Patents Assigned to Klockner-Moeller GmbH
  • Patent number: 5953221
    Abstract: A multi-range power supply unit with an automatic switchover between ranges for different power supply voltages is disclosed for use with devices such as circuit breakers or contact systems. The power supply unit preferably has only two input connections for an input voltage range of approximately 20V-230V. Between the two input connections there is a rectifier circuit with a voltage stabilizing element, such as a Z-diode or equivalent device, connected in parallel. Connected in series to the rectifier circuit is a current divider. The current divider includes a capacitance and a thermistor. The thermistor preferably has a positive temperature coefficient (PTC). The power supply unit can be used for a power supply with DC voltage and for a power supply with AC voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 1997
    Date of Patent: September 14, 1999
    Assignee: Klockner Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Torsten Kuhn, Ralph Arnold
  • Patent number: 5940547
    Abstract: An electric power distribution switching device including a detector for detecting accidental arcs in the electric power distribution switching device, which detector includes at least one waveguide in which the light generated by the arc and reaching it via its casing is used as a triggering or warning criterion. The detector can include a support rod, a waveguide wound helically around the support rod, and two plug connectors fitted at the ends of the support rod. The detector also includes a heat-shrink sleeve which is permeable to light and UV radiation. The heat-shrink sleeve is fitted over the support rod, the waveguide and the plug connectors. A detector configured in this manner can prevent damage to the detector during installation or fitting in the switching equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: August 17, 1999
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Andreas Schumacher, Ferenc Boros
  • Patent number: 5918732
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a switch latch for a power switch comprising a switching gate, two toggle levers which are connected by means of a toggle-lever axle, a helical latch spring and a release lever allowing the control of the change-over point, and thus the control of the release of the switching shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 1997
    Date of Patent: July 6, 1999
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Volker Heins, Bogdan Zabrocki
  • Patent number: 5905631
    Abstract: Guide members to guide the guide edges of plug-in units upon insertion of the plug-in units into the U-shaped bus duct of a low voltage switchgear assembly. The guide fittings are arranged on the inside of the side legs of the U-shaped bus duct, and the plug-in units are held between the side legs of the bus duct. Each of the guide members extends from and is made of the same material continuous with its corresponding side wall of the bus duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 1997
    Date of Patent: May 18, 1999
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventor: Johannes Winkler
  • Patent number: 5898148
    Abstract: A switch has at least one fixed and one moving contact located on a contact arm. The fixed contact is connected to a loop-shaped conductor segment, such that when current flows through the conductor segment, there is an electrodynamic magnetic force which acts on the contact arm. The force, above a specified current intensity, results in an opening movement of the contact arm. To open the moving contact more rapidly and in a simple manner the loop-shaped conductor segment is realized so that it is wound in a coil shape, and consists of at least two turns, and that the coil axis of the coil segment runs perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the contact arm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 27, 1999
    Assignee: Klockner Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Albert Zacharias, Wolfgang Erven
  • Patent number: 5811749
    Abstract: An electrical switch is intended to prevent hot arc gases from contacting the terminal screw units. The arc gases are to flow off in an already deionized manner so that no damage is caused even when they flow out towards the electric cable terminals without the need for additional shielding for the terminals. A terminal cover section is designed with blow-out channels which are fully encapsulated with respect to the terminal screws and to the terminal chambers and have an outlet aperture each. To fully encapsulate and provide access to each of the terminal screws, a location dome passes through each blow-out channel. At the points where the through apertures join the quench chambers, the inserted terminal cover section is sealed against the separating wall of the housing in the region of the blow-out channel inlet apertures. The arc gases flow from arc quenching chambers through a partition by way of passage openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1998
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Christoph Bausch, Franz Boder, Bernd Howald
  • Patent number: 5781990
    Abstract: In order to make it easier to wire controls or switch cupboards and to economically reduce the probability of wiring errors, the ready-for-use cable is tied to a sequence of interconnected cables. In order to produce the sequence of ready-for-use cables, their insulation is stripped off between the cables, the cables are soldered by ultrasonic waves and notched. The cable sequence matches the wiring sequence of an apparatus to be later wired. In addition, the insulation is designed as a collar or bead at the ends of the cables.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 21, 1998
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Seidler, Hans Willi Muller, Gerhard Dargel
  • Patent number: 5774031
