公开(公告)号：US06225883B1

公开(公告)日：2001-05-01

申请号：US09504421

申请日：2000-02-15

申请人： Edward Louis Wellner ,  Paul Jason Rollmann ,  Peter Klaus Moldovan ,  Thomas Michael Hall ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz ,  Michael Frederick Walz ,  James McCormick ,  Engelbert Hetzmanseder

发明人： Edward Louis Wellner ,  Paul Jason Rollmann ,  Peter Klaus Moldovan ,  Thomas Michael Hall ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz ,  Michael Frederick Walz ,  James McCormick ,  Engelbert Hetzmanseder

IPC分类号： H01H900

CPC分类号： H01H71/505 ,  H01H71/0221 ,  H01H71/1054 ,  H01H71/161 ,  H01H71/162 ,  H01H71/40 ,  H01H71/58 ,  H01H83/20 ,  H01H2071/0292 ,  H01H2071/124 ,  H01H2083/201

摘要： The toggle mechanism of a circuit breaker is connected at one end to the pivoted contact arm and at the other end to a pivoted latch lever which is engaged to latch the toggle mechanism by a latch member pivoted for movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the toggle mechanism. The latch member serves as an armature for a trip motor energized by a trip circuit responsive to an arc fault and/or a ground fault to unlatch the toggle mechanism and trip the circuit breaker open. The latch member is also tripped by a helical bimetal responsive to persistent overcurrents and coupled to the latch member through an ambient compensator bimetal cantilevered from the latch member. A flexible shunt connected between the helical bimetal and contact arm passes through an extension of the magnetic circuit of the trip motor to generate a magnetic field of sufficient strength to trip the latch member instantaneously in response to a short circuit.

摘要翻译： 断路器的肘节机构的一端连接到枢转的接触臂，另一端连接到枢转的闩锁杆，枢转的闩锁杆通过一个闩锁构件来接合，以便在垂直于 肘节机构。 闩锁构件用作用于由电弧故障和/或接地故障响应的跳闸电路激励的跳闸电动机的电枢，以解锁肘节机构并使断路器断路。 闩锁构件还响应于持续的过电流而被螺旋双金属件跳闸，并且通过从闩锁构件悬臂的环境补偿器双金属件联接到闩锁构件。 连接在螺旋双金属和接触臂之间的柔性分路通过跳闸电动机的磁路的延伸部分，以产生足够强度的磁场，以响应于短路而瞬间跳闸闩锁构件。

公开(公告)号：US5933305A

公开(公告)日：1999-08-03

申请号：US88816

申请日：1998-06-02

申请人： Steven Christopher Schmalz ,  Joseph Charles Zuercher

发明人： Steven Christopher Schmalz ,  Joseph Charles Zuercher

IPC分类号： H02B13/065 ,  G01R31/12 ,  H01H9/54 ,  H01H83/20 ,  H02H1/00 ,  H02H1/04 ,  H02H3/44 ,  H02H3/00

CPC分类号： H02H1/04 ,  H02H1/0015 ,  H02H3/44

摘要： Arc faults are detected by bandpass filtering the current to generate a sensed current signal with a pulse each time an arc is struck. A resettable integrator integrates this sensed current repetitively over equal time intervals such as each cycle of the ac current. The integrated value of the sensed current is compared with the value for the previous corresponding time interval stored in a sample and hold circuit, with the indications of interval to interval increases and decreases in the integrated sensed values for a selected number, such as six, of the most recent time intervals stored in a shift register. For each time interval, a chaos detector counts the number of changes between increases and decreases for the selected number of most recent corresponding time intervals and accumulates a weighted sum of the counts which is time attenuated. When the sum reaches a predetermined amount, an output such as a trip signal for a circuit breaker is generated.

