公开(公告)号：US20240426913A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-26

申请号：US18338912

申请日：2023-06-21

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： David Elmiger ,  Kyle B. Adkins ,  Andrew E. Carlson ,  David M. Messersmith

IPC: G01R31/327 ,  H01H1/00 ,  H01H47/00

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a relay having a first contact on an input side of the relay, the input side coupled to a power source, and a second contact on a load side of the relay coupled to a load. The controller is configured to monitor a current flow from the power source through the relay, transmit a close signal to the relay, and to transmit an open signal to the relay. Based on the current flow through the relay following the open signal, determine whether an electrical weld of one of the first contact and the second contact of the relay exists.

公开(公告)号：US20240426912A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-26

申请号：US18338870

申请日：2023-06-21

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： David Elmiger ,  Kyle B. Adkins ,  Andrew E. Carlson ,  David M. Messersmith

IPC: G01R31/327

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a plurality of relays. The controller is configured to transmit a close signal to a first relay of the plurality of relays, and to transmit a pulse signal to a second relay of the plurality of relays. The pulse signal is configured to have a sufficient electrical magnitude and duration to close the second relay when the second relay has an electrical weld, and to have an insufficient electrical magnitude and duration to close the first contact and the second contact of the second relay when the second relay has no electrical weld. The controller is also configured to measure a current flow through the second relay in response to the pulse signal; and based on the current flow through the second relay, determine whether the electrical weld exists in the second relay.

公开(公告)号：US12160098B2

公开(公告)日：2024-12-03

申请号：US17889199

申请日：2022-08-16

Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Andrew E. Carlson ,  Kyle B. Adkins ,  Randall S. Langer ,  David Elmiger ,  Aiman Kerim ,  James P. Miller

IPC: H02H3/20 ,  H01H1/20 ,  H01H9/54

Abstract: This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system including a mechanical switch and solid-state switching circuit. The hybrid circuit breaker may receive control signals to open and close a current path based on moving a spanner of the mechanical switch. In some cases, moving the spanner of the mechanical switch may generate electrical arcs when the hybrid circuit breaker is conducting electrical current. In such cases, the hybrid circuit breaker may remove the electrical arcs based on operations of the solid-state switching circuit. The solid-state switching circuit may draw arc currents of the electrical arcs by providing a second current path between the spanner and a fixed conductor of the mechanical switch. Moreover, the solid-state switching circuit may open the second current path and absorb electrical power of the electrical arc by one or more solid-state switches, a parallel voltage suppressor, or both.

公开(公告)号：US20230343533A1

公开(公告)日：2023-10-26

申请号：US17660711

申请日：2022-04-26

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： David Elmiger ,  David M. Messersmith ,  Kyle B. Adkins ,  Andrew E. Carlson

IPC: H01H47/00 ,  H01H47/22 ,  G01R31/327

CPC classification number: H01H47/002 ,  H01H47/22 ,  G01R31/3278

Abstract: Systems and methods are provide for detecting weld relay devices within a switching device by: closing one or more first relay devices, wherein the one or more first relay devices are configured to selectively connect and disconnect a first phase of electric power from a power source; opening one or more second relay devices and one or more third switches; detecting whether there is electric current through the one or more second relay devices; and in response to detecting that there is electric current through the one or more second relay devices, determining that the one or more second relay devices are welded.

公开(公告)号：US20240426915A1

公开(公告)日：2024-12-26

申请号：US18338960

申请日：2023-06-21

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： David Elmiger ,  Kyle B. Adkins ,  Andrew E. Carlson ,  David M. Messersmith

IPC: G01R31/327 ,  H01H47/00

Abstract: A system includes a relay system and a controller. The relay system includes a plurality of relays, each having a first contact on an input side of the respective relay, the input side coupled to a power source, a second contact on a load side of the respective relay coupled to a load, and a spanner configured to close the first and second contacts of the respective relay when activated by a close signal. The load sides of each of the respective relays are coupled through their respective loads. The controller is configured to measure a voltage between a spanner of a first relay and an input side of a second relay. Based on the voltage between the spanner of the first relay and the input side of the second relay, the controller determines whether an electrical weld of one of the contacts of the first relay exists.

