Schneider Electric USA, Inc. Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20160141134 | PLUG-ON NEUTRAL CONNECTION - A plug-on neutral circuit breaker includes a housing, a neutral terminal, and a biasing member. The neutral terminal is pivotally coupled to the housing and includes a body portion, a first leg, and a second leg. The first leg extends from the body portion in a first direction and the second leg extends from the body portion in a second direction. The biasing member is positioned within the housing and is configured to engage the second leg of the neutral terminal, thereby biasing the neutral terminal in a first rotational direction. The biasing of the neutral terminal in the first rotational direction causes a portion of the first leg of the neutral terminal to be urged into contact with a neutral bar of an electrical distribution apparatus in response to the plug-on neutral circuit breaker being installed in the electrical distribution apparatus. | 05-19-2016 |
20160141123 | SYNTHETIC FAULT REMOTE DISCONNECT FOR A BRANCH CIRCUIT - A synthetic fault signal generator assembly is remotely located on a branch circuit downstream from a circuit breaker protecting a load. The synthetic fault signal generator assembly is configured to detect an improper circuit condition that is not independently detected, detectable, or actionable by the circuit breaker such as, for example, a load or outlet receptacle specific problem that can lead to equipment damage or property damage if not mitigated. In response to the improper circuit condition being detected, the synthetic fault signal generator assembly generates a synthetic fault signal, which causes the circuit breaker to trip. The synthetic fault signal generator assembly can inject the synthetic fault signal into the branch circuit to provide the synthetic fault signal to the circuit breaker. | 05-19-2016 |
20160134100 | UPSTREAM PARALLEL ARC FAULT OUTLET PROTECTION METHOD - An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) outlet is disclosed which detects and interrupts upstream parallel arc faults. The example AFCI outlet includes a switching element coupled between the line and neutral conductors at the outlet. The outlet also includes a voltage sensor and a current sensor. A parallel upstream arc fault is detected from a sensed voltage drop and no corresponding increase in current. On detecting the arc fault, the switching element is closed and current flows through the relatively lower resistance switching element interrupting power through the arc fault. The closed switching element results in an overcurrent condition causing an upstream conventional thermal-magnetic circuit breaker to trip. | 05-12-2016 |
20160132772 | SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR ENERGY EXPERT COLLABORATION FEATURES - According to various aspects, an energy management system is provided for generating a user request for information. According to one embodiment, the user selects energy management information to initiate a request for information. The system captures user context, the selected information, and determines information that is necessary to resolve the user's request. In some embodiments, the system requires explicit consent prior to sharing the necessary information with potential responders. In other embodiments, the system can require payment before proceeding. User requests can be routed to potential responders based on user context (e.g., what energy management information was being viewed, what report was being displayed, what actions the user was taking, etc.). User context can also include information on the user so a compatible responder with subject matter expertise can be identified. Generated responses can then be returned in-line in same context (e.g., report) from which the user generated the request. | 05-12-2016 |
20160121747 | ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION LOCKING CABLE REEL - A cable reel assembly in an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) having a reel around which a cable is coiled. A shaft supporting the reel bears discs that rotate with the reel, and calipers coupled to the discs stop them and the reel from rotating. The power L1 and L2 conductors in the cable are electrically connected to the discs, and the calipers are electrically connected to the power source for the EVSE so that the calipers provide mechanical and electrical connection when actuated. Optionally, slip rings coupled to the shaft are connected to the control pilot and proximity signal conductors in the cable. Thus, during cable re traction, the control pilot and proximity signals are still provided to the EVSE, but the power conductors are decoupled from the power source. Only when the calipers are actuated to brake the discs is current flow permitted. | 05-05-2016 |
20160104953 | LUG WIRE-BINDING SCREW - An electrical connecting assembly includes a combination of a wire-binding screw and washer for fastening a conductor wire to a mechanical lug. The wire is inserted into the lug within a main bore. The screw and washer are inserted into the lug within a secondary threaded bore. The screw has a threaded body with an external thread for coupling to an internal thread of the mechanical lug. The threaded body has a bottom surface from which a boss extends with an end surface being formed-over for retaining the washer. The washer has a top surface in contact with the bottom surface of the screw and a bottom surface in contact with the conductor. The screw rotates independently of the washer, providing improved clamping force and reduced wire-strand breakage during current cycling. | 04-14-2016 |
20160075246 | METHOD OF BRANCH CIRCUIT CAPACITY UTILIZATION FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING - Dynamic adjustment of a charge rate of an EVSE on a shared branch circuit, ensuring maximum power delivery to the EVSE without overloading the branch circuit. The Level 1 EVSE and at least one other load are connected to the branch circuit via different electrical outlets. A current monitoring circuit continuously monitors the total current flowing through the branch circuit, and a communications link is established between the monitoring circuit and the EVSE. When the monitored current on the branch circuit is about to exceed a set point corresponding to a rated current capacity of the branch circuit, the charge rate is reduced to maximize power delivery to the EVSE without overloading the branch circuit. The charge rate is increased when more current is available to be drawn from the branch circuit to ensure continuous and uninterrupted delivery of maximum power to the EVSE without exceeding the rated current capacity. | 03-17-2016 |
20160063845 | AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF ALARM AGGREGATIONS - According to another embodiment, a system for generating alarm aggregation rules is provided. The system includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The at least one processor is configured to receive information descriptive of a set of devices, each device within the set having one or more devices within the set that are associated with the device and each device of the set being capable of entering at least one anomalous state; identify at least one type of alarm aggregation rule that applies to at least one device within the set based on one or more anomalous states that the at least one device is capable of entering; and store an association between an alarm aggregation rule of the at least one type and the set of devices. | 03-03-2016 |
20160036204 | INDEPENDENT SHUTTER SYSTEM FOR RACK-IN BREAKERS - A switchgear interlock system includes a circuit breaker with clusters of connector fingers separated from each other by respective cluster shields. In a connected position, the connector fingers engage respective bus connectors of bus bars for electrical contact. When the circuit breaker is disconnected from the bus bars, independently movable shutters cover access to the bus connectors to prevent inadvertent contact with the bus connectors. Each shutter includes a pedestal with an attached movable mount and movable curtain. As the circuit breaker is moved into the connected position, the mount slides along the pedestal towards the bus connector causing the curtain to open and allow the connector fingers to engage the bus connectors. As the circuit breaker is being disconnected, a return spring causes the mount to slide along the pedestal away from the bus connectors causing the curtain to close and prevent access to the bus connectors. | 02-04-2016 |
20160033565 | ZONE FAULT DETECTION METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING SYSTEMS - A system for detecting faults in an electric vehicle charging system includes an electric vehicle supply equipment (EVSE) coupled to an electric vehicle via a cable. The EVSE includes a first charging circuit interrupting device (CCID) configured to detect faults at let-go levels between an ungrounded conductor in the cable and an external (or unintended) ground. The first CCID is also configured to detect faults above leakage current levels between a chassis of the vehicle and a power storage device of the vehicle. A second CCID is included in the cable or the vehicle to detect faults at let-go levels between an ungrounded conductor in the cable and the chassis. The system maintains grounding continuity between the electric vehicle and ground. The system thus provides protection at let-go levels while allowing a leakage current in the vehicle to be detected at a higher level for nuisance trip avoidance. | 02-04-2016 |
20160028310 | SUPPLY REGULATION CIRCUIT WITH ENERGY EFFICIENT DIGITAL CONTROL - A regulated voltage system with digital control to maintain a regulated voltage supply and protection against overcurrents is disclosed. A regulated supply voltage circuit including a voltage output and a charging capacitor is coupled to a direct current power source. The regulated supply voltage output supplies power to an electrical load. A shunt transistor is coupled between the direct current power source and the regulated supply voltage circuit and ground. A shunt control circuit operates the shunt transistor between an open and closed state. The shunt control circuit includes a cross-coupled bias circuit coupled to a controller. The controller operates the shunt transistor according to a state machine having a first state to close the shunt transistor when the regulated supply voltage exceeds a maximum hysteresis voltage and a second state to open the shunt transistor when the regulated supply voltage is less than a minimum hysteresis voltage. | 01-28-2016 |
20160023562 | PORTABLE ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING DEVICE - A portable, lightweight electric vehicle charging device includes a set of connector cables adapted to connect to battery terminals of first vehicle having an internal combustion engine and includes an EV cable adapted to connect via an EV power connector to a charging port of a second vehicle that is an electric vehicle. The charging device receives DC power from the battery terminals of the alternator, converts it to AC power using an inverter, conditions the output of the inverter, and outputs AC power of at least about 50 watts continuous to the electric vehicle charging port. In other aspects, higher levels out output power are provided, up to about 325 watts continuous, as is limited by the configuration of the charging device circuit and the power output of the first vehicle's alternator. | 01-28-2016 |
20160020053 | RETRACTABLE CONNECTOR FOR A SINGLE VERTICAL MAIN BUS STACK PANEL BOARD MOTOR STARTER - A retractable connector assembly for establishing an electrical connection to a power bus bar from an electrical device is disclosed. The retractable connector assembly includes a frame plate and a sled. The sled has a rack and a connector assembly having an electrical contact. The sled has an extended position and a retracted position relative to the frame plate. A spur gear is mounted on the frame plate. The spur gear engages the rack to move the sled between the retracted position and the extended position when the spur gear is rotated. The electrical contact creates an electrical connection with the power bus bar when the sled is in the extended position but not in the retracted position. Safety interlocks and indicia can be provided for the connector assembly. | 01-21-2016 |
20160020052 | SELF-ALIGNING POWER CONNECTION SYSTEM WITH POSITIVE-LATCH CONNECTION - Switchgear assemblies, power connection systems, and cluster connectors are presented herein. Power connection systems for connecting circuit breakers to electrical bus bars are disclosed. A power connection system includes an electrically conductive cluster support for attaching to the circuit breaker. The cluster support has a pivot projecting from a base, and a contoured latch projecting from the pivot. The system also includes a power connector for coupling to the bus bar. The power connector includes opposing pairs of electrically conductive fingers that are pivotably attached to a cage. Proximal end portions of the fingers are configured to straddle the pivot of the cluster support. Spring members bias the proximal end portions toward one another. The proximal end portions of the fingers cooperatively define a channel for receiving the pivot, and further define a slot for receiving the contoured latch to thereby secure the power connector to the cluster support. | 01-21-2016 |
20150380842 | ADAPTER SYSTEM FOR PLUG-ON NEUTRAL LOAD CENTER - An adapter bracket, which screws onto an existing neutral bar in a load center, having legs inserted through the holes in the neutral bar or screwed into the top of the neutral bar. The adapter bracket is configured to accept downward-facing or sideways-facing plug-on neutral mounting clips of a plug-on neutral circuit breaker. The bracket has a support portion extending along a Z-axis perpendicular to a rear wall of the load center. The downward-facing clips can be plugged onto the support portion. Sideways-facing clips are received onto tabs that are bent away from the support portion of the bracket and feature chamfered ends and a relatively small aspect ratio relative to the length of the mounting clip. The other holes in the existing neutral bar remain unobstructed so that a conventional neutral conductor can be inserted through the free holes while the adapter bracket accommodates plug-on neutral mounting clips. | 12-31-2015 |
20150355635 | MONITORING LOAD OPERATION - A method of monitoring power usage of a load includes defining one or more parameters of the load that vary with a mode of operation of the load, receiving measurement data related to the one or more parameters of the load over a first period of time, recording the measurement data, determining a plurality of groups, each group defining a set of measurements in a continuous range of values, each group having a lower threshold value and an upper threshold value, the lower and upper threshold values defined by having less than a minimum threshold number of recorded measurements of the lower and upper threshold values, and associating a mode of operation with each of the plurality of groups. | 12-10-2015 |
20150331061 | MULTI-PHASE POWER METER CONFIGURED FOR MONITORING GENERATOR BATTERY VOLTAGE - Disclosed herein are embodiments of systems and methods for determining the state of health of a generator battery set and its ability to supply generator starter motor with start-up energy by capturing a profile of voltage across terminals of the battery during a supply of electrical energy from the battery to the starter and comparing the captured voltage profile to a reference voltage profile to determine if a difference between the captured voltage profile and reference voltage profile exceeds an acceptable amount. | 11-19-2015 |
20150331024 | POWER METER WITH CURRENT AND PHASE SENSOR - According to one aspect, embodiments of the invention provide a power meter comprising a voltage sensor, at least one current and phase sensor circuit, and a central metering unit, wherein the voltage sensor is further configured to measure a voltage on an input line and transmit a signal related to the voltage to the central metering unit, wherein the at least one current and phase sensor circuit is further configured to measure a current and a voltage phase shift of a feeder line, and to transmit a signal related to at least one of the current of the feeder line and the voltage phase shift of the feeder line to the central metering unit, and wherein the central metering unit is configured to calculate power provided to a load via the feeder line based on the signal transmitted from the at least one current and phase sensor circuit. | 11-19-2015 |
20150241480 | POWER METER CONFIGURED FOR REAR AND SIDE EXPANSION - An intelligent electronic device ( | 08-27-2015 |
20150187519 | SWITCH CONTACT WETTING WITH LOW PEAK INSTANTANEOUS CURRENT DRAW - A contact wetting circuit | 07-02-2015 |
20150051749 | CO-LOCATION ELECTRICAL ARCHITECTURE - A system and method for managing an electrical distribution system in a facility is disclosed. In one aspect, the method may include receiving at a computer system from a monitoring system data related to actual energy use of components of the electrical distribution system, receiving at the computer system a request for a modification to the electrical distribution system, using the computer system, providing a revised electrical distribution system design based on the request and the data related to actual energy use using a system optimization function for the electrical distribution system, modifying the electrical distribution system in accordance with the revised electrical distribution system design to provide a modified electrical distribution system in the facility, and receiving at the computer system from the monitoring system data related to actual energy use of components of the modified electrical distribution system. | 02-19-2015 |
20150049787 | SENSOR MOUNTING METHODOLOGY - Methods and devices for mounting a sensor are presented herein. A temperature sensor assembly for a capacitor bank is disclosed that includes two opposing substrates, and a plurality of contact temperature sensors attached to each substrate. Each temperature sensor is configured to directly contact a surface of one of the capacitor cans in the capacitor bank and therefrom generate a signal indicative of the temperature of the capacitor can. A biasing member attaches the two substrates together. The biasing member is configured to selectively contract, such that the width of the sensor assembly is less than the gap distance between adjacent sets of tandem capacitor cans and the sensor assembly can insert between the sets of capacitor cans, and expand, such that the width of the sensor assembly is greater than the gap distance and the sensor assembly is tensioned against and thereby secured between the sets of capacitor cans. | 02-19-2015 |
20150015997 | PASSIVE ARC PROTECTION FOR MAIN BREAKER LINE SIDE POWER CONDUCTORS - In a switchgear cabinet, the line side power conductors upstream of the main breaker are surrounded with are attenuating/extinguishing channels and protective conduit in a location prior to the conductor's attachment to the main breaker. Thus, passive arc attenuation can be had prior to the breakers, Personal Protection Equipment (PPE) levels can be predicted and controlled, and the need for action by circuit breakers during an arcing event is substantially lessened. | 01-15-2015 |
20140184252 | OPEN POTENTIOMETER DETECTION SYSTEM - A system to detect whether a potentiometer is in an open circuit condition is disclosed. The system includes a potentiometer having a resistive element coupled between a voltage input and ground and an adjustable arm determining the resistance of the resistive element. A low pass filter is coupled to the adjustable arm. A controller has a first driver output coupled to the voltage input of the potentiometer and a second driver output coupled to the adjustable arm. The controller determines failure of the potentiometer by setting the first driver output coupled to the voltage input of the potentiometer to a high value. A first sample voltage from the adjustable arm is read and determined whether the first sample voltage is between a high threshold and a low threshold value. The first driver output coupled to the voltage input of the potentiometer is set to a low value. A voltage is applied to the adjustable arm via the second driver output. A second sample is read from the adjustable input and it is determined whether the second sample is below an arm threshold value. | 07-03-2014 |
