1359results about "Switching device condition indication" patented technology

A circuit breaker having internal power monitoring and data signal generating apparatus, and a system for utilizing such a circuit breaker in a facility having a plurality of tenants served by branch circuits from a plurality of distribution panels. The circuit breaker radiates signals indicative of power consumption of the branch circuit protected thereby, together with a unique address identifier tied to one tenant. Electrical billings are based on summing all signals for each tenant. Changes to branch circuits during tenancy will not disturb correct billings since individual circuit breakers are associated with that tenant using power supplied by each branch circuit. Hence changes to branch circuits may be limited to modify building space locations served by the modified branch circuit, and need not be further modified to maintain correct billing in light of the circuit changes.

A circuit breaker (such as a miniature circuit breaker) that wirelessly communicates state and fault information to a main energy monitoring module. The wireless circuit breaker includes a transceiver and a power supply that harvests energy inductively from the line current conductor without the need for a connection to a neutral conductor. The wireless circuit breaker can be implemented in the same package as existing circuit breakers, eliminating the need to replace the panel when upgrading to a system that employs a main energy monitoring module. The wireless circuit breaker can also include an energy storage device for supplying power to the circuit breaker after it has tripped, allowing the circuit breaker to transmit information after a trip. The main energy monitoring module includes a processor and a gateway for evaluating and transmitting information received from the circuit breaker to other applications, such as webpages and smartphones.

A circuit breaker with a thermal / magnetic trip device incorporates a monitor that senses the temperature of the bimetal and the amplitude of the load current to distinguish between a thermal and a magnetic trip. If the temperature of the bimetal is above a selected value when the circuit breaker trips, a “THERMAL” trip light emitting diode (LED) is energized, while a high load current at the time of a trip lights a “MAG” trip LED. The monitor also energizes an “ARC” LED in response to an arc fault signal from an AFCI at the time of trip, or a “GRD” LED in response to a ground fault trip. If a trip sensor, which monitors load voltage does not detect opening of the circuit breaker contacts when an arc fault or ground fault signal is generated, the corresponding LED is flashed to indicate the failure to trip. The monitor also has a “SURGE” LED to indicate a voltage surge in the protected distribution system as detected by a surge detector built into the circuit breaker. The trip and surge indications can be communicated to a remote location.

A circuit breaker configured to be remotely operated by a controller is disclosed. The circuit breaker includes a set of main contacts, an operating mechanism, a remotely operable drive system configured to open and close the main contacts separate from actuation of the operating mechanism, and a control circuit in operable communication with the main contacts. The drive system includes a motor, and a primary drive responsive to the motor and in operable communication to open and close the main contacts. The control circuit indicates a closed main contact state in response to the operating mechanism being in an on position and the main contacts being closed, and an open main contact state in response to the operating mechanism being in an on position and the main contacts being held open via the drive system.

An electrical wiring device includes a housing, and a circuit protection component and a light source operably mounted within the housing. In various aspects, the circuit protection component is a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) or an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI). The light source can function to provide increased illumination in an environment surrounding the electrical wiring device (e.g., a darkened bathroom or a darkened kitchen), or to indicate the status of the circuit protection component (e.g., tripped or normal). The light source may be one or more LEDs, neon sources, incandescent sources, etc. Embodiments of the invention include, in addition, a sensor for controlling the on / off state of the light source and / or a trip indicator separate from the light Source for indicating a status condition of the circuit protection component. The device is illustratively represented by a grounded plug receptacle, but may be embodied in a switch, a dimmer, or other application device.

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.

A circuit breaker configured to be remotely operated by a controller is disclosed. The circuit breaker includes a set of main contacts, an operating mechanism, a remotely operable drive system configured to open and close the main contacts separate from actuation of the operating mechanism, and a control circuit in operable communication with the main contacts. The drive system includes a motor, and a primary drive responsive to the motor and in operable communication to open and close the main contacts. The control circuit indicates a closed main contact state in response to the operating mechanism being in an on position and the main contacts being closed, and an open main contact state in response to the operating mechanism being in an on position and the main contacts being held open via the drive system.

A circuit breaker having an external trip indicator, having a circuit breaker housing, a trip mechanism within the housing, sensing a trip condition and being responsive thereto to mechanically break an electrical circuit, an indicator, having a selectively operable retaining mechanism and being biased outward from the circuit breaker housing, and a linkage, sensing a trip condition of the trip mechanism and selectively releasing the selectively operable retaining mechanism to allow the indicator to move outwardly from the housing. The external trip indicator is operated by sensing an overcurrent condition with the trip mechanism, breaking the electric circuit in response to the overcurrent, sensing a mechanical movement of the trip mechanism, and thereby releasing a positional restraint on the mechanical indicator; and allowing the mechanical indicator to protrude from the housing. The external trip indicator is reset by first resetting the trip mechanism and then displacing the mechanical indicator into the housing.

