MXPA00012699A

MXPA00012699A - Electronic trip unit with a rating plug for circuit.

Info

Publication number: MXPA00012699A
Application number: MXPA00012699A
Authority: MX
Inventors: Alan Joseph Messerli
Original assignee: Gen Electric
Priority date: 1999-12-27
Filing date: 2000-12-18
Publication date: 2003-04-25
Also published as: EP1113476A2; HU0004986D0; CN1302074A; PL344655A1; HUP0004986A2; EP1113476A3; HUP0004986A3

Abstract

BREAKERS, WHICH HAS A SWITCHABLE MOTOR AND LINE PROTECTION FUNCTION A circuit breaker (10) is rendered more versatile by providing an electronic trip unit (34) having more than one algorithm embedded in the software thereof to function as either a line protector or a motor protector. The rating plugs (40) of the invention may either be switchable between line and motor protection or the rating plugs may simply include a particular jumper thus enabling the circuit breaker to be converted from line to motor or motor to line based upon the rating plug selected. Whether the rating plug is switchable or the non-switchable jumper-type rating plugs of the invention are being employed the electronic trip unit and current transformer need not be changed in order to change the function of the circuit breaker between line protection and motor protection.

Description

DISCONNECTING ELECTRONIC UNIT WITH A SPEED PLUG FOR SWITCHES CIRCUIT, WHICH HAS A SWITCHABLE FUNCTION OF LINE AND ENGINE PROTECTION FIELD OF THE INVENTION The invention relates to the field of power distribution systems. More particularly, the invention relates to circuit breakers that can be easily switched between line protection and motor protection functions.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Circuit breakers are used to protect equipment from situations of overpower caused by short circuits in or near the equipment. In the event that an overpower condition occurs, the circuit breaker will open, which results in the separation of contacts there, which in turn suspends the power flow. Open circuit breakers in a variety of ways including magnetic fields, temperature and computerized systems are commonly referred to as electronic disconnector units, which include computer programs, which run with a particular algorithm to detect a particular condition of undesirable power . At the moment when such a condition is detected, the unit Disconnecting electronics causes the circuit breaker to open. There are many kinds of devices that can be protected by circuit breakers and circuit breakers that, by themselves, are unique to the function designated for it. In one example, one type of circuit breaker can be designed and constructed to function as a line protector device, while another type of circuit breaker can be designed and constructed to function as a motor protective device. The electronic disconnector units used with each of these circuit breakers are different and each employs different computer programs and algorithms. In addition, power transformers are usually replaced together with the electronic disconnect unit. In the prior art, different circuit breakers needed to be used for each different kind of function and for each circuit breaker with different speed. In order to reduce the number of components in stock, it is known to provide a plurality of different speed pins that can be connected with an independent circuit breaker and an electronic disconnect unit, in order to change the speed of the circuit breaker without uncouple the circuit breaker completely. The speed pins work well for their purpose and allow quick and easy change of speeds in the circuit breakers with which they were used. However, there is still a need within the technique to use circuit breakers completely different for line protection functions and for motor protection functions. In order to change a particular circuit from line protection to motor protection, it would be necessary to completely replace the circuit breaker or the electronic disconnect unit and the power transformers would need to be replaced after the circuit breaker decoupled.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION A circuit breaker of the invention includes a contact arm that can be disconnected by an electronic disconnecting unit operatively connected to the contact arm. Preferably, the electronic disconnecting unit includes at least two separate selection disconnection algorithms and a speed pin with a switch in communication with the electronic disconnector unit, or a flyer connection that allows for rapid "on-the-field" selection. between the at least two algorithms for selective functions.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a perspective view of a circuit breaker of the invention; and Figure 2 is an exploded view of a portion of the interior components of the circuit breaker of the invention, which illustrates the relative position of the components they provide. the benefits of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION With reference to Figure 1, a perspective view of a circuit breaker 10 of the invention is illustrated. The switch 10 includes a base 12 of the housing and a cover 14 of the housing, each of them conventional. A contact arm (not shown) is disposed within the circuit breaker 10. In the drawing, a handle 16 of the switch is also visible, which a person skilled in the art will readily recognize. In the coupling area 18, the circuit breaker 10 is provided for the mechanical and electrical connection of an electronic disconnector unit, a power transformer and a speed pin. These will be described below with respect to Figure 2. The configuration illustrated in Figure 1 will be familiar to those skilled in the art. For purposes of clarity and understanding of the invention, each of the different conventional components are identified. The detailed description of these components is not necessary as they are well known to those skilled in the art. With reference to Figure 2, a conventional power transformer carrier 22 carries power transformers 22 (illustrated as three in the drawings, although four transformers they also form a preferred arrangement for the invention). Each power transformer 22 provides a load tongue 24 for connecting the circuit breaker to a desired electrical connection (not shown). The carrier 20 of the power transformer and the power transformer 22 are received within the coupling area 18, as is known to a person skilled in the art. To complete, a disconnection transmission unit comprising components 26, 28, 30 and 32, is conventional as illustrated. In the invention, an electronic disconnecting unit 34 is mounted on the carrier 20 on legs 36. The particular physical attributes of the electronic disconnecting unit 34 are known in the art since all the physical equipment used therein is conventional. However, the program of the electronic disconnect unit is different from that of the prior art, since the entire circuit breaker of the invention must be easily switchable from a circuit breaker for line protection to a circuit breaker for protection motor. Therefore, the electronic disconnect unit (ETU) includes at least two algorithms, one of which is directed for the motor protection function and one of which is directed for the line protection function. The circuit breaker 10 is thus able to execute any function and only needs to be "informed" of the function that it is going to carry out. Still with reference to Figure 2, a speed pin 40 it includes an electronic unit 42, preferably with two switches 44a and 44b. Preferably, each of them includes a knob 46 for ease of turning the switches 44a and 44b. The plug 40 also includes the housing 48, but the additional switches are similar in structure to those of the prior art. The prior art speed pins have employed a switch directed toward the speed of the switch (or in some cases, two switches, where one is connected to ground for default interruption); The invention provides two switches, one of which is adapted to select between two algorithms in the electronic disconnector unit to determine the function (line protection or motor protection) of the switch and the other is adapted to adjust the desired speed of the circuit breaker. circuit. The speed switch, preferably, provides 32 graduations of .4x by 1x of the fixed speed of the breaker for each line protection and motor protection. The 32 gradations are made of 16 gradations at 63% (0.4x to 0.63 x let) and 16 graduations at 100% (0.625 to Ix let) of the let for each line protection and motor protection. The 63% and 100% settings are switchable on a switch, while the 16 positions are in the other switch. Because the 32 graduations are available for each line protection and motor protection, it will be understood that 64 settings on the speed pin of the invention are possible without having to uncouple. It should be understood that the nominal power speed In for the switch set by the speed pin is dictated by I n < I ct. The speed plug can be connected to the electronic switch unit via an opening 50 in the housing 52 of the electronic switch unit. The speed pin 40 is protected by and an accessible speed plug cover 54, which engages with the cover 14 of a circuit breaker 10 when in full condition. Because the speed pin has access and has the ability to easily and quickly switch the function of the circuit breaker. The invention also reduces the components necessary for the manufacturer to have enough in stock, since a switch and an independent disconnect electronic unit can be easily adapted to function as a line protector or as a motor protector. In another embodiment of the invention, not specifically shown, the speed pin 40 can be supplied with switches thanks to the flying connections. In a speed plug application with flywheel connection, the speed pin is removed and another pin is installed when you want to change the function or nominal speed of power. This embodiment of the invention also greatly simplifies the change of functions, since it avoids the laborious uncoupling and replacement of electronic disconnector units and power transformers. While the invention has been described with reference to a Preferred embodiment, persons skilled in the art will understand that some changes can be made and certain elements can be replaced by their equivalents, without departing from the scope of the invention. In addition, many modifications can be made to adapt a particular situation or material to the precepts of the invention without departing from the essential scope thereof. Therefore, it is intended that the invention not be limited by the particular embodiment, set forth as the best mode contemplated for carrying out this invention, but that the invention will include all embodiments falling within the scope of the appended Claims. .