20140180611 | Nonvolatile Thermal Memory Method And Apparatus For Electronic Overload Relay - An electronic overload relay includes a microcontroller having an internal random-access memory (RAM) in which a motor thermal model is stored. The microcontroller is coupled to a power supply having a bulk storage capacitor. In response to a trip or stop condition of a protected motor, the thermal model is maintained in the RAM with no timing or decrementing. When the motor restarts, the microcontroller calculates a change in capacitor voltage to estimate the motor stop duration. The thermal model is decremented based on the estimated duration. | 06-26-2014 |
20140168862 | PLUG-ON NEUTRAL LOAD CENTER HAVING A ROTATING NEUTRAL RAIL RETAINED BY A TWO-PIECE DIELECTRIC BARRIER - A load center featuring a two-piece dielectric barrier that securely retains a plug-on neutral rail and methods of assembling the same. The barrier includes a shield and a base having a protrusion that cooperates with fingers of the shield to securely retain the conductor in the load center. The shield is installed over the base and rests on hooks protruding from the base. This creates a distance between the protrusion and the fingers to allow the conductor to be inserted through a gap between the fingers along the conductor's skinny edge. The conductor rotates 90 degrees until it rests on the protrusion. The base and shield are snapped together, causing the hooks of the base to attach to the shield. At the same time, the fingers of the base move downward to rest against the conductor so that it is sandwiched securely between the protrusion and the fingers. | 06-19-2014 |
20140168861 | SNAP-IN AND SNAP-ON NEUTRAL RAIL ASSEMBLIES IN A PLUG-ON NEUTRAL LOAD CENTER - A plug-on load center featuring snap-in or snap-on neutral rails that are retained securely in the load center on or between a dielectric barrier without requiring any fasteners and assembled by installing the dielectric components and neutral rail along the same direction orthogonal to a rear wall of an enclosure that houses the load center. The snap-in configurations feature dielectric barriers with fingers that create a snap-fit connection between the neutral rail and a shield member. The neutral rail is forced between the fingers, which separate and then snap back to their original position once the neutral rail is fully seated in the dielectric barrier. The snap-on configurations feature a neutral rail that is snapped onto the dielectric barrier and retained in the load without any fasteners. The barrier can include retention members that snap-fit into corresponding features of the neutral rail when it is installed onto the barrier. | 06-19-2014 |
20140167787 | Branch Circuit Current Monitor - An electrical system includes a power distribution system having a plurality of branched electrical circuits and current conductors, each of the plurality of branched electrical circuits being coupled to and receiving electrical power from the power distribution system via an associated current conductor of the current conductors. The electrical system also includes a printed circuit board having an array of multiple sensors for monitoring branched power in the plurality of branched electrical circuits. Each individual sensor is in the form of a sensing coil, is mounted to measure electrical power in a respective current conductor of the current conductors, and has its own individual on-board processing circuitry for monitoring the branched power received in the respective current conductor. | 06-19-2014 |
20140167786 | Current Sensor For Power Measurement Applications - An electrical system with a power distribution system has a current sensor for directly monitoring electrical power in a current conductor, the current sensor including a printed circuit board (PCB), a current transducer, and integrated conditioning electronics. The PCB has a non-ferromagnetic core through which the current conductor is inserted. The current transducer is for sensing the electrical power in the current conductor and is in the form of a sensing coil printed around the non-ferromagnetic core. The conditioning electronics are embedded into the PCB for processing a data signal based on the monitored electrical power of the current conductor. | 06-19-2014 |
20140167692 | AUTO-RESETTABLE SEISMIC SENSOR FOR EVCS - An EVCS equipped with an accelerometer to detect seismic events. Upon sensing a catastrophic environmental event, the EVCS is automatically disconnected from the main utility power source. A controller powered by a backup or alternate power source inside the EVCS monitors the seismic activity, and upon sensing the seismic event is over, the EVCS automatically performs a startup check. If utility power is present and the self-check passes, the EVCS resets and provides power from the main utility to the charging connector. If the EVCS is operable but utility power is unavailable, the EVCS switches to a generator or a UPS. The EVCS can provide multiple power outlets, including USB outlets, and emergency lighting. The EVCS can also be retrofitted or constructed with a communications interface for communicating status and operational information following a seismic event. | 06-19-2014 |
20140166623 | MUFFLER FOR ENHANCED ARC PROTECTION - A muffler for enhanced arc protection is described. In the case of an internal arc event in an electrical enclosure, the muffler exhausts arc gas and plasma parallel to the enclosure surface, instead of directly forward where persons may be located. The muffler includes perforated plates and baffle plates in its interior space. The perforated plates have offset perforation patterns from one another, and the baffle plates are provided on opposing walls, causing the plasma and gas to make multiple directional changes. The perforated plates also filter the arc gas and plasma. These directional changes and filtering result in an energy reduction from the exhaust, which provides an increased margin of safety. In addition, the muffler provides an adequate level of ventilation in the enclosure, thus keeping the components cool. | 06-19-2014 |
20140165390 | METHODS OF ASSEMBLING A NEUTRAL RAIL TO A PLUG-ON NEUTRAL LOAD CENTER - A method of assembling a load center featuring a dielectric barrier that securely retains a plug-on neutral rail without requiring any fasteners. The dielectric barrier and the rail are installed in the same Z-axis direction, which is orthogonal to a rear wall of an enclosure into which the load center is installed. Retention features in the dielectric barrier can create a snap-fit connection between the rail and the barrier, or the barrier can feature a support feature onto which the rail snaps as the rail is installed relative to the dielectric barrier in the Z-axis direction. The snap fit connections eliminate the need for any fasteners, and together with the Z-axis assembly, the assembly process is simplified and accelerated and the possibility of assembly error is reduced or eliminated. | 06-19-2014 |
20140160280 | SECURITY MONITORING SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATIONS - Systems, methods and devices for monitoring an electric vehicle charging station (EVCS) are disclosed. A security system is disclosed for monitoring an EVCS having an electrical connector for electrically coupling to an electric vehicle. The security system includes a camera for recording images of a surrounding area of the EVCS. A sensor detects objects near the EVCS and/or detects removal of the electrical connector from the EVCS. A controller, which is operatively coupled to the camera and the sensor, is configured to: receive sensor signals output from the sensor; responsive to the sensor signals indicating that an object is near the EVCS or the electrical connector is removed from the EVCS: direct the camera to record images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; output to a user the images of the surrounding area of the EVCS; and, receive user command signals to control the EVCS and/or the security system. | 06-12-2014 |
20140158508 | FLEXIBLE CONDUCTOR (BRAID) BONDED TO LOW MATERIAL COST PLUG ON JAW - A substitute for the traditional single piece fixed contact/jaw member on a line-side of a miniature circuit breaker includes a line-side jaw member (e.g., a clip), a flexible conductor (e.g., braided wire), and a line-side contact. The line-side jaw member uses any springy metal or plastic for the clip function and inside the jaw member is the flexible conductor acting as a conductor (e.g., electrically connecting the circuit breaker to a busbar). The flexible conductor leads to the line-side contact. Such an arrangement can save on conductive metal in a circuit breaker. Additionally, the flexible conductor may provide better and more contact points for conduction. | 06-12-2014 |
20140144668 | Ventilation For Horizontally Mounted Busway - A busway assembly including a plurality of busbars mounted in a horizontal orientation and stacked in a sandwich configuration for conducting electrical current. The busbars are enclosed within a housing having an H-shaped configuration and including side-panels with ventilation chimneys through which hot air circulates from a low area underneath the busbars to an upper area above the busbars. The ventilation chimneys include open-ended half-pipes that are inserted in respective apertures of the side-panels. | 05-29-2014 |
20140141636 | BUSWAY JOINT PACK WITH HEAT SINK INSERT - A busway joint pack includes a first connector plate and a second connector plate that is spaced from the first connector plate such that the connector plates are configured to engage a pair of phase-conductors of a pair of busway sections. The busway joint pack further includes a first insulator assembly and a second insulator assembly. Each of the insulator assemblies includes a heat sink and two electrically insulating sheets on either major side surface of the heat sinks. The insulator assemblies are positioned adjacent to the connector plates such that the insulating sheets electrically insulate the heat sinks from the connector plates. Side panels are positioned adjacent to the heat sinks and abut end surfaces thereof to aid in transferring heat generated in the busway joint pack to the surrounding environment via the heat sinks and side panels. | 05-22-2014 |
20140134855 | Dual Material Ground Clip For A Busway Plug In Unit - A ground clip for a PIU of a busway system has a two part assembly made with two different materials, a first hard material designed to remove dielectric coating on the busway section and a second highly conductive material to establish necessary electrical contact, cooperating together as the PIU is installed on the busway case to establish a reliable ground automatically and without tools. | 05-15-2014 |
20140120755 | BOLT FREE ELECTRICAL BUS CONNECTOR - A busway joint pack includes a first latch mechanism having an open position and a closed position and a second latch mechanism having an open position and a closed position. The busway joint pack further includes a first connector plate having a first major surface opposing a second major surface and a second connector plate having a first major surface opposing a second major surface. The second connector plate is spaced from the first connector plate such that the first and the second connector plates are configured to engage phase conductors of busway sections in a clamping fashion when to the first latch mechanism is in the closed position and the second latch mechanism is in the closed position. The busway joint pack lacks a fastener positioned through the center of the first and the second connector plates, but is rather held together by the latch mechanisms. | 05-01-2014 |
20140116617 | METHOD OF BUSWAY CONSTRUCTION - A busway and a method of assembling the same in which a flowable, uncured epoxy is applied between insulated busbar conductors that are stacked on top of one another and inner surfaces of the busway housing into which the stacked conductors are placed to form an enclosed busway. The busbar conductors are insulated by an epoxy powder coat, which can develop pinholes during the curing of the epoxy powder. A flowable, curable dielectric material, such as epoxy, is applied between the outermost busbar conductors and the inner surfaces of the top and bottom pieces of the busway housing. Optionally, epoxy is also applied between adjacent pairs of busbar conductors, which are stacked and arranged into the housing. Pressure is applied to the housing stack, and the epoxy is allowed to cure, resulting in a busway having superior thermal performance, dielectric integrity, and mechanical strength compared to conventional busways. | 05-01-2014 |
20140114724 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR DETERMINING UTILITY COST SAVINGS - A computer system for identifying utility cost savings is provided. The computer system includes a memory and at least one processor coupled to the memory. The at least one processor is configured to receive usage information gathered from at least one site via a first interface, administer a utility questionnaire via a second interface, and determine recommendation information describing a plurality of cost savings recommendations for the at least one site based on a set of responses to the questionnaire and the usage information. | 04-24-2014 |
20140088875 | PUMPJACK TORQUE FILL ESTIMATION - The fill of a downhole pump of a pumpjack or other system may be estimated based on a dynamically changing a reference torque or force curve and actual torque or force measurements during at least a portion of a pump stroke. Using various techniques, the reference curve may dynamically change over time to take into account slowly changing operating conditions. Moreover, the reference curve and/or the measurements may be adjusted to ensure that the estimated and/or reported pump fill does not exceed 100 percent of pump capacity. | 03-27-2014 |
20140083292 | Air filter sensor and alarm - A filter sensor to monitor an air filter in an air conditioning system is disclosed. The filter sensor includes a housing having an interior passage. The housing is located in relation to an air vent of the air conditioning system. A propeller is mounted in the interior passage. The propeller is rotated by the filtered air flow of the air conditioning system. A motion sensor is provided in proximity to the propeller or its shaft. A controller is coupled to the motion sensor to determine the rotational speed of the propeller and correlate the rotational speed of the propeller with the condition of the filter. An indicator is coupled to the controller to indicate a status of the air filter. | 03-27-2014 |
20140080350 | OPEN SPRING MECHANICAL CLAMPING LUG - A mechanical lug assembly for an electrical power device includes a spring clamp and a cradle. The spring clamp has a fixed section, a clamping section, and a deflecting section. The deflecting section has a deflecting spring force DF to allow flexible bending of the clamping section relative to the fixed section. The clamping section is offset relative to the fixed section. The cradle has a fastened section mounted to the fixed section to form a closed end of the lug assembly. The cradle has a terminal section extending from the fastened section along the clamping section to form an open end of the lug assembly. The cradle further has a pair of side walls extending at an angle from respective sides of the terminal section towards the spring clamp. The clamping section is fixed in place between the side walls. | 03-20-2014 |
20140071569 | Zone Selective Interlocking for Optical Flash Detection Suppression - Nuisance tripping is reduced in a power protection and distribution system including an upstream circuit breaker, a power distribution bus, and one or more downstream circuit breakers. A signal indicative of a current or pending downstream circuit breaker tripping action, such as a Zone Selective Interlocking (ZSI) signal, normally used to delay tripping of the upstream breaker, is used to suppress an optical flash detection system from tripping the upstream breaker in response to an optical flash resulting from the tripping of the downstream breaker. In this way, nuisance tripping of the upstream breaker is avoided when the downstream breaker trips (and the ZSI function is preserved). | 03-13-2014 |
20140063695 | EMERGENCY LIGHTING CONTROL PANEL - A combination emergency panelboard includes a relay section and a circuit-breaker section. The relay section includes automatic load control relays and the circuit-breaker section includes emergency circuit breakers. A dielectric barrier is positioned between the relay and circuit-breaker sections to separate them. A busbar is positioned in the circuit-breaker section for distributing a phase of emergency current to a plurality of emergency circuit breakers coupled thereto. A plurality of automatic load control relays is positioned in the relay section. Each of the relays is electrically connected to a respective one of the plurality of emergency circuit breakers for distributing the phase of emergency current to a respective load. | 03-06-2014 |
20140055886 | CIRCUIT BREAKER SIGNALING SYSTEM FOR CONTROL OF AN ARC FAULT DETECTION SYSTEM - In an electrical distribution system an arc management system has a transducer mounted in proximity to the circuit breaker for detecting and signaling a secondary effect of an overcurrent event within the case of the circuit breaker. The transducer provides an additional input to an arc fault detection system using other detectors and thus helps to control nuisance activations of the arc extinguishing mechanism. The system is particularly suited for circuit breakers without electronics, or the like, allowing for retrofit of existing systems. The system may monitor and act upon the excessive duration of the secondary effects. | 02-27-2014 |
20140054271 | CROWBAR DISCONNECT SWITCH - A three-phase disconnect switch for a power distribution system that supplies three-phase power from a source through a main circuit breaker to multiple three-phase feeder circuits, includes three pairs of contacts adapted for connection to the three phase lines of a selected one of the feeder circuits for opening and closing each of the phase lines, and a movable actuator associated with the three pairs of contacts and responsive to a signal indicating the occurrence of an arcing fault in the selected feeder circuit for initially creating a short circuit across the three phase lines of the feeder circuit and then opening the contacts. | 02-27-2014 |
20140054270 | ARC DETECTION WITH RESISTANCE TO NUISANCE ACTIVATION THROUGH LIGHT SUBTRACTION - In an electrical distribution system having an arc management system for removal of arcing voltage from feeder circuits triggered at least in part by light signals, a secondary optical detector monitors a downstream branch circuit breaker in the feeder circuit compartment to produce an optical signal for arc detection more accurately reflecting the possibility of an arcing fault. | 02-27-2014 |
20140006398 | System and Method for Energy Management Information System Reliability Assurance | 01-02-2014 |
20140002018 | Coupler For Electric Vehicle Charging Station | 01-02-2014 |
20130340304 | SELF-CONTAINED BISTABLE INFORMATION DISPLAY WITH MECHANICAL ACTIVATION - A self-powered, self-contained, signage device includes a bistable display with its state-change power received from an actuator handle or pushbutton attached to a mechanically activated generator integral to the display. The device may be integrated into actuating members for various equipment types thereby providing a highly visible status indication of equipment operations. | 12-26-2013 |
20130337669 | LOCKING DEVICE FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING CONNECTOR - A latch-locking device for an electric vehicle charging connector having a movable latching element for engaging a matching latching element on a charging station, or on an electric vehicle. The latch-locking device includes a movable latch-locking element mounted adjacent the matching latching element on the charging station or an electric vehicle for movement, in a direction transverse to the direction of movement of the movable latching element, between a retracted position spaced away from the matching latching element and an advanced position where the latch-locking element overlaps at least a portion of the movable latching element when the movable latching element is engaged with the matching latching element. An actuator is coupled to the latch-locking element for moving the locking element between the retracted and advanced positions. | 12-19-2013 |
