Patents Examined by J. R. Scott
-
Patent number: 6107591Abstract: A gas-insulated power breaker (1) has encapsulation (2) which is filled with an inert gas. Live parts (10, 11, 12, 13) are arranged in the encapsulation (2). In order to prevent damage to the live parts (10, 11, 12, 13) during transportation, a transport support (17) is provided. In a secured position, the transport support (17) supports the live parts (10, 11, 12, 13) with respect to the encapsulation (2). It can be partially withdrawn and moved to an operating position, through a gastight aperture (22), without the inert gas having to be evacuated or the encapsulation (2) opened in this event. This allows the switch to be transported safely, prevents contamination of the interior (3) of the encapsulation (2), and avoids the need for costly emptying and refilling with inert gas.Type: GrantFiled: September 7, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AGInventors: Markus Vestner, Andreas Nohl
-
Patent number: 6107580Abstract: This invention provides an omnidirectionally responsive cable switch (5) capable of snake-like or twisted wiring or layout and comprising a tubular outer cover (1) made of an insulating material and 2-4 separate conductive rubbers (3a-3d) fixed on the inner surface of the outer cover leaving an air gap (2) therebetween, the separate conductive rubbers being spaced apart from each other, and the outer cover being capable of being distorted together with the conductive rubbers so that the separate conductive rubbers may contact with each other when substantial compressive pressure is applied thereon at any point of the outer cover, thereby forming a switching contact therebetween. The air gap (2) may be substantially of a cross-shaped, Y-shaped, V-shaped, S-shaped, or arrow-head-shaped form. The omnidirectionally responsive cable switch may be further protected or guarded by a reinforcing member or material.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: Shinmei Rubber Industries Co., Ltd.Inventors: Kyofu Hoshikawa, Seishiro Ishiwatari, Mitsuru Tanahashi, Tadamitsu Sasaki
-
Patent number: 6103986Abstract: A U-shaped magnetic plate is positioned on the side of a movable contact shoe opposite to a fixed contact shoe, and the tips of the respective legs of the magnetic plate face via a gap the movable contact shoe in a closed condition of the movable contact shoe. A magnetic plate is attached to the surface of the movable contact shoe at the side of the fixed contact, so that the magnetic plates form a closed magnetic circuit surrounding the movable contact shoe. If a high current, such as short circuit current, flows, a magnetic flux passing through the closed magnetic circuit induces an attractive force between the upper end surfaces of the U-shaper magnetic plate and the end surface of the magnetic plate. Accordingly, the movable contact shoe is rapidly opened to quickly interrupt the current, before a signal from an overcurrent trip apparatus operates an opening and closing mechanism. The opening speed of the movable contact shoe is increased when high current flows.Type: GrantFiled: March 19, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Fuji Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Koji Asakawa, Takumi Fujihira, Naoshi Uchida, Katsunori Kuboyama, Tatsunori Takahashi, Kentaro Toyama
-
Patent number: 6103983Abstract: A mechanism for manually controlling an electric switching member includes a control button, a guide for guiding the movement of a moving element of the switching member, and a link which moves longitudinally in the direction of travel of the control button and laterally into an abutting position which prevents longitudinal movement of the link. The mechanism further includes an element secured to the control button and configured to contact the link to cause the longitudinal movement of the link, a first spring configured to push the control button into a pulled-out position, a second return spring configured to push the link out of the abutting position, and a cylindrical bushing in which the control button slides.Type: GrantFiled: October 30, 1998Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Crouzet AutomatismesInventors: Bernard Truchet, Francis Fernandez, Jean-Marie Vergnes
-
Patent number: 6104265Abstract: Miniature circuit breaker apparatus is taught which includes side-by-side ganged cases where one of the ganged cases includes the main circuit breaker operating mechanism and contacts and where the other case includes an actuable micro-switch, which is interconnected with an indicating device for providing either a bell alarm function for the circuit breaker system or an auxiliary switch function for the circuit breaker system. The bell alarm function is provided by extending the rotatable axis of the trip mechanism of the main circuit breaker into the case of the secondary circuit breaker casing for movement of an auxiliary switch. The auxiliary switch indicates a trip function when the main circuit breaker contacts have been tripped opened, thus providing a bell alarm indication, for example.Type: GrantFiled: February 19, 1998Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: James Gerard Maloney, Ronald Dale Smiddle
-
Patent number: 6103981Abstract: A tumbler switch for mounting in an opening in a wall having a base part and a tumbler which is pivotably connected to the base part between at least two positions, said tumbler having a splashproof edge portion. For mounting the switch from the inside of the wall, two opposite side parts of the tumbler are provided with recesses over the full length of the tumbler, the recesses cooperating projections, for example cams, provided in opposite edges of the opening in the wall. Resilient blade springs provided on the base part complete the fastening of the switch to the inside wall.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 1999Date of Patent: August 15, 2000Assignee: U.S. Philips CorporationInventor: Harm Kremer
-
