Patents by Inventor Kai SCHROEDER

Kai SCHROEDER 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).

  • Switching device for fast disconnection of short-circuit currents
    Patent number: 11875959
    Abstract: A switching device for fast disconnection of short-circuit currents includes a switching bridge with a movable contacting element and a fixed contacting element. The switching bridge is operable in a closed state, in which the movable contacting element is in contact with the fixed contacting element, and an open state, in which the movable contacting element is spaced apart from the fixed contacting element. The switching device further includes an electromagnetic switching drive with a coil for generating a magnetic field and a magnet anchor, a guide sleeve to guide the movement of the magnet anchor in the magnetic field of the coil, a pyrotechnic propellant charge located in the cavity, and a supporting device for supporting the guide sleeve. The magnet anchor is arranged within the guide sleeve such that a cavity is formed below the magnet anchor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2024
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Johannes Meissner, Julia Otte, Kai Schroeder, Madeline Dumont
  • Switching device with effective cooling of outflowing gases
    Patent number: 11869741
    Abstract: A switching device includes an arc extinguishing chamber, an orifice for outflow of the gases from the arc extinguishing chamber, and a multilayer wire cloth or fabric having at least a first wire layer and a second wire layer. The first wire layer and the second wire layer have a respective cloth or fabric structure including respective warp yarns and weft yams. The first and second wire layers are disposed in a stacked configuration in the orifice such that a weaving direction of the warp yams of the first wire layer is rotated by an angle in relation to a weaving direction of the warp yarns of the second wire layer, and a weaving direction of the weft yarns of the first wire layer is rotated by an angle in relation to a weaving direction of the weft yarns of the second wire layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2024
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Christoph Bausch, Julia Otte, Kai Schroeder, Ute Molitor
  • Switching device for guiding and switching of load currents
    Patent number: 11742165
    Abstract: A switching device for guiding and switching of load currents includes: a movable switching component having a first movable contact and a second movable contact; a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact; a supporting device for supporting the switching component; and a magnetic actuator. The first movable contact is in contact with the first fixed contact and the second movable contact is in contact with the second fixed contact in a switched-on state of the switching component. The first movable contact is electrically separated from the first fixed contact and the second movable contact is electrically separated from the second fixed contact in a switched-off state of the switching component. The switching component is arranged such that the switching component moves between the switched-on state and the switched-off state by at least a rotational movement of the switching component and a translational movement of the supporting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Lutz Friedrichsen, Christoph Bausch, Julia Otte, Kai Schroeder, Johannes Meissner, Christian Ruempler, Albert Zacharias
  • Switching device and switching arrangement
    Patent number: 11705289
    Abstract: A switching device includes: a first and a second fixed contact; a contact bridge; a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge; a first terminal contact on which the first fixed contact is mounted; and a second terminal contact on which the second fixed contact is mounted. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device. A path of a load current flowing through the contact bridge between the first and second movable contacts in the switched-on state extends in a first plane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Lutz Friedrichsen, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Gerd Schmitz, Kai Schroeder, Ute Molitor
  • System, method, and apparatus for multi-port power converter and inverter assembly
    Patent number: 11658477
    Abstract: A multi-port power converter includes a housing that includes a plurality of ports structured to electrically interface to a plurality of loads, the plurality of loads having distinct electrical characteristics. The multi-port power converter also includes a plurality of solid state components configured to provide selected electrical power outputs and to accept selected electrical power inputs and a plurality of solid state switches configured to provide selected connectivity between the plurality of solid state components and the plurality of ports.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Suda, Asheesh Soni, Karsten Gerving, Guido Vollmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'Amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Justin Keith Griffiths
  • Contact unit for a switching device and switching device
    Patent number: 11587749
    Abstract: A contact unit for a switching device includes: a first fixed contact; a second fixed contact; a contact bridge; a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge; a first arc extinguishing chamber, a second arc extinguishing chamber, and a third arc extinguishing chamber; and an arc guiding system. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the contact unit. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the contact unit. The first and the second arc extinguishing chamber and the arc guiding system in coordination with each other extinguish a first arc.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2023
