Patents by Inventor Harvey W. Mikulecky

Harvey W. Mikulecky 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: 5427538
    Abstract: A device electrically interconnects a high voltage cable to a bushing of a deadfront electrical apparatus or switchgear. The device comprises a feed-through bushing and a separate U-member. The U-member can be installed onto, or removed from, the bushings without having to disconnect the ground. A driver mechanism applies a force to the U-member at a location substantially midway between two parallel legs of the U-member for installing or removing the U-member without cocking of the legs. The U-member carries female contacts which are engageable with male contacts of the bushings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1993
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1995
    Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd K. Knapp, Frank J. Muench, Henry A. Hecker, John M. Makal, Paul M. Roscizewski, David S. Brucker, Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4949060
    Abstract: The invention provides an isolating fusible link, in series with a transformer primary circuit breaker device, for producing an isolating gap after an occurrence of a primary fault condition. More particularly, the invention provides an apparatus comprising a power transformer primary circuit breaker device adapted to be electrically connected in a circuit and including a first contact, and a second contact movable out of engagement with the first contact to open the circuit and movable into engagement with the first contact to close the circuit; and a fuse device including a fusible link connected in electrical series with the breaker device, and adapted to fuse upon an overcurrent condition in the circuit, and structure for moving and maintaining the second current out of engagement with the first contact in response to fusing of the fusible link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 1989
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Cooper Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4946394
    Abstract: A connection mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a cable connector to a bushing mounted on an electrical apparatus which is easier to use than cable connectors which require the threading of one electrical contact into another and which require more than one person to operate the connection mechanism. The connection mechanism assists in properly aligning the cable connector and the bushing and securely connects the cable connector to the bushing. Further, this connection mechanism eliminates the problem present in prior connection mechanisms of having to supply significant force in order to break the rubber-to-rubber interface bond which can occur when the connector has been connected to the bushing for a substantial period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: August 7, 1990
    Assignee: Cooper Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Todd K. Knapp, Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4820183
    Abstract: A connection mechanism for connecting and disconnecting a cable connector to a bushing mounted on an electrical apparatus comprising a saddle shroud adapted to be connected to the cable connector and having an upwardly extending extension, a plate connected to the electrical apparatus above the bushing for supporting the saddle shroud and for permitting movement of the saddle shroud relative to the bushing, the plate having a slot which receives and supports the saddle shroud extension.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 11, 1989
    Assignee: Cooper Industries
    Inventors: Todd K. Knapp, Harvey W. Mikulecky, Paul R. Reicher
  • Patent number: 4818967
    Abstract: A current limiting fuse for a transformer bushing including a glass tubing, an elongate ribbon spirally wound in the tubing, the ribbon including a number of tabs formed integral therewith to space the ribbon inwardly of the walls of the tubing, a terminal stud mounted on one end of the tubing and being electrically connected to the ribbon, a conductive rod connected to the other end of the ribbon and sealed in the other end of the tubing, a granular dielectric material completely filling the tubing, a self-sealing, self-bonding, rubber tape wrapped around the outside of the tubing and a glass reinforced tape wrapped around the outside of the rubber tape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 1987
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1989
    Assignee: Cooper Power Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4791394
    Abstract: A sensor-tripper apparatus for tripping the trip lever of a circuit interrupter in a power distribution circuit, the apparatus including a trip rod mounted in a tube and supported on a frame, a thermally responsive member having a predetermined curie temperature connected in the primary circuit, a magnet assembly mounted for axial movement on the tube and operatively connected to the trip rod, the magnet assembly being attracted to the thermally responsive member and holding a spring in compression whereby on release of the magnet assembly from the thermally responsive member the spring will move the magnet assembly and trip rod to trip the trip lever and a magnetic disk assembly operatively connected to the trip rod and being responsive to a high fault current in the primary circuit to move the trip rod independently of the magnet assembly to trip the trip lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 13, 1988
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4737878
    Abstract: In a transformer primary circuit breaker having a primary switch for opening and closing the transformer primary circuit, an operating handle mounted exteriorly of the transformer for opening and closing the primary switch, a trip mechanism operatively connected to open the primary switch under fault current conditions, the trip mechanism including a conductive metallic sensor element connected in the primary circuit and having a predetermined Curie temperature and a magnet mounted for movement into engagement with the sensor element and biased to open the primary switch when the temperature of the sensor element approaches the Curie temperature, the improvement comprising a shunt circuit connected to the primary circuit in parallel with the sensor element, a normally closed switch in the shunt circuit, a resistance element for limiting the current passing through the shunt circuit, and a tab mounted on the operating handle for opening the shunt circuit switch, a spring mounted in the operating handle for lim
