FR2805391A1 - DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS AND ELECTRICAL PANEL COMPRISING SUCH A DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

The electrical circuit breaker monitoring apparatus has circuit breakers (1-4). There is luminous radiation (14,22) which passes to a receiver unit (18,23) passing across the maneuver unit. A control unit is connected to the transmission and reception mechanisms to determine the state of the circuit breaker.

Description

DEVICE AND METHOD FOR MONITORING CUTTING APPARATUS

  ELECTRICAL AND ELECTRICAL PANEL COMPRISING SUCH

DEVICE

  The invention relates to a device and a method for monitoring an electrical switching device comprising means for supplying a status of at least one switching device, as well as an electrical panel comprising a support for electrical equipment, at least one

  electric cut-off device provided with an operating member, and such a device.

  Known monitoring devices are generally in the form of auxiliary modules intended to be fixed to electrical breaking devices such as circuit breakers, switches, contactors or relays. These devices are linked to the mechanisms of said devices and provide outputs in the form of contacts.

  representative of open, closed or triggered states depending on the type of device.

  The fixing of known monitoring devices requires intervention on each device in order to achieve mechanical coupling and electrical connections. In addition, each monitoring device must be connected individually to the monitoring device.

visualization or status report.

  There are devices that include magnetic sensors to detect the state of a circuit breaker. Such devices are described in patent applications DE 197 07 729 and WO 98/38666. These sensors avoid mechanical associations between the monitoring devices and the breaking devices but they require electrical connections between

  magnetic sensors internal to the devices and external control devices.

  The object of the invention is a device and a method for monitoring an electrical device avoiding mechanical associations and electrical connections with devices.

  electrical, as well as an electrical panel comprising such a device.

  A device according to the invention comprises: - means for emitting at least one light radiation intended to be directed towards an operating member of at least one electrical cut-off device, - means for receiving at least one light radiation intended to be directed towards said operating member, and - control means connected to the transmission means and to the reception means

  to determine the state of said at least one electrical cut-off device.

  In a preferred embodiment, the emission means comprise first emission means for emitting a first light beam intended to detect a position of the operating member representative of an open position of said electric cut-off device, and the reception means include first means of

  reception intended to receive said first light beam.

  Preferably, the first light beam is modulated by a first signal having a

first carrier frequency.

  In a preferred embodiment, the emission means comprise second emission means for emitting a second light beam intended to detect a change in position of the operating member representative of an opening following a command from said electrical appliance. , and the reception means include second

  reception means intended to receive said second light beam.

  Preferably, the second light beam is modulated by a second signal having a

second carrier frequency.

  In a particular embodiment, the control means connected to the second reception means comprise detection means for detecting a time of passage of the operating member in front of the second beam to differentiate an internal control of the operating member from '' an external command from the operating device, an internal command being detected if a passage time is less than one

predetermined time.

  Advantageously, the emission means comprise third emission means for emitting a third light beam intended to detect an external command from an operating member of said electrical appliance, and the reception means comprise

  third receiving means for receiving said third light beam.

  Preferably, the third light beam is modulated by the first signal having a first carrier frequency, the control means controlling the emission alternately the first and third light beams according to a signal having a third

  predetermined frequency and duty cycle.

  According to a first variant, the transmission means and the reception means comprise

at least one polarization filter.

  According to a second variant, the monitoring device includes reflection means

  of light beams arranged opposite the transmission means and reception means.

  According to a third variant, the monitoring device comprises means for absorbing light beams arranged opposite the transmission means and reception means, and at least one operating member of said electrical appliance comprises a

  reflecting face for reflecting at least one light beam.

  Preferably, the monitoring device comprises signaling means connected to the control means for signaling an opening state if at least one operating member is in front of the first beam and if at least one operating member has passed in front of the second beam for a time greater than a predetermined time or if an element was present in front of the third beam before the change of position of said

operating device.

