Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Aiman Kerim

David Elmiger

Andrew Edward Carlson

Kyle Benjamin Adkins

Randall S Langer

James Peter Miller

Juerg Merki

Ashwinkumar G Patel

Dariusz Poczontek

Grzegorz Ziolkowski

Jacek Kijanko

Kou Vang

A system includes any number of solid-state circuit breakers that couple between a power supply and an electrical load. The system also includes a housing and the solid-state circuit breakers are disposed within the housing. The housing includes a door sensor that generates a first signal indicative of a position of a door of the housing. The housing also includes an indicator that generates a second signal indicative of a position of a handle of the housing. The system also includes a secondary device communicatively coupled to the solid-state circuit breakers, the door sensor, and the indicator. The secondary device receives the first signal and the second signal and generates an instruction to adjust an operating state of the solid-state circuit breakers based on the first signal and the second signal.

Systems and methods for coordinating handle operations while operating solid-state circuit breakers

A method may include receiving, via at least one processor, a first set of data indicative of a fault being present and send a first signal to a breaker based on the first set of data. The first signal may cause the breaker to open a plurality of poles of the breaker. The method may then involve receiving a second set of data indicative of the fault being cleared and sending a second signal to the breaker based on the second set of data. The second signal may cause the breaker to close a first pole of the plurality of poles at a first time and close a second pole of the plurality of poles at a second time different from the first time.

Coordinating a sequence of opening and closing operations of poles in a solid-state circuit breaker

This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system including a mechanical switch and solid-state switching circuit. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs based on operations of the solid-state switching circuit. The solid-state switching circuit may draw arc currents of the electrical arcs by providing a second current path between the spanner and a fixed conductor of the mechanical switch. Moreover, the solid-state switching circuit may open the second current path and absorb electrical power of the electrical arc by one or more solid-state switches, a parallel voltage suppressor, or both.

Hybrid circuit breaker with solid-state devices

A method includes receiving a first set of operational parameters that correspond to one or more semiconductor devices of a solid-state circuit breaker and sending a first command to the solid-state circuit breaker to turn off the one or more semiconductors in response to the first set of operational parameters exceeding a first set of thresholds. The method includes sending a second command to the solid-state circuit breaker to turn on the one or more semiconductors in response to the first set of operational parameters being equal to or less than the first set of thresholds. The method includes receiving a second set of operational parameters that correspond to one or more electrical properties associated with an operation of the solid-state circuit breaker coupled to a load device and generating a baseline profile representative of the first set of operational parameters and the second operational parameters.

Systems and methods for modifying solid-state breaker operations based on load profiles

This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system. The hybrid circuit breaker may include a mechanical switch and solid-state switches. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs by drawing the electrical arcs to a conductive bar and away from the spanner. Moreover, the hybrid circuit breaker may dissipate the electrical arcs on the conductive bar by opening one or multiple solid-state switches disposed on the conductive bar. In some cases, one or multiple voltage suppressors may receive (e.g., suppress or ground) an electrical power of the electrical arcs when the solid-state switches are opened.

Growing community of inventors

Aarau, Switzerland

Aiman Kerim