Square D Company Patent applications |
Patent application number | Title | Published |
20110144807 | POWER MONITOR FOR VAPOR COMPRESSION EQUIPMENT DIAGNOSTICS - A method of automatically detecting an anomalous condition relative to a nominal operating condition in a vapor compression system. An expected input power function in the form of a hyperplane is calculated based on three temperature readings: an intake temperature from an intake area of the condenser unit, a return temperature from an intake area of an evaporator unit, and a supply temperature from a supply output area of the evaporator unit. The function produces an estimate of the expected input power consumed by the compressor unit, and this expected input power is compared with an actual input power measured from the compressor unit. If the expected input power deviates from the measured input power by more than a predetermined tolerance, an indication is stored and communicated that an anomalous condition, such as a refrigerant loss, condenser unit fouling, or a malfunctioning fan, exists in the vapor compression system. | 06-16-2011 |
20110138263 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC CONFIGURATION OF LIGHTING CONTROLLERS - A lighting system controller is provided that is configured to automatically synchronize a lighting controller with a centralized configuration. In a particular example, this automatic synchronization activity may include modifying the configuration of the lighting controller to match configuration information stored locally on the lighting system controller. Conversely, this automatic synchronization activity may include modifying the locally stored configuration information to match the current configuration of the lighting controller. In some examples, the lighting system controller is configured to use cyclic redundancy checks when determining whether to modify configuration information. | 06-09-2011 |
20110136362 | JOINT-PACK INTEGRATED SPACERS - A joint pack includes one or more phase members that utilize integrated standoff spacers that protrude and come into contact with opposing conductor plates to maintain a phase space between the phase members. The spacers are located along the insulating plates of the phase members away from the phase member's axial sleeves and protrude through apertures in the conductor plates disposed on the phase members, in which the standoff spacers also provide a barrier that prevents phase-conductors from being inserted too far within the phase space. The phase members include axial sleeves that fit within one another during assembly to form a nesting arrangement, thereby reducing the overall size of the joint pack while satisfying standards. The axial sleeves can be distinctively designed such that the phase members must be assembled in a predetermined order, with no components being omitted, to form the joint pack. | 06-09-2011 |
20110134794 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR AUTOMATIC DISCOVERY OF LIGHTING CONTROLLERS - A lighting system controller is provided that is configured to automatically discover lighting controllers. In a particular example, the lighting system controller is configured to scan a network for lighting controllers that match a set of search criteria. According to this example, the lighting system controller is configured to present any such discovered lighting controllers to a user in a user interface. In this example, the user interface includes elements configured to allow a user to designate one or more of the discovered lighting controllers for centralized management. | 06-09-2011 |
20110132635 | NESTING DIELECTRIC INSULATORS - A bus assembly and bus assembly connector include one or more insulated members that have axial sleeves that fit within one another during assembly to form a nesting arrangement. The nesting arrangement of the axial sleeves allow reduction of the overall size of the bus assembly connector while satisfying power rating standards and dielectric clearances as well as allowing bolting of the bus assembly to thereby clamp and secure the bus assembly. The axial sleeves can be distinctively designed such that the phase members must be assembled in a predetermined order, with no components being omitted, to form the bus assembly connector or clamp the bus assembly. | 06-09-2011 |
20110121932 | Combination Wire Connector And Current Transformer - A transformer assembly for mounting a current transformer to an electrical apparatus. The generally toroidal current transformer senses electrical current in conductors of the electrical apparatus and has a housing. A mechanical lug for conductors of the electrical apparatus is mounted directly to the housing of the current transformer, within the central opening of the toroid. The mechanical lug has one or more conductor bores located within a main body of the mechanical lug for receiving respective conductor wires. | 05-26-2011 |
20110120746 | PRECISION SHUNT FOR HIGH SPEED MEASUREMENTS - A shunt for measuring current passing through a conductor. The shunt includes a first section and a second section connected in series with the conductor, and a coaxial cable connected between the first and second sections. An outer conductor of the first section surrounds an internal conductor having a resistance lower than that of the outer conductor of the first section. An outer conductor of the second section surrounds an internal conductor having a resistance higher than that of the internal conductor of the second section. The dimensions of the first and second sections are the same. An internal conductor of the cable is connected between the two sections, and an outer conductor of the cable is connected to the outer conductors of the two sections. The voltage across the outer and inner conductors of the cable is proportional to the current passing through the conductor. | 05-26-2011 |
