Square D Company

Schneider Electric Usa, Inc.

Other

Brett E Larson

Dennis William Fleege

Robert F Dvorak

Andy A Haun

Kon B Wong

Brian Grattan

James V Fixemer

William Weizhong Chen

Gary W Scott

Randall James Gass

Paul Andrew Reid

Jeremy D Schroeder

Robert Erger

Chad Raymond Mittelstadt

Randall L Siebels

William J Broghammer

Jason D Potratz

Issa V Drame

Donald Charles Francis, Jr

Bruce F Lindholm

John K Mackenzie

Ron E Stecker

William Broghammer

Systems and methods for auto-monitoring a trip solenoid and a switching semiconductor in a circuit breaker comprises determining whether the trip solenoid or the switching semiconductor is open-circuited or otherwise non-operational. The trip solenoid has multiple windings therein and the switching semiconductor has multiple semiconductor switches therein. The circuit breaker automatically performs a designated action if one of the multiple windings or one of the semiconductor switches is determined to be open-circuited or otherwise non-operational. In some embodiments, the circuit breaker is a miniature circuit breaker.

Auto-monitoring redundancy for enhanced miniature circuit breaker reliability

A circuit breaker (such as a miniature circuit breaker) that wirelessly communicates state and fault information to a main energy monitoring module. The wireless circuit breaker includes a transceiver and a power supply that harvests energy inductively from the line current conductor without the need for a connection to a neutral conductor. The wireless circuit breaker can be implemented in the same package as existing circuit breakers, eliminating the need to replace the panel when upgrading to a system that employs a main energy monitoring module. The wireless circuit breaker can also include an energy storage device for supplying power to the circuit breaker after it has tripped, allowing the circuit breaker to transmit information after a trip. The main energy monitoring module includes a processor and a gateway for evaluating and transmitting information received from the circuit breaker to other applications, such as webpages and smartphones.

Wireless branch circuit energy monitoring system

Systems, methods, and devices are presented for mitigating arc fault events in a photovoltaic system. An aspect of this disclosure is directed to a photovoltaic system for generating electrical power. The photovoltaic system includes one or more solar panels, and one or more shuttering assemblies, each of which is configured to selectively limit the quantity of light received by one or more of the solar panels. One or more sensing devices detect characteristics of an arc fault event in the photovoltaic system, and output signals indicative thereof. A control module is operatively connected to the shuttering assemblies and the sensing devices. The control module is configured to direct the one or more shuttering assemblies to reduce the quantity of light received by at least one of the one or more solar panels in response to the output signals indicating there is an arc fault event in the photovoltaic system.

Arc fault mitigation for photovoltaic systems

A multi-pole circuit breaker having the same number of sensors and controllers as poles. One pole is monitored by a first sensor and a first controller, which are disposed on a first circuit board. Another pole is monitored by a second sensor and a second controller, which are disposed on a second circuit board that is cable-connected to the first circuit board. A ground-fault sensor monitors the sum of current flowing through the line conductors and a neutral conductor, and the output of the ground-fault sensor is provided to one or both of the controllers. Each controller is operable to detect arc faults on the respective line that it is monitoring, and at least one is operable to detect ground faults. A push-to-test algorithm is executed in relay fashion, with one controller executing the test before passing the result of the test onto the next controller, which in turns executes the test.

Multi-pole arc-fault circuit interrupter

A multi-pole circuit breaker comprising a single main housing containing multiple circuit breakers for protecting multiple branch circuits. Each of the circuit breakers comprises a single line terminal for receiving electrical current from a utility line, a plurality of load terminals for supplying electrical current from the single line terminal to a plurality of branch circuits via load lines, and a plurality of neutral terminals for receiving electrical current returned from the branch circuits via neutral lines Line conductors inside the main housing connect the line terminal to the plurality of load terminals. Sensors inside the main housing generate signals representing characteristics of the electrical current flow in the branch circuits, and a signal processor uses the signals generated by the sensors for detecting abnormal conditions in the branch circuits and generating trip signals in response to the detection of an abnormal condition. A single tripping mechanism between the line terminal and the load terminals receives the trip signals and interrupts the flow of current to the branch circuits in response to a trip signal.

Low cost multi-pole circuit breakers with shared components

A method for identifying a type of fault condition in a circuit breaker includes monitoring a branch circuit for a fault condition. In response to detecting the fault condition, interrupting current flow through the branch circuit. The type of fault condition is stored in a memory device from which it is retrieved in response to receiving a control signal. The type of fault condition is indicated based on the mechanical position of a circuit breaker handle as a function of time.

Electronic miniature circuit breaker with trip indication using the breaker tripping function as the feedback mechanism

An AC to DC power supply for small heat sensitive electronic device. The power supply being dynamically controlled to operate symmetrically about the lowest point of the AC source voltage waveform for minimum excess heat production.

