Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Industry, Inc.

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

James Edward Ferree

Bernard DiMarco

David A Leone

Jorg Sizemore

Hugh T Kinsel

Barry R Contrael

Solomon R Titus

Mauricio Rodriguez

Mark I Shmukler

Robert E Black

Guang Yang

Henry Richard Beck

Thomas William Holland

Neal B Reeves

Sheenfar Sean Fong

Justin Michael Cardwell

Alan J Ludwig, Deceased

Solomon R R Titus

A solid-state circuit breaker (SSCB) includes an airgap operating mechanism including components and electronics including semiconductors and software algorithms that control the power and can interrupt extreme currents. The SSCB further includes a housing that houses the components of the airgap operating mechanism and the electronics. The housing of the solid-state circuit breaker includes a heat sink that interfaces with a natural air flow such as an existing vertical air channel inside an electrical panel. The heat sink contains a thermally conductive and electrically insulating (TC/EI) plastic.

Heat sink for a solid-state circuit breakerin an electrical panel

A circuit breaker distribution system is configured to provide selective coordination. The system comprises a solid-state switch disposed as a main or upstream breaker and a switch with an over current protection disposed as a branch or downstream breaker. The solid-state switch comprises a microcontroller to: allow repeated pulses of current through to the branch or downstream breaker in an event of an overload or short circuit, choose a maximum current limit for the solid-state switch as a 'chop level' such that the chop level is chosen higher than a rated current of the solid-state circuit breaker but low enough that the solid-state switch is not damaged from repeated pulses over a period of time needed to switch OFF the branch or downstream breaker, and add a pulse interval which is optimized to a system voltage waveform in that chopped pulses tend to be longer and more effective for de-latching the branch or downstream breaker when they occur in vicinity of a zero crossing of the system voltage waveform and chopped pulses are shorter and less effective near peaks of the system voltage waveform.

Circuit breaker distribution system configured to provide selective coordination

A circuit breaker distribution system is configured to provide selective coordination. The system comprises a solid-state switch disposed as a main or upstream breaker and a switch with an over current protection disposed as a branch or downstream breaker. The microcontroller to: allow repeated pulses of current through to the branch or downstream breaker in an event of an overload or short circuit, choose a maximum current limit for the solid-state switch as a 'chop level' such that the chop level is chosen higher than a rated current of the solid-state circuit breaker but low enough that the solid-state switch is not damaged from repeated pulses over a period of time needed to switch OFF the branch or downstream breaker and add a pulse interval after the current chops to zero but before the solid-state circuit breaker returns to an ON state for a next pulse to begin.

A circuit breaker distribution system is configured to provide selective coordination. The system comprises a solid-state switch disposed as a main or upstream breaker and a switch with an over current protection disposed as a branch or downstream breaker. The solid-state switch comprises a microcontroller including a processor and a memory, and computer-readable logic code stored in the memory which, when executed by the processor, causes the microcontroller to: allow repeated pulses of current through to the branch or downstream breaker in an event of an overload or short circuit, and choose a maximum current limit for the solid-state switch as a 'chop level' such that the chop level is chosen higher than a rated current of the solid-state circuit breaker but low enough that the solid-state switch is not damaged from repeated pulses over a period of time needed to switch OFF the branch or downstream breaker.

A multi-finger electrical contact assembly having unequal electrical resistance in current paths through each finger providing relatively high current withstand capability. The multi-finger electrical contact assembly includes three or more fingers each with a coupled conductor, wherein one or more outer fingers and coupled conductor of the assembly have greater electrical resistance than an inner finger and coupled conductor. Multi-phase circuit breakers including the multi-finger electrical contact assembly and methods are provided, as are other aspects.

Multi-finger electrical contact assemblies , circuit breakers, and methods having increased current withstand capabilities

An electric arc extinguishing apparatus for a molded case circuit breaker is provided. A first set of arc splitter plates () directs into a first flow channel () a flow of gases formed during an arcing event. A second set of arc splitter plates () directs into a second flow channel () a further flow of gases formed during the arcing event. A baffle () establishes flow channel separation between the first and second flow channels. This arrangement provides gas flow velocity that is relatively uniform throughout the arc stack and efficiently and reliably removes heat from the hot gas flow since every arc splitter plate effectively contributes to the cooling of the gas flow. Additionally, the electric arc is efficiently blown and distributed into each of the arc splitter plate gaps, resulting in higher arc voltage and improved arc extinguishing performance.

Electric arc extinguishing apparatus for a molded case circuit breaker

A multi-finger circuit breaker includes a moving contact assembly having a carrier body, a first plurality of fixed breaking contacts, a first plurality of movable contacts, a plurality of first fingers, at least one second finger longer in length to a length of a first finger of the plurality of first fingers, a plurality of splitter plates disposed adjacent to the plurality of first fingers and the at least one second finger and a slot motor disposed adjacent to the plurality of first fingers and the at least one second finger. The slot motor is configured to provide a first magnetic field force to amplify a second magnetic field force being applied on the second finger to influence an arc between the first plurality of fixed breaking contacts and the first plurality of movable contacts during a short circuit such that to move the arc away from between the first plurality of fixed breaking contacts and the first plurality of movable contacts and dissipate energy of the arc.

