公开(公告)号：US07558033B2

公开(公告)日：2009-07-07

申请号：US11679281

申请日：2007-02-27

申请人： Xin Zhou ,  John J. Shea ,  Joseph C. Engel ,  Kevin L. Parker ,  Theodore J. Miller

发明人： Xin Zhou ,  John J. Shea ,  Joseph C. Engel ,  Kevin L. Parker ,  Theodore J. Miller

IPC分类号： H02H3/00 ,  H02H9/08 ,  H02H7/26 ,  H02H3/08 ,  H02H9/02

CPC分类号： H02H1/0015

摘要： An arc fault circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, a neutral conductor, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, at least one current sensor structured to sense current flowing through the separable contacts and output a sensed current value; and a processor. The processor includes a first routine structured to provide parallel arc fault detection, a second routine structured to provide series arc fault detection, and a third routine structured to enable the first routine and disable the second routine for a predetermined time when the sensed current value is greater than a predetermined value and to enable the second routine and disable the first routine for the predetermined time when the sensed current value is less than the predetermined value.

摘要翻译： 电弧故障电路断路器包括可分离触点，中性导体，构造成打开和闭合可分离触点的操作机构，至少一个电流传感器，其构造成感测流过可分离触点的电流并输出感测的电流值; 和处理器。 该处理器包括构造成提供并联电弧故障检测的第一例程，构造成提供串联电弧故障检测的第二例程，以及第三例程，其构造成使得第一程序能够在预定时间内启用第二例程，当检测到的电流值为 大于预定值，并且当感测到的当前值小于预定值时，启用第二程序并禁用第一例程达预定时间。

公开(公告)号：US07253640B2

公开(公告)日：2007-08-07

申请号：US10341483

申请日：2003-01-13

申请人： Joseph C. Engel ,  Engelbert Hetzmannseder ,  Kevin L. Parker ,  Peter J. Theisen ,  Joseph C. Zuercher

发明人： Joseph C. Engel ,  Engelbert Hetzmannseder ,  Kevin L. Parker ,  Peter J. Theisen ,  Joseph C. Zuercher

IPC分类号： G01R23/20 ,  G01R31/08 ,  H02H9/08

CPC分类号： H02H3/042 ,  H02H1/0015

摘要： A circuit breaker for locating an arc fault for a protected circuit includes separable contacts interrupting the protected circuit and an arc fault detector determining an arc fault in the protected circuit. An analog to digital converter circuit measures a value of peak arc current at the arc fault detector. Another analog to digital converter circuit provides a peak line-to-neutral voltage. A memory provides an arc voltage operatively associated with the value of peak current. A microprocessor determines a distance from the arc fault detector to the arc fault from the value of peak arc current, a wire resistance per unit length or a wire conductance per unit length, the peak line-to-neutral voltage and the arc voltage.

摘要翻译： 用于定位受保护电路的电弧故障的断路器包括中断受保护电路的可分离触点和确定受保护电路中的电弧故障的电弧故障检测器。 模数转换器电路测量电弧故障检测器的峰值电弧电流值。 另一个模/数转换器电路提供峰值线对中性电压。 存储器提供与峰值电流的值可操作地相关联的电弧电压。 微处理器根据峰值电弧电流的值，每单位长度的导线电阻或每单位长度的导线电导率，峰值线对中性电压和电弧电压来确定从电弧故障检测器到电弧故障的距离。

公开(公告)号：US06876532B2

公开(公告)日：2005-04-05

申请号：US10134411

申请日：2002-04-29

申请人： Joseph C. Engel ,  Kevin L. Parker

发明人： Joseph C. Engel ,  Kevin L. Parker

IPC分类号： H01H71/12 ,  H02H1/00 ,  H02H3/08 ,  H02H5/04

CPC分类号： H02H3/085 ,  H01H71/123 ,  H01H71/125 ,  H01H2011/0068 ,  H02H1/0007

摘要： A trip unit for a circuit interrupter includes a power supply, a plurality of input terminals and a plurality of output terminals. A heater conductor is electrically connected between each pair of the input and output terminals. The heater conductor is adapted to generate heat responsive to current flowing through the conductor. A diode is disposed proximate each of the conductors for heating thereby. The diodes are electrically interconnected with the power supply and are adapted to provide a forward voltage representative of the temperature of the corresponding conductor. Another diode is electrically interconnected with the power supply and is adapted to provide a forward voltage representative of ambient temperature. A thermal trip circuit generates a trip signal for the circuit interrupter responsive to the forward voltage of the diodes.

