283results about "Contact testing/inspection" patented technology

The invention provides a semiconductor acceleration sensor which is small in size, light in weight, simple in manufacture, low in manufacturing cost, and high in accuracy, and which, with a switch-on time set to a predetermined value, is stable in operation.In a semiconductor acceleration sensor in which a central board 1 having a central contact section 11, and outside boards 2 at least one of which has an outside contact section 21 are stacked; the central board 1 has a weight 12 near the central contact section 11, and the outside board 2 having the outside contact section 21 has a weight confronting section 11 which confronts with the weight 12, for squeezed damping effect.

A system displays information from and controls electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers. The system includes a plurality of circuit breakers having separable contacts and a plurality of conditions, such as bus temperature and contact wear. A plurality of sensors are structured to sense the conditions of the circuit breakers and to communicate the sensed conditions over corresponding wireless signals. A display and control unit is operatively associated with the circuit breakers and is structured to receive the corresponding wireless signals and display information corresponding to the sensed conditions or to control the circuit breakers based upon one or more of the sensed conditions.

The present invention provides a novel circuit interrupting device, preferably a ground fault circuit interrupter, which contains a reset button that is capable of interacting with a test button to perform an end-of-life-component test on the circuit interrupting device. The circuit interrupting device also contains a reset switch coupled to the reset button which is capable of disallowing reset if the device is miswired and / or fails the end-of-life-component test. Only when the circuit interrupting device is properly wired, in a tripped state, and all of the key components in the circuit interrupting device are working properly, the depression of the reset button allows the device to be reset.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system. The device includes a plurality of line terminals configured to terminate the plurality of line conductors and a plurality of load terminals configured to terminate the plurality of load conductors. The protective circuit assembly includes at least one fault detector configured to generate a fault detection signal based on electrical perturbations propagating on at least one of the plurality of line terminals or at least one of the plurality of load terminals. A device integrity evaluation circuit includes a timing circuit coupled to the source of AC power by way of the plurality of load terminals and configured to generate a time measurement. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to reset the time measurement if the protective circuit assembly generates the fault detection signal during a predetermined test interval in the properly wired condition. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to generate a device integrity fault signal when the time measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold. A circuit interrupter assembly includes movable contacts configured to be latched into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus. The movable contacts are configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the fault detection signal or the device integrity fault signal.

A method for detecting insufficient contact pressure between two contacts of an electrical switching unit, including a device for resetting a mechanism for controlling the switching unit following a closure maneuver of the mechanism, the resetting device including a motor configured to complete the closure maneuver of the control mechanism. The method involves detecting whether the motor completes the closure and whether a resetting torque corresponds to a normal resetting torque, by analyzing an envelope curve of current consumed by the motor over time, and, if the motor completes the closure, deducing that a wear is a result of wear in the mechanism or a kinematic chain, and if the motor completes the closure and the resetting torque corresponds to an abnormal rescuing torque, deducing that the wear corresponds to wear in the motor or parts involved in compressing the closure spring.

An electromagnetic opening / closing device A1 includes a detector 5 for detecting an opened or closed state of a contact unit 1; a malfunction determination unit 6 configured to determine presence or absence of malfunction based on the opened or closed state of the contact unit 1 detected through the detector 5 and an opened or closed state of the contact unit 1 corresponding to an exterior command; and an output unit 8 configured to supply an exterior with a determination result by the malfunction determination unit 6.

A system and method for monitoring the remaining useable life, or “wellness,” of a contactor or motor starter, and for predicting impending faults of such a device, is disclosed. By monitoring actuating coil current, actuating coil voltage, line current, and / or line voltage, the present invention can calculate wellness metrics which, when compared to threshold values, may be used as indicators of remaining life and / or imminent failures. The invention also provides non-mechanical positive indications of proper closures and openings of contacts for safety interlocking.

A relay failure detecting device includes: an opening-closing unit that is driven by a coil for opening and closing a current pathway; a detecting unit that detects a current value of a current flowing in the coil; an opening-closing instructing unit that outputs an instruction signal to instruct opening and closing of the opening-closing unit; and a failure detecting unit that detects a failure in the opening-closing unit by using the current value output by the detecting unit within a predetermined period of time starting from when the instruction signal is output.

An adjusting bolt is screwed into a nut attached to a dolly, and is disposed such that a central axis thereof is parallel to a closing and opening direction of a contact. A lever is attached to a shaft. An electrically-insulating rod is coupled to a first end of the lever, and a pin is mounted to a second end of the lever. The adjusting bolt is turned and lowered to lower the pin. The lever and the shaft are pivoted by the lowering of the pin, and the electrically-insulating rod is raised. Thus, a movable contact moves toward a fixed contact, moving the contact from an open state to a closed state.

