Patents Assigned to Merlin Gerin
  • Patent number: 6243693
    Abstract: A system and apparatus for controlling and measuring the flow of water delivered per transaction of a community water management arrangement, the apparatus having an inlet and outlet, a meter to determine the volume of water delivered and also to adjust data contained in a customer data device, the data device being presentable to an interface for a time period chosen by the customer for a predetermined volume of water, the metering unit and regulator being stopped by removable of the data device or by a management station signal, the management station being capable of receiving information directly from the personal consumer data device and from the personal consumer data device via the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Wayne Noel Richards
  • Patent number: 6191501
    Abstract: Use of prepayment mechanisms for alternative energy supply systems and monitoring connected devices. An energy supply system is, for instance, an alternative energy source, such as a photovoltaic array (320) and an overriding prepayment mechanism (312) adapted to control the supply of useable energy (electricity) to a point of use in accordance with predetermined prepayment criteria. The photovoltaic array (320) incorporates, integral therewith, an energy source controller (318) that is in communication with a corresponding controller (316) forming part of the prepayment mechanism (312).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2001
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin S.A. (Proprietary) Limited
    Inventor: Hermanus A. Bos
  • Patent number: 5835325
    Abstract: The trip device with an electronic processing unit which gives a tripping order in terms of the rms value of the current measured by current transformers and of the threshold and time delay setpoints. The non-linearity of response of the current transformers is corrected by a device which modifies the current, threshold, or time delay values. These corrected values enable precise trippings to be achieved in compliance with the values of the current flowing in the circuit breaker. The type of correction is adapted to the circuit breaker rating by parameters obtained by tests and previously stored in a device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 10, 1998
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Paul Tripodi, Philippe Piney, Didier Fraisse, Yves Dupuis
  • Patent number: 5663987
    Abstract: The signals transmitted on communication lines in a disturbed environment can be affected by strays. A digital filtering device eliminates these strays by suitable detection of the logic states of the digital signals. The signals received are sampled at a frequency greater than the digital information transmission rate, then detection of a state is effective when a minimum number of samples from among a predetermined number of successive samples is reached. The filtering device restores the rising and descending fronts, and also the high and low states without impairing the information. Application to a highly disturbed electromagnetic environment, notably communication links with circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 1993
    Date of Patent: September 2, 1997
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventor: Vincent Corcoles
  • Patent number: 5608598
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an effector comprising power contacts for power supply of a receiver. The effector comprises an operating mechanism for the power contacts, this mechanism being actuated by an electromagnet. Between a power circuit for supplying power to the receiver and the return power circuit, there is connected a measuring and processing unit arranged to measure the impedance at the terminals of the power supply circuit of the receiver. This unit is coupled to a contact of the control circuit. The contact is arranged to cut the power supply of the control circuit in the event of a short-circuit of the power supply circuit of the receiver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1994
    Date of Patent: March 4, 1997
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Fran.cedilla.ois Dieppedalle, Alain Frolla
  • Patent number: 5541499
    Abstract: The power supply control device comprises two regulating modes, linear regulation and chopping regulation. A current from a sensor, rectified by diodes, supplies a power supply circuit comprising a storage capacitor and a regulating transistor. A resistor and a control circuit measure the value of the current and select the regulating mode via a selector. If the current is lower than a preset threshold regulation is linear, the base of the transistor is connected to a Zener diode. When the current exceeds a preset threshold regulation is chopped and the base of the transistor is connected to the output of a comparator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 30, 1996
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventor: Dominique Villard
  • Patent number: 5512720
    Abstract: An auxiliary trip device for a circuit breaker which includes an electromechanical actuating device and an energy storage system. The electromechanical actuating device includes a coil housed in a sheath which has a central bore containing a plunger fixed to a push-rod, and a fixed core spaced apart from the plunger, via a first spring. The push-rod is slidable within the bore to actuate a latch device of the energy storage system, which in turn releases a blade which is cooperable with a trip bar of the circuit breaker on which the auxiliary trip device is placed. The blade is biased by a second spring which releases and stores energy greater than released and stored energy of the first spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1996
