Patents Assigned to ABB AB
  • Patent number: 7352141
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring and control of one or more electric motors, including a motor controller, equipped with a soft starter. The soft starter includes memory for storing operations and event data, as well as a human-machine interface for making the event information available for display and/or analysis. A method to monitor and diagnose a condition of an electric motor controlled by a motor controller equipped with a soft starter including a human-machine interface. A computer program for carrying out the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Sören Kling, Gunnar Johansson
  • Publication number: 20080044584
    Abstract: A device and a method for stabilizing an elongated metallic strip of a magnetic material when coating the strip with a metallic layer. The strip is transported from the bath in a direction of transport along a predetermined transport path. A wiping device for wiping off superfluous molten metal from the strip applies an air flow in a line across the strip, where the wiping device includes at least one pair of air-knives arranged with one air-knife on each side of the strip. An electromagnetic stabilizing device stabilizes the position of the strip with respect to the predetermined transport path. A sensor detects the position of the strip in relation to the predetermined transport path.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: February 21, 2008
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Jan-Erik Eriksson, Conny Svahn, Mats Molander, Carl-Fredrik Lindberg, Peter Lofgren, Stefan Israelsson Tampe, Bengt Rydholm
  • Patent number: 7328028
    Abstract: Methods and devices for performing a selection action of information in a central system before communicating selected information to a user terminal. The selection is based on at least the identity of the user and position of the user terminal. Using relations between identity and profiles, a first information filtering can be achieved. Using relations between the actual position of the user terminal and constitution of the industrial automation facility, information irrelevant for parts in the vicinity of the user terminal is removed. The operational situation of the facility and history of user actions may be used for filtering or prioritizing the information. The most prioritized data quantity is communicated to the user terminal and displayed at a user terminal display. If all the data, despite sifting, is too extensive to be shown at once on the user terminal, the user may move between different parts of the relevant information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Erik Carlson, George Fodor, Lars Gertmar, Jan-Anders Nolemo
  • Patent number: 7320356
    Abstract: A device for braking a flow of molten metal (5) in a device for continuous or semi-continuous casting of metals in a mould (2) which is provided with opposite broad sides (4) and opposite short sides (3), said device comprising at least one magnet core (1), said at least one core facing one of the short sides (3) of the mould (2) for the purpose of generating a magnetic field (B) and an induced current (i) in a region of the molten metal (5) adjacent the short side (3). The core (1) is arranged in such a way that the magnet field (B) which is generated in said region generally has a direction perpendicular from the short side (3) of the mould (2) towards the centre of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Anders Lehman
  • Patent number: 7320264
    Abstract: An industrial robot manipulator including a first arm comprising a front arm part and a rear arm part. The front arm part is journalled in the rear arm part such that the front arm part is rotatable about a first axis relative to the rear arm part. Cabling extends along the front arm part and the rear arm part. A supporting device is operative to support the cabling. The supporting device includes a supporting arm arranged in the vicinity of the rear arm part and rotatably supported about a second axis and an auxiliary arm operatively connected to the front arm part. The supporting arm applies a spring pulling force on the cabling in a longitudinal direction of the cabling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Torbjorn Albertsson, Thomas Carlstrom
  • Patent number: 7317301
    Abstract: An auxiliary power supply equipment for a high voltage installation includes a power source at ground potential, a load circuit at high potential, and a transmission link for coupling the power source to the load circuit. The power source includes a high frequency voltage generator, and the transmission link comprises a first and a second current path. Each path is closed by capacitive coupling to provide insulation between the ground potential and the high potential, and each current path has a reactive compensation means for series compensation of reactive power generated by the capacitive coupling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Lennart Ängquist
  • Publication number: 20070297890
    Abstract: An industrial robot including a manipulator, a control unit for controlling the manipulator, a portable operating unit for teaching and manually operating the robot, which operating unit is adapted for wireless communication with the control unit and including an operator control. The transmissions may be made wirelessly with redundant software processes for transmission and/or reception. Safety is increased by ensuring that the operator is within the specified operating area.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2005
    Publication date: December 27, 2007
    Applicant: ABB Ab
    Inventors: Ralph Sjoberg, Nick Warren, Jan Endresen, Erik Carlson
  • Publication number: 20070289931
    Abstract: A control device and system for controlling a suspended load of a container crane with a trolley, a spreader and load lines arranged in a four point suspension for lifting a load and an optical sensor for sensing a deflection position of an orthogonal axis of a container suspended under the spreader. Two or more actuators are arranged attached to at least one load for moving at least one said suspension point closer to or farther away from an imaginary center line by shortening and/or lengthening the at least one load line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 29, 2006
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventor: Björn Henriksson
  • Publication number: 20070285278
    Abstract: A device for control and monitoring equipment including a control panel and at least one control member. The control member includes a readily movable module which may be detachably located on the front surface of the control panel. The module communicates in a wireless manner with a central unit, via which externally controlled units are influenced/controlled.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: December 13, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventor: Goran Forsstrom
  • Patent number: 7305271
    Abstract: A computer program product for controlling an apparatus for continuous casting of metals. The computer program product includes a computer readable medium and computer program instructions recorded on the computer readable medium executable by a processor for performing the steps of supplying a molten metal to a casting mold with an elongated horizontal cross section, applying at least one magnetic field to the to exert an influence on the movement of the molten metal, generating a stationary magnetic field with a variable strength across the elongated cross section of the casting mold in the vicinity of, or below, where the molten metal is supplied, and generating a variable magnetic field in an area of the upper surface of molten metal in a region that is centrally located with respect to the elongated cross section and in the vicinity of where the molten metal is supplied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Jan-Erik Eriksson
  • Publication number: 20070273371
