Patents Examined by Marina Fishman
  • Patent number: 8445801
    Abstract: A switch comprises a room light case, a switch knob arranged inside an aperture portion of the room light case, guide grooves provided on an inner circumferential face of the aperture portion of the room light case, and guide ribs provided on an outer circumferential face of the switch knob. The switch knob moves for a switch stroke part in a depth direction of the aperture portion, from a waiting position to a pressed-down position by a pressing down operation. The guide grooves are provided in a range deeper than a depth size of the switch stroke from an opening edge located on the switch case surface side of the aperture portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Yazaki Corporation
    Inventor: Kousuke Yoshida
  • Patent number: 8445802
    Abstract: A button structure includes a pressing member and a housing. The pressing member has a plate portion and a pressing portion protruding from the plate portion, and the plate portion is elastic. The housing has an end wall defining a through hole. The pressing member is assembled in the housing, a portion of the plate portion is fixed on the end wall, and the pressing portion extends through the through hole. The plate portion pivots relative to the end wall by pressing the pressing portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited
    Inventor: Ming-Chun Hsiung
  • Patent number: 8445804
    Abstract: A cartridge having at least three shields including a mid-potential shield between two contacts and at least one partial shield between a mid-potential shield and one of the contacts, the distance between the mid-potential shield and the contacts being such that the electric field present at the edge of the contact extends from the contact to the partial shield surrounding it, or vice-versa from the partial shield to the contact, depending on the polarity of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SAS
    Inventors: Hans Schellekens, Serge Olive, Olivier Cardoletti, Bernard Yvars
  • Patent number: 8445805
    Abstract: A vacuum switching device with pre-insertion contact arrangement is disclosed. The vacuum switch includes first and second contact systems. The first contact system includes an annular stationary contact and an annular moving contact retained on a moving contact drive rod. A second contact system includes a moving contact retained on an end of the moving contact drive rod and a floating contact retained along the same axis as the second moving contact. Both contact systems are enclosed in a vacuum envelope. A mechanical adjustment system is provided for the floating contact, which allows it to be positioned so that the secondary moving contact and floating moving contact may engage at a set interval before the annular moving contact engages the annular stationary contact. A resistor or inductor is connected between the second contact system and a load to prevent a current in-rush into the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 21, 2013
    Inventor: Michael David Glaser
  • Patent number: 8440930
    Abstract: Disclosed is a vacuum circuit breaker. A rotation link provided between a rotation shaft which transfers a rotation force of a driving force, and a moveable link which performs a linear motion by a rotation force of the rotation shaft is configured to receive a tensile force to be pulled to a direction of the rotation shaft when a driving unit performs a closing operation. This may prevent the moveable link from being buckled during a closing operation, and thus prevent lowering of the reliability due to deformation of sliding levers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Dong Sik Lee
  • Patent number: 8431842
    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: January 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Tai-Her Yang
  • Patent number: 8431846
    Abstract: Disclosed is a transfer device for an automatic transfer switch. With the configuration of the transfer device, the transfer device, which is installed between a plurality of air circuit breakers to allow switching of a closed state and a tripped state of the plurality of air circuit breakers, can be modularized so as to be easily assembled. A length of a transmission rod can be adjusted so as to facilitate assembly and maintenance of the transfer device and also minimize the probability of occurring an assembly error, allowing accurate closing and trip operations. The transmission rod may be provided with a buffer to reduce impact noise generated upon switching of the closing and trip operations of each air circuit breaker and enhance reliability of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: LS Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae Goo Lyu
  • Patent number: 8431850