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: April 12, 1988
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4688145
    Abstract: A mounting assembly removably supporting an over current fuse package in an opening in a switchgear enclosure. The fuse package having an entry bushing on one side and an internal bushing on the opposite side adapted to connect to a receptacle in the enclosure. The assembly includes a panel for supporting the fuse package in the opening in the enclosure. Clamps mounted on the enclosure for releaseably locking the panel to the enclosure. A lock assembly includes slide support members mounted on the enclosure, bracket members mounted on the panel, a rod rotatably mounted in the bracket members. The rod having a key mounted on each end which is operatively positioned in the slide support members and a bail connected to the rod moving the keys between a locked and an unlocked position with respect to the support members. The bail being inoperable until a cable connector is removed from the entry bushing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 25, 1985
    Date of Patent: August 18, 1987
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4611189
    Abstract: An underoil primary circuit breaker having a fixed contact assembly and a rod contact, a trip-free latch mechanism for moving the rod contact toward and away from the fixed contact, a temperature responsive magnetically controlled trip assembly for releasing the latch mechanism, and cross blast car interrupter for extinguishing the arc produced between the rod contact and fixed contact assembly, the interrupter including a core formed from an arc extinguishing material and defining within a reinforced case a pressure chamber, a pressure relief chamber, an arc passage connected to the pressure chamber and a vent passage connected to the vent chamber; high and low pressure exhaust ports are provided between the arc passage and the vent passage and a throttling tube is provided in the pressure relief chamber to vent gases into the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: September 9, 1986
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4591816
    Abstract: A low oil lock-out and/or trip apparatus for a submersible transformer circuit breaker of the type having a manually operated crank shaft assembly for opening and closing the circuit breaker and a fault trip assembly for opening the circuit breaker under fault current conditions, the apparatus including a float assembly which is responsive to changes in oil level in said transformer and a rod carried by said float for blocking the movement of the crankshaft and a trip member for tripping the trip assembly when the oil level drops below a predetermined level in the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1985
    Date of Patent: May 27, 1986
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventors: Harvey W. Mikulecky, Todd K. Knapp
  • Patent number: 4550298
    Abstract: A temperature-responsive trip assembly for a primary circuit breaker, the assembly including a permanent magnet member biased to a circuit opening position and pertinent to engage a thermally-responsive metallic element having a predetermined Curie temperature, the element being formed of a nickel-iron alloy having approximately 32% nickel and being arranged in edge-abutting relation to the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1985
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4435690
    Abstract: A primary circuit breaker for fluid filled transformers, the circuit breaker being immersible in the fluid in the transformer and including a circuit interrupter assembly, an externally actuatable latch mechanism for reclosing the interrupter assembly and a magnetically controlled trip assembly for releasing the interrupter assembly from the latch mechanism in response to predetermined electrical and thermal conditions in the transformer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 1982
    Date of Patent: March 6, 1984
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventors: Edwin A. Link, Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4146862
    Abstract: An oil immersible current limiting full range fuse including a tubular housing, end caps hermetically sealed to each end of the housing and supporting a full range fuse assembly within said housing, the housing being filled with a granular arc extinguishing filler, the hermetic seal provided between the housing and the end caps is formed by a resilient gasket mounted at each end of the housing and epoxy adhesive provided in the end caps, the adhesive being displaced by the gasket on insertion into the space between the end cap and the outer wall of the housing.A method for testing the hermetic seals for leaks which includes the steps of injecting sulfur hexafluoride into the housing, sealing the housing, confining the fuse in a closed space for a predetermined period of time and testing the atmosphere of the confined space to determine the presence of sulfur hexafluoride.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1977
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1979
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 4090164
    Abstract: A high voltage fuse of the current limiting type including a housing of insulating material, a cylindrical support formed by an inorganic asbestos thread or string threaded on end plates which are mounted in a spaced relation on a support rod, the thread forming a cylindrical support for a fusible element which is spirally wrapped about the cylindrical support. An arc quenching material is used to fill the housing and completely surround said fusible element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1977
    Date of Patent: May 16, 1978
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky
  • Patent number: 3972015
    Abstract: A fused high voltage electrical bushing having a housing formed of a ceramic dielectric material, porcelain or glass, and having an axially extending passage, an electric terminal at each end of said passage, a fusible element within said passage interconnecting the terminals, a granular dielectric material completely filling the passage, a conductive layer of material on the inside surface of the passage, and a heat insulating sleeve positioned in the passage between the granular dielectric material and the inside surface of the housing to insulate the housing from the heat of the arc on interruption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 1975
    Date of Patent: July 27, 1976
    Assignee: RTE Corporation
    Inventor: Harvey W. Mikulecky