Patents by Inventor Jacob E. Walgenbach
Jacob E. Walgenbach 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: 9876333Abstract: A circuit breaker may be plugged into a breaker compartment in a panelboard without making a connection to a power bus of the panel board. A tool may be inserted into the breaker compartment to operate movable contacts that connect, or disconnect, the circuit breaker from the power bus without de-energizing the power line network. Inserting the tool into the breaker compartment first causes a trip actuator to trip the circuit breaker.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2014Date of Patent: January 23, 2018Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.Inventors: Steven W. Dozier, Jacob E. Walgenbach
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Publication number: 20170110856Abstract: A circuit breaker may be plugged into a breaker compartment in a panelboard without making a connection to a power bus of the panel board. A tool may be inserted into the breaker compartment to operate movable contacts that connect, or disconnect, the circuit breaker from the power bus without de-energizing the power line network. Inserting the tool into the breaker compartment first causes a trip actuator to trip the circuit breaker.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2014Publication date: April 20, 2017Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.Inventors: Steven W. DOZIER, Jacob E. WALGENBACH
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Patent number: 9595816Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing exposure to live parts in a panelboard allow a circuit breaker or other branch electrical device to be safely installed and removed from the panelboard. The methods and systems provide a shutter system that operates in conjunction with the circuit breaker or other branch electrical device to automatically restrict access to the conductors in the panelboard until the circuit breaker is inserted in the panelboard. Specifically, the circuit breaker has one or more insertion keys on its casing that align with and fit into one or more keyed openings in the shutter system. When the circuit breaker is inserted into the panelboard, the insertion keys automatically force open the shutter system to allow the circuit breaker terminals to contact the conductors. Removing the circuit breaker from the panelboard automatically closes the shutter system and prevents fingers or tools from inadvertently accessing the conductors.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: March 14, 2017Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventor: Jacob E. Walgenbach
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Publication number: 20160181769Abstract: Methods and systems for reducing exposure to live parts in a panelboard allow a circuit breaker or other branch electrical device to be safely installed and removed from the panelboard. The methods and systems provide a shutter system that operates in conjunction with the circuit breaker or other branch electrical device to automatically restrict access to the conductors in the panelboard until the circuit breaker is inserted in the panelboard. Specifically, the circuit breaker has one or more insertion keys on its casing that align with and fit into one or more keyed openings in the shutter system. When the circuit breaker is inserted into the panelboard, the insertion keys automatically force open the shutter system to allow the circuit breaker terminals to contact the conductors. Removing the circuit breaker from the panelboard automatically closes the shutter system and prevents fingers or tools from inadvertently accessing the conductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2014Publication date: June 23, 2016Inventor: Jacob E. Walgenbach
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Patent number: 9312666Abstract: Methods and systems for safely installing and removing a circuit breaker or other branch electrical equipment from a panelboard provide a resilient barrier interface for the panelboard. The barrier interface operates in conjunction with the circuit breaker to allow access to a plug-in jaw in the panelboard only when the circuit breaker is inserted in the panelboard. Specifically, the circuit breaker has one or more insertion keys on the underside of its casing that interact with the barrier interface to open and close the barrier interface. When the circuit breaker is inserted into the panelboard, the insertion keys force the barrier interface open automatically to allow the circuit breaker to access the plug-in jaw. Removing the circuit breaker from the panelboard automatically closes the barrier interface and prevents fingers or tools and the like from inadvertently accessing the plug-in jaw.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2014Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventor: Jacob E. Walgenbach
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Patent number: 9281674Abstract: A busway and a method of assembling the same in which a flowable, uncured epoxy is applied between insulated busbar conductors that are stacked on top of one another and inner surfaces of the busway housing into which the stacked conductors are placed to form an enclosed busway. The busbar conductors are insulated by an epoxy powder coat, which can develop pinholes during the curing of the epoxy powder. A flowable, curable dielectric material, such as epoxy, is applied between the outermost busbar conductors and the inner surfaces of the top and bottom pieces of the busway housing. Optionally, epoxy is also applied between adjacent pairs of busbar conductors, which are stacked and arranged into the housing. Pressure is applied to the housing stack, and the epoxy is allowed to cure, resulting in a busway having superior thermal performance, dielectric integrity, and mechanical strength compared to conventional busways.Type: GrantFiled: November 1, 2012Date of Patent: March 8, 2016Assignee: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.Inventors: Jacob E. Walgenbach, James Raymond Ramsey, Timothy P. O'Leary, Thomas Patrick McCrocklin
