570 and clips 600. FIG. 11 is a cross-sectional view along line 11—11 of FIG. 8, showing how the alarm contact terminal 420 of a circuit breaker 400 is inserted into clip 600.
FIG. 12 is a detailed perspective view of member 540. Socket 570 may comprise any style of electrical socket shaped to mate with a friction fit to a plug 410. This includes sockets with detents and other conventional mating surfaces shaped to mate with a male connector. However, referring to FIG. 4, plug-in circuit breakers 400 are commonly sold with crown-style plugs 410 that are shaped to mate with a cylindrical hole of a predetermined length at what is commonly known as a connector "crown." Consequently, in a preferred embodiment socket 570 is substantially cylindrical in shape and with a diameter and length determined by the specific requirements of a crown-style plug 410. Generally, a crown-style plug 410 for common miniature plug-in circuit breakers requires a minimum socket length in order to achieve a proper mating of about 0.25 inches. Experiments by the inventors indicate that a protruded socket design, in which the average copper thickness is about one-eighth of an inch but which the protrusion has a cylindrical length of about one-quarter of an inch results in a substantial cost reduction. The member 540 shown in FIG. 12 is preferably formed with a protruded socket 570, since this results in about a factor of 3.5 lower manufacturing costs compared with manufacturing member 540 with a uniform thickness of copper and forming a cylindrical socket 570 by a drilling or reaming process. In a preferred manufacturing process, the protruded hole and all the cutting used to form member 540 are preferably performed on a dedicated progressive punch and die set. The ninety degree bend 1230 used to form the "L"-shape of members 540 is preferably made on a break press. Rivet holes 1210, 1220 permit member 540 to be riveted to substrate 510. FIG. 13 is a head-on view of member 540 showing preferred dimensions, in inches, for common plug-in circuit breakers. FIG. 14 is a cross-sectional view of socket 570 along line 14—14 of FIG. 13, showing preferred dimensions in inches. FIG. 15 is a side view of member 540 showing preferred dimensions in inches.
Clips 600 may be any type of clip which may be mounted on a mounting substrate (e.g., a printed circuit board) to form a female connector for auxiliary signal terminals and which has at least one contact region that supplies a sufficient pressure to maintain a reliable electrical connection to auxiliary signal terminals. A clip is commonly defined as a pinch-type connector in which a spring element acts to apply pressure to jaw or finger elements to form an electrical contact. In the art of printed circuit board fabrication, there are several structures that perform the function of providing contact surfaces that press upon a male shaft extended through a passageway in a printed circuit board. These structures are known by several names, including "integral electrical connectors" and "surface mountable socket connectors." Thus, clips 600 may alternately be described as a connector, or a socket connector, which includes spring contact elements. However, as used in this application the term "clip" describes the grasping function of clips 600 while avoiding potential confusion with the connector module 500 and with the male plug sockets 570.
Each individual clip 600 is preferably designed to minimize manufacturing costs. Studies by the inventors indicated that a plurality of clips 600 coupled by the conductive tracks of a printed circuit board results in over a five-fold reduction in cost of clip 600 compared with designing a large area connector socket to mate with the auxiliary contact terminals 420 of a large number of circuit breakers 400. In many applications it is desirable that each clip 600 has a contact pressure in the range of about 100 grams. A preferred clip design which achieves a contact pressure of about 100 grams is shown in FIGS. 16-17. As shown in the perspective view of FIG. 16, each clip 600 preferably has two finger segments 1610, 1620 dimensioned to mate with the surface of alarm contact terminals 420 with a significant contact pressure, e.g., about 100 grams. Finger segments 1610, 1620 are supported by legs 1630. Mounting feet 1640 are preferably structured to be inserted into substrate 510 and soldered into place. Legs 1630 and mounting feet 1640 are configured to provided a stable support for finger segments 1610, 1620. FIG. 17(a) shows a top view of clip 600 showing preferred dimensions in inches. FIG. 17(b) shows a front view of clip 600 showing preferred dimensions in inches. FIG. 17(c) shows a side view of clip 600 showing preferred dimensions in inches.
FIG. 18 is a rear view of module 500 showing clips 600 installed on the second surface 512 of substrate 510. Clips 600 are preferably soldered to conductive traces (also commonly known as "tracks") 1810 disposed on second surface 512. Traces 1810 may be formed by any conventional printed circuit board fabrication process. Traces 1810 are shown as electrically coupling rows of clip terminals together in a parallel arrangement (i.e., common terminals of each circuit breaker coupled together; normal-on signal terminals of each circuit breaker coupled together; and normal-off signal terminals of each circuit breaker coupled together). However, more generally traces 1810 may be configured to couple alarm signals from clips 600 in other ways, such as permitting an individual electrical connection to be made to each clip 600.
Some of the benefits of the present invention are illustrated in FIG. 19, which is detailed view of a portion of FIG. 10. As can be seen in FIG. 19, plugs 410 extend through plug passageways 1910 in substrate 510 and mate with sockets 570 in member 540 and support 550. Sockets 570 are preferably protruded holes shaped to provide a friction fit with plugs 410. The diameter and length of the protruded holes forming sockets 570 may be selected to obviate the need for additional mating surfaces. Generally, selecting the diameter of the sockets 570 to be only slightly larger than that of the plugs 410 facilitates forming a reliable mechanical and electrical connection. Additionally, the length of the protruded hole is another consideration. For circuit breakers 400 with crown-style plugs 410, the length of the protruded holes should be selected to mate with the crown of the plug.
The design of clips 600 facilitates reliable electrical connections to auxiliary contact terminals with relaxed placement tolerances. As can be seen in FIG. 19, auxiliary alarm contact terminals 420 extend through signal terminal passageways 1920. Alarm contact terminals 420 are grasped by fingers 1610, 1620 (finger 1610 shown in phantom) of clip 600 proximate a distal end of each alarm contact terminal 420. Referring to FIG. 20, which shows a front view of a clip 600 and an inserted alarm contact terminal 420 shown in phantom, it can be seen that the alarm contact terminal will make contact with fingers even though it may be displaced up or down by a distance �Δ/2. Finger contacts 1610, 1620 are also insensitive to small lateral displacements of alarm contact terminal 420 in passageway 1920. Referring again to FIG. 19, when a user inserts plugs 410 into sockets 570 so that a friction fit is formed between male plugs 410 and sockets 570, finger contacts 1610, 1620 of each clip will automatically grasp alarm contacts 420 in spite of small vertical and lateral displacements of alarm contact terminals 420 caused by manufacturing tolerance of plugs 410 and sockets 570. Additionally, finger contacts 1610, 1620 are insensitive to small angular shifts caused by a slight (e.g., one degree) tilt of circuit breaker 400 caused by the force of gravity (shown in FIG. 19 by arrow 1990) producing a torque on the installed circuit breaker.
