Siemens Industry, Inc.

Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.

Solomon R Titus

Guang Yang

David A Leone

James Edward Ferree

Mario Bilac

Mauricio Rodriguez

Carlos Eduardo Restrepo

Hugh T Kinsel

Harry Price Haas

Vaske Mikani

William Anthony King, Jr

Joselito Endozo

Peter Staley

Mark I Shmukler

Amit Nayak

Raiden Jay Kim

Huy Nguyen

James O Alexander

William A King

Peter S Staley

Carlos Restrepo

A solid-state circuit breaker or a residential circuit breaker includes a base housing semiconductors, electronics and advanced software algorithms. The base has a first profile area. It further includes a ventilation system for cooling the solid-state circuit breaker. The ventilation system includes a main cover configured to be mounted on the base by covering the first profile area of the base. The main cover has a second profile area such that the second profile area has an array of holes built-in the main cover. The ventilation system further includes an outer cover configured to be mounted on the main cover by covering the second profile area of the main cover to form an assembly of multi-layered covers. The outer cover has a third profile area such that the third profile area has an array of ribs built-in the outer cover.

Solid-state circuit breaker with a ventilation system that uses multi-layered covers to ventilate for cooling

A solid-state circuit breaker comprises an airgap operating mechanism including components and a housing that houses the components of the airgap operating mechanism such that each component in the operating mechanism is configured to operate in a way that only limited amount of space is required to achieve functions of ON, OFF, and TRIP. The components of the operating mechanism include a contact arm, a handle, and an interface feature to interface between the handle and the contact arm to apply a force thereon. The interface feature is configured to adjust the contact arm ensuring an optimal positioning. The components of the operating mechanism include a double pivot of the contact arm and a handle feature in that the contact arm has two-pivot legs, an armature, an armature pivot feature and a stopper feature, a cradle, and a stopper pin configured to stop the cradle during TRIP operation.

Solid-state circuit breaker includes airgap operating mechanism configured to operate in limited space

A solid-state circuit breaker configured to turn off electronics before a pair of opposing primary main contacts are opened. The solid-state circuit breaker includes a main mechanism including a pair of opposing primary main contacts. The solid-state circuit breaker further includes electronics including semiconductors and software algorithms that control the power and can interrupt currents. The solid-state circuit breaker further includes a switching system including a secondary switch that is configured to be actuated prior to opening of the primary main contacts. The secondary switch is configured to turn off the power to the electronics of the solid-state circuit breaker before the primary main contacts are opened to eliminate or reduce electrical arcing across the primary main contacts.

Solid-state circuit breaker that turns off electronics before primary main contacts are opened

A temperature sensor of a thermal monitoring system is provided for use in power distribution systems. The temperature sensor comprises ceramic printed circuit board (PCB) and a terminal. The ceramic PCB includes a temperature sensing element disposed on a side of the ceramic PCB. The terminal is configured to be fixed directly in contact with a measured point and is directly in touch with the ceramic PCB such that heat is conducted from the terminal, through the ceramic PCB and then to the temperature sensing element. The temperature sensing element is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to the heat such that the electrical signal is sent through a pair of lead wires to a controller for monitoring a temperature. The temperature sensor further comprises an overmolded plastic material to seal a portion of the terminal, the ceramic PCB in its entirety and a portion of the pair of lead wires to ensure a desired physical strength and a desired dielectric strength.

Temperature sensor of thermal monitoring system for use in power distribution systems

A temperature sensor of a thermal monitoring system is provided for use in power distribution systems. The temperature sensor comprises ceramic printed circuit board (PCB) and a terminal. The ceramic PCB includes a temperature sensing element disposed on a side of the ceramic PCB. The terminal is configured to be fixed directly in contact with a measured point and is directly in touch with the ceramic PCB such that heat is conducted from the terminal, through the ceramic PCB and then to the temperature sensing element. The temperature sensing element is configured to generate an electrical signal in response to the heat such that the electrical signal is sent through a pair of lead wires to a controller for monitoring a temperature. The temperature sensor further comprises an epoxy to seal a portion of the terminal, the ceramic PCB in its entirety and a portion of the pair of lead wires to ensure a desired physical strength and a desired dielectric strength.

A neutral connector assembly for a circuit breaker. Neutral connector assembly includes a molded case of the circuit breaker, and a connector body including a first contact portion configured to make electrical connection with a neutral bar, a second portion having a neutral conductor connected thereto, the connector body being prong-less and securely and immovably mounted to the molded case. Circuit breaker neutral connector includes a first contact portion configured to make electrical connection with a flexible beam of a neutral bar. Circuit breakers including a prong-less neutral connector, panel board assemblies including flexible beams, panel board and circuit breaker assemblies, and methods of making electrical neutral connections are provided, as are other aspects.

Prong-less neutral connector assemblies, circuit breakers including prong-less neutral connector, panel boards with flexible neutral bars, and neutral connection methods

Electric charger

The present invention relates generally to a load center. More particularly, the invention encompasses a self contained kilowatt-hour meter which is integral to a standard load center. The present invention is also directed to a novel printed circuit board and housing for the self contained kilowatt-hour meter. The self contained kilowatt-hour meter of this invention measures the energy usage of a facility, such as, residential unit, a house, an apartment, a condominium, and then it communicates the energy usage in a timely manner or as desired to a local requester, such as, the owner, occupant or any other entity, as well as, to another requester, such as, a remote requester, for example, an energy provider.

Self contained kilowatt-hour meter integral to standard load center

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a fault detection system, which can comprise a circuit breaker that is adapted to protect an electrical circuit. The circuit breaker can comprise a screen adapted to render a user interface. The user interface can comprise an arc fault detection circuit status indicator indicative of an automatic detection of an electrical circuit arc fault by the circuit breaker.

Devices, systems, and methods for managing a circuit breaker

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.

Systems and methods for arc fault detection

Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a system, which can comprise a wafer that defines an opening. The wafer can be adapted to be operatively installed between a mechanical portion of a circuit breaker and an electronic portion of the circuit breaker. When installed, the wafer can be adapted to receive a protrusion of the mechanical portion of the circuit breaker.

An apparatus for indicating a condition of a molded case circuit breaker, with the circuit breaker defining an accessory pocket in communication with an operating mechanism and a trip unit of the circuit breaker, including a mount member operatively coupled to one of the operating mechanism and trip unit in the accessory pocket. A housing coupled to the mount member, with the housing defining a compartment. A magnetic latch device disposed in the compartment and operatively coupled to the mount member. A switch disposed in the compartment and operatively coupled to the mount member. Wherein a condition of the circuit breaker is indicated by a condition of one of the switch and magnetic latch, and the condition of the circuit breaker is operatively transmitted via the apparatus to a remote location.

Integrated maglatch accessory

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

An electronic trip unit is adapted for connection to a circuit breaker for circuit interruptions. The electronic trip unit includes a frame module shaped to define a recess. An electronics module is releasably connected to the frame module. The electronics module has a housing, a circuit board assembly, and a facing surface providing access for adjustment of the electronics module. The housing of the electronics module is sized and shaped to fit at least partially within the recess defined by the frame module. An engagement surface is positioned for releasable engagement between the frame module and the electronics module in order to permit removal and replacement of the electronics module with respect to the frame module.

Growing community of inventors

Cumming, GA, United States of America

Solomon R Titus