IES86279B2

IES86279B2 - A device which attaches externally onto circuit breaker switches and mechanically alters the circuit's state by moving the manual lever

Info

Publication number: IES86279B2
Authority: IE
Inventors: Simon Bluett
Original assignee: Simon Bluett
Priority date: 2012-11-22
Filing date: 2012-11-22
Publication date: 2013-10-23
Also published as: IES20120519A2

Abstract

The present invention relates to a circuit control device which attaches onto existing circuit breaker switches, such as the MCB switch. This retrofitting device mechanically moves the external lever, or switching latch, of the circuit breaker to turn on and off the circuit. This device can in turn be connected to a separate controller, enabling the user to create a circuit control system. The advantage of the invention is that it can be used to turn on and off existing circuits in a building without having to interfere with these circuits. Another benefit of retrofitting circuit breakers is that all of the circuit breakers in a building are situated in the building’s distribution box. Therefore all of these circuits can be controlled from the one place. <Figure 3>

Description

A device which attaches externally onto Circuit Breaker Switches, and mechanically alters the circuit's state by moving the manual lever.

Field of Invention The present invention relates to a device which attaches onto circuit breaker switches, and in particular, though not limited to a device which attaches onto Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) switches, which are located in a building's power distribution box.

Background A circuit breaker switch, also known as a trip switch, is an automatic device for stopping the flow of current in an electric circuit as a safety measure. These safety devices are found in all buildings with a mains power connection. Modern circuit breakers, such as the MCB Switch, have an external lever where the circuit can be manually turned on and off.

Through the circuit breakers in a building's distribution box, one has direct control of all of the main circuit in that building from the one place. Therefore, if so desired, these circuit breakers can be manually turned on and off, through the movementof the manual external lever, allowing the user to control the building's main circuits.

One of the major problems of controlling the building's circuit through this method is that one has to personally go to the building's distribution box and move the circuit breaker's manual lever. This may require the user to locate the distribution box and might involve some time and hassle.

Thus by creating an electro-mechanical device which attaches onto such circuit breakers allows the task of moving the manual levers on the named circuit breaker to be controlled electronically. This allows for the main circuits in a building, which are connected to such circuit breaker, to be managed by a central circuit control system. Theoretically such a system could then be controlled through any electrical medium.

The present invention is directed towards providing such a device.

Statement of Invention According to the invention there is provided an electro-mechanical device 10 comprising: an attachment system for attaching the device onto the exterior of the circuit breaker switch, a movement mechanism which touches against the manual lever on the circuit breaker switch and mechanically moves it into the on or off position, and an electromotor which drives the mechanism and is wired to a controller.

In one embodiment, the casing of the unit it made of plastic.

In the latter embodiment the attachment system may comprise of extruding sections of the casing which firmly grip onto the edges of the circuit breaker's casing.

In another embodiment, the attachment system comprises of four suction cups which hold the device in position on the circuit breaker through the use of suction on the smooth, flat exterior surface of the circuit breaker.

In one embodiment, the movement mechanism comprises of two rotary fins which work together to push the lever of the circuit breaker into the required position. tn another embodiment, the movement mechanism comprises of a linear push and pull system, which uses linear motion to push the lever of the circuit breaker upwards and downwards. eIn one embodiment, the electromotor comprises of a servo motor, which has its position-sensing potentiometer located inside its casing.

In another embodiment, the electromotor comprises of a servo motor which is connected to an external potentiometer, which is not located inside of the servo's casing, but instead further down the gear system which interlinks the servo and the movement mechanism.

In one embodiment, the electromotor comprises of a stepper motor.

In another embodiment, the electromotor comprises of a D.C. motor, with a position sensor included separately.

In one embodiment, the electromotor comprises of a linear servomotor, which outputs linear motion instead of rotary motion.

One of the main advantages of the invention is that circuits in the building can be controlled without interfering with the existing electronics. This means that there are no safety risks involved during the installation. The unit attaches easily onto the circuit breaker and therefore is straightforward to install. This device can be used in relation with timers, which would be set up on a separate controller. Such timers could be implemented to improve safety in the house while also reducing energy usage.

