Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Siemens Industry, Inc.

Jorg Sizemore

James Edward Ferree

Hugh T Kinsel

Barry R Contrael

Jan Rojko

Stephen Scott Thomas

John Quentin Cowans

Mark I Shmukler

Xinhua Chen

Esteban Sandoval Camacho

Sheenfar Sean Fong

Ronald Cone

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 circuit breaker having a housing with an accessory cover includes an accessory cover interlock assembly that trips the circuit breaker upon removal of the accessory cover. The accessory cover interlock assembly includes a plunger rotatable from an initial install position to an engaged position that moves a trip lever into a de-energize position (tripping the circuit breaker) upon removal of the accessory cover. The accessory cover interlock assembly prevents the circuit breaker from being reset while the access cover is removed. The accessory cover interlock assembly automatically resets upon re-attachment of the accessory cover to the circuit breaker housing. Methods of forced safety tripping in a circuit breaker are also provided, as are other aspects.

Circuit breaker accessory cover interlock and forced safety tripping apparatus, systems, and methods

A tripping shaft apparatus for a circuit breaker. Tripping shaft apparatus includes a rigid shaft portion and a polymer shaft portion molded onto the rigid shaft portion, wherein the polymer shaft portion includes a first molded lever. At least one other lever is a part of the tripping shaft apparatus. A torsion spring is received over the shaft between the first molded lever and the second lever providing an integral torsion spring positioned between the levers. Circuit breaker tripping assemblies and methods of assembling a circuit breaker tripping assembly are provided, as are other aspects.

Circuit breaker tripping shaft with over-molded levers

A magnetic trip device of a thermal magnetic circuit breaker and a thermal magnetic circuit breaker including such a magnetic trip device, and also a method for adjusting a magnetic field area of a magnetic trip device of a thermal magnetic circuit breaker, are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, the magnetic trip device includes at least an armature locator moveable arranged at a pin in order to adjust a magnetic field area, and an armature element fixed on a lower surface of the armature locator in order to interact with a yoke, arranged near a current conductive element for conducting electric energy. The armature locator includes an adjustment element arranged between a spring element and the yoke. The spring element surrounding at least a part of the pin is arranged between the armature element and the yoke.

Magnetic trip device of a thermal magnetic circuit breaker having an adjustment element

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.

Growing community of inventors

Duluth, GA, United States of America

Jorg Sizemore