IP Library Granted Patent US 10,770,254
Granted Patent B2
US 10,770,254 · App. 15/729,368 · Granted Sep 8, 2020

Plug-on neutral connector for use with a fault circuit interrupt circuit breaker

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,770,254
App. No.
15/729,368
Granted
Sep 8, 2020
Kind
B2
Abstract

A plug-on neutral connector includes a neutral terminal plug arranged to be inserted into a neutral terminal of a circuit breaker, a conductive fastener, including a pass-through, electrically coupled to the neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on a neutral bus bar of a load center, and a housing disposed over at least a portion of the conductive fastener.

Claims (43)

1. A plug-on neutral connector comprising:

a neutral terminal plug arranged to be inserted into a neutral terminal of a circuit breaker;

a conductive fastener electrically coupled to said neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on a neutral bus bar of a load center, said conductive fastener comprising a first pass-through; and

a housing disposed over at least a portion of said conductive fastener, said housing comprising a second pass-through disposed in alignment with said first pass-through.

2. The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1 , wherein said neutral terminal plug is a plug-in connector.

3. The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1 , wherein said first and second pass-throughs are arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw.

4. The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1 , wherein said conductive fastener further comprises a plurality of flexible conductive legs arranged to cooperatively engage on the neutral bus bar of the load center.

5. The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1 , further comprising a flexible conductive element coupled between said neutral terminal plug and a receiving port of said conductive fastener.

6. The plug-on neutral connector of claim 1 , further comprising a c-shaped clip engaged over at least a portion of said conductive fastener between said conductive fastener and said housing.

7. The plug-on neutral connector of claim 6 , wherein said c-shaped clip comprises a third pass-through.

8. The plug-on neutral connector of claim 7 , wherein said third pass-through is aligned with said first and second pass-throughs, and wherein said first, second, and third pass-throughs are arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw.

9. A circuit breaker comprising:

a neutral terminal; and

a plug-on neutral connector comprising:

a neutral terminal plug inserted into said neutral terminal of said circuit breaker;

a conductive fastener electrically coupled to said neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on a neutral bus bar of a load center, said conductive fastener comprising a first pass-through;

a housing disposed over at least a portion of said conductive fastener; and

a c-shaped clip engaged over at least a portion of said conductive fastener between said conductive fastener and said housing.

10. The circuit breaker of claim 9 , wherein said circuit breaker is one of an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) circuit breaker and a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) circuit breaker.

11. The circuit breaker of claim 9 , wherein said first pass-through is arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw.

12. The circuit breaker of claim 9 , wherein said conductive fastener further comprises a plurality of flexible conductive legs arranged to cooperatively engage on the neutral bus bar of the load center.

13. The circuit breaker of claim 9 , wherein said plug-on neutral connector further comprises a flexible conductive element coupled between said neutral terminal plug and a receiving port of said conductive fastener.

14. A circuit breaker comprising:

a case; and

a plug-on neutral connector comprising:

a first neutral terminal plug electrically coupled to a first neutral terminal of said circuit breaker;

a second neutral terminal plug electrically coupled to a second neutral terminal of said circuit breaker;

a conductive fastener electrically coupled to said first neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on a neutral bus bar of a load center, said conductive fastener comprising a first pass-through;

a housing disposed over at least a portion of said conductive fastener and coupled to said case of said circuit breaker; and

a c-shaped clip engaged over at least a portion of said conductive fastener between said conductive fastener and said housing.

15. The circuit breaker of claim 14 , wherein said first pass-through is arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw.

16. The circuit breaker of claim 14 , wherein said conductive fastener further comprises a plurality of flexible conductive legs arranged to cooperatively engage on the neutral bus bar of the load center.

17. The circuit breaker of claim 14 , wherein said c-shaped clip comprises a second pass-through.

18. The circuit breaker of claim 17 , wherein said second pass-through is aligned with said first pass-through and is arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw.

19. The circuit breaker of claim 14 , wherein said housing comprises at least one neutral terminal extension port arranged to couple a neutral wire running from a load to said second neutral terminal.

20. An electrical load center comprising:

a neutral bus bar electrically connected to a power source, said neutral bus bar arranged to receive a neutral bus bar set screw;

a mounting rail disposed substantially in parallel with said neutral bus bar;

a circuit breaker mountable on said mounting rail, said circuit breaker comprising a neutral terminal; and

a plug-on neutral connector arranged to electrically connect said circuit breaker to said neutral bus bar, said plug-on neutral connector comprising:

a neutral terminal plug arranged to be inserted into said neutral terminal of said circuit breaker;

a conductive fastener electrically coupled to said neutral terminal plug and arranged to be fastened on said neutral bus bar, said conductive fastener comprising a first pass-through arranged to receive the neutral bus bar set screw; and

a housing disposed over said conductive fastener, said housing comprising a second pass-through disposed in alignment with said first pass-through and arranged to receive the neutral bus bar set screw.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 29, 2018
From: INDUSTRIAL CONNECTIONS & SOLUTIONS, LLC
To: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 047626/0938 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 10, 2017
From: ROUT, TAPAS RANJAN; MASCARENHAS, LEONARDO DOREA
To: INDUSTRIAL CONNECTIONS & SOLUTIONS LLC
Reel/Frame 043828/0243 →