US3558985A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Three phase repeating circuit interrupter having control means for individually interrupting each phase
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1968-06-24
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Granted: 1971-01-26
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Expires: 1988-06-24
Abstract
Abstract A three phase repeating circuit interrupter having an independently operable main switch means for each phase and a control means for separately opening and reclosing each switch means in response to an overcurrent condition in the phase associated with that switch means and without disturbing the closed condition of the other switch means. A separate overcurrent detecting circuit is provided for each phase and a common overcurrent detecting circuit and opening time delay circuit is provided for all phases. When an overcurrent condition is detected by one of the individual phase overcurrent detecting circuits and also by the common phase overcurrent detecting circuit, both circuits produce an output which causes opening of the main switch means in the faulted phase after a predetermined time delay provided by the opening time delay circuit. Common reclosing time delay means, closing means, sequencing means and reset means are provided for each phase. A faulted phase main switch is opened a predetermined number of times after a time delay provided by the common time delay means and reclosed a predetermined number of times after a time delay provided by the common reclose time delay means, the number of such opening and reclosing operations being determined by the common sequencing means. When the full sequence of a faulted phase is completed, its associated lockout means will lock a phase main switch means open while the other phase switch means continue closed. In the event that the fault on a phase clears before the full sequence is completed, the associated main means remains closed and the control circuit is reset after a predetermined time delay to its normal operating condition. D R A W I N G
Inventors
- 👤 Kenneth L Krolski
- 👤 Michael J Plichta
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 03:49
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H3/00; H02H3/02; H02H3/06; H02H3/07; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/20; Y10T74/20576; Y10T74/20582; Y10T74/20588; Y10T74/20594
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
In a repeating circuit interrupter in circuit with a polyphase electrical system and having separate main switch means connected in each phase of said system, the combination of: control means for opening any of said main switch means upon the occurrence of an abnormal current condition in the phase associated with the opened switch means and for closing the opened switch means; and condition responsive means coupled to said polyphase system for detecting an abnormal current condition in any one of the phases of the system, said condition responsive means including a single time delay means operative when an abnormal current condition occurs in any of said phases to provide and opening time delay for the main switch means associated with the phase having said current condition and producing an output signal to actuate said control means after the opening time delay.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
In a repeating circuit interrupter in circuit with a polyphase electrical system and having separate main switch means connected in each phase of said system, the combination of: control means for opening any of said main switch means upon the occurrence of an abnormal current condition in the phase associated with the opened switch means and for closing the opened switch means; and condition responsive means coupled to said polyphase system for detecting an abnormal current condition in any one of the phases of the system, said condition responsive means including a single time delay means operative when an abnormal current condition occurs in any of said phases to provide and opening time delay for the main switch means associated with the phase having said current condition and producing an output signal to actuate said control means after the opening time delay.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a polyphase repeating circuit interrupter having separate main switch means connected in circuit with each phase of a polyphase electrical system, the combination of: control means for opening any one of said switch means upon the occurrence of an abnormal current condition in an associated phase and for closing the opened switch means; a single sequencing means responsive to the opening of any of said switch means and being operable to sequence said control means and only those switch means opened by said control means through a predetermined number of switch opening and closing operations; and lockout means responsive to said sequencing means when said sequence of switch opening and closing operations has been completed to lock open only those switch means open at the completion of said sequence, whereby those switch means connected in phases not carrying an abnormal current will continue in a closed condition.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
148 words
In a polyphase repeating circuit interrupter having separate main switch means connected in circuit with each phase of a polyphase electrical system, the combination of: control means for opening any one of said switch means upon the occurrence of an abnormal current condition in an associated phase and for closing the opened switch means; a single sequencing means responsive to the opening of any of said switch means and being operable to sequence said control means and only those switch means opened by said control means through a predetermined number of switch opening and closing operations; and lockout means responsive to said sequencing means when said sequence of switch opening and closing operations has been completed to lock open only those switch means open at the completion of said sequence, whereby those switch means connected in phases not carrying an abnormal current will continue in a closed condition.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination according to claim 2 further comprising indicating means responsive to the lockout means for separately indicating only the locked open condition of each main switch.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said lockout means includes relay means actuated by the sequencing means to prevent the control circuit from operating to close those switch means open after completion of said sequence of switch opening and closing operations.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
