Patents by Inventor Gerhard Linhofer

Gerhard Linhofer 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: 6333863
    Abstract: The method according to the invention is for compensation currents to be produced which have arbitrary phases and/or arbitrary amplitudes. To this end, a compensation unit (5) is proposed which is connected to the polyphase system via a transformer unit (4). The compensation unit (5) in this case comprises at least a switching unit (6) and an energy storage unit (7), which is connected to the transformer unit (4) via the switching unit (6).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: ABB (Schweiz) AG
    Inventors: Claes Hillberg, Gerhard Linhofer
  • Patent number: 6169676
    Abstract: An invertor having a plurality of invertor bridges which operate in parallel and whose output voltages are summed. The invertor bridges are driven with pulse duration modulation according to an auxiliary control voltage. The auxiliary control voltages of the individual invertor bridges have a constant phase difference between one another. The output voltages of the bridges are summed by a center tap which is grounded by a ground connection. Effective suppression of the common-mode current distortion is achieved by having the switch arranged in the ground connection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2001
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Peter D{umlaut over (a)}hler, Osvin Gaupp, Gerhard Linhofer, Jean-François Ravot
  • Patent number: 5999428
    Abstract: An inverter having a plurality of inverter bridges which operate in parallel and whose output voltage is summed by way of a transformer. The transformer has a number of primary windings and associated secondary windings which correspond to the number of inverter bridges. Each inverter bridge is connected on the output side to a primary winding. The secondary windings are connected in series to sum the output voltages. The transformer has a center tap which is grounded by a ground connection. The suppression of in-phase or common-mode interference currents flowing by the ground connection and the interference voltages associated therewith is achieved by dividing the secondary windings into a first and second identical partial secondary winding. The partial secondary windings are connected to one another in the center tap in such a way that the common-mode currents and voltages induced in the partial secondary windings mutually cancel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Peter Dahler, Osvin Gaupp, Gerhard Linhofer, Jean-Fran.cedilla.ois Ravot
  • Patent number: 5999427
    Abstract: An invertor (15) includes a plurality of invertor bridges (B1, . . . ,B8), which are connected in parallel and whose output voltages are summed via a transformer (19). The transformer (19) has a number of primary windings (P1, . . . ,P8) and associated secondary windings (S1, . . . ,S8) which corresponds to the number of invertor bridges (B1, . . . ,B8). Each invertor bridge (B1, . . . ,B8) is connected on the output side to one of the primary windings (P1, . . . ,P8), and the secondary windings (S1, . . . ,S8) are connected in series to sum the output voltages. The transformer (19) has a center tap (23) which is grounded via a ground connection (24). Tertiary windings (T1, . . . ,T8) are assigned to the primary windings (P1, . . . ,P8) and to the secondary windings (S1, . . . ,S8). The tertiary windings (T1, . . . ,T8) are also connected to a common-mode filter (51).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 7, 1999
    Assignee: Asea Brown Boveri AG
    Inventors: Peter Dahler, Osvin Gaupp, Gerhard Linhofer, Jean-Fran.cedilla.ois Ravot
  • Patent number: 4710735
    Abstract: Absorption circuits (C.sub.f,L.sub.F) are used for filtering out unwanted harmonic currents in electric lines (R, S, T), particularly for rated power within the range of 1 MVar-1 GVar, for example in the case of high-voltage direct-current transmission systems. So that the absorption circuit holds the virtual capacitance of the filter capacitor circuit (C.sub.f) at its rated value at a tuned frequency even when one or more capacitors (C11, C21, C12, C22) fail, a compensating choke (L) is provided in the cross branch of an "H" circuit of the capacitors. The capacitance of each capacitor (C11 . . . C22) is equal to the total capacitance C of the filter capacitor circuit (C.sub.f). The inductance L of the compensating choke (L) is equal to 1/.omega..sup.2 C, where .omega.=angular frequency of the harmonic. The compensating choke (L) can be designed for 5%-10% of the power of the filter choke (L.sub.F).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1987
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Leopold Blahous, Gerhard Linhofer
  • Patent number: 4689733
    Abstract: Where different 3-phase systems are connected to each other via two static converters having an intermediate direct-current circuit, the exchange of power via the intermediate direct-current circuit can be interrupted by a severe disturbance, for example by failure of a static-converter or by line or busbar faults causing a short-circuiting of one of the static converters. This interruption means a change in the balance of effective power and, associated with this, a shedding of reactive load for the other undisturbed 3-phase system. To reduce high dynamic overvoltages which can lead to plant components being endangered or to operational disturbances, the firing angle of the static converter remaining in operation is regulated with dependence on the alternating voltage of the alternating-current system connected to this static converter, in such a manner that the overvoltage is reduced. This is carried out by regulating the current.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 1986
    Date of Patent: August 25, 1987
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Gerhard Guth, Walter Kuhn, Gerhard Linhofer, Kadry Sadek
  • Patent number: 4661763
    Abstract: Phase shifters are used in meshed, multi-phase power supply systems for improving their transmission stability and for load-flow regulating purposes. In order to be able to use a less costly exciter transformer of lower rating or the tertiary or compensation winding of a system coupling transformer for generating intermediate-circuit voltages as a function of system input voltages, a resonant circuit is provided between the exciter transformer and an auxiliary transformer. In this resonant circuit consisting of series-connected capacitors and inductive resistances which are connected to taps between these capacitors and can be switched in and out by means of alternating-current switches, tap voltages are generated which are supplied to the primary windings of the auxiliary transformer. At the secondary windings, connected in series with phase conductors of the auxiliary transformer, auxiliary voltages occur which are superimposed on the system input voltages and effect the desired phase shifts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: April 28, 1987
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Niyazi Ari, Gerhard Linhofer
  • Patent number: 4581573
    Abstract: A better filtering effect for disturbing harmonic currents in a high-tension direct current transmission installation is described. A balancing winding is provided between a primary winding as an outer winding and a secondary winding in a 3-winding transformer with a transformer core. The distances between the balancing winding and the primary winding and the secondary winding, respectively, are selected such that the equivalent reactance of this balancing winding is equal to or less than zero. A second balancing winding can be provided as the inner winding in a series with the first balancing winding. In the case of a 4-winding transformer, two winding arrangements are provided with two parallel-connected primary windings as the outer windings, with a separate secondary winding for each and a balancing winding for each between the primary and secondary windings, the two balancing windings being connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 1984
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1986
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company, Limited
    Inventors: Josip Dobsa, Gerhard Linhofer
  • Patent number: 4539432
    Abstract: A coolable electrical component having a housing (1) filled with insulating gas, and a conductor (2) of hollow cylindrical construction causing a high voltage, arranged in this housing (1). Through the interior space (7) of the conductor a coolant is circulated. The electrical component occupies a smaller space and yet allows increased current load capacity. This is achieved by providing a high-pressure tank (19) extending in the longitudinal direction of the conductor (2) in the interior space (7) thereof. The tank is connected to a gas liquefaction installation by means of outlet orifices (18) perforated in its wall at regular intervals thereof.Such a componet may preferably be a tubular gas cable or a component of a gas-insulated, metal-encapsulated switchgear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 1984
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1985
    Assignee: BBC Brown, Boveri & Company Limited
    Inventors: Georg Koppl, Gerhard Linhofer