Patents by Inventor Steven E. Meiners
Steven E. Meiners 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: 20040257184Abstract: A network protector bus assembly, which is structured to be coupled to a roll-out circuit breaker having a plurality of quick disconnect assemblies, includes a line buss assembly and a load bus assembly. The line bus assembly has three elongated bus sub-assemblies, each with a stab extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the line bus sub-assemblies. Each line bus sub-assembly stab has a width sufficient to accommodate at least two circuit breaker quick disconnect assemblies. Similarly, the load bus assembly has three elongated bus sub-assemblies, each with a stab extending generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the load bus sub-assemblies. Again, each load bus sub-assembly stab has a width sufficient to accommodate at least two circuit breaker quick disconnect assemblies.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 18, 2003Publication date: December 23, 2004Inventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Stephen W. Oneufer, Michael F. Magazine, Douglas M. Brandt
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Patent number: 6786749Abstract: An electrical connector may be utilized to connect bus bars having a wide variety of configurations to a wide variety of electrical equipment, without modification to the bus bars, electrical equipment, or connector, with the exception of cutting the electrical connector to a desired length.Type: GrantFiled: November 6, 2002Date of Patent: September 7, 2004Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Douglas M. Brandt
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Publication number: 20040087221Abstract: An electrical connector may be utilized to connect bus bars having a wide variety of configurations to a wide variety of electrical equipment, without modification to the bus bars, electrical equipment, or connector, with the exception of cutting the electrical connector to a desired length.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 6, 2002Publication date: May 6, 2004Inventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Douglas M. Brandt
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Patent number: 6710696Abstract: An improved fuse housing includes a main body and a cover and is configured to receive a fuse. The main body includes a plurality of fins that are configured to increase the surface area of the fuse housing in order to enhance heat dissipation. The main body is formed with a cavity for the fuse and a pair of conductors extending between the interior of the fuse housing and the exterior thereof for connection with the fuse. The cavity is configured to minimize the quantity of air between the fuse and the fuse housing to facilitates heat transfer. Each conductor includes excess studs for connection with the fuse to enhance heat conduction from the fuse. The cover is fastened to the main body with sufficient fasteners to permit the cover to be a stressed member to resist fracturing of the fuse housing from magnetic and other forces from the conductors.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Stephen W. Oneufers, Douglas M. Brandt
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Publication number: 20040023565Abstract: A removable clamp assembly for a network protector bus, the network bus having at least one opening therethrough. The clamp assembly is structured to couple the network protector bus to a vault bus. The clamp assembly includes a mounting bracket structured to be removably coupled to the network protector bus and a gripping assembly for selectively gripping the vault bus. The gripping assembly is coupled to the mounting bracket.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 31, 2002Publication date: February 5, 2004Inventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Douglas M. Brandt, Stephen W. Oneufer
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Patent number: 6679737Abstract: A removable clamp assembly for a network protector bus, the network bus having at least one opening therethrough. The clamp assembly is structured to couple the network protector bus to a vault bus. The clamp assembly includes a mounting bracket structured to be removably coupled to the network protector bus and a gripping assembly for selectively gripping the vault bus. The gripping assembly is coupled to the mounting bracket. The gripping assembly includes threaded tubes surrounding a rod with opposite threads at each end for driving the tubes, whereby the gripping fingers on the gripping assembly are movable to grip the vault buss blocks.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: January 20, 2004Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Douglas M. Brandt, Stephen W. Oneufer
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Patent number: 6667681Abstract: A housing assembly for network protector fuses that includes a first and second C-shaped body and one or more cover plates. The first C-shaped body has a generally flat, rectangular front side and generally perpendicular first extension and second extension. The second C-shaped body has a generally flat, rectangular back side and generally perpendicular third extension and fourth. The first and second C-shaped bodies are coupled together forming an enclosure. The first body has one or more openings on the front side. The cover plates are coupled to the first C-shaped member and sealingly disposed over the openings in the first C-shaped body. The front side and the back side have a length sufficient to enclose more than one network protector fuse.Type: GrantFiled: August 7, 2002Date of Patent: December 23, 2003Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Michael F. Magazine, Douglas M. Brandt, Stephen W. Oneufer
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Patent number: 6636401Abstract: A bus assembly for a network protector, where the network protector includes a housing, and where the bus assembly includes a plurality of busses having laminations and a rack assembly. The plurality of busses are mounted in the rack assembly and the rack assembly is coupled to the housing.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2000Date of Patent: October 21, 2003Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Douglas M. Brandt, Michael F. Magazine
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Publication number: 20030189479Abstract: An improved fuse housing includes a main body and a cover and is configured to receive a fuse. The main body includes a plurality of fins that are configured to increase the surface area of the fuse housing in order to enhance heat dissipation. The main body is formed with a cavity for the fuse and a pair of conductors extending between the interior of the fuse housing and the exterior thereof for connection with the fuse. The cavity is configured to minimize the quantity of air between the fuse and the fuse housing to facilitates heat transfer. Each conductor includes excess studs for connection with the fuse to enhance heat conduction from the fuse. The cover is fastened to the main body with sufficient fasteners to permit the cover to be a stressed member to resist fracturing of the fuse housing from magnetic and other forces from the conductors.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 8, 2002Publication date: October 9, 2003Inventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Stephen W. Oneufers, Douglas M. Brandt
