Patents by Inventor Klaus Hoepfl

Klaus Hoepfl 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: 8869641
    Abstract: An indexing transmission for an on-load tap changer or a tap selector of a tapped transformer has a rotatable cam disk having an outer edge formed with a succession of convex and concave cam formations in regular succession and merging with one another, a crank transmission driving the cam disk, and a drive output disk acted on by the cam disk and having an outer edge. Engagement rollers rotatable on an end face of the drive output disk near the outer edge of the drive output disk roll on the outer edge of the cam disk. A switch shaft is rotationally fixed to the drive output disk such that the cam disk in cooperation with the engagement rollers of the drive output disk triggers a stepped rotation of the switch shaft through a defined step angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Hoepfl, Gregor Wilhelm
  • Patent number: 8748758
    Abstract: The invention relates to an on-load tap changer having an energy storage device, by means of which an output shaft is rotatable in spurts. According to the invention, in addition to the actual energy storage spring or the actual energy storage springs, at least one further spring is provided, which absorbs/releases energy after the activation of the energy storage mechanism whereby the torque curve can be optimised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 10, 2014
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Hoepfl, Gregor Wilhelm, Silke Wrede
  • Publication number: 20130341166
    Abstract: The invention relates to an on-load tap changer for switching between winding taps of a step transformer without interruption, comprising a separate selector for preselecting the winding tap to be switched to without control current, and a separate load transfer switch for actually transferring the load from the previous to the preselected new winding tap. The invention further relates to an energy store having at least one energy store spring that is first tensioned for each load transfer by a rotating drive shaft and that abruptly actuates the load transfer switch after being triggered. According to the invention, a gear is provided by means of which the energy store can be tensioned after mechanical freewheel is provided between the gear and the energy store, such that the energy store can be tensioned after a time delay, and a further mechanical freewheel (17) is provided between the energy store and a step-by-step motion linkage actuating the load transfer switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 26, 2013
    Inventors: Wolfgang Albrecht, Klaus Hoepfl, Silke Wrede
  • Publication number: 20130220782
    Abstract: A tap changer for uninterrupted switching over between winding taps of a tapped transformer has two load branches each for a respective phase to be switched. Each load branch has a vacuum switching contact acting as main contact and parallel thereto at least one series connection of a switch-over resistance and a respective further vacuum switching contact. The two load branches are connected with a common load shunt or connectable by mechanical switching elements. Two respective vacuum switching contacts of each load branch are constructionally combined to form a single vacuum switching tube with two separate movable contacts actuatable independently of one another and a common fixed contact. The common fixed contact is connected with the common load shunt or connectable mechanical switching contacts.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2011
    Publication date: August 29, 2013
    Inventors: Dieter Dohnal, Klaus Hoepfl, Christian Pircher, Silke Wrede
  • Publication number: 20130213776
    Abstract: The invention relates to a stepping switch (10) for switching among at least two winding taps (12, 14) of a step transformer (16) without interruption, said step transformer having a rotatable switching shaft (22), with which actuating elements (24) for a plurality of actuating phases for mechanical switching elements (MTF, TTF) or vacuum switching tubes (MSV, TTV) are associated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2010
    Publication date: August 22, 2013
    Inventors: Klaus Hoepfl, Gregor Wilhelm, Silke Wrede
  • Publication number: 20130112541
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a load transfer switch for a tap changer, comprising permanent main contacts that switch powerlessly for each phase. The general inventive concept lies in connecting the fixed permanent main contacts of side A or B of the load transfer switch by means of a movable rail-shaped permanent main contact that establishes an electrical connection to the corresponding permanent main contacts of the load line only in the end positions of the movable rail-shaped permanent main contact and in addition only provides for a single deflection for actuation, which connects in a purely compressive manner the plurality of contact fins of the corresponding fixed permanent main contact, which contact fins are connected in a resilient, articulated manner.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 9, 2013
