Patents by Inventor Alf Wabner

Alf Wabner 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).

  • Patent number: 8243409
    Abstract: A protective device is disclosed for combination with an electrical switching device including a main current line or for integration in such a switching device. In at least one embodiment, the protective device includes a switching element and a switching apparatus, which is provided for the actuation of the switching element and is influenced by a current flow through the main current line. In at least one embodiment, in order to influence the switching apparatus, a current transformer is integrated in the main current line and an electrical resistance of a secondary winding surrounded by the current transformer can be measured. A method for operating a protective device is also disclosed wherein the switching apparatus is triggered so as to actuate the switching element if the measured resistance reaches or exceeds a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Bardo Koppmann, Siegfried Neumann, Ludwig Niebler, Bernhard Streich, Alf Wabner, Norbert Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7978036
    Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for the secure operation of a switching device including at least one main contact which can be switched on and off and which includes contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor and the contact bridge are actively connected to each other such that the corresponding main contact can be opened or closed when switched on and off. In at least one embodiment, the method includes the following: a) the path difference, which returns the anchor after switching on and off, is recognised, b) devices which are used to open welded main contacts are released by a release device when the recognised path difference exceeds a predetermined value and a specific time duration of time has run out after switching off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Adunka, Peter Hartinger, Bardo Koppmann, Norbert Mitlmeier, Ludwig Niebler, Fritz Pohl, Alf Wabner, Norbert Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7872552
    Abstract: A method and a device for the secure operation of a switching device are disclosed, including at least one main contact which can be switched on and off and which includes contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and also at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor acts upon the contact bridge when it is switched on or off such that the corresponding main contact is opened and closed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: a) the displaceable contact bridge of the at least one main contact recognizes when an opening point has been exceeded after being switched off, and b) the additional operation of the switching device is interrupted, according to a predetermined duration of time, when the opening point is not exceeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 18, 2011
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Adunka, Peter Hartinger, Bardo Koppmann, Norbert Mitlmeier, Ludwig Niebler, Fritz Pohl, Alf Wabner, Norbert Zimmermann
  • Patent number: 7760055
    Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for the secure operation of a switching device including at least two main contacts which can be switched on and off and which includes respectively, contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor acts upon the contact bridge when it is switched on and off such that the corresponding main contact is opened or closed. At least one embodiment of the inventive method includes the following steps: a) release device for a force element remains in a first state in order to interrupt the main contact as long as the main contacts are closed when switched on and open when switched off, and b) the release device are transferred into a second state if at least the main contact is welded after switching off.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2010
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Robert Adunka, Peter Hartinger, Bardo Koppmann, Norbert Mitlmeier, Ludwig Niebler, Fritz Pohl, Alf Wabner, Norbert Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20100002350
    Abstract: A protective device is disclosed for combination with an electrical switching device including a main current line or for integration in such a switching device. In at least one embodiment, the protective device includes a switching element and a switching apparatus, which is provided for the actuation of the switching element and is influenced by a current flow through the main current line. In at least one embodiment, in order to influence the switching apparatus, a current transformer is integrated in the main current line and an electrical resistance of a secondary winding surrounded by the current transformer can be measured. A method for operating a protective device is also disclosed wherein the switching apparatus is triggered so as to actuate the switching element if the measured resistance reaches or exceeds a predetermined or predeterminable threshold value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Publication date: January 7, 2010
    Inventors: Bardo Koppmann, Siegfried Neumann, Ludwig Niebler, Bernhard Streich, Alf Wabner, Norbert Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20090213517
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for switching at least one current includes a switching mechanism located in a switching chamber. The switching mechanism interrupts and connects a current path in an orderly fashion. Switching devices frequently have a protective function, e.g. relative to a power grid, and it is therefore desirable for supporting the protective function to identify faults and/or wear within the switching device. To this end, the switching device includes at least one temperature measuring unit that aids in detecting faults and wear within the switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Karl-Hans Bärnklau, Josef Götz, Michael Soukup, Alf Wabner
  • Publication number: 20080129430
    Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for the secure operation of a switching device including at least two main contacts which can be switched on and off and which includes respectively, contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor acts upon the contact bridge when it is switched on and off such that the corresponding main contact is opened or closed. At least one embodiment of the inventive method includes the following steps: a) release device for a force element remains in a first state in order to interrupt the main contact as long as the main contacts are closed when switched on and open when switched off, and b) the release device are transferred into a second state if at least the main contact is welded after switching off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: June 5, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Adunka, Peter Hartinger, Bardo Koppmann, Norbert Mitlmeier, Ludwig Niebler, Fritz Pohl, Alf Wabner, Norbert Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20080110732
    Abstract: A method and a device are disclosed for the secure operation of a switching device including at least one main contact which can be switched on and off and which includes contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor and the contact bridge are actively connected to each other such that the corresponding main contact can be opened or closed when switched on and off. In at least one embodiment, the method includes the following: a) the path difference, which returns the anchor after switching on and off, is recognised, b) devices which are used to open welded main contacts are released by a release device when the recognised path difference exceeds a predetermined value and a specific time duration of time has run out after switching off.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: May 15, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Adunka, Peter Hartinger, Bardo Koppmann, Norbet Mitlmeier, Ludwig Niebler, Fritz Pohl, Alf Wabner, Norbert Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20080036562
    Abstract: A method and a device for the secure operation of a switching device are disclosed, including at least one main contact which can be switched on and off and which includes contact pieces and a displaceable contact bridge, and also at least one control magnet which includes a displaceable anchor. The anchor acts upon the contact bridge when it is switched on or off such that the corresponding main contact is opened and closed. In at least one embodiment, the method includes: a) the displaceable contact bridge of the at least one main contact recognises when an opening point has been exceeded after being switched off, and b) the additional operation of the switching device is interrupted, according to a predetermined duration of time, when the opening point is not exceeded.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2005
    Publication date: February 14, 2008
    Inventors: Robert Adunka, Peter Hartinger, Bardo Koppmann, Norbert Mitlmeier, Ludwig Niebler, Fritz Pohl, Alf Wabner, Norbert Zimmermann
  • Publication number: 20070177324
    Abstract: An overload release is disclosed for interrupting a load current circuit. The release includes an electronic processing unit that generates a current signal according to the current in the load circuit, and a thermomechanical release that releases a switch latch according to the received current signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 2, 2007
    Inventor: Alf Wabner
  • Patent number: 7098762
    Abstract: An electromechanical switch includes a main contact provided with a number of main fixed contacts and a mobile main contact bridge; an auxiliary contact which precedes the main contact in the switch-on process and includes a number of auxiliary fixed contacts and a mobile auxiliary contact bridge; and a contact bridge carrier for actuating the main contact bridge and the auxiliary contact bridge. At least one of the contact parts is spring-mounted. The electromechanical switch has two stable positions of the auxiliary contact bridge or the auxiliary fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Alf Wabner
  • Publication number: 20050219020
    Abstract: An electromechanical switch includes a main contact provided with a number of main fixed contacts and a mobile main contact bridge; an auxiliary contact which precedes the main contact in the switch-on process and includes a number of auxiliary fixed contacts and a mobile auxiliary contact bridge; and a contact bridge carrier for actuating the main contact bridge and the auxiliary contact bridge. At least one of the contact parts is spring-mounted. The electromechanical switch has two stable positions of the auxiliary contact bridge or the auxiliary fixed contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2004
    Publication date: October 6, 2005
    Inventor: Alf Wabner