Brief Description of the Drawings The invention will be more clearly understood from the following description of some embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: -φ Fig. 1 is a side elevation view of the device, as it is attached onto a circuit breaker switch, Fig. 2 is a side elevation view of the device of Fig. 1, with the side cover 5 removed and Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the device of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a cutaway side elevation view of the circuit breaker switch of Fig. 1 and the movement mechanism of the device of Fig. 2.

Description of Embodiments Referring to Fig. 1, there is shown an outline of the front of a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) switch [1] as it would be positioned inside the distribution box of a building. The electro-mechanical device is attached onto the circuit breaker switch through the use of two extrusions [2] from the casing [3], which grip firmly onto the sides of the circuit breaker. At the back of the device a cable [4] connects the servomotor to an external controller.

The internal workings of the device are shown most clearly in Fig. 2. The rotary fins [5] are used to mechanically move the manual lever. A close-up of these fins can be seen in Fig. 4. The manual lever [10] of the Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) in this drawing happens to be positioned in the downwards, 'off, position. To move the manual lever into the upwards, 'on', position, the lower rotary fin [11] rotates clockwise and pushes the lever [10] up halfway, where the upper rotary fin [12] rotates clockwise in sync with the lower fin [11] and pushes the lever [10] upwards the final part of the way into the 'on' position. To move the manual lever [10] back into the downwards, 'off, position, the upper rotary fin [12] rotates counter30 clockwise, pushing the lever [10] downwards. As the MCB manual lever is springloaded, it shall move the final part of the way into its downwards position unaided. -5Both of the fins [11] [12] are so designed in the embodiment shown in Fig. 4, so that after they have either moved the manual lever [10] into the upwards or downwards position, they will rotate back into the neutral position, which is 5 depicted in Fig. 4. This allows the circuit breaker switch, in particular an MCB switch in this embodiment, to trip unhindered, if a short-circuit is detected. This prevents the device from hindering the circuit breaker in its primary safety function.

In Fig.2 the gear system [6] is shown, which connects the driving servomotor to the 10 movement mechanism, while also gaining mechanical advantage. A position sensing potentiometer [7] is attached to the driving gear and is used to get an accurate position feedback of the fins [5].

The servomotor [8] drives the whole system and is connected to the gears, and then in turn to the movement mechanism, by means of two bevel gears.

The whole device [9], induding the casing [3], is designed so that it has the same width of the circuit breaker, in particular a Miniature Circuit Breaker (MCB) switch. This embodiment of the device has a width of 18mm ±1.

Claims

1. A device for circuit control which attaches onto the exterior of a circuit breaker switch and mechanically moves the manual lever (10) comprising: 5 a casing (3) including an attachment mechanism (2) for attaching the device onto the exterior of the circuit breaker switch; a movement system with which the manual lever (10) on the circuit breaker switch can be moved into the on position and off position through the use of a set of cams (5) which may be run by a gear system (6) or optionally run directly by an 10 electromotor (8); a position sensing potentiometer (7) which allows the rotation of the movement system to be monitored and controlled, which may be run by a gear system or optionally be directly integrated within the electromotor (8).

2. A device for circuit control which attaches onto the exterior of a circuit breaker switch and mechanically moves the manual lever (10) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the attachment mechanism (2) consists of: at least two extrusions from the casing (3) which grasp onto the casing of the circuit breaker switch, or at least two suction cups adhered to the casing of the device which use suction to hold the device onto the exterior of the circuit breaker switch.

3. A device for circuit control which attaches onto the exterior of a circuit breaker switch and mechanically moves the manual lever (10) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the movement system comprises of: at least two rotary cams (11) (12) 25 which work together to mechanically push the manual lever into the required position or at least two linear flat plate cams which use a push pull system to push the manual lever into the required position.

4. A device for circuit control which attaches onto the exterior of a circuit breaker switch and mechanically moves the manual lever (10) as claimed in claim 1 wherein the electromotor (8), may consist of a servo motor or optionally a stepper motor or optionally a D.C. motor or optionally a linear servomotor. d

5. A device for circuit control which attaches onto the exterior of circuit breaker switch and mechanically moves the manual lever (10) as disclosed herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.