Referring to FIGS. 19-20, the present invention permits what is called "plug and play" installation or replacement of a circuit breaker. No additional clamps or bolts are required to install the circuit breaker. The sockets 570 may be dimensioned to permit installation or removal of the circuit breaker with a reasonable force, i.e., consistent with the hand strength of the average user and without overstressing substrate 510.
FIG. 21 shows a cross-sectional view, similar to that of FIG. 19, for a circuit breaker 400 having crown-style plugs 410, showing preferred dimensions in inches. Each crown-style plug has a metallic crown terminal section 2110, typically comprised of a layer of plated gold. In order to ensure a reliable electrical connection, each plug must be inserted into a cylindrical socket 570 beyond the center of the crown terminal (shown in phantom as line 2120). For one common style of crown-style plug, this distance, as measured from the base 2130 of the plug corresponds to a distance of 0.24 inches, as shown in FIG. 21. As can be seen in FIG. 21, the total thickness of substrate 510 through the protruded hole socket 570 corresponds to a length of about 0.290 inches, which results in proper mating of the crown-style plug 410. FIG. 22 is a detailed view of a portion of FIG. 21. As can be seen in FIG. 22, plug passageway 1910 is slightly larger in diameter than cylindrical socket 570, which facilitates mating. Also, alarm contact signal terminals 420 have a width less than that of passageways 1920 in order to facilitate their insertion.
It will be recognized that the connector module of the present invention may also be used with electronic devices which do not have auxiliary terminals, such as conventional plug-in fuses and circuit breakers without alarm terminals. It will also be recognized that sockets 570 may be shaped to mate with a variety of different shaped male connectors. It will also be recognized that while clips 600 are shown as being designed to mate with alarm contact terminals 420 having planar surfaces, more generally any male/female clip mating configuration may be used to accommodate changes in the shape of alarm contact terminals 420. Moreover, while circuit breakers 400 are currently commonly sold with male alarm contact terminals 420, it will be recognized that plug-in circuit breakers 400 with female alarm contact terminals 420, although less desirable, are technically possible. Connector module 500 may be adapted for use with plug-in circuit breakers 400 having female alarm contact terminals 420 by replacing clip 600 with any conventional male clip or socket which may be mounted to a mounting substrate to form a male/female connection with female alarm contact terminals.
The preferred embodiment of the present invention for accommodating one or more plug-in circuit breakers as part of a power distribution system is shown in FIG. 23. FIG. 23 shows a front perspective view of a DC modular distribution assembly 2300. Assembly 2300 includes two ten-position common conductive line busbar members 2310 coupled together, at least one load busbar module 2316, along with an exploded view of an uninstalled circuit breaker 400 and a printed circuit board substrate 2306. FIG. 24 depicts a perspective front view of the assembled connector module of the present invention showing one installed circuit breaker 400 and all of the load busbar modules installed.
Assembly 2300 includes a main structural support member 2302 which is manufactured from a non-conductive material, preferably a rigid and good electric and thermal insulator (e.g., extruded with a polymer resin). Support member 2302 provides an electrically insulating framework for the line and load busbar members mounted thereon. Support member 2302 includes a track member 2304 for slidably receiving and supporting printed circuit board substrate 2306. Support member 2302 also includes a track member 2305, as best seen in FIG. 24, for slidably receiving one or more line busbar members 2310. It will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art that by slidably receiving and supporting substrate 2306 and line busbar member 2310 on support member 2302, such components may be pre-manufactured separately and relatively inexpensively for final assembly of the assembly 2300 without the need for additional hardware upon assembly. This is desirable in order to decrease the complexity of pre-fabricated components used to form the connector module assembly.
Referring back to FIG. 23, support member 2302 is patterned with a plurality of male plug passageways 2308 spaced apart from each other and extending through a front portion 2303 of said support member 2302. A common conductive (line) busbar member 2310 is formed from a conductive strip composed of a malleable metal configured into a substantially rigid plate with contoured portions. Busbar member 2310 is dimensioned to be received by the track member 2305 of the support member 2302 as seen in FIG. 24 when the modular distribution assembly 2300 is assembled. Busbar member 2310 may be further fastened to the support member 2302 by conventional fastening means, if desired, including the use of mechanical connectors already discussed. Although FIGS. 23-25 depict the use of two line busbar members 2310 to accommodate up to a total of twenty circuit breakers, it will become readily apparent to those skilled in the art that this embodiment allows the use of different sized and shaped busbar members 2310 and different numbers of line busbar members 2310, as required.
Busbar member 2310 further includes a plurality of sockets 2312 each aligned with corresponding ones of the plug passageways 2308 in support member 2302 when busbar member 2310 is assembled in the support member 2302. Each of the sockets 2312 are shaped and positioned to mate and be in friction fit with a corresponding first male plug 410 (also known as a bullet plug) of a circuit breaker 400 that is caused to extend through a corresponding plug passageway 2308. As previously discussed, the busbar member 2310 functions to link a terminal of each installed circuit breaker 400 with a common line power connection, which may be fed thereto via a socket 2314, similar to that describing common (line) busbar member 550 of FIG. 5.
Printed circuit board substrate 2306 is slidably installed on said support member adjacent said front portion thereof and includes a plurality of electrical connectors 600 mounted thereon and connected to separate electrical traces formed on said substrate. In a structure analogous to the connection of alarm contact terminals 420 on circuit breaker 400 to respective clips 600, as seen in FIGS. 9 and 10 above, said electrical connectors are positioned on substrate 2306 so as to enable auxiliary signal terminals on said overcurrent protection devices to be coupled thereto when said overcurrent protection devices are mounted on said assembly. This connection provides a transmission path for electrical signals from said overcurrent protection devices to said electrical traces.
