Patents by Inventor Lutz Niemeyer
Lutz Niemeyer 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: 8502101Abstract: An exemplary high voltage circuit breaker includes an interruption chamber that is filled with an extinguishing agent. The interruption chamber having at least two separable arcing contact pieces that are coaxially arranged and an arcing zone in which an electric arc is producible during an interruption process. The interruption chamber includes at least two inlets and at least one outlet located in between the two inlets. The inlets and the at least one outlet are connected with the arcing zone such that the electric arc is extinguishable in at least three arc interruption zones by means of extinguishing flows streaming out of the at least two inlets into the arcing zone upon pressurization and introduction of a portion of the extinguishing agent in the arcing zone, and leading an amount of the extinguishing flows through the outlet out of the arcing zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 30, 2011Date of Patent: August 6, 2013Assignee: ABB Research LtdInventors: Lutz Niemeyer, Martin Seeger, Michael Schwinne, Arthouros Iordanidis
-
Patent number: 8148660Abstract: A high-voltage circuit breaker includes two arcing contacts, which are capable of moving relative to one another along an axis, an insulating nozzle, a heating volume for accommodating quenching gas, a heating channel, and an overpressure valve. The pressure of the quenching gas is based on the energy of a switching arc, which is formed when the breaker opens and generates arcing gas, and the heating channel opens out, with axial alignment, into the heating volume. The heating channel connects an arc zone, and the overpressure valve limits the pressure of the quenching gas by opening a relief duct, which opens out into an expansion space. In high-current switching, the pressure of the arcing gases in the arc zone is limited, and the quality of the quenching gas stored in the heating volume is improved, due to the relief duct having an outflow section extending in the radial direction.Type: GrantFiled: April 15, 2010Date of Patent: April 3, 2012Assignee: ABB Research LtdInventors: Martin Seeger, Lutz Niemeyer, Arthouros Iordanidis, Christian Franck
-
Publication number: 20120037599Abstract: An exemplary high voltage circuit breaker includes an interruption chamber that is filled with an extinguishing agent. The interruption chamber having at least two separable arcing contact pieces that are coaxially arranged and an arcing zone in which an electric arc is producible during an interruption process. The interruption chamber includes at least two inlets and at least one outlet located in between the two inlets. The inlets and the at least one outlet are connected with the arcing zone such that the electric arc is extinguishable in at least three arc interruption zones by means of extinguishing flows streaming out of the at least two inlets into the arcing zone upon pressurization and introduction of a portion of the extinguishing agent in the arcing zone, and leading an amount of the extinguishing flows through the outlet out of the arcing zone.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2011Publication date: February 16, 2012Applicant: ABB Research LtdInventors: Lutz NIEMEYER, Martin Seeger, Michael Schwinne, Arthouros Iordanidis
-
Publication number: 20100219161Abstract: A high-voltage circuit breaker includes two arcing contacts, which are capable of moving relative to one another along an axis, an insulating nozzle, a heating volume for accommodating quenching gas, a heating channel, and an overpressure valve. The pressure of the quenching gas is based on the energy of a switching arc, which is formed when the breaker opens and generates arcing gas, and the heating channel opens out, with axial alignment, into the heating volume. The heating channel connects an arc zone, and the overpressure valve limits the pressure of the quenching gas by opening a relief duct, which opens out into an expansion space. In high-current switching, the pressure of the arcing gases in the arc zone is limited, and the quality of the quenching gas stored in the heating volume is improved, due to the relief duct having an outflow section extending in the radial direction.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 15, 2010Publication date: September 2, 2010Applicant: ABB Research LtdInventors: Martin SEEGER, Lutz Niemeyer, Arthouros Iordanidis, Christian Franck
-
Publication number: 20080135523Abstract: In a self-blast circuit breaker, the inner contact is equipped with a control body which extends into or against the outer contact, respectively. The control body forces the arc into an arcing zone in the form of a hollow cylinder. This achieves a more rapid pressure build up as a result of which the provision of the extinction chamber of the circuit breaker with extinguishing gas can be improved. The gas flow out of and into the arcing zone can be optimized by suitable shaping of the control body.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 8, 2008Publication date: June 12, 2008Applicant: ABB Research LtdInventors: Martin Seeger, Lutz Niemeyer
-
