US4159503A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electric branch-line combiner with grounding
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1977-11-09
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Granted: 1979-06-26
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Expires: 1997-11-09
Abstract
Abstract An electric branch-line combiner is disclosed by which double power at double voltage is obtainable from two branch-line outlets of a typical existing branch-line circuit interconnected to a typical three-wire electric power source and by which electrical grounding means are readily, conveniently and safely obtained directly from two such existing branch outlets, each having only two contactors.
Inventors
- 👤 Frederick W. Ross
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 01:14
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H11/00; H02H11/006; H02H11/007
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
334 words
In an electric branch-line combiner comprising a combiner output connector, said electric branch-line combiner for combining at said combiner output connector the power from two branch outlets of an existing multi-branched electric circuit powered from two nominal voltage lead-in conductors, each having nominal voltage of opposite polarity impressed thereon, and one grounded lead-in conductor, and having one or more said branch outlets interconnected to each said nominal voltage lead-in conductor, each said branch outlet so interconnected having two branch outlet power-carrying contactors one of which is grounded, a first and a second electric input connector, each said first and second electric input connector having at least one combiner input power-carrying contactor structured to make electrical connection with one of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors of a separate said branch outlet, said combiner output connector having a first and a second combiner output power-carrying contactor, electric power-carrying conductor means for electrically connecting each of said first and said second combiner output power-carrying contactors to only one of said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactor of one of said first and said second electric input connectors, and contactor-selector means embodied in the electric branch-line combiner for electrically interconnecting a selected one of said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactors of said first electric input connector with said first combiner output power-carrying contactor, and for electrically interconnecting a selected one of said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactors of said second electric input connector with said second combiner output power-carrying contactor, wherein the improvement comprises: at least one of said electric input connectors having a second combiner input power-carrying contactor structured to make electrical connection with a second of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors, said combiner output connector having a third combiner output contactor for grounding purposes, electric grounding conductor means for electrically connecting said third combiner output contactor of said combiner output connector to said second combiner input power-carrying contactor of one of said at least one said electric input connectors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
334 words
In an electric branch-line combiner comprising a combiner output connector, said electric branch-line combiner for combining at said combiner output connector the power from two branch outlets of an existing multi-branched electric circuit powered from two nominal voltage lead-in conductors, each having nominal voltage of opposite polarity impressed thereon, and one grounded lead-in conductor, and having one or more said branch outlets interconnected to each said nominal voltage lead-in conductor, each said branch outlet so interconnected having two branch outlet power-carrying contactors one of which is grounded, a first and a second electric input connector, each said first and second electric input connector having at least one combiner input power-carrying contactor structured to make electrical connection with one of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors of a separate said branch outlet, said combiner output connector having a first and a second combiner output power-carrying contactor, electric power-carrying conductor means for electrically connecting each of said first and said second combiner output power-carrying contactors to only one of said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactor of one of said first and said second electric input connectors, and contactor-selector means embodied in the electric branch-line combiner for electrically interconnecting a selected one of said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactors of said first electric input connector with said first combiner output power-carrying contactor, and for electrically interconnecting a selected one of said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactors of said second electric input connector with said second combiner output power-carrying contactor, wherein the improvement comprises: at least one of said electric input connectors having a second combiner input power-carrying contactor structured to make electrical connection with a second of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors, said combiner output connector having a third combiner output contactor for grounding purposes, electric grounding conductor means for electrically connecting said third combiner output contactor of said combiner output connector to said second combiner input power-carrying contactor of one of said at least one said electric input connectors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 1 wherein: said contactor-selector means comprises said first and said second electrical input connectors formed to fit symmetrically said branch outlets of said existing multi-branched electric circuit and thereby make electrical contact between said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactor of each said first and second electric input connector with either power-carrying branch outlet contactor of each said branch outlet.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 2 wherein: said contactor-selector means further comprises voltage sensing means interconnected between said electrical power-carrying conductor means electrically connecting each of said first and said second output combiner power-carrying contactors to only one of said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactor of one of said first and said second electric input connector.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
29 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 3 wherein: said electric grounding conductor means comprises an on-off switching means for opening and closing said electric grounding conductor means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
80 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 4 wherein said voltage sensing means comprises a voltage sensitive relay energizer, said on-off switching means and said voltage sensitive relay energizer form a relay switching means for closing said on-off switching means and thereby interconnecting said third combiner output contactor to said second one of said first and second combiner input contactors of one of said electric input connectors when a selected voltage is impressed across said voltage sensitive relay energizer.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
258 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 1 wherein: each said first and second electric input connector comprises two combiner input power-carrying contactors, said contactor-selector means comprises single-pole double-throw switching means electrically interconnected between said two combiner input power-carrying contactors of said first electric input connector and said first combiner output power-carrying contactor, said single-pole double-throw switching means for changing electrical connection of said first combiner output power-carrying contactor from connection with one of said two combiner input power-carrying contactors of said first electric input connector to the other of said two combiner input power-carrying contactors of the same said first electrical input connector, double-pole double-throw switching means electrically connected between said two combiner input power-carrying contactors of said second one of said first and second electric input connectors and said third combiner output contactor and said second combiner output power-carrying contactor, said double-pole double-throw switching means for interchanging the electrical connections of said second combiner output contactor from connection with said first combiner input power-carrying contactor to connection with said second combiner input power-carrying contactor of said second electric input connector while also interchanging connection of said third combiner output contactor from connection with said second combiner input power-carrying contactor to connection with said first combiner input power-carrying contactor of said second electric input connector, said third output contactor, said double-pole double-throw switching means, and said electric grounding conductor means thereby providing grounding means of said third output contactor of said combiner output connector through the substantially grounded lead-in conductor of the existing multi-branched electric circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
61 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 6 wherein said contactor-selector means further comprises voltage sensing means interconnected between said electrical power-carrying conductor means electrically connecting each of said first and said second output combiner power-carrying contactors to only one of said at least one combiner input power-carrying contactor of one of said first and said second electric input connector.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
87 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 7 wherein said electric power-carrying conductor means and said electric grounding conductor means further comprise triple-pole single-throw switching means connected between the combiner output connector and the remaining portions of the electric branch-line combiner circuit, and said triple-pole single-throw switch having two poles, one in each interconnection from each side of said voltage sensitive means to each of said first and said second combiner output contactors and a third pole in the interconnection from said third combiner output contactor.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
53 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 8 wherein said triple-pole single-throw switching means further comprises a relay switching means having a relay energizer, said voltage sensing means comprising said relay energizer, said relay switching means to close said triple-pole single-throw switch only with a selected voltage impressed across said relay energizer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 9 wherein said relay energizer comprises an electromagnetic coil.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A grounded electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 9 wherein said selected voltage is substantially twice that impressed between said combiner input power-carrying contactors of each said electric input connector.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
99 words
An electric branch-line combiner as claimed in claim 7 wherein: said electric grounding conductor means comprises an on-off switching means for opening and closing said electric grounding conductor means, said voltage sensing means comprises a voltage sensitive relay energizer, said on-off switching means and said voltage sensitive relay energizer form a relay switching means for closing said on-off switching means and thereby interconnecting said third combiner output contactor to said second one of said first and second combiner input contactors of one of said electric input connectors when a selected voltage is impressed across said voltage sensitive relay energizer.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
303 words
In an electric branch-line grounding circuit comprising a grounding output connector, said electric branch-line grounding circuit for providing electrical grounding at said grounding output connector from two branch outlets of an existing multi-branched electric circuit powered from two nominal voltage lead-in conductors, each having nominal voltage of opposite polarity impressed thereon, and one grounded lead-in conductor, and having one or more said branch outlets interconnected to each said nominal voltage lead-in conductor, each said branch outlet so interconnected having two branch outlet power-carrying contactors one of which is grounded, a first and a second electric input connector, each said first and second electric input connector having at least one input contactor structured to make electrical connection with one of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors of a separate said branch outlet, said electric branch-line grounding circuit having a first and a second grounding circuit output pole, electric conductor means for electrically connecting each of said first and said second grounding circuit output poles to only one of said at least one input contactor of one of said first and said second electric input connectors, and contactor-selector means embodied in the electric branch-line grounding circuit for electrically interconnecting a selected one of said at least one input contactor of said first electric input connector with said first grounding circuit output pole, and for electrically interconnecting a selected one of said at least one input contactors of said second electric input connector with said second grounding circuit output pole, at least one of said electric input connectors having a second input contactor structured to make electrical connection with a second of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors, and electric grounding conductor means for electrically connecting said grounding output connector to said second input contactor of one of said at least one said electric input connectors.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
