Patents by Inventor Hans-Peter Merkel

Hans-Peter Merkel 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: 10090703
    Abstract: A converter module for use in a switchgear assembly for power distribution, has: one or more AC supply bus bars for providing AC power supply; one or more AC or DC power distribution bus bars for distributing power to loads; and one or more converter units for converting AC power from the AC supply bus bars to AC or DC power onto AC or DC power distribution bus bars, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2018
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Matthias Forstbach, Andre Schaerer
  • Publication number: 20170005514
    Abstract: A converter module for use in a switchgear assembly for power distribution, has: one or more AC supply bus bars for providing AC power supply; one or more AC or DC power distribution bus bars for distributing power to loads; and one or more converter units for converting AC power from the AC supply bus bars to AC or DC power onto AC or DC power distribution bus bars, respectively.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 10, 2014
    Publication date: January 5, 2017
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Matthias Forstbach, Andre Schaerer
  • Patent number: 9287687
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical low-voltage switchgear, comprising at least two power units accommodated in slide-in units or in a housing, and comprising control units assigned to the power units. The control units are spatially separated from the power units and power levers and are connected to one another via signal lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: ABB PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Kraft, Hans-Peter Merkel
  • Patent number: 8994543
    Abstract: A diagnosis and maintenance device is provided for a switchgear assembly, for example, a low-voltage switchgear assembly. The diagnosis and maintenance device includes a data processing device and at least one first, internal interface device, which is connected to at least one connected and communication-capable apparatus in the switchgear assembly in a communicating manner and polls and/or processes the diagnosis and maintenance information and/or status information of the connected and communication-capable apparatus and provides said information in an accessible manner as usable and/or human-readable information and/or outputs and/or displays said information as usable and/or human-readable information. A switchgear assembly having such a device is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Matthias Forstbach, Ralf Graf
  • Publication number: 20120262300
    Abstract: A diagnosis and maintenance device is provided for a switchgear assembly, for example, a low-voltage switchgear assembly. The diagnosis and maintenance device includes a data processing device and at least one first, internal interface device, which is connected to at least one connected and communication-capable apparatus in the switchgear assembly in a communicating manner and polls and/or processes the diagnosis and maintenance information and/or status information of the connected and communication-capable apparatus and provides said information in an accessible manner as usable and/or human-readable information and/or outputs and/or displays said information as usable and/or human-readable information. A switchgear assembly having such a device is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2012
    Publication date: October 18, 2012
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Hans-Peter MERKEL, Matthias Forstbach, Ralf Graf
  • Patent number: 8262285
    Abstract: A device for measuring gas temperature in a casing box having different heat-generating units disposed therein. The device includes a temperature-measuring arrangement disposed substantially in a plane above the different heat-generating units. The temperature-measuring arrangement includes a matrix of uniformly distributed temperature sensors configured to measure a temperature of rising gas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Rudiger Kratschmar, Ralf Graf, Hans-Peter Merkel
  • Patent number: 8004826
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical switchgear comprising at least one panel, especially for low voltage, a device compartment especially for receiving inserts, switching devices, control devices, and similar, a busbar compartment in which the busbars are accommodated in a horizontal direction, a multi-terminal busbar compartment in which the multi-terminal busbars extend vertically, and at least one wire compartment. The wire compartment for control wires and signal wires is located on one side of the panel while the wire compartment for power wires is placed on the other side of the panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Gunnar Zank
  • Patent number: 7969744
    Abstract: The invention relates to a modular rear wall for a switching system module, in particular an insertion module. Said modular rear wall comprises a measuring device which is integrated therein and which forms an integral component of the switching system module. The invention also relates to a switching circuit module which comprises said type of modular rear wall, in addition to a switching system comprising at least one switching system module having a modular rear wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Werner Mathes, Klaus Kraft, Hans-Peter Merkel, Klaus-Georg Müller
  • Patent number: 7893370
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module front for a switchgear module, particularly a slide-in module, comprising a control device, the control device being integrated in the module front, and the module front forms an integral component of the switchgear module. The invention relates to a switchgear module, particularly a slide-in module provided with an inventive module front, and to a switchgear equipped with at least one switchgear module of this type.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Jürgen Schmitt, Klaus Kraft, Hans-Peter Merkel, Klaus-Georg Müller
  • Patent number: 7881306
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for installing withdrawable units (11) into switchgears. Said withdrawable units (11) are installed on certain levels (12, 14, 16, 18) of switchgear cabinets (10), communicate via a fieldbus, and are unambiguously identified via a unit address while basic data required for operating the unit is contained in a memory of the withdrawable unit. Each switchgear cabinet (10) is provided with at least one Ethernet switch (20) with which at least the withdrawable units communicate. An application server (30) managing at least the TCP/IP address allocation as well as a database (40) in which at least the unit data of at least the withdrawable units (11) is at least stored and/or managed are also part of the system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Gunnar Zank
  • Patent number: 7845209
    Abstract: An arrangement is disclosed for monitoring an installation for thermal loading, having at least one sensor and having evaluation electronics which are connected to the at least one sensor. An indicator substance is arranged at least one point or on at least one component in the installation. The amount of the indicator substances released into the environment is temperature-dependent. The indicator substance can be detected by the at least one sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 7, 2010
