Siemens Aktiengesellschaft

Stefan Widmann

Andreas Fischer

Peter Schegner

Karsten Wenzlaff

Joerg Meyer

Wolfgang Erven

Bernd Schwinn

Thomas Fleischmann

Christoph Boerzsoenyi

Alexander Fanderl

Jörg Meyer

Thomas Moosburger

Juergen Reisinger

Matthias Strobl

Events relevant for the service life are recorded for calculating the remaining service life of a switch. Events relevant for the service life are evaluated with respect to the frequency of their occurrence. The possibility of a future occurrence for the service life of relevant events is taken into account or not taken into account in accordance with the frequency of their occurrence for calculating the remaining service life.

Remaining service life prediction for switches

An arc fault identification unit for an electrical three-phase alternating current circuit with three phase conductors and a neutral conductor. The identification unit includes voltage sensors to periodically determine phase/neutral conductor voltage values and phase/phase voltage values current sensors to periodically determine phase conductor current variables which are used to determine the phase conductor current value and a value for the change in the electrical current over time per phase, and an evaluation unit connected to the voltage and current sensors. A current root mean square is compared with a current threshold value in each case and an excess current signal is emitted if the threshold value is exceeded; arc voltages are calculated and are compared with threshold values, with the result that arc fault identification signals are output.

Arc fault identification unit

A method is disclosed for detecting a defective amplifier. The device includes an electronic tripping unit which respectively carries out a check in order to determine whether the energy through the switch satisfies a condition and trips the switch if the condition has been satisfied; and an analog/digital converter respectively outputting the two differently amplified analog signals as digital values. In an embodiment of the method, a decision is made regarding which of the two digital values is used to check the condition. To detect defective amplifiers in the signal conditioning device of tripping units during ongoing operation, a check is carried out to determine whether at least one of the two digital values is in a predefined range; if so, whether the two digital values each belonging to the same time are in a predefined tolerance range. A fault is signaled if this is not the case.

Method for detecting a defective amplifier in an analog signal conditioning device of a switch

A method is disclosed for testing a latching solenoid of a switch and a testing device for carrying out the method is disclosed. The switch includes a switching contact, formed by contact elements mechanically separated from one another when the switching contact is open; an electronic trip unit, to respectively monitor the current passing via the contact elements and test whether a current-dependent tripping condition is satisfied; and an actuator, to separate contact elements after actuation, the trip unit actuating the actuator via the latching solenoid when the tripping condition is satisfied; and an electrical energy store, to charge to a voltage before the tripping and to be discharged via the latching solenoid. After a period of time after the tripping, the voltage of the energy store is compared with a reference value and a fault signal is output if the voltage of the energy store is above the reference.

Method for testing a latching solenoid of a switch and testing device for carrying out the method

A method is disclosed for selectively turning off a switch arrangement for current distribution. A corresponding switch arrangement is also disclosed, including an upstream switch and a directly downstream switch connected in series, each switch being configured to check a current condition associated therewith. Connected between the upstream switch and the downstream switch is a communication link onto which the downstream switch puts a delay signal if its current condition is met and there is no fault present. Following reception of the delay signal, the upstream switch opens only after a delay time. In order to ensure turning off when there is a fault in the opening of a downstream switch even in the case of small overcurrents, when the current condition is met and the fault that prevents opening occurs, the downstream switch puts a fault report onto the communication link that trips the upstream switch.

Method for selectively turning off a switch in a switch arrangement for current distribution, and corresponding switch arrangement

A method and a test device are disclosed for testing a latching magnet of a switch. The switch includes a switching contact; an electronic trip unit to monitor the current flowing and to test whether a current-dependent trip condition is met; an electrical energy store, forming a circuit with the winding of the latching magnet, the circuit being closed by the trip unit when the trip condition is met; an actuator, actuated for a first closing time by closing of the circuit and configured to separate the contact elements; and a first diode, connected in parallel with the winding and via which stored energy of the latching magnet is dissipated. The test device is configured to close the circuit for a second closing time, which is so short that no actuation of the actuator takes place. After the reopening, a test is performed to ascertain whether stored energy is dissipating.

Method for testing a latching magnet of a switch and test device for the latching magnet

A method is disclosed for testing a latching magnet of a switch including a switching contact, formed from contact elements mechanically separated from one another for opening the switching contact; an electronic trip unit, to monitor current flowing via the contact elements and to perform a test for a current-dependent trip condition; an electrical energy store, forming a circuit with the winding of the latching magnet, the circuit being closed for a first closing time when the trip condition of the trip unit is met; and an actuator, actuable by closing off the circuit and configured to separate the contact elements. For test purposes, the circuit is closed for a second closing time, which is so short that separation of the contact elements by the actuator does not take place. A test is then performed to ascertain whether there is a current flowing via the winding of the latching magnet.

A method is disclosed for retrieving a data point (operating data) of a switch via a device which does not recognize the data point of the switch and which can only retrieve such data points of a switch. The device is connected to the switch via a data connection for retrieval. In an embodiment, the switch has a data set in which the data point is described including the use of said data point. The device retrieves the data set during the data connection and extracts at least the description and the use of the data point of the switch from the data set. The device retrieves said data point that is recognized by the device at least for the duration of the data connection and processes said data point using the extracted description and use.

Growing community of inventors

Freudenberg, Germany

Stefan Widmann