303 words
In an electric branch-line grounding circuit comprising a grounding output connector, said electric branch-line grounding circuit for providing electrical grounding at said grounding output connector from two branch outlets of an existing multi-branched electric circuit powered from two nominal voltage lead-in conductors, each having nominal voltage of opposite polarity impressed thereon, and one grounded lead-in conductor, and having one or more said branch outlets interconnected to each said nominal voltage lead-in conductor, each said branch outlet so interconnected having two branch outlet power-carrying contactors one of which is grounded, a first and a second electric input connector, each said first and second electric input connector having at least one input contactor structured to make electrical connection with one of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors of a separate said branch outlet, said electric branch-line grounding circuit having a first and a second grounding circuit output pole, electric conductor means for electrically connecting each of said first and said second grounding circuit output poles to only one of said at least one input contactor of one of said first and said second electric input connectors, and contactor-selector means embodied in the electric branch-line grounding circuit for electrically interconnecting a selected one of said at least one input contactor of said first electric input connector with said first grounding circuit output pole, and for electrically interconnecting a selected one of said at least one input contactors of said second electric input connector with said second grounding circuit output pole, at least one of said electric input connectors having a second input contactor structured to make electrical connection with a second of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors, and electric grounding conductor means for electrically connecting said grounding output connector to said second input contactor of one of said at least one said electric input connectors.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
An electric branch-line grounding circuit as claimed in claim 13 wherein: said contactor-selector means comprises said first and said second electrical input connectors formed to fit symmetrically said branch outlets of said existing multi-branched electric circuit and thereby make electrical contact between said at least one input contactor of each said first and second electric input connector with either power-carrying branch outlet contactor of each said branch outlet.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
59 words
An electric branch-line grounding circuit as claimed in claim 14 wherein: said contactor-selector means further comprises voltage sensing means interconnected between said electrical conductor means electrically connecting each of said first and said second grounding circuit output poles to only one of said at least one input contactor of one of said first and said second electric input connector.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
30 words
An electric branch-line grounding circuit as claimed in claim 15 wherein: said electric grounding conductor means comprises an on-off switching means for opening and closing said electric grounding conductor means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
79 words
An electric branch-line grounding circuit as claimed in claim 16 wherein said voltage sensing means comprises a voltage sensitive relay energizer, said on-off switching means and said voltage sensitive relay energizer form a relay switching means for closing said on-off switching means and thereby interconnecting said grounding output contactor to said second one of said first and second input contactors of one of said electric input connectors when a selected voltage is impressed across said voltage sensitive relay energizer.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
259 words
An electric branch-line grounding circuit as claimed in claim 13 wherein: each said first and second electric input connector comprises two input contactors, each said contactor structured to make electrical connection with a different one of said two branch outlet power-carrying contactors of one separate said branch outlet, said contactor-selector means comprises single-pole double-throw switching means electrically interconnected between said two input contactors of said first electric input connector and said first grounding circuit output pole, said single-pole double-throw switching means for changing electrical connection of said first grounding circuit output pole from connection with one of said two input contactors of said first electric input connector to the other of said two input contactors of the same said first electrical input connector, double-pole double-throw switching means electrically connected between said two input contactors of said second one of said first and second electric input connectors and said grounding output connector and said second grounding circuit output pole, said double-pole double-throw switching means for interchanging the electrical connections of said second grounding circuit output pole from connection with said first input contactor to connection with said second input contactor of said second electric input connector while also interchanging connection of said grounding output connector from connection with said second input contactor to connection with said first input contactor of said second electric input connector, said grounding output connecter, said double-pole double-throw switching means, and said electric grounding conductor means thereby providing grounding means of said grounding output connecter through the grounded lead-in conductor of the existing multi-branched electric circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-06-25 | 1982-12-25 | 1983-06-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-06-25 | 1986-12-25 | 1987-06-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-06-25 | 1990-12-25 | 1991-06-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |