Hybrid circuit breaker with solid state devices

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11901140-B2
Application number	US-202217745421-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 16, 2022
Priority date	May 16, 2022
Publication date	Feb 13, 2024
Grant date	Feb 13, 2024

Abstract

This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system. The hybrid circuit breaker may include a mechanical switch and solid-state switches. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs by drawing the electrical arcs to a conductive bar and away from the spanner. Moreover, the hybrid circuit breaker may dissipate the electrical arcs on the conductive bar by opening one or multiple solid-state switches disposed on the conductive bar. In some cases, one or multiple voltage suppressors may receive (e.g., suppress or ground) an electrical power of the electrical arcs when the solid-state switches are opened.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A circuit breaker, comprising:
a spanner configured to move between a first position and a second position, wherein the first position corresponds to an input conductor being coupled to an output conductor via the spanner, and wherein the second position corresponds to the input conductor being uncoupled from the output conductor via the spanner; and
a commutation bar comprising solid-state switching circuitry, wherein the commutation bar is positioned a first distance away from the input conductor, wherein the commutation bar is configured to receive an arc current as the spanner moves from the first position to the second position, and wherein the solid-state switching circuitry is configured to turn off after the spanner moves from the first position to the second position.

2. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , comprising a processor configured to receive data associated with the arc current, wherein the processor is configured to send a signal to the solid-state switching circuitry to turn off in response to receiving the data.

3. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein a second distance between the spanner and the input conductor when the spanner is in the first position is different from the first distance between the commutation bar and the input conductor when the spanner is in the first position.

4. The circuit breaker of claim 3 , wherein the first distance is less than the second distance.

5. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein a second distance between the spanner and the input conductor when the spanner is in the second position is greater than the first distance between the commutation bar and the input conductor when the spanner is in the second position.

6. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , comprising a voltage suppressor circuit configured to electrically couple to the solid-state switching circuitry in parallel.

7. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , comprising an actuator configured to move the spanner between the first position and the second position.

8. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switching circuitry comprises at least one solid-state device.

9. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switching circuitry comprises a first solid-state device comprising a first source portion coupled to a second source portion of a second solid-state device.

10. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the solid-state switching circuitry comprises a plurality of power metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors, insulated-gate bipolar transistors, metal-oxide-semiconductor-controlled thyristors, vertical metal oxide semiconductors or V-groove MOSs, laterally-diffused metal-oxide semiconductors, diodes, or a combination thereof.

11. A method, comprising:
receiving, by a processor, an indication to open a conductive path of a circuit breaker, wherein the conductive path comprises an input conductor, an output conductor, and a spanner;
transmitting, by the processor, a first signal to a mechanical switch system of the circuit breaker in response to receiving the indication, wherein the mechanical switch system is configured to move the spanner in response to receiving the first signal, and wherein the spanner is positioned a first distance away from the input conductor and the output conductor after the spanner is moved; and
transmitting, by the processor, a second signal to one or more solid-state switches of the circuit breaker, wherein the one or more solid-state switches are configured to open in response to receiving the second signal, wherein the one or more solid-state switches are coupled to a commutation bar separate from the spanner and positioned a second distance away from the input conductor.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein transmitting the first signal to the mechanical switch system comprises transmitting the first signal to an actuator or solenoid configured to retract the spanner of the mechanical switch system away from the input conductor.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the second signal is transmitted in response to detecting an electrical arc between the input conductor and the spanner as the spanner is retracting, wherein the commutation bar is configured to receive at least a portion of the electrical arc.

14. The method of claim 11 , comprising receiving, by the processor, an indication of an electrical current being present on the commutation bar from a sensor before transmitting the second signal, wherein the electrical current is associated with an electrical arc generated between the spanner and the input conductor when opening the mechanical switch system.

15. The method of claim 11 , wherein the commutation bar is configured to receive at least a portion of an electrical arc generated when opening the mechanical switch system based on the first distance being larger than the second distance.

16. The method of claim 11 , comprising transmitting, by the processor, the second signal to a first solid-state switch and a second solid-state switch, wherein the second signal is configured to open a current path of the commutation bar, wherein a first source portion of the first solid-state switch is coupled to a first source portion of the second solid-state switch.

17. A tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium, comprising machine-readable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform actions comprising:
receiving an indication to open a conductive path of a circuit breaker, wherein the conductive path comprises an input conductor, an output conductor, and a spanner;
transmitting a first signal to a mechanical switch system of the circuit breaker in response to receiving the indication, wherein the mechanical switch system is configured to move the spanner in response to receiving the first signal, and wherein the spanner is positioned a first distance away from the input conductor and the output conductor after the spanner is moved; and
transmitting a second signal to one or more solid-state switches of the circuit breaker, wherein the one or more solid-state switches are configured to open in response to receiving the second signal, wherein the one or more solid-state switches are coupled to a commutation bar separate from the spanner, and wherein the commutation bar is positioned a second distance away from the input conductor, wherein the first distance is different from the second distance.

18. The tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 17 , wherein the machine-readable instructions that causes the processor to transmit the first signal to the mechanical switch system comprises transmitting the first signal to an actuator configured to retract the spanner of the mechanical switch system away from the input conductor.

19. The tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 18 , wherein the machine-readable instructions causes the processor to transmit the second signal in response to receiving an indication of an electrical arc present between the input conductor and the spanner as the spanner is retracting.

20. The tangible, non-transitory, machine-readable medium of claim 19 , wherein the indication of the electrical arc is received from a sensor.

Assignees

• Rockwell Automation Tech Inc

Inventors

• Carlson Andrew E
• Adkins Kyle B
• Langer Randall S
• Elmiger David
• Kerim Aiman
• Miller James P

Classifications

• H01H33/04 Primary

  Means for extinguishing or preventing arc between current-carrying parts · CPC title

• H01H50/16

  Magnetic circuit arrangements · CPC title

• H03K17/56

  by the use, as active elements, of semiconductor devices (using diodes H03K17/74) · CPC title

• H01H9/542 Primary

  Contacts shunted by static switch means · CPC title

• H01H73/045

  Bridging contacts · CPC title