Patents Assigned to ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
  • Patent number: 6140572
    Abstract: A transformer tank with detachable cabinet interface. The transformer tank has a metal front panel for attachment of an electrical cable. A one-piece enclosure of non-conductive, flame resistant material cooperates with the front panel to provide an enclosed cable compartment for the transformer tank. A cabinet interface of non-conductive, flame resistant material is mounted on the periphery of the front panel. The interface is comprised of strip material having a tongue and groove or Y-shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventor: William James Book
  • Patent number: 6138343
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for manufacturing a variable insulated helically wound electrical coil is disclosed. Insulated rectangular wire is fed from a supply reel to a coating zone and within the coating zone liquid resin insulation is selectively applied to the wire so it has additional insulation only in those areas of the coil where the dielectric strength is needed. The insulated wire is fed through a curing station to allow curing of the additional insulation prior to winding the cured insulated wire into a coil. The cured insulated wire is wound into a coil of predetermined shape at a winding station whereby the portions of the wire having the additional insulatin are located in the areas of the coil where the greatest dielectric strength is needed. The timing of the resin application to the wire is coordinated with the winding of the coil so that the proper insulation thicknesses are achieved at the required locations in the coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 31, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Norris L. Hill, Thomas L. Linsenbardt
  • Patent number: 6137666
    Abstract: A protective relay receives current and voltage inputs, digitizes them and reduces the effects of high and low frequency noise. In the case of a distance relay, incorporated in the relay is a signal generator which generates "operate" and "restraint" sinusoidal signals. In the case of a current or voltage relay, operate is a digitized version of current (voltage) and restraint is a pre-specified constant. In all cases, a magnitude comparator, implemented using short (two sample) data window algorithms, compares the magnitude of the operate and restraint signals and outputs a trip condition signal. The trip condition output is limited to a finite number of values by a limiter system and sent to an adaptive trip counter system. The adaptive trip counter system employs trip counter processing, which determines whether a trip signal will be initiated, immediately or after a period of delay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventor: Liancheng Wang
  • Patent number: 6134124
    Abstract: An electronic interface couples a combination of generation and storage devices with a power grid and/or a load. The interface comprises a DC bus; a DC storage device coupled to the DC bus; a first DC-to-AC inverter (N1) having a DC port operatively coupled to the DC bus, and an AC port; a second DC-to-AC inverter (N2) having a DC port operatively coupled to the DC bus, and an AC port; a switch (S4) for electrically coupling the AC port of the second DC-to-AC inverter to a first generator or an AC storage device; a first rectifier (D1) for coupling an AC output of the first generator to the DC bus; and a second rectifier (D2) for coupling an AC output of the AC storage device to the DC bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Aaron M. Jungreis, Edward Petrie, Harold M. Stillman, David Slump, John Finney, Joseph Oravsky
  • Patent number: 6128584
    Abstract: A system and method for improving the ability of an electronic meter to make measurements on signals to determine content of different frequencies, and harmonics of the fundamental frequency, of AC signals (voltages and currents). The line frequency is determined and compensated for prior to performing frequency-dependent parameter measurements or determining frequency-dependent parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney C. Hemminger, Scott T. Holdsclaw, Vick A. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 6114624
    Abstract: A padmounted distribution transformer tank is disclosed wherein hem-bend flanges are constructed upper edge of the front terminal panel to act as a heat shield to protect the painted surface during the welding operation on the cover. Hem-bend flanges are also utilized on the sidewalls of the tank to improve the structural strength of the tank flange.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Ali A. Ghafourian, Herb Adkins
  • Patent number: 6115675
    Abstract: A protective relay system comprises current and voltage transducers 10, filters 12, and a multiplexor 14, the latter outputting an interleaved stream of analog phase current and voltage signal samples, as well as neutral current samples. The analog multiplex output by the multiplexor 14 is digitized by an analog-to-digital converter 16. The output of the analog-to-digital converter 16 is fed to a digital signal processing block 18. The multiplexor necessarily introduces a time-skew between the successive samples for each channel and also introduces a time-skew between the respective channels. The system corrects the sample-to-sample time-skew for each channel, and then derives current and voltage phasors from the time-skew corrected data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph P. Benco, James D. Stoupis