The assembly shown in FIG. 23 is also advantageous because it allows one to install only as many individual load busbar modules 2316 on support member 2302 as are needed. Each load busbar module 2316 is installed on the support member 2302, as shown in the perspective views of FIGS. 24-25, and as further described below. Included within each busbar module 2316 is a plug passageway 2320 shaped to permit passage of the other electrical plug 410 of a circuit breaker 400 therethrough. Each load busbar module 2316 further includes a housing 2317 and a conductive (load) busbar member 2318. Conductive load busbar member 2318 is used to couple load power from each circuit breaker 400 to a separate load power connection, much like the busbar members 540 of FIG. 5.
Each load busbar module 2316 is preferably snapped into place on the support member 2302. Both the load busbar module 2316 and support member 2302 include means for retaining the module 2316 in operative position relative to the support member 2302. Although a number of conventional ways may be used to couple a load busbar module 2316 to the support member 2302, a preferable manner includes the use of friction-fit clips 2222 formed along the exterior of busbar module 2316 and cooperating portions 2224 formed on the support member 2302. The clips 2222 and cooperating portions 2224 collectively form interengageable portions on both the busbar module 2316 and said support member 2302 so that the busbar module may be releasibly installed on the support member 2302.
A key benefit of this construction is the elimination of any need for additional hardware to assemble the busbar modules to support member 2302. This is shown more clearly in the side view of the circuit breaker module seen in FIG. 26, taken from the cross-sectional view along line 26—26 of FIG. 25. Accordingly, one may use as many individual load busbar modules, as necessary, without having to purchase all of the busbar modules 2318 ahead of time as part of a fixed assembly, as required with members 540 in the circuit breaker module shown in FIG. 5.
Each load busbar module 2316 housing 2317 and cooperating portions 2222 are manufactured from a non-conductive and thermally-insulating material, e.g., plastic casing, so as to isolate the electrical components contained therein from coming into contact with each other and for safety purposes so as to minimize any system downtime during field upgrades, servicing and maintenance. The design ensures that all the bussing (load and line) is completely insulated, thereby providing an important safety benefit to a person installing or maintaining the equipment.
Each load busbar module 2316 further includes a non-conductive cover 2226 for providing an additional safety feature in that it prevents fingers or other objects from passing into module 2316 to touch components conducting electricity, namely the conductive (load) busbar member 2318. Cover 2226 is also preferably pivotally connected to housing 2317 at one end thereof and manually releasably attached to housing 2303 at a second end to provide the benefit of enabling easy access to load busbar member 2318 for installation or servicing, or when busbar member 2318 requires testing. Although not shown, each busbar member 2318 is electrically coupled in a conventional manner to a corresponding socket 2228 which is dimensioned to mate with a plug 410 of a plug-in circuit breaker 400 that is caused to extend through plug passageway 2320.
When one or more load busbar modules 2316 are assembled on support member 2302, the male plug passageways 2308, 2320 are spaced apart from signal terminal passageways 530 for each circuit breaker 400. Passageways 2308, 2320 may be fabricated using any conventional process so long as it is essentially consistent with the requirements used to define passageways 520, 525, as previously described. As shown in FIGS. 23-25, an exemplary design is for assembly 2300 to accept up to twenty plug-in circuit breakers, where each ten circuit breakers share a common line bus member 2312. FIG. 25 depicts a perspective front view of the distribution assembly of the present invention showing all twenty installed circuit breakers 400 each with plugs 410 extending through plug passageways and engaging their respective sockets. One advantage of using the support member 2302 is that it is rigid and durable, thereby overcoming limitations on the number of circuit breakers used with module 500 of FIG. 5. The design permits the use of as many load busbar members 2318 as is required by the system in which assembly 2300 is installed.
The cooperating portions 2224 formed on support member 2302 provide a convenient way to support load busbar modules and plug-in circuit breakers having a variety of configurations. For example, in another embodiment of the present invention, a distribution assembly shown in the detailed perspective view of FIG. 27 also depicts, for clarity, one installed plug-in circuit breaker 400′ although a plurality of circuit breakers are typically accommodated with such assemblies. Included in the embodiment of FIG. 27 is a busbar module 2716 that is modular and similar to module 2316 in that it includes friction-fit clips 2722 formed along its exterior for interengaging cooperating portions 2224 of support member 2302 in order to maintain busbar module 2716 in operative position. However, circuit breaker 400′ further includes a pressure-loaded clip 2728 for engaging a recessed portion 2730 in load busbar module 2716 to thereby retain the circuit breaker 400′ in operative position with busbar module 2716. Busbar module 2716 includes a plug passageway and socket (not shown) similar to plug passageway 2320 and socket 2228 shown in FIGS. 23-24.
While the above embodiments are especially useful for bullet plug-in circuit breakers, commonly used in North America, FIG. 28 shows a detailed rear perspective view of yet another embodiment of the present invention, wherein a distribution assembly has a support member 2302 with one exemplary plug-in circuit breaker or fuse 400″ installed on the rear side of the support member. Additional such circuit breakers may be similarly installed on support member 2302. This alternative embodiment is particularly useful for DIN rail mounting devices frequently found in telecommunication applications within Europe. Circuit breaker 400″ is coupled to the common line power connection via socket 2314 of common line bus member 2312. Support member 2302 may be configured in a variety of ways, but is preferably shown to include a first lip 2802 and a second lip 2804. Circuit breaker 400″ includes a first cooperating edge portion 2806 and a second cooperating edge portion 2808 formed on the exterior thereof. First lip 2802 and second lip 2804 are preferably pressure-loadable and snap-fit to engage the respective first and second cooperating edge portions 2806, 2808. To electrically couple the circuit breaker 400″ to the busbar member 2312, a male plug 410″ is inserted through socket 2314. Much like socket 570, socket 2314 includes a patterned conductive strip composed of a malleable metal into a metal strip, which is then fastened to thereby form a protruded socket 2314 which will permit a friction fit with the male plug 410″. Alternatively, a line power connection can be provided to circuit breaker 400″ that does not have a plug 410″, but rather has a terminal for use in connecting a cable or conductive strap thereto. A load power connection is provided to contact 2810 and thereby to circuit breaker 400.″ When the power passing through circuit breaker 400″ via terminal 2810 exceeds a certain level, the circuit breaker 400″ will trip, thereby ceasing current flow and preventing damage to the associated electrical equipment coupled thereto in the same manner as with other assembly embodiments described herein.
