337results about "Switch operated by excess currents" patented technology

A circuit breaker detects a fault, such as an arc fault or glowing contact, of a power circuit. The circuit breaker includes a first lug and a second acoustic lug adapted to be electrically connected to the power circuit. Separable contacts are electrically connected in series between the first lug and the second acoustic lug. An operating mechanism is adapted to open and close the separable contacts. An acoustic sensor is coupled to the second acoustic lug. The acoustic sensor is adapted to sense an acoustic signal from the second acoustic lug. The acoustic signal is operatively associated with the fault of the power circuit. A circuit inputs the sensed acoustic signal and is adapted to detect the fault therefrom.

Electrical fire risks and consumer safety are major concerns driving regulators worldwide to implement more stringent electrical code and enforcement. While there are many commercially available protective devices available, none affords total protection, and they are made and classified only to protect circuits from specific or limited number of faults.This invention is about an apparatus, system and method for protection of electrical circuits and consumers from literally all known electrical faults in Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC) single and multi-phase systems such as and including Arc Faults, Ground and Leakage Faults, Surge, Overload, Short Circuit, Glowing Connections, Miswired Connections, overvoltage, undervoltage and Phase-Loss. Said apparatus, system and method come in the form of or in a housing as a Circuit Breaker, Receptacle, Convenience Outlet, Attachment Plug, Equipment Controller, a circuit, or a system integrated with another system, device or apparatus.

The current invention is an automatic AC power interruption system built into a portable power strip or a portable casing or integrated into an appliances control circuitry. The invention monitors the environment for hazard alarms, for example, a T3 signal smoke detector alarm, and responds by tripping open the power supply circuit to the power strip's receptacles and thus interrupts AC power to the protected appliances the user has chosen to plug into them. One alternate form of the invention uses a portable casing that can be plugged into a power receptacle and, when a hazard alarm is detected, trip off the nearest GFCI. Other alternate forms of the invention are integrated within an individual appliance's control circuitry and may interrupt power using a built-in switch or by tripping off the nearest GFCI device. The invention's purpose is to help prevent death, injury, and property damage by preventing fires or facilitating fire suppression; more particularly, by interrupting electrical power to problematic appliances, such as toasters, space heaters, battery chargers, stoves, and motors, when a hazardous condition alarm is emitted. It further interrupts power to the problematic appliances when a detector emits an alarm indicating toxic fumes, natural gas, radon, carbon monoxide, or whatever other detector-alarm the consumer installs in the area to be protected.

An arc fault and / or ground fault circuit interrupter includes an operating mechanism structured to open and close separable contacts, a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts, a test button structured to test the operating mechanism, an indicator, and a controller structured to configure a setting of the circuit interrupter and operate the indicator to indicate the setting in response to an actuation of the test button.

The current invention is an automatic AC power interruption system built into a portable apparatus or integrated into electrical systems and appliance control circuitry. Power is interrupted in potentially hazardous conditions, for example, when a T3 smoke detector alarm signal is detected. Alternatively, a portable device may be plugged into a power outlet having a GFCI breaker and, when a hazard alarm condition is detected, trip off power to the outlet. Signal-activated circuit interrupters (SACIs) may be integrated into appliance control circuitry and interrupt power to a problematic device when a hazard alarm condition is detected. In addition to fire prevention, other hazard alarm conditions may include alarms indicating toxic fumes, motor overload, natural gas, radon, or carbon monoxide. Interconnected networks of signal-activated circuit interrupters are also disclosed.

A circuit breaker detects a fault, such as an arc fault or glowing contact, of a power circuit. The circuit breaker includes a first lug and a second acoustic lug adapted to be electrically connected to the power circuit. Separable contacts are electrically connected in series between the first lug and the second acoustic lug. An operating mechanism is adapted to open and close the separable contacts. An acoustic sensor is coupled to the second acoustic lug. The acoustic sensor is adapted to sense an acoustic signal from the second acoustic lug. The acoustic signal is operatively associated with the fault of the power circuit. A circuit inputs the sensed acoustic signal and is adapted to detect the fault therefrom.