Publication number: 20050258024Abstract: The basic unit (1) of a switchgear assembly has a ring busbar (2), four outgoers (7, 8, 9, 10) which are connected to the busbar (2) via a respective isolator (3, 4, 5, 6), as well as two commutation switching elements (11, 12) and two disconnection elements (13, 14), which are arranged in the busbar (2) and are closed during normal operation. Each outgoer (7, 8, 9, 10) is connected via a commutation switching element (11, 12) to one of the adjacent outgoers, and via a disconnection element (13, 14) to the other of the adjacent outgoers. The basic unit (1) also has a third commutation switching element (15), which is closed during normal operation and is connected in series both with the first commutation switching element (11) and with the second commutation switching element (12). Each disconnection element (13, 14) is thus bridged by a parallel current path comprising two commutation switching elements (11, 15; 12, 15) which are in each case connected in series.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2003Publication date: November 24, 2005Inventor: Lutz Niemeyer
-
Patent number: 6720858Abstract: In a fuse chamber (8) there is arranged as a quenching gas source a burn-off element (11), which concentrically surrounds an arc chamber (10) and is separated from it by a fuse element (9), which consists of metal foil, preferably silver foil, and the outer side of which is adjoined by the burn-off element (11). The latter consists of an igniting material (12), arranged in the form of a ring running around centrally, and a gas-evolving material (13). Both materials consist, for example, of guanidine or guanidine derivatives as the combustible material and an oxidant, the proportion of which in the igniting material (12) is hyperstoichiometric. The arc chamber (10) is bounded at opposite ends by nozzles (7a,b), which connect it to exhaust volumes (4a,b). When there is an overcurrent, the fuse element (9) heats up to the igniting temperature of the igniting material (12) and is torn open centrally.Type: GrantFiled: May 30, 2002Date of Patent: April 13, 2004Assignee: ABB Research LtdInventors: Uwe Kaltenborn, Lutz Niemeyer
-
Patent number: 6654220Abstract: Current and voltage values (uk, ik) are measured for protection of an electrical power line (1). An adaptive estimator is used to analyze all the values within a measurement window, and to convert them to impedance values (Z). The line (1) is switched off if the impedance values (Z) assume unacceptable values. In order to shorten the reaction time, a warning signal (W) is produced if powerful radio-frequency signals are detected on the line (1). When the warning signal (W) occurs, the respective measurement window is located such that its start matches the time of the warning signal (W), and/or the respective measurement window is shortened.Type: GrantFiled: September 28, 2001Date of Patent: November 25, 2003Assignee: ABB Research LtdInventors: Michael Stanimirov, Bernhard Deck, Walter Rueegg, Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Lutz Niemeyer, Ralf-Dieter Pietsch
-
Patent number: 6633004Abstract: The electrical insulator has an insulator body 3 which is fitted between an electrical conductor 1 and a grounded holder 2. The surface of the insulator is at least partially formed by a protective body 6. The material of the protective body has a low dielectric constant in comparison to that of the material of the insulator body 3. The protective body 6 prevents an electrically conductive particle 12 from coming to rest directly on the surface of the insulator body 3, in particular in the region of the triple points T, or causing a considerable increase in the field due to immediate proximity to the insulator body 3. The breakdown voltage of a gas-insulated system which contains such insulators provided with a protective body is increased. Gas-insulated systems can thus be made more compactly and more cheaply, and their life can be extended.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2001Date of Patent: October 14, 2003Assignee: ABB Research LtdInventors: Christoph Heitz, Lutz Niemeyer, Marco Piemontesi
-
Publication number: 20020190838Abstract: In a fuse chamber (8) there is arranged as a quenching gas source a burn-off element (11), which concentrically surrounds an arc chamber (10) and is separated from it by a fuse element (9), which consists of metal foil, preferably silver foil, and the outer side of which is adjoined by the burn-off element (11). The latter consists of an igniting material (12), arranged in the form of a ring running around centrally, and a gas-evolving material (13). Both materials consist, for example, of guanidine or guanidine derivatives as the combustible material and an oxidant, the proportion of which in the igniting material (12) is hyperstoichiometric. The arc chamber (10) is bounded at opposite ends by nozzles (7a,b), which connect it to exhaust volumes (4a,b). When there is an overcurrent, the fuse element (9) heats up to the igniting temperature of the igniting material (12) and is torn open centrally.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 30, 2002Publication date: December 19, 2002Inventors: Uwe Kaltenborn, Lutz Niemeyer
-
