Patents by Inventor Henry J. Zylstra

Henry J. Zylstra 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: 4631624
    Abstract: A time delay undervoltage release for an electric circuit breaker causes the circuit breaker to trip when the control voltage drops below an acceptable level and prevents the breaker from being closed until the control voltage rises to a predetermined level. When the control voltage drops below an acceptable level, the undervoltage release energizes a trip solenoid to trip the breaker. A variable delay is interposed between the control voltage dropping below the acceptable level and the trip solenoid being energized. At the same time the trip solenoid is energized, an inhibit solenoid is deenergized to block the operation of the push-to-close button. When the control voltage increases to a predetermined level, the inhibit solenoid is energized, allowing the push-to-close button to be manually operated and the breaker returned to service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 23, 1986
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Dvorak, Harley W. Jansen, Henry J. Zylstra
  • Patent number: 4538194
    Abstract: A desensitizing circuit for the electronic fault sensing system of high amperage molded case circuit breaker to prevent a ground fault signal from tripping the breaker in the event of current transformer saturation or the response of a downstream breaker to the ground fault signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 27, 1985
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Henry J. Zylstra, Harley W. Jansen
  • Patent number: 4486803
    Abstract: An electronic system for a high amperage molded case circuit breaker employing a voltage to frequency converter circuit for transforming fault current levels to a number of pulses corresponding to the fault level. The pulses are applied to a long time delay and short time delay circuit respectively which integrates the pulses to provide an output in a time period inversely proportional to the fault level. The long time circuit is provided with a second stage activated for a selected time by each output of the respective first stage to further count the pulses and provide a long time delay output in a time period inversely proportional to the square of the fault current. A variable resistance power supply provides a fixed voltage drop across the current transformer output to facilitate changes in breaker rating with a simple rating resistor change. A bimetal switch is also employed to sense the temperature adjacent the breaker contacts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: December 4, 1984
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventor: Henry J. Zylstra
  • Patent number: 4466042
    Abstract: Trip indicator electromagnets of the permanent magnet type for use in a high amperage molded case circuit breaker under control of the long time delay and the short time delay or instantaneous circuits respectively for indicating the nature of a fault current and which can be reset by operating a viewing window that renders the indicator visible in response to armature movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Henry J. Zylstra, Donald R. Venzke
  • Patent number: 4213165
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an electronic fault sensing and trip initiating unit which provides increased versatility and ability to coordinate the circuit breaker with other interrupting and protective devices in a wide variety of electrical distribution systems. Electronic circuits and components are provided to vary the ampere rating of the breaker, to adjust current carrying capacity, to provide a long time delay trip, a short time delay trip and an instantaneous trip depending on the amplitude of high fault currents, to provide a ground fault trip, to shorten or lengthen the trip time for short time delay faults and for ground faults, and to provide shunt trip capability. The tripping mechanism is magnetic and mechanical, and includes a plunger movable between a trip and non-trip position controlled by an electronic switch in the electronic circuitry, and a toggle mechanism which is unlatched by the plunger when it moves to the trip position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 1978
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1980
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Henry J. Zylstra, Harley W. Jansen
  • Patent number: 4209818
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an electronic fault sensing and trip initiating unit which provides increased versatility and ability to coordinate the circuit breaker with other interrupting and protective devices in a wide variety of electrical distribution systems. Electronic circuits and components are provided to vary the ampere rating of the breaker, to adjust current carrying capacity, to provide a long time delay trip, a short time delay trip and an instantaneous trip depending on the amplitude of high fault currents, to provide a ground fault trip, to shorten or lengthen the trip time for short time delay faults and for ground faults, and to provide shunt trip capability. The tripping mechanism is magnetic and mechanical, and includes a plunger movable between a trip and non-trip position controlled by an electronic switch in the electronic circuitry, and a toggle mechanism which is unlatched by the plunger when it moves to the trip position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1980
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Henry J. Zylstra, Ronald D. Borrett
  • Patent number: 4208690
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an electronic fault sensing and trip initiating unit which provides increased versatility and ability to coordinate the circuit breaker with other interrupting and protective devices in a wide variety of electrical distribution systems. Electronic circuits and components are provided to vary the ampere rating of the breaker, to adjust current carrying capacity, to provide a long time delay trip, a short time delay trip and an instantaneous trip depending on the amplitude of high fault currents, to provide a ground fault trip, to shorten or lengthen the trip time for short time delay faults and for ground faults, and to provide shunt trip capability. The tripping mechanism is magnetic and mechanical, and includes a plunger movable between a trip and non-trip position controlled by an electronic switch in the electronic circuitry, and a toggle mechanism which is unlatched by the plunger when it moves to the trip position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: James P. McGinnis, Henry J. Zylstra
  • Patent number: 4208689
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an electronic fault sensing and trip initiating unit which provides increased versatility and ability to coordinate the circuit breaker with other interrupting and protective devices in a wide variety of electrical distribution systems. Electronic circuits and components are provided to vary the ampere rating of the breaker, to adjust current carrying capacity, to provide a long time delay trip, a short time delay trip and an instantaneous trip depending on the amplitude of high fault currents, to provide a ground fault trip, to shorten or lengthen the trip time for short time delay faults and for ground faults, and to provide shunt trip capability. The tripping mechanism is magnetic and mechanical, and includes a plunger movable between a trip and non-trip position controlled by an electronic switch in the electronic circuitry, and a toggle mechanism which is unlatched by the plunger when it moves to the trip position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Robert W. Dunham, James P. McGinnis, Henry J. Zylstra
  • Patent number: 4208693
    Abstract: A circuit breaker having an electronic fault sensing and trip initiating unit which provides increased versatility and ability to coordinate the circuit breaker with other interrupting and protective devices in a wide variety of electrical distribution systems. Electronic circuits and components are provided to vary the ampere rating of the breaker, to adjust current carrying capacity, to provide a long time delay trip, a short time delay trip and an instantaneous trip depending on the amplitude of high fault currents, to provide a ground fault trip, to shorten or lengthen the trip time for short time delay faults and for ground faults, and to provide shunt trip capability. The tripping mechanism is magnetic and mechanical, and includes a plunger movable between a trip and non-trip position controlled by an electronic switch in the electronic circuitry, and a toggle mechanism which is unlatched by the plunger when it moves to the trip position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 1978
    Date of Patent: June 17, 1980
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: James W. Dickens, James P. McGinnis, Henry J. Zylstra
  • Patent number: 4197567
    Abstract: A ground fault circuit interrupter which utilizes one trip coil to perform the combined functions of interrupting a circuit on occurrence of a ground fault as well as an under voltage condition. An electronic module supplies continuous current to the trip coil until a ground fault or under voltage condition occurs. The armature is spring biased in a direction away from the trip coil, with tension of the spring adjusted to pull the armature away from the trip coil when voltage in the coil decreases below a selected amplitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 1978
    Date of Patent: April 8, 1980
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Robert E. Dietz, Henry J. Zylstra