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Volker Lang, Albert Zacharias, Christian Ruempler, Kai Schroeder, Ute Molitor
  • Switching device and method for operating a switching device
    Patent number: 11521817
    Abstract: A switching device includes: a first terminal contact; a first fixed contact arranged at the first terminal contact; a contact bridge; a contact bridge carrier arranged at the contact bridge and having a barrier; a first movable contact arranged at the contact bridge; a second terminal contact; a second fixed contact arranged at the second terminal contact; a second movable contact arranged at the contact bridge; and a magnetic drive assembly including a coil and an armature, the armature being coupled to the contact bridge. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device. The second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in the switched-on state of the switching device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2022
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Christoph Bausch, Lutz Friedrichsen, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Julia Otte, Kai Schroeder
  • CONTACTOR DAMAGE AND DIAGNOSTICS
    Publication number: 20220337070
    Abstract: A method includes interpreting a contactor open event and a contactor load value for a contactor positioned on a motive power circuit for a mobile application, determining that a contactor opening event under load has occurred in response to the contactor open event and the contactor load value, and updating a contactor wear condition in response to the contactor opening event under load, wherein updating the contactor wear condition comprises accumulating a number of the contactor opening events under load.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2022
    Publication date: October 20, 2022
    Inventors: Justin Keith Griffiths, Nilesh Surase, Ritika Shetty, Shalini Tripathy, Somdut Dey, Madhavi Gupta, Mayura Madane, Sadiya Qureshi, Toseed Khan, Amit Chavan, Kumar Prasad Telikepalli, Atul Solvande, Hao Wang, Jiong Chen, Yueyue Deng, Jason Carroll, Srinivasan Arjun Tekalur, Jacob William Green, Ashok Chakravarthi Kandru, Cheng Luo, Tianyang Jiang, Cheng Wan, Ye Zhu, John Trublowski, Robert Stephen Douglass, Rajen Modi, Nilay Mehta, Laura Natali Valencia Fritsch, Han Li, Dongxin JIn, Lewei Qian, Jun Li, Hongrae Kim, Daniel R. Ouwenga, Patrick Herranz, Miroslav Horejs, Rohit Baranwal, Zhe Zhang, Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Kumar Suda, Asheesh Kumar Soni, Rene Guy Gallet, Michael Scott Sullivan, Karsten Gerving, Guido Völlmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'Amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Anvaya R. Hingangave, Devendra Patil
  • SWITCHING DEVICE FOR FAST DISCONNECTION OF SHORT-CIRCUIT CURRENTS
    Publication number: 20220181108
    Abstract: A switching device for fast disconnection of short-circuit currents is provided. The switching device comprises a switching bridge with a movable contacting element and a fixed contacting element. The switching bridge being operable in a closed state, in which the movable contacting element is in contact with the fixed contacting element, and an open state, in which the movable contacting element is spaced apart from the fixed contacting element. The switching device further comprises an electromagnetic switching drive with a coil for generating a magnetic field and a magnet anchor, a guide sleeve to guide the movement of the magnet anchor in the magnetic field of the coil, a pyrotechnic propellant charge located in the cavity, and a supporting device for supporting the guide sleeve. The magnet anchor is arranged within the guide sleeve such that a cavity is formed below the magnet anchor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2020
    Publication date: June 9, 2022
    Inventors: Johannes Meissner, Julia Otte, Kai Schroeder, Madeline Philipsohn
  • SWITCHING DEVICE WITH EFFECTIVE COOLING OF OUTFLOWING GASES
    Publication number: 20220139643
    Abstract: A switching device with effective cooling of outflowing gases includes: an arc extinguishing chamber; an orifice for outflow of the gases from the arc extinguishing chamber; and a multilayer wire cloth or fabric having at least a first wire layer and a second wire layer. The first wire layer and the second wire layer have a respective cloth or fabric structure including respective warp yarns and weft yarns. The first and second wire layers are disposed in a stacked configuration in the orifice such that a weaving direction of the warp yarns of the first wire layer is rotated by an angle in relation to a weaving direction of the warp yarns of the second wire layer, and a weaving direction of the weft yarns of the first wire layer is rotated by an angle in relation to a weaving direction of the weft yarns of the second wire layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2020
    Publication date: May 5, 2022
    Inventors: Christoph Bausch, Julia Otte, Kai Schroeder, Ute Molitor
  • CONTACT UNIT FOR A SWITCHING DEVICE AND SWITCHING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20220044891
