EP1055244A1 - Disjoncteur avec ensemble interrupteur pour essais multiples - Google Patents

Disjoncteur avec ensemble interrupteur pour essais multiples

Info

Publication number
EP1055244A1
EP1055244A1 EP99966098A EP99966098A EP1055244A1 EP 1055244 A1 EP1055244 A1 EP 1055244A1 EP 99966098 A EP99966098 A EP 99966098A EP 99966098 A EP99966098 A EP 99966098A EP 1055244 A1 EP1055244 A1 EP 1055244A1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
condition
circuit breaker
contact
switch
circuit
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
EP99966098A
Other languages
German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Kevin J. Fuhr
Raymond Kelsey Seymour
Murali K. Magham
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
General Electric Co
Original Assignee
General Electric Co
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Co filed Critical General Electric Co
Publication of EP1055244A1 publication Critical patent/EP1055244A1/fr
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H83/00—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current
    • H01H83/02—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by earth fault currents
    • H01H83/04—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by earth fault currents with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
    • H02H1/00—Details of emergency protective circuit arrangements
    • H02H1/0007—Details of emergency protective circuit arrangements concerning the detecting means
    • H02H1/0015—Using arc detectors
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H83/00—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current
    • H01H83/20—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition
    • H01H2083/201—Protective switches, e.g. circuit-breaking switches, or protective relays operated by abnormal electrical conditions otherwise than solely by excess current operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition the other abnormal electrical condition being an arc fault

