Siemens Industry, Inc.

Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Joselito Endozo

Hugh T Kinsel

Russell Thomas Watford

Carlos Eduardo Restrepo

Vaske Mikani

Brian Timothy McCoy

Solomon R Titus

Peter Staley

Amit Nayak

Jean-Mary Martel

Raiden Jay Kim

Sebastian Schaich

Carlos Restrepo

Peter S Staley

Alexander Hueber

James Saunders

A circuit interrupting device comprises a conductor capable of generating heat and a temperature-activated, permanent lock out trip mechanism. The mechanism includes a plunger, a compressed or stretched spring and a fusible metal to hold the plunger. The mechanism is located near the conductor that generates heat and is configured such that when the fusible metal melts when at least one heating element is energized or a holding wire fuses when energized in response to a failed self-test the plunger is released: allowing the compressed or stretched spring to convert its potential energy into kinetic energy and moving the plunger to generate a force to unlatch a latch releasing a first spring to open a contactor switch removing power from an electrical circuit. The constant force generated by the compressed or stretched spring on the plunger inhibits the circuit interrupting device from resetting.

Circuit interrupting device for providing a fail-safe lock out trip mechanism or a temperature activated, permanent lock out trip mechanism in response to a self-test

A circuit interrupting device with overload current detection is provided. It comprises a hot conductor, a main contactor and a first electromagnetic device configured to remove power from an electrical circuit when overload current exceeds a predetermined % of a rated load current. It further comprises a section of conductor that generates heat and a thermal overload current detection mechanism including a temperature sensing switch having contacts. The temperature sensing switch closes the contacts when a temperature reaches a predefined temperature threshold corresponding to an overload current, in which case the temperature sensing switch electrically couples power to a second electromagnet which is disposed across the hot conductor and a connection to a neutral conductor. The energized second electromagnet generates a magnetic force capable of moving an armature that unlatches the latch releasing the spring to open the main contactor removing power from the electrical circuit.

Overload current detection in a circuit interrupting device

A circuit interrupting device with a temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism is provided. The temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism is located in close proximity to a section of conductor that generates heat. An energized first solenoid generates a magnetic force capable of moving an armature that unlatches a latch releasing a spring to open a main contactor removing power from an electrical circuit. The temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism upon reaching a predetermined temperature which is higher than the predetermined temperature threshold of the temperature sensing switch also generates a mechanical force capable of moving the armature that unlatches the latch releasing the spring to open the main contactor removing power from the electrical circuit. Once activated, the temperature activated permanent lockout trip mechanism inhibits the latch from latching which prevents a reset of the circuit interrupting device thus the circuit interrupting device is permanently disabled as the main contactor cannot be closed, and power no longer be reconnected to the electrical circuit.

Fail-safe lockout trip mechanism in a circuit interrupting device

An electronic circuit breaker may include a monitoring circuit configured to monitor and respond to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure within the electronic circuit breaker. In some embodiments, the monitoring circuit may monitor a DC current received from a detection circuit within the electronic circuit breaker. A response to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure may include interrupting current flow between an electrical power source and an electrical circuit protected by the electronic circuit breaker. Methods of monitoring and responding to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure within an electronic circuit breaker are also provided, as are other aspects.

Apparatus and methods for monitoring and responding to power supply and/or detection circuit failures within an electronic circuit breaker

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) having an automatic self-test feature is configured to disable a trip circuit therein during a self test, yet still allow the trip circuit to respond during the self test to detection of a large ground fault by tripping a main contact switch of the GFCI. The GFCI includes circuitry that overrides the disablement of the trip circuit during a self test in response to detection of a ground fault that exceeds a predetermined threshold. Methods of disabling a trip circuit of a GFCI during a self test while still allowing the trip circuit to respond during the self test to detection of a large ground fault are also provided, as are other aspects.

Methods and apparatus to disable a trip circuit during self test in ground fault circuit interrupters

An electronic circuit breaker may include a monitoring circuit configured to monitor and respond to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure within the electronic circuit breaker. In some embodiments, the monitoring circuit may monitor a regulated DC voltage provided by the detection circuit within the electronic circuit breaker. A response to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure may include interrupting current flow between an electrical power source and an electrical circuit protected by the electronic circuit breaker. Methods of monitoring and responding to a power supply and/or detection circuit failure within an electronic circuit breaker are also provided, as are other aspects.

A two-pole circuit breaker is provided that includes a first mechanical pole, a second mechanical pole and an electronic pole. The first mechanical pole includes a first armature having a first armature extension, and the second mechanical pole includes a second armature having a second armature extension. The electronic pole includes a first solenoid and a second solenoid, the first armature extension is disposed adjacent the first solenoid, and the second armature is disposed adjacent the second solenoid. Numerous other aspects are provided.

Two-pole circuit breakers

An apparatus and method for a supervisory circuit for a ground fault detection device or a ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) device is disclosed in which a low voltage DC power supply is used to generate a test stimulus signal for a self test of the GFCI device. The GFCI device includes line and neutral conductors configured to connect an AC power source and a load. A differential current transformer includes a toroid, through which the line and neutral conductors pass, and a secondary winding wound on the toroid. A differential ground fault detector is electrically connected to the secondary winding of the differential current transformer to compare current generated in the secondary winding from an imbalance of magnetic flux in the toroid to a trip threshold. A wire conductor is routed through the toroid of the differential current transformer. A controller is configured to control a low voltage DC test stimulus signal to be generated in the wire conductor.

Method and apparatus for supervisory circuit for ground fault circuit interrupt device

An apparatus and method for a supervisory circuit for a ground fault detection device or ground fault circuit interrupt (GFCI) device is disclosed in which is a test stimulus signal for a self test of the GFCI device is generated on a second secondary winding on a toroid of a differential current transformer. The GFCI device includes line and neutral conductors configured to connect an AC power source and a load. A differential current transformer includes a toroid, through which the line and neutral conductors pass, a first secondary winding wound on the toroid to generate a current in response to an imbalance of magnetic flux in the toroid, and a second secondary winding wound on the toroid. A differential ground fault detector is electrically connected to the first secondary winding of the differential current transformer to compare current generated in the secondary winding to a trip threshold. A controller is configured to control a test stimulus signal to be generated in the second secondary winding wound on the toroid of the differential current transformer.

A circuit tests the health of a ground-neutral transformer within a ground fault circuit interrupter. This test can include testing both the ground-to-neutral detection circuitry and the differential current detection circuitry. The test circuit provides a conductive path through the respective cores of a differential transformer and the ground-neutral transformer of the GFCI device. A closed loop induces current from the differential transformer, which creates a current imbalance through the differential transformer. In a properly working device, the circuit breaker will trip, confirming the health of the ground-neutral transformer portion of the GFCI.

Systems and methods for testing ground fault detection circuitry

In accordance with one aspect the present disclosure is directed toward a method for detecting arc faults on a power line. The method may include monitoring power signals associated with a power line and filtering the power signals to produce a high frequency signal and a low frequency signal. A mask signal may generated based on the low frequency signal, and the high frequency signal may be analyzed to extract a broadband portion of the high frequency signal. A fault counter may be incremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately greater than a first threshold level. A fault counter may be decremented if the magnitude of the broadband portion is approximately less than the first threshold level. A trip signal is provided to a switching device associated with the power line if the fault counter exceeds a predetermined fault limit.

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Dacula, GA, United States of America

Joselito Endozo