    Abstract: A contact unit for a switching device includes: a first fixed contact; a second fixed contact; a contact bridge; a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge; a first arc extinguishing chamber, a second arc extinguishing chamber, and a third arc extinguishing chamber; and an arc guiding system. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the contact unit. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the contact unit. The first and the second arc extinguishing chamber and the arc guiding system in coordination with each other extinguish a first arc.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Volker Lang, Albert Zacharias, Christian Ruempler, Kai Schroeder, Ute Molitor
  • SWITCHING DEVICE FOR GUIDING AND SWITCHING OF LOAD CURRENTS
    Publication number: 20220044896
    Abstract: A switching device for guiding and switching of load currents includes: a movable switching component having a first movable contact and a second movable contact; a first fixed contact and a second fixed contact; a supporting device for supporting the switching component; and a magnetic actuator. The first movable contact is in contact with the first fixed contact and the second movable contact is in contact with the second fixed contact in a switched-on state of the switching component. The first movable contact is electrically separated from the first fixed contact and the second movable contact is electrically separated from the second fixed contact in a switched-off state of the switching component. The switching component is arranged such that the switching component moves between the switched-on state and the switched-off state by at least a rotational movement of the switching component and a translational movement of the supporting device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Publication date: February 10, 2022
    Inventors: Lutz Friedrichsen, Christoph Bausch, Julia Otte, Kai Schroeder, Johannes Meissner, Christian Ruempler, Albert Zacharias
  • SWITCHING DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING A SWITCHING DEVICE
    Publication number: 20210304995
    Abstract: A switching device includes: a first terminal contact; a first fixed contact arranged at the first terminal contact; a contact bridge; a contact bridge carrier arranged at the contact bridge and having a barrier; a first movable contact arranged at the contact bridge; a second terminal contact; a second fixed contact arranged at the second terminal contact; a second movable contact arranged at the contact bridge; and a magnetic drive assembly including a coil and an armature, the armature being coupled to the contact bridge. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device. The second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in the switched-on state of the switching device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2019
    Publication date: September 30, 2021
    Inventors: Christoph Bausch, Lutz Friedrichsen, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Julia Otte, Kai Schroeder
  • Switching apparatus for carrying and disconnecting electric currents, and switchgear having a switching apparatus of this kind
    Patent number: 11114258
    Abstract: A switching apparatus for carrying and disconnecting electric currents includes: a first mechanical contact arrangement; a second mechanical contact arrangement which is connected in series with the first mechanical contact arrangement; a semiconductor switch which is connected in parallel to the first mechanical contact arrangement; a switching electronics system for switching on and switching off the semiconductor switch; and a control circuit for ascertaining a voltage across the first mechanical contact arrangement as an ascertained voltage and generating an actuation signal for the switching electronics system, which actuation signal switches on the semiconductor switch, depending on the ascertained voltage. During a switching process, the switching apparatus closes the two mechanical contact arrangements with a time delay in relation to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Johannes Meissner, Gerd Schmitz, Kai Schroeder, Michael Wohlang, Oliver Kreft, Marcel Uedelhoven
  • SWITCHING DEVICE AND SWITCHING ARRANGEMENT
    Publication number: 20210272758
    Abstract: A switching device includes: a first fixed contact; a second fixed contact; a contact bridge; and a first movable contact and a second movable contact that are arranged at the contact bridge. The first fixed contact is in contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is in contact with the second movable contact in a switched-on state of the switching device. The first fixed contact is free of contact with the first movable contact and the second fixed contact is free of contact with the second movable contact in a switched-off state of the switching device. A load current that flows through the contact bridge between the first movable contact and the second movable contact in the switched-on state has a curved path. A path of the load current flows through the contact bridge between the first movable contact and the second movable contact.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Publication date: September 2, 2021
    Inventors: Lutz Friedrichsen, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Gerd Schmitz, Kai Schroeder, Ute Molitor
  • System, method, and apparatus for power distribution in an electric mobile application using a combined breaker and relay
    Patent number: 11070049