  Preferably, the monitoring device comprises signaling means connected to the control means for signaling a triggering state if at least one operating member is in front of the first beam and if at least one operating member is

  passed in front of the second beam for a time less than a predetermined time.

  Advantageously, the transmission means, the reception means, and the control means are arranged in at least one modular apparatus module intended to be

  installed on a rail-shaped support.

  An electrical panel according to an embodiment of the invention comprising a support for electrical equipment and at least one electrical switching device provided with a

  maneuver comprises at least one monitoring device as defined above.

  A method of monitoring an electrical cut-off device according to an embodiment of the invention comprises, in an operating phase, the emission of a first light beam to detect a position of an operating member of at least an electric cut-off device and the emission of a second light beam for detecting the movement of an operating member of at least one electric cut-off device, said operating phase comprising: - a first step of detecting a triggering of an electrical device by an internal control when an operating member passes in front of the second beam for a time less than a predetermined time and if said member remains in front of the first beam, and - a second step of signaling a trigger when the first step and performed. Advantageously, the operating phase comprises a third step of detecting an opening of an electrical appliance by an external control detected when an operating member passes in front of the second beam for a time greater than a predetermined time and if said member remains in front of the first beam, and a fourth

  step of signaling an opening when the third step is carried out.

  Preferably, the operating phase includes a fifth signaling step

  a trigger and an opening if a third step and followed by a second step.

  In a particular embodiment, the operating phase includes a sixth acknowledgment step to go from the second or fifth step to the fourth

  opening signaling stage.

  Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows.

  follow, of particular embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples, and represented in the appended drawings in which: - Figure 1; represents modular devices comprising auxiliary blocks according to the prior art; - Figures 2 shows a monitoring device according to a first embodiment of the invention for monitoring modular electrical devices; - Figure3 shows a monitoring device according to a second embodiment of the invention; - Figure 4 shows a side view of an apparatus and a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the invention; - Figures 5, 6, and 7 show three operating states of a device according to an embodiment of the invention; - Figure 8 shows an electronic block diagram of a monitoring device according to Figure 3; - Figures 9A to 9C represent signals representative of light signals used in a monitoring device according to the invention; - Figures 1OA to 1OC represent signals according to Figures 9A to 9C during a trip and an opening of a device; - Figure 11 shows a flowchart of operation of a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the invention; - Figure 12 shows a diagram representing polarized signals for a device according to an embodiment of the invention; - Figure 13 shows a diagram representing reflected signals for a device according to an embodiment of the invention; - Figure 14 shows a diagram representing absorbed and reflected signals for a

  device according to an embodiment of the invention.

  Modular electrical devices 1, 2, 3, 4 shown in Figure 1 include known monitoring devices such as auxiliary blocks 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. On this

  Figure, the devices and auxiliary blocks are installed on a rail 1 1 forming a support.

  In known manner, the auxiliary blocks are mechanically associated with modular electrical devices. Generally, these auxiliary blocks include electrical contacts whose states are representative of the states of the devices, for example of the state

  open or closed, or the triggered state if the devices have triggering means.

  To avoid in particular electrical connections between devices and their auxiliary units, a device for monitoring an electrical cut-off device according to one embodiment of the invention comprises means for emitting light radiation intended to be directed towards a operating member of at least one electrical cut-off device, means for receiving light radiation to be directed towards said operating member, and control means connected to the transmission means and to the means

  reception to determine the state of said at least one electrical cut-off device.

  A monitoring device according to a first embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 2. In this embodiment, the monitoring device comprises a first module 12 comprising a first device 13 for emitting a first directed light beam 14 towards an open position 15 of at least one operating member of an electric cut-off device. Thus, the first light beam 14 is intended to detect a position of the operating member representative of an open position of said electrical cut-off device. In this figure, the monitoring device comprises a second module 17 comprising a first receiving device

  18 intended to receive said first light beam 14.

