General Electric Company

Farshid Attarian

Javier I Larranaga

Joseph Criniti

Alberto Anibal Figueroa

Esteban Santos

Joe Criniti

Joseph B Kalaita

David Geer Fletcher

Joseph B Kelaita

Edward E Kim

Kevin J Fuhr

James Robert Scanlon

Marshall Aurnou

Tom Campbell

A circuit breaker having a housing, a pair of separable contacts, a current sensor strap in electrical communication with the contacts, an operating mechanism for operating the contacts, an electronic trip unit in operable communication with the sensor strap and the mechanism, and a current transformer is disclosed. The current transformer has a mixed material magnetic core having a first layer of material having a relatively high magnetic permeability, and a second layer of material having a relatively low magnetic permeability abutting the first layer of material. The core has a profile with an opening therethrough for accepting the sensor strap. A signal generator is disposed proximate the core to provide an output signal representative of a magnetic flux associated with the sensor strap. The mixed material magnetic core exhibits a dynamic range greater than a dynamic range of a similar shaped magnetic core having only one material of the first layer of material and the second layer of material.

Compact low cost current sensor and current transformer core for circuit breakers having improved dynamic range

A current sensor and current transformer for monitoring electrical current is provided with a magnetic core having a mixture of magnetic materials to provide a low cost design in a compact configuration with an expanded dynamic range. The mixed material core can be fabricated either from stamped laminations or from coil stock and may include an air gap for activating a magnetic flux sensor. Multiple core configurations, including Figure-O, Figure-C, and Figure-8, having mixed material construction are disclosed and offer advantages over non-mixed material cores where dynamic range and frequency response characteristics are a consideration.

Compact low cost current sensor and current transformer core having improved dynamic range

A transformer includes a core having an aperture formed therein and a conductive bar extending through the core. The aperture in the core has a centroidal axis The conductive bar includes: a first surface extending generally parallel to the centroidal axis, a second surface opposite the first surface and extending generally parallel to the centroidal axis, the first surface being closer than the second surface to said centroidal axis. The conductive bar also includes means for diverting electrical current flowing through the conductive bar towards said first surface.

Primary conductor for a transformer

Electrical distribution equipment generally includes a housing defining an enclosed space and a conductor in the enclosed space. A current transformer utilizing current in the conductor induces current in a secondary winding thereof, and a fan assembly is electrically connected to the secondary winding. The fan assembly includes a fan motor in driving relation to a fan.

Self powered cooling fan and method

A temperature sensor for use in a circuit breaker is disclosed. The temperature sensor is included in the circuit breaker and detects temperature of a target within the current path of the breaker. If the temperature of the target falls within a preselected critical range, a trip signal is triggered in a trip processor board which actuates a solenoid to trip the circuit breaker. A bridge is provided in the current path to continue normal function of the circuit breaker outside the critical range of temperatures.

Circuit protective device with temperature sensing

A method permits calibration of a current sensor having a conductor that comprises at least two conductor branches electrically connected in parallel. The method comprises passing a predetermined electrical current through the conductor, measuring a fraction of the current that passes through a measured conductor branch, which is one of the two conductor branches, comparing the measured current against a predetermined target current, trimming a calibrating conductor, which is one of the at least two conductor branches, the trimming taking place when said measured current and said predetermined target current are not equal.

Calibrated current sensor

A Hall effect sensor is transported to and away from a conductor to vary the sensitivity range of the sensor to current flow in the conductor. The device comprises a bracket supported on the conductor which holds a jack screw. At the lower end of the jack screw is a sensor block which holds the Hall effect sensor. The sensor block translates in a slide guide of the bracket, but is prevented from rotating. At the upper end of the jack screw is a knob for rotating the jack screw. Rotating the jack screw causes the sensor block to slide closer or farther from the conductor, which varies its sensitivity in measuring a magnetic field generated by a current in the conductor.

Flux concentration adjustment mechanism and method for hall effect sensors and circuit breaker using same

A modular current sensor and power source unit ( ) for duplicating the function of a current transformer is disposed on a conductor ( ) of an electrical circuit. Modular current sensor and power source unit ( ) includes a current transformer ( ), a power supply circuit ( ), a current sensor ( ), and current source circuit ( ). Current transformer ( ) provides operating power to power supply circuit ( ). Power supply circuit ( ) regulates the operating power and provides the regulated operating power to sensor ( ) and current source ( ). Sensor ( ) senses current in phase ( ) and provides a signal indicative of the current in phase ( ) to current source ( ). Current source ( ) receives the signal from sensor ( ) and drives an output current proportional to this signal to the load circuit via lines ( ) and ( ). The current output by current source ( ) has the attributes of the low power sensor ( ) with the ability to provide power to the load circuit.

Modular current sensor and power source

To allow access to a control/display module in an electronic circuit breaker, an adapter and harness are provided for remotely positioning the control/display module in a more accessible location, e.g., on the remote handle operator. An adapter plug and plate installs in place of the control/display module on the circuit breaker. The adapter plug provides connectors for a harness to extend to a mounting plate, which can be attached to the remote handle operator. The control/display module, which was removed from the circuit breaker, is installed in the mounting plate.

Remote LCD adapter and method for electronic circuit breakers

A trip indicator for handle operator for controlling a handle of a circuit breaker comprises a cover having a window sufficiently sized to view indicia indicating a position of the handle, a trip flag having indicia indicating a TRIPPED condition, and a connection between a chuck of the handle operator and the trip flag configured to move the trip flag such that the indicia is visible through the window when the handle is in a TRIPPED position and is not visible through said window when the handle is not in the TRIPPED position.

Trip indication capability for circuit breaker remote handle operator

A device is provided for operating a circuit breaker handle. The device includes a body having a receiving area to receive and engage a portion of the circuit breaker handle. The body is fixedly secured to a shaft for movement between a first position and a second position. The body is caused to move by a forces from a first coil and a second coil. The first coil generates a first force in a first direction, and the second coil generates a second force in a second direction, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction. The first and second forces are transferred to the shaft for effectuating movement between the first and second positions.

Remote operating apparatus and method for a circuit breaker handle

A magnetic material is continuously wound in and through openings formed in a pair of bobbins to form a wound core of an electrical transformer by inserting the pair of bobbins into a cavity formed in a winding fixture, feeding the magnetic material into the winding fixture so that the magnetic material is fed into a circular winding action such that a leading edge of the magnetic material is continuously threaded into the openings formed in the pair of bobbins to form a wound transformer core, cutting the magnetic material to form a trailing edge, securing the trailing edge to underlying wound transformer core material, and shaping the wound transformer core to a predetermined shape.

Continuous winding process and apparatus for electrical transformers

An apparatus for winding the magnetic core of an electronic transformer about a pre-formed wire coil, the apparatus comprising a first member, a second member, and a locking device for aligning and fastening said first member to said second member. The first member and the second member each further comprising a winding member, a first flange disposed at a first end of said winding member, and a second flange disposed at a second end of the winding member. A method of continuously winding a magnetic material onto a bobbin assembly to form a wound core of an electrical transformer is provided and comprises forming a bobbin assembly about a pre-formed wire coil, fixing a leading edge of the magnet material to the bobbin assembly, and rotating said bobbin assembly about the pre-formed wire coil to wind the magnetic material onto the bobbin assembly.

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Collinsville, CT, United States of America

Farshid Attarian