Patent number: 6100491Abstract: An electric switch has an arc extinguishing mechanism that includes a plurality of splitter plates located adjacent to the switch contacts. An electromagnet coil is connected between one of the contacts and a splitter plate to produce a magnetic field that drives an arc into the extinguishing mechanism. The unique electromagnet coil is formed by a lamination of a plurality of flat open loops of conductive material alternating with layers of insulation. The flat open loops are interconnected to form a helical coil.Type: GrantFiled: June 25, 1999Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventor: Peter K. Moldovan
-
Patent number: 6100492Abstract: A wreath of contact fingers (4) directed radially toward a switching axis (1) presses in the closed position against the circumferential surface of a contact pin (2) with consumable heads (5) fitted on the ends. At an angle of approximately 90.degree., the contact fingers (4) adjoin webs (6) which are guided in the closing direction up to a housing part (7) at which they are permanently anchored and via which they connect the contact fingers (4) to an electric terminal. The webs (6) and--with the exception of the consumable heads (5)--the contact fingers (4) are produced in one piece from springy material of high conductivity. The contact with the contact pin (2) radially deflects the consumable heads (5) in the closing direction with elastic bending of the webs (6). The length (R) of the radial contact fingers and the length (L) of the axial webs (6) are selected such that the attraction of the parallel component currents through the latter approximately compensates the contact repulsion forces.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1999Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AGInventors: Lukas Zehnder, Robert Anderes, Christian Dahler, Kurt Kaltenegger, Thomas Schoenemann
-
Patent number: 6100489Abstract: In the switched-on position, under the influence of contact forces generated by elastic deflection or else by mechanical spreading, or spreading caused by the attraction of parallel currents or repulsion of antiparallel currents, of a switching pin (5) , the switching pins presses against the inner side of a first switching ring (4), which is rigid for the purpose of avoiding mechanical overloading and securing sufficient consumable reserves. By way of example, a support (30) of the switching pin (5) is adjoined by two parallel, elastic extensions (52a, 52b), which are separated by a slot (53) and respectively support a contact member (54a; 54b) by means of a connecting element (55a; 55b) forming half a screw thread, with the result that said contact member is in each case offset by 180.degree. relative to the extension (52a; 52b).Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1999Date of Patent: August 8, 2000Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AGInventors: Lukas Zehnder, Robert Anderes, Christian Dahler, Kurt Kaltenegger, Thomas Schoenemann, Klaus-Dieter Weltmann
-
Patent number: 6093896Abstract: A system (10) for establishing bypass of a failed battery cell (18) includes a failed cell sensor (26) which on sensing a failed cell generates an electric signal that destroys clamping relation of two retaining wire spools (24) to release retaining means (14,16). Such release enables a unitary plunger assembly (28) to be moved by a spring (49) to position a cylindrical pin contact (52) in electrical shorting relation to the first and second electrodes (57,58) connected across the cell (18).Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 1999Date of Patent: July 25, 2000Inventors: Jui-Yu Wu, Matthew B. Dalton
-
Patent number: 6091039Abstract: The gas-insulated line comprises a conductor (1A) disposed inside a case (3A) filled with a dielectric gas under pressure. A power capacitor (5) is electrically connected to the conductor while being disposed inside a compartment (3P) secured to the case (3A) and filled with a dielectric gas under pressure. The dielectric gas present in the compartment (3P) provides electrical insulation for the compartment relative to the power capacitor (5). In this way, electrical insulation of the gas-insulated line between the conductor (1A) and the case (3A) is maintained inside the compartment (3P) in which the power capacitor (5) and the conductor (1A) are electrically interconnected. This results in the gas-insulated line of the invention retaining small bulk and the ability to be used on the ground or buried.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 1998Date of Patent: July 18, 2000Assignee: GEC Alsthom T & D SAInventors: Van Doan Pham, Marcel Guillen, Michel Collet
-
Patent number: 6087609Abstract: A arcing chamber housing is disclosed for a circuit breaker with a double turning contact breaker. The arcing chamber housing (1) is composed of two housing modules (2, 3) and an extinguishing chamber (19) is arranged in the area of the fixed contact pieces (6, 7) to extinguish the arcs which are formed between the contact pieces of the double turning contact breaker. In order to obtain a arcing chamber housing (1) which is easy and economical to produce, with extinguishing chambers (19) which have a reproducible extinguishing behavior once the arcing chamber is assembled, the two housing modules (2, 3) are substantially L-shaped parts whose inner marginal surfaces (4, 5) face each other. The first parts (17, 18) of the housing, which correspond to the first branches of the L-shaped housing modules (2,3), are designed as extinguishing chambers (19). Also disclosed are the housing modules (2, 3) used to produce such a arcing chamber housing.Type: GrantFiled: September 23, 1999Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: Kloeckner-Moeller-GmbHInventors: Lutz Thilker, Wolfgang Erven, Klaus Jung
-
Patent number: 6087603Abstract: The present invention concerns a switch, preferably a steering column switch for an automobile, with which both control currents and load currents are to be controlled. The object of the present invention is to mostly prevent soil and scale from forming on the contact surfaces. The present invention achieves this object by transforming the grinding movement of the operating element into a movement of the contact points perpendicular to one another with the help of a mechanical control. Advantageous embodiments involve the design and positioning of the contact points as well as the design of the mechanical control and a method of assembling the switch according to the present invention.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 1998Date of Patent: July 11, 2000Assignee: ITT Manufacturing Enterprises Inc.Inventors: Walter Hecht, Martin Engelhardt, Rudolf Klein
