Patents by Inventor Thomas Ellul

Thomas Ellul 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: 8487561
    Abstract: A self-adapting soft-starter device includes an electric current limiter limiting electric current supplied to the motor to a preset maximum current limit, a ramp-up time determiner determining the actual ramp-up time of the electric motor, a storing device storing a preset minimum ramp-up time, a comparator comparing the determined actual ramp-up time with the preset reference ramp-up time, a replacing device replacing the preset maximum current limit with an auto-adapted current limit based upon the outcome of the comparison between the determined actual ramp-up time and the preset reference ramp-up time. The soft-starter automatically optimizes the maximum current limit driven by the motor to match its load requirements which is useful to cater for load variations with time during the lifetime of the product in the application by avoiding the need for human intervention to change the soft-starter settings. Wear and tear is also reduced, extending motor lifetime.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2013
    Assignee: Carlo Gavazzi Services AG
    Inventors: Claudio Balcon, Jason Demicoli, Thomas Ellul, Johann Galea, Roger Galea, Mauro Perot, Francesco Vedana
  • Publication number: 20110050155
    Abstract: A self-adapting soft-starter device includes an electric current limiter limiting electric current supplied to the motor to a preset maximum current limit, a ramp-up time determiner determining the actual ramp-up time of the electric motor, a storing device storing a preset minimum ramp-up time, a comparator comparing the determined actual ramp-up time with the preset reference ramp-up time, a replacing device replacing the preset maximum current limit with an auto-adapted current limit based upon the outcome of the comparison between the determined actual ramp-up time and the preset reference ramp-up time. The soft-starter automatically optimizes the maximum current limit driven by the motor to match its load requirements which is useful to cater for load variations with time during the lifetime of the product in the application by avoiding the need for human intervention to change the soft-starter settings. Wear and tear is also reduced, extending motor lifetime.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Publication date: March 3, 2011
    Inventors: Claudio Balcon, Jason Demicoli, Thomas Ellul, Johann Galea, Roger Galea, Mauro Perot, Francesco Vedana