Patents Examined by Marina Fishman
  • Patent number: 8847096
    Abstract: A direct current arc chute includes a ferromagnetic base having first and second ends; first and second ferromagnetic side members disposed from the respective first and second ends; a third ferromagnetic member disposed from the base intermediate the side members and having an end portion opposite the base; and first and second magnets on the respective first and second members have a magnetic polarity facing the third member. A first arc chamber is between the first and third members; and a second arc chamber is between the second and third members. The first magnet and first member extend away from the first end and beyond the end portion, and toward the second magnet and second member after the end portion. The second magnet and second member extend away from the second end and beyond the end portion, and toward the first magnet and first member after the end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Mark A. Juds, Xin Zhou, Amogh V. Kank, Paul J. Rollmann, Robert W. Mueller, Michael F. Bartonek
  • Patent number: 8829380
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to an arc chute for a medium voltage circuit breaker having a housing, at least one stack of a plurality of substantially parallel metal plates arranged in the housing, the at least one stack defining a first axis in parallel to a stacking direction; an arc space arranged in the housing, wherein the arc space is adapted to allow an arc to expand therein; and at least one arc quenching plate disposed in the housing, wherein the arc guiding plate has at least one surface which has a surface plane extending in parallel to the first axis. Further, the present disclosure relates to a circuit breaker having a switching unit with a first switch contact and a second switch contact, movable between a first position, wherein the first switch contact contacts the second switch contact, and a second position, wherein the first switch contact is separated from the second switch contact, and an arc chute.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Philippe Haeberlin, Philippe Noisette, Yoann Alphand
  • Patent number: 8822862
    Abstract: It comprises fixed terminal 42 provided with fixed contact 42a; movable armature 44 provided with movable contact 45; shaft 44 inserted in the movable armature; sealing container 40 holding the fixed terminal and housing the movable armature and the shaft therein in hermetically-sealed state; contact pressure spring 410 giving contact pressure between the movable contact and the fixed contact; return spring 411 urging the shaft to move away from the fixed contact; operation handle 1; shaft pressing piece 56 pressing, in accordance with the operation of the operation handle, the other end of main body of the shaft to move the shaft closer to the fixed contact; and electromagnetic tripping block 6 which makes the movable/fixed contacts open by taking the pressing means away from the other end of the main body of the shaft in case that anomalous current flows through the movable/fixed contacts when they are contacted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventor: Takaaki Cyuzawa
  • Patent number: 8822866
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter has a first contact, a second contact movable with respect to the first contact, an arcing chamber, and an arc splitter. The arc splitter is located on a first side of the first contact, as is an arc runner. An electrical conductor is connected to the arc runner having a first portion running from the first side of the first contact towards a second side of the first contact, the second side being opposite the first side with respect to the first contact. A second portion is connected to the first portion and the second contact; the second portion is located on the second side of the first contact. A current running through the arc runner and the electrical conductor generates a magnetic force on the arc moving the arc toward the arc splitter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael Fasano
  • Patent number: 8822851
    Abstract: A multi-mode keyboard for a portable electronic device is provided. The keyboard comprising: a layer of flexible transparent touch sensors for receiving touch input; a layer of flexible output device; and a dome sheet for receiving key click input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: David Ryan Walker, Steven Henry Fyke
  • Patent number: 8816237
    Abstract: The invention relates to an interrupting chamber for a high-voltage circuit breaker of preferably greater than at least 52 kV adapted to break all currents of value less than or equal to the short-circuit interrupting capacity of the circuit breaker, including asymmetric currents comprising an arc contact, an insulating arc blow-out nozzle having a through hole adapted to be blanked off by a valve, an insulating component which forms two channels, one of which is located between the insulating component and the arc contact, and wherein the hole is in communication with the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Grid SAS
    Inventor: Denis Dufournet
  • Patent number: 8809705
    Abstract: A shutter device is provided for a bypass isolation automatic transfer switch. The shutter device comprises a frame and a shutter that is movably supported by the frame and that is configured to selectively cover and uncover conductors. At least one cam is movably supported by the frame and at least one shutter lever is interposed between the shutter and the at least one cam. The shutter lever is configured to move the shutter in response to movement of the cam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mark Anthony Serrano, Pandu Maddherla, Sudarshan Allada
  • Patent number: 8809707
    Abstract: A combination pressure switch including a pressure switch moveable between open and closed positions in response to a working pressure of a fluid, the pressure switch including a contact assembly having first and second terminals electrically connected through a current-carrying member movable by the pressure switch, and a manual switch configured to move the current-carrying member independent of the movement of the pressure switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Condor-Werke Gebr. Frede GmbH & Co. KG.
    Inventor: Craig R. Wildman
  • Patent number: 8809720
    Abstract: An arc extinguishing mechanism for the mold cased circuit breaker comprises a plurality of arc grids stacked on one another in a perpendicular direction and supporting plates for supporting the arc grids, and each of the arc grids comprises a U-shaped plate portion made of a ferromagnetic material, and having two leg portions, a plurality of supporting protrusions laterally extending from the U-shaped plate portion to be flush with the U-shaped plate portion, thus to allow the U-shaped plate portion to be coupled to the supporting plates for support, and bent portions extending from the leg portions, respectively, by being bent in a perpendicular direction, to minimize an air gap between the adjacent arc grids stacked on each other so as to increase a force of inducing arc generated in the arc chamber toward the arc grids.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: LSIS Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung Jin Ham
  • Patent number: 8809721
    Abstract: A plate-shaped quenching element for a quenching unit of a switching device is produced of an electrically and also magnetically conductive plastic. In a special embodiment, the plastic is composed of a flame retardant material. At least one embodiment relates to a quenching unit and a quenching and plugging unit having a plurality of such quenching elements. Furthermore, at least one embodiment of the invention relates to a switching device having such a quenching unit and/or such a quenching and plugging unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Andreas Krätzschmar
  • Patent number: 8803011
    Abstract: The present invention is an innovation about a sequential switching device with surrounding heterogeneous joint points structure, in which the exterior of a middle conductive joint point is surrounded by a heterogeneous external joint point structure, so that a time delay is generated between the two joint points during the sequential OF/OFF operations, so the service life of joint points of a mechanical joint point switch can be prolonged, and the voltage drop and thermal loss of joint point are reduced, especially characterized in that the engagement and stability of joint points are enhanced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8803021
    Abstract: A switch unit for a DC circuit is disclosed, which includes a first switch contact, and a second switch contact, which is movable between a first position, wherein the first switch contact contacts the second switch contact, and a second position, wherein the second switch contact is separated from the first switch contact. A positioning element to position an arc chute on the switch unit, the arc chute comprises a plurality of substantially parallel metal plates, the positioning element arranged to guide an arc, which is created between the first switch contact and the second switch contact, into the arc chute in an arc displacement direction in order to be extinguished. At least one gas emitting element, wherein at an interruption operation of the circuit breaker at its nominal current, the arc between the first switch contact and the second switch contact vaporizes a portion of the gas emitting layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 12, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Philippe Noisette, Yoann Alphand, Philippe Häberlin
  • Patent number: 8785803
    Abstract: A high voltage switch is provided, comprising a pair of electrodes housed within a high pressure gas vessel and separated by a nominal distance D. At least one of the electrodes is provided with raised surface features each having a radius of curvature that is significantly smaller than the electrode separation D. Preferably one of the electrodes is flat-faced. Preferred gas pressures within the pressure vessel are in the range 300 psi to 1200 psi. When used to switch voltages of several hundred kilovolts, an operational life for the electrodes of between 400 and 1000 hours has been achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: BAE SYSTEMS plc
    Inventor: Paul Anthony James Garner
  • Patent number: 8779316
    Abstract: Described is a high-voltage circuit breaker provided with two opposite-arranged arcing contacts, which are surrounded by an insulating nozzle. Furthermore provided are two main contacts, arranged opposite each other outside of the insulating nozzle, with respectively one of these contacts being assigned to one of the two arcing contacts. The high-voltage circuit breaker is provided, in at least one embodiment, with at least one device for diverting an insulating gas flow from the region between the two arcing contacts, wherein a respective insulating gas flow is conducted outside of the insulating nozzle and in the direction toward the main contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Alstom Grid GmbH
    Inventors: Ing Lutz Drews, Gregoire Cyril
  • Patent number: 8766131