摘要翻译： 通过对电流进行带通滤波来检测电弧故障，以在每次触发电弧时产生具有脉冲的感测电流信号。 可复位积分器在相等的时间间隔（例如交流电流的每个周期）上重复地将该感测电流积分。 感测电流的积分值与存储在采样和保持电路中的先前对应时间间隔的值进行比较，间隔间隔的指示对于所选择的数字（例如6）的积分感测值的增加和减小， 存储在移位寄存器中的最近时间间隔。 对于每个时间间隔，混沌检测器对所选择的最近的对应时间间隔的数量增加和减少之间的数量进行计数，并且累加时间衰减的计数的加权和。 当总和达到预定量时，产生诸如用于断路器的跳闸信号的输出。

公开(公告)号：US20130242450A1

公开(公告)日：2013-09-19

申请号：US13422305

申请日：2012-03-16

申请人： Patrick Wellington Mills ,  James Michael Mccormick ,  Richard George Benshoff ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

发明人： Patrick Wellington Mills ,  James Michael Mccormick ,  Richard George Benshoff ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

IPC分类号： H01H73/00 ,  H01H5/04 ,  H01H9/00

CPC分类号： H01H71/68 ,  H01H71/58 ,  H01H83/20 ,  H01H2071/665 ,  H01H2083/201

摘要： An electrical switching apparatus, such as a subminiature circuit breaker, includes a housing assembly, separable contacts, an operating mechanism having an actuator device and a latching assembly, a first trip device for tripping open the separable contacts in response to an overcurrent condition, and a second trip device for tripping open the separable contacts in response to an arc fault, a ground fault or a remotely transmitted signal. The subminiature circuit breaker includes a reset solenoid and a trip solenoid. The resent solenoid is coupled to the actuator device, and includes a coil operable to electrically reset the separable contacts. The trip solenoid is coupled to the latching assembly, and includes a coil operable to move the catch lever, thereby electrically tripping open the separable contacts.

摘要翻译： 诸如超小型断路器的电气开关装置包括壳体组件，可分离触点，具有致动器装置和闭锁组件的操作机构，用于响应于过电流状况跳闸打开可分离触点的第一跳闸装置，以及 第二跳闸装置，用于响应于电弧故障，接地故障或远程传输的信号跳闸打开可分离触点。 超小型断路器包括复位电磁阀和跳闸螺线管。 再生螺线管耦合到致动器装置，并且包括可操作以电可重置可分离触点的线圈。 跳闸螺线管联接到闩锁组件，并且包括可操作以移动卡扣杆的线圈，从而电跳脱打开可分离触点。

公开(公告)号：US06639768B2

公开(公告)日：2003-10-28

申请号：US10029545

申请日：2001-12-20

申请人： Joseph C. Zuercher ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

发明人： Joseph C. Zuercher ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

IPC分类号： H02H316

CPC分类号： H02H3/44 ,  H02H1/043

摘要： Tripping of a circuit breaker by an arc fault detector is blocked by a disable circuit upon detection of a transient associated with cold turn-on of an incandescent bulb powered by a dimmer. The peak value of pulses generated by the bandpass filter of the arc detector in response to step increases in the ac current is decayed approximately exponentially. The amplitude of each pulse is compared with upper and lower percentage limits of the decaying peak value. If the amplitudes of the pulses remain below the upper threshold for about 3 to 4 half cycles and exceed the lower threshold each half cycle, a dimmer transient is identified and logic is set to block generation of a false arc signal.

公开(公告)号：US09042073B2

公开(公告)日：2015-05-26

申请号：US13422305

申请日：2012-03-16

申请人： Patrick Wellington Mills ,  James Michael McCormick ,  Richard George Benshoff ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

发明人： Patrick Wellington Mills ,  James Michael McCormick ,  Richard George Benshoff ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

IPC分类号： H01H73/00 ,  H01H71/68 ,  H01H71/58 ,  H01H83/20 ,  H01H71/66

CPC分类号： H01H71/68 ,  H01H71/58 ,  H01H83/20 ,  H01H2071/665 ,  H01H2083/201

摘要： An electrical switching apparatus, such as a subminiature circuit breaker, includes a housing assembly, separable contacts, an operating mechanism having an actuator device and a latching assembly, a first trip device for tripping open the separable contacts in response to an overcurrent condition, and a second trip device for tripping open the separable contacts in response to an arc fault, a ground fault or a remotely transmitted signal. The subminiature circuit breaker includes a reset solenoid and a trip solenoid. The resent solenoid is coupled to the actuator device, and includes a coil operable to electrically reset the separable contacts. The trip solenoid is coupled to the latching assembly, and includes a coil operable to move the catch lever, thereby electrically tripping open the separable contacts.