20130335888 | AUTOMATIC ACTUATOR FOR BREAKERS OR SWITCHES - A load center includes a housing, a cover, and a circuit breaker. The load center can be retrofitted to further include a rotational motor, an actuator member, and a guide insert. The rotational motor includes a threaded drive shaft positioned through an aperture formed in the cover. The actuator member is threadingly engaged with the threaded drive shaft. The actuator member is oriented relative to the cover such that a handle of the circuit breaker is positioned through an aperture of the actuating member. Rotation of the threaded drive shaft causes the actuator member to translate such that a first actuating surface of the actuator member engages the handle and switches the handle from an OFF position to an ON position. The handle of the circuit breaker has full range of travel between the ON and OFF positions in response to the actuator member being moved into a neutral position. | 12-19-2013 |
20130334174 | HIGH INTERRUPTING RATING MOLDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKER - A circuit breaker having an increased interrupting rating without increasing the size of the circuit breaker while maintaining full compliance with UL and IEC standards. An adhesive is applied to a bottom surface near the exhaust outlets of interrupters. The interrupter housing is formed by joining two pieces, and the adhesive is applied across both pieces. The adhesive adheres to a bottom interior surface of a base of the circuit breaker, anchoring the interrupter assembly to the base. The adhesive prevents the two pieces of the interrupter housing from separating during an interruption event, and prevents the interrupter assembly from being lifted away from the base during the interruption event. The adhesive can act as a barrier to prevent interruption gas and pollution that do not escape out of the exhaust ports of the base from entering between the bottom of the interrupter assembly and the interior of the base. | 12-19-2013 |
20130329331 | Wireless Branch Circuit Energy Monitoring System - A circuit breaker (such as a miniature circuit breaker) that wirelessly communicates state and fault information to a main energy monitoring module. The wireless circuit breaker includes a transceiver and a power supply that harvests energy inductively from the line current conductor without the need for a connection to a neutral conductor. The wireless circuit breaker can be implemented in the same package as existing circuit breakers, eliminating the need to replace the panel when upgrading to a system that employs a main energy monitoring module. The wireless circuit breaker can also include an energy storage device for supplying power to the circuit breaker after it has tripped, allowing the circuit breaker to transmit information after a trip. The main energy monitoring module includes a processor and a gateway for evaluating and transmitting information received from the circuit breaker to other applications, such as webpages and smartphones. | 12-12-2013 |
20130328657 | CIRCUIT BREAKER THERMAL LOAD VISUAL GAUGE - A thermal gauge for circuit breaker useful for indicating operating conditions, such as in a miniature circuit breaker, has a thermal transducer thermally connected to the current path of the circuit breaker such that heat transfer causes the transducer to give a visible display of heat, latch engagement, or current draw within the breaker directly through a window in the face of the circuit breaker. | 12-12-2013 |
20130328525 | AUTO DETECTION OF VEHICLE TYPE CONNECTED TO AN EVSE - Apparatus and methods for discerning information about a vehicle (e.g., an electric vehicle's make, model, and/or year of manufacturer) being charged by an electric vehicle supply equipment (“EVSE”). Vehicle make, model, and model year can be discerned by measuring charging current supplied to the electric vehicle over time and comparing this profile to stored profiles of known electric vehicles. Vehicle information can also be discerned by monitoring a pilot signal sent to the electric vehicle by the EVSE. When the EVSE is ready to charge the electric vehicle, the pilot signal sends a charge-ready indication. When the electric vehicle is ready to be charged, it sends an acknowledgement. The time between the EVSE indicating it is ready to charge and the electric vehicle acknowledging that it is ready to be charged is measurable and can used to identify an electric vehicle make, model, and model year. | 12-12-2013 |
20130320920 | Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment Cable Detection - Systems, methods, devices, and computer-readable media detect a status of a cable | 12-05-2013 |
20130314847 | DRAWOUT DISCONNECTING AND ISOLATING MEANS FOR DC APPLICATIONS - A drawout unit that disconnects both polarities of DC current from a DC source, when all poles are used for one of the polarities leaving no pole available to disconnect the other polarity. The drawout unit includes a disconnect device having a four-pole switch, and all four poles are series-connected to the positive (ungrounded) polarity. A separate drawout module with its own housing is connected to the negative (grounded) polarity, and together, the disconnect device and the drawout module are positioned in a cradle with a racking mechanism for racking both the device and the module in and out of the cradle simultaneously, thereby obtaining total isolation of both polarities. In this configuration, the installer has the option to ground the negative polarity, while leaving the positive polarity ungrounded. The drawout module has a through bar conductor that passes the negative polarity of the DC current through the drawout unit. | 11-28-2013 |
20130300429 | Diagnostic Receptacle For Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment - Systems, methods, apparatuses, and computer-readable media provide electric supply equipment | 11-14-2013 |
20130279083 | PASSIVE ARC MANAGEMENT SYSTEM WITH A FLUE CHAMBER - In an electrical distribution cabinet a mechanism providing quick, reliable, passive arc blast control has a flue chamber surrounding the likely arc site such as an electrical connection point. The flue chamber provides a flue channel which lengthens the arc and attenuates the current and temperature until the arc is extinguished. Preferably, the flue chamber and channel are formed of opposable open-faced polyhedral structures, one fitting inside the other. The mechanism is particularly suited for draw-out circuit breaker connections in a switch gear cabinet. | 10-24-2013 |
20130273771 | Cable Lug Pad - An electrical system includes an electrical device mounted within an electrical enclosure. A electrical cable is coupled to an electrical junction of the electrical device via a cable lug, the cable lug having at least two lug holes. A lug pad attaches the cable lug to the electrical device and has at least two pad holes. Each of the pad holes is aligned with a respective one of the lug holes, and at least one of the lug holes and the pad holes is a slotted hole for permitting angular adjustable positioning of the cable lug relative to the lug pad. | 10-17-2013 |
20130269746 | TAPERED TRUNKING SYSTEM WITH DISTRIBUTED COMBINER - A tapered trunking bus for carrying electricity from a row of solar panel arrays to a safety switch. The trunking bus includes a number of combiner and junction boxes connected in series. Each successive combiner and junction box combines the output of the previous combiner and junction box, received on a conductor of a first cross-sectional area, with electrical current received from a pair of solar panel arrays and outputs a higher current on a conductor of higher cross-sectional area. The cross-sectional area of each conductor is chosen to match the current to be carried and to account for the distance to the next combiner and junction box. For lower current segments of the trunking bus, cables or wires in conduits, of increasing gauges, can be used between combiner and junction boxes. For higher-current segments, metal bus bars of increasing cross-sectional area can be used between combiner and junction boxes. | 10-17-2013 |
20130264180 | CIRCUIT BREAKER IDENTIFICATION ACCESSORY - Identification accessories, circuit breaker caps, and labeling kits for labeling electrical switch devices, such as circuit breakers, are presented herein. An identification accessory is disclosed for identifying an electrical switch device in proximity to its operating mechanism. The identification accessory includes an accessory shell with a lid having first and second endwalls projecting from the lid. | 10-10-2013 |
20130252486 | CABLE CONNECTOR WITH INTEGRATED SHOE - A lug having an integrated shoe for fastening the lug to a conductor and a terminal of a circuit breaker. The lug includes a housing and a cavity in the housing configured to receive the electrical conductor. The shoe has a hinge connecting the shoe to an inner wall of the housing. A slot is located adjacent to the shoe such that the shoe is positioned between the cavity and the slot, which receives the terminal. A hole in the housing receives a fastener that extends into the cavity. A force applied to the fastener urges the conductor to clamp against the shoe to cause it to deflect about the hinge and to press against the terminal to hold the lug in a secure relationship relative to the terminal and to hold the conductor in a secure relationship relative to the lug. | 09-26-2013 |
20130248335 | FLOATING STATIONARY CONTACT TO CREATE STABLE, LOW RESISTANCE CONTACT JOINTS - A floating contact assembly for use in a circuit breaker includes a contact, a floating member, a bearing element, a jaw member, and a flexible conductor. The floating member includes a joint surface and the contact is electrically connected to a surface of the floating member opposite the joint surface. The bearing element is configured to abut the joint surface of the floating member such that the floating member is configured to rotate about a first axis that passes through the bearing element. The jaw member is configured to electrically connect the floating contact assembly to an external electrical component and the flexible conductor electrically couples the jaw member to the floating member. | 09-26-2013 |
20130233690 | Compact Three-Hole Lug - A circuit breaker assembly includes a lug assembly with a main structural body having cable holes extending through a cable-receiving face, the cable holes including a first cable hole separated by a second cable hole from a third cable hole. Each of the cable holes is configured to receive a respective power cable. The structural body further includes wire-binding holes extending at least in part through a wire-binding face, the wire-binding holes including a first wire-binding hole separated by a second wire-binding hole from a third wire-binding hole. The first wire-binding hole has a first longitudinal axis at an angle that intersects a third longitudinal axis of the third wire-binding hole. A fastener is inserted through the second wire-binding hole, the fastener having an hourglass section with a contour that generally matches at least in part a corresponding contour of the first cable hole and the third cable hole. | 09-12-2013 |
20130229171 | COMPACT, TWO STAGE, ZERO FLUX ELECTRONICALLY COMPENSATED CURRENT OR VOLTAGE TRANSDUCER EMPLOYING DUAL MAGNETIC CORES HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY DISSIMILAR MAGNETIC CHARACTERISTICS - A device for sensing electrical current or voltage in an electrical distribution system using an actively compensated current ratio transformer that includes a first magnetic core having a first permeability and a second magnetic core having a second permeability higher than the first permeability. A primary winding having P turns is coupled with the first and second magnetic cores, a measurement winding having M turns is coupled with the first and second magnetic cores so that current in the primary winding induces current in the measurement winding, and a sense winding having S turns is coupled with the second magnetic core. An amplifier coupled to the sense winding receives a voltage developed across the sense winding and produces a compensation current in response to the received voltage. The amplifier has an output coupled to the sense winding to feed the compensation current through the sense winding to reduce the voltage developed across the sense winding voltage to substantially zero. A burden resistor is coupled to the measurement winding and the sense winding for receiving the sum of the current induced in the measurement winding and the compensation current. | 09-05-2013 |
20130218497 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DETECTING BRANCH CIRCUIT LOAD IMBALANCE - Systems, methods and devices for detecting multi-phase branch circuit load imbalance are presented herein. A method is disclosed for detecting a load imbalance in a multi-phase electrical distribution system which includes: determining an association between each space of the panel and a respective circuit; receiving data of an electrical parameter indicative of load imbalance; receiving data of a system parameter indicative of load activity; determining an average value from the electrical parameter data; determining an aggregate value from the system parameter data; determining a model correlating the system parameter with the electrical parameter; determining if the average value of the electrical parameter is unbalanced; if so, determining a modeled electrical parameter value using the model and the aggregate value of the system parameter; determining if the average value of the electrical parameter corresponds with the modeled electrical parameter value; and, if not, outputting an indication that the load imbalance exists. | 08-22-2013 |
20130204554 | SYSTEMS, METHODS, AND DEVICES FOR MONITORING A CAPACITOR BANK - Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring one or more capacitor banks are presented herein. One concept of the present disclosure is directed to a method of monitoring at least one capacitor bank having a plurality of steps. The method includes: receiving measurements indicative of voltages and/or currents on electrical lines coupled to the steps of the capacitor bank by corresponding contactors; receiving information indicative of the respective statuses of the contactors; timestamping the measurements and contactor status information; storing the timestamped measurements with corresponding timestamped contactor status information; determining a rate of change of a parameter indicative of or derived from at least the measurements associated with at least one of the steps in the capacitor bank; comparing the determined rate of change with a baseline rate of change to produce a deviation; determining if the deviation satisfies a criterion; and, if so, indicating the deviation satisfied the criterion. | 08-08-2013 |
20130174261 | System and Method of Securing Monitoring Devices on a Public Network - A method for determining whether or not a monitor is registered with a security service. The method includes using a device search engine to perform a search for and find a monitor. Then it is determined whether or not the found monitor is registered with the security service. When the found monitor is not currently registered with the security service, an owner of the unregistered monitor is automatically contacted. | 07-04-2013 |
20130173322 | Energy Management with Correspondence Based Data Auditing Signoff - Systems and methods for monitoring energy management (EM) data from at least one energy data source; detecting a data anomaly event in the EM data; determining if a resolution for the data anomaly event requires human input; and submitting a request to at least one user for human input to resolve the data anomaly event. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169309 | METHOD OF DETECTING INSTABILITY IN ISLANDED ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS - Systems and methods for evaluating the stability of an islanded electrical system (off-grid) using high-speed frequency measurements of the electrical signal supplied by an alternate power source in the islanded electrical system. Additional inputs may include status signals from an automatic transfer switch, a generator, and loads within the islanded electrical system. The high-speed frequency measurements have a resolution sufficient to enable analysis of any combination of the frequency magnitude (e.g., sudden increase), frequency slew rate (e.g., frequency rate of change), frequency rate of recovery (e.g., frequency recovery time), or frequency oscillations (e.g., frequency ringing around the nominal value before settling) to indicate the presence of an actual or impending instability of the islanded electrical system. The frequency referred to herein corresponds to the frequency at which an alternating current supplied by the alternate power source is cycling. | 07-04-2013 |
20130169269 | System and Method to Measure Neutral-To-Ground Voltage - A method and program for minimizing objectionable currents while still providing neutral-to-ground voltage measurements by controlling a switch to determine when the neutral-to-ground impedance is placed in an electrical circuit. | 07-04-2013 |
20130164961 | PANELBOARD PLUG-ON NEUTRAL BUS AND METHOD OF MAKING SAME - A loadcenter is equipped with a unitary neutral bus bar capable of receiving AFI and GFI circuit breakers having either a plug-on-neutral connection or a wire-neutral connection. The neutral bus bar is connected to line neutral and has a rolled rail that is formed by rolling an end of a conductive plate and bending the plate at a transition portion to position the rolled rail above and at an angle of a major flat surface of an extension of the neutral bus bar. Wire-capture apparatuses secured along an edge of an extension of the neutral bus bar can capture wires from circuit breakers that lack an internal connection to a neutral plug-on mounting jaw or that lack a neutral plug-on mounting jaw altogether. | 06-27-2013 |
20130162221 | Direct Communications System for Charging Electric Vehicles - An Electric Vehicle is equipped to communicate its state of charge and other vehicular information to AC-charging Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment which can present and manage charging options based on the state of charge information and user selected options. An array of Electric Vehicle Supply Equipment may be managed utilizing the state of charge information from a plurality of Electric Vehicles connected to the array. | 06-27-2013 |
20130153541 | MECHANICAL MEANS TO REDIRECT INTERNAL ARC LOCATION - An electrical enclosure includes a mechanism for moving and/or extinguishing an arc fault occurring in a first compartment of the electrical enclosure. The mechanism is positioned adjacent to a busbar in a second compartment of the electrical enclosure. In the case of a first arc fault occurring in the first compartment, an explosion occurs which results in a pressure wave. The pressure wave causes the mechanism to move into the second compartment and make electrical contact with the busbar, which causes a short and/or a second arc fault in the second compartment, thereby extinguishing the first arc fault in the first compartment. | 06-20-2013 |
20130151212 | SYSTEMS, METHODS AND DEVICES FOR DETERMINING ENERGY CONSERVATION MEASURE SAVINGS - Systems, methods, and devices for monitoring and modeling energy consumption are presented herein. A computer-implemented method of monitoring and modeling an energy load in an electrical system is featured. This method includes: determining one or more monitoring parameters; determining an energy conservation measure (ECM) evaluation period; creating an evaluation model of energy load over the ECM evaluation period based on the monitoring parameter(s), the evaluation model including one or more driver variables and at least one additional driver variable that is representative of at least one energy conservation measure; determining a coefficient of the at least one additional driver variable within an equation representing the ECM evaluation model; and outputting to a user the coefficient of the at least one additional driver variable. The coefficient represents the average change in energy due to the energy conservation measure(s) associated with the additional driver variable(s). | 06-13-2013 |
