Circuit breaker communication unit and circuit breaker

Abstract

To provide a communication unit of a circuit breaker capable of outputting information indicating an open / closed state of the circuit breaker by wireless communication without using power from a power supply circuit that generates a power supply voltage from a current flowing through an electric circuit.SOLUTION: A communication unit 1 of a circuit breaker 100 includes an actuator 21 that operates in accordance with opening and closing operation of switching contacts by a switching mechanism section 3 that opens and closes the switching contacts, and a control circuit 11 that detects the operation of the actuator 21 and transmits state information indicating a state of the circuit breaker 100 by wireless communication. The control circuit 11 has an active mode for wirelessly transmitting to an outside, and a sleep mode for reducing power consumption, shifts from the sleep mode to the active mode and transmits information indicating the state of the circuit breaker 100 when the operation of the actuator 21 is detected, and shifts from the active mode to the sleep mode after transmitting the information indicating the state of the circuit breaker 100.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a communication unit for a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, there has been an increasing demand for the construction of IoT (Internet of Things) systems that monitor equipment for preventive maintenance purposes in the power infrastructure of factories, buildings, etc. Against this background, wireless communication devices with functions such as sensors or I / O (Input / Output) have been attracting attention.

[0003] For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a circuit breaker having the above-mentioned wireless communication device function, which includes a current detection circuit for detecting current, a voltage detection circuit for detecting voltage, a control unit for calculating voltage information, current information, and power information as energization information from the detection results of the current detection circuit and the voltage detection circuit, and a communication unit for transmitting the energization information. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2009-5564 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 is not a technology for outputting information indicating the state of the open / close contacts provided in the circuit breaker via wireless communication.The communication unit disclosed in Patent Document 1 operates using power supplied from a power supply circuit that generates a power supply voltage from the current flowing in the electrical circuit, so the technology disclosed in Patent Document 1 requires a power line between the power supply circuit and the communication unit.

[0006] The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a communication unit for a circuit breaker that can output information indicating the open / closed state of the circuit breaker via wireless communication without using power from a power supply circuit that generates a power supply voltage from the current flowing in an electrical circuit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems and achieve the object, the communication unit of the circuit breaker according to the present disclosure includes a first actuator that operates in conjunction with the opening and closing operation of the opening and closing contacts by a switching mechanism that opens and closes the opening and closing contacts; Battery power is supplied, a control circuit that detects that the first actuator has been operated and transmits status information indicating the status of the circuit breaker via wireless communication; a trip detection switch that operates when the open / close contact is tripped; The control circuit has an active mode in which it wirelessly transmits information to the outside and a sleep mode in which it reduces power consumption, and when it detects that the first actuator has operated, it switches from the sleep mode to the active mode and transmits information indicating the state of the circuit breaker, and after transmitting the information indicating the state of the circuit breaker, it switches from the active mode to the sleep mode. When the control circuit detects that the first actuator has been operated, it applies a voltage to the trip detection switch and detects the state of the trip detection switch. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] The communication unit of the circuit breaker according to the present disclosure has the advantage of being able to output information indicating the open / closed state of the circuit breaker via wireless communication without using power from a power supply circuit that generates a power supply voltage from the current flowing in the electrical circuit. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a relationship between a circuit breaker and a communication unit according to a first embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a communication unit according to a first embodiment; [Figure 3] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electric circuit in a communication unit according to a first embodiment; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of a control circuit included in a communication unit according to a first embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a processing circuit when the function of a control circuit included in a communication unit according to a first embodiment is realized by the processing circuit; [Figure 6] FIG. 1 is a diagram showing the relationship between the state of a trip detection switch, the state of an open / close detection switch, and the state of a circuit breaker according to the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment when the circuit breaker is in an on state. [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment when the circuit breaker is in a tripped state. [Figure 9] FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating an internal configuration of a circuit breaker according to a first embodiment when the circuit breaker is in an off state. [Figure 10] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of an interrupt process performed by a control circuit included in the communication unit according to the first embodiment; [Figure 11] Block diagram of a communication unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 12] FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating an example of an electric circuit in a communication unit according to a second embodiment. [Figure 13] 10 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a procedure of an interrupt process performed by a control circuit included in a communication unit according to a second embodiment; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, a communication unit for a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker according to an embodiment will be described in detail with reference to the drawings.