摘要翻译： 断路器的跳闸单元包括电源，多个输入端子和多个输出端子。 加热器导体电连接在每对输入和输出端子之间。 加热器导体适于响应于流过导体的电流产生热量。 二极管靠近每个导体设置，从而加热。 二极管与电源电互连，并且适于提供表示相应导体的温度的正向电压。 另一个二极管与电源电互连，并且适于提供代表环境温度的正向电压。 热跳闸电路响应于二极管的正向电压而产生用于断路器的跳闸信号。

公开(公告)号：US5726577A

公开(公告)日：1998-03-10

申请号：US633603

申请日：1996-04-17

申请人： Joseph C. Engel ,  Raymond W. Mackenzie

发明人： Joseph C. Engel ,  Raymond W. Mackenzie

IPC分类号： G01R31/02 ,  G01R31/12 ,  H02H1/00 ,  H02H3/02 ,  H02H3/44

CPC分类号： H02H1/0015 ,  H02H3/44

摘要： Series arcs in an ac circuit are discriminated from other phenomenon by analyzing the timing between pulses in a second derivative of the current signal. A first timer starts timing upon detection of a first pulse in the second derivative of current signal. Time out of the first timer starts a second timer which times a second interval or window during which a series arcing fault will generate a second pulse of opposite polarity to the first pulse. Detection of the first pulse followed by a second pulse of opposite polarity during the window sets a flip-flop to record the event. When a predetermined number of events are counted by a counter within a given time-period set by a third timer, an output signal indicating an arcing fault is generated. If the second pulse is generated before the window opens, or a third pulse occurs during the window, the flip-flop cannot be set so that other events such as the switching of a dimmer do not generate a false output signal.

摘要翻译： 通过分析当前信号的二次导数中的脉冲之间的定时来鉴别交流电路中的串联电弧与其他现象。 当检测到电流信号的二次导数中的第一脉冲时，第一定时器开始定时。 超出第一定时器的时间开始第二定时器，其次数为第二间隔或窗口，其中串联电弧故障将产生与第一脉冲相反极性的第二脉冲。 在窗口期间检测第一脉冲后面是具有相反极性的第二脉冲，设置触发器来记录事件。 当在由第三定时器设置的给定时间段内由计数器对预定数量的事件进行计数时，产生指示电弧故障的输出信号。 如果在窗口打开之前产生第二个脉冲，或者在窗口期间产生第三个脉冲，则不能设置触发器，使得其他诸如调光器的切换的事件不产生错误的输出信号。

公开(公告)号：US5596473A

公开(公告)日：1997-01-21

申请号：US384728

申请日：1995-02-06

申请人： Richard A. Johnson ,  Joseph C. Engel ,  Michael F. Boccabella ,  David M. Oravetz ,  James I. Wise

发明人： Richard A. Johnson ,  Joseph C. Engel ,  Michael F. Boccabella ,  David M. Oravetz ,  James I. Wise

IPC分类号： G01R31/00 ,  H02H3/00 ,  H02H3/04 ,  H02H3/093 ,  H02J13/00

CPC分类号： H02H3/044 ,  H02H3/006 ,  H02H3/0935

摘要： An electrical switch with overcurrent protection communicates as a slave with a remote master station by sending return messages to the remote master station only in response to messages addressed to it. A portable unit plugs into the electrical switch and disables communications between the electrical switch and the remote master station. The portable unit then establishes communications with the electrical switch by sending a global message to the electrical switch requesting the unique address at successive baud rates until a return message containing the electrical switches' address is received. A communications module in the electrical switch transfers to a master mode in response to the global message in order to send the return message containing its unique address. It then reverts to the slave mode for response to subsequent messages from the portable unit containing the unique address. Either the remote master station or the portable unit can test the circuit breaker by sending a message containing a digital test current to the circuit breaker.

