Square D Company

Eaton Corporation

Schneider Electric Usa, Inc.

Drew A Reid

Ronald J Bilas

Sandy Omar Jimenez

Richard Michael Elchik

Ronald L Farrington

Charles E Reneau

Fredric I Graham

Ron J Bilas

Dennis William Fleege

Curtis J Bailey

Kon B Wong

Stanley J Brooks

Scott C Jordan

Charles F Reneau

Todd M Munyon

Keith E Siders

Robert C Ditmore

Robert Moore

William Stottlemyer

Martin J Wittrock

James Murley, Jr

Jr Murley

Charles Reneau

Jr James Murley

Apparatus are described herein that provide a circuit breaker handle tie configured to mechanically couple circuit breaker handles of different configurations to one another.

Hybrid handle tie

A handle tie is provided that includes a connecting member, a first retaining member, and a second retaining member. The first retaining member is fixed to the connecting member and is configured to retain a first circuit breaker handle having a first configuration. The second retaining member is fixed to the connecting member and is configured to retain a second circuit breaker handle having a second configuration that is different from the first configuration.

Systems and methods of branch circuit load estimation are disclosed. A total power usage of a main line of an electrical distribution panel that includes a plurality of branch circuits with at least two of the plurality of branch circuits coupled to the main line can be determined. A first power usage of the main line is determined with a first of the two branch circuits decoupled from the main line, and a first time period that the first branch circuits is coupled with the main line is identified. A kilowatt-hour energy usage value of the first branch circuit is estimated based on the first time period and a differential between the total power usage and the first power usage.

Dynamic load estimation of multiple branch circuits

Apparatus and systems and methods are described herein that provide a controlled circuit breaker that selectively interrupts a flow current associated with a first electrical phase and an uncontrolled circuit breaker that selectively interrupts current associated with a second electrical phase. The controlled circuit breaker and uncontrolled circuit breaker are coupled to one another and configured to be installed in adjacent slots in a circuit breaker panel.

Hybrid control circuit breaker

A lighting control system for a space equipped with lamps for illuminating the space comprises a power circuit for supplying power to the lamps, a controllable switch in the power circuit for turning the lamps on and off, an occupancy sensor for detecting motion within the space and generating a motion-detected control signal in response to the detection of such motion, and a timer for measuring a time-out interval following the generation of the motion-detected control signal by the occupancy sensor and producing a time-out control signal in response to completion of the measurement of the time-out interval. A processor receives the control signals from the occupancy sensor and the timer and produces a switch-off control signal for the controllable switch to turn the lamps off in response to the time-out control signal, modifies the time-out interval by a time-out offset value in response to preselected events, counts the number of times the switch-off control signal is produced, without the receipt of the motion-detected control signal, within a predetermined time following the end of the time-out interval, and decrements the time-out interval by the offset value in response to the count reaching a predetermined value.

Automatic timing adjustment system for occupancy sensors

A lighting control system is provided for a space that is equipped with multiple lamps for illuminating the space and multiple power circuits for supplying power to different groups of the lamps. The control system stores information relating to the past illumination of the lamps in each of the different groups. The system detects conditions or events that indicate that increased illumination of the space by the lamps is needed, and produces a control signal in response to the detection of a condition or event that indicates that increased illumination of the space by the lamps is needed. In response to the control signal, the system supplies power to at least one of the power circuits, which is selected on the basis of the stored information, to turn ON the group of lamps receiving electrical power from that power circuit.

Lighting load management system for lighting systems having multiple power circuits

A programmable control system includes a control module having one or more inputs to which an external sensor device may be connected, and one or more outputs to which an external actuator device capable of manual override and providing a status feedback signal may be connected. One or more signal inputting devices are provided which a human operator can utilize to enter a learn mode. A display can be used to indicate a mode of the control system, and a memory can be used to store the characteristics of an external sensor device connected to an input and an association between inputs and outputs. A controller/processor has both a learn mode and a run mode. The control module may interface with external actuator devices such as circuit breakers located in one or more panels via an intelligent control bus and an address module.

Energy management system

A field replaceable wiring adapter for interfacing a remotely operable switching device to a control device. The wiring adapter contains a set of terminals coupled to control wires extending from the switching device, a conversion circuit, and a second set of terminals coupled to the control device. The conversion circuitry converts a bi-directional current flowing from the control device in a single current path into two separate current paths that share a common conductor. The conversion circuitry extends between the first and second sets of terminals. The mounting element is used to mount the adapter to the control device. Since the wiring adapter contains the interface circuitry and necessary terminals, it may be easily installed or replaced in the field, for upgrade or maintenance purposes, with minimal disruption to power distribution services.

Wiring adapter for connecting a remotely operable switching device to a control bus

A metering module has a housing, a metering circuit in the housing for receiving and processing at least one signal corresponding to an electrical quantity, and developing an output signal. A connector mounted to the said housing is coupled to the metering circuit, and configured for engagement with a mating connector at least one of a sensor array module and a mounting and connection base. Mounting structure is provided on the housing for removably mounting the housing to at least one of a sensor array module and a mounting and connection base. A circuit in the housing delivers voltage and current signals received at the first and second connectors to a further connector mounted on the housing. First and second mounting structures are provided for mounting the housing to a surface and for mounting a removable metering module.

