Patents by Inventor Henry Franke

Henry Franke 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: 11017968
    Abstract: An electrical switch for switching an electric current is disclosed. The electrical switch includes an electronic trip unit, embodied in a bipartite fashion. A first part of the trip unit is fixedly connected to the electrical switch and includes protection functions of the electrical switch. A second part of the trip unit is embodied mountably and detachably on the electrical switch and defines the protection functions enabled for the customer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 25, 2021
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Stefan Haebel, Rainer Huentemeier
  • Patent number: 10804045
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed for interrupting an electrical circuit when current limit values are exceeded. The circuit-breaker includes a current sensor for determining the electrical current flow and a control device. When current limit values are exceeded, the electrical circuit is interrupted. A first current limit value, when exceeded, results in an immediate interruption and a second current limit value, when exceeded, results in a time-delayed interruption, such that the second interruption time reduces as the current increases. Only one control element is included for setting a current limit value. The element defining the second current limit value is included for the time-delayed interruption of the electrical circuit. The other parameters are either set in a fixed manner and/or are related to the settable second current limit value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2020
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Bernd Schwinn, Michael Strassburger
  • Patent number: 10250028
    Abstract: An electrical switch is disclosed for switching an electric current between a feed and an outgoer. The electrical switch can be mounted in a switchgear assembly and as a result electrical contact can be made with the electrical switch by a feed and an outgoer of the switchgear assembly. In one embodiment, the electrical switch includes an internal voltage tap for supplying power to a switch-internal electronics system and a changeover switch. The changeover switch adjusts the electrical connection between the feed or the outgoer and the internal voltage tap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Stefan Haebel, Rainer Huentemeier
  • Patent number: 10218167
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a tripping unit for interrupting an electrical circuit, and at least one current sensor for determining the electrical current flowing through the circuit breaker, connected to a control unit and configured such that the determined current is compared with current/period limit values. If a current/period limit value is exceeded, the tripping unit interrupts the electrical circuit. The current/period limit values include an adjustable first current limit value, present for a first period for an interruption; an adjustable second period, during which a second current limit value must be present to effect an interruption; and a range between the first current limit value and the second current limit value, the period decreasing with increasing current limit values in order to effect an interruption. The second current limit value can be adjusted at the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Wolfgang Fruth, Stefan Haebel, Rainer Huentemeier
  • Patent number: 9991079
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed, including a series circuit including a measuring unit for determining the electrical current or/and voltage of the electrical circuit, an exchangeable trip unit for determining when current limit values are exceeded, and a switching unit for interrupting the electrical circuit if current limit values are exceeded. A switch characteristic module is connected to the trip unit and stores characteristic data relating to the circuit breaker. If a trip unit used is at least exchanged for a new trip unit, the characteristic data are transmitted to the new trip unit. Data specific to the trip unit are transmitted from the trip unit and are stored in the further memory area of the switch characteristic module. If a new trip unit is used, the characteristic data and the data specific to the trip unit are transmitted to the new trip unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Stefan Haebel, Rainer Huentemeier
  • Patent number: 9966754
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed for an electrical circuit. The circuit breaker includes a tripping unit; at least one current sensor; and an input for a signal, at which a blocking signal for a circuit breaker arranged upstream on the energy sink side, can be received. The tripping unit; at least one current sensor; and an input are all connected to a control unit. A connectable blocking function is provided. The ascertained current is compared with a first current limit value, the exceeding of which requires this first current value to be present for a first period of time in order to prompt interruption of the electrical circuit; and is compared with a second current limit value. Different periods of time need to be present to prompt interruption when the blocking function is disengaged or engaged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SIEMENS AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Wolfgang Fruth, Stefan Haebel, Rainer Huentemeier
  • Publication number: 20170243702
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed for interrupting an electrical circuit when current limit values are exceeded. The circuit-breaker includes a current sensor for determining the electrical current flow and a control device. When current limit values are exceeded, the electrical circuit is interrupted. A first current limit value, when exceeded, results in an immediate interruption and a second current limit value, when exceeded, results in a time-delayed interruption, such that the second interruption time reduces as the current increases. Only one control element is included for setting a current limit value. The element defining the second current limit value is included for the time-delayed interruption of the electrical circuit. The other parameters are either set in a fixed manner and/or are related to the settable second current limit value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2015