    Assignee: ABB AG
    Inventors: Jens Köhler, Hans-Peter Merkel
  • Publication number: 20090213532
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical switchgear comprising at least one panel, especially for low voltage, a device compartment especially for receiving inserts, switching devices, control devices, and similar, a busbar compartment in which the busbars are accommodated in a horizontal direction, a multi-terminal busbar compartment in which the multi-terminal busbars extend vertically, and at least one wire compartment. The wire compartment for control wires and signal wires is located on one side of the panel while the wire compartment for power wires is placed on the other side of the panel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Publication date: August 27, 2009
    Applicant: ABB Patent GMBHLadenburg
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Gunnar Zank
  • Publication number: 20090097190
    Abstract: A device for measuring gas temperature in a casing box having different heat-generating units disposed therein. The device includes a temperature-measuring arrangement disposed substantially in a plane above the different heat-generating units. The temperature-measuring arrangement includes a matrix of uniformly distributed temperature sensors configured to measure a temperature of rising gas.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2007
    Publication date: April 16, 2009
    Applicant: ABB AG
    Inventors: Rudiger Kratschmar, Ralf Graf, Hans-Peter Merkel
  • Publication number: 20090052121
    Abstract: The invention relates to a module front for a switchgear module, particularly a slide-in module, comprising a control device, the control device being integrated in the module front, and the module front forms an integral component of the switchgear module. The invention relates to a switchgear module, particularly a slide-in module provided with an inventive module front, and to a switchgear equipped with at least one switchgear module of this type.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Publication date: February 26, 2009
    Inventors: Hans-Jurgen Schmitt, Klaus Kraft, Hans-Peter Merkel, Klaus-Georg Muller
  • Patent number: 7493176
    Abstract: A switchgear assembly module is disclosed. The switchgear assembly module is for controlling and monitoring at least one electrical load in an outgoer of a low-voltage switchgear assembly, and has at least one communication interface for connection to a bus system, and a programmable controller and having configurable protective functions. The switchgear assembly module is formed from interchangeable components and has at least one central unit as well as at least one bus connection unit with a communication interface. Additional connection slots are provided for holding at least one power unit and at least one input/output unit. An internal bus is provided for communication from the central unit with the other components for the central unit to process data received from the other components which are located in the switchgear assembly module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Gunnar Zank
  • Publication number: 20090009932
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrical low-voltage switchgear, comprising at least two power units accommodated in slide-in units or in a housing, and comprising control units assigned to the power units. The control units are spatially separated from the power units and power levers and are connected to one another via signal lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Publication date: January 8, 2009
    Applicant: ABB PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Kraft, Hans-Peter Merkel
  • Publication number: 20080266814
    Abstract: The invention relates to a modular rear wall for a switching system module, in particular an insertion module. Said modular rear wall comprises a measuring device which is integrated therein and which forms an integral component of the switching system module. The invention also relates to a switching circuit module which comprises said type of modular rear wall, in addition to a switching system comprising at least one switching system module having a modular rear wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2006
    Publication date: October 30, 2008
    Applicant: ABB PATENT GMBH
    Inventors: Werner Mathes, Klaus Kraft, Hans-Peter Merkel, Klaus-Georg Muller
  • Publication number: 20070291819
    Abstract: An arrangement (10) is disclosed for monitoring an installation, in particular a switchboard plant, for thermal stresses. The arrangement comprises at least one sensor and an electronic evaluation unit (28) connected to the at least one sensor. An indicator substance (36) is located on at least one point or component of the installation. The amount of indicator substances released into the environment is temperature-dependent. Moreover, the indicator substance (36) can be detected by the at least one sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2005
    Publication date: December 20, 2007
    Inventors: Jens Kohler, Hans-Peter Merkel
  • Publication number: 20070052298
    Abstract: The invention relates to a switchgear module (1) for controlling and monitoring an electric consumer in the outgoing feeder of low-voltage switchgear, said module comprising a communication interface for connecting to a bus system, a programmable controller and parametrisable safety functions and being configured from individually interchangeable components. Said module is provided with at least one central unit (2) and a bus connection unit (6) and is also equipped with connection locations for receiving power units (4) and input/output units (7). The central unit (2) communicates with the remaining components in the switchgear module (1) via an internal bus.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2004
    Publication date: March 8, 2007
    Applicant: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Gunnar Zank
  • Publication number: 20070019369
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for installing withdrawable units (11) into switchgears. Said withdrawable units (11) are installed on certain levels (12, 14, 16, 18) of switchgear cabinets (10), communicate via a fieldbus, and are unambiguously identified via a unit address while basic data required for operating the unit is contained in a memory of the withdrawable unit. Each switchgear cabinet (10) is provided with at least one Ethernet switch (20) with which at least the withdrawable units communicate. An application server (30) managing at least the TCP/IP address allocation as well as a database (40) in which at least the unit data of at least the withdrawable units (11) is at least stored and/or managed are also part of the system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2004
    Publication date: January 25, 2007
    Applicant: ABB Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Hans-Peter Merkel, Gunnar Zank