An electrical system includes (1) a distributed power source device structured to generate: (i) AC power, and (ii) a signal indicating an amount of current being produced by the distributed power source device, and (2) a circuit breaker having set trip characteristics coupled to distributed power source device, wherein the circuit breaker is structured to receive the signal and adjust the set trip characteristics (e.g., the trip curve) based on at least the signal from the distributed power source device.

A device for de-energizing an energized branch electrical circuit is described, as well as related processes. The device includes a circuit breaker, which itself includes a breaker switch, an input terminal for receiving current, and an output terminal for directing current out of the breaker. A plug is also incorporated into the device, so that the device can be inserted into an electrical receptacle in the branch electric circuit. One or more power indicators, such as an LED light or voltmeter, are also incorporated into the device. When the device is plugged into a receptacle of the branch circuit, the breaker switch can then be turned on, resulting in a short-circuit, which de-energizes the branch electrical circuit. The device may also include a holder, which is capable of retaining at least one electrical adapter.

A time-synchronized trip implementation for a motor circuit protector (MCP) having a reconfigurable microcontroller. The microcontroller causes a power supply to, be charged for an initial time period during a charging mode. An onboard comparator is configured for a predetermined self-protection level of the MCP, and fault currents that exceed the comparator's threshold will directly drive a solenoid to trip the MCP. The microcontroller reconfigures the comparator's threshold to both measure and charge the power supply toward a stored energy trip voltage, which will charge quickly when high fault currents are present. As a result, self-protection is not compromised. After the trip voltage is reached, the microcontroller reconfigures the onboard comparator's threshold for self-protection trip levels. When a trip event occurs in this mode, stored energy trip activation occurs. The MCP includes user-selectable trip settings, and the microcontroller reconfigures the comparator threshold levels for user-selectable self-protection levels.

The present invention relates generally to a circuit breaker. More particularly, the invention encompasses a modular circuit breaker. The present invention is also directed to a novel a modular circuit breaker with a trip bar. The inventive two pole residential circuit breaker includes an Arc Fault and Ground Fault electronic detection system. The modular breaker design includes an electronic system used for tripping a designated mechanism pole which in turn trips the secondary mechanism pole. Electronic components are included that sense the continuous current flow through each mechanism pole simultaneously to determine when a trip event is needed. The electronic system of this invention includes a self diagnostic system with electronic visual indicators that display the method of which trip condition occurred.

The invention discloses a surge protector with a thermal protection device, which comprises a shell, a pedestal arranged in the shell, an over-voltage suppression element arranged on one surface of the pedestal, an elastic separation device arranged on the other surface of the pedestal, and two power supply connectors. The surge protector is characterized in that the elastic separation device comprises a bow member and an extension spring; the bow member comprises a nonconductive bow body part, a conductive bowstring part and an electric arc partition board rotationally arranged on the middle part of the nonconductive bow body part; and a guide groove is formed below an electrode on the other surface of the pedestal, the free end of the electric arc partition board is positioned in the guide groove, the conductive bowstring part is connected with one of the power supply connectors through a flexible conductive wire, and the other electrode of the over-voltage suppression element is connected with the other power supply connector. Compared with the prior art, the surge protector has the advantages of preventing high current from passing through an elastic member, eliminating electric arc when the power supply is cut off, and running reliably.

The present invention comprises MEMS enabled apparatus for the detection of arc-faults and the elimination of arc-flash conditions. The apparatus comprises an arc-flash detection component and a current limiting component. The current limiting component comprises a logic circuit in communication with the user interface, an MEMS protection circuit in communication with the logic circuit, and a switching circuit in communication with the MEMS protection circuit. The switching circuit comprises a plurality of micro-electromechanical system switching devices and a voltage limiting device, wherein the voltage limiting device is configured to prevent an over voltage event during a current limiting operation.