Definitions

  • the present invention relates generally to circuit breakers, and in particular, to an improved circuit breaker arrangement that can simulate at least two different test conditions to ensure that the circuit breaker is operating properly.
  • Circuit breakers that include a single push button to provide a user with the ability to simulate only one fault condition are known. That is, there is no ability to simulate a second and different fault condition in the known breaker. However, it is desirous to be able to test whether the circuit breaker will trip upon the detection of a plurality of fault conditions if the breaker is constructed to trip upon the detection of at least two different fault conditions.
  • the known circuit breaker includes a button and leaf contact to permit the testing of only one fault condition, which by way of example, is a ground fault condition.
  • the present state of the art therefore, is deficient in that there is no circuit breaker arrangements that permit the simulation of more than one fault condition, such as a ground fault condition and a line to line arc fault.
  • the ability to simulate more than one fault condition is advantageous and desirable to ensure that the circuit breaker which may sense more than one fault condition (such as arcing to ground (i.e. ground fault) and arcing line to line or neutral) is operating properly.
  • circuit breaker which overcomes the aforementioned deficiency.
  • the circuit breaker disclosed herein achieves the aforementioned and below mentioned objectives.
  • a circuit breaker for simulating plurality of fault or test conditions.
  • the circuit breaker detects at least two fault conditions.
  • the circuit breaker includes a circuit trip assembly having an armature latch moving between a first position when the circuit breaker is in an operating condition and at least a second position when the circuit breaker is in a first or second tripped condition.
  • the armature latch moves from its first position to its second position in response to both the first and second fault conditions.
  • the circuit breaker can simulate at least two fault or test conditions by incorporating a switch assembly, supported by the housing, for initiating the first and second fault conditions.
  • the circuit breaker includes an electronic circuit board, an integrated circuit and a solenoid preferably mounted thereon, where upon the initiation of the first fault/test condition or the second fault/test condition, the integrated circuit sends respective signals to the solenoid which interfaces with the armature latch causing the armature latch to move from its first position to its second position.
  • Another object of the present invention is to provide a circuit breaker that can simulate more than one fault or test condition.
  • Another object of the . present invention is to provide a user friendly method of testing a circuit breaker for the proper detectability of a ground fault or arc fault condition.
  • Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a switch assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the switch assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention.
  • Fig. 3 is a front elevational view of a circuit breaker in the operating condition and the switch assembly in the neutral position, all constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 4 is another elevational view of the circuit breaker along a different cross-section thereof, more particularly illustrating the circuit board, a solenoid mounted thereon and the switch assembly, all constructed in accordance with the present invention
  • Fig. 5 is a simplified elevational view of the present invention, with certain components removed for ease of illustration, and particularly illustrating the alignment of the solenoid with respect to the armature latch; and Fig. 6 is a detailed elevational view illustrating the circuit breaker, constructed in accordance with the present invention, in the tripped condition.
  • Switch assembly 100 preferably includes a rockable switch 102, a first contact 145, a second contact 150 and a third contact 155.
  • contacts 145, 150 and 155 are metal leaf contacts. It will be understood by one of skill in the art that the reference to rockable will also include a switch that is slidable, pivotable or the like.
  • Switch 102 preferably of a unitary plastic construction, includes integrally extending teeth 110 and 111 in facing alignment with each other. Teeth 110 and 111 together engage one end of contact 150.
  • a circuit breaker 10 constructed in accordance with the invention by its inclusion of switch assembly 100, includes a housing 12, a line terminal 14, a load terminal 16, and a circuit trip assembly, generally indicated at 20, connected between line terminal 14 and load terminal 16.
  • Circuit trip assembly 20 is similar to circuit trip assembly 120 disclosed in pending application Serial No. 09/196,647, filed on November 19, 1998, which is assigned to the present assignee and incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.
  • circuit breaker 10 may include a trip indicator 140 rotatable about a pin 142 on housing 12 from a first position where it is not visible through a window 72 in housing 12 to a second position where trip indicator 140 is visible through window 72.
  • An aperture 145 in the body of trip indicator 140 receives a guide pin 144 of trip cam 130.
  • Guide pin 144 is provided to transfer the movement of trip cam 130 to trip indicator 140 to rotate trip indicator 140 about pin 142.
  • a portion of trip indicator 140 is visible through window 72.
  • This tripped condition is illustrated in FIG. 6, for example, and also illustrates components, such as trip indicator 140, trip cam 130, cradle 22 and arm 44 in their rotated positions so as to cause line terminal 14 to electrically disconnect from load terminal 16.
  • circuit board 140 that, in combination with components- such as an integrated circuit (as discussed below) provides the electrical circuitry necessary for the proper operation of a solenoid 160 and the circuit breaker disclosed herein.
  • components- such as an integrated circuit (as discussed below) provides the electrical circuitry necessary for the proper operation of a solenoid 160 and the circuit breaker disclosed herein.
  • the manner in which circuit board 140 and solenoid 160 is incorporated into housing 12 would be well understood by one of skill in the art.
  • housing 12 is depicted with a plurality of integrally molded posts 120, 125, 130 and 135. Positioned between posts 120 and 125 is contact 145. Likewise positioned between posts 125 and 130 is contact 150. Similarly, positioned between posts 130 and 135 is contact 155. As depicted in FIG. 2, contact 145 is preferably bent over an inwardly angled top surface 126 of post 125, while contact 155 is preferably bent over an inwardly angled top surface 131 of post 130. Contact 150 extends above the top of posts 125 and 130 so as to be engaged by teeth 110 and 111 of switch 102.
  • switch 102 is "rocked” or pivoted (as explained below)- in either a clockwise (or “a” direction (FIG. 2) ) or counterclockwise (or “b” direction (FIG. 2) ) direction
  • the first (or extended) end of contact 150 will respectively electrically contact either the first end of contact 155 or the first end of contact 145.
  • the second ends of contacts 145, 150 and 155 each have an "L" shaped leg so as to be inserted into respective apertures 146, 151 or 156 and connected to circuit board 140.
  • posts 120, 125, 130 and 135 may be mounted on the face of board 140 as depicted in FIG. 4, molded into housing 12 as shown in FIG. 1, or may be eliminated altogether.
  • connection to circuit board 140 also permits the electrical connection to an integrated circuit thereon.
  • circuit board 140 has mounted thereon an integrated circuit 142 which is preferably an ASIC. Connections between contacts 145, 150 and 155 are made to circuit 142 such that the electrical connection between contact 145 and 150 causes a first output signal to be generated by circuit 142 and the electrical connection between contact 150 and 155 causes a second output signal to be generated by circuit 142.
  • housing 12 preferably includes a recess 115 within the inner housing wall thereof.
  • Recess 115 may be formed by two smaller arcing recesses 116, 117 and a notch portion 118 therebetween. Notch portion 118 will engage a complimentary shaped tab 106 integrally molded on switch 102.
  • Switch 102 also includes an integrally formed rail 105 extending along the front and back surfaces of switch 102. In this manner both sides of housing 12 can support switch 102 in the manner herein described.
  • switch 102 permits the pivoting within recess 115 so as to achieve the limiting rocking movement of switch 102.
  • shape of switch 102 is by way of example and not limitation, as it could also be made with a concave top surface for example, as opposed to the disclosed rounded top surface.
  • the multiple test switch assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention is mountable within the circuit breaker housing. Switch 102, however, may extend outside the housing so as to be accessible to a user.
  • the remaining and preferred construction of the circuit breaker is more particularly disclosed in the aforementioned U.S. application Serial No. 09/196,647, but it should be understood that such disclosure is only by way of example, as it will become evident that the present invention is adaptable and utilizable in any number of circuit breaker configurations that are constructed to detect at least two fault or test conditions .
  • the present invention simulates the above two mentioned arc fault or ground fault/test conditions.
  • the rotation of switch 102 in a first direction for example, so as to achieve electrical contact between contacts 150 and 145, will simulate the first fault/test condition which may be the arc fault condition so as to insure the circuit breaker is operating properly.
  • the contact of contacts 145 and 150 causes integrated circuit 142 to send a first signal to solenoid 160.
  • Solenoid 160 then engages armature latch 28 (FIGS. 3 and 5) causing armature latch 28 to move in the "xl" direction, thereby achieving a fault condition and moving the armature latch to its second position.
  • FIG. 5 illustrates the positioning of solenoid 160 with respect to armature latch 28 although it should be understood that FIG. 5 is a simplified illustration since solenoid 160 is preferably not on the same side of board 140 as circuit trip assembly 20. However, FIGS. 4 and 5 in combination adequately discloses how a portion of board 140 may be removed to permit solenoid 160 to engage latch 28. Similarly, the rotation of switch 102 in the second direction to achieve electrical contact between contacts 150 and 155 likewise causes integrated circuit 142 to output a second signal to solenoid 160 causing solenoid 160 to engage armature latch 28 in a similar manner causing armature latch 28 to move from its operating position to its second position thereby simulating the second fault or test condition.
  • the present invention makes it possible for an end user to verify that the circuit breaker including all mechanical and electrical components are functioning properly.
  • the switch assembly constructed in accordance with the present invention allows the user to test the AFCI mode of operation by rocking or rotating the switch in one direction and to test the GFCI mode by rocking or rotating the switch in the other direction.
  • the switch assembly disclosed herein is not and should not be limited to incorporation with an AFCI and/or GFCI circuit breaker. That is, if a breaker is required to trip upon the detection of any other fault or test conditions, the present invention is equally utilizable therewith, merely with the programming of the integrated circuit to simulate the desired testing or faulting conditions.