20130151179 | AUTOMATED MONITORING FOR CHANGES IN ENERGY CONSUMPTION PATTERNS - A process for detecting statistically significant changes in energy consumption patterns by monitoring for changes in the parameters to a parametric energy model. Two parametric models of energy consumption are created: the first being a model providing an initial base line of energy consumption, the second being a test model to be compared to the initial base model. Statistically significant changes are detected by using a difference score that compares the parameters of two models along with the uncertainties of each parameter to determine whether the differences in the parameters of each model indicate a statistically significant deviation in the energy consumption pattern. | 06-13-2013 |
20130149888 | ELECTRICAL BUSWAY PLUG-IN UNIT WITH IMPROVED RESTRAINT MECHANISM - An electrical busway plug-in unit includes a pair of restraint mechanisms extending through the housing of the plug-in unit for mechanically attaching the plug-in unit to the busway. Each restraint mechanism includes a rotatable shaft extending through the front wall of the housing, and a knob attached to the front end of the shaft, on the exterior side of the front wall of the housing, for manually rotating the shaft. A mechanical connector projects rearwardly from the rear wall of the housing and extends forwardly into the interior of the housing where the connector is coupled to the shaft so that rotational movement of the shaft in opposite directions moves the connector into and out of latching engagement with the busway. | 06-13-2013 |
20130143478 | TRIANGLE FLAP ARC VENT - An arc blast vent for an electrical equipment enclosure has a plate forming a part of the enclosure with triangular cutouts arranged within a regular polygonal area of the plate and having a frame of the plate material in between them. Substantially identical triangle shaped flaps, each having hold downs along and adjacent to a first leg of the triangle for attachment to the plate, and in from the first leg have a line of perforations through the triangle forming a weakened area for a deformable hinge. Each of the triangle shaped metal flaps have the second and third legs with their edges resting without tenacious engagement on the frame of the plate material. | 06-06-2013 |
20130143427 | ELECTRICAL WIRE AND SHEET-METAL CONNECTOR - Electrical connector assemblies, light bases with one or more electrical connector assemblies, and methods for connecting one or more electrical wires to one or more sheet-metal connectors are disclosed. An electrical connector assembly for an electrical distribution system is disclosed, which includes an electrically insulated housing with a wire-connection port and a blade-connection port. The wire-connection port is designed to receive an electrical wire, while the blade-connection port is designed to receive an electrically conductive blade. An electrical conductor is disposed within the housing, extending between the blade-connection and wire-connection ports. A first threadless fastener secures the wire in the wire-connection port and electrically couples the wire to the electrical conductor. A second threadless fastener secures the blade in the blade-connection port and electrically couples the blade to the electrical conductor. The wire-connection port may be configured to open and release the electrical wire without the use of a tool. | 06-06-2013 |
20130140080 | ELECTRICAL ENCLOSURES WITH REMOVABLE END PLATE - Electrical enclosure assemblies, electrical service enclosures, and methods of assembling an electrical enclosure assembly are presented herein. An electrical enclosure assembly for housing electrical components of an electrical distribution system is disclosed. The enclosure assembly includes a plurality of sidewalls interconnected to define therebetween a mounting space within which are mounted the electrical components, and define at one end thereof an open endface. An endwall guide extends from one or more of the sidewalls into the mounting space. The endwall guide includes a plurality of elongated slots, a plurality of projections, or both. The enclosure assembly also includes an endwall configured to at least partially close off the open endface. The endwall includes a plurality of elongated slots, a plurality of projections, or both. Each of the projections is configured to fit into and secure with a respective elongated slot to thereby removably mount the endwall to the sidewalls. | 06-06-2013 |
20130139384 | PHOTOVOLTAIC STRING COMBINER WITH DISCONNECT HAVING PROVISION FOR CONVERTING BETWEEN GROUNDED AND UNGROUNDED SYSTEMS - A string combiner is provided for coupling multiple strings of series-connected photovoltaic (PV) panels in a PV array to downstream equipment, each string including positive and negative conductors. The combiner includes a combiner box containing a busbar connected to the protection devices for receiving and combining the currents from the multiple strings of PV panels, output terminals for connection to the downstream equipment, and a disconnect device within the combiner box and including a multi-pole switch connected to the busbar for disconnecting the downstream equipment from the multiple strings. A plurality of connectors are provided for connecting selected poles of the multi-pole switch to each other or to selected ones of the output terminals in either a grounded or an ungrounded configuration. | 06-06-2013 |
20130135778 | AUTOMATIC RESET DISCRIMINATION SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR A SELF POWERED ELECTRONIC PROTECTION DEVICE - An apparatus and method for selectively automatically resetting an electronic protection device. The electronic protection device may protect a motor load by disconnecting the load from a power source when the current drawn by the load exceeds a threshold, when the power source suffers from a phase imbalance or phase loss, or when another condition is detected. The electronic protection device discriminates between different types of fault conditions and determines whether to suppress an automatic reset function of the device. The electronic protection device includes a reset energy storage device for automatically resetting the electronic protection device following a trip event using energy from the reset energy storage device. In operation, the electronic protection device detects a fault condition not calling for an automatic reset, then discharges the reset energy storage device and trips the electronic protection device before the reset energy storage device recharges. | 05-30-2013 |
20130131839 | Dynamically Adapting to Changes in Control System Topology - An apparatus and method for adapting to changes in the control topology of a cooperative control system including a plurality of controllers are disclosed. The method is implemented by an actuator or sensor, and includes the steps of selecting one of the controllers as the master controller for one or more state variables of an actuator or sensor, detecting a change in the control topology of the cooperative control system, and reselecting a master controller for the one or more state variables responsive to the change in the control topology. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131838 | Data Synchronization in a Cooperative Distributed Control System - A data synchronization method and apparatus are provided for a distributed control system where multiple controllers can control a plurality of actuators or sensors. The actuators or sensors are assigned to logical groups that share a common state. One of the actuators or sensors within a logical group serves as a reference device for a state variable. Before taking a control action, the controllers read the current value of the state variable from the reference device. Data synchronization is maintained by one or more refresh master controllers. | 05-23-2013 |
20130131837 | Prioritized Controller Arbitration - In a distributed control system where multiple controllers can control the same actuator or sensor, each controller is assigned a priority level, and command arbitration is based on the relative priority levels of the controllers. Each actuator or sensor selects a controller to serve as a master controller for one or more of its state variables. Different master controllers may be selected for different state variables. When a command is received by the actuator or sensor, it determines how to treat the command by comparing the priority of the controller from which the command originated to the priority of the master controller. | 05-23-2013 |
20130130532 | DOCKING STATION FOR CONNECTOR FOR ELECTRIC VEHICLE CHARGING STATION - A docking station for stowing an electrical connector adapted to connect a power source to a re-chargeable battery in a vehicle powered at least partially by the battery. The connector has a first end connected to a power cable for coupling the connector to the power source, and a second end that includes multiple first electrical terminals adapted to engage mating second electrical terminals in a receptacle. The second end also includes a protruding latching element adapted to engage a cooperating latching element in a receptacle for latching the connector to the receptacle. A stowing receptacle adapted to receive the second end of the connector when the connector is not in use includes an elongated recess adapted to receive the protruding latching element when the protruding latching element is located anywhere along the length of the elongated recess. | 05-23-2013 |
20130126316 | PRESSURE SENSITIVE TRIP MECHANISM WITH DEBRIS CONTROL - A pressure sensitive circuit breaker trip unit has a case forming a gas receiving cavity and a cavity accommodating movement of an actuator body with a trip lever. The actuator is moved by pressure of circuit interruption gases entering the gas receiving cavity. The actuator body has a hollow therein for accepting the interruption gases and accompanying hot debris thereby reducing any fouling of the movement accommodating cavity which may impede movement of the actuator body on subsequent circuit interruptions. | 05-23-2013 |
20130114185 | SWITCHGEAR BUS ASSEMBLY HAVING REDUCED POWER LOSS, MATERIAL AND TEMPERATURE - Electrical switchgear comprising electrical switching equipment for a multi-phase electrical power distribution system, a supporting structure for a bus assembly for supplying electrical current to the switching equipment, and a plurality of spaced buses mounted on the supporting structure each for connecting the switching equipment to respective phases of the multi-phase electrical power distribution system. Each bus comprises a plurality of substantially co-planar, spaced, elongated flat conductors arranged with at least one longitudinal edge surface of each conductor in that bus opposed to and spaced from a longitudinal edge surface of another conductor in that same bus, and a connector at each end of said conductors for connecting the plurality of flat conductors in each bus to each other. | 05-09-2013 |
20130092515 | MOLDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKER CAPABLE OF WITHSTANDING SHORT CIRCUIT CONDITIONS - A molded case circuit breaker includes a molded case containing a circuit breaker trip unit, and multiple line connector lugs attached to an end portion of the molded case for connecting the trip unit to power cables from a power source. Rigid support brackets attached to a rigid supporting surface extend along a pair of opposite outer side walls of the molded case adjacent the lugs to resist outward movement of the side walls in the event of a short circuit condition that exerts distorting forces on the lugs and the portions of the molded case adjacent the lugs. The rigid support brackets may be attached to a supporting pan attached to the portion of the molded case adjacent the lugs. | 04-18-2013 |
20130077529 | AUTOMATED DEVICE DISCOVERY ON A NETWORK - A system and method provide automated discovery of devices on a network. The system may include specialized communications between devices for monitoring and tracking the devices. In particular, devices may transmit and/or receive messages over the network that includes information for discovering, identifying, and/or managing each of the devices on the network. | 03-28-2013 |
20130070395 | SWING OUT MOUNT - An electrical enclosure includes a housing, a moveable bracket, an electrical device, a lever, and a drive assembly. The housing has a door attached to a body. The moveable bracket couples the electrical device to the body. The lever is positioned outside of the housing and is configured to switch between OFF and ON lever positions. The drive assembly at least partially protrudes through an aperture of the body and is attached to the lever. The drive assembly includes a drive cog that directly moves the handle of the circuit breaker between OFF and ON handle positions when the electrical device is in an operational position and the lever is switched from the OFF to the ON lever position. | 03-21-2013 |
20130070373 | Method For Compensating Overload Trip Curve For CT Error - A digital thermal model for compensating for error in a current transformer used in a solid-state overload relay. The thermal model implements a difference equation that determines using a low-pass filter two parameters corresponding to calibration points along an overload trip curve. The trip curve is adjusted at an ultimate trip current (one calibration point) independently of a trip time at a locked rotor current (another calibration point) of a motor protected by the overload relay. The ultimate trip current and trip time can be adjusted based on a motor full load current set by a user. Large CT error will cause the thermal model to adjust the trip time at the locked rotor current, increasing the range of acceptable CT error, allowing the overload relay to have a wider adjustment range. | 03-21-2013 |
20130068597 | INTERRUPTER MODULE WITH FLOATING PROTECTION FOR DRIVE PINS - An interrupter module for a molded case circuit breaker has a floating antifriction disc between the module casings and the blade carrier which overlays the blade carrier with rim walls of the disc. The rim walls are located at segments of the disc containing the drive pins of the module. If gases from circuit interruption expand the interrupter module sides and force the disc away from the blade carrier, the rim walls remain over the blade carrier and protect the drive pins from contaminants carried by the gases. | 03-21-2013 |
20130066478 | OPTIMIZED PROTECTION COORDINATION OF ELECTRONIC-TRIP CIRCUIT BREAKER BY SHORT CIRCUIT CURRENT AVAILABILITY MONITORING - Centralized coordination of setting and adjusting trip settings of electronic circuit breakers in an electrical distribution system by monitoring short circuit current availability (SCCA) and adjusting trip settings based on received SCCA estimates from SCCA monitoring devices installed at main, feeder, and branch nodes of the distribution system. The SCCA monitoring devices are capable of automatically estimating the SCCA in the circuit or node at which the SCCA device is installed and transmitting SCCA estimates to a controller, which uses the SCCA estimates to coordinate adjustments to trip settings for the various circuit breakers. Depending on the node position of the circuit breaker and the corresponding SCCA at that node, the controller adjusts in real-time the short-circuit trip settings for the circuit breakers so that they are below the SCCA value. Optional user-inputted settings can affect the trip setting adjustments, such as transient loading conditions that can influence the SCCA estimates. | 03-14-2013 |
20130062971 | CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR MOTORIZED CIRCUIT BREAKER - A circuit breaker module includes an electrically controlled actuator, such as a DC motor, operable to move a breaker contact between open and closed positions. An actuator power supply circuit coupled to an AC power source is configured to selectively energize the actuator, responsive to an actuation input. A processing circuit is configured to control the actuator power supply circuit to activate the actuator in response to breaker command signals, using the actuation input. The processing circuit is further configured to delay activations of the actuator as needed to enforce a predetermined cooling interval between successive actuations. | 03-14-2013 |
20130050878 | DIFFERENTIAL TEMPERATURE MONITORING OF ELECTRICAL DEVICES - Systems, methods and devices for monitoring temperature are presented herein. A method of monitoring temperature in a system, such as a capacitor bank, is disclosed. The method may include: receiving first device temperature signals indicative of the temperature of a first device over a predetermined period of time; receiving second device temperature signals indicative of the temperature of a second device over a predetermined period of time; determining a first rolling average temperature for the predetermined period of time from the first device temperature signals; determining a second rolling average temperature for the predetermined period of time from the second temperature signals; and triggering a disconnect event in response to a determination that either the first or the second rolling average temperature is greater than a predetermined maximum working temperature. | 02-28-2013 |
20130044395 | Adaptive Light Detection For Arc Mitigation Systems - A controller-based detection system configured to adaptively learn to distinguish between detected light that is indicative of an arc fault event and detected light that is not related to an arc fault event. In particular, the detection system is configured to observe the electrical power system as it is operated under various conditions to induce light events that are unrelated to arc fault events. Using the observed information about the light events that are unrelated to arc fault events, the detection system determines one or more detection algorithms. During normal operation of the electrical power system, the adaptively determined one or more detection algorithms are utilized to identify arc fault events in the electrical power system. | 02-21-2013 |
20130033227 | EXTENDABLE AND DEFORMABLE CHARGING SYSTEM - A subsurface mounted inductive charging coil system for electric vehicles accommodates the gap distance between primary charging coil and secondary coil on the vehicle with an extendable primary coil carrier. The system protects the primary coil when exposed by mounting on a deformable and elastic structure. By keeping the primary coil normally hidden in a deformable and elastic structure several advantages are obtained. The extendable structure is preferably a low pressure inflatable bladder or membrane in the floor for carrying, protecting, and extending the primary coil. | 02-07-2013 |
20130007319 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR IMPLEMENTING REDUNDANT NETWORK INTERFACE MODULES IN A DISTRIBUTED I/O SYSTEM - A method and system is disclosed for implementing redundant master NIMs ( | 01-03-2013 |
20130003782 | SENSOR MOUNTING METHODOLOGY - Methods and devices for mounting a sensor are presented herein. A temperature sensor assembly for a capacitor bank is disclosed that includes two opposing substrates, and a plurality of contact temperature sensors attached to each substrate. Each temperature sensor is configured to directly contact a surface of one of the capacitor cans in the capacitor bank and therefrom generate a signal indicative of the temperature of the capacitor can. A biasing member attaches the two substrates together. The biasing member is configured to selectively contract, such that the width of the sensor assembly is less than the gap distance between adjacent sets of tandem capacitor cans and the sensor assembly can insert between the sets of capacitor cans, and expand, such that the width of the sensor assembly is greater than the gap distance and the sensor assembly is tensioned against and thereby secured between the sets of capacitor cans. | 01-03-2013 |
