Patents by Inventor Engelbert Hetzmannseder
Engelbert Hetzmannseder 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).
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Publication number: 20240021394Abstract: An active/passive fuse module including a fuse having an electrically insulating fuse body, first and second endcaps disposed on opposing ends of the fuse body, a fusible element extending through the fuse body between the first endcap and the second endcap, and an arc quenching material disposed within the fuse body and surrounding the fusible element. The fuse module further includes a pyrotechnic interrupter (PI) coupled to the fuse body, the PI having a housing defining a shaft, a piston disposed within the shaft, a drive pin extending from the piston into the fuse body, the drive pin terminating in a cutter disposed adjacent the fusible element, and a pyrotechnic ignitor disposed within the shaft above the piston configured to detonate upon receiving an initiation signal from a controller, whereby the piston and the drive pin are forcibly driven through the shaft causing the cutter to separate the fusible element.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 16, 2023Publication date: January 18, 2024Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: ENGELBERT HETZMANNSEDER, DEREK LASINI, DAVID ARTHUR BURNS
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Publication number: 20230343532Abstract: The invention relates to a pyrotechnic current breaker (1) for severing a bus bar (2), comprising a first detonator (7) for passive tripping and a second detonator (14) for active tripping. Both act on a severing piston (9), which severs the bus bar (2) at at least one severing point (5a, 5b) in the event of tripping. The first detonator (7) is connected, by means of two conductors (8a, 8b), to the two sides of a fuse, through which the current through the bus bar (2) flows, while the second detonator (14) has contacts (15a, 15b) for the connecting of an external tripping device. According to the invention, one of the Iwo detonators, preferably the first detonator (7), is disposed in the severing piston (9). The fuse is preferably formed integrally with the bus bar (2), the fuse being formed either by the severing point(s) (5a, 5b) or by a weakened region between two severing points (5a, 5b).Type: ApplicationFiled: April 22, 2021Publication date: October 26, 2023Inventors: Horst WEINKOPF, Engelbert HETZMANNSEDER
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Patent number: 11631566Abstract: A fuse including a fuse body having a main body portion formed of a dielectric material, a plurality of arc chambers formed in the main body portion, the arc chambers arranged in a matrix configuration, a conductor extending through the main body portion and intersecting the arc chambers, the conductor having bridge portions disposed within the arc chambers, the bridge portions being mechanically weaker than other portions of the conductor and configured to melt and separate upon the occurrence of an overcurrent condition in the fuse.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2021Date of Patent: April 18, 2023Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventor: Engelbert Hetzmannseder
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Patent number: 11594392Abstract: A fuse housing for safe outgassing of a fuse is disclosed. The fuse housing features labyrinth walls disposed at opposing sides of the fuse housing. The labyrinth walls feature serpentine paths for the flow of outgassing material. At an end of the serpentine paths which is farthest away from a fuse element are vent channels. The vent channels are narrower in depth than that of the serpentine paths of the labyrinth walls, facilitating a suctioning effect during outgassing. Conductive material deposits along the serpentine paths so that the fuse maintains a high OSR rating. By directing and controlling the outflow of gases, the fuse housing is able to reduce the temperature of the gases produced. The fuse housing is also able to reduce the physical and observable effects of outgassing.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Robert Gawrylo
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Patent number: 11594391Abstract: An active/passive fuse module including a base, a busbar disposed on the base and including a fuse element extending over a cavity in a top surface of the base and having a plurality of weak points formed therein, a pyrotechnic interrupter (PI) disposed atop the base and including a piston disposed within a shaft above the fuse element, the piston having an edge with a geometry that corresponds to a geometry of a pattern defined by the weak points in the fuse element, a first pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to a controller and configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon receiving an initiation signal from the controller, and a second pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to the busbar by a pair of leads and configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon an increase in voltage across the leads.Type: GrantFiled: July 20, 2021Date of Patent: February 28, 2023Assignees: LITTELFUSE INTERNATIONAL HOLDING, LLC., ASTOTEC AUTOMOTIVE GMBHInventors: Ganesh Nagaraj Channakesavelu, Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Peter Pöltl, Derek Lasini
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Publication number: 20230042505Abstract: A snap-on assembly includes a housing that holds an integrated circuit with a sensor. A connector supplies power to the integrated circuit and transmits a signal from the integrated circuit to an electronic circuit. An insert fits into an opening of the housing and secures a conductor in the housing without a mechanical fastener. The sensor measures a magnetic field resulting from a current traveling through the conductor.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 29, 2022Publication date: February 9, 2023Applicant: Suzhou Littelfuse OVS Co., Ltd.Inventors: Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Jianfei Zhao, Linas Sarkauskas
