1474results about "Circuit-breaking switch details" patented technology

The subject matter of the present invention is a load breaker arrangement (1) for switching on and off a DC current of a DC current circuit in a photovoltaic plant with a semiconductor switching element (4) to avoid a switching arc, there being provided an electronic control unit (5) configured such that one or more signals are received by the control unit, and the load breaker arrangement (1) being configured such that in at least one current-carrying line of the DC current circuit there is galvanic separation by a switching contact that is automatically controllable by the control unit (5) in the switched-off condition and one or more control signals being transmitted to the load breaker arrangement (1) and a semiconductor switching element (4) interrupting the DC current so that the switching contact is de-energized, wherebythe signals are flaw signals that are received in case of a flaw in the PV generator, inverter or on the AC side, the DC current circuit being automatically switched on or off by the control signals in case of at least one flaw,said arrangement being configured such that, during switch off,said semiconductor switching element (4) is at first closed in a first step,the switching contacts (K1, K2) of a first switching means are opened in a second step for the DC current to flow through said semiconductor switching element (4),said semiconductor switching element (4) being again opened in a third step andswitching contacts (K1, K2) of a second switching means being opened in order to cause galvanic separation to occurand that an additional manually operable load breaker (8) is connected, said manually operable load breaker (8) being a manually breakable DC current connecting system with plug contacts for photovoltaic plants that is provided with an electronic arc quenching system.

An arrester for preventing an insulator supporting a power line from experiencing an electrical flashover comprises an electrode, a varistor, and a separating device. The electrode is spaced apart from the power line or a conductor that is electrically tied to the power line so as to define an external gap therebetween. The separating device, in turn, comprises two portions operative to separate from one another when the varistor experiences an electrical condition sufficient to cause the varistor to fail. The electrode, the external gap, the separating device, and the varistor are arranged in electrical series with one another and in electrical parallel with the insulator.

A circuit interrupter arc chute includes first and second support portions, an exit portion supported by the support portions, and a plurality of arc plates supported by the support portions. The exit portion has one or more vent openings. The arc plates have a first edge offset from the exit portion and an opposite second edge distal from the exit portion. A plurality of insulating dividing members are disposed between the arc plates. The members have a first edge proximate the exit portion and an opposite second edge distal from the exit portion. The second edge of the members extends beyond the arc plate first edges and toward the arc plate second edges. The first edge of the dividing members extends beyond the arc plate first edge and away from the arc plate second edge.

In a hybrid DC electromagnetic contactor, by including a power unit for supplying a certain power voltage; a main contact point of a breaking switch for providing a supply path of the power voltage by being switched in accordance with a voltage apply to an operational coil; a switch for providing a supply path of the power voltage according to a gate signal; a snubber circuit for charging voltage at the both ends of the switch in turning off of the switch and being applied-discharged an electric current when the charged voltage is not less than a certain voltage; and a discharge current removing unit for removing the discharge current by providing a discharge current path to a load block in turning off of the switch, it is possible to minimize a size of leakage current when the main contact point and the semiconductor switch are turned off, and accordingly it can be practically used.

A circuit breaker detects a fault, such as an arc fault or glowing contact, of a power circuit. The circuit breaker includes a first lug and a second acoustic lug adapted to be electrically connected to the power circuit. Separable contacts are electrically connected in series between the first lug and the second acoustic lug. An operating mechanism is adapted to open and close the separable contacts. An acoustic sensor is coupled to the second acoustic lug. The acoustic sensor is adapted to sense an acoustic signal from the second acoustic lug. The acoustic signal is operatively associated with the fault of the power circuit. A circuit inputs the sensed acoustic signal and is adapted to detect the fault therefrom.

A switching system is provided. The switching system includes electromechanical switching circuitry, such as a micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.

A system that includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry is provided. The system may include a first over-current protection circuitry connected in a parallel circuit with the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry for suppressing a voltage level across contacts of the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry during a first switching event, such as a turn-on event. The system may further include a second over-current protection circuitry connected in a parallel circuit with the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry for suppressing a current flow through the contacts of the micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry during a second switching event, such as a turn-off event.

The present invention provides a novel circuit interrupting device, preferably a ground fault circuit interrupter, which contains a reset button that is capable of interacting with a test button to perform an end-of-life-component test on the circuit interrupting device. The circuit interrupting device also contains a reset switch coupled to the reset button which is capable of disallowing reset if the device is miswired and / or fails the end-of-life-component test. Only when the circuit interrupting device is properly wired, in a tripped state, and all of the key components in the circuit interrupting device are working properly, the depression of the reset button allows the device to be reset.

