Patents by Inventor Ernst Suter

Ernst Suter 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: 9672996
    Abstract: The control device possesses a rigid main part combining most of the functional elements of this type of control device. It is made up of two portions of a rotary shaft, having placed between them a cam and a support arm that are connected together by a pivot that is offset relative to the axis of rotation. A toothed wheel having an inner set of teeth is placed around the support arm that is provided with a rachet system. The toothed wheel has an outer set of teeth-driven by a motor, via an intermediate gearwheel. The pivot controls the compression of the actuator spring by the assembly rotating. The device is applicable to high and medium voltage circuit breakers and switches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Simon Ardyna, Ernst Suter, Peter Von Allmen
  • Publication number: 20150325386
    Abstract: The control device possesses a rigid main part combining most of the functional elements of this type of control device. It is made up of two portions of a rotary shaft, having placed between them a cam and a support arm that are connected together by a pivot that is offset relative to the axis of rotation. A toothed wheel having an inner set of teeth is placed around the support arm that is provided with a rachet system. The toothed wheel has an outer set of teeth-driven by a motor, via an intermediate gearwheel. The pivot controls the compression of the actuator spring by the assembly rotating. The device is applicable to high and medium voltage circuit breakers and switches.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Publication date: November 12, 2015
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Simon ARDYNA, Ernst SUTER, Peter VON ALLMEN
  • Patent number: 8356700
    Abstract: An actuator having a frame which is fixed to an electric motor; a gear drive for transmitting motion from the motor to a drive shaft between two predetermined positions, and a brake consisting of a coil spring, having, when relaxed, an inside diameter that is smaller than the outside diameter of a support shaft that is fixed relative to the gear drive, and around which the spring is coiled, each of the two free ends of the spring being arranged in a respective slot, formed in the frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2013
    Assignee: Areva T&O AG
    Inventor: Ernst Suter
  • Patent number: 7932794
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator having means for transmitting motion, in the final part of a stroke performed by a system comprising a worm shaft and rider nut coupled through gearing with an electric motor, to an auxiliary interrupter for breaking the power supply to the motor. Two control levers are provided, these being coupled together, and being rotated, about a perpendicular axis, by a cursor which is fixed to the nut that slides on the worm shaft. The pivoting of the said levers is blocked during the movement of the drive shaft driven by the system consisting of the worm shaft and nut. By contrast, the levers pivot during the final part of the movement of the cursor. The distance through which the levers move in pivoting is large enough to avoid any need for the auxiliary interrupter to be a high precision component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Areva T&D AG
    Inventor: Ernst Suter
  • Patent number: 7671292
    Abstract: Operating mechanism for medium and high voltage switchgear, in which a rotatable main shaft is coupled to a switch, and a rocker plate is rotatable with the main shaft, the main shaft being arranged to open and close said switch by tilting the rocker plate. The rocker plate constitutes a plurality of force transmission levers and comprises a plurality of zones distributed around the main shaft. A rotary actuator has force transmitting means for driving the rocker plate in a direction corresponding to closing of the switch, and an opening spring for driving the rocker plate in a direction corresponding to opening of the switch. Closed switch locking means are coupled to the rocker plate (4) and are disposed substantially in a common plane of the rocker plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2010
    Assignee: Areva T&D AG
    Inventors: Ernst Suter, Xavier Allaire, Philippe Manin
  • Patent number: 7642478
    Abstract: A device for controlling a circuit-breaker intended for opening and closing this electric power cut-off device comprising a mobile contact, this control device comprising a motor with a rotary output shaft and being connected to power supply means and actuating means transforming the output displacement of the motor into a displacement of the contact, this device also comprising a mechanical spring arrangement involved in opening and closing the contact. The actuation means include a set of jointed elements providing the connection of the rotary shaft and of the ring, and, in the closed position of the contact, the set of jointed elements is near a dead centre position, a so-called open dead centre, the opening spring being only able to drive it towards the open position upon moving past this dead centre during opening.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2010
    Assignee: Areva T&D SA
    Inventors: Eric Courbon, Jean-Pierre Dupraz, Serge Poullain, Sylvain Plante, Jean-Luc Thomas, Ernst Suter, Robert Luscher
  • Publication number: 20090173611
    Abstract: Operating mechanism for medium and high voltage switchgear, in which a rotatable main shaft is coupled to a switch, and a rocker plate is rotatable with the main shaft, the main shaft being arranged to open and close said switch by tilting the rocker plate. The rocker plate constitutes a plurality of force transmission levers and comprises a plurality of zones distributed around the main shaft. A rotary actuator has force transmitting means for driving the rocker plate in a direction corresponding to closing of the switch, and an opening spring for driving the rocker plate in a direction corresponding to opening of the switch. Closed switch locking means are coupled to the rocker plate (4) and are disposed substantially in a common plane of the rocker plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: July 9, 2009