    Publication date: August 24, 2017
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henry FRANKE, Bernd SCHWINN, Michael STRASSBURGER
  • Publication number: 20160380426
    Abstract: An electrical switch is disclosed for switching an electric current between a feed and an outgoer. The electrical switch can be mounted in a switchgear assembly and as a result electrical contact can be made with the electrical switch by a feed and an outgoer of the switchgear assembly. In one embodiment, the electrical switch includes an internal voltage tap for supplying power to a switch-internal electronics system and a changeover switch. The changeover switch adjusts the electrical connection between the feed or the outgoer and the internal voltage tap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 4, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Inventors: Henry FRANKE, Stefan HAEBEL, Rainer HUENTEMEIER
  • Publication number: 20160379786
    Abstract: An electrical switch for switching an electric current is disclosed. The electrical switch includes an electronic trip unit, embodied in a bipartite fashion. A first part of the trip unit is fixedly connected to the electrical switch and includes protection functions of the electrical switch. A second part of the trip unit is embodied mountably and detachably on the electrical switch and defines the protection functions enabled for the customer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 15, 2016
    Publication date: December 29, 2016
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henry FRANKE, Stefan HAEBEL, Rainer HUENTEMEIER
  • Publication number: 20160365214
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed, including a series circuit including a measuring unit for determining the electrical current or/and voltage of the electrical circuit, an exchangeable trip unit for determining when current limit values are exceeded, and a switching unit for interrupting the electrical circuit if current limit values are exceeded. A switch characteristic module is connected to the trip unit and stores characteristic data relating to the circuit breaker. If a trip unit used is at least exchanged for a new trip unit, the characteristic data are transmitted to the new trip unit. Data specific to the trip unit are transmitted from the trip unit and are stored in the further memory area of the switch characteristic module. If a new trip unit is used, the characteristic data and the data specific to the trip unit are transmitted to the new trip unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2016
    Publication date: December 15, 2016
    Inventors: Henry FRANKE, Stefan HAEBEL, Rainer HUENTEMEIER
  • Publication number: 20160329696
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed for an electrical circuit. The circuit breaker includes a tripping unit; at least one current sensor; and an input for a signal, at which a blocking signal for a circuit breaker arranged upstream on the energy sink side, can be received. The tripping unit; at least one current sensor; and an input are all connected to a control unit. A connectable blocking function is provided. The ascertained current is compared with a first current limit value, the exceeding of which requires this first current value to be present for a first period of time in order to prompt interruption of the electrical circuit; and is compared with a second current limit value. Different periods of time need to be present to prompt interruption when the blocking function is disengaged or engaged.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 3, 2016
    Publication date: November 10, 2016
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Wolfgang Fruth, Stefan Haebel, Rainer Huentemeier
  • Publication number: 20160322805
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a tripping unit for interrupting an electrical circuit, and at least one current sensor for determining the electrical current flowing through the circuit breaker, connected to a control unit and configured such that the determined current is compared with current/period limit values. If a current/period limit value is exceeded, the tripping unit interrupts the electrical circuit. The current/period limit values include an adjustable first current limit value, present for a first period for an interruption; an adjustable second period, during which a second current limit value must be present to effect an interruption; and a range between the first current limit value and the second current limit value, the period decreasing with increasing current limit values in order to effect an interruption. The second current limit value can be adjusted at the circuit breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2016
    Publication date: November 3, 2016
    Inventors: Henry FRANKE, Wolfgang FRUTH, Stefan HAEBEL, Rainer HUENTEMEIER
  • Patent number: 8319465
    Abstract: The method for the automatic adjustment of a protective device includes determining an integral of the square of a motor current over time on the basis of a time motor current profile of an asynchronous motor on a load, after switching on and reversing and deriving a tripping time of the overcurrent release on the basis of the determined integral, the integral, which corresponds to a heating of the asynchronous motor, being related to a multiple of the square of the rated current, and the motor current profile including at least the starting current, the transient and the selected motor rated current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Bernd Schwinn
