Patents by Inventor James Jeffery Benke

James Jeffery 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: 11694859
    Abstract: Cradle-assist assemblies attached to the breaker cradle housing and/or base or residing at least partially in the breaker cradle housing and/or base include at least one actuator configured to laterally translate the at least one right and the at least one left lock members from the extended lock position to the retracted unlocked position in response to input from a user. The at least one actuator and/or transverse member(s) can be held in a defined position so that the lock members of the cradle can be locked in the respective retracted or extended positions until the cradle assist (internal) lock is manually or automatically released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Hongbin Wang
  • Publication number: 20210225600
    Abstract: Cradle-assist assemblies attached to the breaker cradle housing and/or base or residing at least partially in the breaker cradle housing and/or base include at least one actuator configured to laterally translate the at least one right and the at least one left lock members from the extended lock position to the retracted unlocked position in response to input from a user. The at least one actuator and/or transverse member(s) can be held in a defined position so that the lock members of the cradle can be locked in the respective retracted or extended positions until the cradle assist (internal) lock is manually or automatically released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2021
    Publication date: July 22, 2021
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Hongbin Wang
  • Patent number: 11004623
    Abstract: Cradle-assist assemblies attached to the breaker cradle housing and/or base or residing at least partially in the breaker cradle housing and/or base include at least one actuator configured to laterally translate the at least one right and the at least one left lock members from the extended lock position to the retracted unlocked position in response to input from a user. The at least one actuator and/or transverse member(s) can be held in a defined position so that the lock members of the cradle can be locked in the respective retracted or extended positions until the cradle assist (internal) lock is manually or automatically released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Hongbin Wang
  • Patent number: 11004620
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a temperature detection system that is configured to detect a measured temperature of at least one of a line conductor, a load conductor, a movable contact, and a stationary contact during operation of the circuit interrupter. The measured temperature is representative of an extent of wear of the set of separable contacts. In one embodiment the temperature detection system includes a temperature sensor that is an infrared sensor. In another embodiment, the temperature detection system includes a temperature sensor that is in physical contact with an electrically conductive structure within the circuit interrupter and therefore additionally employs a voltage filter that filters a line voltage from the signal from the temperature sensor. In another embodiment, the temperature detection system employs a temperature sensor that is in physical contact with an electrically conductive structure, but a wireless transceiver is used to wirelessly communicate the measured temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: James Jeffery Benke
  • Publication number: 20200303138
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter includes a temperature detection system that is configured to detect a measured temperature of at least one of a line conductor, a load conductor, a movable contact, and a stationary contact during operation of the circuit interrupter. The measured temperature is representative of an extent of wear of the set of separable contacts. In one embodiment the temperature detection system includes a temperature sensor that is an infrared sensor. In another embodiment, the temperature detection system includes a temperature sensor that is in physical contact with an electrically conductive structure within the circuit interrupter and therefore additionally employs a voltage filter that filters a line voltage from the signal from the temperature sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2019
    Publication date: September 24, 2020
    Applicant: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventor: James Jeffery Benke
  • Patent number: 10533978
    Abstract: A component monitoring system structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly component characteristics is provided. The component monitoring system includes a record assembly, a number of vibration sensor assemblies, a comparison assembly, and an output assembly. The record assembly includes selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component. The vibration sensor assembly is structured to measure a number of actual component characteristics for a substantial portion of the circuit breaker assembly and to transmit actual component characteristic output data. The comparison assembly is structured to receive an electronic signal from said record assembly and said sensor assemblies, to compare each sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication signal as to whether said sensor assembly output data is acceptable when compared to the selected nominal data. The output assembly includes a communication assembly and an output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Li Yu, Jiong Chen, Fangji Wu, He Yang, Wilbert deVries
  • Publication number: 20190385799
