Patents by Inventor Erskine Barbour

Erskine Barbour 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: 20070165340
    Abstract: A method and tool for an integrated power switching device configuration tool and fault response tolerance calculator determines the fault response tolerance characteristics of a power switching device, adjusts the predicted fault responses based on the fault response tolerances and displays the adjusted fault response results. The fault response tolerance calculation tool uses configuration information defined during the configuring of the power switching device and applies this information to an overcurrent response curve selected by a user. The tool calculates the different fault response tolerances and adjusts predicted response times accordingly. The adjusted fault responses are displayed to the user along with a range of recommended fault response values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 9, 2005
    Publication date: July 19, 2007
    Inventors: Erskine Barbour, V. Ramanan
  • Publication number: 20060265157
    Abstract: A method for determining an electrical current value using at least two current sensing circuits. One current sensing circuit is provided if the current value is below a switching threshold. The other current sensing is provided if the current value is above a switching threshold. Both current sensing circuits having a processing means to process the current signal and a determining means to determine the value of the current signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2005
    Publication date: November 23, 2006
    Inventors: Marty Trivette, Erskine Barbour, David Whyte, Carl LaPlace
  • Publication number: 20060007623
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a magnetic actuator in a power switching device by transmitting at least two different electrical current waveforms to the actuator. Both waveforms are sent to the actuator from a controller in the same direction to move an actuator's armature from a first position to a second position. The first current waveform causes the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The second waveform is transmitted to the actuator to keep the armature moving towards the second position without overdriving the armature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 9, 2005
    Publication date: January 12, 2006
    Inventors: Marty Trivette, Erskine Barbour, Bryan Shang
  • Publication number: 20050280423
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for determining a voltage potential in a power switching device. The method and apparatus uses a conductive shield surrounding a coil positioned around a connector in a power switching device. The coil is used to provide a current measuring device within the power switching device. The combination of the shield, connector and the dielectric between them forms a capacitor, which is the high voltage leg of a capacitive voltage divider circuit. The capacitive voltage divider has a low voltage leg made of one or more capacitors. The capacitors of the low voltage leg may be removed in order to adjust the output of the capacitive voltage divider. The output of the voltage divider circuit is measured, converted and displayed to a user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: December 22, 2005
    Inventors: Erskine Barbour, Mietek Glinkowski
  • Patent number: 5907467
    Abstract: An under voltage trip device for low and medium voltage breakers is disclosed. A first power supply receives unregulated power from a control voltage supply which is rectified and regulated with portions of the power supply monitored by a processor. The output of the first power supply is supplied to a second power supply which allows pulsing modulating power to be supplied to a solenoid connected thereto. The current supplied to the solenoid is measured and calculated by the processor and stored therein as well as being compared to stored values, thereby determining solenoid armature position and predicting or warning of solenoid failure. Connected to the second power supply is a third power supply which operates in a voltage regulator supply mode and a switcher mode during start-up and continuous running operation respectively, such mode being controlled by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 25, 1999
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Erskine Barbour
  • Patent number: 5754386
    Abstract: An under voltage trip device for low and medium voltage breakers is disclosed. A first power supply receives unregulated power from a control voltage supply which is rectified and regulated with portions of the power supply monitored by a processor. The output of the first power supply is supplied to a second power supply which allows pulsing modulating power to be supplied to a solenoid connected thereto. The current supplied to the solenoid is measured and calculated by the processor and stored therein as well as being compared to stored values, thereby determining solenoid armature position and predicting or warning of solenoid failure. Connected to the second power supply is a third power supply which operates in a voltage regulator supply mode and a switcher mode during start-up and continuous running operation respectively, such mode being controlled by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 19, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Energy and Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Erskine Barbour, Stuart R. Akers
  • Patent number: 5740027
    Abstract: An under voltage trip device for low and medium voltage breakers, a first power supply receives unregulated power from a control voltage supply, which is rectified and regulated with portions of the power supply monitored by a processor. The output of the first power supply is supplied to a second power supply which allows pulsing modulating power to be supplied to a solenoid connected thereto. The current supplied to the solenoid is measured so as to represent the solenoid armature position which is measured and calculated by a processor and stored therein as well as being compared to stored values, thereby determining solenoid armature position and predicting or warning of solenoid failure. Connected to the second power supply is a third power supply which operates in a voltage regulator supply mode and a switcher mode during start-up and continuous running operation respectively, such mode being controlled by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 14, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: Stuart R. Akers, Erskine Barbour
  • Patent number: 5729119
    Abstract: An under voltage trip device for low and medium voltage breakers is disclosed. Briefly stated, a first power supply receives unregulated power from a control voltage supply, such as typically used in switchgear type substations, which is rectified and regulated with portions of the power supply monitored by a processor. The output of the first power supply is supplied to a second power supply which allows pulsing modulating power to be supplied to a solenoid connected thereto. The current supplied to the solenoid is measured so as to represent the solenoid armature position which is measured and calculated by a processor and stored therein as well as being compared to stored values, thereby determining solenoid armature position and predicting or warning of solenoid failure. Connected to the second power supply is a third power supply which operates in a voltage regulator supply mode and a switcher mode during start-up and continuous running operation respectively, such mode being controlled by the processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 1996
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1998
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Erskine Barbour