Did You Know...
...that while attempting to develop a super strong glue, 3M employee Spencer Silver accidentally developed a glue that was so weak it would barely hold two pieces of paper together? However, his colleague Art Fry needed the glue. Fry sang with his church choir and marked the pages of his hymnal with small scraps of paper that often fell out. He used Silver's glue to hold the papers in place. Today we call this invention Post-it Notes.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7656640 | Voltage surge protection device The voltage surge protection device comprises at least one protection module designed to be connected to an electric switchgear apparatus. The protection module comprises at least one protective element for protection against voltage surges and separating means conn... | 02/02/2010 |
| 7567417 | Automatically quenching surge arrester arrangement and use of such a surge arrester arrangement The invention relates to an automatically quenching surge arrester arrangement with a surge arrester, which, on exceeding a given first voltage, transforms from a non-conducting into a conducting state and returns to the non-conducting state only when a much smaller... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7561401 | Circuit protector for electric device A protector for an electric device comprises a driving device and a voltage stabilizing device serially connected to the voltage stabilizing device. After a switch of a power source is turned on, a current of high voltage flows into the voltage stabilizing device. T... | 07/14/2009 |
| 7274550 | Single phase control and protection system of high voltage with dry insulation A protection system and single-phase control of high voltage with close loop dry insulation is provided. A detector detects the voltage through the influence of the electrical field in conductors, insulators and breakers, mainly, turning the field into an electronic... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7245473 | Switchable lightning arrester system The switchable lightning-arrester system has a safety-switchable connector (10), which, for differing power-line features, can include optionally a counter-lever safety connector (14), a slide safety connector (40), a hinged safety connector ( | 07/17/2007 |
| 7133271 | Switchgear with embedded electronic controls In one general aspect, a system to control and monitor an electrical system includes a switchgear housing unit connected to the electrical system that includes a switchgear mechanism for controlling a connection within the electrical system and electronic controls f... | 11/07/2006 |
| 6687110 | Isolating circuit breaker and circuit protection arrangement An isolating circuit breaker (40) for pole mounting (12) in relation to a electrical distribution line, said isolating circuit breaker including: an isolating switch (50) with a pivoting link (52), said isolating switch having respective terminals (45, 44... | 02/03/2004 |
| 6421909 | Method for isostatically pressing a surge arresting block A surge arrester includes an electrically insulating arrester housing and a surge arresting block housed within the electrically insulating arrester housing. The surge arresting block is arranged to provide support for the surge arrester without the use o... | 07/23/2002 |
| 6392861 | Surge arrester having disconnector housed by mounting bracket and end cap A surge arrester includes a mounting bracket, a surge arresting element, an electrically conductive connector, and a fault disconnector. The mounting bracket forms a bracket cup. The surge arresting element is arranged to conduct in the presence of a surg... | 05/21/2002 |
| 6337789 | Spark gap assembly for welding power supply A spark gap assembly includes two conductive spark gap points forming a spark gap. Two substantially identical, non-conductive, molded plastic pieces are clamped together to make a housing with at least one cylindrical receptacle for the spark gap points.... | 01/08/2002 |
| 6323750 | Electrical component with a safety release An electrical component is installed in a plastic cup. The component has two electrical connecting lines, and a parting location that is bridged by a solder metal is arranged in one lead. In addition, a prestressed spring is arranged at the one lead for r... | 11/27/2001 |
| 6160692 | Microprocessor detection of transient voltage and abnormal line voltage A method for determining the extent of a transient's ability to cause MOV over heating and subsequent explosion by microprocessor analysis of an AC voltage input waveform with respect to a stored perfect sine wave. The microprocessor also calculates the R... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6002571 | Lightning arrester assembly for an overhead electricity line with a device for flagging an arrester malfunction The lightning arrester assembly for an overhead line for transporting electricity comprises a lightning arrester connected in series with a horned spark-gap between the electricity transport line and a support structure in the form of an arm of a pylon co... | 12/14/1999 |
| 5986870 | Electrical surge protector with protective enclosure A surge protector module is provided with a housing with an internal space, a separator disposed within the housing which divides the internal space into first and second spaces within the housing, and a surge protection device. The surge protection devic... | 11/16/1999 |
| 5952910 | Isolator device for arrester A device for connecting, and then isolating and disconnecting an arrester includes a non-conductive housing with two electrical terminals. The housing has opposite ends separated by an internal chamber. The terminals are mounted at the housing ends. A res... | 09/14/1999 |
| 5930102 | Surge arrester having single surge arresting block A surge arrester includes an electrically insulating arrester housing and a surge arresting block housed within the electrically insulating arrester housing. The surge arresting block is arranged to provide support for the surge arrester without the use o... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5923518 | Surge arrester having disconnector housed by end cap An apparatus includes a surge arresting element, first and second end caps, an arrester housing, and a fault disconnector. The surge arresting element is arranged to conduct in the presence of a surge on a power line. The first and second end caps are arr... | 07/13/1999 |
| 5831808 | Lightning arrester device A lightning arrester device with a housing (7) having two electrical contact terminals and consisting of at least one housing element (7a, 7b) containing at least one protective element (13) with terminals electrically connected to the contact terminals, ... | 11/03/1998 |
| 5526219 | Surge arrester arrangement The invention relates to a surge arrester arrangement comprising a surge arrester with a number of ZnO blocks arranged between two end electrodes as well as a cut-out device arranged in series with the arrester for automatically disconnecting the arrester... | 06/11/1996 |
| 5124687 | Power apparatus, power transmission/distribution unit, and tripping method therefor A power apparatus in which a particle in an enclosure of the apparatus containing an electric conductor therein is moved in the enclosure by an electric field so as to cause an abnormality of insulation. The apparatus includes a first sensor for detecting... | 06/23/1992 |
| 4975797 | Arrester with external isolator An arrester for an under oil transformer is connected between a primary bushing lead and an insulator/isolator penetrating the wall of a housing which encloses the oil, arrester, and transformer parts. A ground wire outside the housing is removably connec... | 12/04/1990 |
| 4908729 | Lightning arrester monitor A lightning arrester monitor which consists of an oxygen gas sensor provided in a lightning arrester having a zinc-oxide-type element made of zinc oxide, the main component thereof, and other oxides added thereto, the oxygen gas sensor measures the oxygen... | 03/13/1990 |
| 4734823 | Fault current interrupter and explosive disconnector for surge arrester A fault current interrupting disconnector, or fault disconnector, for a surge arrester operates to separate an electrical lead or ground lead wire from a damaged arrester and to interrupt the current flowing through the damaged arrester. The new fault dis... | 03/29/1988 |
| 4605981 | Industrial or domestic overvoltage protective device The device includes two detectors of overvoltage (8, 9) each connected between a respective one of a pair of power line conductors (1, 2) and a respective input of an arrester (7). The outputs of the detectors are connected to an OR-gate (10) the output s... | 08/12/1986 |
| 4578550 | Electrical, medium voltage, switching mechanism An electrical, medium voltage, switching mechanism which includes a casing having an insulating material filling. In the casing, between a cable connection and a bus bar, a change-over switch, which can alternately switch between a phase contact and a gro... | 03/25/1986 |
| 4570202 | Gas-insulated switchgear equipment A plurality of breaking portions forming a vertically-disposed circuit breaker are connected in series and open and close the circuit within a gas-tight sealed enclosure. The enclosure is provided at its both sides with openings for connection of one and ... | 02/11/1986 |
| 4554609 | Transient voltage protector A transient voltage protector is provided for telephone lines and the like. An insulating plastic housing is provided with two pairs of terminals having female connections at the lower ends for association with selected terminals of a telephone terminal b... | 11/19/1985 |
| 4550273 | Eight electrode optical readout gap A protective device for a plurality of electrical circuits includes a pluity of isolated electrodes forming a gap with a common electrode. An output signal, electrically isolated from the circuits being monitored, is obtained by a photosensor viewing the... | 10/29/1985 |
| 4541033 | Power switch assembly having a circuit breaker and a circuit disconnector A power switch assembly has a horizontal supporting base, a circuit disconnector including a first supporting porcelain insulator vertically disposed on the supporting base, a stationary contactor supported by the free end of the first insulator, and a ro... | 09/10/1985 |
| 4503414 | Current interrupting lightning arrester isolator A device for connection to lightning arresters isolates the grounded lead and contains the resulting spark or arcing flame, including any hot particles generated when ground disconnection is made due to excessive current flow through the arrester. A centr... | 03/05/1985 |
| 4502132 | Power switch apparatus A supporting insulator (9) to support the driving mechanism (6) of a disconnect switch part (100) and a supporting insulator (9) of a breaker (10) are unified. The heights of the fixed contact (4) and the driving mechanism (6) of the disconnect switch par... | 02/26/1985 |
| 4468716 | Gas-insulated switchgear A gas-insulated switchgear apparatus comprises, (a) first and second grounded tanks filled therein with insulating gas, (b) a circuit breaker unit enclosed in the first tank, (c) a disconnecting switch unit connected to an axial extension of the first tank and encl... | 08/28/1984 |
| 4460937 | Gas-insulated switching apparatus A gas-insulated switching apparatus is disclosed which includes a circuit breaker having a breaking section with at least a couple of mutually detachable contacts and a grounded tank containing the breaking section and filled with an insulating gas, the g... | 07/17/1984 |
| 4240124 | Surge arrester having coaxial shunt gap A surge arrester of compact construction includes a housing formed preferably of elastomeric material through which a pair of spaced terminals protrude and between which a stack of metal oxide varistor discs is disposed and connected in series therewith. ... | 12/16/1980 |
| 4136372 | Protective boot for a high voltage circuit interrupter A protective boot of flexible, insulating material for use in covering the grounded portions of a circuit interrupter and thereby preventing accidental shorting between the current carrying sections of the circuit interrupter and the grounded portions. Th... | 01/23/1979 |
| 4095262 | Lightning protection circuit A circuit arrangement for protecting electrical appliances such as radio and television sets from damage due to lightning during electrical storms, and the like. The antenna input and power supply lines are connected in a common circuit with one another a... | 06/13/1978 |
| 4063298 | Insulated lightning arrester support with remote grounding control A lightning arrester is mounted on one end of a rigid insulator bar, the other end of which is mounted by a metal bracket to the grounded casing of an electrical distribution transformer. The ground terminal of the arrester is electrically connected with ... | 12/13/1977 |
| 4031347 | Protective gas cap for electric power apparatuses Spark gap apparatuses are provided at the receiving end or the sending end of an electric power substation, in order to protect electric apparatus in the electric power substation against the surge voltage incoming from the power transmission lines. In th... | 06/21/1977 |