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Patent number: 6592388Abstract: A spring-biased electrical connector permits the connector to be moved into a retracted position for installation and removal of the components to which the connector is attached, and then extended to form an electrical connection with its mating connector. The spring-biased connector may be secured in electrical connection with its mating connector. Such a spring-biased connector is particularly useful for connecting a control relay to a network protector, although not limited to such use.Type: GrantFiled: September 10, 2001Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Arthur J. Jur, Douglas M. Brandt, Stephen W. Oneufer, Michael F. Magazine
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Patent number: 6590756Abstract: A cable trip assembly includes an actuating assembly, a mounting assembly, and a cable assembly. The cable assembly includes a cable member disposed within a sheath. The cable member has a first end and a second end. The cable member first end is coupled to a lever, which is part of the actuating assembly, which is structured to move between a first position and a second position, similar to the prior art lever. The cable member second end is coupled to the circuit breaker trip bar. The sheath is mounted on a rigid frame, preferably a portion of the circuit breaker. Thus, with the sheath held stationary, the lever can move the cable within the sheath between a first and second position as the lever moves between its first position and second position. Because the cable member second end is coupled to the circuit breaker trip bar, the trip bar is also moved between the trip bar first and second positions as the lever moves between the lever first position and second position.Type: GrantFiled: November 21, 2001Date of Patent: July 8, 2003Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Stephen W. Oneufer, Arthur J. Jur, Douglas M. Brandt
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Publication number: 20030095364Abstract: A cable trip assembly includes an actuating assembly, a mounting assembly, and a cable assembly. The cable assembly includes a cable member disposed within a sheath. The cable member has a first end and a second end. The cable member first end is coupled to a lever, which is part of the actuating assembly, which is structured to move between a first position and a second position, similar to the prior art lever. The cable member second end is coupled to the circuit breaker trip bar. The sheath is mounted on a rigid frame, preferably a portion of the circuit breaker. Thus, with the sheath held stationary, the lever can move the cable within the sheath between a first and second position as the lever moves between its first position and second position. Because the cable member second end is coupled to the circuit breaker trip bar, the trip bar is also moved between the trip bar first and second positions as the lever moves between the lever first position and second position.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 21, 2001Publication date: May 22, 2003Applicant: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Stephen W. Oneufer, Arthur J. Jur, Douglas M. Brandt
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Patent number: 6510047Abstract: A conductive heat sink is electrically interposed between a fuse and a switching apparatus within a watertight case of a network protector. The heat sink is advantageously configured to conduct current between the switching apparatus and the fuse. During operation, the skin effect causes the electricity conducted by the heat sink to flow primarily through the outer regions of the heat sink, thereby resulting in the generation of heat at the outer regions of the heat sink due to electrical resistance. The heat sink includes a core from which a plurality of fins extend. The fins conduct and convect heat away from the outer regions of the heat sink, which reduces the temperature thereof and correspondingly increases the conductivity of the outer regions of the heat sink.Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2001Date of Patent: January 21, 2003Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Douglas M. Brandt
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Publication number: 20020122289Abstract: A conductive heat sink is electrically interposed between a fuse and a switching apparatus within a watertight case of a network protector. The heat sink is advantageously configured to conduct current between the switching apparatus and the fuse. During operation, the skin effect causes the electricity conducted by the heat sink to flow primarily through the outer regions of the heat sink, thereby resulting in the generation of heat at the outer regions of the heat sink due to electrical resistance. The heat sink includes a core from which a plurality of fins extend. The fins conduct and convect heat away from the outer regions of the heat sink, which reduces the temperature thereof and correspondingly increases the conductivity of the outer regions of the heat sink.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 5, 2001Publication date: September 5, 2002Inventors: Steven E. Meiners, Douglas M. Brandt
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Patent number: 6407897Abstract: A network protector is provided with diagnostics which alert a utility of component problems in detail. Selected measurements are used to assess the condition of various components such as for example, main contact electrical resistance, a blown fuse, the availability of sufficient voltage for charging the springs which close the main contacts and adequate voltage for tripping the contacts open. These abnormal operating conditions are transmitted to a remote station at the utility so that proper maintenance can be efficiently provided.Type: GrantFiled: March 31, 2000Date of Patent: June 18, 2002Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Robert Yanniello, John R. Moffat, Steven E. Meiners, Joseph C. Engel, Thomas J. Kenny
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Patent number: 6034861Abstract: A network protector system is provided in which the internal bussing of the network protector enclosure is constructed to adapt a four-pole circuit breaker for a three-pole network protection operation. This is provided by joining the central two bus conductors of the four line transformer input busses to make a single stab connection which interconnects with two central poles of the four-pole circuit breaker. The load output of the four-pole circuit breaker is interconnected with are overlapping stab which in turn is connected to a signal output bus bar so that the network protector system essentially converts a four-pole circuit breaker and line transformer system to a three-pole output system.Type: GrantFiled: November 23, 1998Date of Patent: March 7, 2000Assignee: Eaton CorporationInventors: Steven E. Meiners, Michael F. Magazine, Douglas M. Brandt