Edward T Howell

US Patent:

7091871, Aug 15, 2006

Filed:

Jul 26, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/899481

Inventors:

Edward Keith Howell - Hendersonville NC, US
Earl W. Roberts - Mystic CT, US

International Classification:

G08B 21/00

US Classification:

340649, 340650, 340653

Abstract:

An electrical hazard detection system is used to detect energized ground terminals on electric receptacles. This condition may not be detectable by traditional circuit testers when hot and neutral wires have been switched and ground terminals have been electrically connected to the neutral wires. The user's body is used to provide a high-impedance path to true ground thereby creating an electric current from an energized ground terminal, activating a transistor, and illuminating an associated indicator.

US Patent:

53392108, Aug 16, 1994

Filed:

Jul 22, 1992

Appl. No.:

7/916752

Inventors:

Edward K. Howell - Hendersonville NC

Assignee:

General Electric Company - New York NY

International Classification:

H02H 700
H01H 930
H01H 956

US Classification:

361 9

Abstract:

To avoid arcing when the breaker is opened, load current is diverted from a circuit breaker, before it opens, to a pulse forming circuit containing a precharged capacitor and a switch. Load current normally flows from a source of electric power to a load through a network comprising the breaker and a series connected controlled impedance. The pulse forming circuit is connected across the network. When load current is to be interrupted, the switch is closed to discharge a current pulse through the network, and the impedance of the controlled impedance is increased. These actions divert load current from the network to the pulse forming circuit. The breaker is then opened. The voltage across the capacitor first linearly increases from the precharge voltage to zero and then tends to increase in magnitude with an opposite polarity, i. e. that of the source of electric power. The voltage magnitude with opposite polarity then attainable across the capacitor is limited to a very low value, such as by a diode or SCR connected in parallel circuit with the capacitor.