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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9543083-B2
Application number	US-201113008950-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 19, 2011
Priority date	Sep 13, 2004
Publication date	Jan 10, 2017
Grant date	Jan 10, 2017

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

What is claimed is:

1. A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
a housing having first and second sides opposing one another and a receptacle located between the first and second sides that is shaped and dimensioned to receive and engage only 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 between the first and second terminal elements and being configured to permanently open the circuit path in response to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path;
a line side fuse clip and a load side fuse clip aligned with one another and spaced beneath the receptacle by a common distance, each of the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip mechanically and electrically establishing an electrical connection to the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse when the removable fuse is received in the housing;
a line side terminal accessible from the first side of the housing and a load side terminal accessible from the second side of the housing, each of the line side terminal and the load side terminal permanently fixed in position relative to one another and also relative to the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip in the housing, the line side terminal electrically connecting to the line side fuse clip, and the load side terminal electrically connecting to the load side fuse clip;
first and second switchable contacts linked to one another in the housing and simultaneously movable relative to one of the line side terminal and load side terminal and one of the line side clip and the load side clip between an open position and a closed position to respectively disconnect or connect an electrical connection through the first and second switchable contacts and the circuit path of the fusible element when the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse are engaged with the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip;
a disconnect mechanism operable in a first mode of operation to manually position the first and second switchable contacts between the open position and the closed position while the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse are engaged with the respective line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip;
wherein the disconnect mechanism includes an electromagnetic actuator and is operable in a second mode of operation to cause the first and second switchable contacts to move from the closed position to the open position in response to a predetermined electrical circuit condition when the line side terminal is connected to energized line circuitry; and
an in-line detecting element configured to detect an occurrence of the predetermined electrical conditions in the second mode of operation,
wherein the predetermined electrical conditions are a plurality of electrical current conditions,
wherein the in-line detecting element is located between the first and second switchable contacts and one of the line and load side terminals, and
wherein the in-line detecting element comprises a resistive shunt integrally provided in one of the line side and load side terminal.

2. The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , further comprising an overvoltage module.

3. The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , wherein the in-line detecting element is configured sense current flow through the first and second switchable contacts when in the closed position.

4. The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second switchable contacts are biased to an open position.

5. The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , wherein the removable fuse comprises a rectangular fuse module having plug-in terminal blades engageable with the line side and load side fuse clips.

6. The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of electrical current conditions comprises a plurality of different predetermined levels of current each respectively sustained over a corresponding time period.

7. The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , wherein the electromagnetic actuator comprises a solenoid.

8. The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , wherein the disconnect mechanism is configured to operate in the second mode of operation in response to the plurality of predetermined electrical current conditions as detected by the shunt.

9. The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 1 , wherein the in-line detecting element is integrally provided in the line side terminal.

10. A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
a housing having first and second sides opposing one another and a receptacle located between the first and second sides that is shaped and dimensioned to receive and engage only 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 between the first and second terminal elements and being configured to permanently open the circuit path in response to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path;
a line side fuse clip and a load side fuse clip aligned with one another and spaced beneath the receptacle by a common distance, each of the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip mechanically and electrically establishing an electrical connection to the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse when the removable fuse is received in the housing;
a line side terminal accessible from the first side of the housing and a load side terminal accessible from the second side of the housing, each of the line side terminal and the load side terminal permanently fixed in position relative to one another and also relative to the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip in the housing, the line side terminal electrically connecting to the line side fuse clip, and the load side terminal electrically connecting to the load side fuse clip;
first and second switchable contacts linked to one another in the housing and simultaneously movable relative to one of the line side terminal and load side terminal and one of the line side clip and the load side clip between an open position and a closed position to respectively disconnect or connect an electrical connection through the first and second switchable contacts and the circuit path of the fusible element when the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse are engaged with the line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip;
a disconnect mechanism operable in a first mode of operation to manually position the first and second switchable contacts between the open position and the closed position while the first and second terminal elements of the removable fuse are engaged with the respective line side fuse clip and the load side fuse clip;
wherein the disconnect mechanism includes an electromagnetic actuator and is operable in a second mode of operation to cause the first and second switchable contacts to move from the closed position to the open position in response to the predetermined electrical circuit conditions when the line side terminal is connected to energized line circuitry; and
an in-line detecting element configured to detect an occurrence of the predetermined electrical conditions in the second mode of operation,
wherein the in-line detecting element comprises a shunt;
wherein the disconnect mechanism is configured to operate in the second mode of operation in response to the predetermined electrical current conditions as detected by the shunt, and
wherein the shun

Assignees

• Darr Matthew Rain
• Kamath Hundi Panduranga
• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Darr Matthew Rain
• Kamath Hundi Panduranga

Classifications

• H01H9/10

  Adaptation for built-in fuses (mounting switch and fuse separately on, or in, common support H02B1/18) · CPC title

• H01H83/10

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

• H01H71/08

  Terminals; Connections · CPC title

• H01H71/123

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