Self-powered recloser

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12074004-B2
Application number	US-202318299436-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 12, 2023
Priority date	Apr 12, 2022
Publication date	Aug 27, 2024
Grant date	Aug 27, 2024

Abstract

A self-powered recloser includes a circuit breaker, an electrical actuator, an electrical generator, a capacitor, and a lever. When in an on state, the circuit breaker harvests power from a medium voltage line required to actuate its movable contact to interrupt current flow in the medium voltage line, and when in an off state, it does not harvest power from the medium voltage line. The electrical actuator is configured to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state. The capacitor when charged is configured to provide the electrical actuator with the electrical power required to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state. The lever is configured to be moved by an operative. Movement of the lever is configured to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A self-powered recloser, comprising:
a circuit breaker;
an electrical actuator;
an electrical generator;
a capacitor;
a lever; and
control electronics;
wherein the circuit breaker when in an on state is configured to harvest power from a medium voltage line required to actuate its movable contact to interrupt current flow in the medium voltage line;
wherein the circuit breaker when in an off state is electrically isolated and configured not to harvest power from the medium voltage line required to actuate its movable contact to interrupt current flow in the medium voltage line;
wherein the electrical actuator is configured to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state;
wherein the capacitor when charged is configured to provide the electrical actuator with the electrical power required to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state;
wherein the lever is configured to be moved by an operative;
wherein movement of the lever is configured to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator;
wherein the control electronics are configured to control the electrical actuator to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state; and
wherein the charged capacitor is configured to provide the control electronics with the required power to control the electrical actuator.

2. The self-powered recloser according to claim 1 , wherein a linear movement of the lever is configured to rotate a shaft of the electrical generator to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator.

3. The self-powered recloser according to claim 2 , wherein the recloser comprises a conditioning circuit, wherein the rotation of the shaft of the electrical generator is configured to induce an AC voltage in the electrical generator, and wherein the conditioning circuit is configured to convert the AC voltage to a DC voltage to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator.

4. The self-powered recloser according to claim 3 , wherein the conditioning circuit comprises a half-wave rectification circuit.

5. The self-powered recloser according to claim 3 , wherein the conditioning circuit comprises a full-wave rectification circuit.

6. The self-powered recloser according to claim 3 , wherein the conditioning circuit comprises a transformer and/or voltage multiplying rectification circuit and/or boost converter circuit.

7. The self-powered recloser according to claim 2 , wherein the lever is connected to the electrical generator via a unidirectional connection, and wherein the unidirectional connection is configured such that power is only transmitted when moving the lever in one direction.

8. The self-powered recloser according to claim 7 , wherein the recloser comprises a spring configured to bring the lever back to a start position following movement of the lever away from the start position.

9. The self-powered recloser according to claim 2 , wherein the shaft comprises a flywheel.

10. The self-powered recloser according to claim 2 , wherein the rotation of the shaft of the electrical generator is configured to induce a DC voltage in the electrical generator.

11. The self-powered recloser according to claim 10 , wherein a conditioning circuit comprises a single diode connected in series; or wherein the conditioning circuit comprises a full wave rectification circuit.

12. The self-powered recloser according to claim 2 , wherein rotation of the shaft in both directions is configured to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator.

13. The self-powered recloser according to claim 1 , wherein a rotational movement of the lever is configured to rotate a shaft of the electrical generator to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator.

14. The self-powered recloser according to claim 13 , wherein the electrical generator comprises a transmission between the lever and the shaft, wherein the transmission is configured such that a rotation of the lever by a first angle leads to a rotation of the shaft by a second angle greater than the first angle.

15. A self-powered recloser, comprising:
a circuit breaker;
an electrical actuator;
an electrical generator;
a capacitor;
a lever;
control electronics; and
at least one sensor;
wherein the circuit breaker when in an on state is configured to harvest power from a medium voltage line required to actuate its movable contact to interrupt current flow in the medium voltage line;
wherein the circuit breaker when in an off state is electrically isolated and configured not to harvest power from the medium voltage line required to actuate its movable contact to interrupt current flow in the medium voltage line;
wherein the electrical actuator is configured to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state;
wherein the capacitor when charged is configured to provide the electrical actuator with the electrical power required to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state;
wherein the lever is configured to be moved by an operative;
wherein movement of the lever is configured to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator;
wherein the control electronics are configured to control the electrical actuator to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state; and
wherein the at least one sensor is configured to detect a position of the lever and the electrical actuator is configured to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state when the lever is detected to be away from a rest position and the capacitor has enough stored energy to provide the electrical actuator with the electrical power required to transition the circuit breaker from the off state to the on state.

16. The self-powered recloser according to claim 15 , wherein a rotational movement of the lever is configured to rotate a shaft of the electrical generator to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator.

17. The self-powered recloser according to claim 15 , wherein a linear movement of the lever is configured to rotate a shaft of the electrical generator to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator.

18. The self-powered recloser according to claim 17 , wherein the recloser comprises a conditioning circuit, wherein the rotation of the shaft of the electrical generator is configured to induce an AC voltage in the electrical generator, and wherein the conditioning circuit is configured to convert the AC voltage to a DC voltage to charge the capacitor via the electrical generator.

19. The self-powered recloser according to claim 18 , wherein the conditioning circuit comprises a half-wave rectification circuit.

20. The self-powered recloser according to claim 18 , wherein the conditioning circuit comprises a full-wave rectification circuit.

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Tueysuez Arda
• Budde Christoph

Classifications

• H02H7/226

  for wires or cables, e.g. heating wires · CPC title

• H01H71/68

  actuated by electromagnet · CPC title

• H01H2033/6667

  Details concerning lever type driving rod arrangements · CPC title

• H01H3/227

  Interlocked hand- and power-operating mechanisms · CPC title

• H02J2207/50

  Charging of capacitors, supercapacitors, ultra-capacitors or double layer capacitors · CPC title