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).
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Publication number: 20060120024Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 18, 2005Publication date: June 8, 2006Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Daniel Chartouni, Martin Lakner, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Thomas Shoenemann
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Publication number: 20060102618Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: November 3, 2005Publication date: May 18, 2006Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Martin Lakner, Daniel Chartouni, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Thomas Schoenemann, Jochen Kiefer, Lukas Zehnder, Marc Mollenkopf
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Patent number: 7038912Abstract: The high-power switch (1) according to the invention, with at least one switch pole (2) for guiding and switching an electric current which flows in one current flow direction when the switch is in the closed state, with the at least one switch pole (2) containing an inner conductor (3) which carries the current and containing an outer conductor (4) which is connected to ground potential (G) and carries a return current in the opposite direction to the current, with the outer conductor (4) being in the form of a housing (4) which surrounds the inner conductor (3), is characterized in that a cooling rib arrangement (5) which contains cooling ribs (9) is arranged on the outer conductor (4). At least some of the cooling ribs are advantageously arranged on a separate part of the housing (4), which is not the same as the part (15) of the housing (4) which is at a minimum distance from the inner conductor (3).Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2004Date of Patent: May 2, 2006Assignee: ABB Research LTDInventors: Marianne Pleines, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Martin Lakner, Thomas Schoenemann
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Patent number: 6900718Abstract: The present invention relates to a resistive superconducting current limiter with a meandering shape. This current limiter avoids current density peaks at the turning points (12) or corners of the conductor track (10, 11) in that the central path of the fault current when limiting occurs is artificially increased by appropriate design of the turning points. For this purpose, conductor material is removed in the region of the inner edge of the turning points (13), or the electrical bypass is reinforced at its outer edge (14).Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2002Date of Patent: May 31, 2005Assignee: ABB Research LTDInventors: Makan Chen, Willi Paul, Martin Lakner, Jakob Rhyner
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Publication number: 20050063154Abstract: 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: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Marianne Pleines, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Martin Lakner, Thomas Schoenemann, Xiangyang Ye
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Publication number: 20050007742Abstract: The high-power switch (1) according to the invention, with at least one switch pole (2) for guiding and switching an electric current which flows in one current flow direction when the switch is in the closed state, with the at least one switch pole (2) containing an inner conductor (3) which carries the current and containing an outer conductor (4) which is connected to ground potential (G) and carries a return current in the opposite direction to the current, with the outer conductor (4) being in the form of a housing (4) which surrounds the inner conductor (3), is characterized in that a cooling rib arrangement (5) which contains cooling ribs (9) is arranged on the outer conductor (4). At least some of the cooling ribs are advantageously arranged on a separate part of the housing (4), which is not the same as the part (15) of the housing (4) which is at a minimum distance from the inner conductor (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2004Publication date: January 13, 2005Applicant: ABB Research LtdInventors: Marianne Pleines, Jean-Claude Mauroux, Martin Lakner, Thomas Schoenemann
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Patent number: 6791033Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-voltage insulation system which is suitable for low temperatures and which, in addition to a cooling liquid (3) comprises a solid material insulator (2) based on a cellulose fabric (20). The solid material insulator (2) is preferably used in the form of pressboards and is impregnated with a polymer resin (21). It has a high partial discharge inception field of 77 K and, in addition, its thermal coefficient of expansion is optimally matched to that of ceramic high-temperature superconductors. The pressboards can be formed in the dry stage, in particular to produce coil formers, and are joined together alternately with cotton fabrics to form laminates of any desired thickness.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2001Date of Patent: September 14, 2004Assignee: ABB Research Ltd.Inventors: Martin Lakner, Friedrich Koenig
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Patent number: 6762673Abstract: An elongated current limiting composite material comprising one or more high-temperature superconductor filaments and a second electrically conductive member, which may include a sheath of high bulk resistivity surrounding the filament. The current limiter exhibits dissipation in the range of 0.05-0.5 V/cm at currents of 3-10 times the operating current, thereby minimizing fault currents and improving recovery capability.Type: GrantFiled: January 20, 2000Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignees: American Superconductor Corp., ABB Transmission & Distribution Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Alexander Otto, Ralph P. Mason, Craig J. Christopherson, Peter R. Roberts, Steven Fleshler, Gilbert N. Riley, Jr., Swarn S. Kalsi, Gregory L. Snitchler, Robert C. Diehl, Dietrich Bonmann, Martin Lakner, Willi Paul, Harry Zueger
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Patent number: 6657533Abstract: A superconducting conductor and its method of manufacture includes an electrical conductor having a thermal conductor attached to and along a length of superconductor member and separated from the superconductor member by an electrically-insulative material. The member may include a length of superconductor composite having superconducting material and a non-superconducting, electrically conductive matrix material. The electrical conductor is configured to control the manner in which the superconductor transitions from its superconducting state to its non-superconducting (i.e., normal) state due to, for example, a fault current condition. The electrically-insulative material has a thickness for allowing heat from the superconductor to be conveyed to the thermal conductor. The superconducting conductor may be used in conjunction with a superconducting current-limiting device.Type: GrantFiled: November 25, 1998Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignees: American Semiconductor Corporation, ABB Transmission & Distribution Technologies, Ltd.Inventors: Gregory L. Snitchler, Dietrich Bonmann, Martin Lakner, Willi Paul
