Patents Represented by Attorney, Agent or Law Firm Paul R. Katterle
  • Patent number: 8304674
    Abstract: A signaling device having an electrical switch configured to generate an electrical signal indicating a transition of an associated circuit breaker from a first state to a second state. A movable body is pivotally mounted around a first axis (101) so as to interact with the actuating mechanism. A return spring is operatively connected to the pivoting body (3) and is mounted around an axis substantially parallel to said first axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Annunzio Regantini, Stefano Mussetti
  • Patent number: 8288669
    Abstract: An electric switchgear comprising a casing having at least one compartment provided with a door, a plurality of electrical conductors suitable to be connected to a load, a multi-phase switching device which is mounted on a truck movable inside the compartment between a connected position wherein each phase of the switching device is electrically connected to a corresponding electrical conductor and a withdrawn position wherein each phase of the switching device is electrically separated from the corresponding electrical conductor, and a mechanism adapted for stopping the switching device in a position intermediate between the connected position and the withdrawn position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Fablo Capelli
  • Patent number: 8283585
    Abstract: Electric switchgear comprising a casing having at least one compartment provided with a door, a plurality of electrical conductors suitable to be connected to a load, a multi-phase switching device which is mounted on a truck movable inside the compartment between a connected position wherein each phase of the switching device is electrically connected to a corresponding electrical conductor and a withdrawn position wherein each phase of the switching device is electrically separated from the corresponding electrical conductor, and an earthing switch comprising a plurality of contacts for connecting to earth the plurality of electrical conductors. The earthing switch is actuated to move between a first position wherein each contact is electrically connected to a corresponding electrical conductor and a second position wherein each contact is electrically separated from the corresponding electrical conductor by the movement of the truck between the connected position and the withdrawn position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Fabio Capelli
  • Patent number: 8238379
    Abstract: The invention relates to an automation device, with which a multiplicity of physically distributed functional units communicate with each other by means of a common transmission protocol. The device has a microcontroller (110), which is assigned at least one clock generator (120) and one memory unit (150), and which is connected at least to one data source (140), which is designed to output a data bit-stream to be transmitted. A sequential sequence of equidistant samples of a trapezoidal time profile is stored in the memory unit (150), such that it can be called up, in such a manner that the samples can be output either using the clock of the first clock generator or using the clock of the second clock generator, depending on the data bit-stream.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Heiko Kresse, Andreas Stelter, Ralf Schaeffer
  • Patent number: 8232489
    Abstract: A switching device, in particular an automatic switch, a disconnecting switch or a contactor, installable according to different operating configurations and preferably for use in low voltage systems. The device comprises a case containing at least a pair of contacts, one or more accessory devices for controlling and/or setting the operation of the switching device and user interface means, capable of performing output and/or input functions relative to the accessory devices. These interface means comprise at least a display which shows information relative to the output and/or input functions according to a viewing direction. The switching device also comprises means to select the viewing direction which are operatively connected to the display. These selection means allow selection of the viewing direction on the display as a function of the installation configuration of the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: ABB S.p.A.
    Inventors: Giovanni Frassineti, Federico Gamba
  • Patent number: 8207743
    Abstract: A method is provided for fault location in uncompensated power lines with two-end unsynchronized measurement, finding an application in the power industry and for overhead and overhead-cable transmission or distribution lines. The method according to the invention includes measuring the voltage and currents at both ends (A) and (B) of the section, obtaining the phasor of the positive sequence voltages (VA1, VB1) measured at the ends (A) and (B), respectively, obtaining the phasor of the positive sequence currents (IA1, IB1) measured at the ends (A) and (B), respectively, determining whether there is a three-phase balanced fault, and using either a first subroutine or a second subroutine (depending on whether or not there is a fault), determining a distance (d) to the fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Przemyslaw Balcerek, Marek Fulczyk, Eugeniusz Rosolowski, Jan Izykowski, Murari Saha
  • Patent number: 8209048
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating a comprehensive response model for a sheet forming machine are provided. A finite number of critical points and a response type are used to create a continuous response profile for each actuator zone. The continuous response profile for each actuator zone is discretized into a discrete response profile based on the resolution appropriate for an application. A multi-zone response model for each pair of actuator set and sheet property profile is created from the discretized response profile of the actuator zones in the actuator set. The comprehensive response model for a multivariable sheet-forming machine is created from a collection of multi-zone response models for multiple pairs of actuator sets and sheet property profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignees: ABB Automation GmbH, ABB Ltd.
    Inventors: Andreas Zehnpfund, Shih-Chin Chen, Jonas Berggren
  • Patent number: 8207457
    Abstract: A reversing switch for a tap changer of a transformer is provided. The reversing switch includes first and second contact structures for connection to a winding of the transformer and a mounting structure for connection to a neutral terminal of the transformer. A bus bar connects a third contact structure to the mounting structure. A movable contact arm is secured to a rotatable post. The contact arm includes a contact assembly mounted to an arm. The contact assembly has one or more outward contacts and one or more inward contacts. The one or more inward contacts engage the third contact structure and the one or more outward contacts selectively engage the first contact structure or the second contact structure. The first and second contact structures and the mounting structure are located at about the same radial distance from the post, while the third contact structure is located closer to the post.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Brian E. Twibell, Bruce W. Nichols
  • Patent number: 8195338
    Abstract: Var optimization (VARO) is a subsystem of a voltage and var optimization (VVO) system that processes a capacitor switching optimization problem. The VARO is a self contained process that may work stand alone or in conjunction with a Voltage Regulation Optimization (VRO) system to provide integrated VVO solutions. The VARO system takes network inputs and calculates optimal settings for distribution network capacitor banks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Xiaoming Feng, Maddumage Gamini Wickramasekara, William Peterson
  • Patent number: 8188823
    Abstract: The invention is directed to a transformer and a method of manufacturing the same, wherein at least a portion of a core is disposed inside a shield case formed from a polymeric resin composition containing conductive particles. An encasement comprising a dielectric resin encapsulates the shield case. An electrical conductor is electrically connected to the shield case and is accessible from the exterior of the encasement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Hoan D. Le, Steve A. Shaw, Stephen Clifford
  • Patent number: 8187426
    Abstract: A steam shower is provided for supplying steam to a web in a paper machine. The steam shower includes a diffuser assembly mounted to the cross-beam for movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cross beam. The cross-beam defines an interior steam header for connection to a source of steam. The diffuser assembly includes a plurality of separated steam compartments. The diffuser assembly may be part of a steam provision assembly that is also mounted to the cross-beam for movement in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the cross beam. In addition to the diffuser assembly, the steam provision assembly includes a second steam header and steam valve modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Ltd.