Claims

CLAIMS 1. An interchangeable function circuit breaker comprising: an electronic disconnect unit having at least two separate selection disconnection algorithms therein; and a speed pin with a switch in communication with an electronic disconnect unit, the switch selects between each of the at least two algorithms.
2. An interchangeable function circuit breaker comprising: an electronic disconnect unit with at least two separate selection disconnection algorithms therein; and a speed pin that has a flywheel connection that selects one of the at least two algorithms.
3. A circuit breaker comprising: a contact arm; an electronic disconnecting unit operatively connected to the contact arm; an electronic disconnector unit having at least two independent selection disconnection algorithms, within it; and a speed pin having a switch in communication with the electronic unit disconnector, the switch selects between each of the at least two algorithms.
4. An interchangeable speed and disconnection system for a circuit breaker comprising: a disconnecting electronic unit with at least two separate selection disconnection algorithms, within it; a speed pin with a switch in communication with the electronic disconnect unit, the switch selects between each of the at least two algorithms.
5. An interchangeable function circuit breaker according to Claim 1, wherein at least two algorithms include an algorithm directed toward a line protection function and an algorithm directed toward the motor protection function.
6. An interchangeable function circuit breaker according to Claim 1, wherein the speed pin includes two switches.
7. An interchangeable function circuit breaker according to Claim 6, wherein two switches control the selection between at least two algorithms and a circuit breaker speed.
8. An interchangeable function circuit breaker according to Claim 7, wherein the selection of the circuit breaker speed provides 32 levels of speed.
9. An interchangeable function circuit breaker according to Claim 2, wherein the speed pin includes a switch for selecting between 32 speed levels for the circuit breaker.
10. a circuit breaker comprising: a contact arm; an electronic disconnecting unit operatively connected to the contact arm; a computer program integrated in the electronic disconnector unit, the computer program has at least two individually; an electronic disconnector unit with at least two independent selection disconnection algorithms, within it; and a speed plug with a flywheel connection that selects one of the at least two algorithms.