Patents by Inventor Ronald D. Hartzel
Ronald D. Hartzel 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: 8325467Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a housing having a first end, an opposite second end, and a plurality of sides disposed therebetween to define an internal volume; an electrical busway having a plurality of electrical bus members; a plurality of phase-to-phase arc length limiters, each of the phase-to-phase arc length limiters being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the electrical bus members, each of the phase-to-phase arc length limiters having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge establishing a first gap to an adjacent one of the phase-to-phase arc length limiters; and a phase-to-ground arc length limiter electrically connected to the housing, the phase-to-ground arc length limiter having a number of members structured to attach an arc, each of the number of members having a number of arc attachment portions establishing a second gap to the second edge of the phase-to-phase arc length limiters.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: December 4, 2012Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: John J. Shea, Ronald D. Hartzel, James E. Smith, Paul K. Parker
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Patent number: 8284541Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a housing having a first end, an opposite second end, and a plurality of sides disposed therebetween to define an internal volume; an electrical busway having a number of electrical bus members, wherein at least one of the number of electrical bus members has a first bus member, a second bus member and a number of fusible links electrically connected between the first bus member and the second bus member, wherein the at least one of the number of electrical bus members is structured to electrically conduct a rated current, wherein the number of fusible links are structured to electrically conduct the rated current, and wherein the number of fusible links are structured to vaporize responsive to a current which is substantially greater than the rated current.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2010Date of Patent: October 9, 2012Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: John J. Shea, Ronald D. Hartzel, James E. Smith, Paul K. Parker
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Publication number: 20110149482Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a housing having a first end, an opposite second end, and a plurality of sides disposed therebetween to define an internal volume; an electrical busway having a number of electrical bus members, wherein at least one of the number of electrical bus members has a first bus member, a second bus member and a number of fusible links electrically connected between the first bus member and the second bus member, wherein the at least one of the number of electrical bus members is structured to electrically conduct a rated current, wherein the number of fusible links are structured to electrically conduct the rated current, and wherein the number of fusible links are structured to vaporize responsive to a current which is substantially greater than the rated current.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: JOHN J. SHEA, Ronald D. Hartzel, James E. Smith, Paul K. Parker
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Publication number: 20110149478Abstract: An electrical enclosure includes a housing having a first end, an opposite second end, and a plurality of sides disposed therebetween to define an internal volume; an electrical busway having a plurality of electrical bus members; a plurality of phase-to-phase arc length limiters, each of the phase-to-phase arc length limiters being electrically connected to a corresponding one of the electrical bus members, each of the phase-to-phase arc length limiters having a first edge and a second edge, the first edge establishing a first gap to an adjacent one of the phase-to-phase arc length limiters; and a phase-to-ground arc length limiter electrically connected to the housing, the phase-to-ground arc length limiter having a number of members structured to attach an arc, each of the number of members having a number of arc attachment portions establishing a second gap to the second edge of the phase-to-phase arc length limiters.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 17, 2010Publication date: June 23, 2011Inventors: JOHN J. SHEA, Ronald D. Hartzel, James E. Smith, Paul K. Parker
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Patent number: 7683603Abstract: A transfer system includes an energy meter, a transfer switch, an automatic disconnect device, and a detector. The energy meter includes an input structured to receive a first power source, and a power output. The transfer switch includes a first input electrically connected to the power output of the energy meter, a second input, an output, and a mechanism structured to transfer one of the first and second inputs to the output of the transfer switch. The automatic disconnect device includes a first input structured to receive a second power source, a second input, an output, and a mechanism structured to electrically connect or disconnect the first input and the output of the automatic disconnect device responsive to the second input. The detector is structured to detect presence of the energy meter and output a corresponding signal to the second input of the automatic disconnect device.Type: GrantFiled: November 17, 2008Date of Patent: March 23, 2010Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Todd M. Lathrop, Ronald D. Hartzel, David R. Welsh
