Patents by Inventor Michael Paul Lafond
Michael Paul Lafond 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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Patent number: 11929596Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a main cabinet and a modular cabinet removably secured to the main cabinet. The main cabinet includes a bus compartment that includes a busbar assembly, and the bus compartment is located between an end wall of the main cabinet and a partition opposite the end wall. The modular cabinet is comprised of interlocking compartment modules. Each compartment module interlocks with an adjacent compartment module. Each compartment module includes first and second side panels. Each side panel includes an alignment member that engages an alignment member of a respective side panel of the adjacent compartment module. Each compartment module also includes a base that extends between the first and second side panels and a terminal wall that joins the first and second side panels. The terminal walls of the interlocking compartment modules engage to form a structural wall of the modular cabinet.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2022Date of Patent: March 12, 2024Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Brittany Leigh McBride, Erik Ryan Khzouz, Michael Paul Lafond
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Publication number: 20230318268Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a main cabinet and a modular cabinet removably secured to the main cabinet. The main cabinet includes a bus compartment that includes a busbar assembly, and the bus compartment is located between an end wall of the main cabinet and a partition opposite the end wall. The modular cabinet is comprised of interlocking compartment modules. Each compartment module interlocks with an adjacent compartment module. Each compartment module includes first and second side panels. Each side panel includes an alignment member that engages an alignment member of a respective side panel of the adjacent compartment module. Each compartment module also includes a base that extends between the first and second side panels and a terminal wall that joins the first and second side panels. The terminal walls of the interlocking compartment modules engage to form a structural wall of the modular cabinet.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 31, 2022Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Brittany Leigh McBride, Erik Ryan Khzouz, Michael Paul Lafond
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Patent number: 10426049Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a plurality of walls. The electrical enclosure also includes at least one compartment defined, at least in part, by the plurality of walls, and at least one ventilation opening formed in one of the plurality of walls. The at least one ventilation opening provides a flow path from the at least one compartment. At least one closure is provided on the one of the plurality of walls at the at least one ventilation opening. The at least one closure is responsive to a pressure wave to selectively close the at least one ventilation opening and re-open the at least one ventilation opening after the pressure wave has passed from the electrical enclosure.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: September 24, 2019Assignee: ABB Schweiz AGInventors: Erik Ryan Khzouz, Kevin Joseph Audibert, Michael Paul Lafond, Ganesh Venkataraman
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Patent number: 9653896Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a first wall having an exhaust opening, a second wall, and a third wall. The electrical enclosure also includes at least one circuit breaker compartment, a line compartment arranged between the third wall and the at least one circuit breaker compartment, and an exhaust duct extending through the electrical enclosure between the first wall and the second wall. The exhaust duct is fluidically connected to the exhaust opening and each of the at least one circuit breaker compartments. At least one passage extends between the line compartment and the at least one circuit breaker compartment through the exhaust duct. The at least one passage is substantially fluidically isolated from the exhaust duct.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: May 16, 2017Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Michael Paul Lafond, Erik Ryan Khzouz, Ganesh Venkataraman, Gerald John Witkoski
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Publication number: 20160295718Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a plurality of walls. The electrical enclosure also includes at least one compartment defined, at least in part, by the plurality of walls, and at least one ventilation opening formed in one of the plurality of walls. The at least one ventilation opening provides a flow path from the at least one compartment. At least one closure is provided on the one of the plurality of walls at the at least one ventilation opening. The at least one closure is responsive to a pressure wave to selectively close the at least one ventilation opening and re-open the at least one ventilation opening after the pressure wave has passed from the electrical enclosure.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Erik Ryan Khzouz, Kevin Joseph Audibert, Michael Paul Lafond, Ganesh Venkataraman
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Publication number: 20160295730Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes at least one circuit breaker compartment and a cover mounted thereon. The cover includes an opening receptive of at least one circuit breaker. A gasket extends about at least a portion of the opening. The gasket includes an inner seal assembly and an outer seal assembly. The outer seal assembly is positioned to engage the at least one circuit breaker when the cover is in a closed position. The inner seal assembly is movable between a non-deployed configuration spaced from the at least one circuit breaker and a deployed configuration engaged with the at least one circuit breaker. The inner seal assembly is responsive to a pressure wave in the at least one circuit breaker compartment to move from the non-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration and substantially prevent out gassing through the opening in the cover.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Kevin Joseph Audibert, Michael Paul Lafond, Ganesh Venkataraman
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Publication number: 20160294171Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a first wall having an exhaust opening, a second wall, and a third wall. The electrical enclosure also includes at least one circuit breaker compartment, a line compartment arranged between the third wall and the at least one circuit breaker compartment, and an exhaust duct extending through the electrical enclosure between the first wall and the second wall. The exhaust duct is fluidically connected to the exhaust opening and each of the at least one circuit breaker compartments. At least one passage extends between the line compartment and the at least one circuit breaker compartment through the exhaust duct. The at least one passage is substantially fluidically isolated from the exhaust duct.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 30, 2015Publication date: October 6, 2016Inventors: Michael Paul Lafond, Erik Ryan Khzouz, Ganesh Venkataraman, Gerald John Witkoski
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Patent number: 9461446Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes at least one circuit breaker compartment and a cover mounted thereon. The cover includes an opening receptive of at least one circuit breaker. A gasket extends about at least a portion of the opening. The gasket includes an inner seal assembly and an outer seal assembly. The outer seal assembly is positioned to engage the at least one circuit breaker when the cover is in a closed position. The inner seal assembly is movable between a non-deployed configuration spaced from the at least one circuit breaker and a deployed configuration engaged with the at least one circuit breaker. The inner seal assembly is responsive to a pressure wave in the at least one circuit breaker compartment to move from the non-deployed configuration to the deployed configuration and substantially prevent out gassing through the opening in the cover.Type: GrantFiled: March 30, 2015Date of Patent: October 4, 2016Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Kevin Joseph Audibert, Michael Paul Lafond, Ganesh Venkataraman