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Publication number: 20220328272Abstract: A fuse housing for safe outgassing of a fuse is disclosed. The fuse housing features labyrinth walls disposed at opposing sides of the fuse housing. The labyrinth walls feature serpentine paths for the flow of outgassing material. At an end of the serpentine paths which is farthest away from a fuse element are vent channels. The vent channels are narrower in depth than that of the serpentine paths of the labyrinth walls, facilitating a suctioning effect during outgassing. Conductive material deposits along the serpentine paths so that the fuse maintains a high OSR rating. By directing and controlling the outflow of gases, the fuse housing is able to reduce the temperature of the gases produced. The fuse housing is also able to reduce the physical and observable effects of outgassing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2021Publication date: October 13, 2022Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: ENGELBERT HETZMANNSEDER, ROBERT GAWRYLO
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Patent number: 11387068Abstract: An active/passive fuse module including a base, a busbar disposed on a top surface of the base and including a fuse element and first and second terminal portions extending from opposite ends of the fuse element, the fuse element extending over a cavity in the top surface of the base, a pyrotechnic interrupter (PI) disposed atop the base, the PI including a piston disposed within a shaft above the fuse element, a first pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to a controller, the first pyrotechnic ignitor configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon receiving an initiation signal from the controller, and a second pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to the busbar by a pair of leads, the second pyrotechnic ignitor configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon an increase in voltage across the leads.Type: GrantFiled: September 15, 2020Date of Patent: July 12, 2022Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Michael Schlaak, Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Derek Lasini
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Publication number: 20220157548Abstract: A fuse including a fuse body having a main body portion formed of a dielectric material, a plurality of arc chambers formed in the main body portion, the arc chambers arranged in a matrix configuration, a conductor extending through the main body portion and intersecting the arc chambers, the conductor having bridge portions disposed within the arc chambers, the bridge portions being mechanically weaker than other portions of the conductor and configured to melt and separate upon the occurrence of an overcurrent condition in the fuse.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 26, 2021Publication date: May 19, 2022Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventor: Engelbert Hetzmannseder
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Patent number: 11251009Abstract: A fuse housing for safe outgassing of a fuse is disclosed. The fuse housing features labyrinth walls disposed at opposing sides of the fuse housing. The labyrinth walls feature serpentine paths for the flow of outgassing material. At an end of the serpentine paths which is farthest away from a fuse element are vent channels. The vent channels are narrower in depth than that of the serpentine paths of the labyrinth walls, facilitating a suctioning effect during outgassing. Conductive material deposits along the serpentine paths so that the fuse maintains a high OSR rating. By directing and controlling the outflow of gases, the fuse housing is able to reduce the temperature of the gases produced. The fuse housing is also able to reduce the physical and observable effects of outgassing.Type: GrantFiled: April 7, 2021Date of Patent: February 15, 2022Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Robert Gawrylo
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Publication number: 20210350994Abstract: An active/passive fuse module including a base, a busbar disposed on the base and including a fuse element extending over a cavity in a top surface of the base and having a plurality of weak points formed therein, a pyrotechnic interrupter (PI) disposed atop the base and including a piston disposed within a shaft above the fuse element, the piston having an edge with a geometry that corresponds to a geometry of a pattern defined by the weak points in the fuse element, a first pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to a controller and configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon receiving an initiation signal from the controller, and a second pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to the busbar by a pair of leads and configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon an increase in voltage across the leads.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 20, 2021Publication date: November 11, 2021Inventors: Ganesh Nagaraj Channakesavelu, Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Peter PÖLTL, Derek Lasini
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Patent number: 11049681Abstract: Provided herein are protection devices having U-shaped fuse elements. In some embodiments, a protection device may include a housing defining a cavity, and a fuse element within the cavity. The fuse element may include a first component and a second component separated by a barrier, and wherein the first and second components are joined at a fusible bridge.Type: GrantFiled: April 2, 2020Date of Patent: June 29, 2021Assignee: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Ganesh Nagaraj Chennakesavelu, Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Derek Lasini
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Publication number: 20210183607Abstract: An active/passive fuse module including a base, a busbar disposed on a top surface of the base and including a fuse element and first and second terminal portions extending from opposite ends of the fuse element, the fuse element extending over a cavity in the top surface of the base, a pyrotechnic interrupter (PI) disposed atop the base, the PI including a piston disposed within a shaft above the fuse element, a first pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to a controller, the first pyrotechnic ignitor configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon receiving an initiation signal from the controller, and a second pyrotechnic ignitor coupled to the busbar by a pair of leads, the second pyrotechnic ignitor configured to detonate and force the piston through the fuse element upon an increase in voltage across the leads.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2020Publication date: June 17, 2021Applicant: Littelfuse, Inc.Inventors: Michael Schlaak, Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Derek Lasini