    Abstract: A button structure includes an installation assembly, a slidable member, a pressable member, and a first resilient member and a second resilient member. The slidable member is slidably attached to the installation assembly. A pressable portion is formed on the slidable member. The pressable member is pivotably mounted to the installation assembly. A pressable cantilever extends from the pressable member. A guide portion protrudes from the pressable cantilever and abuts against the pressable portion. When the slidable member is pushed to deform the first resilient member, the pressable portion presses the guide portion to urge the pressable member to pivot. Thus the second resilient member is deformed, and the pressable cantilever pushes the button to power on or off the electronic device. When the slidable member is released, the first and second resilient members are restored to respectively force the slidable member and the pressable member to return.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignees: Hong Fu Jin Precision Industry (ShenZhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ri-Dong Huang, Chang-Zheng Xu, Hsuan-Tsung Chen, Guang-Yao Lee
  • Patent number: 8426759
    Abstract: Vacuum circuit breakers are to gain an extended lifetime by reducing contact face damage of moving and fixed electrodes with improved voltage withstand performance therebetween and enhanced interruption performance. Vacuum circuit breaker of the present invention has bulb 10 having: insulative vacuum tube 11; and fixed electrode 12 on end of current-carrying conductor 13 and moving electrode 15 on end of another current-carrying conductor 16 arranged in insulative vacuum tube 11 with their electrode contact faces opposed each other. Operation system for manipulating current-carrying conductor 16 of moving electrode 15 is equipped with compression-spring 20 and auxiliary compression-spring 21 that increases initial opening speed of moving electrode 15. Auxiliary compression-spring 21 ceases energizing in the middle of a circuit breaking movement of moving electrode 15 and begins storing spring energy in the middle of a circuit closing movement of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Meiden T&D Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuhiro Nagatake, Tooru Kobayashi, Yoshihiko Matsui
  • Patent number: 8426760
    Abstract: A high-voltage circuit breaker has an interrupter unit, a closing resistor and a switch which is connected in series with the closing resistor. The interrupter unit has a driven first interrupter contact which can move along an axis and interacts with a second interrupter contact, which is arranged on the axis in order to open and close the high-voltage circuit breaker. The switch has a switching contact which can rotate about a rotation shaft (D) and whose rotary movement is coupled by of a link control to the movement along the axis (A1) of the first interrupter contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Walter Holaus, Diego Sologuren-Sanchez, Thomas-Juerg Willi, Urs Kruesi, Sami Kotilainen, Martin Holstein, Anupam Arya, Kalpesh Chauhan, Miguel Garcia, Markus Keller
  • Patent number: 8420969
    Abstract: An embodiment of a switchgear has: a closing shaft; a main lever fixed to the closing shaft and associated with a movable contact; a cutoff spring; a sub-shaft; a sub-lever and a latch lever which are connected to the sub-shaft; a roller pin mounted to the leading end of the latch lever; a latch; a latch returning spring for urging the latch; a latch pin fixed to the latch; and a ring mounted to the latch pin so as to be movable in the radial direction of the latch pin. In the closed state, the roller pin presses the leading end of the latch. In power cutoff operation, latch is pulled so as to permit rotation of the latch, engagement between the roller pin and the leading end of the latch is disengaged, and the sub-shaft is rotated by urging by the cutoff spring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoshi Marushima, Yoshiaki Ohda, Yoshikata Kobayashi, Masaharu Shimizu, Hirokazu Takagi
  • Patent number: 8420961
    Abstract: An interlock contact block providing an automatic electrical disconnect for pushbutton operated contact blocks when components of the pushbutton switch assembly become sufficiently loose or dislodged from one another that proper operation of one or more contact blocks associated with the switch assembly can not be operated by the pushbutton assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Conrad S. Weiden, T. Ray Robbins
  • Patent number: 8415579
    Abstract: Insulated vacuum switchgear and active switchgear elements therefor are provided with a rigid support structure mechanically isolating a vacuum insulator from axial loads in use without reinforcing or insulating encapsulations. At least one of the elastomeric insulating housing and the support structure directly contacts an outer surface of the insulator. Systems and methods for assembling the switchgear are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company
    Inventors: Frank John Muench, Michael Patrick Culhane, Brian Todd Steinbrecher, Paul Newcomb Stoving, John Mitchell Makal, Paul Michael Roscizewski
  • Patent number: 8415580
    Abstract: A carrier link insulator electrically insulates a carrier drive link from an arc chamber in a circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Brian John Schaltenbrand, Mark Anthony Janusek, Robert William Mueller
  • Patent number: 8415578
