Patents Assigned to ABB Technology AB
  • Patent number: 9336960
    Abstract: A method is disclosed of manufacturing a push rod for switching a vacuum interrupter by moulding the push rod with a plastic material. The push rod can include a core component configured for receiving a spring element. The push rod can also include a rod component which may include another second material, wherein a core component is embedded in the rod component to form the push rod.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: Dietmar Gentsch
  • Publication number: 20150170821
    Abstract: An exemplary transformer includes a transformer core having at least one core limb, a main winding arranged around a respective core limb in a hollow-cylinder-like winding region, and an auxiliary winding, which is electrically connected to the main winding and is arranged close to the core. The cross-section of at least one of the core limb and a core yoke formed of the transformer core has in a cross-sectional plane transverse to an extent of said core limb or said core yoke, at least two regions which are separated by an aperture, and at least one turn of the respective auxiliary winding is passed through the aperture.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Publication date: June 18, 2015
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Frank Cornelius, Jiahua Zhang, Benjamin Weber, Martin Carlen, Thorsten Steinmetz
  • Patent number: 9000827
    Abstract: A system includes at least two power semiconductor chips being connected in parallel and including each a gate terminal for switching the power semiconductor chip in a blocking-state by a first gate voltage and for switching the power semiconductor chip in a conducting-state by a second gate voltage. The system includes further a control device adapted for applying the first or the second gate voltage to the gate terminals of the at least two power semiconductor chips. The control device is adapted for applying a third gate voltage to the gate terminal of the at least one remaining power semiconductor chip when a power semiconductor chip fails, and that the third gate voltage is higher than the second gate voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventors: Sven Klaka, Samuel Hartmann
  • Patent number: 8779318
    Abstract: A switching device for electric power distribution, electrically connectable to an electrical conductor, the switching device including a breaker electrically connectable to the electrical conductor, and an electrically conductive housing to which the breaker is mounted, the switching device providing a current path between the breaker and the electrical conductor, and the housing houses a guiding member for operating the breaker, the guiding member being movable in relation to the housing, the housing having an outer surface, wherein the housing has a smooth outer shape to distribute the electric field generated by the voltage of the current through the switching device. A switchgear including such a switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventors: Robert Espeseth, Jan-Arild Zinke, Havard Hadland
  • Patent number: 8627741
    Abstract: A process turning disc connectable to an output shaft of a motor configured to rotate the process turning disc about a first center axis of the process turning disc. The process turning disc being configured to guide a cable or hose. A first flange is connectable to an end part of a robot arm. A second flange is connectable to a tool element. The flanges are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate connecting member. The connecting member is connected to the flanges. The connecting member provides a passage between the flanges. The passage is configured to receive and guide the cable/hose. The passage has an inlet side for the cable/hose and an outlet side for the cable/hose. A robot arm including the process turning disc, a robot including the robot arm and a method that utilizes the process turning disc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventors: Lars Barkman, Mattias Lindevall, Pascal Cabanne, Peter Bylund, Joachim Ljungkvist
  • Patent number: 8577499
    Abstract: A device and method for optimizing a programmed movement path for an industrial robot holding a tool to carry out work along the path during a work cycle. The movement path includes information on positions and orientations for the tool at a plurality of target points on the movement path. The method includes for at least one of the target points: receiving a tolerance interval for the orientation of the tool in the target point, determining movements of the robot between the target point and one or more of the other target points on the path for a plurality of different tool orientations within the tolerance interval, selecting one of the different tool orientations as the tool orientation for the target point based on the determined movements of the robot and with regard to minimizing cycle time, and generating a robot program based on the selected orientation of the tool at the target point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventor: Per Emil Eliasson
  • Publication number: 20110203402
    Abstract: A process turning disc connectable to an output shaft of a motor configured to rotate the process turning disc about a first center axis of the process turning disc. The process turning disc being configured to guide a cable or hose. A first flange is connectable to an end part of a robot arm. A second flange is connectable to a tool element. The flanges are spaced apart from each other by an intermediate connecting member. The connecting member is connected to the flanges. The connecting member provides a passage between the flanges. The passage is configured to receive and guide the cable/hose. The passage has an inlet side for the cable/hose and an outlet side for the cable/hose. A robot arm including the process turning disc, a robot including the robot arm and a method that utilizes the process turning disc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: August 25, 2011
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Lars Barkman, Mattias Linderas, Pascal Cabanne, Peter Bylund, Joachim Ljungkvist
  • Publication number: 20110190938
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a robot teach pendant unit (2) coupled to a programmable robot controller (1), the teach pendant comprising a graphical screen (6), and a native user interface program (9) which creates a graphical user interface and displays the user interface on the graphical screen.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2009
    Publication date: August 4, 2011
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Anders O. Ekelund, Steve Murphy
  • Patent number: 7979159
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for determining the relation between a local coordinate system located in the working range of an industrial robot (1) and a robot coordinate system. The method includes attaching a first calibration object (10) in a fixed relation to the robot and determining the position of the first calibration object in relation to the robot. Then, locating at least three second calibration objects (14,15,16) in the working range of the robot, a reference position for each of the second calibration objects in the local coordinate system can be determined by moving the robot until the first calibration object is in mechanical contact with each second calibration object. By reading the position of the robot when the calibration objects are in mechanical contact the relation between the local coordinate system and the robot coordinate system can be calculated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventor: Peter Fixell
  • Publication number: 20110142534