Slot motor configuration for high amperage multi-finger circuit breaker

A slot motor apparatus for a circuit breaker is disclosed. The slot motor has first and second legs connected by a thin web, and an extending portion extending rearward from the rear faces of the legs. Slot motor-arc plate assemblies having an arc plate assembly received at least partially overtop of the extending portion are also disclosed, as are assemblies having the arc plate assembly received very close to the rear faces of the slot motor legs. Circuit breakers, slot motor-arc plate assemblies, slot motor covers, and methods of operating the slot motor-arc plate assemblies are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Slot motor, slot motor cover, slot motor&#x2014;arc plate assembly, and methods of operation

A contact apparatus of a circuit breaker is disclosed. The contact apparatus has an outer carrier, an inner carrier, one or more contact fingers pivotally mounted to the inner carrier, a cam lever pivotally mounted to the outer carrier, and a cam and cam profile formed on respective ones of the cam lever and inner carrier. Circuit breakers and electrical contact assemblies having the contact apparatus, and methods of operating the contact apparatus and electrical contact assemblies are disclosed, as are other aspects.

Circuit breaker contact assembly and cam lever

Embodiments provide an electrical contact assembly. The electrical contact assembly includes a crossbar, a pivot pin mounted in the crossbar, a contact arm pivotally mounted on the pivot pin and rotatable about a pivot axis, a moveable electrical contact spaced from the pivot axis in a first arm portion of the contact arm, and a spring assembly coupled between the crossbar and the contact arm, the spring assembly including a clevis pin and a spring received on the clevis pin wherein an end of the clevis pin extends through the spring and is received in a pivot recess in the crossbar. Electrical contact assemblies with offset rod ends and limit stops are also disclosed. Systems including the electrical contact assembly and methods of operating the electrical contact assembly are provided, as are other aspects.

Circuit breaker electrical contact assembly, and systems and methods using same

A concept of a double-breaking contact system with a rotating contact arm is disclosed. In at least one embodiment, a novel arrangement of fixed conductors that cross over the contact arm is presented. A double-breaking contact system for a low voltage circuit breaker of at least one embodiment includes a double-breaking contact arm extending along a longitudinal axis and being rotatable across a central bearing; a first fixed conductor and a second fixed conductor, each conductor contacting one end of the contact arm, respectively and having first segments below the contact arm, second segments above the contact arm and third segments crossing over the contact arm and connecting the first segments with the corresponding second segments of each conductor; wherein the first segments and/or the second segments are arranged parallel to each other for guiding a current in a parallel direction through the respective first and/or second segments, but reverse to the current in the contact arm.

Double-breaking contact system for a low voltage circuit breaker, a molded case circuit breaker comprising the double-breaking contact system, and a method for breaking a circuit

The present invention relates generally to a mechanism of a contact system for circuit breakers. More particularly, the invention encompasses a mechanism for a rotary double-break contact system, which enables a direct transfer of torque from stored energy components, such as, springs, to the contact arm in the ON-position (contacts closed) without using intermediate cam surface. The mechanism described in the invention also ensures reliable locking of the contact arm in the blow-off position using stationary means that are integral with or fixed to a crossbar module. This invention enables to achieve significant reduction or even to eliminate friction at certain critical interfaces between the contact mechanism components, thus, reducing or potentially eliminating hysteresis, and improving performance consistency, and also eliminating mechanism performance dependency on wear level and condition of an intermediate cam surface. An additional feature of this invention is a reduction of a loss of contact torque/force during over-travel in the ON position when the fixed and/or moveable contacts erode. Configurations described in this invention may also feature physical protection for the moving components of the contact mechanism assembly from flying particles resulting from short circuit shots.

Double break disconnect/contact system

A circuit breaker ( ) includes a sensing circuit ( ), a control circuit ( ), an actuator ( ), an operating mechanism, and an interlock mechanism ( ). The sensing circuit ( ) is configured to generate the sense signal representative of a power signal flowing through a power circuit ( ). The control circuit ( ) has a frame ( ) and is configured to receive the sense signal and to provide a trip signal on a first terminal ( ). The actuator ( ) is external to the control circuit frame ( ) and has a second terminal ( ) coupleable to the first terminal ( ). The actuator ( ) is configured to receive the trip signal on the second terminal ( ). The operating mechanism is coupled to the actuator ( ) and is configured to open and close the power circuit in response to actuation of a lever ( ). The actuator ( ) is configured to actuate the lever ( ) in response to the trip signal. The interlock mechanism ( ) is coupled to at least one of the actuator ( ) and the operating mechanism and is configured to actuate the lever ( ) when the first terminal ( ) is not coupled to the second terminal ( ).

External actuator interlock mechanism for circuit breaker

The circuit breaker ( ) of the present invention is a molded case circuit breaker and includes a molded case ( ) having a main cover ( ), a first terminal ( ) and a second terminal ( ) mounted inside the case ( ) with a stationary contact ( ) electrically coupled to the first terminal ( ) and a movable contact ( ) electrically coupled to the second terminal ( ). The movable contact ( ) is coupled to an operating mechanism ( ) which has a pivoting member ( ) moveable between an ON position, an OFF position and a TRIPPED position. An intermediate latching mechanism ( ) also is mounted in the housing ( ) and is coupled to the operating mechanism ( ). The intermediate latching mechanism ( ) is selectively operated by a trip unit ( ) which comprises a magnetic short circuit release and a thermal overload release. The trip unit ( ) can be reconfigured by the addition of an inner yoke ( ) nested between the flanges ( ) of an outer yoke ( ) and a second magnetic shield ( ) can be attached to the outer yoke ( ) to change the sensitivity of the trip unit ( ) to the currents experienced by the circuit breaker. A particular embodiment of the circuit breaker ( ) includes an interchangeable bi-metal ( ) member of a copper alloy having a chemical composition of CDA &num;19400 and with an electrical conductivity of not more than 40% IACS.

Growing community of inventors

Lawrenceville, GA, United States of America

James Edward Ferree