Fusible switching disconnect modules and devices with tripping coil

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016372292-A1
Application number	US-201615251502-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 tripping mechanism and control circuitry are provided to move the switchable contact to an open position in response to a predetermined electrical condition.

First claim

1 - 49 . (canceled)

50 . A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
a disconnect housing adapted to receive and engage at least a portion of a removable electrical fuse, wherein the electrical fuse comprises a rectangular fuse module having plug-in terminal blades and a fusible element electrically connectable 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 for electrical connection to the respective first and second terminal blades 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 blades of the fuse, the at least one switchable contact selectively positionable in an open position and a closed position to respectively disconnect or connect an electrical connection between the line side terminal and the load side terminal and through the circuit path of the fusible element when the fuse is inserted, wherein engagement and disengagement of the electrical fuse provides a connection or disconnection of the line side and load side terminals when the at least one switchable contact is in the closed position; a trip mechanism including an electromagnetic coil operable to automatically cause the at least one switchable contact to move to the open position in response to a predetermined electrical condition when the fuse is engaged and when the at least one switchable contact is in the closed position, wherein the trip mechanism further includes a pivotally mounted actuator arm coordinated with the electromagnetic coil to cause the at least one switchable contact to move from the closed position to the open position, wherein the pivotally mounted actuator arm is mechanically linked to the at least one switchable contact in each of the open position and the closed position, and wherein the electromagnetic coil includes a plunger that is extendable and retractable along a first axis, the first axis being an axis of the coil which extends perpendicular to the terminal blades; and a rotatably mounted switch actuator and a first link interconnecting the rotatably mounted switch actuator and a sliding bar, the sliding bar carrying the at least one switchable contact, and a second link interconnecting the rotatably mounted switch actuator and the pivotally mounted actuator arm, the first and second links forming a mechanical linkage which causes the rotatably mounted switch actuator to rotate and the sliding bar to move when the plunger is extended or retracted.

51 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 50 , wherein the plunger mechanically displaces the pivotally mounted actuator arm when the plunger is extended.

52 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 50 , wherein the sliding bar carries the at least one switchable contact along a second axis, the second axis extending substantially perpendicular to the first axis.

53 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 52 , further comprising an interlock element movable along a third axis within the disconnect housing, the third axis extending substantially parallel to the first axis.

54 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 50 , further comprising a detecting element and control circuitry configured to perform a time-based and magnitude-based comparison of a detected electrical parameter with predetermined time-based and magnitude-based parameters.

55 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 54 , wherein the predetermined time-based and magnitude-based parameters comprise a time-current curve corresponding to an expected performance of the electrical fuse.

56 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 50 , further comprising an interlock element, and a third link interconnecting the pivotally mounted actuator arm and the interlock element, the third link forming a mechanical linkage which causes the interlock element to move when the plunger is extended or retracted.

57 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 50 , wherein the trip mechanism is entirely contained in the disconnect housing.

58 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 57 , wherein the at least one switchable contact comprises first and second switchable contacts simultaneously movable along a linear axis.

59 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , wherein the linear axis extends generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the plug-in terminal blades.

60 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 50 , further comprising a processor-based control element in communication with the electromagnetic coil, the processor-based control element configured to undertake a time-based and magnitude-based comparison of a sensed electrical condition in the current path and a predetermined time-based and magnitude-based electrical condition performance baseline of the electrical fuse, and in response to the result of the comparison, decide whether to cause the switch contacts to operate.

61 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 60 , wherein the predetermined electrical condition is a current condition.

62 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 60 , further comprising a detecting element which is configured to sense current in the circuit path.

63 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 62 , wherein the electrical condition performance baseline comprises a set of current magnitude values and time values for each current magnitude level.

64 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 63 , wherein the set of current magnitude values and time values is derived from a time-current curve for the overcurrent protection fuse.

65 . A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
a disconnect housing adapted to receive and engage at least a portion of a removable electrical fuse, wherein the electrical fuse comprises a rectangular fuse module having plug-in terminal blades and a fusible element electrically connected therebetween, the fusible element defining a first circuit path and being configured to permanently open the first circuit path in response to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path; a second circuit path defined in the disconnect housing, the second circuit path including line side and load side terminals electrically connecting to the respective first and second terminal blades of the fuse when the fuse is received and engaged with the disconnect housing, wherein plug-in insertion and removal of the electrical fuse respectively opens and closes the second circuit path; the second circuit path further including 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 blades of the fuse, the at least one switchable contact selectively positionable along a first linear axis between 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 first circuit path of the fusible element when the removable fuse is inserted; and a trip mechanism including an electromagnetic coil and a pivotally mounted actuator

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Darr Matthew Rain
• Kamath Hundi Panduranga

Classifications

• H01H1/20 Primary

  Bridging contacts {(for circuit breakers H01H73/045)} · CPC title

• H01H71/08

  Terminals; Connections · CPC title

• H01H2071/0278

  with at least one of juxtaposed casings dedicated to an auxiliary device, e.g. for undervoltage or shunt trip · CPC title

• H01H9/282

  and a separate part mounted or mountable on the switch assembly and movable between an unlocking position and a locking position where it can be secured by the padlock · CPC title

• H01H7/16

  Devices for ensuring operation of the switch at a predetermined point in the AC cycle (circuit arrangements H01H9/56) · CPC title