Modular sensor array, metering device and mounting and connection base

A modular sensor array has a housing at least one current sensor in the housing responsive to a current in an electrical conductor for developing a corresponding current signal and at least one voltage signal producing circuit in the housing for developing a voltage signal corresponding to a voltage present on an electrical conductor. A connector mounted on housing is configured for engagement with a mating connector of an external measurement device. A circuit delivers the current and voltage signals to the connector. A metering module has a housing, a metering circuit in the housing for receiving and processing at least one signal corresponding to an electrical quantity, and developing an output signal. A connector mounted to the said housing is coupled to the metering circuit, and configured for engagement with a mating connector at least one of a sensor array module and a mounting and connection base. Mounting structure is provided on the housing for removably mounting the housing to at least one of a sensor array module and a mounting and connection base. A mounting and connection base for a measurement device has a housing, first connectors on the housing for receiving a signal from a current sensor corresponding to a current in an electrical conductor and second connectors means on the housing for receiving a signal from a voltage sensor corresponding to a voltage in an electrical conductor. A circuit in the housing delivers voltage and current signals received at the first and second connectors to a further connector mounted on the housing. First and second mounting structures are provided for mounting the housing to a surface and for mounting a removable metering module.

The present invention provides an electrical power distribution system which contains a primary load-center (100) having a common data bus (124) that is adapted to provide two-way digital communication. A number of circuit breakers (120) are coupled to the common data bus (124). Each circuit breaker (120) has a first contact and second movable contact which is moved between a closed position and an open position by an actuator (216). The circuit breaker contains a microcontroller based control circuit (210), which controls the operation of the actuator (216) according to programmed instructions, which may be stored in a memory (234) contained in the circuit breaker or which are communicated to the circuit breaker over the common data bus (124). A status detection circuit (218) coupled to certain nodes within the circuit breaker provides status information about various contacts and current paths contained in the circuit breaker. Circuit breaker status information, configuration information and other desired information is stored in an internal memory (234). The circuit breaker may be adapted to communicate with other circuit breakers within load panel or directly with external devices. To expand circuit breaker capacity, a desired number of secondary load-centers (110a) may be coupled to the primary load center in a manner that will enable the circuit breakers in the secondary load centers to communicate over the common data bus (124).

Electrical power distribution system utilizing circuit breakers with

For use within an electrical distribution to control current paths through a plurality of associated circuit breakers, a circuit arrangement comprises a plurality of circuit breakers, each having a status related to open contact position and a closed contact position. An informational display is included within the load-center to display the plurality of statuses at a user access side of the display, and a control circuit, coupled to the circuit breakers and the informational display, automatically monitors the contact status of the circuit breakers and drives the informational display so that a display of the statuses is provided.

Electrical distribution system with informational display

An electrical distribution system having a load center for programmably and remotely controlling a plurality of circuit breakers, an expander unit coupled to the load center and a plurality of external switches for providing signals to the load center representative of the status of the switches. The load center contains a control module that continually receives inputs from the expander unit via an interface module. It also contains a keyboard and display for programming instructions for closing and opening the individual circuit breakers and for displaying the status of the circuit breakers. The interface module, coupled to the control module, causes the circuit breakers to open and close according to programmed instructions received from the control module or another external device. The expander unit contains a plurality of input circuits coupled to external switches. An expander circuit having a microprocessor receives signals from the input circuits, which are representative of the status of the external switches, and continually provides signals representative of the status of the switches to the load center for the load center to cause the circuit breakers to open and close as a function of the status of the external switches. The expander circuit also continually receives information from the load center about the status of the individual circuit breakers and provides, to a plurality of output terminals, signals representative of the status of the circuit breakers. The output terminals are coupled to a display device for displaying the status of individual circuit breakers. The output terminal also may be used to activate other devices.

Electrical distribution system with an external multiple input and

An energy management loadpanel arrangement includes a loadpanel enclosure having a plurality of circuit breakers, each of which opens and closes in response to a control signal so as to interrupt an associated current path. A microcomputer generates the control signals to control the position of the circuit breakers and their associated current paths. The circuit breakers include a digital code circuit which is manually set to indicate the type of circuit breaker, for example, a one, two or three pole circuit breaker.

Computer-controlled circuit breaker arrangement with circuit breaker

An energy management loadpanel arrangement includes a load panel enclosure having a plurality of circuit breakers, each of which opens and closes in response to a control signal so as to interrupt an associated current path. A microcomputer generates the control signals to control the position of the circuit breakers and their associated current paths, and a volatile memory circuit, for example, RAM, stores time-event data which is used to indicate when the control signals should be generated. A charged electronic double-layered capacitor is coupled to the volatile memory so that, in the event of a power outage, operating power is provided to the volatile memory for extended periods of time. In this manner, the time-event data is retained during the power outage so that the circuit breakers are timely controlled, despite the power outage, in response to said control signals. A real time clock circuit is used to track the time, and the charged electronic double-layered capacitor is coupled to the real time clock circuit so that it also continues to operate during a power outage. The microcomputer is then used to periodically store an image of the current time, from the real time clock, in RAM during normal operation, so that after a power outage and when the microcomputer 120 recovers therefrom, the current value of the real time clock can be compared against this value stored in RAM and the microcomputer's duration timers can be corrected.

Growing community of inventors

Brentwood, TN, United States of America

Drew A Reid