Patents Examined by Elvin Enad
  • Patent number: 7432465
    Abstract: A switching device configurable as a grounding device, a disconnecting device, and a combined disconnecting/grounding device is disclosed. The switching device includes an encapsulating housing, a stationary grounding contact fixed to the housing, a stationary disconnector contact fixed to a first conductor, and a moveable contact that is movable along an axis and engagable with the grounding contact and the disconnector contact. A conductor tube is fixed to a second conductor and accommodates the moveable contact. A drive for driving the moveable contact has a retaining element that is movable along the axis and is guided in the conductor tube. The retaining element accommodates two contact tubes. A first contact tube forms a mating contact of a grounding device containing the stationary grounding contact. A second contact tube forms a mating contact of a disconnector containing the disconnector contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Bojan Pavlovic, Daniel Bleiker, Diego Sologuren-Sanchez, Walter Holaus, Martin Wieser
  • Patent number: 7432462
    Abstract: A steering wheel provided with a remote control switch. The remote control switch includes a user-settable unit and a variable circuit unit for changing a function of the remote control switch according to the configuration of the user-settable unit; for example, the function of the remote control switch may be changed by attaching a removable button with the desired function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Kia Motors Corporation
    Inventor: Jae Young Kim
  • Patent number: 7432788
    Abstract: A magnetic switch includes a substrate having a recess therein. A rotor or rotors are provided on the substrate. The rotor includes a tail portion that overlies the recess, and a head portion that extends on the substrate outside the recess. The rotor may be fabricated from ferromagnetic material, and is configured to rotate the tail in the recess in response to a changed magnetic field. First and second magnetic switch contacts also are provided that are configured to make or break electrical connection between one another in response to rotation of the tail in the recess, in response to the changed magnetic field. Related operation and fabrication methods also are described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: MEMSCAP, Inc.
    Inventors: Konstantin Glukh, Robert L. Wood, Vivek Agrawal
  • Patent number: 7432787
    Abstract: A control system and method for a motorized high voltage loadbreak switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Frank John Muench, Patrick Harold Pride, John Fredrick Banting
  • Patent number: 7432790
    Abstract: The invention relates to a superconductor assembly comprising a metallic superconductor and a ceramic superconductor, which are mechanically and electrically interconnected to form a one-piece hybrid superconductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2008
    Assignee: Vacuumschmelze GmbH & Co KG
    Inventors: Thomas J. Arndt, Bernhard Fischer, Martin Munz, Andreas Szulczyk, Manfred Thoner
  • Patent number: 7429906
    Abstract: An electrical feed through junction block includes a mountable housing comprising a front and a back, a first conductive terminal extending from the front of the housing, a second conductive terminal extending from the housing in a direction opposite the first conductive terminal, and an overcurrent protection device located within the housing. The overcurrent protection device is configured to provide a conductive path between the first conductive terminal and the second conductive terminal when in a non-overcurrent position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2008
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventor: Jacek Michael Korczynski
  • Patent number: 7427909
    Abstract: A coil component (100) comprising coil-containing insulator enclosure and a magnetic core (80). The coil-containing insulator enclosure is obtained by enclosing a coil (30), except for end portions (12, 22) of the coil (30), with an insulator (50), wherein the insulator (50) comprises at least a first resin. The magnetic core (80) is made of a mixture of a second resin (82) and powder, which comprises magnetic powder (84). The coil-containing insulator enclosure is embedded in the magnetic core (80).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 23, 2008
    Assignees: Nec Tokin Corporation, Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuyuki Ono, Takashi Yanbe, Hatsuo Matsumoto
  • Patent number: 7425687
    Abstract: A vacuum insulated switchgear comprising: a vacuum container; a vacuum insulated switch having a movable contact connected to a movable electrode and a fixed contact connected to a fixed electrode for interrupting and closing current; an operating rod connected to the movable electrode and connected to a magnetic drive mechanism; and a connecting mechanism for operating the operating rod; wherein the magnetic drive mechanism and the connecting mechanism are aligned on a straight line, wherein each of the magnet drive mechanisms has a shape of a rectangular parallelopiped shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Ayumu Morita, Kenji Tsuchiya, Takuya Kurogi, Masato Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7423504
    Abstract: An electromagnetic relay is provided which is capable of reducing a contact bounce at time of closing a contact. The electromagnetic relay is so configured that an opposed angle ? is 0°<?<45°, when viewed from a direction to which a normally open fixed contact and a movable contact slide before the normally open fixed contact comes into surface-contact with the movable contact spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: NEC Tokin Corporation
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Kon, Masayuki Morimoto
  • Patent number: 7423506
