Patents Examined by Derek Jennings
  • Patent number: 4477733
    Abstract: The device herein is a temperature dependent duty cycler control system which provides a duty cycle off time locus responsive to a sensed temperature, and is characterized by two selectable off time periods which are connected by slope controllable ramping functions. A method is disclosed for operating the system with several heating and/or cooling units involving making real time determinations of the most efficient average number of units which should be running at a given time and by maintaining a priority order of rotation of the units to be shed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Honeywell Inc.
    Inventor: James R. Herdeman
  • Patent number: 4477732
    Abstract: A sensor serves to detect acceleration, in particular for triggering passenger protection devices (air bags) in motor vehicles. A spring-restrained inertial mass subjected to the acceleration which is to be measured is deflected, and the deflection is detected with respect to a locally fixed reference point. Upon the exceeding of an acceleration threshold, a trigger signal is generated. A mass-restrained body has a first photoconductor, one end of which is acted upon by a light source. Depending upon whether it is in the state of rest or in a state of deflection dependent upon acceleration, the other end of the photoconductor is located opposite one of various photoconductors, which are connected to photo elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1984
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventor: Eberhard Mausner
  • Patent number: 4476400
    Abstract: A terminal apparatus and a batch inserting type test plug for a horizontal type case drawer protective relay allows for easy measuring and testing of a plurality of poles. The terminal apparatus has an inspection window on a front surface of upper and lower terminal boards which allows visual observation of a short bar, a stopping board, and a triangular contact on an end of a contact piece in the terminal apparatus which allows one to visually inspect a short-circuit state of a current transformer secondary side of the terminal apparatus. The test plug has a plurality of electrode plates with conduction plates thereon, the electrode plates being arranged in a line so that a width line of the electrode plates interconnecting the conduction plates is perpendicular to the line of the electrode plates so that a length of the test plug handle is compact. Also, a plurality of terminal knobs are arranged in a zigzag pattern so that an arrangement order of the electrode plates can easily be determined visually.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Toshitaka Jo, Kuniyoshi Hara, Koichi Mizuta, Hiroshi Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4476398
    Abstract: A demand controller uses a sensor to detect the operation of an electric load. The sensor operates a relay which supplies power to a magnetic contactor. The magnetic contactor controls power available to a second electric load so that the total amount of power consumed is held below a predetermined maximum. An auxillary switch operates in conjunction with the magnetic contactor to control power available to other loads. A hierarchy is established so that the most important load always has power available, and loads of lesser importance are controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 1983
    Date of Patent: October 9, 1984
    Inventor: William R. Hallam
  • Patent number: 4475047
    Abstract: A power train of an uninterruptible power supply selectively transforms its load from a primary source of power to a reserve source of power under control of a stored program control operating in real time. A microprocessor operating in conjunction with a prioritized interrupt controller and a plurality of external counters monitors and responds to signal conditions existing at various points of the power supply. In particular, the amplitude of a primary AC voltage source is sampled at precise angles of the sinusoidal waveform in response to a comb pulse waveform generated to conform to the actual period of the primary AC voltage. The frequencies range is determined by comparing a count interval to the period of the primary AC voltage. Relative power flow from the primary AC voltage source and a reserve AC voltage signal is controlled by relative phasing of the two signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: October 2, 1984
    Assignee: AT&T Bell Laboratories
    Inventor: Harry K. Ebert, Jr.
  • Patent number: 4473757
    Abstract: A circuit which accepts an input signal of either positive or negative polarity and produces an output signal having an open circuit voltage similar in amplitude to the input signal amplitude but having a defined polarity. A plurality of switching elements, preferably MOS transistors, are connected in a bridge circuit, the bridge circuit having a pair of input terminals responsive to the input signal and a pair of output terminals for providing the output signal, the switching elements being connected between the input and output terminals. Each of the switching elements has a control input connected to one of the input terminals whereby each of the switching elements automatically opens or closes in response to the polarity of the input signal to maintain the defined polarity of the output signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Intersil, Inc.