    Abstract: A mobile application includes a motive power circuit having a power storage device and an electrical load, where the power storage device and the electrical load are selectively electrically coupled through a power bus. The application includes a power distribution unit (PDU) electrically interposed between the power storage device and the electrical load, where the PDU includes a breaker/relay positioned on one of a high side and a low side of the power storage device. The breaker/relay includes a fixed contact and a moveable contact selectively electrically coupled to the fixed contact, where the moveable contact allows power flow through the power bus when electrically coupled to the fixed contact, and prevents power flow through the power bus when not electrically coupled to the fixed contact. The breaker/relay includes an armature coupled to the moveable contact, and capable to open or close the motive power circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited
    Inventors: Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Suda, Asheesh Soni, Karsten Gerving, Guido Völlmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Justin Keith Griffiths
  • SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-PORT POWER CONVERTER AND INVERTER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20210218242
    Abstract: A multi-port power converter includes a housing that includes a plurality of ports structured to electrically interface to a plurality of loads, the plurality of loads having distinct electrical characteristics. The multi-port power converter also includes a plurality of solid state components configured to provide selected electrical power outputs and to accept selected electrical power inputs and a plurality of solid state switches configured to provide selected connectivity between the plurality of solid state components and the plurality of ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2021
    Publication date: July 15, 2021
    Inventors: Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Suda, Asheesh Soni, Karsten Gerving, Guido Völlmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Justin Keith Griffiths
  • Double-contact switch having vacuum switching chambers
    Patent number: 10964497
    Abstract: A double-contact switch includes: a first and second tubular vacuum switching chamber formed as partial switching chambers of a switching tube; an electrode fixed in the switching tube and arranged between the first and second vacuum switching chambers and having a first fixed contact projecting into the first vacuum switching chamber and a second fixed contact projecting into the second vacuum switching chamber; a first electrode arranged in the first vacuum switching chamber and movable within the first vacuum switching chamber in an axial direction thereof, the first electrode having a region which bears a contact and is closed off in a gastight manner relative to an exterior of the first vacuum switching chamber; a second electrode arranged in the second vacuum switching chamber and movable within the second vacuum switching chamber in an axial direction thereof, the second electrode having a region which bears a contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2021
    Assignee: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED
    Inventors: Johannes Meissner, Gerd Schmitz, Marcel Uedelhoven, Oliver Kreft, Michael Wohlang, Kai Schroeder
  • SYSTEM, METHOD, AND APPARATUS FOR MULTI-PORT POWER CONVERTER AND INVERTER ASSEMBLY
    Publication number: 20200381915
    Abstract: A multi-port power converter includes a housing that includes a plurality of ports structured to electrically interface to a plurality of loads, the plurality of loads having distinct electrical characteristics. The multi-port power converter also includes a plurality of solid state components configured to provide selected electrical power outputs and to accept selected electrical power inputs and a plurality of solid state switches configured to provide selected connectivity between the plurality of solid state components and the plurality of ports.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2020
    Publication date: December 3, 2020
    Inventors: Martin Wayne Mensch, Brandon William Fisher, Robert Stephen Douglass, Austin Robert Zurface, Jeff Howard Urian, James David, Bharath Suda, Asheesh Soni, Karsten Gerving, Guido Völlmar, Gerd Schmitz, Christoph Bausch, Ute Molitor, Lutz Friedrichsen, Kai Schroeder, Julia Otte, Madeline Philipsohn, Norbert Roesner, Volker Lang, Johannes Meissner, Paolo D'amico, Jalpa Shah, Meng Wang, Damrongrit Piyabongkarn, Niles Stephen Ramseyer, Dennis Dukaric, Matt Haylock, Justin Keith Griffiths
  • SWITCHING APPARATUS FOR CARRYING AND DISCONNECTING ELECTRIC CURRENTS, AND SWITCHGEAR HAVING A SWITCHING APPARATUS OF THIS KIND
    Publication number: 20200365347
    Abstract: A switching apparatus for carrying and disconnecting electric currents includes: a first mechanical contact arrangement; a second mechanical contact arrangement which is connected in series with the first mechanical contact arrangement; a semiconductor switch which is connected in parallel to the first mechanical contact arrangement; a switching electronics system for switching on and switching off the semiconductor switch; and a control circuit for ascertaining a voltage across the first mechanical contact arrangement as an ascertained voltage and generating an actuation signal for the switching electronics system, which actuation signal switches on the semiconductor switch, depending on the ascertained voltage. During a switching process, the switching apparatus closes the two mechanical contact arrangements with a time delay in relation to one another.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 20, 2018
    Publication date: November 19, 2020
    Inventors: Johannes Meissner, Gerd Schmitz, Kai Schroeder, Michael Wohlang, Oliver Kreft, Marcel Uedelhoven