Patents by Inventor Douglas B. Tilghman

Douglas B. Tilghman 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: 8128434
    Abstract: An electrical adapter is disclosed for providing overload protection between a conventional electrical receptacle and an external electrical plug comprising a housing comprising a plug housing portion and a receptacle housing portion. Electrical blades are supported to protrude from the plug housing portion for insertion within the conventional electrical receptacle. Electrical receptacles are supported within the receptacle housing portion for receiving an external conventional electrical plug. An over current fuse provides over current protection between the conventional electrical receptacle and the external electrical plug. The electrical adapter may include a thermal fuse to provide over heating protection between the conventional electrical receptacle and the external electrical plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2012
    Assignee: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Gandolfi, Kerrie L. Campbell, Peter A. Czerner, Frank S Brugner, Douglas B Tilghman
  • Patent number: 6678137
    Abstract: An arc fault current interrupting (AFCI) circuit breaker includes a pair of electrical contacts for stopping the flow of electrical current in a protected portion of the distribution circuit. A low pass filter is configured to receive a signal indicative of a voltage across a resistance in the distribution circuit. The low pass filter amplifies the signal and provides the signal to an arc fault detection circuit. The low pass filter includes an input resistance and a feedback resistance. In one embodiment of the invention, the input resistance has a positive temperature coefficient. In another embodiment, the feedback resistance has a negative temperature coefficient. In yet another embodiment, the input resistance has a positive temperature coefficient and the feedback resistance has a negative temperature coefficient.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2000
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2004
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry H. Mason, Jr., Douglas B. Tilghman
  • Patent number: 6232857
    Abstract: An arc fault circuit breaker (10) conducting an electric current to a protected load is presented. The circuit breaker (10) has a first (mechanical) compartment (24) and a second (electrical) compartment (62). A bimetal resistor (50) is disposed within the first compartment (24) and conducts the current therethrough. The bimetal resistor (50) has a stud (56) extending into the second compartment (62). A single sense line (60) is electrically connected to the bimetal resistor (50) and routed into the second compartment (62). The sense line (60) and said stud (56) conduct a voltage signal indicative of arcing of the current. A circuit board (84) is disposed within the second compartment (62) and is connected to the sense line (60) and stud (56) within the second compartment (62) to process the voltage signal. The circuit board (84) has a first conductive path (104) electrically connected to the stud (56), and a second conductive path (106) electrically connected to the sense line (60).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Henry H. Mason, Jr., Raymond K. Seymour, Frederic W. Glabau, Douglas B. Tilghman, Joseph L. Desormeaux, Jr., Michael C. Guerrette
  • Patent number: 6104266
    Abstract: A visible trip indication arrangement for a circuit breaker. The visible trip indication arrangement comprises a viewing window forming a part of the breaker housing, the viewing window including indicia thereon that is readily or enhancedly visible when the circuit breaker has been tripped and essentially not visible when the circuit breaker is operating by way of a trip indicator that moves under and aligns with the viewing window when the circuit breaker is in the tripped condition. The trip indicator having a brightly colored surface, causes the indicia on the viewing window to be readily visible by way of the reflected light off a surface thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2000
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Douglas B. Tilghman, Zhiqun Brenda Zhang, Frederic W. Glabau, Raymond K. Seymour, Kevin J. Fuhr, Joseph Criniti
  • Patent number: D609642
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2010
    Inventors: Paul R. Gandolfi, Kerrie L. Campbell, Peter A. Czerner, Frank S Brugner, Douglas B Tilghman