An encapsulated medium voltage vacuum circuit interrupter includes a line terminal, a load terminal, a vacuum interrupter, an operating mechanism and an elongated, insulated, generally cylindrical encapsulating housing. The vacuum interrupter includes a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable between a closed circuit position in electrical communication with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly. The fixed contact assembly is electrically interconnected with the line terminal. A flexible conductor electrically connects the movable contact assembly with the load terminal. The operating mechanism moves the movable contact assembly between the closed circuit position and the open circuit position. The housing includes a first end supporting the line terminal and an opposite second end supporting the load terminal. The housing encloses the vacuum interrupter, the flexible conductor and the operating mechanism.

At embedded control logic, electrical information with respect to a switching device is sensed. A decision is made as to an operation of the control logic based on the sensed information. The operation may be one or more of setting a wetting current or determining whether the electrical information is within an acceptable range.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system. The device includes a plurality of line terminals configured to terminate the plurality of line conductors and a plurality of load terminals configured to terminate the plurality of load conductors. The protective circuit assembly includes at least one fault detector configured to generate a fault detection signal based on electrical perturbations propagating on at least one of the plurality of line terminals or at least one of the plurality of load terminals. A device integrity evaluation circuit includes a timing circuit coupled to the source of AC power by way of the plurality of load terminals and configured to generate a time measurement. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to reset the time measurement if the protective circuit assembly generates the fault detection signal during a predetermined test interval in the properly wired condition. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to generate a device integrity fault signal when the time measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold. A circuit interrupter assembly includes movable contacts configured to be latched into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus. The movable contacts are configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the fault detection signal or the device integrity fault signal.

To shorten a period of time necessary for performing routine inspections and reduce costs by monitoring a state such as a contact failure of a switching equipment which constitutes a power reception circuit or a branch circuit of a substation through a simple construction. A sensor attached IC tag application high voltage equipment is constructed by detachably mounting a sensor attached IC tag at a position where a sensor of a sensor attached IC tag obtains a physical quantity of a detection target, wherein the sensor attached IC tag is configured to communicate with an externally located IC tag reader.

A component monitoring system structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly component characteristics is provided. The component monitoring system includes a record assembly, a number of vibration sensor assemblies, a comparison assembly, and an output assembly. The record assembly includes selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component. The vibration sensor assembly is structured to measure a number of actual component characteristics for a substantial portion of the circuit breaker assembly and to transmit actual component characteristic output data. The comparison assembly is structured to receive an electronic signal from said record assembly and said sensor assemblies, to compare each sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication signal as to whether said sensor assembly output data is acceptable when compared to the selected nominal data. The output assembly includes a communication assembly and an output device.

The relay-welding detection circuit detects welding of relays (RYP, RYN) provided on a charging path from an external power supply (PW) to a first battery (14), and is provided with: a second battery (15) that can supply a welding-detection power supply independently of the external power supply (PW); a transistor switch (17) that is a circuit in which there is substantially zero current flowing in from the external power supply (PW) side of the relays, and that controls whether or not to supply the welding-detection power supply to the second battery (15) on the basis of the voltage at the external power supply (PW) side of the relays; and a control unit (18) that is electrically insulated from the transistor switch (17), and that to detects welding of the relays (RYP, RYN) on the basis of whether or not the transistor switch (17) has supplied the welding-detection power supply.

An algorithm for verifying the state of switches (such as in a transfer switch mechanism) and for controlling the switches. The control algorithm controls automatic actuation of the switches. The verification algorithm measures the instantaneous voltage on the source and load sides of one or both switches and calculates the RMS magnitude, period, and relative phase for each voltage measurement. If the voltage characteristics for the load do not match any of those for any source, an error is outputted. If the voltage characteristics of the sources match each other, the algorithm determines that they are synchronized. The algorithm determines which switch is closed by comparing the voltage characteristics of the load and of each source, and if there is a match, then the switch associated with the source that is matched with the load is determined to be closed. Otherwise, the switch is determined to be opened.

A method and device are disclosed for safely operating a switching device with at least one main contact, which can be switched on or off, and which has contact elements and a moving contact bridge, and with at least one control magnet, which has a moving armature. During switching on and off, the armature acts upon the contact bridge whereby closing and opening the corresponding main contact. At least one embodiment of the method includes the following: a) identifying whether the moving contact bridge of the at least one main contact has surpassed an opening point after the switching off; and b) interrupting the further operation of the switching device when the opening point has not been surpassed after a predetermined period of time.

A device for measuring the wear of the contacts of a switchgear device is described. The switchgear device is of the open circuit breaker type with offset pole-shaft, and the movable contact is mounted on a sliding support. Measurement of the wear of the contacts is based on evaluation of the over-travel of the movable contact in the closed position when the latter slides in its support. This over-travel is determined by measuring the residual rotation of the pole-shaft, preferably by a contact-less magnetic rotation sensor.

An encapsulated medium voltage vacuum circuit interrupter includes a line terminal, a load terminal, a vacuum interrupter, an operating mechanism and an elongated, insulated, generally cylindrical encapsulating housing. The vacuum interrupter includes a vacuum envelope containing a fixed contact assembly and a movable contact assembly movable between a closed circuit position in electrical communication with the fixed contact assembly and an open circuit position spaced apart from the fixed contact assembly. The fixed contact assembly is electrically interconnected with the line terminal. A flexible conductor electrically connects the movable contact assembly with the load terminal. The operating mechanism moves the movable contact assembly between the closed circuit position and the open circuit position. The housing includes a first end supporting the line terminal and an opposite second end supporting the load terminal. The housing encloses the vacuum interrupter, the flexible conductor and the operating mechanism.

A method for analyzing an electrical contact pair is provided. At least one of the contacts is coupled to a line-side of the contact pair, and at least one of the contacts is coupled to a load-side of the contact pair. The method includes electrically coupling the load-side contact and the line-side contact to electrical ground, applying a test voltage across the contact pair while the line-side contact and load-side contact remain electrically coupled to electrical ground, triggering a contact pair operation timer at a start of a test, detecting at least one of a first closure of the contact pair and a first opening of the contact pair using the test voltage, and determining the timing of the contact pair based upon the operation of the contact pair operation timer.

In order to determine contact erosion of an electromagnetic switching device, a mechanical parameter is measured which characterizes the time course of the relative movement between the contacts, said movement being caused by an actuator. The point in time when the contacts close is determined by evaluating the time course of the relative movement, and the distance traveled by the contacts until said point in time or the distance traveled by the actuator from said point in time until reaching the final position thereof is detected at least indirectly and is compared to a stored reference value.

One or more infrared transmitting ports are placed in the insulating housing of standard switchgear components to allow far infrared viewing of internal conductive components permitting earlier and more precise location of possible thermal failure through thermographic monitoring.

A fluorescent trace material is provided within at least a portion of an electrical contact or interrupter assembly component, or a cavity defined therein. At least a portion of the fluorescent trace material is exposed or released from the electrical contact or interrupter assembly component, indicating a degree of component wear.

The invention relates to a switching arrangement (1), in particular for the high-voltage and / or high-current region, with two contacts (3) and a switching device (5), which can be moved into a separated position (I) in which the contacts (3) are electrically separated from one another. The object of the invention is to provide a solution with which it is possible to easily and reliably ascertain whether the switching arrangement (1) is insulated. According to the invention, this is achieved in that the presence of the switching device (5) in the separated position (I) is detected by a contact-free measurement of the position of the switching device (5). A switching arrangement (1) according to the invention comprises a detector (8) with which the presence of the switching device (5) in the separated position (I) can be detected in a contact-free manner.

A circuit interrupter includes, a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being moveable relative to the first contact, a drive assembly structured to move the second contact relative to the first contact, and an erosion monitoring device including a linear transducer coupled to a portion of the drive assembly. The liner transducer is structured to generate an output signal representative of an amount of linear displacement of the portion of the drive assembly, wherein the erosion monitoring device is structured to monitor a degree of erosion of at least one of the first contact and the second contact based on the output signal.

An algorithm for verifying the state of switches (such as in a transfer switch mechanism) and for controlling the switches. The control algorithm controls automatic actuation of the switches. The verification algorithm measures the instantaneous voltage on the source and load sides of one or both switches and calculates the RMS magnitude, period, and relative phase for each voltage measurement. If the voltage characteristics for the load do not match any of those for any source, an error is outputted. If the voltage characteristics of the sources match each other, the algorithm determines that they are synchronized. The algorithm determines which switch is closed by comparing the voltage characteristics of the load and of each source, and if there is a match, then the switch associated with the source that is matched with the load is determined to be closed. Otherwise, the switch is determined to be opened.

A circuit interrupter includes, a first contact and a second contact, the second contact being moveable relative to the first contact, a drive assembly structured to move the second contact relative to the first contact, and an erosion monitoring device including a linear transducer coupled to a portion of the drive assembly. The liner transducer is structured to generate an output signal representative of an amount of linear displacement of the portion of the drive assembly, wherein the erosion monitoring device is structured to monitor a degree of erosion of at least one of the first contact and the second contact based on the output signal.