20130003265 | THERMALLY EFFICIENT BUSWAY - A busway having multiple busbar conductors and pads composed of a thermally conductive, insulating material (TCIM) sandwiched in between each of the conductors and between the outermost conductors and the inside of the busway housing. The busway preferably includes three sets of TCIM pads, one set in the center of the busway, and a set at either end of the busway where a joint pack is installed to join multiple sections of busway sections together. The insulating material on the conductors has a cutout to expose the bare metal of the conductors, and a TCIM pad is placed directly on the exposed metal through the cutout, to form a thermal conduit between the busbar conductors to the metal housing of the busway, thereby reducing the temperatures of the busbar conductors and the joint pack during normal operation in which hundreds or thousands of amps of current are carried through the busway sections. | 01-03-2013 |
20130001201 | CONFIGURATION OF AN ARC RUNNER FOR A MINIATURE CIRCUIT BREAKER - An arc runner configured to provide a substantially constant separation between a side surface of a conductive contact carrier and an arc discharge surface of the arc runner during an initial portion of a separation of two contacts. The arc discharge surface is preferably a flat surface oriented perpendicular to an axis of rotation of one contact away from the other. The conductive contact carrier having the side surface is configured to allow the arc runner to repeatedly travel along its side without mechanical interference during repeated openings and closings of the contacts. During the initial portion of the separation of the contacts, an electrical arc generated between the contacts during the separation is desirably transferred off of the contacts to the arc discharge surface after the separation between the contacts exceeds the distance between the side surface and the arc discharge surface. | 01-03-2013 |
20120325632 | MOVEABLE CONTACT CLOSING ENERGY TRANSFER SYSTEM FOR MINIATURE CIRCUIT BREAKERS - An energy transfer system absorbs impact forces and/or energy from a moveable conductive blade directly attached to a moveable contact in a circuit breaker. The energy transfer system includes a rotatable member and a biasing member. The rotatable member has an axis of rotation about which the rotatable member is rotatable between a first position and a second position. The rotatable member further includes a protrusion. The protrusion has an initial curved engagement surface portion, a planar engagement surface portion next to the initial curved engagement surface portion, and a final curved engagement surface portion next to the planar engagement surface portion. The biasing member biases the rotatable member towards the first position. The movable conductive blade impacts the initial curved engagement surface portion to cause the rotatable member to begin to rotate about the axis of rotation such that the moveable conductive blade then contacts the planar engagement surface portion and then the final curved engagement surface portion. | 12-27-2012 |
20120314340 | OPTIMALLY SHAPED BUS CONNECTOR - Power connectors and switchgear assemblies are presented herein. A power connector is disclosed for electrically coupling a circuit breaker to an electrically conductive bus bar. The connector includes a fork-shaped head for electrically connecting to the circuit breaker, and a base for electrically connecting to the bus bar. A yoke extends between and connects the base to the fork-shaped head. The yoke has a transverse cross-section with a length that is greater than a width. The length and/or width of the transverse cross-section varies between respective ends of the transverse cross-section. | 12-13-2012 |
20120298375 | Pumpjack Production Control - A method, software, and apparatus for controlling a pump configured to pump liquid out of a well is described. Such control may involve determining whether a production rate of gas from the well is increasing, decreasing, or steady, and whether to switch the pump between an OFF state and an ON state. Whether the pump is switched may depend upon whether the production rate of the gas is determined to be increasing, decreasing, or steady. | 11-29-2012 |
20120287648 | ONE-PIECE SLOPED CEILING BAFFLE - A one-piece, sloped baffle includes a generally cylindrical central opening having a central axis extending between an open circular end and an open elliptical end. A plane defining the open circular end is perpendicular to the central axis. A plane defining the open elliptical end is at an oblique angle relative to the central axis. The baffle further includes an opening extending between the ends and a pair of opposing edges substantially parallel with the central axis and on opposite sides of the opening. First projections are positioned on opposite sides of the opening and aligned with the opposing edges. Second projections are positioned on opposite sides of the opening at a radial distance from the first projections. The baffle further includes a plurality of grooves that extend circumferentially around an inner surface of the baffle. | 11-15-2012 |
20120287634 | WEATHER PROOF HIGH EFFICIENT LED LIGHT ENGINE - A printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) having a printed circuit board (PCB) with an array of light emitting diodes, multiple optic devices, and an overmold covering parts of the optic devices and the PCB. The optic devices have a stepped flange such that the lowermost step is covered completely by the overmold, thereby mechanically anchoring the optic device to the PCB. The overmold edges include wire covers with corresponding wire channels to retain wires within the channels. When multiple PCBAs are arranged together to form a light fixture, wires can be tucked under the wire covers so that they are protected and concealed. The overmold completely covers the PCB and includes a sealing edge that compresses or deforms when the back of the PCB is secured to a heat sink, creating a watertight and weatherproof seal around the PCB, preventing debris and water ingress into the PCB and optic devices. | 11-15-2012 |
20120212332 | WIRELESS TRANSCEIVER WITHIN AN ELECTRICAL RECEPTACLE SYSTEM - An electrical receptacle assembly having a housing that includes a wireless transceiver electrically coupled to one or more antennas that can be integrated into the receptacle housing itself or in the receptacle's faceplate. The one or more antennas can be one or more dipoles or a single loop antenna. The housing also houses a power converter that derives its power directly from the line connection to the outlet. A junction box includes an integrated antenna reflector for improved radio direction and propagation relative to the antenna(s). Or, an antenna reflector insert is placed within the junction box behind the electrical receptacle assembly. The electrical receptacle assembly further includes a temperature sensor, a PLC module, or a current/voltage sensor and communicates associated data via its wireless transceiver. A status indicator is disposed on the front of the housing. A reset switch on housing resets the electronics to a default state. | 08-23-2012 |
20120176120 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MONITORING CURRENT DRAWN BY A PROTECTED LOAD IN A SELF-POWERED ELECTRONIC PROTECTION DEVICE - A circuit for measuring current drawn by a self-powered electronic protection device. The circuit monitors current in a polyphase alternating current (AC) power source by measuring current in a rectified secondary winding of a current transformer coupled to a phase current of the power source. The measurement circuit includes a measurement burden connected between the cathode of the current transformer rectifier and a switch. Closing the switch references the voltage drop across the measurement burden to a reference potential. A controller closes the switch while receiving measurements of the voltage drop. Because the voltage drop is referenced to a reference potential, it can be analyzed in a controller to detect a fault condition without being conditioned with an inverting amplifier or a difference amplifier. | 07-12-2012 |
20120174961 | ARC FAULT MITIGATION FOR PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS - Systems, methods, and devices are presented for mitigating arc fault events in a photovoltaic system. An aspect of this disclosure is directed to a photovoltaic system for generating electrical power. The photovoltaic system includes one or more solar panels, and one or more shuttering assemblies, each of which is configured to selectively limit the quantity of light received by one or more of the solar panels. One or more sensing devices detect characteristics of an arc fault event in the photovoltaic system, and output signals indicative thereof. A control module is operatively connected to the shuttering assemblies and the sensing devices. The control module is configured to direct the one or more shuttering assemblies to reduce the quantity of light received by at least one of the one or more solar panels in response to the output signals indicating there is an arc fault event in the photovoltaic system. | 07-12-2012 |
20120173026 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR MEASURING ATMOSPHERIC PARAMETERS IN ENCLOSED SPACES - A system and method of measuring atmospheric parameters in an enclosed space using instrumented objects having measurement sensors. The instrumented objects travel through the space randomly or along defined flight paths. As the instrumented objects travel through the space, the measurement sensors measure atmospheric parameters and store the measurements to a memory. The devices periodically upload the measured atmospheric parameters to a controller circuit. By using self-propelled objects to carry measurement sensors, the system and method disclosed herein allow for periodically sampling atmospheric parameters in the interior of an enclosed space at a number of locations greater than the number of measurement devices employed. With data points taken from various locations within a volume of an enclosed space, the system and method can realize a more efficient utilization of energy by adjusting mechanical controls of an HVAC system or a ventilation system, for example. | 07-05-2012 |
20120169507 | ADJUSTABLE OCCUPANCY SENSOR AND METHOD OF ATTACHING AN OCCUPANCY SENSOR TO A LIGHT FIXTURE - An adjustable occupancy sensor capable of being secured to a light fixture includes a housing having a side and a bottom, a sensor assembly attached to the housing at the bottom of the housing, and an adjustable mounting assembly provided on the side of the housing. The adjustable mounting assembly includes a slot defined in the side of the housing and a track having a plurality of segments extending along the length of the track. The track is configured to be releasably secured to the side of the housing within the slot, the plurality of segments being configured to be breakable from the track to adjust a length of the track. The adjustable mounting assembly further includes a connector molded or otherwise secured to the track to connect the housing of the adjustable occupancy sensor to the light fixture. Other embodiments and methods are disclosed herein. | 07-05-2012 |
20120169242 | OCCUPANCY SENSOR WITH MULTI-LEVEL SIGNALING - A lighting control system includes a power pack and an enhanced occupancy sensor configured to implement multi-valued signaling to encode additional information into the occupancy signal it provides on the signal line. The power pack is configured to monitor the signal line to detect and interpret the additional information. In one example, the lighting control system also includes a manual override switch coupled to the signal line and/or to the occupancy sensor. | 07-05-2012 |
20120168292 | PISTON TRIP RESET LEVER - A device for transferring motion from a manual lever to a reset lever of a pressure trip mechanism in a molded case circuit breaker. The pressure trip mechanism is activated when hot gasses are released during an arc event and the resultant increase in pressure forces a piston in the mechanism to expand and thereby activate the breaker. In some interruption events, hot gasses, and occasionally fragments of molten metal, are responsible for marring the plastic piston surface of the pressure trip mechanism and prevent the mechanism from returning to its pre-interruption position even when it is biased to the pre-interruption position with a spring. A configuration disclosed herein provides for linking the motion of the hand-driven manual lever used to reset the breaker to the reset lever connected to the pressure trip mechanism in order to force the pressure trip mechanism to return to its pre-interruption position. | 07-05-2012 |
20120153935 | Systems, Methods, and Devices for Demodulating Induction Motor Instantaneous Rotor Slot Harmonic Frequency - A method and apparatus to dynamically and adaptively demodulate induction motor instantaneous rotor slot harmonic frequency for line-connected squirrel-cage polyphase induction motors. The instantaneous rotor slot harmonic frequency carries essential information on the instantaneous rotor speed. Based on a correlation between the motor's input power and its rotor slot harmonic frequency, a dynamically varying carrier frequency is computed and used in a rotor slot harmonic frequency detector. The rotor slot harmonic frequency detector is based on a superheterodyne principle. It contains a generalized linear-phase low-pass filter, whose bandwidth is estimated dynamically by a filter bandwidth estimator. The rotor slot harmonic frequency detector also includes a latency compensator, which receives the dynamically varying carrier frequency signal and synchronizes it with the output of a frequency demodulator. | 06-21-2012 |
20120151321 | System for Generating Websites for Products with an Embedded Processor - Aspects of the invention generate a website for a product with an embedded processor from a product specification, website template, and webpage definitions. The specification may contain all the properties of the product needed to interact over a network. The page definitions information identifies a subset of the parameters contained in the specification and groups the identified parameters into different webpages, menus and sub-menus. The website may have a common look and feel based on a website template that is applied to different products. Code is generated and inserted in corresponding webpages so that embedded data in can be located and formatted and may be displayed when the website is viewed by a web browser. A website generator may generate the website by creating a HyperText Markup Language file and at least one auxiliary Extensible Markup Language file from which the code may be created. | 06-14-2012 |
20120151017 | Dynamic Host Profiles for Option Modules - Aspects of the invention support different products having a host device and a communications device. The host device may interact with the communications device to exchange messages containing data objects over a fieldbus network for transporting messages containing data objects. Read/write requests to the fieldbus data objects may be answered locally in the communications device, or the fieldbus data object may be mapped to host data when host access is required. The communications device stores a profile image associated with a designated host type, so that the communications device may map the data object to host data for the host device and then exchange the host data with the host device. The communications device may subsequently interact with a different host type if a corresponding profile image is downloaded to the memory device. | 06-14-2012 |
20120140806 | COMPLEX ADAPTIVE PHASE DISCRIMINATOR - A Complex Adaptive Phase Discriminator (PD), as presented in some concepts of the present disclosure, is an adaptive filter that accurately estimates the instantaneous frequency of a dynamic complex signal. The PD can demonstrate accurate instantaneous frequency estimation and rapid convergence in dynamic complex signal environments, even when the frequency of its input may change rapidly. A direct PD architecture can estimate the instantaneous frequency of a complex primary signal, iteratively adapting a phase of a complex exponential by minimizing the mean squared error of a complex error signal. Instantaneous frequency can be directly estimated from the phase of the complex exponential. In contrast, an indirect PD architecture can estimate the instantaneous frequency of a complex primary signal, iteratively adapting a complex coefficient by minimizing the mean squared error of a complex error signal. Instantaneous frequency can be indirectly estimated by extracting the phase of the complex coefficient. | 06-07-2012 |
20120140805 | COMPLEX ADAPTIVE PHASE ESTIMATION - A Complex Adaptive Phase Estimation (PE) filter, as presented in some concepts of the present disclosure, is an adaptive filter that accurately estimates the phase difference between signals. For example, the PE filter can estimate the phase difference between a complex primary signal and a complex incident signal, iteratively adapting the phase of a complex exponential by minimizing the mean squared error of a complex error signal. The PE filter can demonstrate accurate phase estimation and rapid convergence, with low computational complexity and storage requirements. In addition, the PE filter construction can be simplified to support absolute phase estimation of a single complex signal. Efficient complex normalization approximation can be developed to support practical PE filter implementation in computationally restrictive environments, including systems with real-time response constraints, and systems without efficient native or functional support for division or square root operations. | 06-07-2012 |
20120132506 | CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH PLUG ON NEUTRAL CONNECTION LOCK-OUT MECHANISM - A circuit breaker is disclosed that has a neutral lock-out mechanism that prevents electrical connection between a power source and a load when a neutral rail is disconnected from the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a line connector, a load connector and a plug-on neutral line connector. A trip mechanism has an on position allowing electrical connection between the line connector and the load connector. The trip mechanism has a tripped position interrupting electrical connection between the line connector and the load connector in response to detection of a fault condition such as a short circuit. The trip mechanism also has an off position which is required before resetting the trip mechanism to the on position. A trip link is coupled to the trip mechanism. The trip link has a first position that prevents the trip mechanism from being reset to the on position. The trip link has a second position allowing the trip mechanism to be reset to the on position. A neutral lock mechanism is coupled to the plug-on neutral line connector. The neutral lock mechanism has a tension spring that retains the trip link in the first position when the neutral rail is disconnected from the neutral line connector. When the neutral rail is inserted into the neutral line connector, the tension spring is compressed and the trip link may move to the second position allowing the circuit breaker to be reset. | 05-31-2012 |
20120131217 | METHODS OF INTEGRATING MULTIPLE MANAGEMENT DOMAINS - An integrated solution strategy that integrates multiple domains together in a seamless and standardized way for increasing a users control over facilities and equipment. This integrated approach can lead to a reduction of energy usage, more efficient energy usage, increased safety, health, and security of a facility and its occupants, optimized production in industrial settings, and associated and other economic advantages. Accurate, reliable information about a facility or equipment is essential to making timely, informed decisions. Enhanced automation provides a reliable means of collecting and assembling a variety of operating data and archiving that data into a central database for evaluation, reporting, forecasting, and negotiation with resource marketers. | 05-24-2012 |