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Patrick Coudert, Jean-Pierre Nereau
  • Patent number: 5504284
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for both mechanical and electrical lockout of a remote control unit for a modular circuit breaker. This device includes a retractable ring pivoting around a spindle and provided with a locking nose arranged to cooperate with a stop pin located on the circumference of a drum rotating around a spindle and bearing a manual control handle having two stable positions. The retractable ring bears in addition a rocker designed to actuate a switch fitted on the electrical supply circuit of the remote control unit. This device is advantageous in that it also enables padlocking or sealing of the retractable ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Michel Lazareth, Michel Effosse
  • Patent number: 5504290
    Abstract: A remote controlled circuit breaker including a mechanism linked to a handle by a drive lever equipped with a roller cooperating with a recharging cam of an energy storage system including a spring. A bearing surface is arranged to block the roller in the charged position, without requiring the presence of a special latching stage, since the line of action of the reaction R of the roller passes via the transmission shaft of the cam. A step-by-step motor of the vibrating type drives the transmission shaft in rotation, and enables almost instantaneous stopping of the cam when the roller is in contact with the bearing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 2, 1996
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Pierre Baginski, Jean-Pierre Nebon
  • Patent number: 5493083
    Abstract: A rotary control device for a circuit breaker having a front plate having an opening through which a crank pin extends, the crank pin being pivotal between first and second positions, the rotary control device including a housing and a rotary handle mounted on the housing, the rotary handle being rotatable between first and second positions corresponding to the first and second positions of the crank pin. A coupling mechanism is provided for mechanically coupling the rotary handle to the crank pin when the housing is mounted on the front plate of the circuit breaker, the connecting device preventing mounting of the rotary control device on the circuit breaker when the rotary handle and the crank pin are not in the same position, that is, are not both in the first position or both in the second position. The first and second positions may correspond to open and closed positions of the circuit breaker, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: February 20, 1996
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventor: Bernard Olivier
  • Patent number: 5479143
    Abstract: Each breaking module is formed by a parallelepipedic monoblock cartridge made of plastic material, housed in the corresponding compartment of the base plate, said cartridge housing at least a stationary contact, an arc extinguishing chamber, and a pair of connecting strips for connection to a terminal and to the trip module of the same pole. A mechanical actuation module constituted by the switching bar and mechanism assembly, is securedly united to the cover. The rotary trip bar is supported by clipping means, arranged on the bottom face of the cover. A plurality cf recesses and cutouts are arranged in the spacers of the base plate to act as first bearing surfaces respectively for the switching bar and trip bar when the first sub-assembly A composed of the base plate with the set of breaking modules and trip modules, is adjoined with the second sub-assembly B formed by the cover on which the mechanical actuation module, trip bar and latch are fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 26, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Payet-Burin
  • Patent number: 5477016
    Abstract: A circuit breaker equipped with an add-on remote control unit comprises a mechanical transmission link independent from the main mechanism, to transmit the position of the movable contact to an indicator, which automatically unlocks a latch in the open position to enable padlocking of a rack. The mechanical link is in two parts, composed of a push-rod associated with an operating lever on which the indicator is arranged, and a link rod articulated on the switching bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 3, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Pierre Baginski, Jean-Pierre Nebon, Michel Faure
  • Patent number: 5477091
    Abstract: The system comprises a central module supplying a distribution network, for example formed by a bus, with permanent DC power. Terminal modules, located near the loads, convert the DC power distributed by the distribution network into DC or AC electrical power adapted to the requirements of each load. A communication bus enables data communication between the various modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 1992
    Date of Patent: December 19, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Jean-Noel Fiorina, Jean-Jacques Pillet
  • Patent number: 5475558
