Smart circuit interrupter accessories internal component diagnostics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11978607-B2
Application number	US-202117204300-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 17, 2021
Priority date	Mar 17, 2021
Publication date	May 7, 2024
Grant date	May 7, 2024

Abstract

A smart accessory device includes an actuator and is designed to be used to actuate an operating mechanism of a circuit breaker in order to either open or close the separable contacts of the circuit breaker. The accessory can be one of a shunt trip, spring release, or under voltage release device. The actuator includes a solenoid and plunger. The accessory determines the operating condition of the actuator based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the accessory device, and continually executes a coil diagnostic to determine the operating condition of the coil while power is being provided to the accessory device. If the accessory fails to trip the circuit breaker when required, the accessory can determine whether the failure was due to either of the solenoid or the plunger.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A smart accessory device structured to be operatively connected to a circuit breaker so as to actuate an operating mechanism of the circuit breaker, the smart accessory device comprising:
a power section structured to be electrically connected to a power source, the power section comprising:
an actuator structured to actuate the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker, the actuator comprising:
a solenoid comprising a coil of conductive wire; and
a ferromagnetic plunger coupled to the solenoid and structured to move relative to the solenoid in response to current flowing through the solenoid;

a current sensor structured to sense a current flowing through the power section; and
a voltage sensor structured to sense a voltage across the power section; and

a control section electrically and operatively connected to the power section, the control section comprising a processor,
wherein the power section and the control section are not components of the operating mechanism, and
wherein the processor is configured to determine an operating condition of the actuator based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the smart accessory device.

2. The smart accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the smart accessory device is one of a shunt trip device, a spring release device, or an under voltage release device.

3. The smart accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the operating condition of the actuator enables the smart accessory device to actuate the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker.

4. The smart accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine when the coil is in one of an open condition, a shorted condition, and a partially shorted condition based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the smart accessory device.

5. The smart accessory device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is configured to trigger an alarm when the processor determines that the coil is in one of the open condition, the shorted condition, and the partially shorted condition.

6. The smart accessory device of claim 5 , wherein the alarm comprises one of a visual notification, a sound notification, or a notification sent to a remote device via wireless communication.

7. The smart accessory device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine when the ferromagnetic plunger is stuck in position relative to the solenoid based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the smart accessory device.

8. The smart accessory device of claim 7 , wherein the processor is configured to trigger an alarm when the processor determines that the ferromagnetic plunger is stuck in position relative to the solenoid.

9. The smart accessory device of claim 8 , wherein the alarm comprises one of a visual notification, a sound notification, or a notification sent to a remote device via wireless communication.

10. The smart accessory device of claim 1 ,
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a failure of the smart accessory device to actuate the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker has occurred,
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the failure of the smart accessory device was due to one of the operating condition of the coil or the operating condition of the ferromagnetic plunger.

11. A smart accessory device structured to be operatively connected to a circuit breaker so as to actuate an operating mechanism of the circuit breaker, the smart accessory device comprising:
a power section structured to be electrically connected to a power source, the power section comprising:
an actuator structured to actuate the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker, the actuator comprising:
a solenoid comprising a coil of conductive wire; and
a ferromagnetic plunger coupled to the solenoid and structured to move relative to the solenoid in response to current flowing through the solenoid;

a current sensor structured to sense a current flowing through the power section; and
a voltage sensor structured to sense a voltage across the power section; and

a control section electrically and operatively connected to the power section, the control section comprising a processor,
wherein the power section and the control section are not components of the operating mechanism,
wherein the processor is configured to determine an operating condition of the actuator based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the smart accessory device, and
wherein the processor is configured to continually execute a coil diagnostic to determine the operating condition of the coil as long as power is being provided to the smart accessory device.

12. The smart accessory device of claim 11 , wherein the smart accessory device is one of a shunt trip device, a spring release device, or an under voltage release device.

13. The smart accessory device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the operating condition of the actuator enables the smart accessory device to actuate the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker.

14. The smart accessory device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to determine when the coil is in one of an open condition, a shorted condition, or a partially shorted condition based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the smart accessory device.

15. The smart accessory device of claim 14 , wherein the processor is configured to trigger an alarm when the processor determines that the coil is in one of the open condition, the shorted condition, or the partially shorted condition.

16. The smart accessory device of claim 15 , wherein the alarm comprises one of a visual notification, a sound notification, or a notification sent to a remote device via wireless communication.

17. The smart accessory device of claim 11 , wherein the processor is configured to determine when the ferromagnetic plunger is stuck in position relative to the solenoid based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the smart accessory device.

18. The smart accessory device of claim 17 , wherein the processor is configured to trigger an alarm when the processor determines that the ferromagnetic plunger is stuck in position relative to the solenoid.

19. The smart accessory device of claim 18 , wherein the alarm comprises one of a visual notification, a sound notification, or a notification sent to a remote device via wireless communication.

20. The smart accessory device of claim 11 ,
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether a failure of the smart accessory device to actuate the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker has occurred,
wherein the processor is configured to determine whether the failure of the smart accessory device was due to one of the operating condition of the coil or the operating condition of the ferromagnetic plunger.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Garcia Patrick Martinez
• Rakus Paul R
• Lagree James L
• Rohn David R
• Sippel Kevin

Classifications

• H01H71/322 Primary

  with plunger type armature · CPC title

• H01F7/1844

  Monitoring or fail-safe circuits (for relays H01H47/002) · CPC title

• H01H83/20

  operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition · CPC title

• G01R31/3278

  of relays, solenoids or reed switches (measuring contact resistance G01R27/205; high voltage magnetic switches G01R31/3271, G01R31/333; testing electric windings G01R31/72; monitoring of fail safe circuits H01H47/002) · CPC title

• H01H2083/203

  with shunt trip circuits, e.g. NC contact in an undervoltage coil circuit · CPC title