General Electric Company

Exelis Inc.

David Geer Fletcher

Gregory Paul Lavoie

Thomas F Papallo

Ertugrul Berkcan

John James Dougherty

William James Premerlani

Emad Andarawis Andarawis

Michael Sullivan Tignor

Craig Benjamin Williams

Thomas Frederick Papallo, Jr

Mark Fredrick Culler

Esteban Santos

Farshid Attarian

James Hoge Bowen

Edward E Kim

William Eric Garris

Indrajit Purkayastha

Michael B Bradley

Ransom Hal Castleberry

Ioan Marusca

Richard D Blackburn

Patrick Salas

Joseph Yuan Rao

Dmitry Matskevitch

Keira Alyse Duffy

Melissa Ann Diercks

Jane Barber

Flaviano Stellato

Hong-Ping Liu

A power supply for an image intensifier, the power supply including a DC voltage source generating a photocathode voltage; a bright source protection (BSP) resistor in series with the DC voltage source; and an oscillator in parallel with the DC voltage source and the BSP resistor, the oscillator providing an AC voltage component, the AC voltage component having a fixed pulse width, the AC voltage component being coupled to the photocathode by a diode, the pulse width and shape of the AC voltage component on the photocathode being determined by the photocathode current.

Clamped cathode power supply for image intensifier

A method and apparatus is disclosed for providing protection against arc flash during maintenance on a low voltage power circuit including a circuit breaker having a specified trip function for responding to a fault is provided. The specified trip function is overridden with a maintenance trip function that results in reduced arc energy in the fault during a trip over arc energy during a trip with the specified trip function. The specified trip function is restored following maintenance.

Circuit protection system

There is disclosed a protection system for a power distribution system. The system has a processor, a breaker; a network coupled to the processor, a first module coupled to the network and the breaker, a second module coupled to the network, and an algorithm. The algorithm monitors for a permission to trip request. If a plurality of permission to trip requests are received during a given time period, the algorithm issues a permission granted command to the first module and a hold command to the second module.

Protection system for power distribution systems

A configuration unit for a centrally controlled power distribution system is provided. The configuration unit includes a non-volatile memory device and a communications connection. The non-volatile memory device is permanently secured within a switchgear cubicle. The cubicle replaceably receives a circuit breaker and removably receives a module. The communications connection places the non-volatile memory device in communication with the module when the module is removably received in the switchgear cubicle.

Configuration unit and methods for configuring centrally controlled power distribution systems

There is provided a method of testing an electrical switchgear system. A node in the electrical switchgear system monitors a power line signal and controls a breaker based on the power line signal. The method includes applying an analog signal to the node, and receiving data representing a status of the breaker. The analog signal simulates the power line signal.

Testing an electrical switchgear system

A circuit protection system is provided that provides a dynamic delay time to an upstream circuit breaker if a fault is detected in a circuit where the dynamic delay time can be based upon the location of the fault, such as the nearest downstream circuit breaker. A control processing unit can determine a dynamic delay time for opening a first circuit breaker if a fault is detected in the circuit. The control processing unit delays opening the first circuit breaker until after the dynamic delay time has elapsed to provide an opportunity for the nearest circuit breaker to clear the fault.

A data sample and transmission module for a power distribution system is provided. The module has a microprocessor and a network interface. The microprocessor samples first signals indicative of a condition of power in the power distribution system. The network interface places the microprocessor in communication with a data network. The microprocessor samples the first signals based in part upon a synchronization signal transmitted on the data network.

Data sample and transmission modules for power distribution systems

In order to detect high-speed transients in the alternating current of a power distribution system, the rate at which the power on the distribution system is sampled is increased so that even high-speed transients are detected. The sampling rate can be increased in at least two ways. First, where a single analog-to-digital converter samples multiple lines through a multiplexer, the multiplexer is controlled to allow the converter to sample only one line at a much-increased rate. Alternatively, the sampling speed of the analog-to-digital converter (or A/D array) can be controlled and increased as needed.

