Patents by Inventor Jean-Pierre Dupraz

Jean-Pierre Dupraz 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: 11049670
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mechatronic circuit-breaker device adapted to break an electrical current flowing through electrical power transmission means, the device including a main branch comprising at least one electromechanical switch-disconnector connected in series with at least one breaker cell itself electrically in parallel with a snubber and a first voltage surge limiter; an auxiliary branch electrically in parallel with the main branch and comprising at least one power electronic switch, connected in series with at least one capacitor, itself electrically in parallel with its discharge resistance and a second voltage surge limiter. The first voltage surge limiter has a sharper voltage-current characteristic and offering a much steeper slope at low currents than the second surge limiter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2021
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Patent number: 10811864
    Abstract: A circuit-breaker device, comprising a main branch and an auxiliary branch electrically in parallel with the main branch, wherein the main branch comprises at least one mechanical switch-disconnector in series with a breaker cell constituted of at least one semiconductor switch, and a snubber circuit in parallel with the at least one breaker cell, the snubber circuit including an energy storage element, wherein the mechanical switch-disconnector is switchable to selectively allow current to flow in the main branch in a first mode of operation or commutate current from the main branch to the auxiliary branch in a second mode of operation, characterized in that the snubber circuit further comprises a bleeder resistor arranged to create a counter current in the main branch when current is commutated from the main branch to the auxiliary branch by discharging the energy storage element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Patent number: 10177706
    Abstract: A device for regulating the supply to a photovoltaic converter, the device comprising: a laser source (2); a photovoltaic converter (6) that feeds a DC-DC converter (8); circuit (100) for regulating the input impedance of said DC-DC converter (8) as a function of the operating voltage (Us) of the photovoltaic converter (6) and of its no-load voltage (Us0); and circuit (42) for measuring an output voltage of the DC-DC converter (8) and for producing a regulation signal (SR) for regulating the laser source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2019
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Publication number: 20180301295
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mechatronic circuit-breaker device adapted to break an electrical current flowing through electrical power transmission means, the device including a main branch comprising at least one electromechanical switch-disconnector connected in series with at least one breaker cell itself electrically in parallel with a snubber and a first voltage surge limiter; an auxiliary branch electrically in parallel with the main branch and comprising at least one power electronic switch, connected in series with at least one capacitor, itself electrically in parallel with its discharge resistance and a second voltage surge limiter, The first voltage surge limiter has a sharper voltage-current characteristic and offering a much steeper slope at low currents than the second surge limiter.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2016
    Publication date: October 18, 2018
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre DUPRAZ
  • Publication number: 20180019583
    Abstract: A circuit-breaker device, comprising a main branch and an auxiliary branch electrically in parallel with the main branch, wherein the main branch comprises at least one mechanical switch-disconnector in series with a breaker cell constituted of at least one semiconductor switch, and a snubber circuit in parallel with the at least one breaker cell, the snubber circuit including an energy storage element, wherein the mechanical switch-disconnector is switchable to selectively allow current to flow in the main branch in a first mode of operation or commutate current from the main branch to the auxiliary branch in a second mode of operation, characterized in that the snubber circuit further comprises a bleeder resistor arranged to create a counter current in the main branch when current is commutated from the main branch to the auxiliary branch by discharging the energy storage element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Publication date: January 18, 2018
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre DUPRAZ
  • Patent number: 9692226
    Abstract: An extinguishing branch (28) for an electrical circuit (32) includes: a snubber circuit (36) including an energy storage limb (40), wherein the energy storage limb (40) includes first and second energy storage limb portions separated by a first junction (46) to define a first voltage divider, and each energy storage limb portion includes at least one energy storage device (48,50); and an arrester limb (38) connected across the energy storage limb (40), wherein the arrester limb (38) includes first and second arrester limb portions separated by a second junction (52) to define a second voltage divider, and each arrester limb portion includes at least one arrester element (54,56), wherein the first and second junctions (46,52) are connected to define a voltage divider bridge, and the voltage divider bridge is electrically coupleable to the electrical circuit (32) so as to provide, in use, a driving voltage to drive the electrical circuit (32).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2017
    Assignee: General Electric Technology GmbH
    Inventors: Colin Charnock Davidson, Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Patent number: 9589744
    Abstract: For application to medium- and high-voltage circuit breakers, the control device makes it possible to actuate opening of the circuit breakers used in the medium- and high-voltage networks very quickly. The spring used in the control device is a spring of the composite type, having a curved C- or ?-shape. The spring has a stationary first end and a movable second end that is pivotally connected to the end of a lever device, that is itself constrained to rotate with the drive shaft of the control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Heinz Aeschbach, Simon Ardyna, Jean-Pierre Dupraz, David Berard
  • Publication number: 20160197578
    Abstract: A device for regulating the supply to a photovoltaic converter, the device comprising: a laser source (2); a photovoltaic converter (6) that feeds a DC-DC converter (8); circuit (100) for regulating the input impedance of said DC-DC converter (8) as a function of the operating voltage (Us) of the photovoltaic converter (6) and of its no-load voltage (Us0); and circuit (42) for measuring an output voltage of the DC-DC converter (8) and for producing a regulation signal (SR) for regulating the laser source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 11, 2014
    Publication date: July 7, 2016
    Applicant: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventor: Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Patent number: 9373473
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new mechatronic circuit-breaker and its associated triggering method for breaking either alternating currents or direct currents at high voltages.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 21, 2016
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd.