FIG. 29 shows a front perspective view of yet another embodiment of a portion of the assembly of the present invention with one exemplary plug-in circuit breaker installed. Additional circuit breakers may be similarly accommodated in this embodiment, in the same manner as described above. This embodiment is particularly useful for permitting rail mounting devices to be coupled to the support member. A circuit breaker 400′″ is coupled to a load busbar module 2916 having conductive prongs 2918 for coupling load current to a load connection site (not shown). Busbar module 2916 includes portions 2920 formed from the non-conductive and thermally insulated material previously discussed to permit a user to grasp the holder. Although not shown, busbar module 2916 includes a plug passageway and socket, similar to plug passageway 2320 and socket 2228 shown in FIGS. 23-24, for electro-mechanically coupling the circuit breaker 400′″ thereto. Busbar module 2916 further includes cooperating hook portions 2922, 2924, and a guide edge 2926 formed thereon. A portion 2930 of the support member includes rails 2928, 2932, which the hook portions 2922, 2924 slidably interengages, respectively, and as seen more clearly in the side view of FIG. 30. Portion 2930 of the support member further includes a lip portion 2934 along which guide edge 2926 pivots to dislodge hook portions 2922, 2924 from rails 2928, 2932 when mounting or dismounting busbar module 2916. Although not shown, a common conductive (line) busbar member is coupled to plug 410, similar to member 2310 discussed previously.
In summary, the present invention comprises a distribution assembly for over-current protection devices. The assembly addresses the need for a low-cost plug and play connector module for plug-in circuit breakers having male line and load current plugs and additional auxiliary signal terminals. The use of a printed circuit board as a support substrate for busbars and alarm contact clips results in a low manufacturing cost. Contacts to auxiliary alarm contact terminals are made using a plurality of clips mounted to the substrate, wherein tracks on the printed circuit board substrate are used to make electrical contact to the clips. When a variable number of over-current protection devices are required to be connected to a distribution panel, the present invention also provides an improved way of constructing a modular assembly of load busbar modules. Using pre-manufactured components designed to be coupled together in a modular fashion permits the "plug and play" convenience during assembly. the availability of fuse blocks provides additional fuse circuits, as needed, to enhance the flexibility of assemblies according to the present invention. Compared with conventional assemblies, the distribution assembly of the present invention affords an ergonomic alternative to constructing, maintaining and servicing power distribution systems.
Although preferred and alternative embodiments of the present invention and modifications thereof have been described in detail herein, it is to be understood that this invention is not limited to those precise embodiments and modifications, and that other modifications and variations may be affected by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.
|Cited Patent
|Filing date
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|I-T-E Imperial Corporation
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|Circuit breaker with alarm
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|Feb 2, 1988
|Todd Engineering Sales, Inc.
|Fuse block for miniature plug-in blade-type fuse
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|Jan 10, 1989
|Gotaverken Energy Systems Ab
|Combustion plant including a circulation fluid bed
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|Jan 10, 1989
|General Motors Corporation
|Printed circuit board with integral electrical connector and method for making it using wave soldering
|Jun 2, 1988
|Apr 18, 1989
|Air Lb
|Electrical connector module incorporating components
|Feb 1, 1988
|Dec 12, 1989
|Heinemann Electric Company
|Circuit breaker printed circuit board connector device
|Dec 13, 1990
|Nov 19, 1991
|General Electric Company
|Electric power distribution panelboard-switchboard bus bar insulation shield
|Jul 16, 1991
|Jun 30, 1992
|Molex Incorporated
|Modular electrical connector
|Apr 29, 1991
|Sep 8, 1992
|Kuczynski Robert A
|Snap-in bracket for circuit breaker
|Jun 20, 1991
|Feb 9, 1993
|Burndy Corporation
|Modular connector frame
|Oct 29, 1992
|May 25, 1993
|Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
|Electrical distribution busway and bus plug arrangement
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|Square D Company
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|Oct 11, 1994
|Cooper Industries, Inc.
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|Mar 26, 1996
|General Electric Company
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|May 7, 1996
|Fujitsu Ltd.
|Electrical connecting arrangement for establishment of electrical connections of electronic printed circuit boards detachably mounted in cabinet
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|May 7, 1996
|Cooper Industries
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|Feb 23, 1993
|Jun 10, 1997
|Fujitsu Limited
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|Jan 20, 1998
|Autosplice Systems Inc.
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|Mar 10, 1998
|Reltec Corporation
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|Jun 16, 1998
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|Adaptive ground and phase fault detection for a power distribution system
|Feb 5, 1996
|Aug 18, 1998
|Asea Brown Boveri Ag
|Gas insulated switchgear with grounding and disconnecting switches
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|Dec 29, 1998
|Schneider Electric S.A.
|Connection clip to a busbar for a draw-in multipole circuit breaker or system
|Nov 17, 1997
|Apr 13, 1999
|Square D Company
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|Sep 16, 1997
|Jun 15, 1999
|Excel, Inc.
|Telecommunication switch chassis
|May 27, 1998
|Oct 5, 1999
|Cooper Technologies Company
|Compact focused disconnect device
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|Dec 14, 1999
|Power Distribution Products International
|Circuit breaker power distribution panel
|Sep 3, 1998
|Nov 13, 2001
|Tvm Group, Inc.
|Pluggable circuit breaker mounting system
|Citing Patent
|Filing date
|Publication date
|Aug 18, 2005
|Aug 5, 2008
|Weidm�ller Interface GmbH & Co. KG
|Mounting and connecting means for electrical components
|Oct 24, 2006
|Aug 19, 2008
|Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh
|Modular current distributor for high currents
|Aug 6, 2007
|Jun 7, 2011
|Lear Corporation
|Busbar circuit board assembly
|Sep 17, 2010
|Apr 16, 2013
|Telect Inc.
|Low-resistance telecommunications power distribution panel
|Sep 27, 2011
|Sep 30, 2014
|Adc Telecommunications, Inc.
