Circuit Breaker Reset Module with Synchronous Motor and Control Logic
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional reset modules for safety devices lack sufficient safety measures for operators after the safety device has been manually opened, leading to inefficiencies and potential hazards due to ill-timed tripping caused by ground leakage currents or transient surges.
Innovation Solution
An electrical apparatus comprising a control device and a reset module that detects operational states of the load, inhibits manual closure during failure conditions, and automatically resets the safety device using a synchronous motor, ensuring safe and efficient operation by preventing accidental reactivation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If automatic resetting is enabled after tripping, then productivity is improved by reducing manual intervention, but safety is worsened due to potential accidental reactivation during failure conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The control device performs preliminary detection of failure conditions before enabling automatic resetting. The electronic device detects installation failures and locks out the reset module by signaling the locked-out condition, preventing automatic resetting when failures are present. This preliminary action ensures safety is maintained while allowing productivity improvement when conditions are safe.
2Ease of operation
If manual closure is allowed after tripping, then ease of operation is improved for legitimate repairs, but harmful factors increase due to accidental reactivation during fault conditions
Solution Approach 1:
The control device acts as an intermediary between the safety device and the operator. It monitors installation conditions through its electronic device and mediates the closure operation by enabling or disabling manual closure based on detected failure conditions. This intermediary function prevents harmful accidental reactivation while maintaining ease of operation when conditions are safe.
3Device complexity
If thermal actuators are used for resetting, then device complexity is reduced, but speed is worsened due to slower resetting action
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the thermal actuator mechanism with an electronic control system that can activate closure faster. The electronic device controls the closure operation, substituting the slow thermal expansion mechanism with electronic switching that achieves resetting more rapidly while maintaining adequate mechanical complexity management.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution provides enhanced safety and efficiency by preventing accidental reactivation of safety devices during failure conditions, ensuring safe operation and reducing downtime by using a synchronous motor for faster resetting compared to thermal actuators.
Implementation Method 1
automatically resets the safety device using a synchronous motor
Data Source
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AI summary
An electrical apparatus (200, 500) to be associated with a safety device (100) suitable to be closed/opened to connect/disconnect an electrical circuit (LD) to/from a power network (NW), respectively. The apparatus comprises a reset device (200) to be connected to the power network for automatically closing the safety device (100) and a control device (500) supplied by said power network by means of the reset apparatus (200) and connected to said electrical circuit (LD) to detect an operative state thereof and control the reset apparatus to close. The apparatus is further provided with sectioning means (240) to be activated during a manual opening of the safety device to be switched from a closed to an opened configuration in which the reset device and the control device are connected/disconnected to/from the power network, respectively.