The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Oct. 15, 2002
Filed:
Feb. 07, 2001
John J. Dougherty, Collegeville, PA (US);
Bo L. Andersen, Burlington, CT (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A method of determining contact wear in a trip unit of a circuit breaker and a circuit breaker employing such a method are presented. The trip unit includes a microcontroller and associated memories. An algorithm (program) stored in a memory of the trip unit calculates cumulative energy dissipated in the breaker contacts using the current signal detected at the time of separation. Measurement of cumulative energy dissipated in the breaker contacts is proportional to contact wear. Maintenance setpoints are determined based on industry standard endurance tests and alarm threshold and trip thresholds further based on industry standards are provided within the algorithm for notifying local or remote personnel of a necessary maintenance procedure.