|Power distribution panel with modular circuit protection elements
|Dec 11, 2012
|Dec 9, 2014
|Xuejun James Wang
|Electrical cabinet
|Dec 7, 2012
|May 26, 2015
|Siemens Industry, Inc.
|Systems and methods for electrically connecting circuit devices for power distribution enclosures
|Feb 28, 2014
|Mar 1, 2016
|Universal Electric Corporation
|Press-fit busbar and busway employing same
|Apr 30, 2015
|Oct 4, 2016
|Eaton Corporation
|Compact plug and socket unit isolator systems for motor control centers (MCC) and related MCC cabinets
|Aug 18, 2005
|Mar 2, 2006
|Jens Oesterhaus
|Mounting and connecting means for electrical components
|Oct 24, 2006
|Feb 15, 2007
|Ellenberger & Poensgen Gmbh
|Modular current distributor for high currents
|Aug 6, 2007
|Feb 12, 2009
|Lear Corporation
|Electrical connection assembly
|Jul 2, 2010
|Apr 12, 2012
|Paul Richard Jewell
|Electricty supply and control apparatus
|Dec 11, 2012
|Oct 24, 2013
|Xuejun James Wang
|Electrical cabinet
|Dec 7, 2012
|Jun 12, 2014
|Steven E. Pever
|Systems and methods for electrically connecting circuit devices for power distribution enclosures
|Dec 1, 2014
|Jun 4, 2015
|Labinal, Llc
|Method and apparatus for sensing the status of a circuit interrupter
|May 28, 2014
|Jan 27, 2016
|Signal distributor
|U.S. Classification
|439/716, 439/82, 361/644, 439/532, 361/652, 361/634, 361/648
|International Classification
|Cooperative Classification
|European Classification
|Dec 4, 2000
Owner name: ASTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED, HONG KONG
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNORS:PADULO, MICHAEL;GHANEM, IMAD;MAYER, DENIS;REEL/FRAME:011352/0837;SIGNING DATES FROM 20001101 TO 20001106
|Sep 11, 2006
|Fee payment
Year of fee payment: 4
|Feb 19, 2007
Owner name: EMERSON NETWORK POWER, ENERGY SYSTEMS, NORTH AMERI
Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:ASTEC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED;REEL/FRAME:018898/0722
Effective date: 20060901
|Oct 18, 2010
|Maintenance fee reminder mailed
|Mar 11, 2011
|Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
|May 3, 2011
|Expired due to failure to pay maintenance fee
Effective date: 20110311


text:
hey guys,
I am not sure if I got this right but I remember reading that there is somthing called a Stacked Single coil, which has double the poles for each string.
Does that mean it will sound like a humbucker??
Cause I might buy a guitar that has H-S-S.
Any info would help.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
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text:
Opening The Old Testament
A Fresh Wholeness: Reflections on Acts 4:5-12
Lectionary Reflections
Acts 4:5-12
Fourth Sunday of Easter
April 29, 2012
We pursue here in this passage the implications that the early church found for the power of the resurrection of "Jesus Messiah the Nazorean," to translate the phrase of 4:10 quite literally. Peter, the craven denier of his Lord in Luke, has now become, accompanied by his colleague John, the great preacher of the emerging church and no end of aggravation for the religious leaders of Jerusalem. His healing of the lame man in the temple in Acts 3 has created a crisis for the Jerusalem leadership; if one reads his sermon to them in the very temple itself (Acts 3:12-26), which the lectionary gave to us last week, it is little wonder that they were "much annoyed" (4:2), as the NRSV has it. More literally, the word here means "being worn down." "Exasperation" may be the best reading. This emotion is what Paul feels in Philippi at the sooth-saying slave girl who day after day made a great deal of money for her handlers in the very place of prayer where Paul had converted the wealthy Lydia to the new faith (Acts 16:18).
Peter's sermon stirs a wide range of religious and secular leaders to act. Luke says that "the priests, the officer of the temple, and the Sadducees" (4:1) appeared, exasperated about the content of the sermon, most especially the bit about the resurrection of the peasant criminal, Jesus. Of course, the Sadducees were particularly galled by that resurrection talk, since they, as strict believers in the ancient Torah, thoroughly rejected such a claim. No idea of resurrection occurred there, and hence could not possibly have any validity. In an attempt to shut them up, Peter and John are arrested that evening and are forced to spend the night in custody. However, Luke makes plain that it is already too late, since "about five thousand" have already heard the word and have believed (4:4). This figure is of course wild hyperbole, since the temple is scarcely able to hold such a number of people, not all of whom would have been convinced of the new faith in any case. Luke does not want us to quibble about the numbers; the new faith is growing and nothing is going to impede its rapid expansion.
The next morning "their leaders and elders and scribes" assemble in Jerusalem. This is an intriguing list. "Leaders" is a very general term (archontes), while "elders" (presbyteroi) and "scribes" (grammateis) are members of the Jewish Council of the Sanhedrin, as Josephus makes clear in numerous places in his Antiquities of the Jews. In fact, this gathering appears to be in the council chamber and is a called meeting of the Sanhedrin, as 4:15 implies. And look who else is there: "Annas, the high priest, Caiaphas, (son-in-law of Annas), John (one manuscript reads "Jonathan" here, whom Josephus names as son of Annas and successor to Caiaphas as high priest), Alexander, and all who were of the high-priestly family" (4:6). We do not know who this John and this Alexander are, but Annas and Caiaphas and Jonathan (if we take the alternate reading) are well-known, thanks again to Josephus. Annas was high priest from 6-15 C.E., Caiaphas from 18-36 C.E., and Jonathan succeeded Caiaphas in the office. Thus, what Luke describes here is a kind of ghostly collection of all the high priests of Israel for some fifty or so years! This is not a historical scene, but an idealized confrontation between the old faith and the new. But the old faith of Judaism is supported by the "leaders" of the community, whoever they may be specifically, not only by the religious authorities of the time.
John C. Holbert is the Lois Craddock Perkins Professor Emeritus of Homiletics at Perkins School of Theology in Dallas, TX.
Holbert's column, "Opening the Old Testament," is published every Monday on the Progressive Christian portal and the Preachers Portal. Subscribe via email or RSS.