    Abstract: An electrical circuit breaker has a first contact piece which can be moved in a first movement range along a switching axis and has an arcing contact, a second contact piece which can move along the switching axis and which has a further arcing contact, a drive for moving the first contact piece and a gear for transferring the movement of the first contact piece to the second contact piece. The gear has a first dead point which is passed through on the output drive side by the gear during the movement of the first contact piece in the first movement range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Olaf Hunger, Jürg Nufer
  • Patent number: 8410389
    Abstract: A remotely controlled, motorized drive system for a disconnector used in switchgear. An operator pushes a button on a remote control, which signals a receiver in the disconnector to engage a motor that is coupled to a drive shaft. The drive shaft causes movable contacts of the disconnector to be moved into engagement or out of engagement with sets of fixed contacts in the switchgear that are connected to the line supply and to the circuit breaker that is bolted into the switchgear. One set of contacts is electrically coupled to the line supply, which can carry up to three phases of current. Another set of contacts is connected to corresponding terminals of the circuit breaker. A second motor controls movement of a grounding bar that grounds the circuit breaker to earth. Indicator lights on the switchgear panel indicate the position of the disconnector for visual confirmation of the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Richard M. Trussler, Gregory B. Lee
  • Patent number: 8395062
    Abstract: There is provided a novel switch having a function of overcurrent protection. In a switch comprising a conductive movable member (9) and at least two terminals (1, 2, 3) and being switchable by mechanically moving the movable member (9) between a state in which the movable member (9) contacts with the two terminals (1, 2) simultaneously and a state in which the movable member (9) is apart from either one (1) of the two terminals (1, 2), at least one (2) of the two terminals (1, 2) is separated into a conductive contact part (2a) for contacting with the movable member (9) and a conductive connect part (2b) for being electrically connected with an external element (not shown), and a PTC member (2b) is located between the contact part (2a) and the connect part (2c). The PTC member (2b) may be a PTC element having a PTC material layer and a pair of conductive material layers each located on opposed surfaces of the PTC material layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Raychem KK
    Inventor: Katsuaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8395067
    Abstract: According to an embodiment, a switchgear operating mechanism has a roller pin rotatably fixed to a leading end of a latch lever. A latch is fixed to a solenoid lever at a position different from the rotation axis of the solenoid lever, and has a leading end engageable with the roller pin. In a state where the switchgear operating state is shifted from the closed state to the cutoff state, the solenoid lever is pushed by an electromagnetic solenoid for cutoff so as to be rotated in an opposite direction to the biasing direction of the solenoid lever return spring, and the latch lever is rotated by a biasing force of the roller pin to release an engagement between the roller pin and the leading end of the latch, which causes a cutoff spring to discharge its energy to rotate the latch lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Satoshi Marushima, Yoshikata Kobayashi, Yoshiaki Ohda, Masaharu Shimizu, Tooru Inoue
  • Patent number: 8389886
    Abstract: An electrical breaker device, in particular a high-voltage circuit breaker, and a method for improved quenching gas cooling are disclosed. Cold gas is stored intermediately in the exhaust region, and a first partial gas flow is guided to bypass the intermediately stored cold gas and to flow off into the breaker chamber, the intermediately stored cold gas being forcibly displaced out of the exhaust region with the aid of a second partial gas flow and being mixed with the first partial gas flow before flowing off into the breaker chamber housing. Exemplary embodiments relate, inter alia, to the design of the intermediate storage volume for the cold gas and to auxiliary means for precooling the hot quenching gas. Advantages are, inter alia, improved quenching gas cooling, an increased circuit breaker rating and/or a more compact breaker design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Andreas Dahlquist, Christian Franck, Martin Kriegel, Martin Seeger, Henrik Nordborg
  • Patent number: 8383969
    Abstract: A draw-out type circuit breaker apparatus is provided and includes a base from which a circuit breaker is selectively dismounted and moved along a first portion of a dismounting path into a disconnected position, a plate, fixed to the base, which is configured to guide the movement of the circuit breaker along the dismounting path, and a toggle link, coupled to the plate and biased to remain in a locking position, which is configured to block the circuit breaker from moving along the dismounting path beyond the disconnected position while the toggle link remains in the locking position, and to cause the circuit breaker to freely move from the disconnected position and along a second further portion of the dismounting path upon a temporary defeat of the bias thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Mahadeva Mittu, Adam Skrudlik, Tomasz Ignasiak, Lars Pommerencke