    Abstract: An annular magnet is formed by coupling a plurality of arc-shaped divided magnets with each other in an annular shape as well as such being magnetized with N and S magnetic poles on the end surfaces thereof in an axial direction, wherein the annular magnet is formed such that each of the divided magnets has joint portions at both ends thereof so that the divided magnets are joined to each other. Each of the joint portions also has a joint surface to overlap the joint portions of adjacent divided magnets in the axial direction. The joint surface is magnetized to a magnetic pole different from that of a joint surface to which such is joined, and the divided magnets are coupled with each other by the magnetic attraction force of different magnet poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: SMC Corporation
    Inventor: Atsushi Terasaki
  • Patent number: 7420447
    Abstract: A micro-magnetic switch includes a permanent magnet and a supporting device having contacts coupled thereto and an embedded coil. The supporting device can be positioned proximate to the magnet. The switch also includes a cantilever coupled at a central point to the supporting device. The cantilever has a conducting material coupled proximate an end and on a side of the cantilever facing the supporting device and having a soft magnetic material coupled thereto. During thermal cycling the cantilever can freely expand based on being coupled at a central point to the supporting device, which substantially reduces coefficient of thermal expansion differences between the cantilever and the supporting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Meichun Ruan, Jun Shen, Gordon Tam
  • Patent number: 7420136
    Abstract: A button assembly for selectively actuating a switch. The button assembly (10) includes a button member (16) for being mounted in an opening of a housing. The button member (16) is fabricated of a resilient material and defines an outer surface (38) that can be depressed to bring the button assembly (10) into contact with the switch for purposes of actuating the switch. The button assembly (10) also includes a compression ring (26) for being received in a bore (28) provided in the button member (16) whereby the compression ring (26) compresses the button member against the edges of the housing that define the opening in the housing creating a substantially liquid impervious seal and holding the button assembly (10) in place in the opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Radio Systems Corporation
    Inventors: Brent Andrew Goetzl, Greg Gillis
  • Patent number: 7420448
    Abstract: To provide a small-sized electromagnetic relay capable of reducing an internal resistance of a contact circuit as much as possible, and also capable of carrying a high current to the relay. The electromagnetic relay includes an electromagnetic driving block composed by a coil, an iron core, a yoke, and an armature; fixed contacts each provided on one end of each of a pair of terminals fixed to a base; and a movable spring having movable contacts provided at positions corresponding to the respective fixed contacts, the armature driving the movable spring depending on whether or not a current is carried to the coil, thereby opening or closing a contact circuit, wherein the movable spring has both ends supported by the base, the movable spring arranged in parallel to the terminals, and the movable contacts are provided on the movable spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2008
    Assignee: Uchiya Thermostat Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Takeda, Naoya Mochizuki
  • Patent number: 7417519
    Abstract: A switching apparatus and method, the apparatus comprising a relay including a relay coil and at least one normally open relay contactor that closes when the relay coil is energized, a normally closed stop contactor and a stop member moveable between a deactivated position in which the stop contactor is closed and an activated position wherein the stop member forces each of the stop contactor and the relay contactor open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2008
    Assignee: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: James Peter Miller
  • Patent number: 7414515
    Abstract: An object is to provide a PTC element capable of preventing lead terminals from delaminating from an element body. This PTC element 1 is a PTC element comprising an element body 10 in which an electroconductive filler is dispersed in a crystalline polymer, and a pair of terminal electrodes 12, 14 thermocompression-bonded with the element body 10 in between, wherein each of the pair of terminal electrodes 12, 14 has an overlapping region 121, 141 overlapping with the element body 10, and a nonoverlapping region 122, 142 not overlapping with the element body 10, and wherein the nonoverlapping region 122, 142 of each of the pair of terminal electrodes 12, 14 is constructed of a succession of a wide portion 122a a width of which is large across a direction in which the terminal electrode 12, 14 extends from the element body 10, and a narrow portion 122b a width of which is smaller than the width of the wide portion 122a.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Noriaki Hirano, Kunio Mogi, Tsutomu Hatakeyama, Tsukasa Kon, Tokuhiko Handa, Hisanao Tosaka
  • Patent number: 7414215
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an elastic strip used in electronic devices and designed to enable outlet lines of a membrane circuit board to acquire contact with electrical connections of a printed circuit board through a flat surface. The strip-shaped plate is a strip-shaped structure with an elastic physical property. At least one cavity is disposed in the strip-shaped plate. A rib which corresponds to the cavity is disposed on the upper surface of the strip-shaped plate. Part of the rib protrudes out of the surface of the strip-shaped plate. The rib comprises two rib structures which are connected to the respective sides of the top of the corresponding cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Behavior Tech Computer Corp.