-
Patent number: 6084193Abstract: A circuit interrupter in the form of a circuit breaker (10) is shown having a movable contact (14a) which moves between contacts engaged and contacts disengaged position relative to a stationary contact (16a). An arc paddle (20) is mounted in a housing (12) for spring biased pivotal motion of an arc dissipating portion between a position out of alignment with the movable and stationary contacts and in engagement with the side of the movable contact when the contacts are in the contacts engaged position and a position in which the arc dissipating portion is in alignment with and in between the contacts when the contacts are in the contacts disengaged position to force arcs which occur between the contacts to extend their travel path and dissipate the arc in an improved shortened period of time. In an alternative embodiment the arc paddle (22) is generally U-shaped having two legs (22a, 22b) connected by a bight (22c).Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 1999Date of Patent: July 4, 2000Assignee: Texas Instruments IncorporatedInventor: Nicholas V. Pellon
-
Patent number: 6080942Abstract: A switch device for controlling electronic equipment. The switch device has a number of switch elements for setting operating functions of the electronic equipment and is changed over by a thrusting operation or by a rotating operation. The switch device includes a first operating unit supported reciprocably and rotatably, a first switch unit switched by a reciprocating operation of the first operating unit, a second switch unit switched by a rotating operation of the first operating unit and an intermittent rotating unit for supporting the first operating unit for intermittent rotation. The changeover operation of a large number of switch elements can be realized by a smaller number of operating units to enable size reduction of the device as such.Type: GrantFiled: February 6, 1998Date of Patent: June 27, 2000Assignee: Sony CorporationInventor: Takumi Sasaki
-
Patent number: 6078015Abstract: An electric switch operating mechanism is disclosed for use with an electric lawn care appliance. The lawn care appliance has a housing, a switch and a movable bail which can be biased between active and inactive positions. An actuator is juxtaposed in between the bail and the switch. When the bail is moved to its active position, it causes the actuator to actuate the switch. The actuator has an engagement surface that engages with the bail to activate the mechanism. The switch further contains a button which enables the bail to engage the actuator.Type: GrantFiled: January 22, 1998Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: MTD Products IncInventor: David M. Martinez
-
Patent number: 6075214Abstract: A push button for a vending machine. The push button includes a lens that is depressed by the customer. Under the lens is a transparent or semi-transparent flexible cover over a plurality of light emitting diodes (LEDs). The color and arrangement of the LEDs can be varied to provide a number of different indicating modes. The present invention does not require items in conventional push buttons, for example, a letter and symbol plate or a reflector case.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 1997Date of Patent: June 13, 2000Assignee: KOHA Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yoshiaki Sato, Eiichi Nakajima
-
Patent number: 6072128Abstract: Rotary-controlled multipole electric switch fitted with a handle (4) and a housing (1) in which a cam device transforms the rotation of the handle into a translational movement of contact bridges (21). In order to ensure coordination between a cylindrical control core (13) and a slider 16 bearing contact bridges, the cam device is fitted with at least two notches (19, 20) offset around the axis of rotation X of the knob (4c), and with a control projection (14) applied respectively to the bottom of one notch in the OFF position and to the bottom of the other notch in the ON position by the force supplied by springs (24) acting on the slider and contact pressure springs (22).Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 1998Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Schneider Electric SAInventors: Rainer Ansorge, Andreas Cramer
-
Patent number: 6072129Abstract: An impact detecting apparatus includes a housing, a fixed electrode located within the housing, a movable electrode located adjacent the fixed electrode and adapted to be electrically connected with the fixed electrode, and a conical slope located within the housing. The conical slope has varying gradients or slopes along the circumferential direction of the conical slope for providing varying sensitivity. A ball is also located on the conical slope, and a shaft is located within the housing. The shaft is movably supported on the housing for engaging the ball and is adapted to control the position of the movable electrode.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: June 6, 2000Assignee: Aisin Seiki Kabushiki KaishaInventors: Masanobu Ishikawa, Koji Ito, Soichiro Masuda, Kazuya Tanaka
-
Patent number: RE36738Abstract: A tilting member has a force bearing portion to which operating force is applied, and a supported surface. A supporting member has a supporting projection with which the supported surface of the tilting member may come in contact. When the operating force is applied to the tilting member, the tilting member tilts with respect to the supporting member. The supporting member supports the tilting member at a supporting point where the supporting projection of the supporting member is in contact with the supported surface of the tilting member, about which supporting point the tilting member tilts. The tilting of the tilting member, with respect to the supporting member, establishes a predetermined electrical contact.Type: GrantFiled: February 3, 1997Date of Patent: June 20, 2000Assignee: Sega Enterprises, Ltd.Inventors: Hiroshi Matsumiya, Takeki Sugiyama