摘要翻译： 诸如超小型断路器的电气开关设备包括壳体组件，可分离触点，具有致动器装置和闭锁组件的操作机构，用于响应于过电流状况跳闸打开可分离触点的第一跳闸装置，以及 第二跳闸装置，用于响应于电弧故障，接地故障或远程传输的信号跳闸打开可分离触点。 超小型断路器包括复位电磁阀和跳闸螺线管。 再生螺线管耦合到致动器装置，并且包括可操作以电可重置可分离触点的线圈。 跳闸螺线管联接到闩锁组件，并且包括可操作以移动卡扣杆的线圈，从而电跳脱打开可分离触点。

公开(公告)号：US06577138B2

公开(公告)日：2003-06-10

申请号：US09939220

申请日：2001-08-24

申请人： Joseph C. Zuercher ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

发明人： Joseph C. Zuercher ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

IPC分类号： G01R3102

CPC分类号： H02H1/0015 ,  B60L3/0023 ,  H02H1/04

摘要： Arcing in dc electrical systems subject to cyclic disturbances is detected by a current sensor, and a bandpass filter sensitive to arcing noise, which filters the sensor current. The absolute value of the bandpass filtered signal is integrated over repetitive intervals in a resettable analog integrator. A low cost microprocessor samples and resets the analog integrator at a frequency below the pass band and generates a time attenuated accumulation of the samples that produces an arcing signal if it reaches a predetermined limit. To improve nuisance immunity, the sensed dc current is compared in a high speed comparator to the average sensed dc current, and only samples taken by the microprocessor during a predetermined time period after the sensed dc current exceeds the average sensed dc current in a predetermined manner are accumulated. The average sensed dc current is also used by the microprocessor to provide overload protection.

公开(公告)号：US06542056B2

公开(公告)日：2003-04-01

申请号：US09845943

申请日：2001-04-30

申请人： Peter Lee Nerstrom ,  Edward Louis Wellner ,  Paul Jason Rollmann ,  Thomas Michael Hall ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

发明人： Peter Lee Nerstrom ,  Edward Louis Wellner ,  Paul Jason Rollmann ,  Thomas Michael Hall ,  Steven Christopher Schmalz

IPC分类号： H01H7312

CPC分类号： H01H73/14 ,  H01H71/04 ,  H01H71/123 ,  H01H71/162 ,  H01H83/20 ,  H01H2071/042 ,  H01H2083/201 ,  H01H2219/0622

摘要： An aircraft circuit breaker includes a housing; separable contacts mounted in the housing; a latchable operating mechanism including a latch member which when unlatched opens the separable contacts; and an overcurrent assembly responsive to selected conditions of current flowing through the separable contacts for unlatching the latch member to trip the separable contacts open. A movable and illuminable arc fault indicator has a first ring portion and second leg portions internal to the housing. An arc fault actuator which when energized moves one of the second leg portions. An arc fault current assembly responds to selected arc fault conditions of current flowing through the separable contacts to energize the arc fault actuator to move the second leg portions internal to the housing and the first ring portion external to the housing. The arc fault current assembly includes a light for illuminating the first ring portion.