text:
Chefs Choice Knife Sharpener
Learn more of Chefs Choice Knife Sharpener
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AlexaM Design Photographer
About Me
hello! my name is anna. i was born in KCMO. i am a bit of a gypsy these days- currently about to leave taos,nm. the next part of my journey has visions of colorado, kansas city, california, and the proabably some time in the winter in new york... we shall see where the tides of life take me. i am willing to go anywhere to feel free. i love art... i love being involved in it. if i do not express myself i lose it! i thrive in print. art,nude,erotic,fetish... i am not afraid of breaking molds or cracking taboos. in fact, i think it may be my purpous. please come to me with your ideas and locations... who knows, after all-we can do anything...
I Am REALLY wanting to do some tat shoots!!!
Have you worked with lotuseyes? Add Credits for lotuseyes! >>
Credit Notes
thus far, i've had the pleasure of working with these MM photographers:
#53830 (javier)***
derek beals(absolute imagery)
greg james***
a few shoots this week i'm very stoked about, let the expansion begin baby!
greg james(heart)
derek beals
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Amy Poehler & Son Archie Eat Apples On The Go (PHOTOS)
Suri Cruise: Amy Poehler and Will Arnett's son Archie is shaping up to be one of the cutest kids in Hollywood.Watch out
Amy and her adorable apple-eating toddler were spotted taking a walk near Beverly Hills on Thursday, February 10. The Parks and Recreation star looked casual chic in black sweats and over-sized sunglasses while her son looked dapper in a gray sweater and black pants.
Do you think Archie could make his way onto the Cutest Kids in Hollywood list? Check out the full gallery and share your thoughts in the comments.


text: Hi all, Thanks for all your suggestions. I restarted pbs_server and pbs_sched by hand on the server, and all seems to be fine now. I guess the services I have for starting those at startup are not quite synchronized properly. A very odd error to suddenly have though! Thanks again, Jody On 30-Apr-10, at 5:03 AM, Glen Beane wrote: > > > On Thu, Apr 29, 2010 at 8:47 PM, Jody Klymak <jklymak at uvic.ca> wrote: > Hi all, > > I rebooted my OS X 10.5.6 cluster and suddenly started getting this > error: > > qsub: Bad UID for job execution MSG=ruserok failed validating jklymak/ > jklymak from saturna.cluster > > > I've seen this a lot with OS X 10.5 (users not getting validated > properly). Its almost like when pbs_mom tries to validate that the > user/group exist whatever service OS X 10.5 uses for that is not > running. I think after ssh'ing to the node and loging out and > submitting the job again it magically worked in my case. I never > debugged it further because I haven't had a OS X cluster since the > Tiger days... Let me know if you find anything out > _______________________________________________ > torqueusers mailing list > torqueusers at supercluster.org > http://www.supercluster.org/mailman/listinfo/torqueusers -------------- next part -------------- An HTML attachment was scrubbed... URL: http://www.supercluster.org/pipermail/torqueusers/attachments/20100430/648cf0e8/attachment.html


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FRESH from volunteering at the London 2012 Paralympic Games, ARC Healthy Living's Tiernach Mahon says his experience has been "more than a dream come true".
The Volunteer Co-ordinator at ARC Healthy Living in Irvinestown says the games were "an emotional rollercoaster" bringing "the best out in everyone".
And now back to his day job he is determined to apply a little bit of that Paralympic spirit to his daily work ethic.
Tiernach was one of over 870 volunteers working at the Olympic Stadium each day during the Paralympics.
In previous years he was among the hundreds of thousands of spectators cheering from the stands at Athens, Barcelona and Atlanta.
But when London won the bid to host the 2012 games, the Irvinestown man knew he wanted to be more than just a spectator.
"The day London was announced as the winner, within five minutes I phoned my sister in London to say I was staying with her during the Olympics and Paralympics!" he told The Impartial Reporter, "It was a dream come true that they were coming so close to home and being involved is something I had always dreamed about." True to form, when the opportunity arose to volunteer, he wasted no time in applying.
He says however that the role assigned to him over the course of the fortnight as games-maker was far more significant than he ever could have imagined.
"I just expected I would be doing minor jobs. But whatever I was doing, I wanted to be part of such a momentous occasion.
"We had three training days before we started -- all very intensive training, but when it came down to it, in many ways you were learning on your feet when the Paralympics actually began." For the first eight days Tiernach's shift ran from 4.30am until 3.30pm. The final three days he worked the later shift -- 2pm until 12.30am.
"On the last night we didn't actually get finished until 2am because we were preparing for the closing ceremony. But nobody minded, we were all just glad to be doing our bit.
"The stadium was to open at 8am every morning -- our goal was to have it ready and opened before that each day. There was only one morning that it opened three minutes later!
"Each day went I back to my sister's house totally and utterly exhausted. I had blisters on my feet but I didn't care -- the whole atmosphere was just so electric that it carried you on. I was supposed to be off on the last Friday, I was so tired, but I said if they needed extra help to let me come in. It was a once in a life time opportunity and I didn't want to miss a minute of it." Tiernach says the atmosphere throughout the Paralympics was euphoric.
"Everyone was on an adrenaline high -- it's hard to put it into words. Everyone knew that something fantastic was happening." He says he found his spent in London inspiring.
"If you ask me I think the volunteers really made the games -- it was the best kind of example of people working together for a common goal. I will never get to be involved in anything like that again.
"The night Jason Smyth won for Ireland I was down on the track chatting to his family. And when he took out the Irish flag I was 10 feet away. I'll never get to experience something like that again." According to Tiernach, the last night was a particularly emotional experience.
"We had been through something so amazing, and we knew we would probably never meet again.
"I got so much more out of volunteering than I ever thought I would and I suppose that's what volunteering is all about really."


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True love is found only in Jesus Christ.
Join 91.9 KAVX in sharing His love with the people around you!
Love is something everyone longs for, sometimes looking for and finding it in the wrong places.
That can lead you down the wrong path.
Could it be that the way you love your neighbors is through getting to know Christ, the living word of God?
During the month of February join kavx in spreading the Love of the living word of God, The Love That Sticks.


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Google hires marketing expert for Glass project
Google has been busy over the past month getting its Glass wearable Internet device into the hands of more customers, and now the company has appointed a leader for the team behind the gadget.