[0011] Embodiment 1 Fig. 1 is a diagram illustrating an example of the relationship between a circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment and a communication unit 1. As shown in Fig. 1, the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment includes a switching contact 2, a switching mechanism unit 3 that performs the switching operation of the switching contact 2, and a trip device 4 that causes the switching mechanism unit 3 to perform a trip operation.

[0012] The switching contacts 2 include a movable contact and a fixed contact, and the movable contact and the fixed contact are brought into contact and separated by the switching mechanism 3. When the movable contact and the fixed contact come into contact, the switching contact 2 is closed, and the electric circuit 5 is closed. When the movable contact and the fixed contact are separated, the switching contact 2 is opened, and the electric circuit 5 is opened. The electric circuit 5 shown in FIG. 1 is a three-phase electric circuit having electric circuits 51, 52, and 53 of U, V, and W phases. The electric circuit 5 may be a single-phase electric circuit or another electric circuit.

[0013] A storage area 6 is formed in the circuit breaker 100, and a communication unit 1 is detachably disposed in the storage area 6. The communication unit 1 is a communication unit of the circuit breaker 100. When the state of the circuit breaker 100 changes, the communication unit 1 transmits state information indicating the state of the circuit breaker 100 to an external device via wireless communication. The state of the circuit breaker 100 is either an off state, an on state, or a trip state.

[0014] The communication unit 1 is one of several types of cassette accessory devices that can be removably attached to the storage area 6 of the circuit breaker 100. In addition to the communication unit 1, the cassette accessory devices include an auxiliary switch, an alarm switch, a voltage tripping device, and the like.

[0015] The communication unit 1 can provide wireless communication functionality to the circuit breaker 100, regardless of whether it is an existing circuit breaker 100 or a newly installed circuit breaker 100, as long as the circuit breaker 100 has a storage area 6 in which cassette accessory devices can be freely attached and detached.

[0016] The auxiliary switch is a cassette accessory device including a switch for electrically outputting information indicating the open / closed state of the open / close contacts 2. The alarm switch is a cassette accessory device including a switch for electrically outputting information indicating whether the circuit breaker 100 is in a tripped state. The voltage release device is a cassette accessory device for electrically tripping the circuit breaker 100 from a remote location.

[0017] The communication unit 1 is not limited to a cassette accessory device, but may be incorporated into the circuit breaker 100 so that it cannot be removed, or may be removably placed in a dedicated area separate from the storage area 6 in which auxiliary switches, alarm switches, voltage tripping devices, etc. are removably placed.

[0018] The circuit breaker 100 is provided between a power supply and a load. When a current flowing through an electric circuit 5 between the power supply and the load satisfies a preset condition, the tripping device 4 of the circuit breaker 100 causes the switching mechanism unit 3 to perform a tripping operation that changes the state of the switching contacts 2 from a closed state to an open state. When the tripping operation is performed, the circuit breaker 100 enters a tripped state.

[0019] For example, if the circuit breaker 100 is a molded case circuit breaker, the tripping device 4 causes the switching mechanism unit 3 to perform a tripping operation to change the state of the switching contacts 2 from a closed state to an open state when an overcurrent or short-circuit current flows in the electric circuit 5. If the circuit breaker 100 is an earth leakage circuit breaker, the tripping device 4 causes the switching mechanism unit 3 to perform a tripping operation to change the state of the switching contacts 2 from a closed state to an open state when an overcurrent, short-circuit current or leakage current flows in the electric circuit 5.

[0020] The state of the circuit breaker 100 changes from the on state to the off state when the switching mechanism unit 3 changes the state of the switching contacts 2 from the closed state to the open state, and changes from the off state to the on state when the switching mechanism unit 3 changes the state of the switching contacts 2 from the open state to the closed state. When the circuit breaker 100 is in the on state, the switching mechanism unit 3 has caused the switching contacts 2 to be in the closed state, and when the circuit breaker 100 is in the off state, the switching mechanism unit 3 has caused the switching contacts 2 to be in the open state.

[0021] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the communication unit 1 according to the first embodiment. FIG. 2 also shows a circuit breaker 100. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an example of an electric circuit in the communication unit 1 according to the first embodiment. As shown in FIG. 2, the communication unit 1 has a battery 10, a control circuit 11, a wireless communication unit 13, a trip detection switch 14, an open / close detection switch 15, circuit boards 18 and 19, and actuators 20 and 21. The battery 10, the control circuit 11, and the wireless communication unit 13 are mounted on the circuit board 18. The trip detection switch 14 and the open / close detection switch 15 are mounted on the circuit board 19.

[0022] The control circuit 11 has a first input port 11X and a second input port 11Y. The control circuit 11 detects that the actuator 21 has operated and transmits status information indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100 via wireless communication. The control circuit 11 has an active mode in which it transmits information wirelessly to the outside and a sleep mode in which it reduces power consumption. When the control circuit 11 detects that the actuator 21 has operated, it transitions from the sleep mode to the active mode and transmits information indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100, and after transmitting the information indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100, it transitions from the active mode to the sleep mode.

[0023] The trip detection switch 14 operates in response to tripping of the on-off contact 2. When the control circuit 11 detects that the actuator 21 has operated, it applies a voltage to the trip detection switch 14 and detects the state of the trip detection switch 14.

[0024] As shown in Figure 3, one end of the open / close detection switch 15 is connected to one end of the resistor 17 and the first input port 11X, and the other end of the open / close detection switch 15 is connected to the ground, which is the negative side of the battery 10. The other end of the resistor 17 is connected to the power supply, which is the positive side of the battery 10. One end of the trip detection switch 14 is connected to one end of the resistor 16 and the second input port 11Y, and the other end of the trip detection switch 14 is connected to the ground. The other end of the resistor 16 is connected to the power supply.

[0025] The direction of change of the state of the circuit breaker 100 includes, for example, a direction from an OFF state or a tripped state to an ON state, and a direction from an ON state to an OFF state or a tripped state.

[0026] The control circuit 11 operates by receiving power from the battery 10. The control circuit 11 reads the state of the trip detection switch 14 through a second input port 11Y and reads the state of the open / close detection switch 15 through a first input port 11X. The read state information indicating the state of the circuit breaker 100 is transmitted to an external device by wireless communication via the wireless communication unit 13. The wireless communication unit 13 supports, for example, a short-range wireless communication method such as BLE (Bluetooth (registered trademark) Low Energy) or a wireless LAN (Local Area Network) communication method such as Wi-Fi (registered trademark), but the state information may be transmitted by a wireless communication method other than these wireless communication methods.

[0027] Next, a hardware configuration of the control circuit 11 will be described. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing an example of the hardware configuration of the control circuit 11 included in the communication unit 1 according to the first embodiment. The example configuration shown in Fig. 4 is an example of a configuration in which the control circuit 11 is realized by a processing circuit 60 having a processor 62 and a memory 63. Fig. 4 also shows an input / output port 61 and a communication unit 64.

[0028] The processor 62 is a CPU (Central Processing Unit). The processor 62 may be an arithmetic unit, a microprocessor, a microcomputer, or a DSP (Digital Signal Processor). The memory 63 is, for example, a RAM (Random Access Memory), a ROM (Read Only Memory), a flash memory, an EPROM (Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory), or an EEPROM (Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory).

[0029] The memory 63 stores a data management program including a program for operating the control circuit 11. The processor 62 reads and executes the data management program to realize the processing of the control circuit 11. The data management program stored in the memory 63 may be provided in a state written on a storage medium such as a CD (Compact Disc)-ROM or a DVD (Digital Versatile Disc)-ROM, or may be provided via a communication line.

[0030] The processing of the control circuit 11 may be realized by a dedicated processing circuit instead of the processor 62 and the memory 63. FIG. 5 is a diagram showing a processing circuit 99 when the functions of the control circuit 11 included in the communication unit 1 according to the first embodiment are realized by the processing circuit 99. The processing circuit 99 is a dedicated processing circuit. That is, the functions of the control circuit 11 may be realized by the processing circuit 99. The processing circuit 99 is a single circuit, a composite circuit, an ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit), an FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array), or a circuit combining these. Note that some of the functions of the control circuit 11 may be realized by the processor 62 and the memory 63, and the remaining functions of the control circuit 11 may be realized by the processing circuit 99.

[0031] The memory 63 has a function of storing various information. The input / output port 61 has a function of an input port for reading the states of the open / close detection switch 15 and the trip detection switch 14, and a function of an output port. The communication unit 64 performs data communication with the wireless communication unit 13 and causes the wireless communication unit 13 to perform wireless transmission.

[0032] The state of the trip detection switch 14 is on when the circuit breaker 100 is not in a tripped state, and is off when the circuit breaker 100 is in a tripped state. The state of the open / close detection switch 15 is off when the circuit breaker 100 is in an on state, and is on when the circuit breaker 100 is in an off state or in a tripped state.

[0033] Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the relationship between the state of the trip detection switch 14, the state of the open / close detection switch 15, and the state of the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment. As shown in Fig. 6, when the trip detection switch 14 is in the on state and the open / close detection switch 15 is in the off state, the state of the circuit breaker 100 is the on state. When the trip detection switch 14 is in the off state and the open / close detection switch 15 is in the on state, the state of the circuit breaker 100 is the tripped state.

[0034] When the trip detection switch 14 is in the on state and the open / close detection switch 15 is in the on state, the state of the circuit breaker 100 is the off state. In the circuit breaker 100, the trip detection switch 14 and the open / close detection switch 15 never enter the off state at the same time.

[0035] Fig. 7 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment when the circuit breaker 100 is in an on state. Fig. 8 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment when the circuit breaker 100 is in a tripped state. Fig. 9 is a diagram showing the internal configuration of the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment when the circuit breaker 100 is in an off state. Figs. 7, 8, and 9 schematically show the internal configuration of the circuit breaker 100.

[0036] 7 to 9, the circuit breaker 100 has a communication unit 1, a switching contact 2, a switching mechanism 3, and a trip device 4. The switching contact 2 has a movable contact 2a and a fixed contact 2b. The switching mechanism 3 has a movable contactor 30, a trip bar 31, and a crossbar 32. The movable contact 2a is attached to the tip end of the movable contactor 30. The base end of the movable contactor 30 is attached to the crossbar 32 so as to be rotatable around the axis of the crossbar 32.

[0037] The trip bar 31 is driven by the tripping device 4 when the current flowing in the electric circuit 5 between the power supply device and the load device satisfies a preset condition. When the trip bar 31 is driven, the action of the trip bar 31 causes the switching mechanism 3 to perform a tripping operation, the state of the switching contacts 2 changes from a closed state to an open state, and the state of the circuit breaker 100 changes from an on state to a tripped state.

[0038] A movable contactor 30 is provided for each of the electric circuits 51, 52, and 53 shown in FIG. 1 . A crossbar 32 is attached to the movable contactor 30 provided for each of the electric circuits 51, 52, and 53. When the crossbar 32 rotates around its axis, the movable contactor 30 rotates, and contact and separation are performed between the movable contact 2a and the fixed contact 2b. A handle 7 provided on the circuit breaker 100 is connected to the crossbar 32, for example, via a handle arm (not shown), and the crossbar 32 rotates in response to rotation of the handle 7. The handle 7 is biased by a main spring (not shown). The biasing direction of the main spring changes depending on the rotation direction of the handle 7.