公开(公告)号：US06813131B2

公开(公告)日：2004-11-02

申请号：US09940176

申请日：2001-08-27

申请人： Steven Christopher Schmalz

发明人： Steven Christopher Schmalz

IPC分类号： H02H504

CPC分类号： H02H1/0015 ,  H01H71/16 ,  H01H2083/201

摘要： A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, a latchable operating mechanism having a latch member, a bimetal and an arc fault trip assembly. The trip assembly includes a thermistor responsive to bimetal temperature, an amplifier having first and second inputs and an output, a first resistor electrically connected between a second bimetal terminal and the first amplifier input, a second resistor electrically connected in parallel with the thermistor, a third resistor electrically connected in series with that parallel combination, with that series combination being electrically connected between the first amplifier input and the amplifier output. The second amplifier input is referenced to the first bimetal terminal. The amplifier output has a voltage, which is compensated for the bimetal temperature coefficient. The trip assembly provides a trip signal as a function of compensated voltage. A solenoid responds to the trip signal and releases the latch member to trip the separable contacts open.

摘要翻译： 断路器包括可分离触点，具有闩锁构件的闩锁操作机构，双金属和电弧故障跳闸组件。 跳闸组件包括响应于双金属温度的热敏电阻器，具有第一和第二输入端和放大器的放大器，电连接在第二双金属端子和第一放大器输入端之间的第一电阻器，与热敏电阻并联电连接的第二电阻器 第三电阻器与该并联组合串联电连接，该串联组合电连接在第一放大器输入端和放大器输出端之间。 第二个放大器输入参考第一个双金属端子。 放大器输出具有电压，可补偿双金属温度系数。 跳闸组件提供作为补偿电压的函数的跳闸信号。 螺线管响应跳闸信号并释放闩锁构件以使可分离触点断开。

公开(公告)号：US06300766B1

公开(公告)日：2001-10-09

申请号：US09122563

申请日：1998-07-24

申请人： Steven Christopher Schmalz

发明人： Steven Christopher Schmalz

IPC分类号： H01H950

CPC分类号： H02H1/0015

摘要： An arcing fault detector band pass filters the ac current in a protected circuit to generate a sensed current signal with pulses having an amplitude related to the step increases in current produced each time an arc is struck. The envelope of this pulse signal is tracked by a first, slow tracking circuit or envelope detector having a first, long time constant and a second, fast tracking circuit having a second, shorter time constant. When the second tracking signal generated by the second tracking circuit falls below a predetermined fraction of the first tracking signal of the first tracking circuit, a charge pulse modulator generates a pulse of a size which is a function of the amplitude of the most recent pulse in the sensed current signal. When a time attenuated accumulation of the charge pulses maintained on an integrating capacitor reaches a preselected level, an output circuit generates an arcing fault indication.

摘要翻译： 电弧故障检测器带通滤波受保护电路中的交流电流，以产生具有与每次触发电弧时产生的电流的阶梯增加相关的幅度的脉冲的感测电流信号。 该脉冲信号的包络由具有第一，较长时间常数的第一缓慢跟踪电路或包络检测器跟踪，第二快速跟踪电路具有第二较短的时间常数。 当由第二跟踪电路产生的第二跟踪信号下降到第一跟踪电路的第一跟踪信号的预定分数以下时，电荷脉冲调制器产生尺寸的脉冲，其大小是与最近的脉冲的振幅的函数 感测的电流信号。 当积分电容器上保持的充电脉冲的时间衰减累积达到预选电平时，输出电路产生电弧故障指示。

公开(公告)号：US06650515B2

公开(公告)日：2003-11-18

申请号：US09940232

申请日：2001-08-27

申请人： Steven Christopher Schmalz

发明人： Steven Christopher Schmalz

IPC分类号： H02H300

CPC分类号： H02H1/06 ,  H02H1/0015

摘要： A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism, a power supply, and a trip mechanism powered from a first power supply output. A power supply monitor circuit includes a terminal adapted for electrical connection to a ground, a first resistor electrically connected in series with a power supply regulator, a first transistor having an output and two inputs electrically connected in parallel with the first resistor, a first capacitor electrically connected between the first power supply output and the first transistor output, a second resistor electrically connected in series with the first capacitor between power supply outputs, a second transistor having a first input electrically interconnected with the first transistor output, a second input and an output, a diode electrically connected between the terminal and the second transistor second input, and an interface between the second transistor output and a trip mechanism input for disabling the tripping.