摘要翻译： 具有过电流保护功能的电气开关只能通过向远程主站发送返回消息，作为远程​​主站的从站，仅响应于寻址到远程主站的消息。 便携式设备插入电气开关并禁用电气开关和远程主站之间的通信。 然后，便携式单元通过向电气开关发送全局消息来建立与电气开关的通信，以电连接波特率请求唯一地址，直到接收到包含电开关地址的返回消息。 电气开关中的通信模块响应于全局消息传送到主模式，以便发送包含其唯一地址的返回消息。 然后，它恢复到从模式，以响应来自包含唯一地址的便携式单元的后续消息。 远程主站或便携式单元都可以通过向断路器发送包含数字测试电流的消息来测试断路器。

公开(公告)号：US4956741A

公开(公告)日：1990-09-11

申请号：US375301

申请日：1989-07-03

申请人： William J. Murphy ,  Joseph C. Engel

发明人： William J. Murphy ,  Joseph C. Engel

IPC分类号： H02H3/00 ,  H02H1/00 ,  H02H1/06 ,  H02H3/087

CPC分类号： H02H1/0069 ,  H02H1/06 ,  H02H3/087

摘要： A contactor includes two DC sensors within the housing which are isolated from the tripping unit, from the power supply and from each other by the combination of a transformer and photoelectric coupling, the sensed signals being pulse width modulated and demodulated on the respective sides of the photoelectric coupling barrier.

公开(公告)号：US4833565A

公开(公告)日：1989-05-23

申请号：US16412

申请日：1987-02-19

申请人： James A. Bauer ,  Denis A. Mueller ,  Robert T. Basnett ,  Joseph C. Engel

发明人： James A. Bauer ,  Denis A. Mueller ,  Robert T. Basnett ,  Joseph C. Engel

IPC分类号： H01H50/00 ,  H01H47/00 ,  H01H47/22 ,  H01H50/20

CPC分类号： H01H47/22

摘要： An electromagnetic contactor or controller is taught in which the voltage which is impressed across the electromagnetic armature winding is controlled with an algorithm to enhance the closing operation. A microprocessor is utilized to implement the algorithm.

公开(公告)号：US4757420A

公开(公告)日：1988-07-12

申请号：US16421

申请日：1987-02-19

申请人： Gary F. Saletta ,  Joseph C. Engel ,  John G. Leddy

发明人： Gary F. Saletta ,  Joseph C. Engel ,  John G. Leddy

IPC分类号： G01R19/25 ,  H01H47/28 ,  G01R19/00 ,  G01R23/00

CPC分类号： G01R19/25

摘要： A motor controller system is taught in which an overload relay board utilizes a current monitor which produces an output signal which is related to the current being sensed thereby over a wide range of currents which may vary for instance between 1 and 1,000 amperes. This indicative signal is converted to a DC voltage level which is then provided to the analog-to-digital portion of a microprocessor for being converted to a digital number for being processed by the microprocessor for causing the contacts of the motor controller to open at appropriate current values. The system utilizes an integrating capacitor which samples the output current from the sensor 32 times in succession providing a voltage which is proportional to the line current. This voltage which may exceed the input voltage level of the analog-to-digital converter is nevertheless supplied to the analog-to-digital converter and sampled internally by the microprocessor at double the line cycle time period until the 32 samplings have expired. If at any time during this doubled sampling process the output of the analog-to-digital converter digitally saturates, the left shifting technique is provided with other memory locations within the microprocessor to provide an approximate double value of voltage so that at the end of the 32 line half cycles a very close approximation of the actual current is contained within storage locations within the microprocessor for effective utilization thereby.

摘要翻译： 一种电动机控制器系统被教导，其中过载继电器板利用电流监视器，该电流监视器产生一个输出信号，该输出信号与可能在1到1000安培之间变化的宽电流范围内的感测电流相关。 该指示信号被转换为直流电压电平，然后将其提供给微处理器的模拟 - 数字部分，以将其转换为数字数字，以由微处理器处理，以使马达控制器的触点在适当的位置打开 当前值。 该系统利用积分电容器，连续地对传感器32的输出电流进行连续取样，提供与线电流成比例的电压。 然而，可能超过模数转换器的输入电压电平的电压被提供给模数转换器，并由微处理器在内部采样两倍的行周期时间段，直到32个采样已经到期。 如果在这个双倍的采样过程中，模数转换器的输出数字饱和的任何时间，左移位技术都提供有微处理器内的其他存储单元，以提供近似的电压值，以便在 32行半周期中，实际电流的非常接近的近似值被包含在微处理器内的存储位置内以便有效利用。