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Patent number: 9030795Abstract: A method provides electronic overload protection having a thermal trip level. The method executes a function by a processor; provides the electronic overload protection by the function executed by the processor; and adjusts the thermal trip level by the function executed by the processor in order to mimic adjusting a physical thermal characteristic of a thermal time constant of a fixed mechanical system.Type: GrantFiled: December 21, 2012Date of Patent: May 12, 2015Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Robert T. Elms, Sandy O. Jimenez, Engelbert Hetzmannseder
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Publication number: 20140177118Abstract: A method provides electronic overload protection having a thermal trip level. The method executes a function by a processor; provides the electronic overload protection by the function executed by the processor; and adjusts the thermal trip level by the function executed by the processor in order to mimic adjusting a physical thermal characteristic of a thermal time constant of a fixed mechanical system.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 21, 2012Publication date: June 26, 2014Applicant: EATON CORPORATIONInventors: ROBERT T. ELMS, SANDY O. JIMENEZ, ENGELBERT HETZMANNSEDER
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Patent number: 8514531Abstract: A trip unit includes a current sensor to sense a value of current flowing through a conductor, a circuit to receive first frequency pulses having a number of first frequencies from the conductor, a transmitter to transmit second frequency pulses having a second frequency different than the first frequencies to the conductor, and a processor having a routine. The routine inputs the sensed value of current from the current sensor, determines if the sensed value of current exceeds a predetermined value and responsively causes the transmitter to transmit the second frequency pulses having the second frequency to the conductor, monitors within a predetermined time after determining that the sensed value of current exceeds the predetermined value if a number of the first frequency pulses having the number of first frequencies is received by the circuit, and responsively delays outputting a trip signal, and, otherwise, immediately outputs the trip signal.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2012Date of Patent: August 20, 2013Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Xin Zhou, Engelbert Hetzmannseder
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Patent number: 8004418Abstract: A system includes a number of electrical switching apparatus having separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts, a test circuit structured to test the trip mechanism and determine a failure to protect condition thereof, and a communication circuit structured to communicate the failure to protect condition. The system also includes an electrical distribution panel having a housing housing the number of electrical switching apparatus, and a communication interface structured to receive the failure to protect condition from the communication circuit and annunciate the failure to protect condition.Type: GrantFiled: November 5, 2008Date of Patent: August 23, 2011Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Engelbert Hetzmannseder, William J. Murphy, Robert T. Elms
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Publication number: 20100060469Abstract: A system includes a number of electrical switching apparatus having separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts, a test circuit structured to test the trip mechanism and determine a failure to protect condition thereof, and a communication circuit structured to communicate the failure to protect condition. The system also includes an electrical distribution panel having a housing housing the number of electrical switching apparatus, and a communication interface structured to receive the failure to protect condition from the communication circuit and annunciate the failure to protect condition.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 5, 2008Publication date: March 11, 2010Inventors: Engelbert Hetzmannseder, William J. Murphy, Robert T. Elms
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Patent number: 7253640Abstract: A circuit breaker for locating an arc fault for a protected circuit includes separable contacts interrupting the protected circuit and an arc fault detector determining an arc fault in the protected circuit. An analog to digital converter circuit measures a value of peak arc current at the arc fault detector. Another analog to digital converter circuit provides a peak line-to-neutral voltage. A memory provides an arc voltage operatively associated with the value of peak current. A microprocessor determines a distance from the arc fault detector to the arc fault from the value of peak arc current, a wire resistance per unit length or a wire conductance per unit length, the peak line-to-neutral voltage and the arc voltage.Type: GrantFiled: January 13, 2003Date of Patent: August 7, 2007Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Joseph C. Engel, Engelbert Hetzmannseder, Kevin L. Parker, Peter J. Theisen, Joseph C. Zuercher
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Patent number: 6967549Abstract: A modular asynchronous contactor assembly includes a contactor for each phase or pole of an electrical device. The contactor assembly is applicable as both a switching device and an isolation or load protection device. As such, each contactor is constructed so that each includes multiple contact assemblies. Moreover, the contactors within a single contactor assembly or housing can be independently controlled so that the contacts of one contactor can be opened without opening the contacts of the other contactors of the contactor assembly.Type: GrantFiled: March 18, 2005Date of Patent: November 22, 2005Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Xin Zhou, Michael T. Little, James Kinsella, Chris Wieloch, Engelbert Hetzmannseder