This invention discloses a ground fault circuit interrupter capable of detecting its end of life, and is characterized by: a pair of flexible metal sheets connected to the power output end are added on the circuit board of the interrupter, and there is a pair of moving contacts on the metal sheets; there are two pairs of fixed contacts on the power output conductors; the two pairs of fixed contacts on the power output conductors respectively correspond to the moving contacts on the power input metal sheets and the moving contacts on flexible metal sheets, thus forming two groups and four pairs of switches. There is also a tripping apparatus on the circuit board, which can release / trip the interrupter, thus cutting off the power output of the interrupter. An end of life detection circuit has also been added to the circuit board. After the interrupter is energized, various components in the interrupter are automatically detected. If it is found that the interrupter has come to the end of its life, the reset button will be prevented from resetting, so that neither the load end of the interrupter nor the power output holes on the surface of the interrupter have any power output. This invention has powerful applications, with sound safety precautions, thus effectively ensuring the personal safety of the user as well as the safety of the appliances.

A circuit breaker includes a fixed contact having a fixed contact point; a movable contact having a movable contact point contacting with the fixed contact point; and an arc extinguishing device housed in a main body case. In the arc extinguishing device, a plurality of magnetic grids, each having a pair of grid leg portions, is disposed in layer form, and an arc generated between the fixed contact point and the movable contact point at a time of an opening operation is drawn into the magnetic grids and extinguished. A magnetic flux is generated between the pairs of grid leg portions configuring the arc extinguishing device in a direction perpendicular to the arc generated between the fixed contact point and the movable contact point, and permanent magnets and a permanent magnet holding member are disposed therein.

A motor starter is provided. The motor starter includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a motor connected to the motor starter. The switching may be performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.

A method and apparatus for multi-phase transformers are described. In one embodiment, a coupled inductor topology for the multi-phase transformers comprising N primary inductors. In one embodiment, each primary inductor is coupled to one of N input nodes and a common output node. The transformer further includes N−1 secondary inductors coupled in series between one input node and the common output node. In one embodiment, the N−1 secondary inductors are arranged to couple energy from N−1 of the primary inductors to provide a common node voltage as an average of N input node voltages, wherein N is an integer greater than two. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

Pilot switch circuitry coupled across first and second terminals of a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) switch is provided to reduce or eliminate arcing between a cantilever contact and a terminal contact when the MEMS switch is opened or closed. The pilot switch circuitry establishes a common potential at the first and second terminals prior to, and preferably until, the cantilever contact and terminal contact come into contact with one another when the MEMS switch is closed. The pilot switch circuitry may also establish a common potential at the first and second terminals prior to, and preferably after, the cantilever contact and terminal contact separate from one another when the MEMS switch is opened.

An arrangement for reducing pressure inside a circuit breaker caused by gas produced during an electrical interruption event, including a base, an interrupter assembly, and a trip unit base. A structure having a surface is positioned in the base at an angle relative to a vent opening of the interrupter assembly. The trip unit base includes a complementary structure opposing the structure to form a cavity. The base includes a chamber area adjacent to an opening of a vent chute that leads away from the circuit breaker. During an electrical interruption event, hot explosive gas, carbon, and molten metal debris are directed away from the vent opening of the interrupter assembly along the angled surface of the structure and toward the opening of the vent chute. In this manner, pressure in the circuit breaker is reduced during an electrical interruption event, and undesirable buildup of debris is reduced.

A hybrid circuit breaker, including a first circuit that includes: a main current path which includes a mechanical switch element, a commutation path arranged in parallel with the main current path and including a controllable semi-conductor switch element. The breaker also includes a first capacitor provided in the commutation path in series with the controllable semi-conductor switch element, and a second circuit, arranged in series with the first circuit and including a second capacitor and an inductance-generating element arranged in series with each other.

An electric box assembly that includes a box extender having a tubular body with opposed sides arranged to be received within an electric box, and which box extender is formed with a pair of laterally outwardly extending face flanges arranged to be flush mounted against a wall surface in the assembled position. The box extender is devoid of any top or bottom flanges and is adapted to be secured in place within an electric box by the electric device, outlet receptacle, switch or the like. In an embodiment of the invention, the sides of the tubular body are tapered inwardly toward the central axis of the tubular body so as to permit the box extender to be nested one within the other to facilitate shipping and handling.