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Patent number: 7586738Abstract: A chimney assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker including a housing and a number of poles. The chimney assembly includes a frame, an intake, a duct and an exhaust. A first side of the frame is coupled to the circuit breaker housing proximate the poles of the circuit breaker, and the intake and exhaust are respectively disposed at first and second ends of the frame. A first portion of the duct is coupled to the circuit breaker housing above the poles, and a second portion is coupled to the first side of the frame. The chimney assembly draws a volume of air through the intake into the circuit breaker housing, circulates the volume of air through the poles of the circuit breaker, and discharges the volume of air out of the circuit breaker housing through the duct and the exhaust.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2008Date of Patent: September 8, 2009Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Ronald D. Hartzel, James E. Smith, Douglas M. Brandt, Anthony T. Ricciuti, James J. Benke
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Patent number: 7053570Abstract: A control circuit operates a dual directional DC motor from an AC power source. A controller has first and second position indication inputs adapted to receive respective first and second position indications. The controller also has first and second direction outputs, which respectively energize one of two first relay coils having contacts outputting respective AC voltages responsive to the direction outputs. A full wave bridge rectifier receives the AC voltage and responsively outputs a DC voltage, which energizes a second relay coil. A contact thereof directs that voltage to two sets of first relay contacts, which are also responsive to the direction outputs, and which respectively provide a positive or negative DC voltage to the motor. Another second relay coil contact provides a braking action to the motor responsive to removal of the DC voltage from the rectifier output following removal of the AC voltage to the rectifier.Type: GrantFiled: December 1, 2003Date of Patent: May 30, 2006Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Todd M. Lathrop, Derrick G. Berad, Ronald D. Hartzel, James R. Hanna
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Patent number: 6849967Abstract: A multi-mode transfer switch selectively operates in a first operating mode in which the utility source alone is connected to the load bus, a second operating mode in which only the microturbine is connected to the load bus, and a third operating mode in which both sources are connected to the load bus in parallel. The microturbine is commanded to operate in a voltage mode when connected alone to the load bus and in a current mode when connected in parallel with the utility source. If the utility source fails while operating in parallel with the microturbine, the utility source is disconnected from the load bus and the microturbine is reconfigured in a voltage mode. The transfer controller sends a wake-up signal to the microturbine upon loss of power for starting and providing power to the load bus.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: February 1, 2005Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Todd M. Lathrop, Bert Popovich, Ronald D. Hartzel, David N. Alchier, Nathan J. Weister
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Publication number: 20030197431Abstract: A multi-mode transfer switch selectively operates in a first operating mode in which the utility source alone is connected to the load bus, a second operating mode in which only the microturbine is connected to the load bus, and a third operating mode in which both sources are connected to the load bus in parallel. The microturbine is commanded to operate in a voltage mode when connected alone to the load bus and in a current mode when connected in parallel with the utility source. If the utility source fails while operating in parallel with the microturbine, the utility source is disconnected from the load bus and the microturbine is reconfigured in a voltage mode. The transfer controller sends a wake-up signal to the microturbine upon loss of power for starting and providing power to the load bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2002Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Todd M. Lathrop, Bert Popovich, Ronald D. Hartzel, David N. Alchier, Nathan J. Weister
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Patent number: 6528745Abstract: A manual operator assembly is provided for an interlock assembly. The interlock assembly includes a motor assembly that is locked in one of two positions by a brake assembly. The brake assembly is electronically controlled, but also includes a brake release pedal. The manual operator assembly includes a lever which is coupled to a shaft which is further coupled to a cam. When the lever is rotated, the cam engages the brake release pedal so that the interlock assembly may be operated manually.Type: GrantFiled: November 13, 2001Date of Patent: March 4, 2003Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Todd Lathrop, Ronald D. Hartzel, Daniel Kroushl, Nathan Weister, Scott A. Martin
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Patent number: 5753877Abstract: An electrically insulated turbulator for use in an electrical device for automatically interrupting an overload current is a one-piece molded assembly with an arcuate portion arranged around a terminal screw and a downwardly turned flange for shielding the terminal from the ionized gases in the arc chute. The arcuate portion has several fins and spaced-apart planar portions, both of which are located in the path of the ionized gases. The planar portions have surfaces which cooperate with the fins to create a turbulent flow pattern to decrease the length of the gas flow, and thereby optimize the cooling effect on the gases and for directing the gas flow in a desired direction. The turbulator is preferably made of a gassing material which contributes to the deionizing of the gasses, which lessens the buildup of gas pressure. It also preferably has a blowout membrane in order to limit the back pressure in the device.Type: GrantFiled: February 20, 1996Date of Patent: May 19, 1998Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Ronald D. Hartzel, Robert J. Tedesco, William D. Munsch, Michael J. Erb