Google announced Ivy Ross as the head of Glass. Ross, a marketing expert, comes to Google after stints with firms such as Calvin Klein, Gap and Mattel.
Her most relevant experience is her work with Bausch & Lomb, a maker of eye health products. There, Ross served as vice president of design and development for outlook eyewear.
At Google, Ross will be tasked with figuring out how to market Glass as a product for all consumers.
Google's hiring appears to be an indication that the company is getting close to taking Glass out of its beta phase and launching a wide general release of the gadget later this year.
Last month, Google held a one-day online sale of the device and made it available to U.S. consumers for the first time.


text: In a month or so when Bray and Majewski are ready to come back could the Reds maybe try to package Cormier and Freel for a good #3 type pitcher and put Hamilton in Center. They would only do this if Hamilton proves he can at least hit .250 at the plate. It would make our defence and pitching better.


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In the days leading up to Montana's June 12 GOP convention, news outlets described state chairman candidate Will Deschamps as more moderate than his opponent, Rick Breckenridge of Proctor. The label may have been the result of Breckenridge's refusal to cater to moderate members of his party, or perhaps a result of Deschamps' address—the current property manager and former three-time candidate for the state House resides in Missoula, considered enemy territory to most Republicans.
"We are looked at askance from the other side of the state," admits Deschamps, who ended up winning the chairmanship by an undisclosed margin. "But I tell them not to color me by where I live, but by what I believe."
What Deschamps believes echoes the standard GOP party lines. He believes marriage should be between a man and a woman. He says neither he nor his party have ever wavered on abortion. He defends the war in Iraq. Overall, he shies away from the label of a moderate, instead choosing to talk about his vision of an inclusive Republican Party. More than anything, he stresses that there will be no major changes to the party's platform.
"Republicans are going to stick by their core values," he says, "which are lower taxes, more personal responsibility, family values. Those things have always been part of our base. I don't think those issues will change at all."
For Deschamps, who previously served as chairman of the Missoula County Republicans, the new position represents an unusual challenge. He recognizes that the party will have trouble making any headway in his hometown, despite, he says, the fact that Missoula County voted predominantly Republican 50 years ago.
What's changed, according to Deschamps, is the proliferation of nonprofits and organizations that rely on state and federal funding. Those organizations' lifelines make traditional conservative values—smaller government, lower taxes, increased personal responsibility—a hard sell. In fact, Deschamps guesses that 60 percent of the people who answer the door in Missoula work for the government, the University of Montana or a nonprofit.
"When a candidate says, 'I want to cut government,' why would they listen to you?" he asks.
Despite the uphill climb, Deschamps thinks his party can craft a winning message. He talks about how government can be smaller and still maintain social services, and how supporting small business allows a community to build on its own. Plus, he notes that Montana Republicans aren't facing the same crisis as other states. He believes the rift in the national party between moderates and hard-line conservatives has largely skipped Montana.
"The last election cycle," he says, "we were able to stave off [the Democrats] in the House and gain some seats in the Senate. I think we were one of three states in the United States that did that after the Obama revolution."
In the wake of that gain, he hopes to stay the course.
"We want to try to continue the programs that began two years ago to gain some traction here in the state," he says.
Dennis McDonald, Deschamps' counterpart at the Montana Democratic Party, jumps at the opportunity to criticize that strategy.
"The Republicans are a party without
a message," says McDonald, who is also challenging Rep. Denny Rehberg in 2010 for the state's lone congressional seat. "Here in Montana, right now they're in disarray."
Deschamps has heard that criticism before and doesn't buy it. He says both parties have been written off in the past as being disorganized, largely to no effect.
"The Republican Party, nationally, is thought to be in that position now," he says, "and I think it will come back as a stronger party. We have some strong leadership at the top with Chairman [Michael] Steele. He is a thoughtful, well-spoken individual with lots of fresh ideas and people are getting on board. I'll be the last one to think the party is done."
Deschamps remains optimistic because he believes he can draw young Republicans back to the party and retain moderates and hard-liners alike. One person interested to hear from the new chairman is Lt. Gov. John Bohlinger. The state GOP essentially excommunicated Bohlinger when he accepted Democratic Gov. Brian Schweitzer's invitation to be his running mate in 2004, but Bohlinger remains a registered Republican. He didn't attend the state GOP convention because he was out of town—he's not sure he'd have been allowed in anyway—but says he's interested to talk with Deschamps.
"I would hope," Bohlinger says, "that he's more moderate than what the leadership has been." The Cave:Advertising:02 Production Art:IndyLogoDingbat2002.tifB:'",,"")>


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Teachers at two schools in South Yorkshire are refusing to teach two violent pupils who were expelled but re-instated.
They voted on the action - to begin next week - after appeals panels decided the schools had been wrong to exclude the children.
The action is being taken by members of the NASUWT teachers' union, which recently won a House of Lords ruling on the issue.
One of the children goes to primary school and the other is a secondary school pupil. The schools have not been named.
The cases were highlighted at the NASUWT's annual conference in Bournemouth by Sheffield teacher David Ward.
Risk assessment
He told delegates the primary school pupil had attacked four teachers.
"This child - having kicked, bitten and spat at teachers - comes with his own risk assessment, which says he must be treated with tender, loving care," he said.
The secondary school pupil he said had a "record as long as your arm" and had attacked pupils and teachers.
In both cases the schools have been told by independent appeals panels to take the children back.
In a speech with drew loud applause, David Ward said the rights of violent children were being placed above the rights of teachers to teach and other children to learn.
The NASUWT wants to see the appeals panels abolished.
On the increase
Delegates reported what they said was a rising number of attacks on teachers.
Mike Wilson, from Nottingham, said he had been a victim of an attack which had left him with broken ribs.
A survey in his area had painted a picture of teachers subjected to kicking, biting, pinching as well as verbal abuse.
"One had a chair thrown at them across a classroom and was also pushed over. There was no punishment," he said.
Delegates said there was under-reporting of the problem by head teachers, sometimes because they did not want the school to get a bad name.
Les Kennedy, a member of the union's national executive, told the conference the problem was affecting junior and infant schools.
"A five-year-old threw a chair across the class and injured a teacher so badly she was off school for three weeks," she said.
NASUWT general secretary Eamonn O'Kane said union surveys in the north west of England and eastern regions had revealed a "worrying picture of violence and verbal abuse" in schools.
