Eaton Corporation

Eaton Intelligent Power Limited

Engelbert Hetzmannseder

Xin Zhou

James J Kinsella

Michael Thomas Little

Chris Wieloch

Robert Tracy Elms

Mark Allan Juds

Peter J Theisen

Francis Christopher Edrozo

Mary Jo Johnson Vander Heiden

Joseph C Engel

Jerome Kenneth Hastings

Earl T Piber

James E Hansen

William John Murphy

Birger Pahl

Kevin Lynn Parker

David J Gritter

Joseph Charles Zuercher

Peter K Moldovan

Edward Louis Wellner

Kurt Von Eckroth

Sandy Omar Jimenez

Paul Graham Slade

Scott A Reid

Benjamin Alex Rosenkrans

Erik Dannel Taylor

William Edward Berkopec

Thomas Edward Strunsee

Karen Sjaarda Bland

A method provides electronic overload protection having a thermal trip level. The method executes a function by a processor; provides the electronic overload protection by the function executed by the processor; and adjusts the thermal trip level by the function executed by the processor in order to mimic adjusting a physical thermal characteristic of a thermal time constant of a fixed mechanical system.

Apparatus and method of adaptive electronic overload protection

A trip unit includes a current sensor to sense a value of current flowing through a conductor, a circuit to receive first frequency pulses having a number of first frequencies from the conductor, a transmitter to transmit second frequency pulses having a second frequency different than the first frequencies to the conductor, and a processor having a routine. The routine inputs the sensed value of current from the current sensor, determines if the sensed value of current exceeds a predetermined value and responsively causes the transmitter to transmit the second frequency pulses having the second frequency to the conductor, monitors within a predetermined time after determining that the sensed value of current exceeds the predetermined value if a number of the first frequency pulses having the number of first frequencies is received by the circuit, and responsively delays outputting a trip signal, and, otherwise, immediately outputs the trip signal.

Trip unit providing short circuit zone location detection, electrical switching apparatus and system including the same

A system includes a number of electrical switching apparatus having separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts, a test circuit structured to test the trip mechanism and determine a failure to protect condition thereof, and a communication circuit structured to communicate the failure to protect condition. The system also includes an electrical distribution panel having a housing housing the number of electrical switching apparatus, and a communication interface structured to receive the failure to protect condition from the communication circuit and annunciate the failure to protect condition.

Communication interface apparatus for an electrical distribution panel, and system and electrical distribution panel including the same

A circuit breaker for locating an arc fault for a protected circuit includes separable contacts interrupting the protected circuit and an arc fault detector determining an arc fault in the protected circuit. An analog to digital converter circuit measures a value of peak arc current at the arc fault detector. Another analog to digital converter circuit provides a peak line-to-neutral voltage. A memory provides an arc voltage operatively associated with the value of peak current. A microprocessor determines a distance from the arc fault detector to the arc fault from the value of peak arc current, a wire resistance per unit length or a wire conductance per unit length, the peak line-to-neutral voltage and the arc voltage.

Arc fault detector and method for locating an arc fault

A modular asynchronous contactor assembly includes a contactor for each phase or pole of an electrical device. The contactor assembly is applicable as both a switching device and an isolation or load protection device. As such, each contactor is constructed so that each includes multiple contact assemblies. Moreover, the contactors within a single contactor assembly or housing can be independently controlled so that the contacts of one contactor can be opened without opening the contacts of the other contactors of the contactor assembly.

Method and apparatus to control modular asynchronous contactors

A vacuum arc interrupter that includes a vacuum chamber assembly and a pressure chamber assembly. The vacuum chamber assembly includes a first, fixed contact disposed within the vacuum chamber and a second, movable contact disposed within the vacuum chamber. A rod is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, the second contact. The rod is structured to move between a first position wherein the second contact is spaced from the first contact and a second position where the first and second contacts are in electrical communication with each other. The pressure chamber assembly has a gas generation device and a cylindrical barrel defining a pressure chamber with a first end and a second end. The barrel second end has an opening. A piston assembly is disposed in the pressure chamber and coupled to the rod, which passes through the second, open end. The gas generation device is coupled to the pressure chamber assembly and in fluid communication with the barrel and the piston assembly. Upon generation of a gas by the gas generation device, the piston moves within the barrel causing the rod to move from the first position to the second position.

Vacuum arc interrupter actuated by a gas generated driving force

A vacuum arc interrupter that includes a vacuum chamber assembly and a pressure chamber assembly. The vacuum chamber assembly has a first conductor coupled to a power line, a non-conductive housing and a seal cup. The pressure chamber assembly has a second conductor coupled to a ground, a pressure chamber and a bullet assembly. The pressure chamber assembly is disposed adjacent to the vacuum chamber assembly. The bullet assembly is disposed in the pressure chamber and is structured to move between a first position and a second position. The bullet assembly has a metal lance with a blade portion. The blade portion is structured to puncture the seal cup.

Blade tip for puncturing cupro-nickel seal cup

Electrical equipment is safeguarded from damage due to faults by a circuit that provides several levels of protection. A semiconductor switch and a current sensor are placed in series with the electrical equipment. When the current to the equipment exceeds a first threshold for a predefined period of time, the semiconductor switch is rendered non-conductive until the circuit is specifically reset. When the current to the equipment exceeds a greater second threshold, a pulsed signal alternately places the semiconductor switch in conductive and non-conductive states so that the average current applied to the equipment is within an acceptable level. Should the current exceed an even greater third threshold, the semiconductor switch is immediately rendered non-conductive until the circuit is manually reset.

Soild state protection circuit for electrical apparatus

An electric motor control apparatus includes an electrical current control apparatus which is operable to limit current to an electric motor. When the electric motor is a three-phase motor, three current limiting switch assemblies are provided in the electric current control apparatus. A single stack of laminations concentrates magnetic fields emanating from conductors in all three current limiting switch assemblies. Each of the current limiting switch assemblies includes two movable contacts which are mounted on contact arms. The contact arms are movable in slots in the stack of laminations. A first series of splitter plates is disposed in an array along a path of movement of the contact on the first movable contact arm and a second series of splitter plates is disposed along a path of movement of the contact on the second contact arm for each of the current limiting switch assemblies. A short circuit splitter plate conducts electrical current between the two series of splitter plates. A bypass splitter plate is connected in a bypass circuit which conducts excessive current around a motor starter to protect the motor starter.

Electric control apparatus

A bypass circuit conducts electrical current around a motor starter to a current limiting switch assembly upon initiation of a flow of excessive electrical current to an electric motor to protect the motor starter against excessive current flow. Upon initiation of excessive current flow to the electric motor, the current limiting switch assembly opens a main circuit to interrupt current flow through the motor starter. The current limiting switch assembly includes a conductor or contact carrier which is movable from an initial position to an actuated position under the combined influence of current flow through a coil and opposition between magnetic fields from portions of an electrical circuit through which current flows in opposite directions.

Apparatus and method for controlling an electric motor

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Glendale, WI, United States of America

Engelbert Hetzmannseder