Patents by Inventor Dieter Dohnal

Dieter Dohnal 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: 20070051595
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for monitoring contact consumption in multiple contact switches of the load-switching type, wherein the selection and the switching is carried out in one step by the movement of switching contacts and which therefore do not have a separate diverter switch. Every time the multiple contact switch is actuated, the load current is measured. The corresponding, previously stored rated stage voltages for the current switching and information on whether it was shifted “up” or “down”, are used to calculate the switching currents of the breaking contacts, the consumption rates are determined on the basis thereof and the volume consumption is accumulated. Said accumulated value is compared with a previously determined threshold value; once this threshold value is reached, warning messages or other messages are generated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 14, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: MASCHINENFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Rainer Frotscher
  • Patent number: 7179369
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil filter installation for cleaning or cleaning and dessication of the oil in a tap changer at a power transformer or a plunger core coil, wherein a measuring device for detecting the volume flow of the throughflowing oil is provided and the electric pump motor is influenced by way of an interposed frequency converter in accordance with the result of a comparison of this measured value with a target value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2007
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Karsten Viereck
  • Publication number: 20060244431
    Abstract: The invention relates to a multipoint switch for continuously switching different coil branches of a step-down transformer. According to said invention, at least one torque motor associated to various drive configurations carries out different driving functions for individual groups, thereby substituting a conventional motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2004
    Publication date: November 2, 2006
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Albert Schmidbauer
  • Patent number: 6965217
    Abstract: A tap changing assembly for power transformers having vacuum interrupters each of which is associated with a radio interrogated surface wave sensor capable of detecting whether the respective vacuum interrupter opens circuit in a timely manner. The sensors are interrogated by an interrogating unit transmitting high-frequency signals to the sensors and associated with a monitoring circuit responsive to signals received by the interrogating unit for signalling the status of the vacuum interrupter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Karsten Viereck
  • Patent number: 6856122
    Abstract: A thyristor transformer has a mechanical tap selector and a diverter switch with thyristors. The tap selector is mounted in the oil-filled housing or tank of the transformer and the diverter switch is mounted in a separate housing laterally attached to the tank.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Hans-Henning Lessmann-Mieske
  • Publication number: 20040238419
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil filter installation for cleaning or cleaning and dessication of the oil in a tap changer at a power transformer or a plunger core coil, wherein a measuring device for detecting the volume flow of the throughflowing oil is provided and the electric pump motor is influenced by way of an interposed frequency converter in accordance with the result of a comparison of this measured value with a target value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2004
    Publication date: December 2, 2004
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Karsten Viereck
  • Publication number: 20040196010
    Abstract: A tap changing assembly for power transformers having vacuum interrupters each of which is associated with a radio interrogated surface wave sensor capable of detecting whether the respective vacuum interrupter opens circuit in a timely manner. The sensors are interrogated by an interrogating unit transmitting high-frequency signals to the sensors and associated with a monitoring circuit responsive to signals received by the interrogating unit for signalling the status of the vacuum interrupter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2004
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Karsten Viereck
  • Publication number: 20040070359
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for automatically influencing a mains supply. A voltage transformer is provided as a pilot transformer which detects the real value of the voltage which is to be adjusted and which transmits said value to a motor drive via an individual electric measuring circuit in which means are provided for comparing said real value to a set point value and for producing an adjustment command which is dependent upon said comparison. The invention also relates to a correspondingly equipped motor drive provided with an additional control module which directly actuates an electric motor independently from the direction of rotation when required. Said electric motor drives a step-switching mechanism on the variable-voltage transformer, whereby the voltage is adjusted, thereby influencing the mains supply.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2003
    Publication date: April 15, 2004
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Jochen Ermisch
  • Publication number: 20040032699
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thyristor tap changer that comprises a mechanical tap selector and a diverter switch with thyristors as the switching means. The inventive tap changer is further characterized in that only the tap selector is mounted in the oil-filled transformer tank while the diverter switch is externally mounted in a laterally attached separate housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 8, 2003
    Publication date: February 19, 2004
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, hans-Henning Lessmann-Mieske
  • Patent number: 6529858
    Abstract: A method of controlling a step switch. From the measured values of current, voltage and phase angle at an electric drive motor during actuation of the step switch the individual picked-up active output is calculated. From the active output the corresponding torque at the drive motor is calculated. The torque in the step switch which is crucial for controlling is determined on the basis of the torque by using a specifically calculated transfer function. The transfer function is newly determined every time the switch is actuated, with the values of the preceding switch operation or the preceding switch operations being taken as a basis of the new calculation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2003
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Karsten Viereck, Mario Schmeckebier
  • Patent number: 6518771
    Abstract: A method of monitoring contact burnoff in tap changers operating under load in which the load current is measured and for nominal variation of the voltage of the particular tap parameters are stored which are used to calculate the burnoff rate per contact per switching operation. From these values the cumulative burnoff rate of both the switching contact and resistance contact are determined and compared with limits or threshold values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2003
    Assignee: Pharmacia & Upjohn Company
    Inventors: Rainer Frotscher, Dieter Dohnal
  • Patent number: 6307283
    Abstract: A position indicator for step switches and tap selectors of transformers and the like has a contact array connected to the motor drive and connected by a plug to the plug of a connector which, in turn, is connected by plugs to the information-generating module which outputs to the display. One of the pairs of plugs between the contact array and the connector or between the connector and the module can be reversed relative to the other to signal a different sense of rotation of the motor drive.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 23, 2001
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Franz Griesbacher, Michael Holmer
  • Publication number: 20010013784
    Abstract: A method of monitoring contact burnoff in tap changers operating under load in which the load current is measured and for nominal variation of the voltage of the particular tap parameters are stored which are used to calculate the burnoff rate per contact per switching operation. From these values the cumulative burnoff rate of both the switching contact and resistance contact are determined and compared with limits or threshold values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 29, 2001
    Publication date: August 16, 2001
    Applicant: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Frotscher, Dieter Dohnal
  • Patent number: 6234106
    Abstract: A position indicator for a motor drive for actuating a step switch, tap changer, or dipping coil, has a display board having front and back faces and a first circular array of symbols on the front face corresponding to individual switching phases traversed during changeover of the motor drive from one operational position into another neighboring operational position. A first shaft extending through the board centrally of the first array and defining a first axis carries a pointer at the front face rotatable about the first axis through positions aligned with the symbols. A second circular array of symbols on the front face is associated with individual possible stationary operational positions of the step switch, the tap changer, or the dipping coil. A second pointer shaft projecting through the board centrally of the second array and defining a second axis carries a second pointer at the front face rotatable about the second axis through positions aligned with the symbols of the second array.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2001
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Josef Neumeyer
  • Patent number: 6124726
    Abstract: A tap selector for a power transformer switchable under load is monitored by detecting the effective values of current and voltage of the drive motor of the tap changer. The power is calculated and from that the instantaneous torque and the latter is compared with setpoint values either of the torque and position of the tap selector or in terms of characteristic segments of the torque versus time graph with normalized segments of a setpoint graph so that, with serious deviation an immediate shutdown of tap selector operations is ensured or information can be generated as to trends or the need for maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 1998
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2000
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Manfred Stadelmayer, Karsten Viereck
  • Patent number: 6100674
    Abstract: A method of monitoring a tap changer in which measured values representing the status of the tap change operation are associated with positions of the tap changer and the position range or time range for the tap change is subdivided into partial intervals for which characteristic values of the measurement are calculated by a calculating rule, e.g. averaging. These characteristic values are compared with stored parameter data and operation categories are established which are then used exclusively for the further information processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2000
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Christian Heudecker, Karsten Viereck
  • Patent number: 6091032
    Abstract: A tap changer has a bypass switch with a rotary pair of movable contacts engaging arc segmental fixed contacts of a length greater than the spacing between the movable contact which spacing is greater than the spacing between the fixed contacts of the bypass switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 1998
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2000
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Klaus Hopfl, Silke Wrede
  • Patent number: 6087607
    Abstract: The invention relate to a position signaling layout for a motor drive which also serves to activate an on-load tap changer, an off-circuit tap changer or a plunger core coil. Position signaling devices of this kind detect the position at a given time of the on-load tap changer or similar and transmit this information in the form of an electric signal. According to the invention, the device consists essentially of a board on which there are fixed signaling contacts and a pivoted cam disc which connects said fixed contacts electrically and links them to a terminal lead via a spring operated switch, activating the spring operated switch by means of its front cam contour.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2000
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Josef Neumeyer
  • Patent number: 6060669
    Abstract: A multiphase reactor-switching tap selector has a single geneva mechanism operating three shafts which traverse phase plates carrying all of the contacts and the vacuum switching cell and rapid release mechanism for each of the phases. The geneva mechanism operates the tap selection contacts directly through its shaft and is coupled to other shafts for operating the preseslector contacts, the bypass contacts and the vacuum switching cells. All three shafts traverse all of the phase plates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2000
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Klaus Hopfl, Silke Wrede
  • Patent number: 5786552
    Abstract: The invention concerns a switching arrangement for load change-over switches of step switches and for selector switches, wherein two switching contacts movable in two directions are present. The first switching contact is in the form of a main switching contact and is connected to the load derivation by means of a first vacuum switchgear cell. The second switching contact is in the form of a resistance switching contact which is likewise connected to the load derivation by means of a series connection comprising a second vacuum switchgear cell and a transition resistor. Both the main and the resistance switching contacts can be moved independently of one another and without mutual coupling or influence. The main switching contact always reaches the new fixed contact abruptly and independently of the switching direction before the resistance switching contact leaves the previous fixed contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 28, 1998
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Hans-Henning Lessmann-Mieske, Josef Neumeyer, Leonhard Pillmeier