Patents by Inventor Thomas E. Kovanko

Thomas E. Kovanko 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: 8824116
    Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 2, 2014
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard G. Smith, Jason R. Bogusz, Michael G. Ennis, Gary W. Hardesty, Thomas E. Kovanko, Richard P. Mikosz, Andrew D. Pfister, Roy T. Swanson, Keith W. Benson, IV
  • Patent number: 8334738
    Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard G. Smith, Jason R. Bogusz, Michael G. Ennis, Gary W. Hardesty, Thomas E. Kovanko, Richard P. Mikosz, Andrew D. Pfister, Roy T. Swanson, Keith W. Benson, IV
  • Publication number: 20120166103
    Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 27, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Applicant: S&C ELECTRIC COMPANY
    Inventors: Richard G. Smith, Jason R. Bogusz, Michael G. Ennis, Gary W. Hardesty, Thomas E. Kovanko, Richard P. Mikosz, Andrew D. Pfister, Roy T. Swanson, Keith W. Benson, IV
  • Publication number: 20080309437
    Abstract: A fault interrupting and reclosing device includes a circuit interrupter coupled to an actuator. The actuator includes at least one force generating element for generating an opening force for opening the circuit interrupter and for generating a restoring force to close the circuit interrupter. The device further includes a latch to engage the actuator to hold the contacts open once opened. In a preferred arrangement, the device is provided with an automatic mode of operation including a reclose process and a non-reclosing mode of operation. The device also preferably includes a method of determining the end-of-life of a vacuum interrupter monitors characteristics and/or parameters of a fault current or vacuum interrupter operation to predict a percent of life consumed with each fault current interruption operation. A cumulative percent of life consumed may also be determined, and an end-of-life may be predicted based upon the cumulative percent of life consumed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Publication date: December 18, 2008
    Applicant: S & C Electric Co.
    Inventors: Richard G. Smith, Jason R. Bogusz, Michael G. Ennis, Gary W. Hardesty, Thomas E. Kovanko, Richard P. Mikosz, Andrew D. Pfister, Roy T. Swanson, Keith W. Benson IV
  • Patent number: 7253603
    Abstract: A current sensor is provided including a Rogowski coil in an assembly that is easily positioned about a conductor, e.g. without cutting the line or deenergizing the line. In one arrangement, the Rogowski coil is formed about a split helical structure such that the ends of the Rogowski coil are not coincident. While this does introduce a small error in the current measurement, this small error is easily correctable by calibration and/or application software. The current sensor includes suitable insulation such that it can be placed about energized, high-voltage lines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2007
    Assignee: S & C Electric Co.
    Inventors: Thomas E. Kovanko, Jeffrey A. Moore, Debashis Satpathi