General Electric Company

Michael H Thomas

Paul T Rajotte

Michael Sullivan Tignor

Michael B Bradley

Geoffrey Freeman Butland

LeeAnne Wambolt

Roger N Castonguay

Robert Allan Morris

Dean A Robarge

Dave S Christensen

Dennis J Doughty

Randy Greenberg

James Arthur Marple

Charles Stephen Pitzen

Richard L Hein

Hassan Girish

Ranganna C Dasari

Kay Gruenwoldt

An electronic trip unit for a circuit breaker includes a programmed microprocessor and a module plug in removable signal communication with the microprocessor. The module plug includes a program identifier. The microprocessor recognizes the program identifier and accesses a program of a plurality of programs external to the module plug based on the program identifier. The microprocessor responds to the program to perform a function identified by the module plug. The function identifiable by the module plug includes a communications function, a load monitoring function, a non-tripping ground fault alarm function, a flag function, or any combination thereof.

Method and apparatus for accessing and activating accessory functions of electronic circuit breakers

An electronic trip unit for a circuit breaker includes: a microprocessor, the microprocessor programmed to determine an overcurrent condition of the circuit breaker; a nonvolatile memory in electronic communication with the microprocessor; a module plug releasably engaged with the microprocessor, the module plug includes an identification register; wherein the microprocessor reads the identification register, the identification register including an identification number; wherein the microprocessor accesses one of a plurality of programs in the nonvolatile memory based the identification number; and wherein the one of a plurality of programs instructs the microprocessor to perform steps necessary to operate one or more functions of the module plug.

Module plug for an electronic trip unit

An identification system for identifying correct placement of various circuit breaker accessories within recesses of a circuit breaker molded frame is disclosed. The system includes recess symbols adjacent the recesses in the frame and matching accessory symbols positioned on a front, visible surface of the accessories. The system may further include name labels positioned on the accessories for labeling the accessories'names. A circuit breaker employing the identification system of the present invention is also disclosed.

Accessory and recess identification system for circuit breakers

A combination circuit breaker/motor starter includes a circuit breaker trip unit having a microprocessor and at least one removably connectable contactor or other functional module. The functional module is encoded with an identifier, such that the microprocessor can determine the type of functional module and appropriate configuration parameters, such as trip times, for the particular application of the functional module. Power is supplied continuously to the trip unit during motor overload or short circuit conditions.

Breaker/starter with auto-configurable trip unit

Molded case circuit breaker

Growing community of inventors

Amersfoort, Netherlands

Michael H Thomas