[0039] As shown in FIGS. 7 to 9, the communication unit 1 has a trip detection switch 14, an open / close detection switch 15, circuit boards 18 and 19, actuators 20 and 21, and a housing 22. The actuators 20 and 21 are rotatably supported in the housing 22. When the communication unit 1 is a cassette accessory device, the housing 22 is the case of the cassette accessory device. In FIGS. 7 to 9, the battery 10, the control circuit 11, and the wireless communication unit 13 are not shown. The actuator 21 is an example of a first actuator, and the actuator 20 is an example of a second actuator.

[0040] An intermediate portion of the actuator 20 is rotatably supported by the housing 22 of the communication unit 1. One end of the actuator 20 is disposed in a position facing the trip bar 31, and the other end of the actuator 20 is disposed in a position facing the trip detection switch 14. When the circuit breaker 100 is in the on state, the actuator 20 presses the trip detection switch 14. In other words, when the circuit breaker 100 is in the on state, the trip detection switch 14 is in the on state.

[0041] When the circuit breaker 100 performs a trip operation, one end of the actuator 20 is pressed by the trip bar 31, the actuator 20 rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 7 around the middle part of the actuator 20, and the other end of the actuator 20 moves away from the trip detection switch 14. This changes the state of the trip detection switch 14 from the on state to the off state.

[0042] The actuator 21 operates in accordance with the opening and closing operation of the open / close contacts 2 by the open / close mechanism 3. A middle portion of the actuator 21 is rotatably supported by the housing 22 of the communication unit 1. One end of the actuator 21 is disposed in a position facing the crossbar 32, and the other end of the actuator 21 is disposed in a position facing the open / close detection switch 15. When the circuit breaker 100 is in the on state, the other end of the actuator 21 is in a position that does not press the open / close detection switch 15. In other words, when the circuit breaker 100 is in the on state, the open / close detection switch 15 is in the off state.

[0043] When the user operates the handle 7 to operate the switching mechanism unit 3 and change the state of the circuit breaker 100 from the ON state shown in Fig. 7 to the OFF state shown in Fig. 9, the crossbar 32 of the switching mechanism unit 3 rotates clockwise in Fig. 7 when the circuit breaker 100 changes from the ON state to the OFF state. As a result, as shown in Fig. 9, the crossbar 32 presses the open / close detection switch 15, causing the open / close detection switch 15 to change from the OFF state to the ON state. Similarly, when the circuit breaker 100 performs a tripping operation, the crossbar 32 of the switching mechanism unit 3 rotates clockwise in Fig. 7, causing the crossbar 32 to press the open / close detection switch 15, causing the open / close detection switch 15 to change from the OFF state to the ON state.

[0044] When the circuit breaker 100 is in the OFF state shown in Fig. 9, when the user operates the handle 7 to operate the switching mechanism unit 3 and change the state of the circuit breaker 100 from the OFF state to the ON state, the crossbar 32 of the switching mechanism unit 3 rotates counterclockwise in Fig. 9. As a result, as shown in Fig. 7, the crossbar 32 moves away from the open / close detection switch 15, and the state of the open / close detection switch 15 changes from the ON state to the OFF state.

[0045] The control circuit 11 of the communication unit 1 operates on power from the battery 10, determines the state of the circuit breaker 100 based on the states of the trip detection switch 14 and the open / close detection switch 15, and transmits state information indicating the determined state of the circuit breaker 100 to an external device via wireless communication using the wireless communication unit 13. The wireless communication unit 13 operates on power from the battery 10, just like the control circuit 11.

[0046] Next, a flowchart will be used to explain the procedure of the operation performed by the control circuit 11 of the communication unit 1. Fig. 10 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the interrupt process performed by the control circuit 11 of the communication unit 1 according to the first embodiment.

[0047] In step S1, the control circuit 11 determines whether an interrupt has occurred due to the open / close detection switch 15 changing from off to on. That is, the control circuit 11 determines whether an interrupt has occurred due to the input to the first input port 11X changing from Hi to Lo. If the control circuit 11 determines that an interrupt has occurred (Yes in S1), it proceeds to step S2, and if it determines that an interrupt has not occurred (No in S1), it performs the operation of step S1. That is, if the control circuit 11 determines that an interrupt has not occurred (No in S1), it remains in a sleep mode in which power consumption is reduced and waits for an interrupt to occur.