    Abstract: An electrotechnical power supply system includes several power sources and interconnectable feeders, and an overall isolation monitor and at least one locator on each power source.All the overall isolations monitors and locators are connected together by a local data bus transmission network.A plurality of connecting circuit breakers are arranged between the power sources. A management unit is electrically connected to the transmission network for transmitting control signals to the overall isolation monitors, so as to switch some of the monitors to an inaction excluded mode, with the exception of a single one of them which operates as pilot in an active mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 12, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Jean-Paul Barjonnet, Francois Vincent
  • Patent number: 5469121
    Abstract: A multipole circuit breaker having a movable contact for each pole, the movable contact being biased by a spirally-wound spring including a feeler part which slides on a bearing surface of the movable contact to modify the application point of a pressure force P in a second active repulsion position, resulting in a decrease of the restoring torque before operation of the mechanism. The movable contact is forked-shaped and is articulated on an eccentric spindle parallel to the rotation axis of the bar. The spirally-wound spring is mounted to float in the recess of the bar, and comprises two helicoidal wire windings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 21, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventor: Jean-Luc Payet-Burin
  • Patent number: 5467069
    Abstract: An adjustment device including a rotary knob for driving a positioning stud cooperating with a ramp of an oeprating component, and a ring equipped with means for selecting the angular position of an end-of-travel stop, designed to limit the rotational movement of the knob to determine a maximum tripping threshold. The ring is covered by a cover plate having an opening for access to the head of the fine tripping threshold adjustment knob. The diameter of the second opening is smaller than the external diameter of the ring to inhibit any modification of the position of the end-of-travel stop after the cover plate has been fitted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 14, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Jean-Luc Payet-Burin, Eric Ogier
  • Patent number: 5450048
    Abstract: A removable calibrating unit comprises a body, a front panel and a part in the form of a reversible ramp. The reversible ramp comprises an end close to the front panel and an end away from the front panel. Extraction of the removable unit is achieved by means of a pin comprising an extraction lug. When the pin is subjected to rotational movement in one direction, the lug moves from the end close to the front panel to the end away from the front panel and results in extraction of the unit by applying thereon a force separating the unit from the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Jean-Francois Leger, Gilles Savoyat
  • Patent number: 5449871
    Abstract: An operating mechanism of a multipole circuit breaker comprises a toggle associated with an automatic tripping hook and an operating handle cooperating with a pivoting locking lever arranged to block the handle in an intermediate position in case of welding of the contacts. When normal opening of the contacts takes place, the locking lever comprises a radiating bearing surface cooperating with a protuberance of the bar to keep holding the locking lever in the first active position of the stop, during a first part of the opening travel of the movable contact of each pole, and a notch for receiving said protuberance causing unblocking of the locking lever to release the base close to the end of opening travel of the movable contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1994
    Date of Patent: September 12, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Pierre Batteux, Jean-Luc Payet-Burin
  • Patent number: 5444377
    Abstract: The terminals of a test circuit are directly connected to outputs of the transformer secondary windings and to the input of the rectifying circuit so that the test current checks operation of the trip device. A sign detection circuit supplies a processing circuit with the values of the polarities of the rectified currents. The processing circuit comprises means for determining the presence of a test current when the sign of the rectified current comprising the test current remains continuously in the same polarity. A differentiation of the continuous polarity, positive or negative, of the test current enables testing to be carried out with or without earth protection tripping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 22, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Alain Del Vecchio, Marc Ferrazzi
  • Patent number: 5440088
    Abstract: A molded case circuit breaker includes standard compartments each designed to accommodate a standard auxiliary indication or control unit. Each compartment is assigned to a predetermined function, the control device associated with this compartment being connected to the corresponding components of the circuit breaker supplying the information relating to this function. Customization of the circuit breaker can be performed by the distributor or fitter who fits a standard auxiliary unit in the compartment or compartments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Merlin Gerin
    Inventors: Patrick Coudert, Jean-Pierre Nereau, Philippe Perrier