Fusible switching disconnect modules and devices with in-line current detection

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016372291-A1
Application number	US-201615251479-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Jan 19, 2011
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fusible switch disconnect device includes a housing adapted to receive at least one fuse therein, and a switchable contact for connecting the fuse to circuitry. A current detecting element, a tripping mechanism, and control circuitry are provided to move the switchable contact to an open position in response to predetermined electrical current conditions in the device.

First claim

1 - 50 . (canceled)

51 . A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
a disconnect housing adapted to removably receive and engage at least a portion of a removable overcurrent protection fuse module, the fuse including a fuse housing first and second terminal elements and a fusible element electrically connected therebetween, the fusible element defining a circuit path and being configured to permanently open the circuit path in response to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path; line side and load side terminals in the disconnect housing and electrically connecting to the respective first and second terminal elements of the fuse when the fuse is received and engaged with the disconnect housing; at least one switchable contact in the disconnect housing, the at least one switchable contact provided between one of the line side terminal and load side terminal and a corresponding one of the first and second terminal elements of the fuse, the at least one switchable contact selectively positionable in an open position and a closed position to respectively connect or disconnect an electrical connection between the line side terminal and the load side terminal and through the circuit path of the fusible element; a current detecting element configured to detect current flow associated with the circuit path of the fusible element when the at least one switchable contact is closed; circuitry in communication with the current detecting element, the circuitry configured, based on an input from the current detecting element, to assess a magnitude-based and time-based current performance of the fuse relative to a typical magnitude-based and time-based current performance of a properly rated fuse that is compatible with the disconnect housing; and wherein the fuse housing projects from the disconnect housing such that it is open and accessible from the exterior of the disconnect housing to facilitate removal of the fuse including the first and second terminal elements from the disconnect housing and the line side and load side terminals, whereby when the fuse is removed an open circuit is established between the line side and load side terminals.

52 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , further comprising a trip mechanism operable in response to the circuitry to automatically cause the at least one switchable contact to move from the closed position to the open position in response to an atypical performance of the fusible element when the line side terminal is connected to energized line circuitry.

53 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 52 , wherein the trip mechanism ( 866 ) includes a solenoid.

54 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , wherein the detecting element is connected in series with the current path.

55 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 54 , wherein the detecting element comprises a resistive shunt.

56 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , wherein the detecting element is connected in parallel with a current path in the device.

57 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , wherein the detecting element is located in the disconnect housing between one of the line and load side terminals and the at least one switchable contact.

58 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , wherein the fusible switch disconnect device comprises a conductive element extending between the one of the line and load side terminals and the at least one switchable contact, and wherein the detecting element is welded to the conductive element in the disconnect device.

59 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , wherein the detecting element is one of a resistive shunt and a Hall Effect sensor.

60 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , wherein the fusible switch disconnect device comprises a conductive element, and wherein the detecting element is integrally provided on a conductive element in the disconnect device, and wherein the conductive element includes a switch contact.

61 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , wherein the detecting element is connected to the line side terminal.

62 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , wherein the overcurrent protection fuse comprises a rectangular fuse module having plug-in terminal blades.

63 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 51 , further comprising a local state indicator operable to visually display an assessed magnitude-based and time-based current condition while the at least one switchable contact remains in the closed position.

64 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 63 , wherein the local state indicator comprises a light emitting diode.

65 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 63 , wherein the visual display comprises intermittent illumination of the light emitting diode.

66 . A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
a housing defining a first side, a second side opposing the first side and a receptacle adapted to directly receive and engage at least a portion of a removable fuse, the removable fuse including first and second terminal elements and a fusible element electrically connected therebetween, the fusible element defining a circuit path and being configured to permanently open the circuit path in response to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path; line side and load side terminals in the housing and electrically connecting to the respective first and second terminal elements of the fuse when the fuse is received and engaged with the housing, wherein one of the line side terminal and the load side terminal comprises a first stationary contact; line and load side fuse clips in the housing, wherein one of the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clips comprises a second stationary contact; first and second switchable contacts in the housing, the first and second switchable contacts mechanically coupled to one another and selectively positionable relative to the first and second stationary contacts between an open position and a closed position to respectively connect or disconnect an electrical connection through the line side terminal and the load side terminal and the circuit path of the fusible element when the removable fuse is engaged to the line side and load side fuse clips; a current detecting element configured to detect current flow through the first and second switchable contacts when the first and second switchable contacts are in the closed position; and a disconnect mechanism operable in a first mode and a second mode to displace the first and second switchable contacts, wherein the first mode is manually operated and wherein the second mode is responsive to a time-based and magnitude-based comparison of detected current flow through the first and second switchable contacts and a predetermined time-current expectation for a typical fusible element of a properly rated fuse that is compatible with the disconnect housing

67 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 66 , wherein the disconnect mechanism includes a solenoid.

68 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 67 , wherein the detecting element is connected to at least one of the line side fuse clip and the line side terminal.

69 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 68 , wherein the detecting element comprises a resistive shunt.

70 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 66 , wherein th

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Darr Matthew Rain
• Kamath Hundi Panduranga

Classifications

• H01H9/102

  Fuses mounted on or constituting the movable contact parts of the switch · CPC title

• H01H85/0241

  Structural association of a fuse and another component or apparatus (switches with built-in fuses H01H9/10, spark-gap arresters H01H85/44, transformers and inductances H01F27/402, capacitors H01G2/14, lamps H01K1/66, semiconductors H10W20/493 or H10W42/80) · CPC title

• H01H71/04

  Means for indicating condition of the switching device {(by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46)} · CPC title

• H01H71/123

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

• H01H83/10

  operated by excess voltage, e.g. for lightning protection · CPC title