    Applicant: AREVA T&D AG
    Inventors: Ernst SUTER, Xavier Allaire, Philippe Manin
  • Publication number: 20090107268
    Abstract: An actuator having a frame which is fixed to an electric motor; a gear drive for transmitting motion from the motor to a drive shaft between two predetermined positions, and a brake consisting of a coil spring, having, when relaxed, an inside diameter that is smaller than the outside diameter of a support shaft that is fixed relative to the gear drive, and around which the spring is coiled, each of the two free ends of the spring being arranged in a respective slot, formed in the frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: AREVA T&D AG
    Inventor: Ernst SUTER
  • Publication number: 20090108689
    Abstract: An electro-mechanical actuator having means for transmitting motion, in the final part of a stroke performed by a system comprising a worm shaft and rider nut coupled through gearing with an electric motor, to an auxiliary interrupter for breaking the power supply to the motor. Two control levers are provided, these being coupled together, and being rotated, about a perpendicular axis, by a cursor which is fixed to the nut that slides on the worm shaft. The pivoting of the said levers is blocked during the movement of the drive shaft driven by the system consisting of the worm shaft and nut. By contrast, the levers pivot during the final part of the movement of the cursor. The distance through which the levers move in pivoting is large enough to avoid any need for the auxiliary interrupter to be a high precision component.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 29, 2008
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: AREVA T&D AG
    Inventor: Ernst SUTER
  • Publication number: 20070163869
    Abstract: The invention relates to a device for controlling a circuit-breaker intended for opening and closing this electric power cut-off device comprising a mobile contact, this control device comprising a motor (3) with a rotary output shaft (12) and being connected to power supply means (4-9) and actuating means transforming the output displacement of the motor into a displacement of the contact, this device also comprising a mechanical spring arrangement involved in opening and closing the contact. According to the invention, the actuation means include a set of jointed elements providing the connection of the rotary shaft and of the ring, and, in the closed position of the contact, the set of jointed elements is near a dead centre position, a so-called open dead centre, the opening spring (15) being only able to drive it towards the open position upon moving past this dead centre during opening.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 20, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Applicant: AREVA T&D SA
    Inventors: Eric Courbon, Jean-Pierre Dupraz, Serge Poullain, Sylvain Plante, Jean-Luc Thomas, Ernst Suter, Robert Luscher
  • Patent number: 5098318
    Abstract: An electrical contact assembly has a contact carrier formed with symmetrically opposed rows of comb-like guides, opposed rows of double-ended contact fingers mounted in the guides, a first contact piece supported by the contact carrier between the contact fingers at one end of the fingers and a second contact piece for insertion between the contact fingers at the opposite end of the fingers. For resiliently urging the fingers to contact the respective contact pieces, a pair of spring elements are attached to the contact carrier. Each spring element has a central web mounted on the carrier and opposite rows of arms extending from the web to engage opposite portions of the respective fingers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 1991
    Date of Patent: March 24, 1992
    Assignee: Sprecher Energie AG
    Inventor: Ernst Suter
  • Patent number: 5091615
    Abstract: A housing of a vacuum switch has in an upper connecting region a passage, through which the connecting element is led. The latter engages with its end region in a recess, opposite the passage, in the housing. In the region of the passage, the connecting element is supported on a support tongue and clamped tight by a wedge-shaped retaining member. The vacuum switch chamber is bolted on to the connecting element. The connecting element can also be secured to the housing at the support point opposite the passage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 1990
    Date of Patent: February 25, 1992
    Assignee: Sprecher Energie AG
    Inventors: Bruno Lippi, Ernst Suter, Thomas Meier
  • Patent number: 5055640
    Abstract: An insulating supporting frame of a multi-pin switch arrangement has a box-shaped base part and an insulating supporting part arranged over it. Insulating housings encompassing the vacuum switch tubes are formed onto a wall part. On the rear, bearing parts which are parallel to one another and at a distance from one another are cast onto the wall part, the bearing parts being connected to a top wall of the box-shaped base part. A drive shaft of a spring-force drive is mounted on the bearing parts. The spring-force drive is connected via a linkage to a movable switch contact of the vacuum switch tube. The one-piece insulating supporting frame is constructed in such a way that practically all the parts of the switch arrangement can be arranged on it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 8, 1991
    Assignee: Sprecher Energie AG
    Inventors: Bruno Lippi, Ernst Suter, Hans-Rudolf Wuthrich, Thomas Meier