Power line monitoring and interrupt method and apparatus

A wireless system is provided which comprises a test and control device, and a power distribution device. The test and control device has a first microprocessor executing a first firmware. The power distribution device has a second microprocessor executing a second firmware. The first microprocessor is coupled a first wireless communications port, and the second microprocessor is coupled to a second wireless communication port. The first and second wireless communication ports are configured to communicate wireless communications there between.

Method and devices for wireless communication between test and control devices and power distribution devices

A data sample and transmission module for a power distribution system having a microprocessor, a locator device, and a network interface is provided. The microprocessor samples one or more first signals indicative of a condition of power in the power distribution system. The locator device is changeable between a first state and a second state. The network interface can place the microprocessor in communication with a network so that the microprocessor samples the first signals based in part upon a synchronization signal receivable from the network and so that the locator device changes from the first state to the second state in response to a command receivable from the data network.

Locator devices and methods for centrally controlled power distribution systems

Improvements to a rating plug for an electronic trip unit of a circuit breaker are disclosed. The rating plug includes a non-volatile memory which has access to current and frame rating information. A microcomputer in the electronic trip unit may receive new current rating information over the World Wide Web from a vendor system to update the current rating information of the rating plug. A program within the circuit breaker may detect errors in the new current rating information and may reject such and revert to a safe mode of operation. A billing system may be connected to the vendor system for calculating charges based on the transmission of the new current rating information. Preferably, the non-volatile memory of the rating plug is programmed at the factory site and a label adhered to the outer case of the rating plug for indicating the current rating. The rating plug may then be inserted within the electronic circuit breaker at the field and the current rating altered as necessary using the remote altering system.

World wide web enabled and digital rating plug

An injection test signal generator is incorporated into a circuit breaker. In this way, injection testing can be performed by causing the internal test signal generator to generate test signals and feed those signals to the trip circuitry of the circuit breaker. No independent injection test signal generator need be purchased or stored, or transported to the location of the circuit breaker and hardwired thereto. Various methods of communicating with the internal test signal generator can be implemented, including, for example, a standard interface, a wireless interface or a network interface. Dences can also be provided to selectively isolate the internal test signal generator from the trip circuitry to prevent accidental and erroneous breaker trips.

Circuit breaker with integral testing unit

A circuit monitoring system for performing synchronized waveform capture. A waveform capture trigger communication network interconnects a plurality of monitoring devices. The system provides direct device to device trigger communication between monitoring devices in a synchronized group. Power system waveform data is stored in the monitoring device memory of all members of the synchronized group in response to a trigger event initiated by any monitoring device in the synchronized group. High speed trigger communication results in substantially simultaneous waveform capture among the members of the synchronized group.

Power system waveform capture

A method is provided for optimizing the power consumption of a trip unit. The method comprises sensing a first output from a power system, the first output including a first current and a current-sensing signal; supplying a power supply with only the first current, or with a second current alone or in combination with the first current; powering a microprocessor from the power supply; inputting a second output to the microprocessor indicative of whether the power supply is receiving the second current; operating the microprocessor at a first state when the second output indicates the power supply is not receiving the second current; and operating the microprocessor at a second state when the second output indicates the power supply is receiving the second current alone or in combination with the first current.

Method and devices for optimizing power consumption of trip units containing microprocessors

A method for dynamically determining tap position in a step voltage regulator is disclosed. A present tap position is determined and the value of an applied voltage across a tap changing mechanism is measured. Based upon the value of the applied voltage, a directional change in the tap position is detected. A trigger signal is also generated which is responsive to a detected change in tap position. Finally, a new tap position is calculated based upon the present tap position and the directional change in the tap position, when the trigger signal indicates that a change in tap position has taken place.

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Simsbury, CT, United States of America

David Geer Fletcher