59 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said lockout means includes relay means actuated by the sequencing means upon completion of said sequence of switch opening and closing operations and responsive to the open position of any switch means to disconnect the control means from any open switch means so that the opened switch means does not again close.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein: said sequencing means has a plurality of stages including an initial stage at which it is positioned when current conditions are normal in all of said phases and a final stage at which the lockout means is actuated; and further comprising reset means operative in response to the closing of only one of said switch means when current conditions are normal in all of said phases and the sequencing means is between its initial and final stages to return the sequencing means to its initial stage.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
43 words
The combination according to claim 6 wherein said reset means includes reset time delay means responsive to the closing of any one of said switch means to provide a time delay prior to the returning of the sequencing means to its initial stage.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
99 words
The combination according to claim 2 wherein said sequencing means includes advancing means and a plurality of stages comprising an initial stage at which it is positioned when current conditions are normal in all Of said phases and a final stage at which the lockout means is actuated and the advancing means is responsive to effect the return of the sequencing means to its initial stage so that the full sequence of opening and closing operations is again available in the event of the occurrence of an abnormal current condition in any of those phases having closed switch means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
68 words
The combination according to claim 8 wherein said advancing means comprises an energizing circuit connecting the sequencing means to an energy source when it reaches its final stage and being disconnected from the sequencing means when it reaches its initial stage so that the sequencing means is returned to its initial stage independently of the operation of the control means, lockout means and any of the switch means.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
132 words
The combination according to claim 9 wherein: said advancing means includes a drive means for advancing the sequencing means when energized; and said energizing circuit includes a switch movable to a closed position when the drive means is deenergized and movable to an open position when the drive means is energized, said switch, drive means and the final stage of the sequencing means being serially connected to said energy source, said drive means being energized through the switch in its closed position when the sequencing means reaches its final stage whereby the sequencing means is advanced to its initial stage and the switch is moved to its open position, said drive means being deenergized when the switch moves to its open position to cause the switch to return to its closed position.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
69 words
The combination according to claim 2 further comprising common time delay means connected to said control means and operative when an abnormal current condition occurs in any one of said phases to provide an opening time delay for only those switch means connected in a phase having an abnormal current condition and producing an output signal to actuate the control means at the end of the opening time delay.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
47 words
The combination according to claim 11 wherein said control means includes circuit means responsive to the output signal from said common time delay means for limiting the operation of the control means to the opening of only those switch means connected in phases having abnormal current conditions.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
135 words
The combination according to claim 12 wherein: said polyphase system has three electrical phases and a separate main switch means connected in each phase; and said circuit means includes first, second and third tripping means each corresponding to a main switch means and being responsive to the output signal from said common time delay means for initiating an opening operation of the corresponding switch means; and further comprising condition responsive means coupled to said system for detecting an abnormal current condition in any of said phases and for producing an actuating signal only to those tripping means corresponding to a main switch means connected in a phase having an abnormal current condition, said corresponding tripping means being actuated when the output and actuating signals from said common time delay means and condition responsive means coincide.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
127 words
The combination according to claim 13 wherein said first, second and third tripping means have corresponding first, second and third switching means each having a nonconductive condition in which its corresponding tripping means is inoperative and a conductive condition in which its corresponding tripping means is operative, each of said switching means being in a nonconductive condition when the corresponding main switch means is closed and the phase in which it is connected is carrying a normal current, each of the switching means being connected to the connected to the condition responsive means and the common time delay means and being conductive in response to the simultaneous production of the actuating signal by the condition responsive means and the output signal by the common tIme delay means.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
140 words