A circuit breaker includes a first lug and second and third acoustic lugs electrically connected to a power circuit. Separable contacts are electrically connected in series between the first lug and the second acoustic lug. An operating mechanism opens and closes the separable contacts. A first acoustic sensor is coupled to the second acoustic lug and senses a first acoustic signal from the second acoustic lug. A second acoustic sensor is coupled to the third acoustic lug and senses a second acoustic signal from the third acoustic lug. The first and second acoustic signals are operatively associated with a power circuit fault. A current sensor senses a current flowing between the first and second lugs. A circuit inputs the sensed acoustic signals and the sensed current and detects and distinguishes a parallel arc fault or a series arc fault from the sensed acoustic signals and the sensed current.

Apparatus for detecting an overheating condition at an electrical power device and automatically breaking the circuit when the temperature exceeds a setpoint value. In various configurations the device is a receptacle adapted to be used in a wall mounted box or a receptacle unit that is plugged into an existing receptacle. A temperature sensor is wired parallel to a normally open test switch on a ground fault circuit interrupter or other circuit interrupting device. The temperature switch is responsive to the temperature local to the receptacle, such as is caused by poor connections to or in the receptacle or a near-overload condition. The temperature setpoint is less than the melting temperature of the insulation of the electrical wiring. The temperature sensor is a thermistor with a negative temperature coefficient that allows current to flow thereby latching the interrupting device in a tripped position until the device is reset for reuse.

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) for opening a circuit when a ground fault has been detected in an attached circuit includes a current path structure containing no more than one splice and no more than one pair of contacts. A cantilevered movable contact arm and an activation device that moves in a linear fashion can be provided to open the current path structure when a ground fault is detected by the GFCI. In addition, the GFCI can include a transformer boat and solenoid bobbin that are snap fit onto a circuit board and located adjacent each other to provide rigidity to the circuit board and GFCI. The GFCI can be tested by a test switch that includes an integral cantilevered extension from an electrical terminal disposed over a resistor such that the cantilevered extension can be bent by a test button to contact a lead of the resistor and simulate a ground fault condition for the GFCI. Furthermore, the GFCI can include a housing with an outer portion that defines a uniform width channel adjacent a wire contact point to allow quick and easy connection to ground wires.

A thermal overload relay includes an inversion operation mechanism that is driven by a releasing lever to open or close a contact. The inversion operation mechanism includes a movable plate supported at one end so as to be inverted, and a tension spring for driving the movable plate for inversion. The releasing lever presses a middle of a wire of the tension spring to drive the movable plate for inversion. A projection is formed in the middle of the wire of the tension spring to contact with the releasing lever. Thus, a stable inversion operation can be made regardless of the positioning of an adjustment dial.

In a remote controller of a circuit breaker capable of making an maintenance man control a circuit breaker instantly and safely at any place without approaching a certain area such as a control board or a control room, the circuit breaker includes a receiver for receiving a radio control signal for turning on / off or tripping a circuit breaker; a control unit for generating a first control signal or a second control signal depending on the radio control signal inputted from the receiver; a motor driver for controlling the on / off operation of the circuit breaker depending on the first control signal; and a trip unit for tripping the circuit breaker depending on the second control signal.

The invention provides a residual current operated protective device with the functions of self-diagnosis indicating and / or self-diagnosis alarming and / or self-diagnosis protection, comprising the parts of the protector such as a protector, a zero sequence current transformer, a release shunting coil, a residual current processing circuit, a rectifier circuit, a controllable silicon SCR, etc., and conventional circuits. The residual current operated protective device also comprises a self-diagnosis indicator circuit and / or a self-diagnosis alarming circuit and / or a self-diagnosis protection circuit which can carry out the real-time diagnosis for the rectifier circuit of the protector and the controllable silicon SCR; when the unusual condition occurs to the rectifier circuit and the controllable silicon SCR, the self-diagnosis indicator circuit automatically gives out the instruction, the self-diagnosis alarming circuit automatically alarms and the self-diagnosis protection circuit automatically drives the releasing device to be released, thus preventing the personal safety accident caused owing to the failure of the residual current protection function and greatly reinforcing the safety usage performance of the protector products.

There is provided a computer-implemented method for configuring a centralized circuit breaker protection system. The method includes determining configuration data for a processor in the centralized circuit breaker protection system in accordance with a parameter relating to an operation of the centralized circuit breaker protection system, and configuring the processor with the configuration data. There is also provided an apparatus for configuring a centralized circuit breaker protection system, and a storage media containing instructions for controlling a computer for configuring a centralized circuit breaker protection system.

A safety battery disconnect system for disconnecting a vehicle battery from the electrical system of the vehicle when an impact exceeding a predetermined magnitude is detected while maintaining electrical power input from the battery to selected portions of the vehicle electrical system. The system includes a shock sensor connected to a latching switch interposed between the battery and the vehicle fused electrical input system and is preferably a unitary unit mounted on or in close proximity to the battery.

The present invention provides an optical device that achieves reduction in size, reduction in manufacturing costs, improved image quality, and so forth, by simplification and the like of a panel in prisms (POP) structure wherein light-modulating devices and a color synthesizing optical element are integrally formed. A POP structure is configured wherein pins integrally formed with a holding member are inserted through holes formed in the four corners of holding frames storing the liquid crystal panelsso as to fix the holding frames and holding members by adhesion. End faces of holding members opposite to the pins are fixed by adhesion to the side faces of bases fixed on the upper and lower faces of a cross-dichroic prism.

The present invention provides a direct current circuit breaker and its implementation method, which includes the cutout circuit, the commutation circuit and the energy absorption circuit connected in parallel, wherein the cutout circuit includes cutout inductance and cutout unit connected in series, the commutation circuit includes commutation inductance, commutation unit and mechanical switch connected in series, commutation unit has a smaller on-resistance compared to cutout unit. The direct current circuit breaker topology of the present invention is novelty, concise, fully functional, easy to control and can flexible extend to apply to different voltage occasion. Through using power semiconductor switch module to cut off the current, It will have a quickly action, without generating electric arc, while the modular construction also reduces the consistency requirements of the power electronic component, and easy to realize the voltage-sharing of the power semiconductor in series, the capacitor included in the module also plays a role of limiting the current. Commutation circuit and cutout circuit through the full-bridge structure can realize the shunt, reduce the current stress of the power electronic component, and also reduce the component cost.

Current flowing through a load is monitored by a transformer (Tr1) having a small mutual inductance. The secondary coil is shorted through a rectifier circuit to deliver a charge which, in a first preferred embodiment, is connected to a log charge translator circuit comprising matching diodes (D9, D7 and D10, D8) and a capacitor (C2) to provide a capacitor voltage proportional to the log of the charge delivered through the rectifier circuit. The capacitor is reset after each measurement. In a modified embodiment, the log translator circuit comprises a pair of transistors (T1, T2) and a capacitor (C2). According to the preferred embodiments, two measurements of the capacitor voltage are taken each half cycle at a time determined by the absolute value of the line voltage. The measurements per half cycle are stored in words in a stack and processed through a three or five cycle algorithm for determining fluctuations which will cancel out disturbances caused by nuisance loads that are repetitive or continuously varying. In a described embodiment, a pushdown stack of 60 words is used with fluctuations compared by a microcontroller to a selected limit. Measurements for the last half second of measurements are considered, ignoring the first and last measurement, and when the sum of the fluctuations exceeds the selected limit an arc is indicated and a circuit interrupter is tripped. A self test button is connected to the microcontroller which, when depressed, results in charging of the capacitor to stimulate the detection of an arc.

Provided is a protective element which can be applied to reflow mounting and can ensure good responsiveness to current interruption operation even if the liquid phase point or the solid phase point of solder used is higher than a mounting temperature. A protective element wherein a resilient member (20) is bonded through solder (21) to a second conductor (15) and conduction electrode terminals (16, 17) formed on a predetermined substrate (11) in order to divide a conduction passage into a plurality of current interruption parts. The solder (21) has a liquid phase point higher than the mounting temperature when the protective element is mounted on a protection object apparatus. The resilient member (20) is soldered to the second conductor (15) and the conduction electrode terminals (16, 17) while holding stress of such a degree as the resilient member is separated from at least one of the second conductor (15) and the conduction electrode terminals (16, 17) by being deformed even under such a state where the solder (21) does not melt completely.

