Patents by Inventor Martin Lakner

Martin Lakner 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: 8426730
    Abstract: A high-voltage isolator is disclosed which has a first electrical connecting piece and a second electrical connecting piece, between which an electrical isolating body extends. The end sections of the connecting pieces are connected to the isolating body, with a toroidal field control element being arranged on at least one of the end sections. A slot, which extends in the circumferential direction of the end section, is introduced on the end section which has the field control element. The field control element and the respectively associated end section are formed integrally. As a result of the slot, tension and compression forces which occur during longitudinal and lateral contractions of the isolating body and act at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the end section can be largely prevented, as can shear forces, while at the same time achieving a high level of uniformity in an area of the isolating gap, for electrical fields which occur during operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Bruno Widmer, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Michael Conry, Martin Lakner
  • Patent number: 8278557
    Abstract: A high-voltage insulator includes a metal armature, an insulating tube joined to the metal armature, which is adhesively bonded to the metal armature at an end formed as a supporting ring, and an axially symmetrical adhesive-bonding joint disposed around the axis of the insulating tube. An annular grove, which is formed in the metal armature, is disposed around the axis of the insulating tube and receives an end portion of the supporting ring. Sealing surfaces are respectively formed in the groove and in the supporting ring. The sealing surfaces are arranged and formed in such a way that, when the insulating tube and the metal armature are joined, they slide on one another, thereby forming a seal, and the supporting ring acting as a displacement body presses adhesive that has been introduced into the groove before the joining into the adhesive-bonding joint.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Bruno Widmer, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Martin Lakner, Leopold Ritzer, Reto Weder
  • Patent number: 8081464
    Abstract: An exemplary encapsulated high-voltage switch is disclosed which contains a heat-generating current conductor, a metal encapsulation surrounding the current conductor, and a cooling element. A cooler of the cooling element is fixed on a part of the encapsulation that is embodied as a mounting plate, and has cooling ribs arranged outside the encapsulation. In a section of the cooler that is embodied as a cooling block, at least a portion of the cooling ribs is arranged parallel to the mounting plate and is held on a heat distributor fixed to the mounting plate in such a way that on both sides of the heat distributor in each case one of two groups of cooling channels arises, in which the cooling channels are in each case arranged in the manner of a sandwich. The cooling channels can, for example, be oriented in a manner inclined relative to a horizontal axis of the switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Mauroux, Guenter Steding, Martin Lakner, Bruno Widmer
  • Publication number: 20110180292
    Abstract: A high-voltage isolator is disclosed which has a first electrical connecting piece and a second electrical connecting piece, between which an electrical isolating body extends. The end sections of the connecting pieces are connected to the isolating body, with a toroidal field control element being arranged on at least one of the end sections. A slot, which extends in the circumferential direction of the end section, is introduced on the end section which has the field control element. The field control element and the respectively associated end section are formed integrally. As a result of the slot, tension and compression forces which occur during longitudinal and lateral contractions of the isolating body and act at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the end section can be largely prevented, as can shear forces, while at the same time achieving a high level of uniformity in an area of the isolating gap, for electrical fields which occur during operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2011
    Publication date: July 28, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Bruno Widmer, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Michael Conry, Martin Lakner
  • Publication number: 20110030994
    Abstract: A high-voltage insulator includes a metal armature, an insulating tube joined to the metal armature, which is adhesively bonded to the metal armature at an end formed as a supporting ring, and an axially symmetrical adhesive-bonding joint disposed around the axis of the insulating tube. An annular grove, which is formed in the metal armature, is disposed around the axis of the insulating tube and receives an end portion of the supporting ring. Sealing surfaces are respectively formed in the groove and in the supporting ring. The sealing surfaces are arranged and formed in such a way that, when the insulating tube and the metal armature are joined, they slide on one another, thereby forming a seal, and the supporting ring acting as a displacement body presses adhesive that has been introduced into the groove before the joining into the adhesive-bonding joint.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2010
