Patents by Inventor Alain Girodet

Alain Girodet has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Publication number: 20230088430
    Abstract: A mechanical cut-off apparatus of a high-voltage electric circuit includes: in a main electrical path a main mechanical switch; in a secondary electrical path, a secondary mechanical switch; a mechanical control configured such that, the secondary mechanical switch is brought to its mechanically open state after the main mechanical switch has been brought to its mechanically open state; the apparatus includes a transition dipole comprising a capacitance, the transition dipole arranged in series with the pair of secondary electrical contacts in the secondary electrical path, and in that the apparatus includes a controlled switch which, in an electrically closed state, creates inside the mechanical cut-off apparatus a bypass that short-circuits the capacitance of the transition dipole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2021
    Publication date: March 23, 2023
    Inventors: Florent MOREL, Paul VINSON, Thanh VU CONG, Nihal EL FAHIM, Alain GIRODET
  • Patent number: 10199183
    Abstract: A medium- or high-voltage switch (10), comprising a high-vacuum enclosure (111); first and second contacts (121, 122) that are mounted to be movable in translation relative to each other inside the enclosure (111) between an open position in which the first and second contacts (121, 122) are spaced apart; and a closed position in which the first and second contacts (121, 122) are in electrical contact. The switch (10) further comprises a conductor (210, 220, 230) arranged inside the enclosure (111) in such a manner that there exists a pressure threshold inside the enclosure (111) from which partial discharges are generated by said conductor, at least when the first and second contacts (121, 122) are in the closed position and the medium or high voltage is applied to the switch (10). The invention further relates to a switch assembly and to a method of testing such a switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: SUPERGRID INSTITUTE SAS
    Inventors: Paul Vinson, Alain Girodet
  • Publication number: 20180331531
    Abstract: The invention relates to circuit breaker apparatus for a high- or medium-voltage direct current network, the circuit breaker apparatus comprising a branch (A-A?) with a mechanical circuit breaker (S1) inserted in the network line, and, connected in parallel therewith, firstly a lightning arrestor (5) branch, and secondly a series connection of a first capacitor bank (C), a make switch (S2), and an inductor. According to the invention, the circuit breaker apparatus includes at least one resistive voltage divider (Rs) connected to the network voltage and presenting a low voltage stage (R1s) connected in parallel with the capacitor bank (C) in order to charge the capacitor bank.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2016
    Publication date: November 15, 2018
    Inventors: Christophe CREUSOT, Alain GIRODET, Michel MERMET GUYENNET, Alberto BERTINATO
  • Patent number: 9899125
    Abstract: The present invention relates to medium- or high-voltage equipment having low environmental impact, including a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components covered with a solid dielectric layer of varying thickness and a gaseous medium for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in said enclosure, and that comprises heptafluoroisobutyronitrile in a mixture with a dilution gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2018
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Jacques Porte
  • Patent number: 9837801
    Abstract: The present invention provides medium- or high-voltage equipment including a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components and a gas mixture for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in said enclosure, the gas mixture comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile, carbon dioxide, and oxygen in small quantities. Electrical components covered in a solid dielectric layer of varying thickness are located inside said leaktight enclosure of the equipment of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Christophe Creusot, Jacques Porte
  • Publication number: 20170200572
    Abstract: A medium- or high-voltage switch (10), comprising a high-vacuum enclosure (111); first and second contacts (121, 122) that are mounted to be movable in translation relative to each other inside the enclosure (111) between an open position in which the first and second contacts (121, 122) are spaced apart; and a closed position in which the first and second contacts (121, 122) are in electrical contact. The switch (10) further comprises a conductor (210, 220, 230) arranged inside the enclosure (111) in such a manner that there exists a pressure threshold inside the enclosure (111) from which partial discharges are generated by said conductor, at least when the first and second contacts (121, 122) are in the closed position and the medium or high voltage is applied to the switch (10). The invention further relates to a switch assembly and to a method of testing such a switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2015
    Publication date: July 13, 2017
    Inventors: Paul Vinson, Alain Girodet
  • Publication number: 20170162349
    Abstract: A breaking chamber (1) for a medium- or high-voltage circuit breaker extending along a longitudinal axis (XX?) and comprising: a pair of arcing contact (4, 5), at least one (5) of which is movable along the longitudinal axis (XX?); an arc-blast nozzle (6); a blast chamber (7), having a volume V2 that is constant and that opens out inside the blast nozzle; a compression chamber (8), arranged substantially behind the blast chamber, and structures (73, 81) for putting the internal volume of the compression chamber (8) into communication with the internal volume of the blast chamber (7); and structures (14, 15, 50), disposed substantially behind the compression chamber (8), in order to deliver liquid, either into the compression chamber (8), or directly into the blast chamber (7).
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 8, 2015
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Alain GIRODET, François BIQUEZ, Yannick KIEFFEL
  • Patent number: 9510493
    Abstract: There is provided a method of providing an electric insulating and/or electric arc extinguishing gaseous medium within a sealed enclosure of a medium-voltage electrical device comprising electrical components, the method including enclosing the gaseous medium in the sealed enclosure, wherein the gaseous medium includes a hydrofluoroolefin comprising three carbon atoms and a fluoroketone comprising five carbon atoms. There is also provided a medium-voltage electrical device, including a sealed enclosure comprising electrical components; and a gaseous medium provided within the sealed enclosure, the gaseous medium being an electric insulating and/or electric arc extinguishing medium, wherein the gaseous medium comprises a hydrofluoroolefin comprising three carbon atoms and a fluoroketone comprising five carbon atoms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Daniel Piccoz, Romain Maladen
  • Patent number: 9491877
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a mixture comprising a hydrofluoroolefin, possibly associated with a dilution gas, as a gaseous electrical insulation and/or electrical arc extinguishing medium in substation medium-voltage electrical device. It also relates to medium-voltage electrical device in which electrical insulation and/or electrical arc extinguishing is (are) performed by a gaseous medium comprising hydrofluoroolefin, possibly associated with a dilution gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2016
    Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Daniel Piccoz, Romain Maladen
  • Publication number: 20160241004
    Abstract: The present invention provides medium- or high-voltage equipment including a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components and a gas mixture for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in said enclosure, the gas mixture comprising heptafluoroisobutyronitrile, carbon dioxide, and oxygen in small quantities. Electrical components covered in a solid dielectric layer of varying thickness are located inside said leaktight enclosure of the equipment of the invention.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 17, 2014
    Publication date: August 18, 2016
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Christophe Creusot, Jacques Porte
  • Publication number: 20150228375
    Abstract: The present invention relates to medium- or high-voltage equipment having low environmental impact, including a leaktight enclosure in which there are located electrical components covered with a solid dielectric layer of varying thickness and a gaseous medium for providing electrical insulation and/or for extinguishing electric arcs that are likely to occur in said enclosure, and that comprises heptafluoroisobutyronitrile in a mixture with a dilution gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Publication date: August 13, 2015
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Jacques Porte
  • Patent number: 8852466
    Abstract: The present invention relates to switchgear for breaking a medium- or high-voltage electric current, which switchgear comprises a leaktight enclosure in which electrical components are found as well as a gaseous medium for extinguishing the electric arcs likely to occur in said enclosure, and which switchgear is characterized in that: the gaseous medium comprises at least one fluoroketone alone or in a mixture with at least one gas that does not form part of the fluoroketone family; the fluoroketone is present in the enclosure in part in the liquid state and in part in the gaseous state; and in that the enclosure further comprises means for absorbing molecular species that form after the ionization experienced by said fluoroketone during arcing. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing said switchgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2014
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Energy France
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Daniel Piccoz, Alain Girodet
  • Publication number: 20140233159
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a mixture comprising a hydrofluoroolefin and a fluoroketone, optionally associated with a dilution gas, as an electric insulating and/or electric arc extinguishing medium in a medium-voltage electrical device. It also relates to a medium-voltage electrical device in which electrical insulation and/or electric arc extinguishing is (are) provided by a mixture comprising a hydrofluoroolefin and a fluoroketone, optionally associated with a dilution gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 21, 2012
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Daniel Piccoz, Romain Maladen
  • Publication number: 20140196932
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a mixture comprising a hydrofluoroolefin, possibly associated with a dilution gas, as a gaseous electrical insulation and/or electrical arc extinguishing medium in substation medium-voltage electrical device. It also relates to medium-voltage electrical device in which electrical insulation and/or electrical arc extinguishing is (are) performed by a gaseous medium comprising hydrofluoroolefin, possibly associated with a dilution gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 5, 2012