A current limiting device includes first and second contact members, each contact member having, at a first end, contacts defining a contact pair; a contacting pressure is applied to said contact pair; and a cylindrical insulator cylindrically surrounding the contacts when the contacts are closed. The device is arranged such that at least one of the first and second contact members is rotatably supported at a second end. Also, an electrical path is defined through which currents flow in substantial opposition to the first and second contact members and in opposite directions to each other. The first ends of the first and second contact members are positioned within the space defined by the cylindrical insulator in the closed contact state. The contact of at least one of the rotatably supported contact members is positioned outside of the space defined by the cylindrical insulator when the contacts are open.

A method and apparatus for multi-phase transformers are described. In one embodiment, a coupled inductor topology for the multi-phase transformers comprising N primary inductors. In one embodiment, each primary inductor is coupled to one of N input nodes and a common output node. The transformer further includes N−1 secondary inductors coupled in series between one input node and the common output node. In one embodiment, the N−1 secondary inductors are arranged to couple energy from N−1 of the primary inductors to provide a common node voltage as an average of N input node voltages, wherein N is an integer greater than two. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

A circuit breaker detects a fault, such as an arc fault or glowing contact, of a power circuit. The circuit breaker includes a first lug and a second acoustic lug adapted to be electrically connected to the power circuit. Separable contacts are electrically connected in series between the first lug and the second acoustic lug. An operating mechanism is adapted to open and close the separable contacts. An acoustic sensor is coupled to the second acoustic lug. The acoustic sensor is adapted to sense an acoustic signal from the second acoustic lug. The acoustic signal is operatively associated with the fault of the power circuit. A circuit inputs the sensed acoustic signal and is adapted to detect the fault therefrom.

A moving contact assembly for a high-current interruption electric power switching apparatus has an inner carrier for the contact fingers that is rigidly held in a withstand position in an outer carrier by a spring biased cam follower pin engaging a cam profile on the inner carrier and configured to positively seat an inner carrier stop against an outer carrier stop on the outer carrier and to rapidly drive the inner carrier to a blow open position in response to a fault. The cam profile has an extended width divided between spaced apart cam profile sections to absorb the high closing and withstand forces. An abutment on the outer carrier resists bowing of the cam follower pin between the cam profile sections. Complementary convex and concave partial cylindrical surfaces on the inner carrier and a gas shield on the moving assembly carrier body maintain an arc gas seal during blow open.

An arc fault circuit interrupter includes a line terminal, a load terminal, separable contacts electrically connected between the line terminal and the load terminal, and a current sensor structured to sense current associated with the load and flowing between the line terminal and the load terminal and through the separable contacts. The sensed current includes a plurality of line cycles. An arc fault detection circuit is structured to provide series arc protection and to generate a trip signal responsive to the sensed current from the current sensor. The arc fault detection circuit collects a plurality of samples of the sensed current over the line cycles, determines a single current transient associated with energization of the load, and responsively inhibits the series arc protection. An operating mechanism is structured to open the separable contacts responsive to the trip signal.

A parallel circuit breaker is provided, which belongs to a high-voltage high-capacity circuit breaker and is to provide automatic current equalization and current limitation and realize the parallel operation of a plurality of arc-extinguishing chambers. The invention comprises parallel-connected 2-4 shunts each comprises an inductance coil and an arc-extinguishing chamber of switches in series connection, wherein the induction coil is enwound around a share iron core to form a coupling inductance coil and the turn number of inductance coil of each shunt is the same. The system current flows through the inductance coils of the 2-4 parallel-connected shunts individually and the arc-extinguishing chambers in series connection with the shunts. The magnetic flux of the magnetic circuit produced by the interaction between the iron core and the inductance coil of each shunt is opposite to that of the other shunts. The arc-extinguishing chamber of each shunt has high capacity, 2-4 parallel-connected arc-extinguishing chambers share the parallel-connected arc-extinguishing chamber device controlled by the same system, or are connected in parallel by 2-4 separated circuit breakers. Based on the structure of the coupling inductance, the invention realizes the parallel-connected on-off of a plurality of arc-extinguishing chambers of the circuit breakers and improves the capacity of on-off of the whole circuit breaker.

An electric circuit includes a load, a solid state device, and a control for opening the circuit such that current will not flow through the solid state device, and for facilitating flow of current to bypass said solid state device and provide a current path to an arc fault circuit interrupter. A bypass includes a normally opened switch which is closed to provide current to the arc fault circuit interrupter.