    Publication date: February 10, 2011
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Bruno Widmer, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Martin Lakner, Leopold Ritzer, Reto Weder
  • Patent number: 7881033
    Abstract: The high-voltage system has at least one feed line and at least one high-power circuit breaker, the at least one feed line having a longitudinally extended feed line inner conductor and a feed line outer conductor surrounding the feed line inner conductor, and the high-power circuit breaker having a longitudinally extended circuit breaker inner conductor and a circuit breaker outer conductor surrounding the circuit breaker inner conductor in the form of a housing, and the inner conductors and the outer conductors being electrically conductively connected to one another. At least one heat pipe is provided for the purpose of dissipating thermal energy from the circuit breaker inner conductor. The heat pipe interacts with a cooling gas flow extending along the circuit breaker inner conductor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Daniel Chartouni, Martin Lakner, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Thomas Shoenemann, Jochen Kiefer, Lukas Zehnder, Marc Mollenkopf
  • Publication number: 20100208768
    Abstract: A temperature monitoring apparatus for high-voltage or medium-voltage components has a transducer which can produce a mechanical signal, which is dependent on the temperature of the component to be monitored. The mechanical signal is transmitted to an electrically isolating transmission element, for example in the form of a rod, and from the transmission element to a movement sensor. The transmission element can be arranged in an electrically isolating hollow body. This arrangement allows the movement sensor to be isolated from high voltages. The apparatus is composed of robust components, and can have a long life.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 30, 2010
    Publication date: August 19, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Martin Lakner, Roman Eberle, Tilo Buehler, Daniel Chartouni, Peter Unternaehrer, Arthur Suess, Jean-Claude Mauroux
  • Patent number: 7771114
    Abstract: The installation contains a current conductor producing Joulean heat in the operating state, a cooling element and a monitoring device. The cooling element has a condensable working medium and an evaporator, which can be heated by the current conductor of the installation, and a condenser which has been withdrawn from the heating effect of the current conductor. The monitoring device comprises at least one sensor for detecting a parameter of the cooling element and an evaluation unit, which receives output signals from the sensor. In the evaluation unit, the output signals of the sensors are evaluated and a signal describing the state and/or the functionality of the cooling element is formed there. This installation is characterized by high operational reliability with a high current-carrying capacity and dimensions which are kept small.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 10, 2010
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Jochen Kiefer, Martin Lakner, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Daniel Chartouni
  • Publication number: 20100044346
    Abstract: An exemplary encapsulated high-voltage switch is disclosed which contains a heat-generating current conductor, a metal encapsulation surrounding the current conductor, and a cooling element. A cooler of the cooling element is fixed on a part of the encapsulation that is embodied as a mounting plate, and has cooling ribs arranged outside the encapsulation. In a section of the cooler that is embodied as a cooling block, at least a portion of the cooling ribs is arranged parallel to the mounting plate and is held on a heat distributor fixed to the mounting plate in such a way that on both sides of the heat distributor in each case one of two groups of cooling channels arises, in which the cooling channels are in each case arranged in the manner of a sandwich. The cooling channels can, for example, be oriented in a manner inclined relative to a horizontal axis of the switch.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2009
    Publication date: February 25, 2010
    Applicant: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Jean-Claude MAUROUX, Guenter Steding, Martin Lakner, Bruno Widmer
  • Patent number: 7557295