    Abstract: Cradle-assist assemblies attached to the breaker cradle housing and/or base or residing at least partially in the breaker cradle housing and/or base include at least one actuator configured to laterally translate the at least one right and the at least one left lock members from the extended lock position to the retracted unlocked position in response to input from a user. The at least one actuator and/or transverse member(s) can be held in a defined position so that the lock members of the cradle can be locked in the respective retracted or extended positions until the cradle assist (internal) lock is manually or automatically released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2019
    Publication date: December 19, 2019
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Hongbin Wang
  • Patent number: 10431399
    Abstract: Cradle-assist assemblies attached to the breaker cradle housing and/or base or residing at least partially in the breaker cradle housing and/or base include at least one actuator configured to laterally translate the at least one right and the at least one left lock members from the extended lock position to the retracted unlocked position in response to input from a user. The at least one actuator and/or transverse member(s) can be held in a defined position so that the lock members of the cradle can be locked in the respective retracted or extended positions until the cradle assist (internal) lock is manually or automatically released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Hongbin Wang
  • Patent number: 10177544
    Abstract: Withdrawable contactor trucks for a circuit breaker have a cradle with a motorized drive system comprising an electric motor in the cradle. The motorized drive system is configured to move the contactor truck in a controlled path between a withdrawn position and a levering-in position in a switchgear compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Wang YiFeng, Ye LiPing
  • Patent number: 9753088
    Abstract: A portable diagnostic apparatus for performing diagnostic testing on a circuit breaker includes a number of sensor devices structured to generate a number of sensed parameter signals relating to operation of the circuit breaker during an operational sequence, a number of auxiliary input connectors structured to receive a number of auxiliary data signals from the circuit breaker, the number of auxiliary data signals relating to and being generated in response to the operation of the circuit breaker during the operational sequence, and control and diagnostic circuitry. The control and diagnostic circuitry is structured to control operation of the portable diagnostic apparatus, receive the number of sensed parameter signals and the number of auxiliary data signals, and generate a time signature based on the number of sensed parameter signals and the number of auxiliary data signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, James Jeffery Benke, Greg D. Holland
  • Patent number: 9748053
    Abstract: A visible disconnect switch (VDS) interlock assembly is provided. The VDS interlock assembly is movable between a CBA, first lockout position, wherein a CBA second contact assembly cannot move when a VDS second contact assembly is in a first position, and a VDS, second lockout position, wherein a VDS second contact assembly cannot move when the CBA second contact assembly is in a second position. Further, the VDS interlock assembly is placed in an open position in between where the CBA, first lockout position and the VDS, second lockout position; from the open position the VDS interlock assembly may be moved into one of the CBA, first lockout position or the VDS, second lockout position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, James Jeffery Benke, Zachary R. Jenkins
  • Publication number: 20170237241
    Abstract: Withdrawable contactor trucks for a circuit breaker have a cradle with a motorized drive system comprising an electric motor in the cradle. The motorized drive system is configured to move the contactor truck in a controlled path between a withdrawn position and a levering-in position in a switchgear compartment.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 28, 2017
    Publication date: August 17, 2017
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Wang YiFeng, Ye LiPing
  • Patent number: 9735555
    Abstract: A mechanical switch-door interlock assembly includes a mounting assembly and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a body, a door sensor, an operating mechanism handle actuator, and a number of sliding coupling components. The actuator assembly body is slidably coupled to the mounting assembly. The actuator assembly body moves between a first position, wherein the operating mechanism handle actuator does not operatively engage the operating mechanism handle, and a second position, wherein the operating mechanism handle actuator operatively engages the operating mechanism handle and moves the operating mechanism handle to the second position. When a door is in a first position, the door operatively engages the door sensor and moves the actuator assembly body to the first position. When the door is in the second position, the door does not operatively engage the door sensor allowing the actuator assembly body to move into the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Anthony John Fishovitz, James Jeffery Benke
  • Patent number: 9704657