The combination according to claim 14 wherein each of said switching means included in a tripping means corresponding to a main switch means comprises individual first anode and cathode means and second anode and cathode means commonly connected to all of the first anode and cathode means, both of said anode and cathode means being nonconductive to maintain said tripping means inoperative when said corresponding main switch means is closed and the phase in which it is connected is carrying normal current, both of said anode and cathode means being conductive to effect operation of said tripping means in response to the simultaneous production of the actuating signal from the condition responsive means and the output signal from the common time delay means when an abnormal current condition occurs in the phase in which said corresponding main switch is connected.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
222 words
The combination according to claim 13 wherein said condition responsive means includes first, second and third abnormal current sensing means corresponding to said first, second and third tripping means, each of said abnormal current sensing means being separately coupled to one of said phases and being operative to detect an abnormal current condition only in the coupled phase and produce an actuating signal to the corresponding tripping means. 17 The combination according to claim 16 wherein each of said tripping means includes a first anode and cathode circuit having a first gating means connected to the corresponding abnormal current sensing means and a second anode and cathode circuit serially connected to each of the first anode and cathode circuits and having a second gating means connected to the common time delay means for receiving an output signal from said common time delay means, said first and second anode and cathode circuits each having a nonconducting condition in which said tripping means is ineffective to initiate a switch opening operation and a conducting condition in which said tripping means initiates the switch opening operation, both of said anode and cathode circuits conducting when said first gating means receives an actuating signal from said corresponding abnormal current sensing means and said second gating means receives an output signal from said common time delay means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a repeating circuit interrupter in circuit with a polyphase electrical system and having separate main switch means connected in each phase of said system, the combination of: control means for opening any of said main switch means upon the occurrence of an abnormal current condition in the phase associated with the opened switch means and for closing the opened switch means; and sequencing means operable to sequence the entire control means and any one of said switch means from an initial condition through a predetermined number of switch opening and closing operations.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
93 words
In a repeating circuit interrupter in circuit with a polyphase electrical system and having separate main switch means connected in each phase of said system, the combination of: control means for opening any of said main switch means upon the occurrence of an abnormal current condition in the phase associated with the opened switch means and for closing the opened switch means; and sequencing means operable to sequence the entire control means and any one of said switch means from an initial condition through a predetermined number of switch opening and closing operations.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
61 words
The combination according to claim 18 further comprising control reset means responsive to any one of said switch means when the latter is closed to reset the control means to its initial condition in the event that no abnormal current condition exists on any phase after any of the switch means has performed on at least one opening and closing operation.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
66 words
The combination according to claim 19 further comprising condition responsive means coupled to said system for detecting an abnormal current condition in any of said phases, said condition responsive means including a circuit connected to said control reset means and energized when abnormal current is detected by the condition responsive means; and said control reset means is maintained inoperative in response to said circuit when energized.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
48 words
The combination according to claim 19 wherein: said switch means includes a switch circuit having a closed condition; and said control reset means is electrically connected to said switch circuit and is energized in response to the switch circuit in its closed condition to reset the control means.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The combination according to claim 18 wherein said sequencing means is a single sequencing means.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
150 words
The combination according to claim 18 wherein said sequencing means includes a switching circuit and a stage at which the switching circuit has a closed condition; and further comprising control reset means electrically connected to said switching circuit and responsive to the switching circuit when the latter is in its closed condition to reset the control means to its initial condition. 24 In a repeating circuit interrupter in circuit with a polyphase electrical system and having separate main switch means connected in each phase of said system, the combination of a single control means for opening any of said main switch means upon the occurrence of an abnormal current condition in the phase associated with the opened switch means and for closing the opened switch means; and sequencing means operable to sequence said control means from an initial condition through a predetermined number of switch opening and switch closing operations.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3191096A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1974-01-25 | 1974-07-27 | 1975-01-26 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1978-01-25 | 1978-07-27 | 1979-01-26 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1982-01-25 | 1982-07-27 | 1983-01-26 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |