Patents by Inventor David J. Dunne

David J. Dunne has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 7495876
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a breaker enclosure, a plurality of conductor connections, and a temperature sensor. The breaker enclosure contains internal components that include a trip unit. The plurality of conductor connections electrically couple the trip unit to a plurality of power conductors. The temperature sensor is located to sense heat radiated by the conductor connections and is positioned inside the enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: David J. Dunne, Robert A. Kennedy
  • Publication number: 20080013596
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a breaker enclosure, a plurality of conductor connections, and a temperature sensor. The breaker enclosure contains internal components that include a trip unit. The plurality of conductor connections electrically couple the trip unit to a plurality of power conductors. The temperature sensor is located to sense heat radiated by the conductor connections and is positioned inside the enclosure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 11, 2007
    Publication date: January 17, 2008
    Inventors: David J. Dunne, Robert A. Kennedy
  • Patent number: 6654217
    Abstract: An assembly and method is provided for a tripping mechanism of an circuit breaker to limit the damage to a protected circuit breaker and other associated equipment such as enclosures, bus way, etc. from the high forces that result from high currents and prevent unwanted tripping of a circuit breaker due to rapidly decreasing currents. A trip system for a circuit breaker including a sensor to determine a rate of change in the current level. A positive detector is connected to the sensor to determine a positive current direction. A negative detector is connected to the sensor to determine a negative current direction. An electronic switch connected to the positive and negative sensors to activate the tripping mechanism of the circuit breaker. A power supply is connected to the tripping mechanism and electronic switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2003
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Henry J. Zylstra, Charles D. Bettis, David J. Dunne
  • Publication number: 20020085330
    Abstract: The present invention provides an assembly and method for a tripping mechanism of an circuit breaker to limit the damage to a protected circuit breaker and other associated equipment such as enclosures, bus way, etc. from the high forces that result from high currents and prevent unwanted tripping of a circuit breaker due to rapidly decreasing currents. A trip system for a circuit breaker including a sensor to determine a rate of change in the current level. A positive detector is connected to the sensor to determine a positive current direction. A negative detector is connected to the sensor to determine a negative current direction. An electronic switch connected to the positive and negative sensors to activate the tripping mechanism of the circuit breaker. A power supply is connected to the tripping mechanism and electronic switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2000
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Henry J. Zylstra, Charles D. Bettis, David J. Dunne
  • Patent number: 6313975
    Abstract: A zone selective interlocking system for electronic trip circuit breakers includes a plurality of downstream terminals, each downstream terminal connecting with at least one of a plurality of downstream electronic trip circuit breakers having input terminals. A restraint input circuit module, including a voltage comparator, is connected to the input terminals of each of the downstream electronic trip circuit breakers and the input terminals are shorted together providing a self-restraint signal for each downstream electronic trip circuit breaker at the occurrence of a downstream fault condition. The system also includes a plurality of upstream terminals, each upstream terminal connecting with at least one of a plurality of upstream electronic trip circuit breakers having input terminals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2001
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: David J. Dunne, Andy A. Haun
  • Patent number: 6008973
    Abstract: A circuit breaker and method for interrupting the flow of electric current in a line includes connecting separable contacts to a conductor in the circuit. An actuating device, actuated by an activating signal, is connected to the separable contacts to effect separation of the contacts wherein the flow of electric current in the circuit is interrupted. A current sensor, such as an iron core current transformer, senses the current in the circuit to provide a first sinusoidal signal. A bridge rectifier is connected to the current sensor wherein the first sinusoidal signal is converted to a rectified signal and power is derived from the rectified signal. An interface circuit connected to the rectifying network converts the rectified signal into a second sinusoidal signal for providing the activating signal to the actuating device at a predetermined magnitude of the first sinusoidal signal. The interface circuit includes generating a sign bit indicative of the polarity of the first sinusoidal signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: David J. Dunne, Robert J. Erger