    Abstract: A contact wear indicator assembly for a circuit breaker assembly is provided. The contact wear indicator assembly includes an interface assembly, an indicator drive assembly, and a user display assembly. The user display assembly includes an output device. The output device is structured to produce a visual indication representative of a measurable contact characteristic. The indicator drive assembly is operatively coupled to the interface assembly, whereby the indicator drive assembly moves between a first position and a second position corresponding to an interface assembly first and second position. The indicator drive assembly is measurably coupled to the user display assembly. The user display assembly is structured to convert the position data of the indicator drive assembly into a quantified output such as, but not limited to, contact characteristics. The user display assembly is further structured to display the indicator drive assembly position data on the output device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, James Jeffery Benke, Zachary R. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 9679719
    Abstract: An arc extinguishing contact assembly for a circuit breaker assembly is provided. The arc extinguishing contact assembly includes a fixed contact assembly, a movable contact assembly and an arc extinguishing assembly. The fixed contact assembly includes a fixed arc contact assembly, a fixed main contact assembly, and a number of movable, intermediate arc contact assemblies. The movable contact assembly includes a movable arc contact assembly and a movable main contact assembly. The arc extinguishing assembly is structured to extinguish an arc generated as the movable contact assembly moves between an open, first position and a closed, second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, James Jeffery Benke
  • Patent number: 9673595
    Abstract: Withdrawable contactor trucks for a circuit breaker have a cradle with a motorized drive system comprising an electric motor in the cradle. The motorized drive system is configured to move the contactor truck in a controlled path between a withdrawn position and a levering-in position in a switchgear compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Wang YiFeng, Ye LiPing
  • Publication number: 20170155234
    Abstract: Cradle-assist assemblies attached to the breaker cradle housing and/or base or residing at least partially in the breaker cradle housing and/or base include at least one actuator configured to laterally translate the at least one right and the at least one left lock members from the extended lock position to the retracted unlocked position in response to input from a user. The at least one actuator and/or transverse member(s) can be held in a defined position so that the lock members of the cradle can be locked in the respective retracted or extended positions until the cradle assist (internal) lock is manually or automatically released.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 1, 2017
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Hongbin Wang
  • Patent number: 9607784
    Abstract: Cradle-assist assemblies attached to the breaker cradle housing and/or base or residing at least partially in the breaker cradle housing and/or base include at least one actuator configured to laterally translate the at least one right and the at least one left lock members from the extended lock position to the retracted unlocked position in response to input from a user. The at least one actuator and/or transverse member(s) can be held in a defined position so that the lock members of the cradle can be locked in the respective retracted or extended positions until the cradle assist (internal) lock is manually or automatically released.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Hongbin Wang
  • Publication number: 20170063050
    Abstract: A mechanical switch-door interlock assembly includes a mounting assembly and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly includes a body, a door sensor, an operating mechanism handle actuator, and a number of sliding coupling components. The actuator assembly body is slidably coupled to the mounting assembly. The actuator assembly body moves between a first position, wherein the operating mechanism handle actuator does not operatively engage the operating mechanism handle, and a second position, wherein the operating mechanism handle actuator operatively engages the operating mechanism handle and moves the operating mechanism handle to the second position. When a door is in a first position, the door operatively engages the door sensor and moves the actuator assembly body to the first position. When the door is in the second position, the door does not operatively engage the door sensor allowing the actuator assembly body to move into the second position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 27, 2015
    Publication date: March 2, 2017
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: Anthony John Fishovitz, James Jeffery Benke
  • Publication number: 20170045481
    Abstract: A component monitoring system structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly component characteristics is provided. The component monitoring system includes a record assembly, a number of vibration sensor assemblies, a comparison assembly, and an output assembly. The record assembly includes selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component. The vibration sensor assembly is structured to measure a number of actual component characteristics for a substantial portion of the circuit breaker assembly and to transmit actual component characteristic output data. The comparison assembly is structured to receive an electronic signal from said record assembly and said sensor assemblies, to compare each sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication signal as to whether said sensor assembly output data is acceptable when compared to the selected nominal data. The output assembly includes a communication assembly and an output device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2015
    Publication date: February 16, 2017
    Applicant: EATON CORPORATION
    Inventors: James Jeffery Benke, Koustubh Dnyandeo Ashtekar, Li Yu, Jiong Chen, Fangji Wu, He Yang, Wilbert de Vries