Patent US5524083A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5524083A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Decentralized, modular tripping arrangement
Assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
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Filing: 1995-02-28
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Granted: 1996-06-04
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Expires: 2015-02-28
Abstract
Abstract A modular circuit interrupter is arranged for interrupting current in a three-phase circuit path providing current from a three-phase source to a three-phase motor. The interrupter includes a contactor unit arranged to interrupt the circuit path in response to a trip command; a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the circuit path; a fault detection circuit responsive to the current signal, for detecting and communicating power faults in the circuit path; and start and stop motor modules. Respective housings are provided for each of the contactor unit, the fault detection circuit, the start motor module and the stop motor module. A data/power communication bus provides a data communication link between each of the contactor unit, the fault detection circuit, the start motor module and the stop motor module. The data/power communication bus also includes power and ground leads for providing power to the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit. The fault detection circuit sends the trip command over the data communication link, and the contactor unit includes decoding circuitry for responding by interrupting the circuit path.
Inventors
- 👤 George M. Horne
- 👤 Ronald L. Farrington
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 07:13
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H3/00; H02H3/02; H02H3/04; H01; H01H; H01H71/00; H01H2071/006; H01H2300/00; H01H2300/03; Y; Y02; Y02B; Y02B70/00; Y02B70/30; Y02B90/00; Y02B90/20; Y04; Y04S; Y04S20/00; Y04S20/14; Y04S20/20
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
155 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a multi-phase circuit path providing current from a multi-phase source to a multi-phase load, comprising: a contactor unit arranged to interrupt the multi-phase circuit path in response to a trip command; a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the multi-phase circuit path; a fault detection circuit unit including responsive to the current signal, for detecting and communicating power faults in the multi-phase circuit path; respective housings for each of the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit; and a data/power communication bus providing a data communications link between the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit and providing power to the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit constructed and arranged to send the trip command over the data communication link, and the contactor unit responding by interrupting the multi-phase circuit path.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
155 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a multi-phase circuit path providing current from a multi-phase source to a multi-phase load, comprising: a contactor unit arranged to interrupt the multi-phase circuit path in response to a trip command; a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the multi-phase circuit path; a fault detection circuit unit including responsive to the current signal, for detecting and communicating power faults in the multi-phase circuit path; respective housings for each of the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit; and a data/power communication bus providing a data communications link between the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit and providing power to the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit constructed and arranged to send the trip command over the data communication link, and the contactor unit responding by interrupting the multi-phase circuit path.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the data/power communication bus is implemented using a Seriplex communication protocol.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the data/power communication bus includes at least two power lines and a serial data line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 3, wherein the data/power communication bus includes a data clock line.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
20 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a phase fault detection circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
19 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the fault detection circuit includes an overload detection circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a phase fault detection circuit and an overload detection circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a stop motor module connected to and communicating on the data/power communication bus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a start motor module connected to and communicating on the data/power communication bus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
26 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a start and stop motor module connected to and communicating on the data/power communication bus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
20 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 1, further including a reset module communicating on the data/power communication bus.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 11, further including start and stop motor modules connected to and communicating on the data/power communication bus.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
180 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a three-phase circuit path providing current from a three-phase source to a three-phase motor, comprising: a contactor unit arranged to interrupt the three-phase circuit path in response to a trip command; a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the three-phase circuit path; a fault detection circuit unit including responsive to the current signal, for detecting and communicating power faults in the three-phase circuit path; at least one module providing start and stop motor functions and an overload reset function; respective housings for each of the contractor unit, the fault detection circuit, and said at least one module; a data/power communication bus providing a data communication link between each of the contractor unit, the fault detection circuit, said at least one module, and providing power to the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit constructed and arranged to send the trip command over the data communication link, and the contactor unit responding by interrupting the three-phase circuit path.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
180 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a three-phase circuit path providing current from a three-phase source to a three-phase motor, comprising: a contactor unit arranged to interrupt the three-phase circuit path in response to a trip command; a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the three-phase circuit path; a fault detection circuit unit including responsive to the current signal, for detecting and communicating power faults in the three-phase circuit path; at least one module providing start and stop motor functions and an overload reset function; respective housings for each of the contractor unit, the fault detection circuit, and said at least one module; a data/power communication bus providing a data communication link between each of the contractor unit, the fault detection circuit, said at least one module, and providing power to the contactor unit and the fault detection circuit, the fault detection circuit constructed and arranged to send the trip command over the data communication link, and the contactor unit responding by interrupting the three-phase circuit path.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
25 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the data/power communication bus includes a single data clock line and a single data line.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
20 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a phase fault detection circuit.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
19 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 15, wherein the fault detection circuit includes an overload detection circuit.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
19 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 16, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a three-phase rectifier circuit.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
18 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 17, wherein the fault detection circuit includes a scaling amplifier.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
23 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 18, further including a potentiometer for setting a trip point for the fault detection circuit.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
30 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein said functions provided by said at least one module have respective corresponding addresses for communicating on the data/power communication bus.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
19 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the fault detection circuit is implemented using ASIC technology.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
23 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, further including a potentiometer for setting a trip point for the fault detection circuit.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
19 words
A modular circuit interrupter arrangement, according to claim 13, wherein the fault detection circuit includes an overload detection circuit.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-06-04 | 1999-12-04 | 2000-06-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-06-04 | 2003-12-04 | 2004-06-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-06-04 | 2007-12-04 | 2008-06-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |