General Electric Company

David J Lesslie

Dennis J Doughty

William James Premerlani

Kanakasabapathi Subramanian

Brent Charles Kumfer

Michael C Guerrette

Charles Stephan Pitzen

Robert Joseph Caggiano

Andrew Matthew Candelora

Raymond K Seymour

Marshall B Hart

Dennis C Zuffelato

Parag Thakre

Joshua Isaac Wright

Anilkumar Dinker Pandit

Thuong Phung

Joseph P Smith

Robert Allan Morris

Edward K Howell

Craig Benjamin Williams

Christopher Fred Keimel

John Norton Park

Kathleen Ann O'Brien

Fengfeng Tao

Graham A Scott

Ira B Goldman

Alberto Anibal Figueroa

Robert J Danek

Alan Joseph Messerli

Thomas M Palmer

Gary D Magnon

Mark S DeBiasi

Geoffrey H McKay

Madhu Sudan

K V Sridhar

A Ramadevi

M Natarajan

Jeyaprakash Kandasamy

Hanns P Sailer

Kadaba Venkatarangan Sridhar

Alexander A Krajewski

Robert Joseph Cagglano

Robert J Cassagrande

Sujit Kumar Piri

Natarajan Mani

Ramadevi Agali

Chakrapani Shankar Ganesh

Daniel E Civiello

Victor G Fraulo

Babu Chinnasamy

Jose F Gonzalez

Efrain Ralat

Lighting control systems, control modules for contactors, and methods of operating a lighting control system are described. In one example, a control module for a lighting contactor includes a controller, a power supply, and a control mode selector. The controller is configured to control operation of a lighting contactor in response to at least one control signal. The controller is selectively operable in a plurality of control modes. The power supply is configured to receive the at least one control signal and provide power to the controller. The control mode selector is coupled to the controller and operable to operate the controller in a selected control mode of the plurality of control modes.

Field selectable contactor control modules

The present invention comprises a method for over-current protection. The method comprising monitoring a load current value of a load current passing through a plurality of micro-electromechanical switching system devices, determining if the monitored load current value varies from a predetermined load current value, and generating a fault signal in the event that the monitored load current value varies from the predetermined load current value. The method also comprises diverting the load current from the plurality of micro-electromechanical switching system devices in response to the fault signal and determining if the variance in the load current value was due to a true fault trip or a false nuisance trip.

Resettable MEMS micro-switch array based on current limiting apparatus

The present invention provides a remote operable over-current protection apparatus. The apparatus includes control circuitry integrally arranged on a current path and a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the interruption of an electrical current passing through the current path. The apparatus further includes a communication connection in signal connection with the control circuitry such that the control circuitry is responsive to a control signal on the communication connection to control a state of the MEMS switch.

Remote-operable micro-electromechanical system based over-current protection apparatus

A motor starter is disclosed. The motor starter includes control circuitry integrally arranged with at least one current path and a processor included in the control circuitry. The motor starter further includes at least one processor algorithm residing on the processor, the at least one processor algorithm containing instructions to monitor characteristics of current on the at least one current path and to provide data pertaining to a condition of the at least one current path. The motor starter further includes a micro electromechanical system (MEMS) switch disposed on the at least one current path, the MEMS switch responsive to the control circuitry to facilitate the control of an electrical current, passing through the at least one current path.

MEMS based motor starter with motor failure detection

A motor starter is provided. The motor starter includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a motor connected to the motor starter. The switching may be performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.

Micro-electromechanical system based electric motor starter

An electronic circuit for use on a contactor is disclosed. The electronic circuit may be encased in a housing and mounted to a coil cover on the front of a contactor for applying control power to the coil for a selected time period to enable the contactor to change its state and be held in the changed state. Thereafter, the electronic circuit disconnects the supply to the coil thereby preventing coil burn out. The control power is only applied after initiation of an input signal from a switch and after a controller in the electronic circuit has slept for a first predetermined period of time so as not to register any bounce from the input signal. The electronic circuit may include an auxiliary contact status check for providing error free activation of the mechanically held contactor when changing state of the contactor. A contactor employing the electronic circuit of the present invention and a method of using the electronic circuit on a contactor are further disclosed.

Electronic actuation for mechanically held contactors

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

Low voltage electric switchgear equipment includes a central processor unit electrically interconnected with electronic main and branch circuit interrupters within the same enclosure and used within a multi-phase power distribution circuit. A terminal connector block is connected by cable with each of the electronic trip units within the branch circuit interrupters to provide communications between the branch circuit interrupters and the main circuit interrupter for continuously updating the status of the branch circuit interrupters and their associated electrical equipment. Strain relief is provided to the cable connecting between the terminal connector block and the branch circuit interrupter to prevent damage to the electrical components within the electronic trip unit that are internally connected with the cable.

Electronic circuit interrupter with attached terminal connector block

Molded plastic bus covers are attached to the ends of a pair of molded case circuit breakers to isolate the circuit breakers from an electrical enclosure as well as to isolate between the circuit breakers themselves when connected within the enclosure in a double-branch configuration. Molded plastic lug covers are attached to the opposite ends of a molded case circuit breaker when the circuit breaker lugs are connected to power distribution cables to electrically isolate the power cables and the circuit breaker lugs.

Bus cover and lug cover for a molded case circuit breaker

An electronic trip molded case circuit breaker includes components that are designed for high speed robotic assembly. A unitary trip-to-test button is down-loaded within the circuit breaker housing for automatic alignment with the circuit breaker operating mechanism during the circuit breaker assembly process. A unitary auxiliary switch interface unit is also down-loaded within the housing for automatic alignment with the operating mechanism during the assembly process.

Molded case circuit breaker trip-to-test button and auxiliary switch

A molded case circuit breaker having a pair of movable contact arms arranged within each pole of a multi-pole arrangement utilizes a shunt clip between the movable contact arms to insure electrical continuity between the contact arms and the contact arm support base. The movable contact arms and the support base are both accurately positioned within the circuit breaker case by means of an interference-fit between the outside edges of the support base and the interior sidewall surfaces of the circuit breaker case.

Molded case circuit breaker movable contact arm mounting arrangement

An operating mechanism assembly used within molded case circuit breakers employing electronic trip units interconnects the operating mechanism with the circuit breaker movable contact arms by means of a slotted-cam arrangement. The slotted-cam optimizes the manual closing of the movable contact arms by controllably over-centering the circuit breaker operating mechanism springs.

Molded case circuit breaker operating mechanism assembly

A molded case circuit breaker of the type using electrodynamic repulsion to separate the circuit breaker contacts under intense overcurrent conditions also includes an arc chute arrangement for cooling and quenching the arc that occurs during such contact separation. A plastic insert added to the interior of the circuit breaker cover multi-functionally retains the arc chute within the circuit breaker case while providing clearance for the circuit breaker operating handle shutter.

Molded case circuit breaker cover insert

An operating handle assembly for molded case circuit interrupters is robotically assembled to the circuit breaker operating mechanism without requiring any auxiliary fastening device. A visual access slot in the circuit breaker cover allows the condition of the circuit breaker contacts to be visually ascertained by use of colored indicia carried by the operating handle skirt. A slidably mounted handle shutter cooperates with the operating handle to prevent egress of arc exhaust gases in the event the circuit breaker contacts are closed or opened during overcurrent conditions when the circuit breaker is installed within an industrial power distribution circuit.

Molded case circuit interrupter trip indicating handle

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Plainville, CT, United States of America

David J Lesslie