Control system for separable load-break electrical connectors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12494335-B2
Application number	US-202217987024-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 15, 2022
Priority date	Dec 2, 2021
Publication date	Dec 9, 2025
Grant date	Dec 9, 2025

Abstract

An apparatus includes: a plurality of separable load break devices, each separable load break device including: a resettable current interruption device associated with operating states, the operating states including at least a first operating state that prevents current flow in the resettable current interruption device and a second operating state that allows current flow in the resettable current interruption device; a switch control configured to control the operating state of the resettable current interruption device; a connection interface configured to mechanically connect the load break device to a separate electrical device and to electrically connect the resettable current interruption device to the separate electrical device; and an electrical interface configured to electrically connect the resettable current interruption device to a load. The apparatus also includes a control system configured to provide electrically ganged operation of the plurality of load break devices.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An apparatus comprising:
a plurality of separable load break devices, each separable load break device comprising:
a resettable current interruption device associated with operating states, the operating states comprising at least a first operating state that prevents current flow in the resettable current interruption device and a second operating state that allows current flow in the resettable current interruption device;
a switch control configured to control the operating state of the resettable current interruption device;
a connection interface configured to mechanically connect the separable load break device to a bushing of a separate electrical device and to electrically connect the resettable current interruption device to the separate electrical device, wherein the connection interface is configured to be secured to the bushing of the separate electrical device and removed from the bushing of the separate electrical device without damaging the bushing or the connection interface;
a current path electrically connected to the resettable current interruption device and to an electrical interface; and
a sensor system configured to harvest electrical power from the current path;
the electrical interface, the electrical interface configured to electrically connect the resettable current interruption device to a load, wherein the apparatus further comprises:
a control system configured to provide electrically ganged operation of the plurality of separable load break devices, wherein the control system is separate from of the plurality of separable load break devices and is configured to receive electrical energy from the sensor system in each separable load break device.

2 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the resettable current interruption device comprises a vacuum interrupter, and the switch control comprises:
an actuator coupled to a movable rod of the vacuum interrupter; and a driving circuit configured to control the actuator.

3 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the sensor system is further configured to monitor electrical power that flows in the current path.

4 . The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein the control system is coupled to the sensor system in each separable load break device.

5 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein each sensor system comprises one or more current sensors.

6 . The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the one or more current sensors comprise a current transformer and/or a Rogowski coil.

7 . The apparatus of claim 6 , wherein the control system is further configured to control the switch control in each separable load break device such that the resettable current interruption device in each separable load break device is in the first operating state if a fault exists in the current path of one or more of the separable load break devices.

8 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the control system is further configured to determine whether a fault exists in the current path of one or more of the separable load break devices based on the received electrical energy.

9 . The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the control system comprises:
a power supply module configured to receive and store electrical energy from the sensor systems; and a microcontroller configured to analyze the electrical energy from the sensor systems to determine whether a fault exists in one or more of the separable load break devices.

10 . The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the power supply module is further configured to amplify the electrical energy from the sensor systems.

11 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control system is enclosed in a Faraday cage.

12 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control system comprises:
a power supply module configured receive harvested electrical energy from the plurality of separable load break devices, the power supply module comprising:
a boost module configured to amplify the received electrical energy; and
an energy storage apparatus configured to store the amplified electrical energy;
one or more electronic processors; and an electronic memory, the electronic memory storing instructions that, when executed, cause the one or more electronic processors to:
access information related to a current path of each of the separable load break devices;
determine whether a fault exists in one or more of the separable load break devices based on the accessed information; and
control the resettable current interruption device in all of the separable load break devices if a fault exists in one or more of the separable load break devices.

13 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the one or more electronic processors are powered by the electrical energy stored in the energy storage apparatus.

14 . The apparatus of claim 13 , further comprising an input/output (I/O) module.

15 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the one or more electronic processors and the electronic memory are part of a microcontroller.

16 . The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein, the information related to the current path of each of the separable load break devices comprises a measured AC current value in each current path.

17 . The apparatus of claim 16 , wherein the measured AC current value comprises a plurality of current measurements over time in each current path.

18 . The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the control system is further configured to:
receive an indication of one or more properties of electrical power flow in the plurality of separable load break devices; analyze the indication of the one or more properties to determine whether a fault exists in any of the plurality of separable load break devices; and if a fault exists in any of the separable load break devices, command the switch control in each of the separable load break devices to open the resettable current interruption device in the separable load break device.

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Arora Sonal
• Kothe Aarti
• Kadam Nilesh
• Jain Mayank
• Jain Ragini

Classifications

• G01R19/0092

  Measuring current only · CPC title

• G01R15/181

  using coils without a magnetic core, e.g. Rogowski coils · CPC title

• H01H33/008

  Pedestal mounted switch gear combinations · CPC title

• H01H9/54

  Circuit arrangements not adapted to a particular application of the switching device and for which no provision exists elsewhere · CPC title

• H02H3/26

  responsive to difference between voltages or between currents; responsive to phase angle between voltages or between currents · CPC title