General Electric Company

Alberto Anibal Figueroa

Javier I Larranaga

Joseph Criniti

Farshid Attarian

Joseph B Kalaita

David J Lesslie

Esteban Santos

Joseph B Kelaita

Dennis C Zuffelato

Charles Stephan Pitzen

Anilkumar Dinker Pandit

Kevin J Fuhr

K V Sridhar

James Robert Scanlon

A Ramadevi

M Natarajan

Thuong Phung

Madhu Sudan

Joseph P Smith

Jose F Gonzalez

Efrain Ralat

Robert J Cassagrande

A circuit breaker having a housing, a pair of separable contacts, a current sensor strap in electrical communication with the contacts, an operating mechanism for operating the contacts, an electronic trip unit in operable communication with the sensor strap and the mechanism, and a current transformer is disclosed. The current transformer has a mixed material magnetic core having a first layer of material having a relatively high magnetic permeability, and a second layer of material having a relatively low magnetic permeability abutting the first layer of material. The core has a profile with an opening therethrough for accepting the sensor strap. A signal generator is disposed proximate the core to provide an output signal representative of a magnetic flux associated with the sensor strap. The mixed material magnetic core exhibits a dynamic range greater than a dynamic range of a similar shaped magnetic core having only one material of the first layer of material and the second layer of material.

Compact low cost current sensor and current transformer core for circuit breakers having improved dynamic range

A current sensor and current transformer for monitoring electrical current is provided with a magnetic core having a mixture of magnetic materials to provide a low cost design in a compact configuration with an expanded dynamic range. The mixed material core can be fabricated either from stamped laminations or from coil stock and may include an air gap for activating a magnetic flux sensor. Multiple core configurations, including Figure-O, Figure-C, and Figure-8, having mixed material construction are disclosed and offer advantages over non-mixed material cores where dynamic range and frequency response characteristics are a consideration.

Compact low cost current sensor and current transformer core having improved dynamic range

A field configurable contactor is disclosed. The contactor preferably includes a plurality of spaces adapted to receive any number, up to its limit, of contact modules. Each contact module preferably includes a pair of contacts and a spring biased cam follower which opens and closes the contact pair when a cam profile of the contactor moves according to energization or de-energization of the contactor. The contact module can be either &ldquo;normally open&rdquo; or &ldquo;normally closed&rdquo; depending on its initial placement onto the contactor relative to the cam profile. A latch assembly in the contactor may hold the contactor mechanically during de-energization.

Field configurable contacts and contactor

A transformer includes a core having an aperture formed therein and a conductive bar extending through the core. The aperture in the core has a centroidal axis The conductive bar includes: a first surface extending generally parallel to the centroidal axis, a second surface opposite the first surface and extending generally parallel to the centroidal axis, the first surface being closer than the second surface to said centroidal axis. The conductive bar also includes means for diverting electrical current flowing through the conductive bar towards said first surface.

Primary conductor for a transformer

Electrical distribution equipment generally includes a housing defining an enclosed space and a conductor in the enclosed space. A current transformer utilizing current in the conductor induces current in a secondary winding thereof, and a fan assembly is electrically connected to the secondary winding. The fan assembly includes a fan motor in driving relation to a fan.

Self powered cooling fan and method

A method permits calibration of a current sensor having a conductor that comprises at least two conductor branches electrically connected in parallel. The method comprises passing a predetermined electrical current through the conductor, measuring a fraction of the current that passes through a measured conductor branch, which is one of the two conductor branches, comparing the measured current against a predetermined target current, trimming a calibrating conductor, which is one of the at least two conductor branches, the trimming taking place when said measured current and said predetermined target current are not equal.

Calibrated current sensor

A Hall effect sensor is transported to and away from a conductor to vary the sensitivity range of the sensor to current flow in the conductor. The device comprises a bracket supported on the conductor which holds a jack screw. At the lower end of the jack screw is a sensor block which holds the Hall effect sensor. The sensor block translates in a slide guide of the bracket, but is prevented from rotating. At the upper end of the jack screw is a knob for rotating the jack screw. Rotating the jack screw causes the sensor block to slide closer or farther from the conductor, which varies its sensitivity in measuring a magnetic field generated by a current in the conductor.

Flux concentration adjustment mechanism and method for hall effect sensors and circuit breaker using same

To allow access to a control/display module in an electronic circuit breaker, an adapter and harness are provided for remotely positioning the control/display module in a more accessible location, e.g., on the remote handle operator. An adapter plug and plate installs in place of the control/display module on the circuit breaker. The adapter plug provides connectors for a harness to extend to a mounting plate, which can be attached to the remote handle operator. The control/display module, which was removed from the circuit breaker, is installed in the mounting plate.

Remote LCD adapter and method for electronic circuit breakers

A trip indicator for handle operator for controlling a handle of a circuit breaker comprises a cover having a window sufficiently sized to view indicia indicating a position of the handle, a trip flag having indicia indicating a TRIPPED condition, and a connection between a chuck of the handle operator and the trip flag configured to move the trip flag such that the indicia is visible through the window when the handle is in a TRIPPED position and is not visible through said window when the handle is not in the TRIPPED position.

Trip indication capability for circuit breaker remote handle operator

A device is provided for operating a circuit breaker handle. The device includes a body having a receiving area to receive and engage a portion of the circuit breaker handle. The body is fixedly secured to a shaft for movement between a first position and a second position. The body is caused to move by a forces from a first coil and a second coil. The first coil generates a first force in a first direction, and the second coil generates a second force in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction. The first and second forces are transferred to the shaft for effectuating movement between the first and second positions.

Remote operating apparatus and method for a circuit breaker handle

A method for assembling a modular current transformer (,) includes providing a first bobbin (,A) having a first aperture (,A) disposed therein and a second bobbin (,B) having a second aperture (,B) disposed therein. The first axial aperture (,A) is aligned with the second axial aperture (,B), and a xontinuous wire (,) is wrapped sround the first bobbin (,A) in a first direction. With the first and second axial apertures (,A,,B) still aligned, the continuous wire (,) is then wrapped around the second bobbin (,B) in a second direction opposite the first direction. The first bobbin (,A) is then inverted by pivoting the first bobbin (,A) about a flexible tab (,) that connects the first and second bobbins (,A,,B). A transformer core (,) is then disposed through the first and second axial apertures (,A,,B). The windings on the first and second bobbins (,A,,B) form the secondary windings (,A,,B) for the current transformer (,).

Method of assembling a modular current transformer

A compact current transformer is formed by arranging a pair of secondary windings on opposite sides of a single turn primary winding. A core is then wound about the primary winding and part of the secondary winding coils from a continuous roll of metal strap. The secondary windings are arranged on a pair of bobbins on opposite sides of the transformer core. A modular twin bobbin arrangement allows the secondary windings to be wound from a continuous source of transformer wire. The continuous wound core eliminates air gaps and improves magnetic transfer between the primary winding and the secondary winding. The continuous transformer wire eliminates the need for soldering or welding to connect between the two secondary windings.

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Southington, CT, United States of America

Alberto Anibal Figueroa