20120130656 | DATA ALIGNMENT IN LARGE SCALE ELECTRICAL SYSTEM APPLICATIONS - A method for automatically aligning measured power-related data in a power monitoring system to a common reference point. A conductor in a power delivery system is modeled according to an equivalent pi model of a transmission line that is characterized by model parameters. The conductor is monitored on both ends by a reference monitoring device and a second monitoring device. The voltage and current are measured in either the reference monitoring device or the second monitoring device and a phase shift offset between the voltages or currents at the two devices is calculated. The calculated phase shift offset corresponds to a temporal delay between events observed at the pair of devices, and calculating and storing the phase shift offset allows a power monitoring system controller to more accurately align data received from monitoring devices. | 05-24-2012 |
20120125748 | FULLY ENCLOSED ELECTRONIC TRIP UNIT FOR A MOLDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKER - A molded case circuit breaker having a trip unit with one or more integrally formed dielectric protrusions that are configured to slidably interconnect with corresponding dielectric members of the base when the trip unit is secured to the base. The dielectric protrusions extend from dielectric walls located between adjacent enclosure chambers that house the current transformers and are configured to remain in contact with the dielectric members of the base as the trip unit is being moved with respect with the base. By remaining in contact to one another while the trip unit is moved with respect to the base, the dielectric protrusions, along with the dielectric members, maintain a strong dielectric barrier within the exterior spaces between the CT enclosure chambers, thereby preventing debris from traveling between and accumulating on the trip unit and the base. | 05-24-2012 |
20120123762 | Thermal Memory In A Fault Powered System - A circuit breaker system for providing thermal protection to a conductor conducting current from a power source to a load. While the power source is connected to the load, a microcontroller is powered by the current passing through the conductor to thermally model the temperature of the conductor. If the microcontroller determines that the temperature of the conductor has risen to an undesirable or unsafe level, the circuit breaker disconnects the power source from the load and the current no longer passes through the conductor. With no current passing through the conductor, the microcontroller no longer receives power from the conductor. Instead, the microcontroller continues to model the temperature of the conductor as the conductor cools to an ambient temperature by receiving power from an energy storage device. Accordingly, the microcontroller continuously models the temperature of the conductor until the temperature of the conductor cools to the ambient temperature. | 05-17-2012 |
20120123755 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING ROTOR SLOTS - Methods of determining a quantity of rotor slots in an induction motor are disclosed. An approximate slip is calculated according to an approximate slip function. A fundamental frequency is calculated from a representation of the voltage signal. A saliency frequency is calculated from a representation of the current signal. For each rotor slots index in a set of rotor slots indices, a slip estimate is calculated according to a slip estimation function. A slip estimation error signal is calculated. A rotor slots performance surface representative of an aggregate of the slip estimation error signals is calculated. A rotor slots quantity equal to the rotor slots index corresponding to a minimum of the rotor slots performance surface over at least a portion of the set of the rotor slots indices is defined. | 05-17-2012 |
20120120558 | CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH CONTROLLED EXHAUST - A circuit breaker assembly includes a housing, a trip mechanism, a vent channel, and a chamber. The trip mechanism is positioned within the housing can causes a movable contact to separate from a second contact in response to detection by the circuit breaker assembly of an electrical fault. The vent channel is formed in the housing and positioned to exhaust gas and debris produced as the movable contact separates from the second contact during the electrical fault to an aperture in the housing. The chamber has a chamber housing coupled to the housing adjacent the aperture such that the chamber receives the gas and debris exiting the aperture. | 05-17-2012 |
20120119751 | MULTI-POLE ARCING FAULT CIRCUIT BREAKER INCLUDING A NEUTRAL CURRENT SENSOR - A fault detection system is provided for a power distribution system having at least first and second line conductors carrying AC currents that are out of phase with each other from a source to a load, and a common neutral conductor. The system includes an arcing fault current sensor comprising a coil wound on a hollow core and coupled to both of the line conductors in a manner that the electrical currents in the line conductors flow in opposite directions inside the hollow core, thus inducing in the coil an output signal that is a function of the difference of the electrical currents in the line conductors. A neutral current sensor produces an output signal representing the magnitude and phase direction of current in the neutral conductor. An arcing fault detection circuit includes a processor programmed to (1) respond to a change in the first output signal to analyze the second output signal to determine whether the change in the first output signal is attributable at least in part to current in a line-to-line circuit, (2) if the answer is affirmative, determine a scaling factor to be used to adjust the value of the first output signal, and (3) analyze the adjusted first output signal to determine whether an arcing fault has occurred and produce a trip signal in response to the detection of an arcing fault. | 05-17-2012 |
20120118716 | ROTARY INTERLOCK MECHANISM FOR ELECTRICAL SWITCHES - Rotary switch interlock mechanisms and electrical switch assemblies with a rotary switch interlock mechanism are presented herein. An electrical distribution device with at least two electrical switches is disclosed. Each of the electrical switches has a switch actuator that is movable between engaged and disengaged positions. A rotary interlock member is rotatably mounted to the housing of the electrical distribution device adjacent the first and second electrical switches. The rotary interlock member is rotatable 180 degrees between a first orientation, whereat the rotary member allows the switch actuator of the second electrical switch into its engaged position while preventing the switch actuator of the first electrical switch from being moved into its engaged position, and a second orientation, whereat the rotary member allows the first switch actuator to be moved into its engaged position while preventing the second switch actuator from being moved into its engaged position. | 05-17-2012 |
20120118605 | BUSBAR CLAMPING SYSTEMS - Busbar clamping systems and electric power busway systems for distributing electricity are disclosed herein. An aspect of this disclosure is directed to electrical busway systems with improved means for minimizing or eliminating gaps between the busbars, the surge clamps, and the duct housing. In one embodiment, the busway system includes a plurality of electrically conductive busbars. The busbars are stacked one on top of the other to create a busbar stack. The busway system also includes a first duct side in opposing spaced relation to a second duct side. The stack of busbars is disposed between the first and second duct sides. One or more cam fasteners operatively engage the stack top and/or stack bottom. The cam fasteners are configured to apply a selectively variable compressive force to the stack of busbars. | 05-17-2012 |
20120113569 | HEAT DISSIPATION MEANS FOR INCREASING POWER DENSITY IN ENCLOSED EQUIPMENT - A thermally efficient electrical enclosure includes a busbar, a metallic heat sink, and an electrical insulator. The busbar is positioned entirely within the enclosure and electrically insulated from the enclosure. The metallic heat sink is attached to a wall of the enclosure. The electrical insulator physically contacts the busbar and is at least partially wrapped around at least two non-parallel surfaces of a portion of the metallic heat sink such that the metallic heat sink is electrically insulated from the busbar. The metallic heat sink is configured to transfer thermal energy or heat from the busbar to the enclosure such that the thermal energy is lost or transferred to the surrounding environment, which reduces the temperature of the busbar and the amount of copper needed for the busbar without reducing the rating of the enclosure. | 05-10-2012 |
20120110386 | AUTOMATED EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY TEST USING VARIABLE LOAD BANK STAGES - An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109553 | AUTOMATED EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY TEST WITH VARIABLE, PRIORITY-BASED TRANSFER TIMES - An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test. | 05-03-2012 |
20120109552 | AUTOMATED EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY TEST FEATURING USER SELECTION OF LOAD PERCENTAGE OR EXHAUST TEMPERATURE - An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test. | 05-03-2012 |
20120105098 | AUTOMATED EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY TEST USING ENGINE EXHAUST TEMPERATURE - An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test. | 05-03-2012 |
20120105097 | AUTOMATED EMERGENCY POWER SUPPLY SYSTEM (EPSS) TEST REPORTING CRITICALITY OF EPSS TEST FAILURE - An automated emergency power supply system (EPSS) and testing solution that records generator load values and engine exhaust temperature values to evaluate whether an EPSS test satisfies legislated test criteria. The EPSS test is carried out under software control, which initiates a test by instructing an automatic transfer switch (ATS) to change its status to a test status, causing the essential loads to be powered by a generator instead of a main utility power source. Power monitors record the ATS and generator status during the test as well as electrical parameter data from the ATS and generator and exhaust temperature data and other engine parameter data from the generator. When the test is concluded, the ATS is instructed to return the status to normal so that power delivery is resumed from the main power source. The electrical and engine parameter data is analyzed and compared against legislated test criteria to determine a pass/fail result of the EPSS test. | 05-03-2012 |
20120099237 | CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH FAULT INDICATION AND SECONDARY POWER SUPPLY - An electronic circuit breaker includes controllable contacts adapted to connect a power source to at least one load, and a microcontroller for monitoring the flow of power to the load, detecting different types of fault conditions and automatically opening the contacts in response to a fault. A primary power supply of the breaker receives power from the line source when the contacts are closed, and supplies power to the control circuitry. Fault indicators in the microcontroller indicate the type of fault that caused the contacts to open. A secondary power supply provides power to the control circuitry when the contacts are open and a switch is closed. | 04-26-2012 |
20120098477 | METHODS AND DEVICES FOR ESTIMATION OF INDUCTION MOTOR INDUCTANCE PARAMETERS - Methods and devices are presented herein for estimating induction motor inductance parameters based on instantaneous reactive power. The induction motor inductance parameters, e.g., the stator inductance and the total leakage factor, can be estimated from motor nameplate data and instantaneous reactive power without involving speed sensors or electronic injection circuits. In one embodiment, the method includes: measuring voltages and currents; converting the measured voltages and currents into discrete-time voltage and current samples by analog-to-digital converters; synthesizing a complex voltage from the discrete-time voltage samples; synthesizing a complex current from the discrete-time current samples; acquiring and storing motor nameplate data; detecting instantaneous rotor speed by calculating an instantaneous rotor slot harmonic frequency with respect to an instantaneous fundamental frequency; calculating, via an induction motor inductance estimator, the motor's instantaneous reactive power and other intermediate quantities; and outputting the stator inductance and the total leakage factor. | 04-26-2012 |
20120098347 | ELECTRONIC CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH ALTERNATE MODE OF OPERATION USING AUXILIARY POWER SOURCE - An electronic circuit breaker includes controllable mechanical contacts adapted to connect a primary power source to at least one load; and control circuitry for monitoring the flow of power from the primary power source to the load, detecting fault conditions and automatically opening the contacts in response to the detection of a fault condition. A primary power source supplies power to the control circuitry when the contacts are closed, and an auxiliary power source supplies power to the control circuitry when the contacts are open, whether by a trip or by manual opening. | 04-26-2012 |
20120095709 | Method of Estimating Short Circuit Current Available by Analysis of DC Charging Circuit - A system and method of dynamically estimating the short circuit current availability (SCCA) at a node in an alternating current electrical distribution system by examining the spectral composition of current drawn by a direct current charging circuit connected to the node. A correlative relationship between the total harmonic current distortion (THDi) in the current drawn by the charging circuit and the SCCA at the node is established for a particular charging circuit. An estimation of the SCCA at the node is accomplished by taking current measurements of current drawn by the charging circuit, analyzing those current measurements to determine the THDi, and estimating a corresponding value of SCCA based on the determined THDi. A method is also provided for calibrating a particular charging circuit to have a reactance and resistance suitable for use in estimating SCCA. | 04-19-2012 |
20120086286 | CYCLING LOAD CONTROLLER HAVING A LEARN MODE FOR AUTOMATICALLY DETERMINING WHEN THE LOAD IS TURNED ON AND OFF - An electrical device to be used with an electrical load which is repetitively cycled on and off. The device includes a controllable switch for connecting the load to, and disconnecting the load from, the electrical power source; a device for detecting when the load is drawing power, and a memory module connected to the detecting device and with a controller coupled to the controllable switch. The memory module has selectable “learn” and “run” modes of operation. In the “learn” mode of operation the controller is programmed to detect and store the time and date when the load is drawing power, i.e. turned on; determine the average time of day the power was turned on;, and the average time between the turning on and off. During the “run” mode of operation, the module produces control signals for automatically turning the controllable switch on and off, thereby supplying power to the load, according to the schedule learned during the learn mode of operation, or a variant of the learned schedule. | 04-12-2012 |
20120085736 | DUAL BREAKING POINT ELECTRICAL JOINT - Switch assemblies and electrical distribution devices for making and breaking electrical connections in an electrical circuit are disclosed herein. One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a switch assembly that includes a pair of electrically conductive jaws attached to a platform. The first jaw is configured to electrically connect to an incoming line of the electrical circuit, whereas the second jaw is configured to electrically connect to an outgoing line. The switch assembly also includes a blade having at least two electrically conductive plates that are attached to and spaced from each other via an electrical insulator. The blade is pivotably coupled to the platform to rotate between a disengaged position, whereat the blade is electrically decoupled from the first and second jaws, and an engaged position, whereat the blade delivers an electrical current from the incoming line through the first and second plates to the outgoing line. | 04-12-2012 |
20120084554 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR HOSTING ENCRYPTED MONITORING DATA - A monitoring system includes at least one monitoring devices coupled to the electrical power distribution system at selected locations for collecting data related to the operation of the monitored system. The monitoring device(s) includes a communication port and processors programmed to segment the collected data into blocks optimized for user analysis operations, encrypt the segmented blocks of data, bundle the encrypted blocks of data with unencrypted metadata that identifies the data blocks by at least the monitoring location at which the encrypted blocks of data were obtained and the type of data, and transmit the encrypted blocks of data with the unencrypted metadata. The system includes at least one client device that has a communication port that is coupled to the monitoring device(s) and the client device and that has a processor programmed to generate and transmit queries regarding selected ones of the encrypted blocks of data. A monitoring service is coupled to the monitoring device(s) and includes a processor programmed to receive and store the encrypted blocks of data with the unencrypted metadata from the monitoring device(s), process the unencrypted metadata, and retrieve and transmit the selected ones of the encrypted blocks of data in response to the queries from the client device. | 04-05-2012 |
20120084431 | PROFILING OF COMPOSITE PHYSICAL DEVICES FOR MONITORING/CONTROL SYSTEMS - A system and methods for creating a logical profile for physical devices in a system to interface with a monitoring system is disclosed. A profile identity is selected. A plurality of physical devices from the system is selected. The physical devices such as a meter or a circuit breaker include an output or an input. An input or output is classified for at least one of the plurality of selected physical devices as a tag. The plurality of selected physical devices are represented to the monitoring system by the profile identity and the at least one tag of the selected physical devices. | 04-05-2012 |
20120084324 | POWER MONITORING DEVICE SIMULATION USING A DATABASE PROFILE GENERATED FROM REAL TIME-VALUE DATA - A system and methods for using data from an external database compiled from real device used for testing and simulation of a system. The system includes an external database interface to access an external database. The external database includes a plurality of categories of time-value data collected from an electrical device. An importer converts one of plurality of categories of time-value data to a corresponding topic of a common data format. A device profiler is coupled to the importer to create a device profile including the converted topic. A database profiler creates a database profile representing a system including a device defined by the device profile and including the category of time-value data. | 04-05-2012 |
20120084035 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR FREQUENCY MEASUREMENT BASED ON QUADRATIC FORMS - A system and methods for determining points for an algorithm to calculate the frequency of a waveform measured from a monitoring device. Data points are measured from the waveform. A last point of interest from the previous cycle of the waveform is referenced. Four points of interest at equally spaced phase angles from the current cycle of the waveform are determined by calculating the average of the data points around each of the respective equally spaced phase angles of the current cycle of the waveform. The average value of the points of interest in the current cycle is subtracted from the four points of interest and the last point of interest from the previous cycle to compensate for DC bias. A frequency of the waveform is determined based on the determined four points of interest of the current cycle and the last point of interest from the previous cycle. The correction factor for determining sample frequency may be reduced for subsequent cycles in order to increase stability. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081153 | QUANTIZING SAMPLED INPUTS USING FIXED FREQUENCY ANALOG TO DIGITAL CONVERSIONS THROUGH INTERPOLATION - A system and methods for synchronizing quantized sampled data in a monitoring device. A variable frequency output signal is coupled to an analog to digital converter. A fixed frequency clock is coupled to the analog to digital converter. The analog to digital converter samples the output signal at a fixed frequency to produce high speed samples. A group of initial high speed samples is stored from the analog to digital converter over a fixed window of time. The group of initial high speed samples is interpolated to produce a group of fewer low speed samples from the initial group of high speed samples over the fixed window of time. The group of low speed samples is stored as a representation of the variable frequency output signal. | 04-05-2012 |