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing a joint. A ball is mounted on a pin. Spherical surfaces on at least two socket parts are machined. Grinding paste is applied on the ball and/or on the surfaces of the socket parts. The pin is connected to an equipment that rotates the ball. The ball is assembled between the socket parts. A pressure is applied between the socket parts and the ball. The ball is rotated and tilted over the working range of the joint. The ball and the socket parts are cleaned from the grinding paste. The joint is assembled by mounting the socket parts on a ball. A robot obtainable with the method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 3, 2009
    Publication date: June 16, 2011
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Torgny Brogårdh, Ove Kullborg, Ove Ode
  • Publication number: 20110127935
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a drive unit for at least one electric motor. The drive unit comprises: a control power supply (+18V) for supplying the drive unit with control power, a power source (1) producing direct current to one or more inverters (2), at least one inverter producing current to the motor, an energy storage (C) arranged at the output of the power source for smoothing direct current and storing energy recovered during braking of the motor, and a discharge circuit (8,10) for discharging the energy stored in said energy storage, wherein the discharge circuit includes a power resistor (8) arranged to discharge the energy stored in the energy storage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: Yang Gao
  • Patent number: 7945349
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for facilitating calibration of a robot cell including one or more objects (8) and an industrial robot (1,2,3) performing work in connection to the objects, wherein the robot cell is programmed by means of an off-line programming tool including a graphical component for generating 2D or 3D graphics based on graphical models of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventors: Tommy Y. Svensson, Magnus K. Gustafsson, Mathias Haage
  • Publication number: 20110106308
    Abstract: A device and method for optimizing a programmed movement path for an industrial robot holding a tool to carry out work along the path during a work cycle. The movement path includes information on positions and orientations for the tool at a plurality of target points on the movement path. The method includes for at least one of the target points: receiving a tolerance interval for the orientation of the tool in the target point, determining movements of the robot between the target point and one or more of the other target points on the path for a plurality of different tool orientations within the tolerance interval, selecting one of the different tool orientations as the tool orientation for the target point based on the determined movements of the robot and with regard to minimizing cycle time, and generating a robot program based on the selected orientation of the tool at the target point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 19, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: Per Emil Eliasson
  • Publication number: 20110046782
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a system for determining the relation between a local coordinate system located in the working range of an industrial robot (1) and a robot coordinate system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2008
    Publication date: February 24, 2011
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventor: Peter Fixell
  • Publication number: 20100274385
    Abstract: A control system for controlling at least one industrial robot, wherein the control system comprises a plurality of software modules (41-47) for handling various system functions of the control system, and a plurality of separate hardware units (50-53), each comprising a processing unit (30a-d) and a memory unit (26a-d) for storing one or more of said software modules, and each of the hardware units is configured to receive and execute one or more of the software modules.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Publication date: October 28, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Technology AB
    Inventor: Peter J. Eriksson
  • Publication number: 20100231158
    Abstract: Servo controller for controlling a plurality of motors including a master motor and a slave motor cooperatively driving a movable member. The servo controller is configured to control the master motor and the slave motor based on position references for the master motor. The servo controller includes a master speed controller configured to calculate a reference torque for the master motor based on speed errors for the master motor. The slave speed controller is configured to calculate reference torques for the slave motor based on speed errors for the slave motor. Each of the reference torques includes a proportional torque part and an integral torque part. The servo controller is configured to calculate each of the integral torque parts based on the speed errors of the master motor and the speed errors of the slave motor, such that the torques due to the integral torque parts will be distributed equally between the master and slave motors or according to a predefined ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Technology AB
    Inventor: Ingvar Jonsson
  • Publication number: 20100185315
    Abstract: A robot tool for machining workpieces, includes a connecting element for connection to a robot. A cutting blade is maintained in a predetermined position by a retaining element, the retaining element being connectible to the robot by a connecting element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Publication date: July 22, 2010
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Peter G. SCHMIDT, Guy Feltz
  • Publication number: 20100157633
    Abstract: A method and device for providing redundant control of a controllable current valve in a converter of a power transmission system. A first converter control unit sends a first valve control signal. A first active/standby indicator is associated with the first converter. A second converter control unit sends a second valve control signal. A second active/standby indicator is associated with the second converter control unit. The device also includes a valve control unit. An active/standby indicator indicates if a corresponding converter control unit is active or standby. Only one indicator indicates an active unit at a given point in time. The valve control unit receives the active/standby indicators and valve control signals, selects a valve control signal to be applied if the corresponding active/standby indicator indicates an active converter control unit and controls the current valve using the selected valve control signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AB
    Inventors: Hans Björklund, Krister Nyberg
  • Patent number: 6832167
    Abstract: The subject of the invention is a method of identification of weak and/or strong branches of an electric power transmission system. In the inventive method electrical parameters characterizing the nodes and branches of an electric power transmission system are subjected to computational treatment in order to obtain equations of power flow in all nodes of the system at assumed 100 percent system load value. Then an electric model of a branch is assumed and a curve P-Q is constructed which shows the functional relation between active and reactive load in the system. For the assumed branch model a branch voltage stability coefficient is determined. Then the analysed system is overloaded by increasing the total system load up to 120% base load and the branch voltage stability coefficient is determined again. The numerical values of the appropriately determined coefficients are compared with threshold values considered to be a safe margin for the maintenance of voltage stability for the given branch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2002
    Date of Patent: December 14, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventors: Marek Fulczyk, Marian Sobierajski, Joachim Bertsch
  • Patent number: D610096
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Technology AB
    Inventors: Carlo Gemme, Gabriele Suardi, Massimo Bresciani, Luciano Di Maio