    Inventors: Jules C. Farago, Andrew M. Wolff, David Bingham
  • Patent number: 4473861
    Abstract: A control device is proposed for an electromagnetic engine valve or an electromagnetic final control element. The control device operates with closed-loop current control, and the maximum current is ascertained via a measuring resistor located in series with a switching transistor, while the free-running circuit is controlled in accordance with time. This control in accordance with time is effected via a comparator having dynamic positive feedback and acting as a comparison stage. The free-running control circuit includes a diode for protective purposes switched parallel to a transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Kosak, Hans Kubach
  • Patent number: 4473756
    Abstract: A system to provide substantially uninterruptible AC power. Line voltage is applied to a load through a solid state electronic switch. A squarewave inverter powered by batteries in connected across the load. When line power is reduced to a predetermined level, the switch opens disconnecting the line, and after a short time delay of less than a millisecond, the inverter starts. Upon restoration of normal line power, the process is reversed; the inverter stops and after a like short time delay, the switch closes reconnecting the line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 25, 1984
    Assignee: Caloyeras, Inc.
    Inventors: Wayne H. Brigden, Gary M. Shatto
  • Patent number: 4472640
    Abstract: An electric range is connected in series with first and second current sensing relays between power lines having 230 volts a.c. therebetween. An electric dryer is connected in series with normally closed contacts associated with the first current sensing relay between the first and second lines. A water heater is connected in series with normally closed contacts between the first and second lines and with normally open contacts between the first and a third neutral line. Both the latter contacts are associated with the second current sensing relay. The first current sensing relay operates at a first threshold level of current drawn by the electric range to open the normally closed contacts in series with the electric dryer. The second current sensing relay operates at a second threshold value higher than that of the first to open the normally closed contacts and close the normally open contacts in series with the electric water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Inventor: Bayard W. Elmer
  • Patent number: 4472641
    Abstract: The outputs of a plurality of modules or generators of electrical energy, such as fuel cells, chemical storage batteries, solar cells, MHD generators and the like, whose outputs are different are consolidated efficiently. The modules supply a power distribution system through an inverter. The efficiency is achieved by interconnecting the modules with an alternating voltage supply and electronic valves so controlled that the alternating-voltage supply absorbs power from modules whose output voltage is greater than the voltage at which the inverter operates and supplies this power as a booster to modules whose output voltage is less than the voltage at which the inverter operates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 18, 1984
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventors: David E. Dickey, Peter Wood
  • Patent number: 4471234
    Abstract: A circuit for indicating the current or existing composite operating states of a plurality of switches switchable between open and closed states, and all normally disposed in a first of those states, includes a resistance of predetermined value for and connected to each switch, and connections between all of the switch-resistance combinations to form a switch assembly which outputs a total resistance uniquely defined in accordance with the particular existing open and closed states of the plural switches. A constant current source supplies a constant current to the switch assembly so that the assembly outputs a voltage in accordance with the unique resistance, and a voltage discriminator receives the voltage output and generates a corresponding output indicative of the existing operating states of the switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 1981
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Konishiroku Photo Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tatsumi Horiuchi
  • Patent number: 4471231
    Abstract: An alternating current feeder system for use in trolley assisted dump trucks has a feeder circuit of a.c. system including a Scott connection transformer used as a main substation, main- and T-winding sections having a phase difference of 90 degrees on the secondary side of the transformer and serving to transform three-phase a.c. power into single phase one supplied to feeder substations, single phase transformers respectively installed in the feeder substations, each being adapted to drop the voltage applied on trolley wires to the level required for the latter, and a different phase section provided in a boundary defined between the single phase transformers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Komatsu Seisakusho
    Inventor: Teruo Minami
  • Patent number: 4471230
    Abstract: A novel control device for switches fitted onto an automobile steering wheel including a rotary sensor and a rotation discriminating circuit to detect the turning angle of the steering wheel when changing the running direction of the automobile to the right or left and prevent the load of the switch from being actuated even when another switch fitted onto the center of the steering wheel is maloperated while operating a turn signal lamp.This control device makes the turning operation of the steering wheel easier and at the same time, it can contribute to the safe driving of the automobiles.Furthermore, the device can be constructed with simple parts and mounted readily on the existing automobiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Niles Parts Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsutomu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 4471399
    Abstract: A communication system for transmitting baseband digital signals on an electrical power line. A pulse generator produces digital signals which are limited to a frequency spectrum of 30 kHz to 300 kHz and applied directly, i.e., without modulation, to an electrical power line. At the receiving terminal an amplifier compensates for attenuation characteristics of the electrical power line and the received signal is then sampled to extract the information from it. To avoid interference when both a transmitting and receiving link are located at a substation, the baseband system incorporates a mimic network to mimic the interference signal erroneously picked up by the receiving link from the transmitting link located at the same substation. The mimic signal is then subtracted from the interference signal to neutralize the effect of the latter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 1982
    Date of Patent: September 11, 1984
    Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp.