[0048] In step S2, the operation mode of the control circuit 11 transitions from the sleep mode to the active mode, which prioritizes processing power. Since an interrupt has occurred at the first input port 11X, the control circuit 11 recognizes that the open / close detection switch 15 has changed from off to on.

[0049] In the next step S3, the control circuit 11 reads the state of the second input port 11Y and detects the state of the trip detection switch 14. In the next step S4, the control circuit 11 wirelessly transmits information indicating that the open / close detection switch 15 of the circuit breaker 100 is off and information indicating the state of the trip detection switch 14 detected in step S3 to the outside via the wireless communication unit 13. In Fig. 10, the operation of step S4 is indicated by the phrase "transmit circuit breaker state information."

[0050] In the next step S5, the operation mode of the control circuit 11 is changed from the active mode to a sleep mode in which power consumption is reduced, and the control circuit 11 performs the operation of step S1.

[0051] In the above example, the communication unit 1 outputs status information indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100 via wireless communication, but the communication unit 1 may also output information indicating the status of the trip detection switch 14 and the open / close detection switch 15 as status information via wireless communication. In other words, the communication unit 1 only needs to be able to transmit information directly or indirectly indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100 as status information. The communication unit 1 may also transmit information indicating one or two of the off state, on state, and trip state of the circuit breaker 100 as status information.

[0052] As described above, the communication unit 1 of the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment includes the actuator 21, the battery 10, the control circuit 11, and the wireless communication unit 13. The actuator 21 operates in accordance with the opening and closing operation of the switching contacts 2 by the switching mechanism unit 3 that opens and closes the switching contacts 2. The control circuit 11 and the wireless communication unit 13 are supplied with power from the battery 10 and transmit status information including information indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100. In other words, the communication unit 1 can output information indicating the open / closed state of the circuit breaker 100 via wireless communication without using power from a power supply circuit that generates a power supply voltage from the current flowing through the electrical circuit 5.

[0053] The communication unit 1 includes an actuator 21 that operates in response to the opening and closing operation of the switching contacts 2 by the switching mechanism 3 that opens and closes the switching contacts 2, and a control circuit 11 that detects that the actuator 21 has operated and transmits status information indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100 via wireless communication. The control circuit 11 has an active mode in which information is transmitted wirelessly to the outside, and a sleep mode in which the power consumption of the communication unit 1 is reduced. When the control circuit 11 detects that the actuator 21 has operated, it transitions from the sleep mode to the active mode and transmits information indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100, and after transmitting the information indicating the status of the circuit breaker 100, it transitions back to the sleep mode. This enables low power consumption of the communication unit 1, and the communication unit 1 can operate for a long period of time even when using power from the battery 10.

[0054] The signal from the open / close detection switch 15 is used as an interrupt to transition the control circuit 11 from sleep mode to active mode. Therefore, by checking the state of the trip detection switch 14 after the control circuit 11 transitions from sleep mode to active mode, it is possible to determine whether the operation of the circuit breaker 100 is due to manual operation or tripping, which leads to a reduction in the processing of the control circuit 11. Reducing the processing of the control circuit 11 can contribute to long-term operation of the communication unit 1.

[0055] The communication unit 1 has an actuator 21 as a first actuator and an actuator 20 as a second actuator that operates in conjunction with a trip operation of the circuit breaker 100. The communication unit 1 has a trip detection switch 14 that is driven by the actuator 20 when the actuator 20 operates to detect the trip operation. The wireless communication unit 13 determines the presence or absence of a trip operation as the state of the circuit breaker 100 based on the detection result of the trip detection switch 14. The state information includes information indicating the presence or absence of a trip operation determined by the wireless communication unit 13. This allows the communication unit 1 to output state information including information indicating the presence or absence of a trip operation. The communication unit 1 does not need to have an actuator 20. In this case, the state information does not include information indicating the presence or absence of a trip operation.