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Patent number: 9024187Abstract: A busway assembly including a plurality of busbars mounted in a horizontal orientation and stacked in a sandwich configuration for conducting electrical current. The busbars are enclosed within a housing having an H-shaped configuration and including side-panels with ventilation chimneys through which hot air circulates from a low area underneath the busbars to an upper area above the busbars. The ventilation chimneys include open-ended half-pipes that are inserted in respective apertures of the side-panels.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2012Date of Patent: May 5, 2015Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventor: Jacob E. Walgenbach
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Patent number: 8864510Abstract: A busway joint pack includes a first latch mechanism having an open position and a closed position and a second latch mechanism having an open position and a closed position. The busway joint pack further includes a first connector plate having a first major surface opposing a second major surface and a second connector plate having a first major surface opposing a second major surface. The second connector plate is spaced from the first connector plate such that the first and the second connector plates are configured to engage phase conductors of busway sections in a clamping fashion when to the first latch mechanism is in the closed position and the second latch mechanism is in the closed position. The busway joint pack lacks a fastener positioned through the center of the first and the second connector plates, but is rather held together by the latch mechanisms.Type: GrantFiled: October 31, 2012Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventors: Jacob E. Walgenbach, Steven Wayne Dozier
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Publication number: 20140144668Abstract: A busway assembly including a plurality of busbars mounted in a horizontal orientation and stacked in a sandwich configuration for conducting electrical current. The busbars are enclosed within a housing having an H-shaped configuration and including side-panels with ventilation chimneys through which hot air circulates from a low area underneath the busbars to an upper area above the busbars. The ventilation chimneys include open-ended half-pipes that are inserted in respective apertures of the side-panels.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2012Publication date: May 29, 2014Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.Inventor: Jacob E. Walgenbach
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Publication number: 20140116617Abstract: A busway and a method of assembling the same in which a flowable, uncured epoxy is applied between insulated busbar conductors that are stacked on top of one another and inner surfaces of the busway housing into which the stacked conductors are placed to form an enclosed busway. The busbar conductors are insulated by an epoxy powder coat, which can develop pinholes during the curing of the epoxy powder. A flowable, curable dielectric material, such as epoxy, is applied between the outermost busbar conductors and the inner surfaces of the top and bottom pieces of the busway housing. Optionally, epoxy is also applied between adjacent pairs of busbar conductors, which are stacked and arranged into the housing. Pressure is applied to the housing stack, and the epoxy is allowed to cure, resulting in a busway having superior thermal performance, dielectric integrity, and mechanical strength compared to conventional busways.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 1, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: Schneider Electric USA, Inc.Inventors: Jacob E. Walgenbach, James Raymond Ramsey, Timothy P. O'Leary, Thomas Patrick McCrocklin
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Publication number: 20140120755Abstract: A busway joint pack includes a first latch mechanism having an open position and a closed position and a second latch mechanism having an open position and a closed position. The busway joint pack further includes a first connector plate having a first major surface opposing a second major surface and a second connector plate having a first major surface opposing a second major surface. The second connector plate is spaced from the first connector plate such that the first and the second connector plates are configured to engage phase conductors of busway sections in a clamping fashion when to the first latch mechanism is in the closed position and the second latch mechanism is in the closed position. The busway joint pack lacks a fastener positioned through the center of the first and the second connector plates, but is rather held together by the latch mechanisms.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 31, 2012Publication date: May 1, 2014Applicant: SCHNEIDER ELECTRIC USA, INC.Inventors: Jacob E. Walgenbach, Steven Wayne Dozier