    Inventors: Wolfgang Albrecht, Claudia Dobler, Klaus Hoepfl, Martin Jatta, Christian Kotz, Sebastian Rehkopf
  • Publication number: 20120103766
    Abstract: The invention relates to an on-load tap changer having an energy storage device, by means of which an output shaft is rotatable in spurts. According to the invention, in addition to the actual energy storage spring or the actual energy storage springs, at least one further spring is provided, which absorbs/releases energy after the activation of the energy storage mechanism, whereby the torque curve can be optimised.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Publication date: May 3, 2012
    Inventors: Klaus Hoepfl, Gregor Wilhelm, Silke Wrede
  • Patent number: 7652218
    Abstract: The invention relates to an energy store for a load tap changer with a longitudinally movable lifting carriage and an also longitudinally movable snap-action carriage which follows the movement of the lifting carriage after being triggered and whose longitudinal movement is converted into a rotary movement of an output shaft that actuates the load tap changer. In order to do so, two rolls which are guided in an especially geometrically designed guide rail are disposed on the snap-action carriage. Only one of the two rolls is positively guided in the guide rail during the first part of each movement of the snap-action carriage while the other roll can be moved freely. The second roll that could previously be moved freely is then positively guided during the second part of the movement while the roll which was previously guided can be moved freely. The roll which was initially guided is positively guided once again during the third part of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 26, 2010
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Hoepfl, Gregor Wilhelm, Silke Wrede
  • Publication number: 20090288934
    Abstract: The invention relates to an energy store for a load tap changer with a longitudinally movable lifting carriage and an also longitudinally movable snap-action carriage which follows the movement of the lifting carriage after being triggered and whose longitudinal movement is converted into a rotary movement of an output shaft that actuates the load tap changer. In order to do so, two rolls which are guided in an especially geometrically designed guide rail are disposed on the snap-action carriage. Only one of the two rolls is positively guided in the guide rail during the first part of each movement of the snap-action carriage while the other roll can be moved freely. The second roll that could previously be moved freely is then positively guided during the second part of the movement while the roll which was previously guided can be moved freely. The roll which was initially guided is positively guided once again during the third part of the movement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2006
    Publication date: November 26, 2009
    Applicant: MASCHINENFABRIK REINHAUSEN GMBH
    Inventors: Klaus Hoepfl, Gregor Wilhelm, Silke Wrede
  • Patent number: 7518075
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel energy accumulator for a load step switch for rapid, continuous switching between various winding tappings. Said energy accumulator comprises a lifting carriage and a jumping carriage, which follow the movement of the jumping carriage in a jumping manner. Both of the carriages are guided along three parallel guiding rods. The lifting carriage and the jumping carriage comprise, respectively, three linear roller bearings which respectively surround one of the three guiding rods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Silke Wrede, Klaus Hoepfl
  • Publication number: 20080093207
    Abstract: The invention relates to a novel energy accumulator for a load step switch for rapid, continuous switching between various winding tappings. Said energy accumulator comprises a lifting carriage and a jumping carriage, which follow the movement of the jumping carriage in a jumping manner. Both of the carriages are guided along three parallel guiding rods. The lifting carriage and the jumping carriage comprise, respectively, three linear roller bearings which respectively surround one of the three guiding rods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 29, 2006
    Publication date: April 24, 2008
    Inventors: Silke Wrede, Klaus Hoepfl
  • Patent number: 6347615
    Abstract: A tap-changer vacuum switch having an actuating rod extending and displaceable along an axis is provided with a damper having a damper housing offset from and fixed relative to the vacuum switch, and a rod piston fixed on the valve-actuating rod, in the damper housing, and defining in the damper housing a compartment whose volume changes as the rod piston moves axially with the rod. The damper housing is formed with a pair of radially open ports opening into the compartment. An in-only check valve fitted to one of the ports only permits fluid flow into the compartment, and an out-only check valve fitted to the other port only permits fluid flow out of the compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2002
    Assignee: Maschinenfabrik Reinhausen GmbH
    Inventors: Klaus Höpfl, Silke Wrede