Patent number: 6437273Abstract: This hybrid circuit breaker has at least two series-connected arcing chambers which are operated by a common drive or by separate drives and are filled with different arc extinguishing media. The arc extinguishing and insulating medium in the first arcing chamber surrounds the second arcing chamber in an insulating manner. The aim is to provide a hybrid circuit breaker which can be produced economically and which has high availability. This is achieved, inter alia, wherein means are provided which always ensure that the movement of the first arcing chamber leads the movement of the second arcing chamber during a disconnection process, and that the movement of the second arcing chamber always leads the movement of the first arcing chamber during a connection process.Type: GrantFiled: December 5, 2000Date of Patent: August 20, 2002Assignee: ABB T&D Technology AGInventors: Joachim Stechbarth, Kurt Kaltenegger, Werner Hofbauer, Lutz Niemeyer, Max Claessens, Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Christian Lindner
-
Publication number: 20020041474Abstract: Current and voltage values (uk, ik) are measured for protection of an electrical power line (1). An adaptive estimator is used to analyze all the values within a measurement window, and to convert them to impedance values (Z). The line (1) is switched off if the impedance values (Z) assume unacceptable values. In order to shorten the reaction time, a warning signal (W) is produced if powerful radio-frequency signals are detected on the line (1). When the warning signal (W) occurs, the respective measurement window is located such that its start matches the time of the warning signal (W), and/or the respective measurement window is shortened.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 28, 2001Publication date: April 11, 2002Inventors: Michael Stanimirov, Bernhard Deck, Walter Rueegg, Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Lutz Niemeyer, Ralf-Dieter Pietsch
-
Patent number: 6320149Abstract: A moving first electrical contact arrangement (K1) has a switching contact (P4) and a U-shaped arcing horn (R1) on the end face. A stationary second electrical contact arrangement (K2) has a switching contact (P1) and a U-shaped electrical conductor loop (R2) on the end face. The electrical conductor loop (R2) is composed in its U-shaped part, of a bimetallic strip, composed of steel (2) on the inside and copper (3) on the outside; two mutually opposite switching contacts (P2, P3) are provided adjacent to this, and an arcing horn (3′) is provided on the end face. When the electrical switch is closed, the first electrical contact arrangement (K1) is moved to the left in the opposite direction to an arrow (5), so that all four switching contacts (P1)-(P4) make a pressure contact with one another.Type: GrantFiled: April 18, 2001Date of Patent: November 20, 2001Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventor: Lutz Niemeyer
-
Patent number: 6252190Abstract: A simple high-speed circuit breaker which is cheap to produce is specified for alternating currents which have to be switched off, which switches such currents off within one half-cycle at the current zero crossing, by means of a gas-generating explosive charge (4). In this case, a switching piston (2) which makes a sliding contact with a consumable contact pin (K1) of a first electrode (E1) when the high-speed circuit breaker is closed, moves in the direction of a hollow electrode (E2). The switching piston (2) has a contact tube (2′) with an exhaust opening (3) which is closed by the hollow electrode (E2) when the high-speed circuit breaker is closed, and is open to an exhaust chamber (8) when the high-speed circuit breaker is open (left-hand half of the figure). The contact tube (2′) moves in a sliding manner in a cutout in the hollow electrode (E2). A plurality of explosive charges (4) may be accommodated in the first electrode (E1).Type: GrantFiled: January 4, 2000Date of Patent: June 26, 2001Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventor: Lutz Niemeyer
-
Publication number: 20010002664Abstract: This hybrid circuit breaker (1) has at least two series-connected arcing chambers (2, 3) which are operated by a common drive or by separate drives and are filled with different arc extinguishing media. The arc extinguishing and insulating medium in the first arcing chamber (2) surrounds the second arcing chamber (3) in an insulating manner. The aim is to provide a hybrid circuit breaker which can be produced economically and which has high availability. This is achieved, inter alia, in that means are provided which always ensure that the movement of the first arcing chamber (2) leads the movement of the second arcing chamber (3) during a disconnection process, and that the movement of the second arcing chamber (3) always leads the movement of the first arcing chamber (2) during a connection process.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 5, 2000Publication date: June 7, 2001Inventors: Joachim Stechbarth, Kurt Kaltenegger, Werner Hofbauer, Lutz Niemeyer, Max Claessens, Klaus-Dieter Weltmann, Christian Lindner
-
