Bus Plug Remote Circuit Breaker Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bus plugs require physical interaction to open and close circuit breakers, posing safety hazards and inconvenience during maintenance, as technicians must manually operate levers to manage power flow and check the breaker's state.
Innovation Solution
Incorporating a wireless communication module and motor operator into the bus plug, allowing remote control of the circuit breaker via wireless communication, eliminating the need for physical interaction and enhancing safety by enabling remote operation and electronic locking.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If physical interaction is used to operate the circuit breaker lever, then the circuit breaker can be opened or closed, but safety hazards and inconvenience arise during maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the manual mechanical lever operation with an automated motor operator that opens and closes the circuit breaker contacts. The motor operator is controlled by control circuitry that can be remotely actuated, eliminating the need for technicians to physically interact with the circuit breaker lever and thereby improving safety during maintenance while maintaining operational capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a motor operator as an intermediary device between the control system and the circuit breaker contacts. This motor operator acts as a mediator that performs the mechanical action of opening and closing contacts based on control signals, removing the direct need for human physical interaction with the circuit breaker mechanism
2Loss of information
If a technician must look at the lever position to determine breaker state, then the breaker state can be determined, but time and efficiency are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent incorporates control circuitry that provides feedback about the circuit breaker's operational state. The control circuitry can detect whether the circuit breaker is open or closed and communicate this information, eliminating the need for technicians to visually inspect the lever position and thereby improving operational efficiency while maintaining complete information about breaker state
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical visual indicator system (lever position) with an electronic control and feedback system. The control circuitry electronically determines and can communicate the breaker state through various means such as indicators or digital signals, improving efficiency by eliminating the need for manual visual inspection while preserving complete state information
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 allows for safe and convenient remote operation of the bus plug, reducing the risk of accidents during maintenance and improving operational efficiency by eliminating the need for manual interaction with the circuit breaker.
Implementation Method 1
a motor operator structured to cause the separable contacts to open or close in response to the first control signal from the circuit breaker
Implementation Method 2
a wireless communication module structured to wirelessly communicate with an external device and to output a second control signal to the circuit breaker in response to wireless communication received from the external device
Data Source
AI summary
A bus plug structured to electrically connect between a busway and a load includes a circuit breaker structured to electrically connect between connectors and the load and to output a first control signal, the circuit breaker including separable contacts structured to open to stop power from the flowing from the busway to the load, a motor operator structured to cause the separable contacts to open or close in response to the first control signal from the circuit breaker, and a wireless communication module structured to wirelessly communicate with an external device and to output a second control signal to the circuit breaker is response to wireless communication received from the external device. The circuit breaker is structured to output the first control signal to the motor operator to open or close the separable contacts in response to receiving the second control signal from the wireless communication module.