William N Lecourt

US Patent:

49125915, Mar 27, 1990

Filed:

Mar 14, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/711804

Inventors:

William N. LeCourt - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

Cooper Power Systems, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H02H 722

US Classification:

361 75

Abstract:

A distribution line switchgear control which is particularly suitable for use with recloser switchgear which requires small amounts of power from the control for operation. The control is most usefully powered for continued operation by small amounts of line current provided through a power source current transformer and includes multiple capacitors which are arranged in a cascaded control power supply having a plurality of isolated stages. The line current is precisely monitored through sensing current transformers by the control which causes the recloser to trip, reclose and lockout, as is appropriate to protect the distribution line and distribution electricity. Inhibit circuits prevent the control from issuing a trip signal, unless sufficient energy exists in a trip portion of the cascaded power supply. A variety of volatile timers and counters enable the control to cause the recloser to trip, reclose and lockout. Initialization circuits, sensing the cascaded power supply, and a non-volatile state memory responsive to trip, close and lockout signals of the control, cause the initialization of the volatile and non-volatile elements to prevent inappropriate control signals.

US Patent:

42413737, Dec 23, 1980

Filed:

Mar 30, 1979

Appl. No.:

6/025500

Inventors:

Eugene G. Mara - Oak Creek WI
John A. Schreiber - Hartland WI
William N. LeCourt - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

McGraw-Edison Company - Rolling Meadows IL

International Classification:

G01R 1504
G01R 500

US Classification:

361 92

Abstract:

A switchgear assembly which includes a vacuum interrupter, a current transformer, and a capacitive voltage sensor, all embedded within a cast epoxy housing mounted to a solidly grounded support structure. The voltage sensor includes a first capacitor, which is formed by an interrupter conductor stud, a plate, and the cast epoxy disposed therebetween, and a second capacitor, which is connected between the plate and a metal tube extending outside the housing. The tube is connected to ground through a conductive coating, applied to the housing, having an impedance which is very low in comparison to the impedance of the first capacitor. The voltage signal on the plate, which is proportional to the stud voltage, is supplied through the center conductor of a coaxial lead to one input of a voltage level sensing circuit, where it is amplified, rectified, and compared with a reference voltage to produce a positive output signal whenever the stud voltage exceeds a first value, and thereafter produce a negative output signal whenever the stud voltage decreases to less than a second value lower than the first value. The conductive shield of the coaxial lead has a first end connected to the metal tube and a second end connected to the ground terminal of the voltage level sensing circuit and to ground through a ground path having a low impedance in comparison to the impedance of conductive coating ground path between the metal tube and the grounded support structure.

US Patent:

49318969, Jun 5, 1990

Filed:

Mar 14, 1985

Appl. No.:

6/712012

Inventors:

William N. LeCourt - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

Cooper Industries, Inc. - Houston TX

International Classification:

H02H 722

US Classification:

361 73

Abstract:

A distribution line switchgear control which is particularly suitable for use with recloser switchgear which requires small amounts of power from the control for operation. The control is most usefully powered for continued operation by small amounts of line current provided through a power source current transformer and includes multiple capacitors which are arranged in a cascaded control power supply having a plurality of isolated stages. The line current is precisely monitored through current transformers by the control which causes the recloser to trip, reclose and lockout, as is appropriate to protect the distribution line and distribution electricity. Inhibit means prevent the control from issuing a trip signal, unless sufficient energy exists in a trip portion of the cascaded power supply. A variety of volatile timers and counters enable the control to cause the recloser to trip, reclose and lockout. Initialization means, sensing the cascaded power supply, and a non-volatile state memory responsive to trip, close and lockout signals of the control, cause the initialization of the volatile and non-volatile elements to prevent inappropriate control signals.

US Patent:

59364955, Aug 10, 1999

Filed:

Nov 13, 1997

Appl. No.:

8/969807

Inventors:

William N. LeCourt - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

Miklinjul Corporation - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

H01H 7500

US Classification:

335 6

Abstract:

An apparatus for use in a power distribution system including an assembly with a support having an electrically conductive portion and an arm pivotally mounted to the first support for movement between a closed position and an open position. The arm has a conductive portion which is adapted to be electrically connected to one of a power source and a load and which is spaced from the conductive portion of the support both when the arm is in its closed position and when the arm is in its open position. The assembly further includes a spring biasing the arm to its open position, and a fuse electrically connected between the conductive portion of the arm and the conductive portion of the support. The fuse retains the arm in its closed position against the bias of the spring. When current flow causes the fuse to blow, the spring biases the arm to its open position thereby providing a visual indication that there is no current path from the source to the load.

US Patent:

57342075, Mar 31, 1998

Filed:

Feb 16, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/389586

Inventors:

William N. LeCourt - Milwaukee WI

Assignee:

Miklinjul Corporation - Milwaukee WI

International Classification:

H02B 124

US Classification:

307127

Abstract:

Disclosed herein is an apparatus for use in an AC power distribution system having a sinusoidal voltage source and a load, the apparatus including a circuit for selectively connecting and disconnecting the load from the source, a circuit for sensing voltage of the source, and a circuit for memorizing a characteristic of the source voltage, prior to the load being disconnected from the source, and for reconnecting the load to the source at a zero crossing point of the voltage sinusoid so that the sinusoid continues cycling in the direction it would have if the load had not been disconnected from the source.