20120081104 | METHOD FOR MEASUREMENT OF TOTAL HARMONIC DISTORTION - A method of measuring the total harmonic distortion in an electrical distribution system. The distribution system is sampled regularly to generate a set of data. The data is filtered using a narrow band filtering algorithm to measure the energy in fundamental and other harmonic frequencies. Due to the filtering, the energy in harmonic frequencies can be measured without interference from broadband noise, which provides an improvement in the measurement of total harmonic distortion at low current or voltage levels. A method is provided to sum the energy in identified frequencies in a multi-pass configuration, such that only a subset of all monitored frequencies are filtered and summed in each pass, with the balance being filtered and measured in subsequent passes. After all subsets are measured, the total harmonic distortion is calculated. | 04-05-2012 |
20120079096 | NETWORKED DEVICES FOR MONITORING UTILITY USAGE AND METHODS OF USING THE SAME - Systems, methods, and devices are presented herein for monitoring usage of at least one utility by a utility consuming system. One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method of managing information in a utility monitoring system that includes a host computer and an array of monitoring devices operatively coupled together on a peer-to-peer network. The array of monitoring devices includes first and second monitoring devices each with a respective memory. The first and second monitoring devices are configured to receive and transmit data. The method includes: storing data received by the first monitoring device in the first memory; storing data received by the second monitoring device in the second memory; responsive to the first memory being below a threshold storage capacity, transferring data received by the second monitoring device to the first monitoring device; and storing the transferred data in the first memory. | 03-29-2012 |
20120078944 | CALCULATION ENGINE AND CALCULATION PROVIDERS - A method of acquiring data and performing calculations on the data using a provider service. A provider ticket service (PTS) receives tickets from one or more clients. Each ticket includes a calculation identifier and a payload. The calculation identifier identifies a calculation to be performed using information in the payload. The PTS associates a unique ticket identifier with each ticket. A ticket manager submits a selected ticket from the PTS to a provider host service (PHS), which determines which provider is to perform the calculation identified by the selected ticket by inspecting provider identification information in the selected ticket. The PHS launches a provider host thread (PHT) that invokes the provider determined to perform the calculation identified by the calculation identifier of the selected ticket. The provider performs the calculation and returns its result to the PHS, which passes the result back to the PTS, which returns the result to the requesting client. | 03-29-2012 |
20120075827 | RESISTOR SHIELD TO MINIMIZE CROSSTALK AND POWER SUPPLY INTERFERENCE - A shield that protects high-value input resistors in a power meter against unwanted effects due to electromagnetic interference from a nearby power supply and/or due to crosstalk from adjacent phases. The shield includes multiple printed circuit board shields that are arranged between each of the input resistors on a main printed circuit board in the power meter. Each PCB shield has a conductive layer that provides the shielding against unwanted energy. The resistors are arranged in a diagonal or parallel manner between each pair of PCB shields to prevent the resistor from movement, which prevents pin fatigue and fixes the value of the parasitic capacitance that is produced in the resistor-PCB-shield combination. In another configuration, the PCB shield is made of a flexible material, and snakes between and over the top or around the side ends of each resistor in a serpentine fashion, protecting the resistors from unwanted energies from both the top and the sides. The PCB shields disclosed herein eliminate variations in the percent error of the measurement phases, which contributes to achieving a highly accurate meter with an overall accuracy of less than 0.1%. | 03-29-2012 |
20120072140 | Systems, methods, and devices for analyzing utility usage with load duration curves - Systems, methods, and devices for regulating usage of at least one utility by a utility consuming system. One aspect of the present disclosure is directed to a method for regulating usage of at least one utility by a utility consuming system having a plurality of utility consuming segments. The method includes: generating a load duration curve (LDC); selecting a portion of the LDC to be analyzed; generating an associated duration chart (ADC) that is indicative of one or more associated duration parameters relating to the selected portion of the LDC; and modifying usage of the utility by at least one of the utility consuming segments based, at least in part, upon the one or more associated duration parameters indicated in the first ADC. | 03-22-2012 |
20120062211 | COMPACT ELECTRICAL POWER METER - An electrical power meter for monitoring electrical power supplied to a load comprises a meter case, a plurality of current transformers within the meter case for sensing the electrical current in a plurality of line conductors of a power distribution system, and a plurality of pairs of terminals on the meter case for connecting the meter to the line conductors. The terminals of each pair are located on opposite sides of one of the current transformers, and a current transformer bus bar connects the two terminals and extends through one of the current transformers. A plurality of guides adjacent selected pairs of the terminals position lugs connecting line conductors to the selected pairs of terminals. | 03-15-2012 |
20120055765 | PORTABLE REMOTE RACKING DEVICE FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER - A portable, remote racking device that is controlled by a remote control. The remote racking device includes a drive that fits into a corresponding crank access hole formed in a front panel of a cradle housing a circuit breaker installed into a switchgear. The drive turns a mechanism inside the cradle that causes the circuit breaker to be racked into or out of the switchgear. The remote racking device includes an actuator pin that abuts a corresponding button arm protruding through the front panel. The remote control includes a control for depressing the button arm and another control for causing a motor to rotate the drive. The actuator pin detects when the button arm pops out of the panel, and a circuit in the remote racking device briefly reverses the motor to bring it and the circuit breaker to a sudden stop, preventing the mechanical linkages of the mechanism from locking-up or becoming damaged and avoiding over-torquing the motor. | 03-08-2012 |
20120043988 | SOLAR COMBINER WITH INTEGRATED STRING CURRENT MONITORING - A combiner that calculates energy produced by each panel feed during the daytime, and calculates a resistance value needed to calculate the energy by injecting a known current into each panel feed at nighttime and measuring the resulting voltage across a resistive element in each panel feed. A voltage tap across the protection device in each panel feed allows logic and control circuitry to measure the voltage across each protection device. At nighttime, a known current is injected into each panel feed and the voltage across each protection device is measured. Plugging the current and voltage into Ohm's Law, a resistance of each protection device is calculated, then that resistance value is used during the daytime to calculate energy produced by each string in real time and to monitor each string's performance. When an individual string's performance wanes, an alarm is indicated to help the operator troubleshoot which individual panel(s) within the string is responsible for that string's underperformance. | 02-23-2012 |
20120008245 | SECONDARY THERMAL SENSOR FOR PRIMARY CONDUCTORS - A thermal sensing system for providing thermal protection to an electronic circuit breaker that does not require any additional components. The layout of the conductive traces on the printed circuit board are dimensioned and configured so that the ratio of primary current to primary conductor thermal mass heating is correlated with the ratio of secondary current to secondary thermal mass heating. A voltage at a semiconductor junction in the rectifier behind the secondary transformer is measured, and a temperature or heat is calculated based on the voltage. Because this temperature or heat calculation is correlated with the temperature or heat of the primary conductor, a trip routine can be added based on the measured voltage for thermal protection of the primary conductors. A thermal history of the ‘primary thermal mass’ is also provided for robust thermal protection of the circuit breaker load and primary conductors. | 01-12-2012 |
20120000753 | QUAD BREAK MODULAR CIRCUIT BREAKER INTERRUPTER - An interrupter includes at least four pairs of contacts. Each pair of contacts includes a stationary contact positioned to abut a corresponding moveable contact. The moveable contacts are coupled to a rotating member. The rotating member is coupled to a driving member via a biasing member. The driving member is rotated causing all four pairs of contacts to separate and open a circuit quickly. | 01-05-2012 |
20110315662 | ARCING FAULT AND ARC FLASH PROTECTION SYSTEM HAVING A HIGH-SPEED SWITCH - A high-speed arc terminator for an electrical power distribution system includes a sealed, evacuated housing, and a controllable mechanical switch having first and second electrically conductive contacts enclosed within the housing and adapted to be coupled to the power distribution system outside the housing. A trigger conductor extends into the housing and has an exposed end near the gap between the contacts when the contacts are in the open position. At least one of the contacts is movable between an open position in which the contacts are separated by a gap, and a closed position in which the contacts engage each other, and an operating mechanism is provided for moving the at least one contact between the open and closed positions. A high voltage source is controllably coupled to the trigger conductor for supplying a high-voltage pulse to the trigger conductor in response to the detection of an arcing fault. The high-voltage pulse produces an arc within the gap between the contacts, to shunt fault current from the power distribution system across the gap, from one of the contacts to the other, before the contacts engage each other. | 12-29-2011 |
20110307589 | DEVICE COMMISSIONING AND REPLACEMENT - Systems and methods for associating commissioning files with components in a networked environment are provided. In one embodiment, a unique network identifier of a system component, such as a MAC address, and a network address, such as an IPv4 address may stored in an association file to link components on a network layout map to specific commissioning files. The network address may have a lease configured to infinity or to a power cycle of a component on the network. Further aspects relate to detecting if a system component has been replaced with another component. The detection may determine whether the new component has a unique network identifier not located in a association file. A user input may indicate whether the component is new or a replacement. If the new component is a replacement for another component, the unique network identifier of the first system component may be received and recorded. | 12-15-2011 |
20110304958 | HIGH DENSITY POWER/LIGHTING PANELBOARD - A panelboard supplies electricity to multiple loads, such as lighting fixtures and/or other electrical devices via one or more high-amperage circuit breakers and one or more low-amperage circuit breakers. The panelboard includes one or more vertical busbars and one or more horizontal busbars coupled together in a single housing. The one or more horizontal busbars are coupled to a main input breaker that receives electricity from a source. The main input breaker distributes the electricity to the horizontal busbars. The horizontal busbars distribute the electricity to the high-amperage circuit breakers coupled thereto and to the vertical busbars. The vertical busbars distribute the electricity to the low-amperage circuit breakers coupled thereto. | 12-15-2011 |
20110299203 | CLAMPING CONTROL CIRCUIT FOR HYBRID SURGE PROTECTION DEVICES - A hybrid surge protection device (SPD) having a clamping voltage that is controlled by precisely limiting the overshoot voltage of a gas discharge tube (GDT) in a hybrid suppression network. The suppression network is conventionally connected between a protected line carrying current from a power source to a load and a return connection. The network includes a main surge suppression varistor (VR | 12-08-2011 |
20110286134 | EARTH LEAKAGE DETECTION MODULE WITH ROBUST TRANSIENT SUPPRESSION - A module for a high voltage electronic circuit breaker that includes a power supply and related circuitry for suppressing high voltage transients. The power supply receives a range of voltages, such as up to 600V, and is powered from the line current instead of through a transformer, exposing the module electronics to potential voltage transients. A large capacitor is connected to the high voltage input for absorbing the energy of a voltage transient. Transient voltage suppressors are connected in parallel to the capacitor to absorb any further energy in the transient not absorbed by the capacitor. Inductors are series-connected with the high voltage input to present an impedance and inductance to the voltage transient, reducing the transient before it reaches the power supply. Inductors in the trip coil and the indicator coils also present an impedance and inductance to the transient, further enhancing protection against transients. Fuses connected in line with the high voltage input protect the module electronics against short circuits. | 11-24-2011 |
20110226594 | Wire Binding Screw For A Circuit Breaker - A headless wire binding screw for use in a circuit breaker contains a slotted drive in combination with a Robertson drive. The slotted drive is for use with a slotted-type driver (such as a slotted screwdriver) and the Robertson drive is for use with a Robertson-type driver (such as a Robertson screwdriver). The screw has a body with a diameter of constant size along the entire length of the body. The screw also has an external thread that is formed along the entire length of the body. | 09-22-2011 |
20110222211 | CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH IMPROVED TIE-DOWN ACCESSORY - Electrical circuit breakers in an electrical panelboard are equipped with tie-down devices to secure the circuit breakers to the panelboard. Each circuit breaker includes a standard housing or case having a raised portion that forms a pair of end walls and a slot at the base of each of the end walls. The panelboard includes mounts for attaching the tie-down devices to the panelboard. Each tie-down device includes (1) a breaker-attachment portion adapted to be mounted on the circuit breaker housing around the raised portion and having a pair of mounting hooks adapted to fit into the slots for attaching the tie-down device to the circuit breaker housing, and (2) a panelboard attachment portion extending beyond the circuit breaker housing for attachment to the panelboard mount. | 09-15-2011 |
20110216480 | CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIP UNIT SUPPORT - A support for anchoring a trip unit of a circuit breaker to a base thereof to prevent separation of the trip unit from the base during a short circuit fault. The support has top-facing two locking tabs that snap into place behind a wall in a lug-receiving area of the base. The support also has an opening through which a terminal of the trip unit is received snugly. The locking tabs keep the support in place and prevent forces produced by gasses during a fault from forcing the trip unit away from the base. The terminal, attached to the trip unit, is retained by the opening, which transfers upward forces to the top of the support, which is positioned against a top section of the base. The snug fit by the terminal through the opening and retention of the support in the lug-receiving area during a fault increases post-fault dielectric performance. | 09-08-2011 |
20110214968 | OUTSIDE THE DOOR RACKING AND INTERLOCK - An assembly that prevents a circuit breaker from being racked into and out of a switchgear compartment unless the compartment door is closed completely. A coupling member protrudes through the door and has an exposed hexagonal-shaped end to receive a socket of a racking tool. When the door is closed, a recess of the coupling member receives a drive shaft that has a drive pin through it. The drive pin slides into a slot formed in the recess of the coupling member such that when the racking tool cranks the coupling member, the coupling member in turn cranks the drive shaft as the drive pin engages the slot in the coupling member. However, when the door is open, the coupling member is separated from the drive pin so rotating the coupling member does not turn the drive shaft. An optional padlock and deadbolt assembly provides added security against unauthorized access to the tool-receiving end of the coupling member. | 09-08-2011 |
20110209136 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR UPGRADING LIGHTING CONTROLLERS - A lighting system controller is provided that is adapted to upgrade a lighting controller with a software component having multiple upgrade dependencies. According to one example, the lighting system controller is configured to generate an upgrade plan based on the current configuration of the lighting controller and the upgrade dependencies associated with the software component. Further, according to this example, the lightings system controller executes the upgrade plan to install the software upon with the software component is dependent prior to installing the software component. | 08-25-2011 |
20110204824 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REMOTE CONFIGURATION OF COMMON OBJECTS ACROSS LIGHTING CONTROLLERS - A lighting system controller is provided that is adapted to configure a plurality of lighting controllers using a set of common configuration information referred to as a template. According to one example, the lighting system controller is configured to maintain a set of templates and to track associations between templates and elements of a lighting control system that are managed by the lighting system controller. Examples of managed elements include lighting controllers and configurable objects resident within the lighting controllers. | 08-25-2011 |
20110184576 | ROBUST AUTOMATED HIERARCHICAL DETERMINATION FOR POWER MONITORING SYSTEMS - An automated hierarchy classification algorithm that searches for a child monitoring device's parent in a utility monitoring system by segmenting the device data measured by a given device pair and calculating a segment correlation coefficient for each data segment. Devices to be placed in the hierarchy are filtered by calculating the variance of their device data and eliminating devices with a low variance. Devices are ranked by computing the sum of squares of their device data and ordering the devices accordingly from highest to lowest. The device data is segmented and segment correlation coefficients are averaged to produce an overall correlation coefficient. Criteria are evaluated to determine whether a device pair is linked. A correlation coefficient is calculated using the complete data series of a device pair, and the solution produced by this approach is compared with the solution produced by segmenting the device data. If the solutions disagree, a likely candidate is determined from a fuzzy logic module. | 07-28-2011 |