    Abstract: A high-voltage switch includes a contact arrangement having two arcing contacts, one of which is supported displaceably against the action of a pretensioned spring. When the contact arrangement is closed, the free ends of the two arcing contacts are supported on one another. When the contact arrangement is opened, the two arcing contacts separate and during this process an arcing zone, accommodating compressed arc gas, is produced which is limited axially by free ends of the two arcing contacts and radially by an insulating nozzle toward the outside. To prevent the displaceably supported arcing contact from returning against the action of the pretensioned spring when a large short-circuit current is interrupted, the switch includes a piston/cylinder system functioning as a restoring device, which communicates with the arcing zone and which, with increasing pressure of the compressed arc gas produced in the arcing zone, generates a restoring force supporting the repelling force of the pretensioned spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Javier Mantilla, Nicola Gariboldi, Stephan Grob, Oliver Cossalter, Mathias-Dominic Buergler
  • Patent number: 8766124
    Abstract: A dome switch can include a dome mounted to a circuit board and secured by a sheet constructed from a material that is impermeable to air. To allow air enclosed by a volume between the dome and the circuit board to be expelled when the dome is depressed, the sheet can include at least one venting hole through which air can flow to the environment of the switch. To prevent contaminants from accessing the volume between the dome and the circuit board through the at least one venting hole, the dome switch can include a membrane positioned over the venting hole. The membrane can be constructed from a material that is permeable to air, but impermeable to contaminants. In some cases, the membrane can be constructed from a mesh material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Felix Alvarez, Teodor Dabov, Emery Sanford
  • Patent number: 8742274
    Abstract: In a switching device (1), in particular a line circuit breaker and/or a residual current circuit breaker, having a housing (2) and having switching contacts for closing and/or opening at least one circuit, wherein a tripping apparatus for automatically disconnecting the switching contacts is provided, wherein the housing (2) has at least one front side (3), the invention proposes, for the purpose of meeting changing requirements from the market or the customers quickly, flexibly and at favorable cost, clipping a cover cap (4) onto the front side (3).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Moeller Gebaeudeautomation GmbH
    Inventor: Ernst Hammermayer
  • Patent number: 8742278
    Abstract: A switchgear device, for breaking a bidirectional direct current in an electric line, having at least two connection terminals, and an even number of pairs of separable contacts, arc chutes associated with pairs of separable contacts, and tripping mechanisms associated with pairs of separable contacts and connected to one another by a mechanical link, each arc chute having an arc extinguishing chamber and permanent magnets for creating a polarity enabling an electric arc to be removed to an arc extinguishing chamber when current is flowing in the electric line in a predefined direction, the predefined direction being different for one half of the arc chutes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Eric Domejean, Serge Paggi
  • Patent number: 8735760
    Abstract: A gas insulated switchgear includes stationary contacts, movable contacts contactable with or uncontactable from the stationary contacts, an insulation case housing the stationary contacts and the movable contacts so as to support the same, the insulation case having a shape of a pipe, flanges disposed at an inner circumferential surface of the insulation case in a circumferential direction, each of the flanges having an annular shape, and a collection groove portion formed at the flanges and collecting metal particles generated during contact or separation operation between the stationary contactors and the movable contactors. Under this configuration, the metal particles can be collected and laid in the collection groove portion provided at the flanges, accordingly, the metal particles cannot be stuck on an insulation member or other components of the insulation case, resulting in obviating occurrence of insulation breakdown within the switchgear and improving reliability of a product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sang Yong Jin
  • Patent number: 8735758
    Abstract: A circuit breaker which includes first and second contact pairs and a contact arm arranged in series. A first arm contact and a first terminal contact from a first line terminal form a first contact pair. A second arm contact and a second terminal contact from a second line terminal contact form a second contact pair. The first contact pair, contact arm and second contact pair are connected in a series arrangement in which the air gaps formed when the first and second contact pairs are separated combine to form an effective air gap which is double in size and thus increases an interrupting capacity of the circuit breaker. An arc chamber is associated with the first and second contact pairs for extinguishing an arc formed in the air gaps. The first and second contact pairs may also be arranged in a parallel configuration for increasing an amperage rating of the circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2014
    Assignee: Siemens Industry, Inc.
    Inventors: Hai Chen, Larry Navarre, Hector Malacara