公开(公告)号：US11901145B2

公开(公告)日：2024-02-13

申请号：US17485734

申请日：2021-09-27

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Kyle B. Adkins ,  Andrew E. Carlson ,  David M. Messersmith ,  David Elmiger

IPC: H02P1/10 ,  H01H47/00 ,  H01H50/18 ,  H01H50/44

CPC classification number: H01H47/002 ,  H01H50/18 ,  H01H50/44

Abstract: A non-transitory, computer-readable medium may include instructions executable by at least one processor in a computing device to cause the processor to perform operations that include transmitting, to a first power source, a command to provide power to a coil of a switching device with a fixed current profile. The operations also include receiving one or more voltage measurements associated with the coil during a period of time, determining whether the voltage measurements associated with the coil indicate that one or more movable contacts of the switching device are at least partially welded to one or more contacts of an electric circuit, and transmitting an additional command to a second power source to disconnect a current to the coil in response to determining that the voltage measurements indicate that the movable contacts of the switching device are at least partially welded to the contacts of the electric circuit.

公开(公告)号：US20240047151A1

公开(公告)日：2024-02-08

申请号：US17879608

申请日：2022-08-02

Applicant: ROCKWELL AUTOMATION TECHNOLOGIES, INC.

Inventor： Aiman Kerim ,  David Elmiger ,  Randall S. Langer ,  Kyle B. Adkins

IPC: H01H9/54 ,  H01H71/12 ,  H03K17/082

CPC classification number: H01H9/54 ,  H01H71/123 ,  H03K17/0822 ,  H01H33/596

Abstract: This disclosure describes a hybrid circuit breaker for an industrial automation system. The hybrid circuit breaker may include a breaker switch and a solid-state switching circuit coupled in parallel. Moreover, the hybrid circuit breaker may include a disconnector switch coupled in series with the breaker switch. For example, the solid-state switching circuit may include a number of solid-state devices. A control system may provide control signals to the disconnector switch, the breaker switch, and the solid-state switching circuit to switch on and switch off the hybrid circuit breaker. The hybrid circuit breaker may enable or reduce (e.g., halt) electrical current flow based on receiving the control signals. Operation of the breaker circuit and the solid-state switching circuit that are coupled in parallel may provide reduced heat generation while providing safe switching of the hybrid circuit breaker. Moreover, operation of the disconnector switch may provide galvanic isolation.

公开(公告)号：US11462345B2

公开(公告)日：2022-10-04

申请号：US16587988

申请日：2019-09-30

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： Andrew E. Carlson ,  Kyle B. Adkins

IPC: H01F7/06 ,  H01H47/00 ,  H01H47/22 ,  H01H50/18 ,  H01H50/44 ,  H01H50/54

Abstract: A relay device may include an armature that moves between a first position that electrically couples the armature to a first contact and a second position that electrically couples the armature to a second contact. The relay device may also include a relay coil that receives a voltage to magnetize the relay coil, thereby causing the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The relay device also includes an additional coil that couples in series with the relay coil via a switch. The relay device also includes a drive circuit that causes the switch to couple the additional coil to the relay coil in response to receiving a signal indicative of the relay coil energizing.

公开(公告)号：US11355292B2

公开(公告)日：2022-06-07

申请号：US16588161

申请日：2019-09-30

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： David Elmiger ,  Andrew J. Jaap ,  Kyle B. Adkins ,  Randall S. Langer

IPC: H01H9/56 ,  H01H47/00 ,  H01H47/26 ,  H01H50/00 ,  H01H50/32

Abstract: A system may include a relay device that includes armatures associated with phases of voltage signals. The system may also include relay coils, such that each relay coil may receive a respective voltage that magnetizes a respective relay coil, thereby causing the respective armature to move from a respective first position to a respective second position. The system may also include a control system that receive an indication that a fault condition is present, identify a first phase of the phases of voltage signals that is expected to be the next phase of the phases to cross zero, and send a signal to the relay device in response to identifying the first phase. The signal is configured to cause a first relay coil of the relay coils to energize or deenergize.

公开(公告)号：US20210098218A1

公开(公告)日：2021-04-01

申请号：US16588180

申请日：2019-09-30

Applicant: Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.

Inventor： David Elmiger ,  Patrick K. Duffy ,  Kyle B. Adkins

IPC: H01H47/02 ,  H01H50/18 ,  H01H50/44 ,  H01H50/54 ,  H01H50/64

Abstract: A system may include a relay device. The relay device may include an armature that moves between a first position that electrically couples a first contact to a second contact and a second position that electrically uncouples the first contact from the second contact. The relay device may also include a relay coil that receives a voltage configured to magnetize a relay coil, thereby causing the armature to move from the first position to the second position. The system also includes a control system that receives an indication that the armature is in the second position and sends a signal to an actuator in response to receiving the indication. The signal causes an arm associated with the actuator to move the armature to achieve a gap distance between the first contact and the second contact.