[0056] In the above example, an interrupt occurs only when the open / close detection switch 15 changes from off to on. However, an interrupt may also occur when the open / close detection switch 15 changes from off to on or from on to off, and the control circuit 11 then reads the state of the first input port 11X and detects whether the interrupt was caused by a change from on to off or from off to on. In this case, the wireless communication unit 13 can transmit information indicating the state of the circuit breaker 100 even when the open / close detection switch 15 changes from on to off.

[0057] In the above example, only the interrupt due to a change in the input state of the first input port 11X has been described. The control circuit 11 may also use a timer interrupt at predetermined intervals, for example, every 100 msec, to check the input states of the first input port 11X and the second input port 11Y. In this case, the control circuit 11 can more reliably detect the states of the trip detection switch 14 and the open / close detection switch 15.

[0058] Embodiment 2 In the first embodiment, the voltage of the battery 10 is applied to the control circuit 11 via the resistor 16 to detect the trip detection switch 14, just as with the open / close detection switch 15. The communication unit 1A of the circuit breaker 100A according to the second embodiment differs from the communication unit 1 of the circuit breaker 100 according to the first embodiment in that, when detecting the trip detection switch 14, a Hi output is made from the output port 11Z of the control circuit 11A. In the following, components having the same functions as those of the first embodiment are given the same reference numerals and their description is omitted, and the differences from the communication unit 1 of the first embodiment will be mainly described.

[0059] Fig. 11 is a block diagram of a communication unit 1A according to embodiment 2. Fig. 12 is a diagram showing an example of an electric circuit in the communication unit 1A according to embodiment 2. As shown in Fig. 11, an output is sent from an output port 11Z of the control circuit 11A to the trip detection switch 14.

[0060] As shown in FIG. 12, the first input port 11X, the open / close detection switch 15, and the resistor 17 are the same as those in the first embodiment, and therefore detailed description thereof will be omitted.

[0061] One end of the trip detection switch 14 is connected to the output port 11Z of the control circuit 11A, and the other end of the trip detection switch 14 is connected to the second input port 11Y and one end of a resistor 16a, the other end of which is connected to ground.

[0062] When control circuit 11A detects the state of trip detection switch 14, it outputs a Hi pulse from output port 11Z, and when output port 11Z is in the Hi state, it reads the state of second input port 11Y. If trip detection switch 14 is off, Lo is input to second input port 11Y via grounded resistor 16a, and if trip detection switch 14 is on, the Hi output of output port 11Z is applied to trip detection switch 14, so that Hi is input to second input port 11Y.

[0063] Next, the process performed by the control circuit 11A of the communication unit 1A will be described with reference to a flowchart. Fig. 13 is a flowchart showing an example of the procedure of the interrupt process performed by the control circuit 11A of the communication unit 1A according to the second embodiment.

[0064] In step S11, the control circuit 11A determines whether an interrupt has occurred due to the open / close detection switch 15 changing from off to on, i.e., an interrupt due to the input to the first input port 11X changing from Hi to Lo, or an interrupt has occurred due to the open / close detection switch 15 changing from on to off, i.e., an interrupt due to the input to the first input port 11X changing from Lo to Hi. If the control circuit 11A determines that an interrupt has occurred (Yes in S11), it proceeds to step S12, and if it determines that an interrupt has not occurred (No in S11), it performs the operation of step S11. In other words, if the control circuit 11A determines that an interrupt has not occurred (No in S11), it waits for an interrupt to occur while remaining in a sleep mode in which power consumption is reduced.

[0065] In step S12, the operation mode of the control circuit 11A shifts from the sleep mode to the active mode, which prioritizes processing capacity. In the next step S13, the control circuit 11A reads the state of the open / close detection switch 15 and identifies whether the current interrupt processing is due to the open / close detection switch 15 changing from off to on or from on to off.