  • Patent number: 8149550
    Abstract: A protective device is disclosed having a circuit breaker for an electrical connection between a transformer and a load, wherein an overcurrent device is arranged between the transformer and the load. The overcurrent device has first magnetoelectric transducers arranged at each phase conductor and the neutral conductor, wherein the overcurrent device uses the transducer currents to in each case establish the presence of a first ground-fault current, and wherein the circuit breaker has a switching device, which interrupts at least the phase conductors between the transformer and the load in the event of the presence of a first ground-fault current (unrestricted earth fault).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Jeffery C. Mizener, Ilka Redmann
  • Publication number: 20100097731
    Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention discloses a method for the automatic adjustment of a protective device having an excess-current release, particularly a low-voltage circuit breaker, which includes an asynchronous motor as a load, said motor requiring protection from overload, and also protects the energy distribution system from a short circuit, wherein at least one release time Tp is to be set as a parameter on the excess-current release, the time ensuring that thermal overload of the asynchronous motor does not occur.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 11, 2008
    Publication date: April 22, 2010
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Bernd Schwinn
  • Publication number: 20090027815
    Abstract: A protective device is disclosed having a circuit breaker for an electrical connection between a transformer and a load, wherein an overcurrent device is arranged between the transformer and the load. The overcurrent device has first magnetoelectric transducers arranged at each phase conductor and the neutral conductor, wherein the overcurrent device uses the transducer currents to in each case establish the presence of a first ground-fault current, and wherein the circuit breaker has a switching device, which interrupts at least the phase conductors between the transformer and the load in the event of the presence of a first ground-fault current (unrestricted earth fault).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2006
    Publication date: January 29, 2009
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Jeffery C. Mizener, Ilka Redmann
  • Publication number: 20070115083
    Abstract: A low voltage circuit breaker includes an electronic trip and trip magnets. A trip magnet is controlled by an overload trip and a further trip magnet, such as a low voltage trip or a working current trip. The trip magnets are mounted on a rear face, facing away from the operating front of the electronic trip. In the same section of the operating field, display and reset devices are accessible to the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 4, 2002
    Publication date: May 24, 2007
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Gernot Gunther, Jeffery Mizener, Aron-Ernst Musiol, Gunter Prietzel
  • Publication number: 20050141163
    Abstract: A trip device is for an electrical power breaker, for tripping on a short-circuit. It is embodied as an analogue electrical circuit. The circuit components and devices necessary for tripping on a short circuit form a discrete module, completely independent of other trip devices on the power breaker. A direct current is provided by transformers together with rectifiers which flows through a power semiconductor switched to conduct in the normal operating state of the power breaker. A measurement and control circuit is controlled by way of a voltage generated across a measuring resistance through which the direct current flows and closes the power semiconductor when a threshold value is exceeded. The current is then commutated from the power semiconductor to the trip magnet which opens the switch contacts with a particularly small delay.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 13, 2003
    Publication date: June 30, 2005
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Uwe Gnoerrlich, Marc Liebetruth, Andreas Pancke, Wolfgang Rohl
  • Patent number: 6897758
    Abstract: The circuit contains a primary coil on the core (2) of a magnetic circuit with an air gap and switchable into a line carrying the measurement current. A secondary compensation coil (5), with an order higher winding count and mounted on the core, is connected to the output of a controllable compensation current source (6). The output of a Hall element (11) in the air gap is connected to the control input of the compensation source. A further coil (14) on the core is connected to an additional controllable current generator (15) whose control input (16) is driven by a measurement device (13) for the compensation current via a control and evaluation circuit (17). USE/ADVANTAGE—Measuring a.c. and d.c. Can be produced at low cost and all drift occurring during measurement can be compensated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2005
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Ulrich Baumgaertl, Henry Franke, Holger Hochgraef, Wolfgang Roehl
  • Publication number: 20040145844
    Abstract: According to the invention a bypass circuit (4) trips a power circuit breaker, independently of an existing electronic overcurrent trip (2), as instantaneously as possible when a short-circuit occurs. To achieve this, the bypass circuit (4) is supplied by its own current sensor (3) that is configured as a current transformer in order to charge a capacitor (C); until a threshold value circuit (5) responds. The charge of the capacitor (C) is then fed to a separate tripping magnet (F2) or to a combined tripping magnet (F3) comprising separate coils for the two tripping paths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2003
    Publication date: July 29, 2004
    Inventors: Henry Franke, Manfred Schiller