20110161951 | INFORMATION BRIDGE BETWEEN MANUFACTURER SERVER AND MONITORING DEVICE ON A CUSTOMER NETWORK - According to one aspect, a monitoring device is in communication with a computer over a first network. The computer is further in communication with a server over a second network. The computer includes a memory. A method for providing device information from the monitoring device to the server includes accessing a device web page stored on the monitoring device using a browser application operating on the computer. The monitoring device measures a utility characteristic and stores data indicative of the utility characteristic on a memory of the monitoring device. The method further includes receiving a file from the monitoring device. The file includes the device information. The device information includes at least device model information that identifies a model or type of the monitoring device. The method still further includes storing the file in the memory of the computer, accessing a server web page stored on the server using the browser application operating on the computer, and transmitting the file to the server. | 06-30-2011 |
20110161538 | Method and System for Implementing Redundant Network Interface Modules in a Distributed I/O System - A method and system is disclosed for implementing redundant master NIMs ( | 06-30-2011 |
20110161468 | METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CASCADING PEER-TO-PEER CONFIGURATION OF LARGE SYSTEMS OF IEDS - A method and system of efficiently distributing configuration information for IEDs across one or more networks in an electrical monitoring system is disclosed. Changing configuration information is managed by a configuration management system. The IEDs in the network or networks are organized in peer relationships, each peer relationship having at least one seed IED. The configuration information is loaded to the seed IED or seed IEDs which make the configuration parameter available to other IEDs in a peer relationship with the seed IED. The other IEDs may in turn become seed IEDs for other IEDs. The configuration information therefore cascades throughout the network without further communication between the configuration management system and the selected IEDs. | 06-30-2011 |
20110161402 | Power Monitoring System With Proxy Server For Processing And Transforming Messages And Context-Specific Caching - An electrical power monitoring system is provided with a proxy server between at least one monitoring device and at least one client device for processing and transforming messages and context-specific caching. The electrical power monitoring system includes at least one monitoring device coupled to an electrical power distribution system for sensing and storing data representing operating characteristics of the power distribution system. At least one client device is coupled to the monitoring device for requesting data from the monitoring device and processing, storing and presenting data received from the monitoring device, and a communications network is coupled to the monitoring and client devices. The proxy server is coupled to the communications network for receiving messages from the client device as a virtual device, processing the messages, and altering the messages before communicating the messages to the monitoring device to which the messages from the client devices are directed, or deferring communication of at least portions of the messages to the actual monitoring device to which the requests are directed until a later time. | 06-30-2011 |
20110161021 | DYNAMIC LOAD ESTIMATION OF MULTIPLE BRANCH CIRCUITS - Systems and methods of branch circuit load estimation are disclosed. A total power usage of a main line of an electrical distribution panel that includes a plurality of branch circuits with at least two of the plurality of branch circuits coupled to the main line can be determined. A first power usage of the main line is determined with a first of the two branch circuits decoupled from the main line, and a first time period that the first branch circuits is coupled with the main line is identified. A kilowatt-hour energy usage value of the first branch circuit is estimated based on the first time period and a differential between the total power usage and the first power usage. | 06-30-2011 |
20110160913 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR DISPLAYING ENERGY SAVINGS FROM AN HVAC SYSTEM - A method and system of determining and displaying energy savings from an HVAC system operating in an energy saving mode. The HVAC system is operated to maintain a comfort mode temperature during a learning period. The energy consumed by the HVAC system at multiple outside ambient conditions during the learning period is determined. The correlation between a specific ambient condition and energy consumed by the HVAC system is determined. The HVAC system is run to maintain an energy saving setpoint temperature. The energy consumed by the HVAC system is determined at an ambient condition while maintaining the energy saving setpoint temperature. The energy savings are calculated as a function of the difference between the energy that would have been consumed by the HVAC system at the ambient condition based on the determined correlation and the energy consumed by the HVAC system while maintaining the energy saving setpoint temperature at the ambient condition | 06-30-2011 |
20110158244 | INTELLIGENT ETHERNET GATEWAY SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR OPTIMIZING SERIAL COMMUNICATION NETWORKS - Systems, devices, and computer readable media for optimizing serial communication networks provide an intelligent network gateway through which network data flows. Systems and devices monitor network requests for data packets supplied by slave computing devices, examine the supplied data packets, and copy the supplied data packets to a memory device. The supplied data packets are delivered to a first requesting network device and when an additional network request for the data packets is made by a second requesting network device the data packets are delivered from the memory device to the second requester in response to the additional network request without interrupting the slave computing device to redundantly supply the data packet. Polling by multiple requester devices for redundant data from slave computing devices is avoided. Communication response times are improved, data caching is provided for devices that have no logging memory, and optimum communication settings can be automatically determined. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156847 | OVERLOAD RELAY TRIP MECHANISM - An overload relay trip mechanism includes a housing, a reset button, a leaf spring, a test button, a coil spring, and an actuator. The reset button can be actuated from a normal position to a reset position to cause the leaf spring to transition from a first position to a second position, which causes a reset actuator-engaging element to move the actuator from a tripped position to a closed position. The test button can be actuated from a normal position to a test-stop position to cause a first test actuator-engaging element to move a moveable contact from an electrically connected position to an electrically disconnected position. The test button can further be moved from the test-stop position to the test-trip position to cause a second test actuator-engaging element to move the actuator from the closed position to the tripped position. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156697 | COMPACT, TWO STAGE, ZERO FLUX ELECTRONICALLY COMPENSATED CURRENT OR VOLTAGE TRANSDUCER EMPLOYING DUAL MAGNETIC CORES HAVING SUBSTANTIALLY DISSIMILAR MAGNETIC CHARACTERISTICS - A device for sensing electrical current or voltage in an electrical distribution system using an actively compensated current ratio transformer that includes a first magnetic core having a first permeability and a second magnetic core having a second permeability higher than the first permeability. A primary winding having P turns is coupled with the first and second magnetic cores, a measurement winding having M turns is coupled with the first and second magnetic cores so that current in the primary winding induces current in the measurement winding, and a sense winding having S turns is coupled with the second magnetic core. An amplifier coupled to the sense winding receives a voltage developed across the sense winding and produces a compensation current in response to the received voltage. The amplifier has an output coupled to the sense winding to feed the compensation current through the sense winding to reduce the voltage developed across the sense winding voltage to substantially zero. A burden resistor is coupled to the measurement winding and the sense winding for receiving the sum of the current induced in the measurement winding and the compensation current. | 06-30-2011 |
20110156658 | Active Communications Bus Power Harvester For Differential Signal Communication System - A balanced differential signal communication system having at least two data lines connecting multiple nodes in series, each node comprising a signal generator for applying signals to the data lines that produce a controllable differential voltage across the data lines; a rechargeable storage device for receiving electrical energy from the data lines to charge the storage device; at least one device coupled to the storage device for receiving electrical energy from the storage device; and a controllable converter coupling the data lines to the storage device for controlling the charging and discharging of the storage device with power captured from the data lines. | 06-30-2011 |
20110155698 | REMOTE DRIVE FOR DISCONNECTOR/ISOLATOR USED IN SWITCHGEAR - A remotely controlled, motorized drive system for a disconnector used in switchgear. An operator pushes a button on a remote control, which signals a receiver in the disconnector to engage a motor that is coupled to a drive shaft. The drive shaft causes movable contacts of the disconnector to be moved into engagement or out of engagement with sets of fixed contacts in the switchgear that are connected to the line supply and to the circuit breaker that is bolted into the switchgear. One set of contacts is electrically coupled to the line supply, which can carry up to three phases of current. Another set of contacts is connected to corresponding terminals of the circuit breaker. A second motor controls movement of a grounding bar that grounds the circuit breaker to earth. Indicator lights on the switchgear panel indicate the position of the disconnector for visual confirmation of the same. | 06-30-2011 |
20110149483 | PANELBOARD HAVING A PARALLEL FEEDER BARS DISTRIBUTION - A load center includes a pair of generally parallel busbars for distributing a single phase of electricity to circuit breakers through a multitude of stabs that form respective bridges between the pair of busbars to provide respective bidirectional paths for dissipating heat from each of the stabs to both of the busbars and to provide a connection point for a pair of circuit breakers installed into the load center. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148883 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR COMPUTATION AND DISPLAY OF EQUIPMENT OPERATIONAL DATA - A method and system for displaying a characteristic of power associated with a first piece of electrical equipment that has an on-state and an off-state. A measurement of current consumed or produced by the first piece of electrical equipment in the on-state is received. Data derived from the current measured and associated times when the first piece of electrical equipment is in the on-state are stored on a memory device. A characteristic of power is calculated as a function of the data. A graphical representation of the first data as a multi-dimensional shape on a graph having a first axis with time increments and a second axis with increments representing units of the characteristic of power is displayed on a video display. The multi-dimensional shape includes a first dimension representing a duration of the on-state and a second dimension representing the characteristic of power consumed or produced by at least the first piece of electrical equipment during the time period associated with the duration of the on-state. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148309 | OCCUPANCY SENSOR WITH EMBEDDED SIGNALING CAPABILITY - A lighting control system includes an enhanced occupancy sensor and/or an enhanced power pack, allowing for more sophisticated and/or accurate lighting control and energy management capability. In one example, the occupancy sensor provides additional information, such as information about movement detected in the monitored area, in the form of a signal superimposed on the occupancy signal, and a specialty power pack is configured to detect and respond to the superimposed information signal, thereby providing enhanced functionality to the lighting control system. The superimposed signal conveying the additional information is made high-speed/short-duration such that it is “invisible” to a conventional power pack and the occupancy sensor remains compatible with conventional power packs. The enhanced occupancy sensor may therefore be used seamlessly with both conventional and specialty power packs, and may be implemented as a “drop-in” component for legacy lighting control systems. | 06-23-2011 |
20110148193 | NETWORKED OCCUPANCY SENSOR AND POWER PACK - A lighting control system includes an enhanced occupancy sensor and/or an enhanced power pack, allowing for more sophisticated and/or accurate lighting control and energy management capability. In one example, the power pack and/or occupancy sensor is networkable, providing the capability to link and coordinate multiple power pack/occupancy sensor combinations, thereby providing zone-wide control and energy management features, such as, coordinated lighting of several areas, the ability to force lights on in a life-safety situation, and the ability to control other equipment in a monitored area (e.g., an air conditioning and/or heating system) responsive to detected occupancy in the area. The networkable power pack includes installation and wiring to an occupancy sensor that is substantially identical to a conventional power pack and therefore may be implemented as a “drop-in” component in a legacy lighting control system, without requiring changes to the occupancy sensors or wiring of the system. | 06-23-2011 |
20110147178 | Electronic Miniature Circuit Breaker With Trip Indication Using The Breaker Tripping Function As The Feedback Mechanism - A method for identifying a type of fault condition in a circuit breaker includes monitoring a branch circuit for a fault condition. In response to detecting the fault condition, interrupting current flow through the branch circuit. The type of fault condition is stored in a memory device from which it is retrieved in response to receiving a control signal. The type of fault condition is indicated based on the mechanical position of a circuit breaker handle as a function of time. | 06-23-2011 |
20110147173 | WIRELESS REMOTE RACKING MECHANISM - A motorized racking mechanism for racking a circuit breaker into and out of switchgear/board equipment allows for breaker service without operator proximity to the switchgear. A motor fixed to a cradle that receives a circuit breaker is coupled to a power transmission system that turns a control screw. The control screw laterally moves a crown-wheel device that causes the circuit breaker to be moved among a remove, test, and connected positions in response to a button arm being depressed via a front panel of the cradle. The button arm can be depressed under wireless remote control. A solenoid is coupled to a crank detent actuator that includes the button arm, and a wireless module actuates the solenoid, which moves the button arm, causing the motorized movement of the circuit breaker as if the button arm had been manually depressed. Indicator lights are visible on the front panel to indicate the position of the circuit breaker relative to the cradle. | 06-23-2011 |
20110098952 | HIGH DENSITY METERING SYSTEM - A method of monitoring the electrical power in multiple branch circuits of an AC electrical power distribution system comprises monitoring at least one voltage common to said multiple branch circuits using a main meter unit, monitoring currents of the multiple branch circuits using multiple current cards that receive a plurality of current inputs from current transducers in the multiple branch circuits, sampling the monitored voltage in the main meter unit and the monitored currents in the current cards multiple times in each cycle of the AC power signal, determining the magnitudes and angles of spectral components of the sampled current in the current cards, sending data representing the magnitudes and angles of at least selected spectral components from the current cards to the main meter unit, and storing the voltage samples and the magnitudes and angles of at least the selected spectral components in the main meter unit. | 04-28-2011 |
20110042191 | CIRCUIT BREAKER COVER ATTACHMENT - A circuit breaker includes a base holding an ampoule assembly, a mechanical cover that fits on the base, and a trim cover which fits on the mechanical cover. The circuit breaker can include cover supports positioned between the ampoule assembly and the base. The cover support includes a coupling member that fits within receiving apertures of the mechanical cover and has a threaded through-channel which aligns with apertures of the trim cover. Screws inserted through the trim cover are received in the through-channel to secure the trim cover, the mechanical cover and the base together. The mechanical cover and the base can have interlocking mechanisms which snap-fit together to further support coupling of the cover and base. The circuit breaker can incorporate a retainer clip which engages an ampoule pin, wherein the clip mounts to the mechanical cover to further support holding of the cover and base together. | 02-24-2011 |
20100309018 | ULTRASONIC TRANSDUCER FOR A PROXIMITY SENSOR - An ultrasonic transducer assembly for use in sensing the location of objects in proximity to the transducer. The ultrasonic transducer assembly includes a piezoceramic resonator plate and a coupler. The resonator plate is supported to the coupler in cantilever relation. The coupler extends transverse to the resonator plate for acoustically coupling the resonator plate to a medium in contact with the coupler. | 12-09-2010 |
20100306151 | IN HIERARCHY DETERMINATION FOR POWER MONITORING SYSTEMS - A method of automatically learning how multiple devices are directly or indirectly linked in a monitoring system, comprises determining configuration parameters for the multiple devices in said system, receiving data measured by the devices, and grouping the devices into multiple segments according to at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of configuration parameters and data measured by said devices. Potential relationships of the devices in each segment are determined according to at least one type of information selected from the group consisting of configuration parameters and data measured by the devices, the hierarchies of the devices within individual segments are determined, and the hierarchies of the top-most device or devices in the segments are determined. | 12-02-2010 |
20100188176 | DIVIDED ADJUSTABLE ARMATURE FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER - A divided armature for the trip mechanism of a circuit breaker especially useful for low trip current breakers allows for two independent adjustments: first of the magnetic air gap between the yoke and the armature and second of the clearance between the trip bar and the back plate of the armature. The divided armature allows the force of a return spring of the trip mechanism to be unchanged while adjusting the magnetic air gap to set the trip current point. | 07-29-2010 |