Circuit breaker including remote operation circuit

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016163475-A1
Application number	US-201414561586-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 5, 2014
Priority date	Dec 5, 2014
Publication date	Jun 9, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes first and second terminals structured to electrically connect to a line and a load, respectively, at least one set of separable contacts movable between a closed position and an open position, a first operating mechanism structured to open one set of separable contacts in response to a detected fault condition on the protected circuit, a second operating mechanism structured to open or close one set of separable contacts in response to an external control signal, a remote operation circuit structured to receive the external control signal and to control the second operating mechanism to open or close based on said external control signal, the remote operation circuit including a power supply structured to convert power from the line and to provide the converted power to the second operating mechanism.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A circuit breaker structured to electrically connect between a line and a load, the circuit breaker comprising:
a first terminal structured to electrically connect to the line; a second terminal structured to electrically connect to the load; at least one set of separable contacts movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein opening at least one set of the electrically separable contacts electrically disconnects the load from the line; a first operating mechanism structured to open one set of separable contacts in response to a detected fault condition; a second operating mechanism structured to open or close one set of separable contacts in response to an external control signal; and a remote operation circuit structured to receive the external control signal and to control the second operating mechanism to open or close one set of separable contacts based on said external control signal, the remote operation circuit including a power supply structured to convert power from the line and to provide the converted power to operate the second operating mechanism.

2 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , further comprising:
control terminals electrically connected to the remote operation circuit, wherein the control terminals are electrically connected to the remote operation circuit, and wherein the external control signal is a digital or analog electrical signal.

3 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , further comprising:
an optical receiver including an optical sensor, wherein the external control signal is an optical control signal, wherein the optical receiver is electrically connected to the remote operation circuit, and wherein the optical receiver is structured to receive the optical control signal, convert it to an electrical control signal, and output the electrical control signal to the remote operation circuit.

4 . The circuit breaker of claim 3 , wherein the optical control signal is an infrared signal.

5 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the remote operation circuit further comprises a wireless transceiver, wherein the external control signal is a wireless control signal, and wherein the wireless transceiver is structured to receive the wireless control signal.

6 . The circuit breaker of claim 5 , wherein the wireless control signal is one of a short range wireless signal and a wi-fi signal.

7 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the remote operation circuit is structured to transmit information corresponding to the circuit breaker.

8 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the second operating mechanism includes a solenoid or a motor.

9 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the first operating mechanism is structured to open a set of primary separable contacts in response to the detected fault condition, and wherein the second operating mechanism is structured to open a set of secondary separable contacts in response to the external control signal.

10 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the remote operation circuit includes interface circuitry structured to operate the second operating mechanism using the converted power from the power supply.

11 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the external control signal is modulated to carry information.

12 . The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the remote operation circuit includes a processor structured to determine whether one or more conditions are met in response to the remote operation circuit receiving the external control signal and to control the second operating mechanism to open or close one set of separable contacts if one or more of the conditions are met.

13 . A circuit breaker structured to electrically connect between a line and a load, the circuit breaker comprising:
a first terminal structured to electrically connect to the line; a second terminal structured to electrically connect to the load; at least one set of separable contacts movable between a closed position and an open position, wherein opening at least one set of the electrically separable contacts electrically disconnects the load from the line; a first operating mechanism structured to open one set of separable contacts in response to a detected fault condition; a second operating mechanism structured to open or close one set of separable contacts in response to an external control signal; and a remote operation circuit structured to receive the external control signal, the remote operating circuit including a processor structured to determine whether one or more conditions are met in response to the remote operation circuit receiving the external control signal and to control the second operating mechanism to open or close one set of separable contacts if one or more of the conditions are met.

14 . The circuit breaker of claim 13 , wherein the circuit breaker has an associated identification information; and wherein the one or more conditions include the external control signal including the identification information associated with the circuit breaker.

15 . The circuit breaker of claim 13 , wherein the one or more conditions are based on at least one of a current between the line and the load, a voltage between the line and a neutral, and a type of the circuit breaker.

16 . The circuit breaker of claim 13 , wherein the remote operation circuit is structured to transmit the external control signal to another circuit breaker.

17 . The circuit breaker of claim 13 , further comprising:
control terminals electrically connected to the remote operation circuit, wherein the control terminals are electrically connected to the remote operation circuit, and wherein the external control signal is a digital or analog electrical signal.

18 . The circuit breaker of claim 13 , further comprising:
an optical receiver including an optical sensor, wherein the external control signal is an optical control signal, wherein the optical receiver is electrically connected to the remote operation circuit, and wherein the optical receiver is structured to receive the optical control signal, convert it to an electrical control signal, and output the electrical control signal to the remote operation circuit.

19 . The circuit breaker of claim 13 , wherein the remote operation circuit further comprises a wireless transceiver, wherein the external control signal is a wireless control signal, and wherein the wireless transceiver is structured to receive the wireless control signal.

20 . The circuit breaker of claim 13 , wherein the remote operation circuit is structured to transmit information corresponding to the circuit breaker.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Okerman Jason Kohei Arthur

Classifications

• H01H3/28

  using electromagnet (for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30; for operating relays H01H45/00) · CPC title

• H01H9/54 Primary

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

• H01H3/26

  using dynamo-electric motor (for storing energy in a spring motor H01H3/30) · CPC title

• H01H83/20

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

• H01H71/46

  having means for operating auxiliary contacts additional to the main contacts · CPC title