Maytag Corporation

Whirlpool Corporation

Abb Technology Ag

Abb Schweiz Ag

Abb Power Grids Switzerland Ag

Whirpool Corporation

Robert Alan Elick

Barry E Tuller

Rodney Michael Welch

William James Teising

Scott D Raches

David Matthew Geibel

Thomas M Johnson

John Trevor Morrison

Jon Christopher Brasher

Chad M Thomas

Mark Erwin Palm

Rexford W Cordill

Kory A Gunnerson

Michael Simmons

Anthony Lewis Durfee

Thomas J Wuestefeld

Mark B Neff

John Richard Sanderson

Joshua Tyler Elder

Neeraj Singh

Cory D Howe

Bobby Owen Thurmond, Jr

Jeff B Thompson

Jr Bobby Owen Thurmond

An on-load tap changer is provided having a plurality of modules, each of which is operable to change taps in a transformer winding. The tap changer includes a motor connected to rotate at least one shaft. The at least one shaft is connected to the tap change modules and is operable upon rotation to cause the tap change modules to each perform a sequence of operations that effectuate a tap change. A multi-turn absolute encoder is connected to the at least one shaft. A monitoring system is connected to the encoder and is operable to determine from the position of the at least one shaft where the tap change modules are in the sequence of operations.

Tap changer with an improved monitoring system

An on-load tap changer is provided and includes a plurality of modules disposed in an interior space of a tank and arranged in a side-by-side manner. Each module has a bypass switch assembly and a vacuum interrupter assembly mounted to a first side of a board. The bypass switch assembly is actuated by rotation of a bypass cam and the vacuum interrupter assembly is actuated by rotation of an interrupter cam. A transmission system rotates the bypass cam and the interrupter cam. The transmission system is mounted on a second side of the board.

Tap changer

An on-load tap changer is provided having a vacuum interrupter actuatable by a shaft. A movable shuttle is connected to an impact mass by springs such that the impact mass tends to follow the shuttle when the shuttle moves. A pawl assembly is operable to hold and then release the impact mass when the shuttle starts moving. The holding of the impact mass when the shuttle starts to move causes the springs to store both a compression force and a tension force, which are released when the impact mass is released.

Tap changer having an improved vacuum interrupter actuating assembly

An on-load tap changer is provided having a plurality of modules, each of which is operable to change taps in a winding of a transformer. A transmission shaft is connected to the modules and is operable upon rotation to effectuate tap changes in the windings. A servo motor rotates the transmission shaft. The servo motor includes a feedback device operable to generate a feedback signal containing information relating to the position of the motor shaft. A servo drive is connected to the servo motor to receive the feedback signal. The servo drive uses the feedback signal to determine and store a total angular displacement of the motor shaft. The servo drive uses the feedback signal and the total angular displacement of the motor shaft to control the operation of the servo motor.

Tap changer with an improved drive system

An on-load tap changer is provided having a vacuum interrupter that is actuated by a shaft of an actuation assembly. A damper dampens the movement of the shaft. The damper provides more dampening when the shaft is closing the vacuum interrupter than when the shaft is opening the vacuum interrupter. The damper includes a housing at least partially defining an interior chamber into which the shaft extends. A piston with openings extending therethrough is disposed in the interior chamber and is secured to the shaft so as to be movable therewith. A blocking structure is operable to block the openings in the piston when the shaft is closing the vacuum interrupter and to un-block the openings in the piston when the shaft is opening the vacuum interrupter.

Tap changer having a vacuum interrupter assembly with an improved damper

An on-load tap changer is provided having a pair of bypass switches, each of which includes a plurality of contacts at least partially disposed in a contact carrier. The contacts are arranged in a stack and cooperate to form a groove and a mounting bore. A mounting post extends through the mounting bore such that the contacts are pivotable about the mounting post between an open and a closed position. When an actuation assembly moves the contacts to the open or closed position, the contacts move longitudinally relative to the contact carrier.

Tap changer with improved switch construction

A selector switch assembly for a load tap changer includes a bevel gear coupled with a motor drive shaft. A shaft assembly is coupled with the bevel gear and a switch is provided for each phase. Each switch includes a helical gear fixed to the shaft assembly, a Geneva pinion gear engaged with the helical gear, a first Geneva gear wheel mounted on a first shaft moved by a first follower of the pinion gear, a first contact arm associated with the first Geneva gear wheel to rotate therewith, a second Geneva gear wheel mounted on a second shaft and moved by a second follower of the pinion gear, and a second contact arm associated with the second Geneva gear wheel so as to rotate therewith. The contact arms include contacts that engage fixed contacts that define tap positions of the load tap changer.

Selector switch assembly for load tap changer

A system and method for low temperature hydration of food soils allows for hydration of food soils between washing cycles in a dishwasher. A user selects a hydration button to actuate a hydration cycle between dishwashing cycles. During the hydration cycle, a plurality of spraying devices are periodically actuated in accordance with a desired amount of hydration selected by the user. Water is supplied from a dedicated water supply line to the spraying devices, preferably without being heated, and is distributed throughout a dishwasher chamber utilizing spray nozzles or fans. The hydration cycle ends when deactivated, or when a dishwashing cycle is initiated.

System and method for low temperature hydration of food soils

A dishwasher includes a pump assembly which functions to chop all fluid entrained soil prior to directing fluid to upper and lower wash arms. A flow conduit leading to the upper wash arm is provided with a sampling port which directs a percentage of the fluid flow into a filter chamber having one or more fine mesh filter screens that open into the dishwasher tub basin. The filter chamber receives washing fluid through a sampling port that interconnects with the flow conduit. The filter chamber can be fluidly connected to a drain based on the position of a valve which opens when washing fluid recirculation ceases.

Method of operating a dishwasher pump and filtration system

A system and method for low temperature hydration of food soils allows for hydration of food soils between washing cycles in a dishwasher. A user selects a hydration button to actuate a hydration cycle between dishwashing cycles. During the hydration cycle, a plurality of atomizers are periodically actuated in accordance with a desired amount of hydration selected by the user. Water is supplied from a dedicated water supply line to the atomizers, preferably without being heated, and is distributed throughout a dishwasher chamber utilizing spray nozzles or fans associated with the atomizers. The hydration cycle ends when deactivated, or when a dishwashing cycle is initiated.

An outer support body for a drawer-type dishwasher includes first and second U-shaped brackets. The first U-shaped bracket includes first and second leg members that are joined by a first cross member. Likewise, the second U-shaped bracket includes third and fourth leg members that are joined by a second cross member. The outer support body also includes side wall members that are secured to the first and third and second and fourth leg members respectively. A rear brace extends between and interconnects the side wall members at a position spaced from the second cross member. In addition, a drip pan is provided at a bottom portion of the outer support body between the side wall members.

Outer support body for a drawer-type dishwasher

A dishwasher operates to sense the need for a drain or purge operation based on dynamic characteristics of a respective washing operation such that an adaptive system is defined. In accordance with the invention, washing fluid used to spray clean kitchenware being washed is filtered and soil from the kitchenware is collected. When the filtering system becomes clogged, a flow signal is established to indicate the need for at least a partial drain operation. Most preferably, this arrangement is used in combination with signals from a turbidity sensor, as well as pump motor current signals, to provide an comprehensive, dynamically adaptive control system.

Adaptive drain and purge system for a dishwasher

A dishwasher includes a pump assembly having a chopper blade and apertured plate arrangement which function to chop soil particles entrained in a flow of washing fluid. The chopper blade floats or axially slides relative to a drive member from a first position spaced from the apertured plate to a second position closer to the apertured plate in order to macerate the soil particles. The chopper blade is actually mounted to a hub member including a shaft portion that extends into and abuts an inner portion of an impeller to maintain a desired spacing between the chopper blade and the apertured plate, while transferring drive from the drive member to both the chopper blade and impeller.

Chopping system for a dishwasher pump assembly

A dishwasher includes a drain pump assembly having a chopper assembly coupled to an impeller and driven by a synchronous motor. The chopper assembly includes an impeller housing that includes a central hub portion for pivotally supporting a plurality of rotatable chopper blades. An apertured plate is secured to the impeller housing and maintained in a spaced relationship from the chopper blades. The chopper assembly is coupled to the impeller through an axially sliding drive mechanism that facilitates assembly of the chopper assembly into the impeller housing. The synchronous motor drives the chopper blade in a first direction until encountering a hard soil particle whereupon the chopper blades can pivot so that the chopper assembly can continue to operate or, if the chopper blade becomes jammed, the synchronous motor can oscillate to hammer the hard soil particle until it becomes small enough to pass through the apertured plate.

Growing community of inventors

Jackson, TN, United States of America

Robert Alan Elick