Patents Assigned to Arc Suppression Technologies
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Patent number: 10770241Abstract: A high speed arc suppressor and method include a first phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across contacts of the power contactor in a positive domain and a second phase-specific arc suppressor configured to suppress arcing across the contacts in a negative domain. First and second high speed switches are configured to enable and disable operation of an associated one of the first and second phase-specific arc suppressors. First and second drivers are configured to drive the first and second high speed switches.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: September 8, 2020Assignee: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventors: Reinhold Henke, Warren Kahle
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Patent number: 10763659Abstract: A power contact fault clearing device includes a first pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a first set of switchable contacts, and a second pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a second set of switchable contacts. The second set of switchable contacts coupled to an arc suppressor. A current sensor is adapted to be connected between a power load and the second set of switchable contacts. The current sensor is configured to measure a power load current associated with the power load. A controller circuit is operatively coupled to the current sensor and the first and second pairs of terminals. The controller circuit is configured to detect a fault condition based at least on the power load current, and sequence deactivation of the first set of switchable contacts and the second set of switchable contacts based on the detected fault condition.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: September 1, 2020Assignee: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventors: Reinhold Henke, Robert Thorbus
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Patent number: 10748719Abstract: A two terminal arc suppressor for protecting switch, relay or contactor contacts and the like comprises a two terminal module adapted to be attached in parallel with the contacts to be protected and including a circuit for deriving an operating voltage upon the transitioning of the switch, relay or contactor contacts from a closed to an open disposition, the power being rectified and the resulting DC signal used to trigger a power triac switch via an optoisolator circuit whereby arc suppression pulses are generated for short predetermined intervals only at a transition of the mechanical switch, relay or contactor contacts from an closed to an open transition and, again, at an open to a close transition during contact bounce conditions.Type: GrantFiled: October 22, 2018Date of Patent: August 18, 2020Assignee: ARC Suppression Technologies, LLCInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Patent number: 10727010Abstract: A power contact EoL predictor includes a pair of terminals adapted to be connected to a set of switchable contact electrodes of a power contact; a power switching circuit configured to trigger activation of the contact electrodes based on a first logic state signal or deactivation based on a second logic state signal; a contact separation detector determining a time of separation of the switchable contact electrodes of the power contact during the deactivation, and a controller configured to generate the second logic state signal to trigger the deactivation, and determine a stick duration associated with the set of switchable contact electrodes. The stick duration is based on a difference between a time the second logic state signal is generated and the time of separation during the contact cycle. The controller generates an EoL prediction for the contact electrodes based on the determined stick duration for multiple contact cycles.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventors: Reinhold Henke, Robert Thorbus
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Patent number: 10727005Abstract: Device, circuit, system, and method for contact sequencing are discussed. An electrical circuit includes a first pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a first set of switchable contacts, and a second pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a second set of switchable contacts that are coupled to an arc suppression circuit. A controller circuit is coupled to the first and second pairs of terminals and is configured to sequence activation or deactivation of the first and second sets of contacts based on a contact control signal. A first power switching circuit is coupled to the first pair of terminals and the controller circuit. The first power switching circuit is configured to switch power from an external power source and to trigger the activation or the deactivation of the first set of switchable contacts based on a first logic state signal from the controller circuit.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2020Date of Patent: July 28, 2020Assignee: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventors: Reinhold Henke, Robert Thorbus
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Patent number: 10566150Abstract: Device, circuit, system, and method for arc suppression. A contact separation detector is configured to output an indication of a separation state of a pair of electrical contacts. A contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation detector, is configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2017Date of Patent: February 18, 2020Assignee: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Patent number: 10134536Abstract: A two terminal arc suppressor for protecting switch, relay or contactor contacts and the like comprises a two terminal module adapted to be attached in parallel with the contacts to be protected and including a circuit for deriving an operating voltage upon the transitioning of the switch, relay or contactor contacts from a closed to an open disposition, the power being rectified and the resulting DC signal used to trigger a power triac switch via an optoisolator circuit whereby arc suppression pulses are generated for short predetermined intervals only at a transition of the mechanical switch, relay or contactor contacts from an closed to an open transition and, again, at an open to a close transition during contact bounce conditions.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2016Date of Patent: November 20, 2018Assignee: ARC Suppression Technologies, LLCInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Patent number: 9847185Abstract: Device, circuit, system, and method for arc suppression. A contact separation detector is configured to output an indication of a separation state of a pair of electrical contacts. A contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation detector, is configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication.Type: GrantFiled: August 22, 2016Date of Patent: December 19, 2017Assignee: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Patent number: 9508501Abstract: A two terminal arc suppressor for protecting switch, relay or contactor contacts and the like comprises a two terminal module adapted to be attached in parallel with the contacts to be protected and including a circuit for deriving an operating voltage upon the transitioning of the switch, relay or contactor contacts from a closed to an open disposition, the power being rectified and the resulting DC signal used to trigger a power triac switch via an optoisolator circuit whereby arc suppression pulses are generated for short predetermined intervals only at a transition of the mechanical switch, relay or contactor contacts from an closed to an open transition and, again, at an open to a close transition during contact bounce conditions.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2015Date of Patent: November 29, 2016Assignee: ARC Suppression Technologies, LLCInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Patent number: 9423442Abstract: Device, circuit, system, and method for arc suppression. A contact separation detector is configured to output an indication of a separation state of a pair of electrical contacts. A contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation detector, is configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2013Date of Patent: August 23, 2016Assignee: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Patent number: 9087653Abstract: A two terminal arc suppressor for protecting switch, relay or contactor contacts and the like comprises a two terminal module adapted to be attached in parallel with the contacts to be protected and including a circuit for deriving an operating voltage upon the transitioning of the switch, relay or contactor contacts from a closed to an open disposition, the power being rectified and the resulting DC signal used to trigger a power triac switch via an optoisolator circuit whereby arc suppression pulses are generated for short predetermined intervals only at a transition of the mechanical switch, relay or contactor contacts from an closed to an open transition and, again, at an open to a close transition during contact bounce conditions.Type: GrantFiled: November 20, 2013Date of Patent: July 21, 2015Assignee: ARC Suppression Technologies, LLCInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Publication number: 20140091808Abstract: A device, circuit, system, and method for contact separation detection is described. A contact separation detector includes a capacitive element configured to be coupled across a pair of electrical contacts and a current sensor coupled to the capacitive element, configured to measure a current through the capacitive element and output an indication of a separation state of the pair of electrical contacts based on the current as measured.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Publication number: 20140091061Abstract: System and method for arc suppression. An electrical contact includes a pair of contacts configured to couple a power source to a load. An arc suppressor, coupled to the electrical contact, includes a contact separation detector configured to output an indication of a separation state of the pair of electrical contacts and a contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation detector, configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication as provided by the contact separation detector.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Publication number: 20140091060Abstract: A device, circuit, system, and method for arc suppression is described. A processor, including an input terminal and an output terminal, is configured to output pulses on the output terminal based on an indication at the input terminal of a separation of a pair of electrical contacts. A contact bypass circuit, coupled to the output terminal and in parallel with the pair of electrical contacts, is configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of electrical contacts based on the plurality of pulses as generated by the processor.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Publication number: 20140091059Abstract: Device, circuit, system, and method for arc suppression. A contact separation detector is configured to output an indication of a separation state of a pair of electrical contacts. A contact bypass circuit, coupled to the contact separation detector, is configured to provide an electrical bypass between the pair of contacts based on the indication.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 27, 2013Publication date: April 3, 2014Applicant: Arc Suppression TechnologiesInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Publication number: 20140078623Abstract: A two terminal arc suppressor for protecting switch, relay or contactor contacts and the like comprises a two terminal module adapted to be attached in parallel with the contacts to be protected and including a circuit for deriving an operating voltage upon the transitioning of the switch, relay or contactor contacts from a closed to an open disposition, the power being rectified and the resulting DC signal used to trigger a power triac switch via an optoisolator circuit whereby arc suppression pulses are generated for short predetermined intervals only at a transition of the mechanical switch, relay or contactor contacts from an closed to an open transition and, again, at an open to a close transition during contact bounce conditions.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2013Publication date: March 20, 2014Applicant: ARC Suppression Technologies, LLCInventor: Reinhold Henke
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Patent number: 8619395Abstract: A two terminal arc suppressor for protecting switch, relay or contactor contacts and the like comprises a two terminal module adapted to be attached in parallel with the contacts to be protected and including a circuit for deriving an operating voltage upon the transitioning of the switch, relay or contactor contacts from a closed to an open disposition, the power being rectified and the resulting DC signal used to trigger a power triac switch via an optoisolator circuit whereby arc suppression pulses are generated for short predetermined intervals only at a transition of the mechanical switch, relay or contactor contacts from an closed to an open transition and, again, at an open to a close transition during contact bounce conditions.Type: GrantFiled: March 12, 2010Date of Patent: December 31, 2013Assignee: ARC Suppression Technologies, LLCInventor: Reinhold Henke