Landscapes

  • Breakers (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un disjoncteur comprenant un ensemble interrupteur permettant d'initier au moins une de deux conditions d'essais. Cet ensemble interrupteur est couplé à une carte imprimée sur laquelle est monté un circuit intégré, et à un solénoïde, de sorte qu'une fois initiée l'une des deux conditions d'essais, ce solénoïde entre en contact avec le verrou porté par l'armature d'un ensemble déclencheur de circuit situé à l'intérieur du disjoncteur, ce verrou porté par l'armature étant ainsi amené à initier son passage d'une première position à une seconde position. Ainsi, le disjoncteur peut simuler plusieurs conditions d'essai, par exemple une défaillance.
EP99966098A 1998-12-14 1999-12-10 Disjoncteur avec ensemble interrupteur pour essais multiples Withdrawn EP1055244A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US21124298A 1998-12-14 1998-12-14
US211242 1998-12-14
PCT/US1999/029282 WO2000036623A1 (fr) 1998-12-14 1999-12-10 Disjoncteur avec ensemble interrupteur pour essais multiples

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1055244A1 true EP1055244A1 (fr) 2000-11-29

Family

ID=22786111

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP99966098A Withdrawn EP1055244A1 (fr) 1998-12-14 1999-12-10 Disjoncteur avec ensemble interrupteur pour essais multiples

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1055244A1 (fr)
CA (1) CA2320057A1 (fr)
WO (1) WO2000036623A1 (fr)

Families Citing this family (3)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US6456471B1 (en) 1998-02-19 2002-09-24 Square D Company Test, reset and communications operations in an ARC fault circuit interrupter with optional memory and/or backup power
US6414829B1 (en) 1998-02-19 2002-07-02 Square D Company Arc fault circuit interrupter
DE102008004869A1 (de) * 2008-01-17 2009-07-30 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Lichtbogenschutzmodul

Family Cites Families (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2604295B1 (fr) * 1986-09-23 1988-12-02 Merlin Gerin Appareil electrique de protection differentielle a circuit test
FR2687838B1 (fr) * 1992-02-21 1994-04-08 Merlin Gerin Disjoncteur differentiel unipolaire et neutre et a circuit test.
US5459630A (en) * 1993-09-15 1995-10-17 Eaton Corporation Self testing circuit breaker ground fault and sputtering arc trip unit
FR2715516B1 (fr) * 1994-01-27 1996-05-03 Hager Electro Dispositif de test pour interrupteur différentiel et interrupteur différentiel comportant ce dispositif.
US5414395A (en) * 1994-02-14 1995-05-09 Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc. Electronic housing for two-pole ground fault circuit interrupter
US6392513B1 (en) * 1998-04-29 2002-05-21 Eaton Corporation Circuit breaker with common test button for ground fault and arc fault circuit

Non-Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Title
See references of WO0036623A1 *

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CA2320057A1 (fr) 2000-06-22
WO2000036623A1 (fr) 2000-06-22
WO2000036623A9 (fr) 2001-04-19

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