    Abstract: A method for non-contact measurement of a dimension and/or an electrical property in an electrically conducting object to be measured by using electromagnetic induction. An electromagnetic field is brought to penetrate through the object to be measured. A transmitter coil is place on one side of the object to be measured. A receiver coil is placed on the other side of the object to be measured. A magnetic field is generated in the transmitter coil. A sudden change is generated in the magnetic field generated in the transmitter coil from one level to another. The voltage induced in the receiver coil is detected. The period of time that elapses from the time of the change of the magnetic field in the transmitter coil up to the time when a voltage starts to be induced in the receiver coil is determined. The magnitude of the induced voltage is determined. The thickness and/or electrical conductivity of the object to be measured is calculated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventor: Sten Linder
  • Publication number: 20070271977
    Abstract: A method for optimizing measurement and control of the flatness of a strip of rolled material. A mapping is accomplished by associating to relevant flatness fault types a reference strip model and an actuator space conversion matrix. A device for optimizing measurement and control of the flatness of a strip of rolled material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 30, 2004
    Publication date: November 29, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: George Fodor, Christine Mikkelsen
  • Patent number: 7300240
    Abstract: An industrial robot including a platform arranged for carrying an object. A first arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a first movement and includes a first actuator having a first path and a first carriage linearly movable along the first path. A second arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a second movement, and includes a second actuator having a second path and a second carriage linearly movable along the first path. A third arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a third movement. A control unit controls the movements of the platform. The first and second arms are arranged rotatable in such way that the platform is movable between opposite sides of a second plane passing through and continuously following the first and second carriage. The control unit includes a control adapted to upon command perform a reconfiguration of the platform and the arms of the robot. The reconfiguration includes moving the platform between opposite sides of the second plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventor: Torgny Brogårdh
  • Patent number: 7295416
    Abstract: A device for quick closing of an electric high-voltage circuit. A main spark gap is provided with a first and a second main electrode, and a triggering device. The triggering device includes an auxiliary electrode gap provided with a first and a second auxiliary electrode and is adapted, where necessary, to generate an arc in the auxiliary spark gap for igniting an arc in the main spark gap. Each auxiliary electrode is provided with a guide rail designed such that the arc, via the guide rails and under the influence of the generated inherent magnetic field, moves into the main spark gap. The two guide rails each have a length that is larger than the width of the auxiliary spark gap. The auxiliary electrodes are adapted so as to be protected from the effect of plasma formed in the main spark gap. A hermetic enclosure encloses the main spark gap and the auxiliary spark gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2007
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Per Halvarsson, Ola Jeppsson, Jan Johansson, Lars Paulsson
  • Publication number: 20070256513
    Abstract: A robot arm for an industrial robot. The robot arm includes a wrist housing, a wrist, and a turn disc. The wrist is rotatably connected to the wrist housing and the turn disc is rotatably connected to the wrist. A first motor drives the wrist and a second motor drives the turn disc. A first driving rope transmits the motor rotation to the wrist, and a second driving rope transmits the motor rotation to the drive pulley.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2004
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Karl-Erik Forslund, Annika Thyselius, Ove Kullborg
  • Publication number: 20070260356
    Abstract: An apparatus, a method and a control system for controlling an industrial robot with at least one axis of rotation and/or translation. The robot includes at least one actuator or motor at each of the axes for driving a movement of an arm of the robot and at least one sensor at each of the rotatable shafts. A dither-signal generator for generation of a periodic signal is used to provide a varying dither signal to a servo of the actuator. Automatic adaption of the dither signal is provided. A computer program for carrying out the method and a graphical user interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2004
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Sonke Kock, Christian Muller, Torgny Brogardh, Jesper Bergsjo, Andreas Olevik, Stig Moberg
  • Publication number: 20070257561
    Abstract: A method for determining/dimensioning measures for restoring an electrical power system, which experiences or is heading for a voltage instability, to a steady-state condition, wherein there is no immediate risk of instability. An actual voltage/phase angle in the electrical power system is determined. The power unbalance within at least one sub-area in the electrical power system is determined. Suitable power-balancing measures are determined. The extent of the respective measures is determined. The power-balancing measures are carried out. Also, a device for carrying out the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2004
    Publication date: November 8, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Daniel Karlsson, Sture Lindahl
  • Publication number: 20070255453
    Abstract: An industrial robot for moving an object in space. A platform is arranged for carrying the object. A first arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a first movement. The first arm includes a first actuator and three links. Each link includes an outer joint connected to the platform and an inner joint connected to the first actuator. A second arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a second movement. The second arm includes a second actuator and two links. Each link includes an outer joint connected to the platform and an inner joint connected to the second actuator. A third arm is arranged for influencing the platform in a third movement. The third arm includes one link including an outer joint connected to the platform. At least one of the links is arranged with an adjustable length and includes a linear actuator for controlling the length of the link.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2005
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventor: Torgny Brogardh
  • Publication number: 20070250213
    Abstract: A control system for a plurality of mechanical units, namely robots and/or external axes. A manually-operated control, such as a joy-stick or key panel, is adapted to move at least one of the mechanical units or part thereof. The control system includes an indicator adapted to indicate whether the at least one mechanical unit or part thereof that is to be moved is associated with any other mechanical unit(s) or part(s) thereof and consequently indicate that movement of the at least one mechanical unit or part thereof will also result in the movement of the indicated associated mechanical unit(s) or part(s) thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2004
    Publication date: October 25, 2007
    Applicant: ABB AB
    Inventors: Christian Poljen, Fredrik Hedenfalk
  • Patent number: D561701
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2008
    Assignee: ABB AB
    Inventors: Gunnar Johansson, Joakim Wåhrenberg