A circuit breaker is disclosed that has a bi-stable display that maintains an indication of a fault condition after power is interrupted to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a microcontroller that receives power derived from a line current that passes through the circuit breaker or the line voltage when the circuit breaker is in an on state. The bi-stable display is electrically coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller. A tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to detection of a fault condition. The tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to receiving a trip signal from the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed to modify the bi-stable display when sending the trip signal to the electronic switching device. The bi-stable display shows an indication of one of the several fault types that would have caused the circuit breaker to trip. The bi-stable display continues to display the fault-type indication after the circuit breaker has tripped and power is interrupted to the microcontroller.

Maintenance trip functions override the normal or specified trip functions of a low voltage circuit breaker to reduce pickup currents and / or time delays to effect faster trips, which reduces arc energy produced by faults during maintenance or testing on a live circuit breaker.

A device and system for the wireless communication with a circuit breaker is provided which allows for obtaining data associated with a circuit breaker to quickly and easily access information associated with the trip event. The circuit breaker contains an electronic module which is configured to record and transmit data associated with the circuit using wireless technology.

A monitoring latch assembly structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly operating mechanism component characteristics is provided. The monitoring latch assembly includes a latch member and a sensor assembly. The latch member includes a body. The latch member body defines a pocket. The sensor assembly is disposed in the latch member body pocket.

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) device with self-test function includes: hot and neutral conducting circuits; an fault detection circuit responsive to a fault in the hot and neutral conducting circuits to generate a fault detection signal; a signal driving circuit responsive to the fault detection signal to generate a drive signal; a disconnecting mechanism for disconnecting electrical connections in the hot and the neutral conducting circuits when the drive signal exceeds a predetermined level; a self-test circuit for generating a self-test signal according to a predetermined time period and when an alternating current of the power source passes zero points, generating an evaluation result based on the self-test signal and a feedback signal of a fault detection signal corresponding to the self-test signal, and generating error signals if the evaluation result indicates a circuit error; and a device-state indicator circuit for generating alarms based on the error signals.

A device and system for the wireless communication with a circuit breaker is provided which allows for obtaining data associated with a circuit breaker to quickly and easily access information associated with the trip event. The circuit breaker contains an electronic module which is configured to record and transmit data associated with the circuit using wireless technology.

A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism opening and closing the contacts, a first processor determining an open or closed state of the contacts, and a wireless transceiver transmitting the open or closed state from the first processor and receiving a signal. A first accessory includes a wireless receiver, a second processor and outputs. A second accessory includes a wireless transmitter, a third processor and a circuit generating the signal for or communicating the signal to the third processor, which outputs the signal to the wireless transmitter, which transmits the signal to the wireless transceiver. The first processor receives the signal from the wireless transceiver and causes the mechanism to open or close the contacts. The wireless receiver receives the open or closed state from the wireless transceiver. The second processor receives the open or closed state from the wireless receiver and outputs the same to the outputs.

The invention includes: an overload indicator comprising a thermal monitor for use in indicating the thermo-magnetic release to drop out at the time of overload and triggering the overload indicator to show the reason of drop out is caused by overload; a short circuit indicator comprising an electro-magnetic monitor for use in indicating the thermo magnetic release to drop out at the time of short circuit failure and triggering the short circuit indicator to show the reason of drop out is caused by short circuit.

In an electrical distribution system including a solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) and one or more downstream mechanical circuit breakers (CBs), a solid-state switching device in the SSCB is repeatedly switched ON and OFF during a short circuit event, to reduce a root-mean-square (RMS) value of the short circuit current. The resulting pulsed short circuit current is regulated in a hysteresis control loop, to limit the RMS to a value low enough to prevent the SSCB from tripping prematurely but high enough to allow one of the downstream mechanical CBs to trip and isolate the short circuit. Pulsing is allowed to continue for a maximum short circuit pulsing time. Only if none of the downstream mechanical CBs is able to trip to isolate the short circuit within the maximum short circuit pulsing time is the SSCB allowed to trip.

The invention discloses a spring operating mechanism for a breaker to solve the current problem. The mechanism comprises a frame, an energy-storing electric engine, an energy-storing transmission system, a switching-in mechanism, a switching-out mechanism; the energy-storing transmission system comprises a gear pair and a chain wheel pair; the switching-in mechanism comprises a switching-in electromagnet and a switching-in quantum; the switching-in electromagnet is provided at side end of the switching-in quantum; the switching-in quantum is rotatably installed on a support shaft; the switching-in quantum is connected with a cam; the switching-out mechanism comprises a switching-out electromagnet, a tripping board and a switching-in holding quantum; the switching-out electromagnet is provided at the side end of the tripping board, the tripping board is connected with a half shaft, the switching-in holding quantum is rotatably installed on the support shaft; the switching-in holding quantum is connected with the half shaft; the half shaft, the support shaft and the energy-storing transmission system are supported by a left side board and a right side plate which are connected to a frame through the shaft. The invention has simple and compact structure, less components, perfect functions, high reliability, small volume, light weight, convenient maintenance and integrated operation buttons and state indicating distribution.

