Patents by Inventor Gerald K. Hein
Gerald K. Hein 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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Patent number: 11837862Abstract: An arc-flash sensor may provide flexibilities for supporting both surface mounting and peek-through mounting on a panel (e.g., a wall panel or an electrical panel). The arc-flash sensor includes a translucent optical lens, a fiber-optic cable, and a skirt around the back side of the optical lens. The translucent optical lens diffuses the light produced in an arc flash to enhance the detectability of light signals picked by the fiber-optic cable. The fiber-optic cable enters parallel to the panel and perpendicular to principal axis of the optical lens. The parallel fiber-optic cable configuration reduces sensor installation space occupied and potential damage to the sensor. The skirt is used to prevent false tripping caused by unexpected events on the fiber-optic cable side such as camera flashes, lightning, sunlight, or the like.Type: GrantFiled: October 9, 2020Date of Patent: December 5, 2023Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Joshua E. Hughes, Gerald K. Hein, Aaron B. Burton
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Publication number: 20220115858Abstract: An arc-flash sensor may provide flexibilities for supporting both surface mounting and peek-through mounting on a panel (e.g., a wall panel or an electrical panel). The arc-flash sensor includes a translucent optical lens, a fiber-optic cable, and a skirt around the back side of the optical lens. The translucent optical lens diffuses the light produced in an arc flash to enhance the detectability of light signals picked by the fiber-optic cable. The fiber-optic cable enters parallel to the panel and perpendicular to principal axis of the optical lens. The parallel fiber-optic cable configuration reduces sensor installation space occupied and potential damage to the sensor. The skirt is used to prevent false tripping caused by unexpected events on the fiber-optic cable side such as camera flashes, lightning, sunlight, or the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 9, 2020Publication date: April 14, 2022Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Joshua E. Hughes, Gerald K. Hein, Aaron B. Burton
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Patent number: 10777945Abstract: A shorting block includes a first shorting contact having a first contact portion, a second shorting contact having a second contact portion, the first contact portion and the second contact portion may electrically couple the first shorting contact and the second shorting contact in a shorting position of the shorting block, a first activation, and a second activation contact, the first activation contact and the second activation contact may be inserted into the first shorting contact and the second shorting contact, respectively, such that the first activation contact and the second activation contact direct the first contact portion and the second contact portion away from one another to form a gap between the first contact portion and the second contact portion in an operating position of the shorting block.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2019Date of Patent: September 15, 2020Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Beth LaRae Corwin, Gerald K. Hein, Mike Timothy Strickler
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Publication number: 20200251859Abstract: A shorting block includes a first shorting contact having a first contact portion, a second shorting contact having a second contact portion, the first contact portion and the second contact portion may electrically couple the first shorting contact and the second shorting contact in a shorting position of the shorting block, a first activation, and a second activation contact, the first activation contact and the second activation contact may be inserted into the first shorting contact and the second shorting contact, respectively, such that the first activation contact and the second activation contact direct the first contact portion and the second contact portion away from one another to form a gap between the first contact portion and the second contact portion in an operating position of the shorting block.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 5, 2019Publication date: August 6, 2020Applicant: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Beth LaRae Corwin, Gerald K. Hein, Mike Timothy Strickler
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Publication number: 20130000871Abstract: According to various embodiments, an electronic component, such as a processor, is thermally coupled to a heat sink via a heat pipe. The heat pipe may contain a working fluid configured to freeze below a threshold temperature corresponding to the minimum operating temperature of the electronic component. Accordingly, if the temperature of the electronic component and/or the working fluid is below the threshold temperature, then the working fluid freezes, decreasing the amount of thermal energy transferred from the electronic component to the heat sink. The electronic component may self-heat until it is at least above the threshold temperature. Above the threshold temperature, the working fluid is in a fluid phase and increases the amount of thermal energy transferred from the electronic component to the heat sink via the heat pipe, and thereby reducing the temperature of the electronic component.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2011Publication date: January 3, 2013Inventors: Ian Olson, Jerry J. Bennett, Timothy Ecklund, Gerald K. Hein
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Publication number: 20080153361Abstract: The screw-terminal block assembly includes a screw-terminal block and a snap-in contact member which is adapted to be crimped at one portion thereof to a lead wire, the snap-in contact member including lance portions which are moveable and flex relative to the remainder of the contact member so as to allow the contact member to be inserted into the terminal block, the lance portions rebounding to engage a mating portion of the terminal block when the snap-in contact member is correctly positioned in the terminal block. The snap-in contact member further includes a portion which is configured to receive a terminal screw for an electrical lead connection, such as from an electronic instrument.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 20, 2006Publication date: June 26, 2008Applicant: SCHWEITZER ENGINEERING LABORATORIES, INC.Inventor: GERALD K. HEIN
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Patent number: 7170748Abstract: The heat sink assembly includes a heat sink member with a body portion and an upper mounting portion. The heat sink member is connected to an integrated circuit on a printed circuit board assembly. A resilient mounting assembly is positioned on the mounting portion of the heat sink assembly and is constructed and arranged to permit the heat sink assembly to be removably mounted on the mounting member, which in turn is attachable to or part of the chassis of the electronic equipment. The mounting assembly includes a bias element, such as a spring, for holding the heat sink assembly and the mounting member together in a low thermal resistance relationship.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2003Date of Patent: January 30, 2007Assignee: Schweltzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Gerald K. Hein
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Patent number: 6869295Abstract: The connection element includes a plurality of spring contact assemblies for receiving and making electrical contact with printed circuit boards inserted thereinto, respectively wherein the connection element is configured to mate between a side wall portion of the equipment chassis and an end cover thereof, which are secured together with said connection element captured therebetween, wherein insertion of a printed circuit board into a spring contact assembly results in an electrical ground connection between a circuit ground on the circuit board and the equipment chassis.Type: GrantFiled: August 21, 2003Date of Patent: March 22, 2005Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventors: Gerald K. Hein, Donald Borowski
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Patent number: 4721481Abstract: A replaceable RF connector with replaceable fuse has a receptacle mounted on a housing, the receptacle having a cavity and a throughole to the interior of the housing. An RF connector has a connector end for connecting cables and/or adaptors, a receptacle end having a fuse cavity in electrical connection with the connector end, and a flange integral between the connector end and the receptacle end. The receptacle end is configured to slide into the receptacle cavity such that a fuse electrically mounted in the fuse cavity has a lead extending through the receptacle throughole for connection to a circuit internal to the housing. A retainer ring slips over the RF connector such that the connector end protrudes, and is attached to the receptacle such that the RF connector is secured in the receptacle by the flange.Type: GrantFiled: June 9, 1986Date of Patent: January 26, 1988Assignee: Tektronix, Inc.Inventors: H. Erwin Grellmann, Gerald K. Hein, Brian A. Ohlemeier, Randy C. Karambelas
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Patent number: D492653Type: GrantFiled: August 5, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering LaboratoriesInventor: Gerald K. Hein
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Patent number: D493773Type: GrantFiled: February 18, 2003Date of Patent: August 3, 2004Assignee: Schweitzer Engineering Laboratories, Inc.Inventor: Gerald K. Hein