    Inventor: Eric A. Udren
  • Patent number: 4468573
    Abstract: A proximity switch assembly with multiple interchangeable switch cores arranged in a row inside a switch housing in such a way that the sensor heads of the switch cores reach through sensor head bores into flush alignment with a sensor head wall, two bus bars which supply current to the switch cores being clamped between shoulders of the switch cores and the sensor head wall on opposite sides of the sensor heads and engaged by contact sleeves in the core shoulders, the bus bars being U-shaped and forming male contact prongs at their extremities. The switch housing has a fitting cover and flanges for mounting attachment in two different orientations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 28, 1984
    Inventor: Karl Hehl
  • Patent number: 4467221
    Abstract: A switching network has at least four nodes which can be connected in each case via three interruptable current branches to other ones of the nodes. These nodes can be connected in at least two partial rings. In order to retain the redundancy of such a system in the case of an expansion to more than four nodes with negligible equipment expenditure and, at the same time, little space requirement, the partial rings are constructed in such a manner that they do not have a common node in a preferred embodiment. In this arrangement, each node of a first one of the two partial rings can be connected to a node of a second one of the two partial rings and, conversely, each node of this partial ring can be connected to a node of the first partial ring. The switching network can be advantageously used, in particular, in high-voltage supply systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventor: Georg Koppl
  • Patent number: 4467220
    Abstract: A switching device that relates to the arrangement of a switching network for use within an electrical power distribution system. There is an improved security of power delivery to various loads while at the same time enabling a reduction in the number of required circuit breakers and related gear. This network also presents additional options in design and operating modes, when applied to distribution systems. These options result in a reduction in the total installed capacity of the sources together with reduced continuous current and fault current ratings of conductors and interconnected apparatus. The invention provides a switching network has six conducting branches, each branch containing at least one switching means such as a circuit breaker. The branches are connected at their ends to form four 3-sided rings, each branch forming a side of and being shared by two of the rings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 21, 1984
    Inventor: Ronald Page
  • Patent number: 4465942
    Abstract: An electrical installation for triggering switching functions in motor vehicles, with a central unit producing from input signals, coordinated output signals to switch load switches, and a redundancy unit; the input, respectively, output signals are thereby combined into groups of mutually similar switching functions and the redundancy unit is so connected that it prepares or readies for each group an output signal for the switching function which, in comparison with the other switching functions of the corresponding group, possesses the highest priority.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Axel Deicke
  • Patent number: 4465943
    Abstract: An uninterrupted power source (UPS) system is provided by utilizing a synchronous motor to power an alternator which provides the desired uninterrupted output power. Normally, the synchronous motor is powered by utility line power. However, an interruption in utility power will cause the motor-alternator set to slow down, although the inertia of the system will continue generating power. If the utility power interruption is sufficient such that the alternator output frequency drops more than 1 Hz, or if reverse power flow is detected from the synchronizing motor back into the utility grid, the motor is automatically powered by an inverter driven from a battery-powered current source. A feedback system from the alternator output insures that the inverter is synchronized with the synchronous motor in order to quickly bring the alternator's output back up to the desired voltage and frequency level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Inventor: Robert L. Risberg
  • Patent number: 4464583
    Abstract: An apparatus is provided for single-point, multi-point or cross-bonding electrical power cables. The apparatus includes an electrically insulated housing which defines an access well, two electrical conductors each having one end disposed within the well, a cover for closing-off the well, a linking device carried by the cover for removably and electrically connecting together those ends of the two electrical conductors which are disposed within the well, and a connecting device for electrically connecting the linking device to a terminal on the exterior of the housing. In the preferred embodiment a movable over-voltage protective device or surge arrester is electrically interposed between the linking device and the connecting device. When the cover is installed two electrical conductors are electrically connected together and to the surge arrester. Other embodiments are described and illustrated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1984
    Assignee: McGraw-Edison Company
    Inventor: Nils V. Holmgren