公开(公告)号：US4728810A

公开(公告)日：1988-03-01

申请号：US16426

申请日：1987-02-19

申请人： Joseph C. Engel

发明人： Joseph C. Engel

IPC分类号： H01H9/16 ,  H01H47/00 ,  H03K3/00 ,  H03K5/00

CPC分类号： H01H47/002 ,  H01H9/167

摘要： Long conductors in a common cable which interconnect control pushbuttons to the basic control circuit for an electromagnetic contactor often have distributed capacitance between them. This distributed capacitance may conduct capacitive current from the power supply line to a parallel control line. This current interacts with high impedance in the control circuit for producing a voltage, or False signal, which may be of a magnitude which would otherwise be supplied by an ON pushbutton. In order to discriminate between a TRUE signal and a False signal the first capacitor is connected between the power supply conductor in system common and a second capacitor, larger than the first capacitor, is connected between a signal conductor and system common so that under normal circumstances the alternating voltage on the second conductor lags the alternating voltage on the first conductor by an amount .DELTA. except when the voltage on the second conductor is provided by the capacitive current between lines in which case the voltage on the second conductor will lead the voltage on the first conductor by an amount .gamma. due to the capacitive nature of the current. The microprocessor is conditioned to look at the two voltages immediately after the voltage on the first conductor changes state to determine if the signal is produced by a closed pushbutton or capacitive current.

摘要翻译： 将控制按钮与用于电磁接触器的基本控制电路互连的公共电缆中的长导体通常在它们之间具有分布电容。 该分布式电容可以将电容电流从电源线传导到并行控制线。 该电流与控制电路中的高阻抗相互作用以产生可能由ON按钮提供的幅度的电压或False信号。 为了区分TRUE信号和False信号，第一电容器连接在系统公共电源导体和大于第一电容器的第二电容器之间，连接在信号导体和系统共同之间，以便在正常情况下 第二导体上的交流电压滞后于第一导体上的交流电压DELTA，除了当第二导体上的电压由线之间的电容电流提供时，在这种情况下，第二导体上的电压将导致第二导体上的电压 第一导体由于电流的电容性质而被量γ。 微处理器调节为在第一导体上的电压改变状态之后立即观察两个电压，以确定信号是否由闭合的按钮或电容电流产生。

公开(公告)号：US4438369A

公开(公告)日：1984-03-20

申请号：US513259

申请日：1983-07-14

申请人： John M. Hicks ,  Joseph C. Engel

发明人： John M. Hicks ,  Joseph C. Engel

IPC分类号： H05B35/00 ,  H05B41/19 ,  H01J7/44

CPC分类号： H05B41/46 ,  H05B35/00 ,  H05B41/19

摘要： Unitary light source comprises compact HID lamp and starting and operating circuit therefor operable from household AC energizing potential. The HID lamp is ballasted by incandescent filament means which also provides the major portion of developed light during HID warm up and after power interruption. The ballast filament and input terminals of a full-wave rectifier connect in series across the light source input terminals and the HID lamp connects across the rectifier output. A low-impedance path means and high-voltage pulse generator, which includes a high-voltage electrode operatively associated with the HID lamp, connect across the rectifier input. Initially, the voltage developed across the rectifier input is relatively high and the pulse generator and low-impedance path means are responsive thereto to devleop high voltage pulses and also provide a low impedance path in series with the ballast filament to cause it to incandesce brightly. The developed high voltage pulses applied to the high voltage electrode ionize the atmosphere within the HID envelope. After the HID lamp starts, the voltage develped across the rectifier input is insufficient to energize the low-impedance path means and pulse generating means. As the HID lamp warms up, the brightness of the incandescent ballast filament means decreases. A lamp keep-alive comprising a DC source is connected across the rectifier means output terminals to provide lamp operating energy during periods of rectifier conduction minima and, if necessary, to provide DC energy as a lamp starting aid.

摘要翻译： 单一光源包括紧凑型HID灯，以及起动和操作电路，可从家用交流通电电位操作。 HID灯由白炽灯丝装置镇定，在HID预热期间和电力中断之后也提供发光的主要部分。 全波整流器的镇流器灯丝和输入端子串联连接在光源输入端子上，HID灯连接整流器输出。 低阻抗路径装置和高电压脉冲发生器，其包括与HID灯可操作地相关联的高压电极，连接整流器输入。 最初，在整流器输入端产生的电压相对较高，并且脉冲发生器和低阻抗通路装置对其施加响应以去除高电压脉冲，并且还提供与镇流灯丝串联的低阻抗路径以使其明亮地炽热。 施加到高电压电极的开发的高电压脉冲电离HID包络内的大气。 在HID灯启动之后，跨过整流器输入的电压不足以激励低阻抗路径装置和脉冲发生装置。 随着HID灯的加热，白炽灯丝灯丝的亮度降低。 包括DC源的灯保持连接在整流装置输出端上，以在整流器导通最小值期间提供灯工作能量，并且如果需要，提供DC能量作为灯起动辅助。