    Abstract: An exemplary isolating tube, and production method thereof, includes a mechanically load-bearing plastic tube composed of a fiber-reinforced polymer for use in a cooling element which can be loaded with high voltage, during whose operation the isolating tube forms an electrical isolation gap and in the tube interior carries an agent which flows as a liquid and/or vapor. The isolating tube can have a diffusion barrier which is held coaxially by the plastic tube. Such an isolating tube can be produced using an exemplary novel method for production.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2009
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Jochen Kiefer, Martin Lakner, Daniel Chartouni, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Leopold Ritzer, Peter Unternaehrer, Thomas Schoenemann, Marc Mollenkopf, Lukas Zehnder
  • Patent number: 7471495
    Abstract: The vacuum switching chamber has two contact pieces and is provided with at least one heat pipe for dissipating heat. The heat pipe contains a working medium for dissipating the heat by evaporating the working medium in a section, referred to as the evaporator, of the heat pipe and condensing the working medium in a section, referred to as the condenser, of the heat pipe. Advantageously, the evaporator is in close thermal contact with at least one contact piece, and, in particular, at least part of the evaporator is integrated in the first contact piece or the second contact piece. Advantageously, the condenser has a cooling rib arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2008
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Alexander Steffens, Martin Lakner, Jochen Kiefer, Daniel Chartouni, Dietmar Gentsch
  • Publication number: 20080289857
    Abstract: A high-voltage insulator contains, in a coaxial arrangement: an insulating tube with an end in the form of a bearing ring, a hollow metal armature held on the bearing ring, an adhesive-bonding joint, which is provided between an adhesive-bonding area of the bearing ring and an adhesive-bonding area of the metal armature and is filled in a vacuum-tight manner with a cured adhesive layer, and a cavity, which is extended along the axis of the insulating tube and is radially delimited by the insulating tube and the metal armature. At least one predominantly radially guided adhesive channel is arranged between the cavity and the adhesive-bonding joint, which adhesive channel is sealed with cured adhesive and has a cross section which is sufficient for guiding uncured adhesive from the cavity into the adhesive-bonding joint prior to the formation of the cured adhesive layer.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2008
    Publication date: November 27, 2008
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Mauroux, Martin Lakner, Leopold Ritzer, Reto Wedder
  • Publication number: 20080121504
    Abstract: An electrical contact system for an electrical switching device is proposed, which has two contact units and in which a contact force acts between the contact unit and the contact unit when an electrical contact is made, wherein means are provided to exert the contact force, and wherein the first contact unit can be disconnected from the second contact unit. The means are distinguished in that they have a thermal expansion effect which results in an increase in the contact force as the temperature of the means rises.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2007
    Publication date: May 29, 2008
    Applicant: ABB TECHNOLOGY AG
    Inventors: Ruben Vogelsang, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Martin Lakner, Thomas Schoenemann
  • Publication number: 20080115924
    Abstract: The installation contains a current conductor producing Joulean heat in the operating state, a cooling element and a monitoring device. The cooling element has a condensable working medium and an evaporator, which can be heated by the current conductor of the installation, and a condenser which has been withdrawn from the heating effect of the current conductor. The monitoring device comprises at least one sensor for detecting a parameter of the cooling element and an evaluation unit, which receives output signals from the sensor. In the evaluation unit, the output signals of the sensors are evaluated and a signal describing the state and/or the functionality of the cooling element is formed there. This installation is characterized by high operational reliability with a high current-carrying capacity and dimensions which are kept small.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2007
    Publication date: May 22, 2008
    Applicant: ABB RESEARCH LTD
    Inventors: Jochen KIEFER, Martin Lakner, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Daniel Chartouni
  • Publication number: 20080049384
    Abstract: A cooling device is disclosed for an electrical operating means, which has a surface to be cooled. The cooling device comprises a coolant, a peripheral wall, whose interior defines a volume for the coolant, a fastening for fastening the cooling device to the electrical operating means, and a contact-pressure means. The peripheral wall has a thermally conductive contact wall with a contact face, which is designed for areal contact with the surface to be cooled. The contact-pressure means mechanically prestresses the contact wall in order to produce an areal contact pressure of the contact face against the surface to be cooled when the cooling device is fastened to the electrical operating means.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 17, 2007
