Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Allen-bradley Company, LLC

James Peter Miller

Robert Alfred Duchrow

Jeffrey R Annis

Andrew Edward Carlson

Theodore John Houck, Iii

Jerry Michael Watkins

Darrell Steven Filtz

Hans Weichert

Reynald Kaltenrieder

Lorenz Laeuppi

Urs Hunziker

Christopher John Wieloch

Kristopher J Holley

Joseph A Johnson

Walied Khan

James J Kinsella

Kyle Benjamin Adkins

Stefan T Dziekonski

Christopher H Bock

Randall S Langer

David Elmiger

Aiman Kerim

Susan L Beneke, Legal Representative

Shawn D Cloran

Scott B Lasko

William R Berry

Edward Byaliy

Douglas P Cleereman

Phillip R Bush

Jie Ning

Sal Eminovic

Patrick S Murray

Paul Gieschen

Susan L Beneke

Jeffrey Ramsey Annis

This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system including a mechanical switch and solid-state switching circuit. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs based on operations of the solid-state switching circuit. The solid-state switching circuit may draw arc currents of the electrical arcs by providing a second current path between the spanner and a fixed conductor of the mechanical switch. Moreover, the solid-state switching circuit may open the second current path and absorb electrical power of the electrical arc by one or more solid-state switches, a parallel voltage suppressor, or both.

Hybrid circuit breaker with solid-state devices

This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system. The hybrid circuit breaker may include a mechanical switch and solid-state switches. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs by drawing the electrical arcs to a conductive bar and away from the spanner. Moreover, the hybrid circuit breaker may dissipate the electrical arcs on the conductive bar by opening one or multiple solid-state switches disposed on the conductive bar. In some cases, one or multiple voltage suppressors may receive (e.g., suppress or ground) an electrical power of the electrical arcs when the solid-state switches are opened.

Hybrid circuit breaker with solid state devices

A system includes an industrial automation component configured to receive a first voltage from a voltage source to enable the industrial automation component to perform one or more operations, a mechanical device configured to generate a second voltage, and a display configured to present image data. The display is configured to maintain presentation of the image data in absence of the first voltage received from the voltage source or the second voltage received from the mechanical device. The system also includes processing circuitry configured to use the second voltage generated by the mechanical device to adjust the image data presented by the display when the first voltage is unavailable.

Actuation assembly for display for industrial automation component

An industrial automation component includes a power source configured to harvest power from an ambient environment surrounding the industrial automation component. The industrial automation component is configured to use the power to operate. The industrial automation component also includes a control system configured to use the power to control one or more operations of the industrial automation component and a display communicatively coupled to the control system and the power source. The control system is configured to use the power the cause the display to present a visualization, and the display is configured to maintain presentation of the visualization in absence of the power.

Display for self-powered industrial automation component

A system includes an electrical enclosure, an industrial automation component disposed within the electrical enclosure, in which the industrial automation component is configured to receive external power from an external power source to perform an operation, a display configured to maintain presentation of image data in absence of the external power being received by the industrial automation component from the external power source, and a control system communicatively coupled to the industrial automation component and to the display. The control system is configured to perform operations that include receiving an indication that the external power is within a range of a threshold, in which the threshold is associated with an insufficient amount of power for the industrial automation component to operate, identifying an error associated with the industrial automation component in response to receiving the indication, and causing the display to render image data indicative of the error.

Error display for industrial automation component

One embodiment describes a method that includes in a first switching operation of an electrical power switching system including three separately controllable single pole, single current-carrying path switching devices that provide three-phase power to a load, and control circuitry coupled to the switching devices to control closing and opening of the current-carrying paths, commanding at least one of the switching devices to open or close in advance of at least one other of the switching devices based upon a current zero-crossing or a predicted current zero-crossing of input three-phase power; and in subsequent switching operations alternating which of the three switching devices is closed or opened in advance of another of the switching devices.

Wear-balanced electromagnetic motor control switching

A system and methods providing for minimizing the arc energy delivered to the pads of a plurality of contactors using a single control coil based on monitoring the electrical sine waves of the three alternating current electrical poles and calculating the instant to energize or deenergize a single control coil. The remainder of the contactors will make or break based on an offset in time from the making or breaking of the control contactor.

Swtiching phase offset for contactor optimization

One embodiment describes a wye-delta starter, which includes a first single pole, single current carrying path switching device that selectively connects and disconnects a first winding of a motor in a wye configuration; a second single pole, single current carrying path switching device that selectively connects and disconnects the first winding in a delta configuration, in which the first switching device and the second switching device are coupled via a first interlock; a third single pole, single current carrying path switching device that selectively connects and disconnects a second winding and a third winding of the motor in the wye configuration; a fourth single pole, single current carrying path switching device that selectively connects and disconnects the second winding in the delta configuration, in which the third switching device and the fourth switching device are coupled via a second interlock; and a fifth single pole, single current carrying path switching device that selectively connects and disconnects the third winding in the delta configuration.

Modular multiple single-pole electromagnetic switching system and method

Switching phase offset for contactor optimization

A remote switching system for electronic switches in a cabinet provides an actuator assembly communicating through a flexible cable with a door handle. The actuator assembly on the electronic switch provides a rotatably captive threaded fastener holding the sheath of the flexible cable to the actuator assembly allow ring a simple single-point tuning of the actuator operation. This tuning may be facilitated by a visual scale showing relative positions between the actuator assembly and an internal slider communicating with the operator of the electronic switch.

Flexible cable assembly for high-power switch gear

Handle assembly

A contactor assembly includes a stationary contact, an arc contact, an arc arrestor, and a magnetic intensifier. The magnetic intensifier is constructed to be secured in generally close proximity to the stationary contact. During communication of power through the contactor assembly, the magnetic intensifier accentuates a magnetic field associated with the stationary contact and increases the magnitude of a magnetic force directed to the arc arrestor. A pair of arc guides extend along the magnetic intensifier and, cooperatively with the magnetic force, ensure efficient, repeatable, and expedient transfer of a circuit termination arc to the arc arrestor. Such a construction increases the operable range and lifecycle of the contactor by reducing the damage associated with propagation of the circuit termination arc.

Contactor assembly with arc steering system

A method of manufacturing a current switch magnetic intensifier that is constructed to be secured in generally close proximity to the stationary contact of the current switch. During termination of the communication of power through the contactor assembly, the magnetic intensifier accentuates a magnetic field associated with a stationary contact and increases the magnitude of a magnetic force directed to the arc arrestor. The intensifier is fitted proximate the stationary contact so that a pair of arc rails extend beyond the stationary contact such that a force of a magnetic field generated by the contactor magnetic intensified is directed in a common direction with a direction of reduced resistance of the pair of arc rails to ensure efficient, repeatable, and expedient transfer of a circuit termination arc to the arc arrestor.

Method of manufacturing a current switch magnetic intensifier

Growing community of inventors

Waukesha, WI, United States of America

James Peter Miller