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Patent number: 6629426Abstract: In a superconducting current limiter 1, in the limiting state pressure waves which may damage the superconductor are produced as a result of the evaporation of cooling liquid. According to the invention, the current limiter is not immersed in a cooling liquid, but rather is brought into thermal contact with a cooling fluid 22 which does not undergo a phase transition at over the operating temperature and therefore does not evaporate in the limiting state. A refrigeration reservoir 21, which may be the condensed phase of a gaseous cooling fluid or a cryogenic cooler, determines the operating temperature of the current limiter. One advantage is that it is now possible for a plurality of plate-like current-limiter modules 10, 10′ of unlimited size to be arranged next to one another in the cooling fluid 22.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2001Date of Patent: October 7, 2003Assignee: ABB Research LtdInventors: Willi Paul, Martin Lakner, Makan Chen, Lise Donzel
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Publication number: 20030164749Abstract: A superconducting conductor and its method of manufacture includes an electrical conductor having a thermal conductor attached to and along a length of superconductor member and separated from the superconductor member by an electrically-insulative material. The member may include a length of superconductor composite having superconducting material and a non-superconducting, electrically conductive matrix material. The electrical conductor is configured to control the manner in which the superconductor transitions from its superconducting state to its non-superconducting (i.e., normal) state due to, for example, a fault current condition. The electrically-insulative material has a thickness for allowing heat from the superconductor to be conveyed to the thermal conductor. The superconducting conductor may be used in conjunction with a superconducting current-limiting device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 25, 1998Publication date: September 4, 2003Inventors: GREGORY L. SNITCHLER, DIETRICH BONMANN, MARTIN LAKNER, WILLI PAUL
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Publication number: 20030154734Abstract: In a superconducting current limiter 1, in the limiting state pressure waves which may damage the superconductor are produced as a result of the evaporation of cooling liquid. According to the invention, the current limiter is not immersed in a cooling liquid, but rather is brought into thermal contact with a cooling fluid 22 which does not undergo a phase transition at over the operating temperature and therefore does not evaporate in the limiting state. A refrigeration reservoir 21, which may be the condensed phase of a gaseous cooling fluid or a cryogenic cooler, determines the operating temperature of the current limiter. One advantage is that it is now possible for a plurality of plate-like current-limiter modules 10, 10′ of unlimited size to be arranged next to one another in the cooling fluid 22.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 12, 2001Publication date: August 21, 2003Inventors: Willi Paul, Martin Lakner, Makan Chen, Lise Donzel
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Publication number: 20030080849Abstract: The present invention relates to a resistive superconducting current limiter with a meandering shape. This current limiter avoids current density peaks at the turning points (12) or corners of the conductor track (10, 11) in that the central path of the fault current when limiting occurs is artificially increased by appropriate design of the turning points. For this purpose, conductor material is removed in the region of the inner edge of the turning points (13), or the electrical bypass is reinforced at its outer edge (14).Type: ApplicationFiled: October 29, 2002Publication date: May 1, 2003Inventors: Makan Chen, Willi Paul, Martin Lakner, Jakob Rhyner
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Publication number: 20020130748Abstract: The proposed modular transformer concept is based on a production process in two steps, which separates the fabrication of the turns from the assembly of the transformer, and thus combines automation potential and flexibility. Both the high-voltage winding and the low-voltage winding are composed of effectively two-dimensional spiral conductor tracks (21,22). These conductor tracks can be produced in a computer-aided manner, and then just need to be stacked and electrically connected. Special insulator layers (11,12) are inserted between the conductor tracks and on the one hand bear the weight while on the other hand providing optimum electrical insulation, so that the distances between the high-voltage and low-voltage conductor tracks can be reduced, and the losses in the conductors as well as the short-circuit impedance of the winding can be decreased.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 14, 2002Publication date: September 19, 2002Inventors: Jakob Rhyner, Rolf Luchsinger, Martin Lakner
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Patent number: 6440904Abstract: Ceramic high-temperature superconductors (1) which are intended to be used as current limiters in alternating-current lines should have a bypass layer (2) whose electrical resistivity is increased by more than 10 times with respect to that of a pure noble-metal bypass layer. In order to achieve this, the noble-metal bypass layer (2) of the high-temperature superconductor (1), preferably of silver, is alloyed with a base metal, preferably Pb or Bi or Ga, by a thermal treatment. The ratio of the bypass layer thickness (d2) of the noble-metal bypass layer (2) to the superconductor layer thickness (d1) is adjusted to <1/5. A base-metal bypass layer (3) of steel whose electrical resistivity is in the range between 10 &mgr;&OHgr;×cm and 100 &mgr;&OHgr;×cm at 77 K is soldered on or applied under isostatic pressure over the noble-metal-containing bypass layer (2).Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 1998Date of Patent: August 27, 2002Assignee: ABB Research LtdInventors: Makan Chen, Martin Lakner, Willi Paul
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Publication number: 20010047879Abstract: The present invention relates to a high-voltage insulation system which is suitable for low temperatures and which, in addition to a cooling liquid (3) comprises a solid material insulator (2) based on a cellulose fabric (20). The solid material insulator (2) is preferably used in the form of pressboards and is impregnated with a polymer resin (21). It has a high partial discharge inception field of 77 K and, in addition, its thermal coefficient of expansion is optimally matched to that of ceramic high-temperature superconductors. The pressboards can be formed in the dry stage, in particular to produce coil formers, and are joined together alternately with cotton fabrics to form laminates of any desired thickness.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 25, 2001Publication date: December 6, 2001Inventors: Martin Lakner, Friedrich Koenig