Patents by Inventor DAN E. HRNCIR

DAN E. HRNCIR 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: 11245256
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices, for forming and using an arc flash mitigation switch are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an arc flash mitigation switch includes a cylindrical shell having a first end cap and a second end cap located at either end of the cylindrical shell. A first and second conductive feed through extend through the first and second end cap, respectively, at one end, and at the other connect to a first and second electrode separated by a gap. The exemplary arc flash mitigation switch further includes a trigger feed through that receives a trigger current that commutates the external arc flash event into the arc flash mitigation switch, quenching the external hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 8, 2022
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: John Joseph Shea, Paul J. Rollmann, Dan E. Hrncir, Jason B. Carrodus
  • Patent number: 10819106
    Abstract: An arc quenching device includes a frame, at least one controlled-arcing device supported by the frame, and at least one contact assembly supported by the frame and electrically connected to the at least one controlled-arcing device. The device further includes a racking mechanism supported by the frame and including a motor and at least one actuator member driven by the motor and configured to engage a feature in an electrical equipment unit compartment to move the arc quenching device within the compartment and engage the at least one contact assembly with a bus of the electrical equipment unit. The arc quenching device may be configured to be installed in a cassette in the electrical equipment unit and the actuator member may be configured to engage a feature of the cassette.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Robert J. Burns, Dan E. Hrncir, David A. Metcalf
  • Patent number: 10613146
    Abstract: A test apparatus includes an output configured to be coupled to a sense input of an arc quenching device control circuit of an arc quenching system, a user interface, and a control circuit configured to generate a simulated sense signal at the output in response to an input at the user interface, the simulated sense signal representing a physical state associated with a fault condition of a bus coupled to the arc quenching system. The simulated sense signal may be configured to cause the arc quenching device control circuit to trigger an arc quenching device of the arc quenching system. The physical state may include, for example, a voltage condition, a current condition, a temperature, a pressure or a light intensity. In some embodiments, the simulated sense signal may include a current indicative of a current passing through a bus to which the arc quenching system is connected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Robert J. Burns, Dan E. Hrncir, David A. Metcalf
  • Publication number: 20200091711
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices, for forming and using an arc flash mitigation switch are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an arc flash mitigation switch includes a cylindrical shell having a first end cap and a second end cap located at either end of the cylindrical shell. A first and second conductive feed through extend through the first and second end cap, respectively, at one end, and at the other connect to a first and second electrode separated by a gap. The exemplary arc flash mitigation switch further includes a trigger feed through that receives a trigger current that commutates the external arc flash event into the arc flash mitigation switch, quenching the external hazard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2019
    Publication date: March 19, 2020
    Applicant: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: JOHN JOSEPH SHEA, PAUL J. ROLLMANN, DAN E. HRNCIR, JASON B. CARRODUS
  • Patent number: 10523000
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices, for forming and using an arc flash mitigation switch are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an arc flash mitigation switch includes a cylindrical shell having a first end cap and a second end cap located at either end of the cylindrical shell. A first and second conductive feed through extend through the first and second end cap, respectively, at one end, and at the other connect to a first and second electrode separated by a gap. The exemplary arc flash mitigation switch further includes a trigger feed through that receives a trigger current that commutates the external arc flash event into the arc flash mitigation switch, quenching the external hazard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: John Joseph Shea, Paul J. Rollmann, Dan E. Hrncir, Jason B. Carrodus
  • Publication number: 20190372339
    Abstract: An arc quenching device includes a frame, at least one controlled-arcing device supported by the frame, and at least one contact assembly supported by the frame and electrically connected to the at least one controlled-arcing device. The device further includes a racking mechanism supported by the frame and including a motor and at least one actuator member driven by the motor and configured to engage a feature in an electrical equipment unit compartment to move the arc quenching device within the compartment and engage the at least one contact assembly with a bus of the electrical equipment unit. The arc quenching device may be configured to be installed in a cassette in the electrical equipment unit and the actuator member may be configured to engage a feature of the cassette.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 5, 2018
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Inventors: Robert J. Burns, Dan E. Hrncir, David A. Metcalf
  • Publication number: 20190195949
    Abstract: A test apparatus includes an output configured to be coupled to a sense input of an arc quenching device control circuit of an arc quenching system, a user interface, and a control circuit configured to generate a simulated sense signal at the output in response to an input at the user interface, the simulated sense signal representing a physical state associated with a fault condition of a bus coupled to the arc quenching system. The simulated sense signal may be configured to cause the arc quenching device control circuit to trigger an arc quenching device of the arc quenching system. The physical state may include, for example, a voltage condition, a current condition, a temperature, a pressure or a light intensity. In some embodiments, the simulated sense signal may include a current indicative of a current passing through a bus to which the arc quenching system is connected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2017
    Publication date: June 27, 2019
    Inventors: Robert J. Burns, Dan E. Hrncir, David A. Metcalf
  • Publication number: 20160285259
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and devices, for forming and using an arc flash mitigation switch are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, an arc flash mitigation switch includes a cylindrical shell having a first end cap and a second end cap located at either end of the cylindrical shell. A first and second conductive feed through extend through the first and second end cap, respectively, at one end, and at the other connect to a first and second electrode separated by a gap. The exemplary arc flash mitigation switch further includes a trigger feed through that receives a trigger current that commutates the external arc flash event into the arc flash mitigation switch, quenching the external hazard.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: JOHN JOSEPH SHEA, PAUL J. ROLLMANN, DAN E. HRNCIR, JASON B. CARRODUS