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Patent number: 9129760Abstract: A shutter system for a switchgear compartment includes a moveable shutter translatable between a closed position and an open position. Also included is a pusher operatively coupled to a first side of the moveable shutter and configured to impart a force on the moveable shutter in response to an insertion of an electrical device within the switchgear compartment. Further included is a cam member having a cam shaft operatively coupled to the moveable shutter, the cam shaft having a cam track. Yet further included is a bell crank configured to guide along the cam track and translate the moveable shutter between the closed position and the open position.Type: GrantFiled: January 7, 2013Date of Patent: September 8, 2015Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Brittany Leigh Estes, Michael Paul Lafond, Joseph Gustave Nagy, Jason William Newby, Gerald John Witkoski
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Publication number: 20140190801Abstract: A shutter system for a switchgear compartment includes a moveable shutter translatable between a closed position and an open position. Also included is a pusher operatively coupled to a first side of the moveable shutter and configured to impart a force on the moveable shutter in response to an insertion of an electrical device within the switchgear compartment. Further included is a cam member having a cam shaft operatively coupled to the moveable shutter, the cam shaft having a cam track. Yet further included is a bell crank configured to guide along the cam track and translate the moveable shutter between the closed position and the open position.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 7, 2013Publication date: July 10, 2014Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Brittany Leigh Estes, Michael Paul Lafond, Joseph Gustave Nagy, Jason William Newby, Gerald John Witkoski
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Patent number: 8405364Abstract: A capacitor charge control assembly for use with a circuit protection device that includes at least one activation capacitor, including at least one input device configured to receive first and second user inputs, and a linkage assembly coupled to the at least one input device such that the at least one input device is movable between a first position and an opposite second position. The control assembly also includes at least one switch coupled to the at least one input device and configured to generate one of a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal is based on the first user input and the second signal is based on the second user input, and wherein the first signal causes the at least one activation capacitor to discharge stored energy and the second signal causes the at least one activation capacitor to store energy.Type: GrantFiled: September 2, 2010Date of Patent: March 26, 2013Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Michael Paul Lafond, John Kenneth Hooker, Daniel Edward Delfino, Hardik Upadhyay, Aaron Edward Engel
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Patent number: 8335063Abstract: A hub for use with a circuit protection system includes a first input port configured to communicatively couple to at least one sensor device, wherein the at least one sensor device includes a light source and at least one light sensor. The hub also includes a first output port configured to communicatively couple to at least one controller, and a processor communicatively coupled to the first input port and to the first output port. The processor is configured to receive a sensor status signal from the at least one light sensor via the first input port in response to a test pulse emitted by the light source, and transmit a hub status signal to the at least one controller via the first output port based at least in part on the sensor status signal.Type: GrantFiled: August 31, 2010Date of Patent: December 18, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Kenneth Hooker, Michael Paul Lafond, Henry Hall Mason, Jr., Megan Dalene Bardolph
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Publication number: 20120056599Abstract: A capacitor charge control assembly for use with a circuit protection device that includes at least one activation capacitor, including at least one input device configured to receive first and second user inputs, and a linkage assembly coupled to the at least one input device such that the at least one input device is movable between a first position and an opposite second position. The control assembly also includes at least one switch coupled to the at least one input device and configured to generate one of a first signal and a second signal, wherein the first signal is based on the first user input and the second signal is based on the second user input, and wherein the first signal causes the at least one activation capacitor to discharge stored energy and the second signal causes the at least one activation capacitor to store energy.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 2, 2010Publication date: March 8, 2012Inventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Michael Paul Lafond, John Kenneth Hooker, Daniel Edward Delfino, Hardik Upadhyay, Aaron Edward Engel
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Publication number: 20120053743Abstract: A hub for use with a circuit protection system includes a first input port configured to communicatively couple to at least one sensor device, wherein the at least one sensor device includes a light source and at least one light sensor. The hub also includes a first output port configured to communicatively couple to at least one controller, and a processor communicatively coupled to the first input port and to the first output port. The processor is configured to receive a sensor status signal from the at least one light sensor via the first input port in response to a test pulse emitted by the light source, and transmit a hub status signal to the at least one controller via the first output port based at least in part on the sensor status signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 31, 2010Publication date: March 1, 2012Inventors: John Kenneth Hooker, Michael Paul Lafond, Henry Hall Mason, JR., Megan Dalene Bardolph
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Patent number: 6547348Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes gap-free trim plate installation. A switchboard or power panel includes an enclosure face with a central opening covered by a top label plate, a bottom label plate and a plurality of trim plates. The trim plate flanges cooperatively engage one another in an interlocking fashion. The interlocking arrangement allows the trim plates to remain in their installed position without external restraint during installation and removal.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: April 15, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Hamon Leroy Craft, Michael Paul Lafond, Robert Lee Hilgendorf
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Publication number: 20020079793Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes gap-free trim plate installation. A switchboard or power panel includes an enclosure face with a central opening covered by a top label plate, a bottom label plate and a plurality of trim plates. The trim plate flanges cooperatively engage one another in an interlocking fashion. The interlocking arrangement allows the trim plates to remain in their installed position without external restraint during installation and removal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2000Publication date: June 27, 2002Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Hamon Leroy Craft, Michael Paul Lafond, Robert Lee Hilgendorf