A mid-trip stop circuit breaker, having a handle, adapted for displacement about an axis of rotation between a first position and a second position, the handle being linked to a member whose position corresponds to a rotation position of the handle, a spring urging the handle toward the second position; a stop surface, displaceably supported in relation to the axis of rotation, the stop surface being selectively disposed along a path of the member at a middle position of a transition path from the first position to the second position, and being adapted to engage the member and counter a force of the spring, to retain the handle in the middle position of the transition path, such that a sufficient manual force applied to the handle when retained at the middle position of the transition path will displace the stop surface, allowing the handle to achieve the second position, while in an absence of the sufficient manual force and under influence of the spring alone, the stop surface impedes displacement of the handle and retains it in the middle of the transition path.

An apparatus for use with a control assembly including a power source and a circuit disconnector located on a first side of a planar member forming an opening, the disconnector including a first mechanical linkage having open and closed positions, the apparatus for manipulating the mechanical linkage between the open and closed positions and visually indicating on a second side of the planar member at least a first state of the control assembly when the first state occurs, the apparatus including a handle assembly including a handle member moveable between at least first and second positions and positioned on the second side of the planar member adjacent the opening, an extension member rigidly connected to and extending from the handle member through the opening and forming a second mechanical linkage at a distal end that is linkable with the first mechanical linkage on the first side of the planar member, the extension member moving the first mechanical linkage between the closed and open positions when the handle is moved between the first and second positions, respectively and at least a first light emitter positioned on the second side of the planar member, and at least a first contact linkable between the power source and the first light emitter that closes to provide power to the first light emitter when the first state occurs.

The present invention teaches an overvoltage protection device that includes at least one non-linear resistance element and a single cut-off device coupled with the at least one non-linear resistance element to disable the at least one non-linear resistance element when the at least one non-linear resistance element reaches a pre-determined temperature. The single cut-off device may include stranded wire, a first solder having a first melting point connecting the stranded wire to the at least one non-linear resistance element, and a second solder having a second melting point, higher than the first melting point, connecting the stranded wire to the at least one non-linear resistance element. The single cut-off device may further include a shifting part that shifts when the at least one non-linear resistance element heats the first solder to the first melting point. In other particular embodiments, the overvoltage protection device may further include a status indicator configured to be moved by the single cut-off device to indicate one of at least two conditions of the at least one non-linear resistance element. The status indicator may include a lever, and the single cut-off device moves the lever to indicate the one of at least two conditions of the at least one non-linear resistance element.

An electrical switching apparatus, such as an aircraft circuit breaker or an aerospace circuit breaker, is for a corresponding aircraft or aerospace panel including a first aperture and a second aperture. The circuit breaker includes a status, such as a health status or trip status, a housing adapted to be coupled to the panel, separable contacts and an operating mechanism adapted to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes an operating handle adapted to pass through the first panel aperture and a light indicator adapted to be disposed through the second panel aperture to indicate the status of the circuit breaker.

A circuit breaker includes a breaker enclosure, a plurality of conductor connections, and a temperature sensor. The breaker enclosure contains internal components that include a trip unit. The plurality of conductor connections electrically couple the trip unit to a plurality of power conductors. The temperature sensor is located to sense heat radiated by the conductor connections and is positioned inside the enclosure.

A plug-in unit includes a breaker electrically connected with a busbar at a power supply side and an electric device electrically connected with the breaker. Joint surfaces making contact with each other are formed at the breaker and the electric device, respectively. The breaker includes a terminal metal fitting connecting the busbar thereto and a plug-in terminal metal fitting installed at the joint surface of the breaker, and the electric device includes a plug terminal, which is installed at the joint surface thereof and capable of being connected with the plug-in terminal metal fitting. The breaker is detachably joined with the electric device by an engaging member including an engaging unit and an engagement receiving unit. The engaging unit and the engagement receiving unit are installed at the joint surfaces of the breaker and the electric device, respectively, and detachably engaged with each other.

The invention discloses a dynamic type leakage circuit breaker, which comprises a leakage circuit breaker main body which is provided with an operation handle and a dynamic type drive mechanism which is used for driving the operation handle. The dynamic type drive mechanism comprises a motor, an eccentric wheel and a buffer type drive rod component, and the eccentric wheel is arranged on an output shaft of the motor; one end of the buffer type drive rod component is connected with the eccentric wheel, and the other end is connected with the operation handle. The invention has the advantages of simple structure and lower cost, and overcomes the defect that the operation handle of a traditional dynamic type leakage circuit breaker is damaged because of excessive force.

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.