    Inventors: John Spachman, Shizhong S. Duan, David Doerschuk, Paul Durcan
  • Patent number: 8169775
    Abstract: A cooling device for a circuit breaker which comprises a case having a front wall, a rear wall, an upper wall, a lower wall, two flanks, and a first series of side-by-side terminals and a second series of side-by-side terminals that protrude outside from the case for the connection of the circuit breaker with an electrical circuit. The cooling device includes at least one first body made of a thermal conducting material and which has a central portion suitable for being positioned transversally along and facing the first series of terminals so as to absorb heat generated at the first series of terminals, and a first end portion and a second end portion that protrude from the central portion and are configured so as to receive the heat absorbed by the central portion and to diffuse it outside the cooling device itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: ABB S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mario Bortoli, Alessio Bergamini, Bruno Agostini, Francesco Agostini, Daniel Chartouni, Tilo Buehler
  • Patent number: 8164402
    Abstract: A current transformer adapted for use in an electrical circuit. The current transformer includes a toroidal core and at least one electrical conductor having a portion passing within the toroidal core. The current transformer includes a cooling device having a body made of thermal conducting material and configured so that it has a first portion connected to the electrical conductor at a position upstream from the toroidal core and suitable for absorbing heat from the electrical conductor, and a second portion, spaced apart from the first portion, which is connected to the electrical conductor at a position downstream from the toroidal core and is suitable for transmitting heat to the electrical conductor. The thermal conducting body comprises at least one portion made of an electrically insulating material capable of preventing the current flow through the cooling device itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: ABB S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alessio Bergamini, Federico Gamba
  • Patent number: 8155932
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for creating a generalized response model for a sheet forming machine are provided. Sheet property profiles are measured while the setpoint of an actuator is changed. A response (or change) profile of the sheet property resulting from a setpoint change is calculated. A finite set of critical points are selected from the property response profile. Using the selected critical points, the property response profile is classified in one of a finite number of response types. Under each of the response types, the property response profile is fitted with a plurality of continuous functions associated therewith. These continuous functions are combined to form the response model that minimizes the deviation between the property response and the fitted combination of continuous functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Inventors: Jonas Berggren, Andreas Zehnpfund, Shih-Chin Chen
  • Patent number: 8111123
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a transformer that includes forming a disc-wound coil using a plurality of pre-formed cooling ducts. Each cooling duct may be supported by a support pipe secured between walls of the cooling duct, or by a removable insert. First and second conductor layers are formed, each of which include plurality of disc windings arranged in an axial direction of the disc-wound coil. A spacer layer is formed between the first and second conductor layers to form a plurality of axially-extending passages. The cooling ducts are slid into the axially-extending passages so as to be disposed between the first and second conductor layers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jong-Yun Lim, Chang-Yeol Lim, Young-Jin Ha, Chang-Hyeon Lee, Charles W. Johnson, Hae-Sun Yang, Rafael Murillo, Robert C. Ballard
  • Patent number: 8015856
    Abstract: A gas chromatograph controlled by a pair of microprocessors to have improved thermal maintenance and process operation. The microprocessors are operable to run independently of each other, with one microprocessor controlling heaters and other control devices and the other microprocessor running a graphical user interface. The two microprocessors are separated by a gas chromatograph assembly that includes one or more separation columns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Inc.
    Inventors: Vince B. Hadley, Jonathan W. Asher, Anthony P. Walker, Max A. Bailey, Bryan Joseph Acker, Rodney Wayne Dilbeck
  • Patent number: 8013702
    Abstract: A versatile distribution transformer having an electromagnetic transformer and a power electronic module is provided. A pocket having connectors electrically connected to at least one winding structure of the electromagnetic transformer is mounted above the electromagnetic transformer. The power electronic module is removably mounted in a cavity of the pocket. The power electronic module includes a plurality of semiconductor switching devices and a plurality of connectors adapted to slidably engage the connectors of the pocket. The power electronic module is movable between a removed position, wherein the power electronic module is located outside the pocket, and an installed position, wherein the power electronic module is disposed in the cavity of the pocket and the connectors of the power electronic module engage the connectors of the pocket so as to electrically connect the power electronic module to the at least one winding structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Mohamed Y. Haj-Maharsi, Thomas J. Lanoue
  • Patent number: 8007312
    Abstract: A modular test plug assembly is disclosed having a design which may be arranged in a plurality of different configurations. The test plug assembly includes a plurality of modules, having blades for insertion into a test switch assembly. The modules are positioned in a stacked arrangement and are secured together by end plates and a rod extending therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Andrew Bower, Tim Masters, Roy Ball
  • Patent number: D651982
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Harshavardhan M. Karandikar, Petr Safar, Robert S. Karnbach
  • Patent number: D659109
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventor: Patrick Fischer-Carne