  In Figure 2 the devices 1 to 4 and the modules 12 and 17 are arranged on a rail 11 and aligned. If all the devices are closed, the operating members of said devices are in a closed position 19 representative of closed devices and the beams 14 and 22 are not interrupted. In this case, the first receiving device 18 receives the first beam 14 and the module 17 control means can provide on terminals 20 a signal representative of closed electrical devices. If at least one device is open, an operating member passes into the open position 15, the first beam 14 is interrupted and the first reception device 18 detects the interruption of the light beam and module 17 control means provide a signal representative of an open device. In the embodiment of FIG. 2, the first module 12 comprises a second device 21 for emitting a second light beam 22 intended to detect a change in position of the operating member representative of an open suite to a command of said electrical appliance, and the second module 17 comprises a second reception device 23. Control means of the second module connected to the second reception device 23 detects a passage time of the operating member in front of the second beam for differentiate an internal control of the operating member from an external control of the operating member, an internal control being detected if a passage time is less than a predetermined time. Thus, if the passage time of the operating member 16 in front of the second beam 22 and less than a predetermined time, the control means can signal a triggering state of an apparatus. If the passage time is not less than a predetermined time, the control means signal an opening of the device, in particular a manual opening. The predetermined time to differentiate internal orders from external orders

  is preferably between 4 and 20 ms.

  In FIG. 2, the devices and the monitoring device are arranged on a support in

  form of rail 11 and integrated into an electrical panel 24.

  Advantageously, to avoid interference between the first and second light beams, the first light beam is modulated by a first signal having a first carrier frequency, and the second light beam is modulated by a second

  signal having a second carrier frequency.

  A monitoring device according to a second embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 3. In this embodiment, the monitoring device comprises a first module 12 comprising the first device 13 for emitting the first light beam 14 and the second device 23 for receiving the second light beam 22, and a second module 17 comprising the second device 21 for emitting the second light beam 22

  and the first device 18 for receiving the first light beam 14.

  To reinforce the distinction between an external control of the operating member and an internal control of the device, the module 12 includes a third emission device for emitting a third light beam 25 intended to detect an external control of a member for operating said electrical appliance and the module 17 comprises a third reception device intended to receive said third light beam. The third beam passes into a gripping zone 26 of an operating member 16. Thus, when a finger or a tool 27 actuates the operating member, the third beam 25 is interrupted, the module control means can interpret the opening action of

  the device as an external command or a manual opening command.

  FIG. 4 shows an apparatus 2 with an operating member 16, a module 12 and the

  arrangement of the three light beams with respect to said operating member.

  Figures 5, 6 and 7 show the passage of an operating member 16 from a position 19 representative of a closed device to a position representative of an open device. In FIG. 5, an operating member 16 begins to be actuated by a finger or a tool 27 which passes in front of the third light beam 25. Then, in FIG. 6, the operating member 16 passes in front of the second beam 22, and reaches the position 15 representative of an open device shown in FIG. 7. In this position the first beam is interrupted by the operating member 16. Since in this case the operating member 16 is moved manually, the time of passage in front of the second beam is greater than a predetermined passage time and the control means detect an open position

by an external operation.

  FIG. 8 represents a block diagram of a monitoring device according to the embodiment of FIG. 3. In this diagram, the first module 12 comprises the first transmitting device 13, the second receiving device 18, and a third emitting device 28 for emitting the third light beam 25. The second module 17 comprises the second emitting device 21, the first receiving device 18, and a third receiving device 29 intended to receive said third light beam 25 In the first module 12, the control means comprise a circuit 30 generating a first signal 31 having a first carrier frequency. This signal 31 is applied to the first transmission device 13 through a first control circuit 32, and to the third transmission device 28 through a third control circuit 33. In the second module 17, the control means include a circuit 34 generating a second signal 35 having a second carrier frequency. This signal 35 is applied to the second

  transmission device 21 through a second control circuit 36.