[0066] In the next step S14, the control circuit 11A outputs a Hi signal from the output port 11Z to detect the state of the trip detection switch 14. In FIG. 13, the operation of step S14 is indicated by the phrase "trip detection switch pulse output." In the next step S15, the control circuit 11A reads the state of the second input port 11Y and detects the state of the trip detection switch 14. If the input to the second input port 11Y is Lo, the state of the trip detection switch 14 is off, and if the input to the second input port 11Y is Hi, the state of the trip detection switch 14 is on. After reading the state of the second input port 11Y, the control circuit 11A outputs a Lo signal from the output port 11Z to suppress the current flowing through resistor 16a.

[0067] In the next step S16, the control circuit 11A wirelessly transmits information indicating the state of the open / close detection switch 15 detected in step S13 and information indicating the state of the trip detection switch 14 detected in step S15 to the outside via the wireless communication unit 13. In Fig. 13, the operation of step S16 is indicated by the phrase "transmit circuit breaker state information." In the next step S17, the operation mode of the control circuit 11A is changed from the active mode to a sleep mode in which power consumption is reduced, and the control circuit 11A performs the operation of step S11.

[0068] As described above, the communication unit 1A of the circuit breaker 100A according to the second embodiment has the trip detection switch 14 that operates in response to tripping of the on-off contact 2. When the control circuit 11A detects that the actuator 21 has operated, it outputs a high signal from the output port 11Z and applies a voltage to the trip detection switch 14 to detect the state of the trip detection switch 14. Therefore, even if the trip detection switch 14 is on, no current flows through the resistor 16a all the time. As a result, the communication unit 1A can reduce the current consumption of the battery 10.

[0069] The switching contacts 2 of the circuit breakers 100 and 100A described above have a so-called single-break configuration consisting of one movable contact 2a and one fixed contact 2b, but the switching contacts 2 may also have a so-called two-break configuration consisting of two movable contacts 2a and two fixed contacts 2b. In this case, for example, a rotation shaft is provided in the middle of the movable contactor 30 of the switching mechanism 3, a movable contact 2a is fixed to each of one end and the other end of the movable contactor 30, and each of the two fixed contacts 2b is arranged so as to be able to make contact with and separate from the corresponding one of the two movable contacts 2a.

[0070] The configurations shown in the above embodiments are merely examples, and may be combined with other known technologies, or different embodiments may be combined with each other, or part of the configuration may be omitted or modified within the scope of the gist of the invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0071] 1,1A communication unit, 2 switching contact, 2a moving contact, 2b fixed contact, 3 switching mechanism section, 4 tripping device, 5,51,52,53 electrical circuit, 6 storage area, 7 handle, 10 battery, 11,11A control circuit, 11X first input port, 11Y second input port, 11Z output port, 13 wireless communication section, 14 trip detection switch, 15 switching detection switch, 16,16a,17 resistor, 18,19 circuit board, 20,21 actuator, 22 housing, 30 moving contact, 31 trip bar, 32 crossbar, 60,99 processing circuit, 61 input / output port, 62 processor, 63 memory, 64 communication section, 100,100A circuit breaker.

Claims

1. A communication unit for a circuit breaker, comprising: a first actuator that operates in association with an opening and closing operation of the switching contacts by a switching mechanism that opens and closes the switching contacts; a control circuit that detects that the first actuator is operated when power is supplied from a battery and transmits status information indicating a status of the circuit breaker via wireless communication; a trip detection switch that operates in response to tripping of the open / close contact, The control circuit Active mode for external wireless transmission; a sleep mode for reducing power consumption; When detecting that the first actuator has been operated, the control device transitions from the sleep mode to the active mode and transmits information indicating the state of the circuit breaker, and after transmitting the information indicating the state of the circuit breaker, transitions from the active mode to the sleep mode; When the control circuit detects that the first actuator has been operated, it applies a voltage to the trip detection switch to detect the state of the trip detection switch. A communication unit for a circuit breaker.

2. A circuit breaker communication unit according to claim 1 is provided. A circuit breaker characterized by:

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