The invention provides a circuit breaker used in a distribution system, comprising a circuit breaker loop which comprises an overload release, a magnetic release system, a main contact, an auxiliary contact and an operation mechanism, wherein the operation mechanism is used for controlling the closure or cutting off of the main contact and the auxiliary contact under the conditions of the normal working and the overload fault. The circuit breaker also comprises an electronic release accessory loop comprising a selective resistor and an electronic release which are connected in series, wherein the selective resistor and the electronic release are connected with an input circuit part connected to the first electrode of the circuit breaker in series and at least comprising the main contact and the magnetic release system in parallel. Under the condition of a short-circuit fault, the main contact is cut off under the pushing of the magnetic release system so that short-circuit current passes through the auxiliary contact, the selective resistor and the electronic release, the electronic release selectively controls the operation mechanism according to the elimination of the short-circuit fault in the preset delay time, and furthermore, the operation mechanism controls the main contact and the auxiliary contact to carry out corresponding closing or cutting-off operation.

A circuit breaker is disclosed that has a neutral lock-out mechanism that prevents electrical connection between a power source and a load when a neutral rail is disconnected from the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a line connector, a load connector and a plug-on neutral line connector. A trip mechanism has an on position allowing electrical connection between the line connector and the load connector. The trip mechanism has a tripped position interrupting electrical connection between the line connector and the load connector in response to detection of a fault condition such as a short circuit. The trip mechanism also has an off position which is required before resetting the trip mechanism to the on position. A trip link is coupled to the trip mechanism. The trip link has a first position that prevents the trip mechanism from being reset to the on position. The trip link has a second position allowing the trip mechanism to be reset to the on position. A neutral lock mechanism is coupled to the plug-on neutral line connector. The neutral lock mechanism has a tension spring that retains the trip link in the first position when the neutral rail is disconnected from the neutral line connector. When the neutral rail is inserted into the neutral line connector, the tension spring is compressed and the trip link may move to the second position allowing the circuit breaker to be reset.

A battery disconnect includes a housing, battery and load terminals, separable contacts electrically connected between the battery and load terminals, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the contacts, and a manual operator cooperating with the operating mechanism to open and close the contacts. A current sensor is structured to sense current flowing between the battery and load terminals. A circuit cooperates with the current sensor and the operating mechanism to trip open the contacts responsive to arc fault, overload and short circuit conditions associated with the sensed current. The circuit includes a first input structured to receive a remote on / off signal and a second input structured to receive an inhibit signal. The circuit cooperates with the operating mechanism to open and close the contacts responsive to the on / off signal, and to inhibit detection of the arc fault, overload and short circuit conditions responsive to the inhibit signal.

The present is directed to a protective device that includes a separator portion disposed between a back body member and a front cover portion. The separator portion includes a reset pin aperture accessible via a first major surface facing the front cover and a reset pin guide portion disposed on an opposite second major surface facing the back body member. The device further includes a latch block assembly having a central latch block portion configured to accommodate a reset pin and a latching element. The central latch block portion includes an open side configured to accommodate the reset pin guide portion. The reset pin is substantially prevented from exiting the central latch block portion via the open side by the reset pin guide portion.

The invention relates to a compact and tiny multifunctional fire-proof and electric leakage-proof safety plug, which comprises an electromagnetic tripping device and a multifunctional protection auxiliary circuit which are arranged on a substrate. A movable iron core, all the tripping coils sleeved on the movable iron core and a framework are arranged on the substrate, an insulation board is fixedly arranged on the central position of a movable contact plate, and a permanent magnet is fixedly arranged on a position where the insulation board can be sucked with a static iron core on a plug shell. When a load end of the plug has the faults such as overload, over voltage, electricity leakage, short circuit and / or overheating in the plug and the like, the protection circuit controls the tripping device to automatically and rapidly trip to cut off a power supply. When the safety plug normally works, as long as a loop leakage current exceeds 5 to 10mA, the power supply can be cut off within25ms to obviously improve outage speed and sensitivity and have good function of protecting low-current domestic appliances and handheld electric tools. The safety plug is a small-sized fire-proof andelectric leakage-proof protection device having reliable fire proofing performance.