    Abstract: A low-voltage power switch with a relative auxiliary switch which is actuated as a signalling switch only when the generally multi-pole low-voltage power switch is triggered. The problem to be solved is that of controlling relative auxiliary switches simply and independently of the switch latch. To this end, the switch latch is designed in such a way that the included angle of the moveable contacts or the switching sprindle (18) is greater in the "triggered" than in the "off" state. A radial extension (60) is arranged on the switching spindle (18) in such a way that, in the "triggered" state, it engages a fixed pivoted lever (68) which itself is effectively connected to the prestressed actuating pushrod (66) of the relative auxiliary switch (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 1996
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1998
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Uwe Linzenich, Andreas Baldewein, Bernd Howald, Volker Heins
  • Patent number: 5719363
    Abstract: A safety device for mechanical switching devices such as circuit breakers which can be mounted on mounting surfaces or plugged into plug-in pin bases. The safety device ensures that the mechanical switching device is tripped both when it is being installed, and also when it is being removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 1996
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1998
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventor: Kurt Handler
  • Patent number: 5650902
    Abstract: Substation for the distribution of electrical energy, and protected against arcing faults, characterized by the fact that Hall-effect sensors and additional optical fiber conductors are provided as sensors, whereby the Hall-effect sensors are logically AND linked with the optical fiber conductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 22, 1997
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Manfred Herkenrath, Paul Wey, Ferenc Boros, Dietrich Stade, Holger Schau
  • Patent number: 5614888
    Abstract: A circuit configuration for a signalling device in circuit breaker units, in particular in power circuit breakers, which have an electronic tripping device and which become effective in the event of a fault in an electrical system to be protected, whereby the electronic tripping device includes a microcontroller which performs a fault evaluation, and for each type of fault makes available an output pin, from which the corresponding fault signal is amplified and transmitted to an electrical relay. The fault signal (FM, FM1 . . . FMn) is transmitted to the circuit configuration (SA, SA1 . . . SAn), and by means of logic operation with the action of a static standard signal and of a clock pulse signal (Clock Pulse) acts on the electrical relay, which is realized in the form of a bistable relay (RB, RB1 . . . RBn) the contact system of which corresponds to a make function or a break function, depending on the signal status of the standard signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: March 25, 1997
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Oliver Borchmann, Thomas Bungartz
  • Patent number: 5566320
    Abstract: The invention discloses a memory access control for coupled mask-program over microcontrollers in particular in connection with applications for memory storage programmable control in the low-cost region. The coupling of the microcontroller (MC1) and of the memory access authorization to the external program memory storage and data memory storage (7) is thereby based on a hardware wiring circuit in cooperation with a handshake provided by software. Always only one microcontroller accesses the external program memory storage/data memory storage (7) while the other microcontrollers access their internal program memory storage. The memory storage access is coordinated by the microcontroller (MC1) operating as a master through its output port (Px.y). On the hardware side the memory storage access signal (PSEN) and the address access signal (ALE) are multiplexed for the access-authorized microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 1993
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1996
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventor: Rolf Hubert
  • Patent number: 5543595
    Abstract: A circuit breaker with a blocking mechanism having reversing levers which are rotatably mounted on both sides of the supporting lever of the circuit breaker, which reversing levers are in contact with the upper toggle in an interlocking manner. The reversing levers are moved when the switch latch moves. If there is an attempt to switch "off" when the contacts are welded together, the further movement of the switch latch is prevented by stops on the selector shaft. When switching "off" is performed when the contacts are satisfactorily open, the reversing levers automatically reverse the toggle system with regard to overcoming the throw-over point thereof, so that the "off" position of the circuit breaker is reached reliably.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1995
    Date of Patent: August 6, 1996
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Mader, Rainer Arenz
  • Patent number: 5539168
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having a housing structure with accessory devices for power circuit breakers, which housing structure can essentially eliminate the need for complex and expensive methods for the insertion and positioning of the accessory devices in the main housing of the power circuit breaker. For that purpose, in the rear portion of the narrow side walls of the accessory housing enclosing an accessory device, there are first rigid guide and retaining members and second rigid retaining members located opposite one another, interacting with these members are a rigid third guide and retaining member and a flexible fourth retaining member, which are located in a recess of the top part of the main housing, which recess contains the accessory housing or housings. Actuator elements of the accessory devices, if any, and the corresponding bottom actuator openings in the recess interact as second and third guide members.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventor: Uwe Linzenich
  • Patent number: 5534674
