Patents by Inventor James Benke

James Benke 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: 7905748
    Abstract: A temporary connect enables a structure to receive electrical power via a simple extension cord before a utility meter is installed. The temporary connect incorporates the form factor of a standard power meter and mounts to the meter cabinet. It includes a standard male connector or breaker, fuse or lug recessed within a base. A female end of an extension cord may be plugged into the male connector, and the opposite end may be plugged into a temporary meter pole or other power source. The temporary connect connects the prongs of the connector to the load leads of the meter cabinet, but isolates the connector and load prongs from the line leads. The structure thereby can easily receive power for testing the circuits, lights, and other devices. When construction is complete, the temporary connect can be easily removed and replaced with a permanent power meter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2011
    Inventor: James Benke
  • Publication number: 20090247016
    Abstract: A temporary connect enables a structure to receive electrical power via a simple extension cord before a utility meter is installed. The temporary connect incorporates the form factor of a standard power meter and mounts to the meter cabinet. It includes a standard male connector or breaker, fuse or lug recessed within a base. A female end of an extension cord may be plugged into the male connector, and the opposite end may be plugged into a temporary meter pole or other power source. The temporary connect connects the prongs of the connector to the load leads of the meter cabinet, but isolates the connector and load prongs from the line leads. The structure thereby can easily receive power for testing the circuits, lights, and other devices. When construction is complete, the temporary connect can be easily removed and replaced with a permanent power meter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2009
    Publication date: October 1, 2009
    Inventor: James Benke
  • Publication number: 20070253124
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a circuit breaker housing and a plurality of independent poles. Each of the independent poles includes separable contacts, a voltage sensor mounted on or within the circuit breaker housing and being structured to sense voltage operatively associated with the separable contacts, and an electro-magnetic actuator structured to open and close the separable contacts. A point-on-wave controller is housed by the circuit breaker housing and cooperates with the sensors and the actuators of the independent poles to independently and synchronously open and close the separable contacts of the independent poles.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Publication date: November 1, 2007
    Inventors: Xin Zhou, Brad Leccia, Lian Zou, James Benke
  • Publication number: 20070035292
    Abstract: A method monitors a vacuum interrupter for leakage or loss of vacuum. The vacuum interrupter includes a line side, a load side and separable contacts electrically connected therebetween. The line side has a line side voltage and the load side has a load side voltage. The method includes determining whether the separable contacts of the vacuum interrupter are intended to be open or closed, comparing the line side voltage to the load side voltage, and determining the leakage or the loss of vacuum when the separable contacts of the vacuum interrupter are intended to be open and when the load side voltage is within a predetermined amount of the line side voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Publication date: February 15, 2007
    Inventors: Francois Marchand, James Benke, Russell Long
  • Publication number: 20060181267
    Abstract: A method monitors a vacuum interrupter for leakage or loss of vacuum. The vacuum interrupter includes a line side, a load side and separable contacts electrically connected therebetween. The line side has a line side voltage and the load side has a load side voltage. The method includes determining whether the separable contacts of the vacuum interrupter are intended to be open or closed, comparing the line side voltage to the load side voltage, and determining the leakage or the loss of vacuum when the separable contacts of the vacuum interrupter are intended to be open and when the load side voltage is within a predetermined amount of the line side voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 15, 2005
    Publication date: August 17, 2006
    Inventors: Francois Marchand, James Benke, Russell Long
  • Publication number: 20060119344
    Abstract: A system displays information from and controls electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers having separable contacts and a plurality of conditions, such as bus temperature and contact wear. A plurality of sensors are structured to sense the conditions of the circuit breakers and to communicate the sensed conditions over corresponding wireless signals. A display and control unit is operatively associated with the circuit breakers and is structured to receive the corresponding wireless signals and display information corresponding to the sensed conditions or to control the circuit breakers based upon one or more of the sensed conditions.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 24, 2006
    Publication date: June 8, 2006
    Inventors: James Benke, Joseph Engel, James Lagree, Charles Luebke, Mark Solveson
  • Publication number: 20060086694
    Abstract: The present invention provides improved and more efficient methods and apparatus for maintaining and/or adjusting over-travel gaps and contact wipe portions in operating rod assemblies of circuit interrupters.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2004
    Publication date: April 27, 2006
    Inventors: James Benke, Thomas Fogle, Walter Jenkins, Anthony Ricciuti
  • Publication number: 20050063107
    Abstract: An encapsulated medium voltage vacuum circuit interrupter includes a line terminal, a load terminal, a vacuum interrupter, an operating mechanism and an elongated, insulated, generally cylindrical encapsulating housing. The vacuum interrupter includes a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable between a closed circuit position in electrical communication with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly. The fixed contact assembly is electrically interconnected with the line terminal. A flexible conductor electrically connects the movable contact assembly with the load terminal. The operating mechanism moves the movable contact assembly between the closed circuit position and the open circuit position. The housing includes a first end supporting the line terminal and an opposite second end supporting the load terminal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 22, 2003
    Publication date: March 24, 2005
    Inventor: James Benke