Patent number: 6163001Abstract: Arranged in the continuation of an arcing chamber (16) bounded by consumable rings (32a, 32b) are pressure chambers (25a, 25b) which are connected in each case to a heating volume (18), which concentrically surrounds the arcing chamber (16), via a return channel (28; 28b), which is rotationally symmetrical with reference to the switching axis and is at least initially of increasing cross section, and a non-return valve (29a; 29b). A circumferential blowout slot (19) opening into the arcing chamber (16) between the consumable rings (32a, 32b) issues from the heating volume (18). The pressure chambers (25a, 25b) are, moreover, connected via in each case a plurality of exhaust tubes (34a, 34b) to exhaust volumes (30a, 30b) and to one of them also via a pressure relief valve (37).Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1999Date of Patent: December 19, 2000Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Lukas Zehnder, Kurt Kaltenegger, Lutz Niemeyer, Thomas Schoenemann, Gunter Speckhofer
-
Patent number: 6107590Abstract: Extending between a fixed tulip contact (1) and a slide tulip (4) is an arcing chamber (5) which is occupied in the closed position by a movable contact pin (3) which fills up both an exhaust (9) surrounded by the slide tulip (4) and a blowout opening (7) which is surrounded by the tulip contact (1) and connects the arcing chamber (5) to a pressure chamber (6). The arcing chamber (5) is surrounded by an annular heating volume (13) open toward the same. Arranged in the pressure chamber (6) is a charge (10) of explosive which is for the most part converted within approximately 10-30 ms after ignition to extinguishing gas, preferably predominantly nitrogen, the gas pressure moving the contact pin (3) toward the open position. After clearance of the blowout opening (7) and the exhaust (9), the arc drawn between the contact pin (3) and tulip contact (1) is blown out, something which is supported by the pressure buildup, to which the arc contributes, in the heating volume (13).Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 1999Date of Patent: August 22, 2000Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Jorgen Skindhoj, Bodo Bruhl, Kurt Kaltenegger, Lorenz Muller, Lutz Niemeyer, Thomas Schoenemann, Lukas Zehnder
-
Patent number: 5925863Abstract: The power breaker is provided with a contact arrangement which is equipped with erosion-resistant contact members and has a stationary contact member (4), a contact member (4) which can move along a central axis (6) and an insulating nozzle (6) which concentrically surrounds the contact members (3, 4) and has a constriction (6). The insulating nozzle (6) is manufactured from an erosion-resistant plastic and is structured such that erosion channels which are formed run at right angles to the direction of the electrical field load. This insulating nozzle emits gases during disconnection, which particularly effectively support the production of blowing pressure in the arc zone.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 1997Date of Patent: July 20, 1999Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Lukas Zehnder, Kurt Kaltenegger, Lorenz Muller, Lutz Niemeyer
-
Patent number: 5844189Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a cylindrical arcing chamber filled with an insulating medium. The arcing chamber has a power current path and an insulating housing. The insulating housing has a longitudinal axis and the power current path extends along the longitudinal axis of the insulating housing. The power current path includes a fixed contact arrangement and a contact arrangement. The fixed contact arrangement is attached to an electrically insulating guide part. The contact arrangement has a moving contact cage. The fixed contact arrangement and the contact arrangement have a first and second fixed erosion-resistant covering, respectively. The insulating housing has a blast volume for accumulating an increased pressure of the insulating medium which occurs when the moving contact cage breaks contact with the fixed contact arrangement. When the circuit breaker is in an on position, the contact cage contacts the fixed contact arrangement above the guide part and surrounds the guide part.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 1996Date of Patent: December 1, 1998Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventor: Lutz Niemeyer
-
Patent number: 5828026Abstract: The stock contains an insulating-material matrix and a filler embedded in the matrix and is distinguished by a cellular structure. The predominant portion of the cells is filled with a material having arc-extinguishing properties or contains a material which, on exposure to an arc, forms arc-extinguishing gas. For the purpose of improving the making and breaking capacity, such a stock can advantageously be employed in a gas-blast circuit breaker in which arc-extinguishing gas is blown onto the switching arc. This involves the stock preferably being positioned at such points guiding the arc-extinguishing gas, at which the stock is exposed to the radiation of the arc and the thermal action of arc gases.Type: GrantFiled: March 29, 1996Date of Patent: October 27, 1998Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Bodo Bruhl, Elias Julke, Kurt Kaltenegger, Lutz Niemeyer, Leopold Ritzer