  For example, the first carrier frequency is approximately 40 kHz and the second

  carrier frequency is approximately 30 kHz.

  To prevent the third beam 25 from acting on the first reception device 18 or the first beam 14 acting on the third reception device 29, the first module 12 comprises a third circuit 37 generating a third signal 38 having a modulation frequency. A control circuit 39 receives the modulation signal 38 and controls the control circuits 32 and 33 to transmit the first and third beam alternately. Thus, when the first transmitting device 13 transmits, the third device 28 is switched off, and when the third transmitting device 28 transmits the first device 13 is switched off. For example, the modulation frequency of the order of 5 kHz. It is

  also possible to predetermine the duty cycle of the third signal 38.

  During the reception of the first and third light beams 14 and 25, the reception devices 18 and 29 connected to a control circuit 40 of the second module 17 supply signals representative of received light signals. To ensure alternative operation of the transmission and reception of the beams 14 and 25, the control circuits 39 and 40 include synchronization means. Thus, when the transmission device 13 transmits the beam 14, the signals supplied by the reception device 18 are taken into account by the circuit 40 and the signals received by the device 29 are ignored. At the next alternation of the modulation signal 38, the transmission device 28 transmits the beam 25 the signals supplied by the reception device 29 are taken into account by the circuit 40 and the signals received by the device 18 are ignored. Synchronization can be achieved by a link between the two control circuits 39 and 40. The module 17 includes a first signaling device 41 connected to the control circuit 40 for signaling an opening state of a device. Signaling occurs if at least one operating member is in front of the first beam 14 and if at least one operating member has passed in front of the second beam 22 for a time greater than a predetermined time or if an element has been present before the third beam before

  change of position of said operating member.

  A second signaling device 42 is connected to the control circuit 40 to signal a tripping state if at least one operating member is in front of the first beam and if at least one operating member has passed in front of the second beam during

  a time less than a predetermined time.

  A second signaling circuit 43 connected to the control circuit 40 makes it possible to signal that the monitoring device is in working order and functioning correctly. To recover the information concerning the second beam 22, the reception device 23

  is connected to circuit 39 and said circuit 39 can be connected to control circuit 40.

  FIGS. 9A to 9C represent signals representative of light beam signals used in a monitoring device according to the invention. In FIG. 9A the signal 14 is modulated at a modulation frequency identical to that of the signal 25 in FIG. 9C. However, the modulation of said signals is alternative and complementary. For example, the frequency of the modulation signal is approximately 1 kHz and the duty cycle is approximately one third for signal 14 and two thirds for signal 25. In this mode

  the signal 22 of FIG. 9B is continuous.

  il In FIGS. 10A to 1 OC, signals represent the light beams respectively 14 22 and 25 during a triggering and an opening of a device. At a moment the

  beam 22 is interrupted for a time TC less than a predetermined time.

  Then, at an instant t2 the beam 14 is interrupted and the signaling device 42 is actuated to indicate an internal opening or a trip. At an instant t3, the device is closed, the signaling is acknowledged and the monitoring device returns

in are initial state.

  At an instant t4, an operating member is actuated manually and the beam 25 is interrupted. Then, at an instant t5, the beam 22 is interrupted for a time TL greater than a predetermined time. Then, at an instant t6 the beam 14 is interrupted and the signaling device 41 is actuated to indicate an opening by a

external or manual control.

  The signaling devices 41, 42 and 43 can be local on the modules and / or

  reported remotely, in particular by electrical links or communication buses.

  FIG. 11 represents a flowchart of operation of a monitoring device according to an embodiment of the invention. The flow diagram shows a method of monitoring an electrical disconnect device to provide a status of at least one disconnect device. The method comprises, in an operating phase, the emission of a first light beam to detect a position of an operating member of at least one electrical cut-off device, and the emission of a second light beam to detect the

  movement of an operating member of at least one electric cut-off device.

  When the system is put into operation, the step 44 includes a standby step. Then, a monitoring loop makes it possible to detect the various events. In this loop, a step 45 makes it possible to detect a manual opening. If the manual opening is detected, a step 46 checks whether the triggered state is already detected to signal a device triggered at a signaling step 47, or to signal an open device at a signaling step 48 if the triggered state n is not verified. In step 45, a detection of an opening of an electrical appliance by an external control is detected when an operating member passes in front of the second beam for a time greater than a predetermined time and if said member remains in front of the first beam In the loop, a step 49 makes it possible to detect an internal trigger. If a trigger is detected, a step 50 checks whether the open state is already detected to signal an open device and a device triggered at a signaling step 51, or to signal a device triggered at the signaling step 47 if the open state is not detected. In step 49, a detection of a triggering of an electrical appliance by an internal control is detected when an operating member passes in front of the second beam for a time less than a predetermined time and if said member remains in front of the first beam. Thus, if a triggering step 49 carried out follows a manual opening step 45 performed, a step 51 signals the two opening and triggering events. A step 52 makes it possible to detect a command for acknowledging a trip fault, in this case the signaling of the open device is controlled (step 48) if

  a previous signal indicated a device tripped (step 47 or 51).

  A step 53 makes it possible to detect a manual closure, in particular when the first beam is no longer interrupted. If the closure is detected, a step 54 of putting on standby

  cancels previous signals.

  In a first particular embodiment shown in Figure 12 the light beams are polarized so as to avoid interference. For example, the first beam has a first polarization and the third beam has a second polarization orthogonal to the first polarization. The polarization of the second beam can be identical to the polarization of the first beam. Advantageously, the treatment of the polarization of the light beams can be carried out by polarizing filters arranged

  in front of the light beam emission and reception devices.

  In a second particular embodiment shown in Figure 13 the first

  light beam 14 may be the second light beam reflected by a reflector 58.

  The light beam reflector is preferably placed opposite the devices

  transmitting and receiving devices located, for example, in the same module.

  In a third particular embodiment shown in FIG. 14, the light beams are absorbed by an absorption device 59 arranged opposite the transmission devices and reception devices located, for example, in the same module. In this embodiment, the operating members have a reflecting face for

  reflect the light beams towards reception devices.

  The transmitting devices and the receiving devices are preferably arranged in two modules arranged on a rail-shaped support. The modules are preferably located on each side of an electrical appliance or of a group of several aligned electrical appliances. It is also possible to arrange the transmitting and receiving devices in a single module arranged on one side of a device or a

group of devices.

  When the monitoring device is placed in an electrical panel comprising several supports, modules of the monitoring device can be arranged on each support to monitor groups of different devices. In other embodiments, modules can also monitor devices on multiple media. In a table, device status reporting can be done by device, by group

  devices and / or for all devices in the switchboard.

  Signaling can be done locally on monitoring modules in the form of indicator lights, relay contact outputs and / or in a form reported by means of

  communication with a central viewing or reporting facility.

Claims (19)

  1. Device for monitoring an electric cut-off device comprising means for supplying a state of at least one cut-off device (1,2, 3, 4), characterized in that it comprises - emission means ( 13, 21, 28) of at least one light radiation (14, 22, 25) intended to be directed towards a member (16) for operating at least one electric cut-off device (1,2, 3, 4) , - means for receiving (18, 23, 29) of at least one light radiation (14, 22, 25) intended to be directed towards said operating member (16), and - control means (32, 33 , 39, 36, 40) connected to the transmitting means and to the receiving means for determining the state of said at least one electrical cut-off device. 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that the emission means comprise first emission means (13) for emitting a first light beam (14) intended to detect a position (15) of the operating member representative of 'an open position of said electrical cut-off device, and the reception means comprise first reception means (18) intended to receive said first light beam (14).   3. Device according to claim 2 characterized in that the first light beam   (14) is modulated by a first signal (31) having a first carrier frequency.   4. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3 characterized in that the means   emission comprise second emission means (21) for emitting a second light beam (22) intended to detect a change in position of the operating member (16) representative of an opening following a command from said electrical appliance , and the reception means comprise second reception means (23)   intended to receive said second light beam (22).   5. Device according to claim 4 characterized in that the second light beam   (22) is modulated by a second signal (35) having a second carrier frequency.   6. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 5 characterized in that the means   control (39, 40) connected to the second receiving means (23) comprise detection means (39, 40) for detecting a time of passage of the operating member (16) in front of the second beam (22) to differentiate an internal control of the operating member of an external control of the operating member, an internal control being   detected if a transit time (TC) is less than a predetermined time.   7. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6 characterized in that the means   emission comprise third emission means (29) for emitting a third light beam (25) intended to detect an external command of an operating member of said electrical appliance, and the reception means comprise third means   reception (29) intended to receive said third light beam.   8. Device according to claim 7 characterized in that the third light beam (25) is modulated by the first signal (31) having a first carrier frequency, the control means controlling the emission alternately the first and third light beams (14, 25) according to a signal (38) having a third frequency and   a predetermined duty cycle.   9. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8 characterized in that the means   transmission and the reception means comprise at least one polarization filter (57).   10. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 9 characterized in that it comprises   reflection means (58) of light beams arranged opposite the means   transmission and reception means.   11. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 10 characterized in that it   comprises means for absorbing (59) light beams arranged opposite the transmission means and reception means, and at least one member for operating said electrical appliance comprises a reflecting face (60) for reflecting at least one light bleam.   12. Device according to any one of claims 7 to 11 characterized in that it   comprises signaling means (41) connected to the control means (40) for signaling an open state if at least one operating member (16) is in front of the first beam and if at least one operating member has passed in front of the second beam (22) for a time (TL) greater than a predetermined time or if an element (27) has been present in front of the third beam (25) before the change of position of said maneuver.   13. Device according to any one of claims 3 to 12 characterized in that it   comprises signaling means (42) connected to the control means for signaling a triggering state if at least one operating member (16) is in front of the first beam (14) and if at least one operating member has passed in front of the second beam (22)   for a time (TS) less than a predetermined time.   14. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 13 characterized in that the   transmission means, reception means, and control means are arranged in at least one module (12, 17) of modular apparatus intended to be installed on a support (11) in the form of a rail.   15. Electrical panel comprising a support (11) for electrical equipment at least one electrical device (1, 2, 3, 4) for cutting provided with an operating member (16) characterized in that it comprises at least one monitoring device according to any one of claims 1 to 14.   16. Method for monitoring an electric cut-off device, characterized in that, in an operating phase, it emits a first light beam (14) to detect a position of an operating member (16) d '' at least one electric cut-off device (1, 2, 3, 4) and the emission of a second light beam (22) to detect the movement of an operating member (16) of at least one electrical cut-off (1, 2, 3, 4), said operating phase comprising: - a first step (49) of detection of a triggering of an electrical device by an internal control when an operating member passes in front of the second beam for a time (TC) less than a predetermined time and if said member remains in front of the first beam, and - a second step (47) of signaling a trigger when the first step is performed. 17. The method of claim 16 characterized in that the operating phase comprises a third step (45) of detection of an opening of an electrical device by an external control detected when an operating member passes in front of the second beam during a time (TL) greater than a predetermined time and if said member remains in front of the first beam, and a fourth step (48) of signaling an opening   when the third step is completed.   18. The method of claim 17 characterized in that the operating phase comprises a fifth step (51) of signaling a trip and an opening   if a third step and followed by a second step.   19. The method of claim 18 characterized in that the operating phase comprises a sixth step (52) of acknowledgment to move from the second or the   fifth step to the fourth step (48) of opening signaling.