  • Patent number: 6100817
    Abstract: The CEBUS protocol is employed in an automatic meter reading (AMR) fixed network RF system while maintaining commonality and compliance with other CEBUS equipment. The AMR system comprises a plurality of utility meters, each meter comprising a radio frequency (RF) module for transmitting and receiving RF CEBUS message packets in accordance with a prescribed CEBUS protocol, wherein the CEBUS message packets contain embedded AMR message packets in accordance with a prescribed AMR protocol. In addition, the system includes a node(s) for accessing data stored by any one or a group of the utility meters via RF communications using the CEBUS protocol.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Robert T. Mason, Jr., Kenneth C. Shuey
  • Patent number: 6097182
    Abstract: An electronic energy meter for use with a 3-wire delta service having a resistive voltage divider for sensing and scaling the line voltages is disclosed. The resistive voltage divider includes three resistive dividers, one being associated with each phase of the electrical energy being metered. Each resistive divider includes a current limiter for reducing the current into the meter to a safe level when the meter electronics are operating at an elevated level, and a resistor for scaling the line voltage to a predetermined maximum peak-to-peak value. The scaled voltage that is generated has minimal phase shift, and therefore, does not require phase shift compensation prior to processing by a processing system of the electronic meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney C. Hemminger, Mark L. Munday, Fred F. Schleifer
  • Patent number: 6094622
    Abstract: A system for determining the service type to which an energy meter having meter elements is connected. The system includes a memory for storing reference information relating to different service types. The system determines which meter elements of the energy meter are active, and then determines relative phase angles and phase voltages of the meter elements. The relative phase angles are determined in to be in an ABC or a CBA rotation. Power quality monitoring is used in determining the phase voltages. The relative phase angles and phase voltages are compared to the reference information to determine the service type. The reference information includes services and scaling information, a nominal service voltage, a programmable potential indicator threshold, and a maximum and a minimum tolerance with respect to the nominal service voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Vick A. Hubbard, Mark L. Munday, Rodney C. Hemminger, Scott T. Holdsclaw
  • Patent number: 6088659
    Abstract: An automated meter reading (AMR) server having an open, distributed architecture that collects, loads, and manages system-wide data collected from energy meters and routes the data automatically to upstream business systems. The AMR server includes a repository of metering data, and additionally provides timely access to information by including collection, storage, validation, estimation, editing, publishing and securing of meter consumption and interval data. The AMR server obtains data from meters equipped with modems via standard telephone lines or public RF networks. The data is converted from the format of the meter/communications infrastructure to a format usable by the AMR server and the repository. The data is converted from the AMR-compatible form to a format of a specific upstream business system prior to transmission. The data may also be validated in accordance with the upstream business system requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond H. Kelley, Richard Christopher Carpenter, Robert H. Lunney, Maureen Martinez
  • Patent number: 6084395
    Abstract: The stackable plastic cover allows a series of covers to be stacked into a column. This is achieved by increasing the sidewall taper to allow the inside of one cover to nest down over the outside of the adjacent cover. Conical projections on the outside of the tapered wall surface provide a stop for the adjacent cover to rest upon and additional conical projections are placed above the stops to prevent scratching of the covers and wall sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventor: Patrick L. Thiel
  • Patent number: 6080935
    Abstract: A method of making various insulated conductor sizes during a transformer coil winding process by slitting and bonding insulating sheet materials and foil sheet conductor into a composite foil conductor/insulation. The method includes folding the composite into a substantially U-shaped length having a central portion between two leg portions with each leg portion having a free end. The method also includes folding the leg portions of the "U" inwardly to a position substantially parallel to the central portion of the "U" to bring the free ends of the leg portions into opposing relation to provide a folded insulated foil conductor having a two-conductor thickness surrounded by insulation. Provision is also made for increasing the cross-sectional area of the conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas J. Lanoue, Richard P. Marek
  • Patent number: 6081768