    Publication date: July 17, 2014
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Daniel Piccoz, Romain Maladen
  • Publication number: 20140190726
    Abstract: The invention relates to the use of a mixture comprising decafluoro-2-methylbutan-3-one and a carrier gas or dilution gas as a medium for electrical insulation and/or for extinction of electric arcs in a medium- or high-voltage electrical device. It also relates to a medium- or high-voltage electrical device in which electrical insulation and/or extinction of electric arcs is/are implemented by a mixture comprising decafluoro-2-methylbutan-3-one and a carrier gas or dilution gas. Applications: electrical transformers, gas-insulated lines for transporting or distributing electricity, set of busbars, electrical connection/disconnection devices (circuit breakers, switches, switch-fuse sets, disconnectors, earthing switches, contactors, etc.).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC INDUSTRIES SAS
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Alain Girodet, Daniel Piccoz
  • Publication number: 20130215555
    Abstract: The present invention relates to switchgear for breaking a medium- or high-voltage electric current, which switchgear comprises a leaktight enclosure in which electrical components are found as well as a gaseous medium for extinguishing the electric arcs likely to occur in said enclosure, and which switchgear is characterized in that: the gaseous medium comprises at least one fluoroketone alone or in a mixture with at least one gas that does not form part of the fluoroketone family; the fluoroketone is present in the enclosure in part in the liquid state and in part in the gaseous state; and in that the enclosure further comprises means for absorbing molecular species that form after the ionization experienced by said fluoroketone during arcing. The invention also relates to a method of manufacturing said switchgear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC ENERGY FRANCE
    Inventors: Yannick Kieffel, Daniel Piccoz, Alain Girodet
  • Patent number: 7790997
    Abstract: A switch unit comprising a circuit breaker and a disconnector disposed in one plane and fixed to a metal casing. Common drive means comprise: a single insulating drive bar adapted to move in a straight line in the same plane as the plane of straight line movement of the movable contacts of the circuit breaker and disconnector; and at least one mechanical assembly mounted in the metal casing, at least part of the mechanical assembly being driven by the single insulating drive rod while permitting non-simultaneous straight-line movement of the two movable contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Areva T&D SA
    Inventors: Alain Girodet, Christian Lindner, Igor Deprez, Olivier Le Grand
  • Publication number: 20090120907
    Abstract: A switch unit comprising a circuit breaker and a disconnector disposed in one plane and fixed to a metal casing. Common drive means comprise: a single insulating drive bar adapted to move in a straight line in the same plane as the plane of straight line movement of the movable contacts of the circuit breaker and disconnector; and at least one mechanical assembly mounted in the metal casing, at least part of the mechanical assembly being driven by the single insulating drive rod while permitting non-simultaneous straight-line movement of the two movable contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 14, 2009
    Applicant: AREVA T&D SA
    Inventors: Alain GIRODET, Christian Lindner, Igor Deprez, Olivier Le Grand
  • Patent number: 7426100
    Abstract: A device for the actuation of the movable contacts of a hybrid circuit breaker allows the following time diagram to be implemented: command the opening of the interrupting chamber, offset the opening of the vacuum switch so as to allow the interrupting chamber contacts to separate at a minimum speed and in a way that is synchronous with the separation of the vacuum switch contacts, close the vacuum switch while keeping the interrupting chamber in the open position. Moreover, closing the interrupting chamber does not act upon the contacts of the vacuum switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 16, 2008
    Assignee: Areva T&D SA
    Inventors: Andre Neveu, Andre Cimala, Alain Girodet, Mehdi Lebiad, Gwenael Marquezin
  • Publication number: 20060091112
    Abstract: A device for the actuation of the movable contacts of a hybrid circuit breaker allows the following time diagram to be implemented: command the opening of the interrupting chamber, offset the opening of the vacuum switch so as to allow the interrupting chamber contacts to separate at a minimum speed and in a way that is synchronous with the separation of the vacuum switch contacts, close the vacuum switch while keeping the interrupting chamber in the open position. Moreover, closing the interrupting chamber does not act upon the contacts of the vacuum switch. The actuation device can be found in a number of embodiments, and allows the vacuum interrupter to be controlled when the circuit breaker is triggered or closed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Publication date: May 4, 2006
    Applicant: AREVA T&D SA
    Inventors: Andre Neveu, Andre Cimala, Alain Girodet, Mehdi Lebiad, Gwenael Marquezin