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Dupraz, Wolfgang Grieshaber, Michel Collet
  • Publication number: 20150348718
    Abstract: For application to medium- and high-voltage circuit breakers, the control device makes it possible to actuate opening of the circuit breakers used in the medium- and high-voltage networks very quickly. The spring used in the control device is a spring of the composite type, having a curved C- or ?-shape. The spring has a stationary first end and a movable second end that is pivotally connected to the end of a lever device, that is itself constrained to rotate with the drive shaft of the control device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Publication date: December 3, 2015
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD
    Inventors: Heinz AESCHBACH, Simon ARDYNA, Jean-Pierre DUPRAZ, David BERARD
  • Patent number: 9202641
    Abstract: A locked state for a movable part (11) of switchgear is created by deflected spring wires (15) entering a recess (12). Said device is reversible and has the advantage of being safe since it is completely passive, and it improves the dynamics of the movement of the movable part in particular by damping impacts when entering the abutment state. The invention can be applied to the drive rod of a vacuum circuit-breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: David Berard, Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Patent number: 9202645
    Abstract: A movable portion of a vacuum circuit-breaker includes a circular spring sliding on an outer bearing surface in most positions, that is suitable for entering a recess on relaxing in order to define a maximally open position for the vacuum circuit-breaker in which locking is thus provided. The movable portion may be made up of two sections, of which one, made of copper, is a very good electrical conductor, and is directed towards the stationary contact and receives a connection element for connection to an outside electrical circuit; the section may be made of steel in order to promote sliding of the spring without wear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 1, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: David Berard, Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Publication number: 20150236498
    Abstract: An extinguishing branch (28) for an electrical circuit (32) includes: a snubber circuit (36) including an energy storage limb (40), wherein the energy storage limb (40) includes first and second energy storage limb portions separated by a first junction (46) to define a first voltage divider, and each energy storage limb portion includes at least one energy storage device (48,50); and an arrester limb (38) connected across the energy storage limb (40), wherein the arrester limb (38) includes first and second arrester limb portions separated by a second junction (52) to define a second voltage divider, and each arrester limb portion includes at least one arrester element (54,56), wherein the first and second junctions (46,52) are connected to define a voltage divider bridge, and the voltage divider bridge is electrically coupleable to the electrical circuit (32) so as to provide, in use, a driving voltage to drive the electrical circuit (32).
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: August 20, 2015
    Applicant: ALSTOM Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Colin Charnock Davidson, Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Patent number: 9094009
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of opening a shunt switch carrying a current, the switch being connected in parallel with at least one thyristor of a high voltage DC network, interruption of the current flowing through the switch being initiated at the time of a current zero of the current flowing through the switch, the method being characterized in that it includes, based on a measurement effected by means for measuring the current flowing through the switch, a step of adjusting a control angle of the thyristor to position the current zero in a zone in which the time derivative of the measured current is a continuous function and the absolute value of a peak value of the measured current is substantially equal to the absolute value of the inaccuracy of the measurement of the current zero.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grieshaber, Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Patent number: 8994483
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel permanent magnet electromagnetic actuator with triggering speed and drive torque improved relative to those of the prior art. The main target application is actuating an electromechanical switch-disconnector specifically for performing the operations to disconnect a mechatronic circuit-breaker for breaking high-voltage direct currents.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Alstom Technology Ltd
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Dupraz, Wolfgang Grieshaber, Michel Collet
  • Publication number: 20150002977
    Abstract: The invention relates to a new mechatronic circuit-breaker and its associated triggering method for breaking either alternating currents or direct currents at high voltages.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: January 1, 2015
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Dupraz, Wolfgang Grieshaber, Michel Collet
  • Publication number: 20140347101
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method of opening a shunt switch carrying a current, the switch being connected in parallel with at least one thyristor of a high voltage DC network, interruption of the current flowing through the switch being initiated at the time of a current zero of the current flowing through the switch, the method being characterized in that it includes, based on a measurement effected by means for measuring the current flowing through the switch, a step of adjusting a control angle of the thyristor to position the current zero in a zone in which the time derivative of the measured current is a continuous function and the absolute value of a peak value of the measured current is substantially equal to the absolute value of the inaccuracy of the measurement of the current zero.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 27, 2014
    Inventors: Wolfgang Grieshaber, Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Publication number: 20140340182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel permanent magnet electromagnetic actuator with triggering speed and drive torque improved relative to those of the prior art. The main target application is actuating an electromechanical switch-disconnector specifically for performing the operations to disconnect a mechatronic circuit-breaker for breaking high-voltage direct currents.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2012
    Publication date: November 20, 2014
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Dupraz, Wolfgang Greishaber, Michel Collet
  • Publication number: 20130299321
    Abstract: The movable portion (35) of a vacuum circuit-breaker comprises a circular spring (46) sliding on an outer bearing surface (41) in most positions, that is suitable for entering a recess (40) on relaxing in order to define a maximally open position for the vacuum circuit-breaker in which locking is thus provided. The movable portion (35) may be made up of two sections (38, 39), of which one, made of copper, is a very good electrical conductor, and is directed towards the stationary contact (37) and receives a connection element for connection to an outside electrical circuit; the section (38) may be made of steel in order to promote sliding of the spring without wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: David Berard, Jean-Pierre Dupraz
  • Publication number: 20130299320
    Abstract: A locked state for a movable part (11) of switchgear is created by deflected spring wires (15) entering a recess (12). Said device is reversible and has the advantage of being safe since it is completely passive, and it improves the dynamics of the movement of the movable part in particular by damping impacts when entering the abutment state. The invention can be applied to the drive rod of a vacuum circuit-breaker.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 2, 2012
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Applicant: ALSTOM TECHNOLOGY LTD.
    Inventors: David Berard, Jean-Pierre Dupraz