    Abstract: A method and system for detecting the peak of respective half-cycles of a sinusoidal waveform. The sinusoidal waveform is rectified and only sample points above a first threshold are analyzed. The peaks of each half-cycle are only accepted if they are above a second, greater threshold. Peaks below the second threshold are not accepted. The peaks themselves are detected by starting a counter at the first sample in the rectified waveform which is above the first threshold value. Once the rectified waveform descends below the first threshold, the counter is stopped and the maximum value of the previous k samples is the peak value, where k is the counter value for the successive samples above the first threshold. The peak value so determined is rejected if it is less than the second threshold value. On the other hand, when the peak value is above the second threshold, it is averaged with the last valid peak value (above the second threshold).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Yi Hu, David G. Hart, Joseph P. Benco, James D. Stoupis
  • Patent number: 6073169
    Abstract: An automated meter reading system is provided. The system includes a host server interfaced to a plurality of nodes where each node communicates with a number of utility meters. The system selects a group of noninterfering nodes and uses an RF broadcast from the host server to initiate the reading of meters and the uploading of meter data provided by those meters to the nodes and, ultimately, to the host server. The system also has a number of gateways that communicate with a plurality of nodes, grouped to form sets of noninterfering gateways. In this embodiment, the system selects a set of noninterfering gateways and uses an RF broadcast from the host server to initiate the reading of meters and the uploading of meter data provided by those meters to the nodes and, ultimately, through the gateways to the host server. A method for using an outbound RF channel to automatically read meters is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 1997
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth C. Shuey, Kathryn J. Smith, David C. Lawrence, Arnold W. Bragg
  • Patent number: 6066802
    Abstract: A safety enclosure system for a transformer is disclosed including a high voltage enclosure used in conjunction with a flip top hood on pad mounted transformers to provide an additional access restriction to the high voltage compartment after the hood has been opened. The high voltage enclosure is designed such that it is secured to the barrier plate separating the high voltage terminals from the low voltage terminals and after opening the enclosure is swung to the side, out of the way, for any operations in the high voltage compartment. The enclosure must then be closed before the hood can be closed and locked. This provides increased security for any further access to the high voltage compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: David A. Reinke, Anthony Lenzini, Sam Samson
  • Patent number: 6005759
    Abstract: A system for monitoring and controlling an electrical distribution network comprises an electrical distribution substation having a local area network (LAN), a feeder subsystem and a gateway. The feeder subsystem is coupled to the substation and receives electrical energy therefrom for distribution to customers, and includes slave devices for performing switching functions. The gateway provides remote access to the slave devices and the LAN.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: David G. Hart, William L. Peterson, David Uy, W. Michael Egolf
  • Patent number: 6005384
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for metering electrical energy are disclosed in an electronic meter which includes a first oscillator for generating a first clock signal to within a first accuracy and a second oscillator for generating a second clock signal within a second accuracy. A processor, operable in relation to a clock signal, measures time and periodically compensates for the accuracy of the first oscillator. The first clock signal is used for measuring time when power is applied to the meter and the second clock signal is used by the processor for measuring time when power has been removed from the meter. The accuracy of the first oscillator is compensated periodically in relation to a compensation factor stored in memory. In one embodiment, the processor includes a counter for counting from a first value to a second value in response to the first clock signal. In such an arrangement, the processor substitutes the first compensation factor for the first value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventors: Rodney C. Hemminger, Peter Richard Rogers
  • Patent number: 5987393
    Abstract: A system for generating a time overcurrent curve from a set of time and current inputs. The overcurrent curve is generated by simultaneously finding four coefficients of a standard overcurrent equation. Two of the coefficients are found by successive approximation and two of the coefficients are found via a least squares fit approximation. After the coefficients are found, they are used in the standard overcurrent equation to produce a set of data points indicative of the overcurrent curve. The data points are transferred to an overcurrent relay for the detection of overcurrent conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Stinson
  • Patent number: D422557
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2000
    Assignee: ABB Power T&D Company Inc.
    Inventor: James A. Grace