"NASUWT has campaigned for the abolition of independent appeals panels after several bizarre judgements to return excluded pupils to school.
"Teachers are entitled, like any other employee, not to be abused in the course of their work."


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Wrinkles appear based on how frequently people have smiled, especially if it was directly at the sun. Beam at beams with this Groupon.
Choose Between Two Options
- $175 for two IPL photofacials (a $700 value)
- $99 for one IPL photofacial (a $350 value)
During treatments, intense pulses of light are directed at the face. The beams target such concerns as sun damage, broken capillaries, and age spots, gradually breaking down pigmentation and fading it from view. The skin will likely appear red for a day or two after the treatment. The spa recommends scheduling sessions three to four weeks apart.
Board-certified physician Dr. Michael Green, MD, and his team of licensed aesthetic professionals combine meticulous training and advanced equipment to fine-tune appearances. Specializing in nonsurgical cosmetic procedures, body beautifiers banish crow's-feet and pterodactyl claws with Botox injections or reduce unwanted bristles with laser hair-removal treatments. Ionithermie body-contouring treatments help to diminish the appearance of cellulite, and six types of chemical peels and custom facials vivify surfaces like a fleet of miniature zambonis.


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Marriage 1 Mary Tunstall b: BEF. 1675 in [resident of King and Queen Co., Virginia]
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Lionsgate gets Angriest Man
The distributor has swooped on North American rights to The Angriest Man In Brooklyn. Cargo Entertainment handles international sales. Separately, Film Movement has taken For A Woman.
Restricted Content
Registration is required to read the entire article and to gain access to other restricted areas of the website


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Where Is Health Care Going in the ACA Era? (MLF)
The Commonwealth Club
Thursday, February 20, 2014 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM (PST)
Harold S. Luft, Ph.D., Director, Palo Alto Medical Foundation Research Institute; Senior Investigator in Health Policy Research; Caldwell B. Esselstyn Professor Emeritus of Health Policy and Health Economics, Philip R. Lee Institute for Health Policy Studies, UCSF
Much of the discussion about the Affordable Care Act (ACA) has focused on its efforts to expand the number of people with health insurance coverage. Beyond the challenges of coverage expansion, however, the ACA incorporates important features intended to slow the rate of growth in health-care expenditures. Ideally, these will increase the value to patients of the care they receive – regardless of payer. These changes, critical to the long-term sustainability of the health-care system, have begun to unfold across the nation; they will have a somewhat different trajectory in California.
MLF: Health & Medicine
Location: SF Club Office
Time: 5:30 p.m. networking reception, 6 p.m. program
Cost: $20 non-members, $8 members, $7 students (with valid ID)
Program Organizers: Bill Grant and Tom Gilligan
What is the refund policy?
All ticket sales are final. We do not offer refunds.
The Commonwealth Club is the leading national forum open to all for the impartial discussion of public issues.
In order to purchase these tickets in installments, you'll need an Eventbrite account. Log in or sign up for a free account to continue.


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[CONCACAF CHAMPIONS LEAGUE] It was called the biggest game in the history of Toronto FC, drawing 47,658 fans, and it showed it was up for the occasion, getting
early goals from Ryan Johnson and rookie Luis Silva. But then TFC reverted to its old ways of failing to put away games
and allowing the Los Angeles Galaxy to escape Rogers Centre, the home of the Toronto Blue Jays, with a 2-2 tie on a goal by Landon Donovan in the 88th
The temperatures had dipped to single digits outdoors, but the action was heated in the Rogers Centre as Toronto went ahead when Johnson scored on a clearance off a German captain Torsten Frings' corner kick in the 12th minute.
Seven minutes later, Frings launched another cross into the area, and Silva, the rookie of UC Santa Barbara, met it for the second goal.
But TFC's two-goal lead lasted only 11 minutes as Mike Magee scored off a cross from right back Sean Franklin.
The Galaxy's two foreign stars, David Beckham and Roy Keane, had complained about the hard Roger Centre surface, and the Galaxy looked uncomfortable much of the game.
But it got a break late in the game when the TFC defense failed to deal with Beckham's corner kick. It first went to Edson Buddle and he knocked the rebound back into the middle, where the unmarked Donovan slotted the ball past Toronto keeper Stefan Frei.
Quarterfinal, 1st leg
March 8 in Toronto
Toronto FC 2 Los Angeles 1. Goals: Johnson 12, Silva 18; Magee 29, Donovan 88.
Toronto FC -- Frei, Eckersley, Aceval, Harden, Morgan, Frings, Dunfield, Silva (Maund, 88), Johnson, Koevermans, Plata
Los Angeles -- Saunders, Franklin, Boyens (Barrett, 87), DeLaGarza, Dunivant, Donovan, Juninho (Stephens, 87), Beckham, Magee, Keane, Buddle.
Referee: Courtney Campbell (Jamaica).
Att.: 47,658.


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Call ADT today to buy an ADT Monitored Home Security System and get security 24 hours a day. Get a professionally monitored security system. ADT monitoring professionals constantly keep an eye on your property regardless of the time or day. This system and service simply cannot be compared to a cheap DIY system. To truly protect your property from burglars and other dangers, look into security systems. Find great deals on equipment when you call today and receive a free risk assessment of your building or home. If you are looking for the best deals on home security monitoring, as well as great equipment, read on. ADT is always ready and equipped to help handle any emergency you may have in your home. ADT will provide customers with a FREE ADT monitored home security system, valued at $850. When the technicians professionally install the system in your home, they will make sure all the monitoring functions are on the control panel. Two-way voice will provide individuals with the peace of mind in knowing that in the case an emergency, assistance is right there.
Prevention is key, alarming your doors and windows will deter the criminal they attempt to come in your house. ADT has command centers around the country so no mater where you are your home security system can be monitored. ADT has been in business since 1874 drawing on over 130 years of continuous innovation. ADT was named Best Buy by Consumer Digest. Home Security Systems Glendora CA – Talk to an ADT Security Specialist about your home security needs. ADT provides you with top quality home security equipment. You feel better knowing your loved ones and possessions are protected from theft and fire using ADT. Contact us today to take the first step in ordering an ADT alarm system.