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).

  • Patent number: 11929596
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Brittany Leigh McBride, Erik Ryan Khzouz, Michael Paul Lafond
  • Publication number: 20230318268
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2022
    Publication date: October 5, 2023
    Inventors: Brittany Leigh McBride, Erik Ryan Khzouz, Michael Paul Lafond
  • Patent number: 10426049
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2019
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Erik Ryan Khzouz, Kevin Joseph Audibert, Michael Paul Lafond, Ganesh Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 9653896
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael Paul Lafond, Erik Ryan Khzouz, Ganesh Venkataraman, Gerald John Witkoski
  • Publication number: 20160295718
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Erik Ryan Khzouz, Kevin Joseph Audibert, Michael Paul Lafond, Ganesh Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20160295730
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Audibert, Michael Paul Lafond, Ganesh Venkataraman
  • Publication number: 20160294171
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Publication date: October 6, 2016
    Inventors: Michael Paul Lafond, Erik Ryan Khzouz, Ganesh Venkataraman, Gerald John Witkoski
  • Patent number: 9461446
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Kevin Joseph Audibert, Michael Paul Lafond, Ganesh Venkataraman
  • Patent number: 9129760
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Brittany Leigh Estes, Michael Paul Lafond, Joseph Gustave Nagy, Jason William Newby, Gerald John Witkoski
  • Publication number: 20140190801
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2013
    Publication date: July 10, 2014
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Brittany Leigh Estes, Michael Paul Lafond, Joseph Gustave Nagy, Jason William Newby, Gerald John Witkoski
  • Patent number: 8405364
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Michael Paul Lafond, John Kenneth Hooker, Daniel Edward Delfino, Hardik Upadhyay, Aaron Edward Engel
  • Patent number: 8335063
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Kenneth Hooker, Michael Paul Lafond, Henry Hall Mason, Jr., Megan Dalene Bardolph
  • Publication number: 20120056599
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: September 2, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Dean Arthur Robarge, Michael Paul Lafond, John Kenneth Hooker, Daniel Edward Delfino, Hardik Upadhyay, Aaron Edward Engel
  • Publication number: 20120053743
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2010
    Publication date: March 1, 2012
    Inventors: John Kenneth Hooker, Michael Paul Lafond, Henry Hall Mason, JR., Megan Dalene Bardolph
  • Patent number: 6547348
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2003
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Hamon Leroy Craft, Michael Paul Lafond, Robert Lee Hilgendorf
  • Publication number: 20020079793
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2000
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Hamon Leroy Craft, Michael Paul Lafond, Robert Lee Hilgendorf