Circuit breaker panel including remotely operated circuit breaker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016163476-A1
Application number	US-201414561589-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 panel includes a control unit structured to generate a control signal and a number of circuit breakers. At least one of the circuit breakers includes a number of sets of separable contacts and is structured to open or close one set of separable contacts based on the control signal. At least one of the circuit breakers is structured to electrically connect between a line and load and includes a power supply structured to convert power from the line and to use the converted power to open or close the set of separable contacts.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A circuit breaker panel comprising:
a control unit structured to generate a control signal; and a number of circuit breakers, wherein at least one of the circuit breakers includes a number of sets of separable contacts and is structured to open or close one set of separable contacts based on the control signal, and wherein the at least one of the circuit breakers is structured to electrically connect between a line and load and includes a power supply structured to convert power from the line and to use the converted power to open or close the set of separable contacts.

2 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein the panel includes a gutter space disposed between one of the circuit breakers and an edge of the panel.

3 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 2 , wherein a lighting unit is disposed in the gutter space.

4 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein an edge of the panel is substantially adjacent to an edge of one of the circuit breakers.

5 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a digital or analog signal.

6 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is an optical control signal.

7 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein the control signal is a wireless control signal.

8 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the circuit breakers is structured to transmit information to the control unit.

9 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the circuit breakers includes a first operating mechanism structured to open one set of separable contacts in response to a detected fault condition and a second operating mechanism structured to open or close one set of separable contacts in response to the control signal.

10 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 9 , 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 control signal.

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

12 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the circuit breakers includes a processor structured to determine whether one or more conditions are met in response to the at least one of the circuit breakers receiving the control signal and to control the one of the sets of separable contacts to open or close if one or more of the conditions are met.

13 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 1 , wherein the control unit is structured to broadcast the control signal to a plurality of the circuit breakers.

14 . A circuit breaker panel comprising:
a control unit structured to generate a control signal; and a number of circuit breakers, wherein at least one of the circuit breakers includes a number of sets of separable contacts and is structured to receive the control signal, and wherein the at least one of the circuit breakers includes a processor structured to determine whether one or more conditions are met in response to the at least one of the circuit breakers receiving the control signal and to control the one of the sets of separable contacts to open or close if one or more conditions are met.

15 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the circuit breakers has an associated identification information; and wherein the one or more conditions include the control signal including the identification information associated with the at least one of the circuit breakers.

16 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 14 , 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 at least one of the circuit breakers.

17 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the circuit breakers is structured to transmit the control signal to another one of the number of circuit breakers.

18 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 14 , wherein the control signal is a digital or analog signal.

19 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 14 , wherein the control signal is an optical control signal.

20 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 14 , wherein the control signal is a wireless control signal.

21 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 14 , wherein the at least one of the circuit breakers is structured to transmit information to the control unit.

22 . The circuit breaker panel of claim 14 , wherein the control unit is structured to broadcast the control signal to a plurality of the circuit breakers.

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Okerman Jason Kohei Arthur

Classifications

• H01H71/46

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

• H01H71/123

  using a solid-state trip unit (circuits H02H) · CPC title

• H01H83/20 Primary

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

• H02B1/32

  Mounting of devices therein · CPC title