    Inventor: Chin-Sheng Liu
  • Patent number: 7414502
    Abstract: Illustrated is a cartridge type solenoid valve with a coil-actuator structure which employs O-ring seals to inhibit harsh environment entry into the coil-actuator and allows for metal to metal contact with the frame to increase the flux density and path for flux when the valve is in operation. A plastic over mould is encapsulated over the metal frame (in one embodiment a sleeve) which is shaped to provide efficient magnetic flux carrying capability, as well as abut a flux connector, e.g. a disc adapted to capture an O-ring. The O-ring is in sealing contact with a capture element, e.g. a nut on the projecting extended end of an insertable cartridge having an internal plug, environmentally sealing the coil. When the capture nut is assembled on to the plug, in sealing engagement with the O-ring and simultaneously engaging the plug, an increased efficiency flux path is created. The lead wire termination version includes cold forming or latched caps over lead wires to provide environmental (or dunk) sealing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Delta Power Company
    Inventors: John N. Tackes, Dilip M. Amladi
  • Patent number: 7414500
    Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) slotline switch includes a slotline transmission line structure defined on top of substrate, a doubly-anchored conductive beam disposed perpendicular to, and above slotline so that there is a certain spacing between the beam and the slotline, a second conductive contact attached to the beam directly above the slot of the slotline a bottom conductive contacts defined on bottom surface of substrate and forming parallel-plate capacitor with conductive beam, conductive traces defined on the bottom surface of the substrate forming a microstrip-to-slotline transition for coupling signals in microstrip line to the slotline, and beam and bottom conductive contacts being spaced apart, and the beam being continuously movable when a voltage is applied between the beam and the bottom conductive contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Inventor: Hector J. De Los Santos
  • Patent number: 7414207
    Abstract: Commercially available filter-monitoring switches suffer from problems related to over sensitivity and reliability. Accordingly, the present inventors have devised, among other things, various embodiments of filter-monitoring switches and related components, subassemblies, methods, and systems. One exemplary filter-monitoring switch includes a diaphragm operably couple to move a conductive element back and forth between a pair of fixed terminals in response to pressure differences across the diaphragm. The conductive element is mounted to an insulative pin of substantially uniform width, and the terminals include leaf contacts that constantly engage the pin or the contacts throughout normal operation of the switch, thereby reducing flexure of the contacts and effectively providing a self-cleaning and self-healing electrical switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: Engineered Products Company
    Inventors: Joseph P. Heuthorst, Michael J. Lockert, Jr., Charles H. Berry, III
  • Patent number: 7414504
    Abstract: A solenoid plunger for use in solenoid driven multi-line embossing systems is constructed of magnetic steel laminations that are attached to a center block which is machined to mount a solenoid shaft and anti-rotate pins. The laminations are attached to the center block with screws and vacuum epoxy glued for a very high cycle life. The laminated steel construction dramatically reduces eddy currents, which allows the magnetic field to rise and fall much more quickly than a conventional steel plunger. It also increases the magnetic force in the solenoid. This reduction in solenoid plunger eddy currents and increase of magnetic force in the solenoid structure itself operates to increase embosser throughput. The laminated steel construction further reduces embosser solenoid heating which also contributes to improved embossing control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2008
    Assignee: DataCard Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Lundstrom, Peter E. Johnson