    Abstract: A current limiting contact system for a circuit breaker with improved durability and a reliable electrodynamic contact system opening. The moveable contact is composed of several contact fingers with a moveable contact piece. Each contact finger is mounted at one end by a swivel pin and connected at the other end to the selector shaft by a toggle system which is acted upon by a contact force spring. On the swivel pin side of a phase connector, tabs are configured. The tabs, when lateral contact pressure is applied, produce the sole electrical connection with the contact fingers. The force effect of the contact force spring is translated into an obtuse angle, in the "ON" state, to the contact finger. During electrodynamic opening, the relevant contact finger tips into a stable position. The wear on the contact pieces is counteracted by increasing contact pressure force up to the maximum travel. The contact system for limiting short circuit currents is suitable for multi pole circuit breakers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 9, 1996
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventor: Wilhelm Steffens
  • Patent number: 5510761
    Abstract: A contact system for current limiting units which are combined with power circuit breakers or motor circuit breakers. The object of the invention is to improve the reliability of the current limiting unit equipped with such a contact system, while reducing the time and effort required to assemble and install such a contact system. The invention teaches that the contact systems can be assembled from a contact carrier with a stationary contact tip and a subsystem preassembled with little force, which can be installed in the arcing chambers in a stable condition and under the force of contact compression springs. The subsystem contains the wiper provided with the moving contact tip, which wiper is mounted with a direct electrical connection to a supply lead. Supports in the subsystem limit the movement of the wiper in both directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 23, 1996
    Assignee: Klockner Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Franz Boder, Bernd Howald
  • Patent number: 5483212
    Abstract: An overload relay comprising three modules, each enclosed in molded housings: the basic unit, the contactor-side terminal block and the load-side terminal block. Both terminal blocks have phase connectors which can be the same or different in terms of their type of connection and/or their clearance between phases and/or their phase height. The terminal blocks can be mechanically and electrically detachably connected to the basic unit. At least the basic unit or the terminal blocks have means for fastening to a mounting plate. In an additional solution, the terminal blocks are part of a series which is compatible with at least two different contactors. A typical field of application for the invention is the protection of electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1993
    Date of Patent: January 9, 1996
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Lankuttis, Gerhard Rossmann
  • Patent number: 5369384
    Abstract: The breaker mechanism for power circuit breakers is the energy storage link between the handle and the contact systems. Known breaker mechanisms are generally too expensive to manufacture. When contact welding occurs, there is also the risk that, in spite of the tripping of the breaker mechanism, the contact system will not open. The new breaker mechanism reliably opens the contact system and consists of fewer and technologically simpler individual parts. It is inserted between two symmetrical breaker plates held in a die cast housing, and in which a connecting piece is mounted. Two toggle levers are connected at a distance from one another by means of a connecting shaft engaged in crossbar cam slots. A toggle lever spring is engaged between the connecting piece and the connecting shaft. A bracing lever which can be driven by the connecting piece is friction locked in the breaker plates, and the toggle levers in the bracing lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 29, 1994
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventor: Volker Heins
  • Patent number: 5362933
    Abstract: An electrical switching device such as a low voltage power circuit breaker, can have a cover with a slot-like opening for providing access to a switch lever of the switching device. The cover can extend to cover over any chambers for shunt releases and/or auxiliary switches etc. which chambers can be located on both sides of the switch lever within the enclosure. The cover can also have fastening devices for attachment of a mechanical rotary actuator or a motor drive. The cover is connected to the enclosure in a manner which provides for a simple opening and closing of the cover, and essentially eliminates the danger of losing and mixing up such covers. The cover is designed with bearing legs which are bent at an angle of 90 degrees in relation to the cover plane. The bearing legs are preferably parallel to one another and laterally overlap the enclosure. The cover is mounted to the enclosure by means of the bearing legs and pivot bearing with coaxially interlocking pivots and pivot bearing openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 1993
    Date of Patent: November 8, 1994
    Assignee: Klockner Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kutsche, Wolfgang Kremers, Andreas Baldewein, Gerd Hentschel, Gerd Voiss
  • Patent number: 5322444
    Abstract: The known arrangements of low-voltage energy distribution include connecting elements for busbar trunking systems with which, while a change of direction is possible, the currents are limited. The new device is intended to make it possible to easily change directions, even with high currents. To achieve this object, the invention teaches that the busbars at the junction site are placed in such a way around a common tensioning element that they can be rotated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 1992
    Date of Patent: June 21, 1994
    Assignee: Klockner-Moeller GmbH
    Inventors: Karsten Audehm, Eckhard Ammann