    Publication date: February 28, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Peter Unternaehrer, Martin Lakner, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Daniel Chartouni, Tilo Buhler, David Just
  • Publication number: 20080022683
    Abstract: Because the efficiency of the thermal energy storage technology is inherently restricted, its beneficial use is limited to very particular economic boundary conditions, i.e. a large difference between the value of electricity going into the unit and the value of electricity coming out of the unit. With the reduction in wind power equipment prices and the cost of fossil fuels and/or their combustion products this is occasionally the case for wind power. Wind is a free fuel and the value of wind power when there is too little load demand is essentially zero, and the value of wind power when there is demand is considerable indeed. Under these circumstances, a combination of electrothermal energy storage and combustion of (fossil) fuels as an auxiliary heat source provides for a cost efficient system for storing energy and an economical way of generating electricity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2005
    Publication date: January 31, 2008
    Inventors: Christian Ohler, Daniel Chartouni, Martin Lakner
  • Publication number: 20080000879
    Abstract: The vacuum switching chamber has two contact pieces and is provided with at least one heat pipe for dissipating heat. The heat pipe contains a working medium for dissipating the heat by evaporating the working medium in a section, referred to as the evaporator, of the heat pipe and condensing the working medium in a section, referred to as the condenser, of the heat pipe. Advantageously, the evaporator is in close thermal contact with at least one contact piece, and, in particular, at least part of the evaporator is integrated in the first contact piece or the second contact piece. Advantageously, the condenser has a cooling rib arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 18, 2007
    Publication date: January 3, 2008
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Alexander Steffens, Martin Lakner, Jochen Kiefer, Daniel Chartouni, Dietmar Gentsch
  • Patent number: 7272003
    Abstract: The invention relates to an improvement to the thermal load capacity of generator switches (20, 21, 22). As is known, radiation plates (5, 50, 51, 52) are used between generator switches (20, 21, 22) for different phases (R, Y, B) for convective dissipation of radiated heat from adjacent encapsulation side walls (30b). According to the invention, in the vicinity of the encapsulation cover (3a) of a generator switch (20, 21, 22), the radiation plate (5, 50, 51, 52) has at least one angled metal sheet (50a) which is used to guide at least one air flow element (9) of the rising air flow (9) in the direction of the encapsulation cover (3a) and in order to direct the flow along the encapsulation cover (3a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Marianne Pleines, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Martin Lakner, Thomas Schoenemann, Xiangyang Ye
  • Publication number: 20070209790
    Abstract: An isolating tube is disclosed having a mechanically load-bearing plastic tube composed of a fiber-reinforced polymer for use in a cooling element which can be loaded with high voltage, during whose operation the isolating tube forms an electrical isolation gap and in the tube interior carries an agent which flows as a liquid and/or vapor. The isolating tube has a diffusion barrier which is held coaxially by the plastic tube. Methods for production of the isolating tube are disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 14, 2007
    Publication date: September 13, 2007
    Applicant: ABB Research Ltd
    Inventors: Jochen Kiefer, Martin Lakner, Daniel Chartouni, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Leopold Ritzer, Peter Unternaehrer, Thomas Schoenemann, Marc Mollenkopf, Lukas Zehnder
  • Patent number: 7253379
    Abstract: In order to dissipate heat losses from the inner conductor (21), the circuit breaker (20) having an elongated inner conductor (21) and an outer conductor (22) which surrounds the inner conductor (21) like a housing has at least one heat pipe (1) which extends from the inner conductor (21) to the outer conductor (22) and has an insulating hollow body (5) in order to form an electrical insulating gap (7). The heat pipe (1) advantageously has a flexibly deformable section (9). The heat pipe (1) can run in a supporting insulator (24) which supports the inner conductor (21). In addition to a working medium, the heat pipe (1) advantageously also contains an auxiliary gas which results in an enhanced dielectric strength at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.
    Inventors: Martin Lakner, Daniel Chartouni, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Thomas Schoenemann, Jochen Kiefer, Lukas Zehnder, Marc Mollenkopf