Microcontroller operated current limited switching power supply for circuit protective devices

A circuit breaker is disclosed that has a bi-stable display that maintains an indication of a fault condition after power is interrupted to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a microcontroller that receives power derived from a line current that passes through the circuit breaker or the line voltage when the circuit breaker is in an on state. The bi-stable display is electrically coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller. A tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to detection of a fault condition. The tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to receiving a trip signal from the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed to modify the bi-stable display when sending the trip signal to the electronic switching device. The bi-stable display shows an indication of one of the several fault types that would have caused the circuit breaker to trip. The bi-stable display continues to display the fault-type indication after the circuit breaker has tripped and power is interrupted to the microcontroller.

Circuit breaker with bistable display

A multiple pole arc-fault circuit breaker includes a first pole assembly, a second pole assembly, a microprocessor, and a single test button. At least one of the first pole assembly and the second pole assembly has a trip mechanism. The microprocessor is electrically coupled to the first pole assembly and to the second pole assembly, and, in response to receiving a single test signal, is operative to perform electrical tests for both the first pole assembly and the second pole assembly. In response to successful completion of the electrical tests, the microprocessor is further operative to actuate the trip mechanism. The single test button is mounted to the housing and includes a single test position which causes the sending of the single test signal for initiating the electrical tests.

Multiple pole arc-fault circuit breaker using single test button

An arcing fault protection assembly in an electrical outlet, and a corresponding method determine whether arcing is present in an electrical device connected to the outlet. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, a controller and s an electrical device. The sensor detects a current and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present. The sensor, the broadband noise circuit and the controller are mounted to the outlet receptacle or to an outlet box which houses the receptacle. The electrical device is connected in parallel to the first electrical outlet on the load side of the sensor.

Arc fault receptacle with a feed-through connection

The present invention provides an apparatus for use in arcing fault detection systems within circuit breakers and which is adapted for automated production by top-down assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus includes a circuit board and a two-piece sensing coil within a two piece housing with its center oriented horizontally relative to the circuit board. In other embodiments the sensing coil is one-piece and is either preassembled with a sensing bus and oriented horizontally or oriented vertically relative to the circuit board. The invention also includes several methods for making electrical connections to the circuit breakers.

Assembly methods for miniature circuit breakers with electronics

An arcing fault protection assembly in an electrical device, and corresponding methods determine whether arcing is present in the device. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, and a controller. The sensor detects a current and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present. The sensor, broadband noise circuit, and controller are mounted to the device.

Arc fault protected device

An arcing fault protection assembly and a corresponding method determine whether arcing is present in electrical circuits. The assembly powers-up quickly without dissipating excessive heat while power is being supplied to the assembly. The assembly comprises a sensor, a broadband noise circuit, a controller, and a dual-mode power supply. The sensor detects a current flowing in an electrical circuit and develops a corresponding sensor signal. The broadband noise circuit determines the presence of broadband noise in the sensor signal and produces a corresponding output signal. The controller processes the sensor signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The dual-mode power supply supplies power to the sensor, broadband noise circuit and controller using a first mode and later switching to a second mode. The first mode reaches steady state faster than the second mode.

Electrical fault detection circuit with dual-mode power supply

An apparatus for use in arcing fault detection systems within circuit breakers and which is adapted for automated production by top-down assembly. The invention also includes several devices for making electrical connections to the circuit breakers, including a lug having a top and a hollow center, the top having a hole connecting the top to the hollow center for accessing a wirebinding screw, a neutral bus having a first end and a second end, the first end disposed within the hollow center beneath the hole, a wire binding screw disposed in the hole and extending through the hollow center for securing a first wire to the first end of the neutral bus, and a strain relief member connected to the second end of the neutral bus for securing a second wire connected to the second end of the neutral bus. In another embodiment, a strain relief member has a top section and a bottom section, the top section being substantially flat and having a threaded hole disposed therein and adapted for use in securing a wire by means of a screw engaging said threaded hole, the bottom section defining a cavity for receiving a wire, the top section and the bottom section being connected together and separated by a solid member, the strain relief member having a sire welded to the strain relief member and extending through the cavity of the bottom section, the bottom section of the strain relief member preventing strain on the weld connection.

Automated assembly methods for miniature circuit breakers with wire attachment clamps

The present invention provides a current limiting circuit breaker having a plurality of current responsive devices for opening a pair of contacts upon short circuit conditions. One such device is a conventional magnetic tripping mechanism. The other device utilizes an insulating object driven by a magnetic force caused by the short circuit current. Upon opening of the contacts with the use of the insulating object, let-through current flows through a secondary contact, positioned on the insulating object, to a positive temperature coefficient resistivity element which limits the current and arcing in the contacts. In an alternative embodiment, at least one steel component is added to increase the magnetic force, thereby providing a greater force on the insulating object. An insulation component is also added to further suppress any arc generated between the contacts when going from a closed state to an open state. In another alternative embodiment, the magnetic tripping mechanism is actuated by the device utilizing the insulating object driven by the magnetic force.

Growing community of inventors

Cedar Rapids, IA, United States of America

Brett E Larson