Patents by Inventor Frank S Brugner

Frank S Brugner 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: 8325454
    Abstract: An over heating detection circuit and an interrupter circuit are disclosed for interrupting electrical power from a power source receptacle to a load upon the detection of an over heating condition of an electrical plug. A heat sensitive device monitors the temperature of the electrical plug. The over heating detection circuit is connected to the heat sensitive device for detecting an over heated condition in the electrical plug. The interruption circuit includes a disconnect switch connected to the over heating detection circuit for disconnecting electrical power upon the detection of the over heated condition in the electrical plug.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Frank S. Brugner, Thomas S. Williams
  • Patent number: 8134820
    Abstract: A contactor control circuit is disclosed for controlling a contactor connecting an alternating current electrical power source to a load. The contactor control circuit comprises a switching circuit connected in series with the inductor for controlling the conduction of the contactor. The control circuit actuates conduction of current through the inductor for energizing the contactor to connect the alternating current electrical power source to the load. The invention is also incorporated into a circuit for switching a first and a second alternating current electrical power source to a load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Inventors: James E. Riccio, Frank S. Brugner
  • 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: 8064174
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for disconnecting a power source upon the detection of a leakage current comprising a power cable having an insulated first and a second wire. The power cable has a conductive shield surrounding the first and second wires with a drain wire electrically contacting the conductive shield. A disconnect switch is interposed between the power source and the power cable. A primary circuit controls the disconnect switch. A secondary circuit is connected to the drain wire for sensing a leakage current between the conductive shield and one of the first and second wires. An optical switch interconnects the primary circuit and the secondary circuit for opening the disconnect switch upon the secondary circuit sensing a leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas S. Williams, Frank S. Brugner, Jr., Paul R. Gandolfi
  • Publication number: 20090303642
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for disconnecting a power source upon the detection of a leakage current comprising a power cable having an insulated first and a second wire. The power cable has a conductive shield surrounding the first and second wires with a drain wire electrically contacting the conductive shield. A disconnect switch is interposed between the power source and the power cable. A primary circuit controls the disconnect switch. A secondary circuit is connected to the drain wire for sensing a leakage current between the conductive shield and one of the first and second wires. An optical switch interconnects the primary circuit and the secondary circuit for opening the disconnect switch upon the secondary circuit sensing a leakage current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2009
    Publication date: December 10, 2009
    Applicant: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas S. Williams, Frank S. Brugner, JR., Paul R. Gandolfi
  • Patent number: 7623329
    Abstract: A circuit is disclosed for disconnecting a power source upon the detection of a leakage current comprising a power cable having an insulated first and a second wire. The power cable has a conductive shield surrounding the first and second wires with a drain wire electrically contacting the conductive shield. A disconnect switch is interposed between the power source and the power cable. A primary circuit controls the disconnect switch. A secondary circuit is connected to the drain wire for sensing a leakage current between the conductive shield and one of the first and second wires. An optical switch interconnects the primary circuit and the secondary circuit for opening the disconnect switch upon the secondary circuit sensing a leakage current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2009
    Assignee: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas S. Williams, Frank S. Brugner, Jr., Paul R. Gandolfi
  • Publication number: 20090251832
    Abstract: An over heating detection circuit and an interrupter circuit are disclosed for interrupting electrical power from a power source receptacle to a load upon the detection of an over heating condition of an electrical plug. A heat sensitive device monitors the temperature of the electrical plug. The over heating detection circuit is connected to the heat sensitive device for detecting an over heated condition in the electrical plug. The interruption circuit includes a disconnect switch connected to the over heating detection circuit for disconnecting electrical power upon the detection of the over heated condition in the electrical plug.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Publication date: October 8, 2009
    Applicant: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Frank S. Brugner, Thomas S. Williams
  • Patent number: 7423854
    Abstract: An interrupter circuit is disclosed for interrupting power in a power cable from a power source. The power cable comprises an insulated line wire and an insulated neutral wire with a conductive shield surrounding the line wire and the neutral wire. A non-insulated drain wire contacts the conductive shield. An outer insulating layer is molded about the conductive shield. A disconnect switch is interposed between the power source and the power cable with a disconnect switch driver controlling the disconnect switch. A sensing circuit is connected between the drain wire and the disconnect switch driver for sensing a leakage current between the conductive shield and one of the insulated line wire and the insulated neutral wire for opening the disconnect switch for disconnecting the power cable from the power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Gandolfi, Frank S. Brugner, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20080007878
    Abstract: An interrupter circuit is disclosed for interrupting power in a power cable from a power source. The power cable comprises an insulated line wire and an insulated neutral wire with a conductive shield surrounding the line wire and the neutral wire. A non-insulated drain wire contacts the conductive shield. An outer insulating layer is molded about the conductive shield. A disconnect switch is interposed between the power source and the power cable with a disconnect switch driver controlling the disconnect switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2006
    Publication date: January 10, 2008
    Applicant: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Paul R. Gandolfi, Frank S. Brugner
  • Patent number: 5229730
    Abstract: A resettable circuit interrupter for ALCI and GFCI applications utilizes movable contacts mounted on contact spring arms adjacent a U-shaped bight of the spring arm. Closing of the contacts is achieved by compression of the bight by an actuating member that is latched in the closed contact position. Unlatching of the actuating member results when current imbalances are detected, so that the contacts are opened by the bias forces produced by the contact spring arms. A reset button is located in a recess between the prongs of the plug-in member so that the device can be reset only when it is unplugged from an electrical receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1991
    Date of Patent: July 20, 1993
    Assignee: Technology Research Corporation
    Inventors: Raymond H. Legatti, Frank S. Brugner, Raymond J. Wood
  • Patent number: 4293337
    Abstract: A material and a process for use in making electrical contacts. The material is produced in powder form suitable for later processing into electrical contacts by standard metallurgical techniques generally involving compacting the powdered material to form a compact that preferably has a backing of metallic silver, sintering the compact to form the contact having a fine sintered silver backing and forming or cutting the contact to make it to the desired shape and size. The material, and in most general applications the contact made from the material, essentially consists of silver, approximately 15% cadmium oxide by weight, and lithium carbonate at a proportion of about 0.005 weight percent of lithium, which is approximately equal to 0.04 molecular percent of lithium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 1979
    Date of Patent: October 6, 1981
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Frank S. Brugner, Jr.
  • Patent number: RE31846
    Abstract: A material and a process for use in making electrical contacts. The material is produced in powder form suitable for later processing into electrical contacts by standard metallurgical techniques generally involving compacting the powdered material to form a compact that preferably has a backing of metallic silver, sintering the compact to form the contact having a fine sintered silver backing and forming or cutting the contact to make it to the desired shape and size. The material, and in most general applications the contact made from the material, essentially consists of silver, approximately 15% cadmium oxide by weight, and lithium carbonate at a proportion of about 0.005 weight percent of lithium, which is approximately equal to 0.04 molecular percent of lithium carbonate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 1983
    Date of Patent: March 12, 1985
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Frank S. Brugner, Jr.
  • 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