Patents by Inventor Christopher R. Lettow

Christopher R. Lettow 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: 8681462
    Abstract: A circuit testing closer is capable of closing a power distribution circuit and interrupting the resulting current at the next current zero. Upon detecting a fault, the circuit testing closer is operable to open contacts to isolate the fault. Next, the circuit testing closer tests the faulted line to determine whether the fault has cleared. The circuit testing closer may generate a first test signal having a first polarity and a second test signal having a second polarity opposite the first polarity. Generation of the second test signal may be limited to occur when the first test signal indicates a fault.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventors: Raymond P. O'Leary, Christopher R. Lettow, Alejandro Montenegro, John C. Opfer
  • Patent number: 7626397
    Abstract: A circuit testing closer may include a fault isolating switching device coupled between a supply side and a load side of a power distribution system and a current pulse generator coupled in parallel to the switch to generate a current pulse within the power distribution system subsequent to a fault isolation for testing the power distribution system. The current pulse generator may include an electromechanical actuator, an electromagnetic actuator or a solid state switching device. The circuit testing closer may be a purpose-built combination device, or the fault isolating switching device and the current pulse generator may be separately coupled and commonly controlled devices. The fault isolating switching device may have continuous current rating greater than a continuous current rating of the pulse generating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2009
    Assignee: S & C Electric Company
    Inventors: John C. Opfer, Albert B. Tucker, Jr., Christopher R. Lettow, Alejandro Montenegro, Raymond P. O'Leary
  • Publication number: 20080266733
    Abstract: A circuit testing closer is capable of closing a power distribution circuit and interrupting the resulting current at the next current zero. Upon detecting a fault, the circuit testing closer is operable to open contacts to isolate the fault. Next, the circuit testing closer tests the faulted line to determine whether the fault has cleared. The circuit testing closer may generate a first test signal having a first polarity and a second test signal having a second polarity opposite the first polarity. Generation of the second test signal may be limited to occur when the first test signal indicates a fault.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 3, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: S & C ELECTRIC CO.
    Inventors: Raymond P. O'Leary, Christopher R. Lettow, Alejandro Montenegro, John C. Opfer
  • Patent number: 7352265
    Abstract: A manual trip control method and arrangement is provided to manually trip a plurality of circuit interrupters. Specifically, where the circuit interrupters include magnetic-actuator-driven vacuum interrupters including permanent magnets that hold the contacts of the circuit interrupter in the closed position via a plunger, a first of the circuit interrupters is manually tripped via movement of the plunger. To operate the remaining circuit interrupters to trip open, the voltage generated in the magnetic actuator of the first circuit interrupter is coupled to the magnetic actuators of the remaining circuit interrupters for tripping thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Assignee: S & C Electric Co.
    Inventors: John C. Opfer, Christopher R. Lettow