20110116197 | CURRENT SENSOR FOR EARTH LEAKAGE MODULE - A current sensor assembly used for detecting ground faults, which includes an enclosure surrounding the current sensor for focusing the magnetic flux produced by conductors passing through the current sensor assembly away from the conductors, thereby reducing load-shift error and producing more accurate current readings for ground-fault sensing. The enclosure has two half members that are secured together to form a toroid-shaped shell that surrounds a toroidal core of the current sensor. A secondary winding and an optional test winding is wound around the toroidal core, and the ends of these windings exit one or more apertures formed in the enclosure. The half members have rounded profiles where the flat surfaces transition into different planes so that the magnetic flux does not encounter any sharp edges or transitions inside the enclosure as the flux flows away from the conductors. | 05-19-2011 |
20110115585 | LOW COST MULTI-POLE CIRCUIT BREAKERS WITH SHARED COMPONENTS - A multi-pole circuit breaker comprising a single main housing containing multiple circuit breakers for protecting multiple branch circuits. Each of the circuit breakers comprises a single line terminal for receiving electrical current from a utility line, a plurality of load terminals for supplying electrical current from the single line terminal to a plurality of branch circuits via load lines, and a plurality of neutral terminals for receiving electrical current returned from the branch circuits via neutral lines Line conductors inside the main housing connect the line terminal to the plurality of load terminals. Sensors inside the main housing generate signals representing characteristics of the electrical current flow in the branch circuits, and a signal processor uses the signals generated by the sensors for detecting abnormal conditions in the branch circuits and generating trip signals in response to the detection of an abnormal condition. A single tripping mechanism between the line terminal and the load terminals receives the trip signals and interrupts the flow of current to the branch circuits in response to a trip signal. | 05-19-2011 |
20110104916 | Plug-In Outlet (PIO) With Floating Fingerguard - A plug-in outlet for a busway system has a base mounted to a busway housing, wherein the base has an opening into which an electrical stab extends from a busbar of the busway system. A fingerguard is mounted to the base into the opening and has self-aligning features achieved by built-in tolerances. The fingerguard includes a central barrier for shielding a leading end of the electrical stab, the central barrier extending from side walls of the fingerguard and being separated by respective gaps from a top wall and a bottom wall of the fingerguard. The fingerguard further includes a top back latch and a bottom back latch for attaching the fingerguard to the stab, the top back latch and the bottom back latch extending from respective ones of the top wall and the bottom wall toward the stab and retaining the stab toward the fingerguard. | 05-05-2011 |
20110102958 | ELECTRICAL LOAD CENTER - A low voltage DC power supply is provided in a load center for distributing electrical power from electrical power utility lines to multiple branch circuits via a load center bus connected to the utility lines, each of the branch circuits having a circuit breaker coupled to a processor that is shared by multiple circuit breakers in the load center. The low voltage DC power supply includes a switch mode low voltage power supply connected to the processor for supplying the processor with a DC power input, and a line-derived power supply and a fault-derived power supply coupled between the utility and the switch mode power supply for supplying DC inputs to the switch mode power supply. The magnitude of electrical current supplied to the multiple branch circuits from the load center bus is determined by producing signals representing the current levels in the bus at successive locations on opposite sides of each connection of the bus to the multiple branch circuits, and determining the current supplied to each branch circuits from those signals. | 05-05-2011 |
20110100958 | FEATURES TO LIMIT THE EXHAUST DEBRIS EXITING A CIRCUIT BREAKER - A debris collection slot or groove formed near the exit of a vent channel in a circuit breaker. Debris is produced during a circuit interruption, causing the debris to travel into the vent channel toward an opening where it exits the circuit breaker. Too much accumulated debris can lead to a ground strike or a cross-phase condition. The debris collection groove, formed near the exit opening of the vent channel, has no significant effect on the internal pressure generated during the circuit interruption. Multiple grooves can be formed near the exit opening for trapping more debris. When the vent channel is bent, the grooves are positioned on the outer curve of the last bend of the vent channel to trap the higher-density debris traveling around the curve. | 05-05-2011 |
20110094863 | FLEXIBLE NON-FRANGIBLE AMPERAGE FLAG FOR MOLDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS - A flexible amperage flag that indicates an amperage rating of a trip unit in a circuit breaker. The flag is molded with a housing of the trip unit so that it remains with the trip unit even when installed into a different circuit breaker. The flag includes an attachment member secured to a wall of the trip unit and a flexible leg integral with the attachment member. A top surface member indicates the amperage rating and protrudes through an auxiliary cover of the circuit breaker so as to be visible through the panelboard into which the circuit breaker is installed and is connected to the top surface member. During a circuit interruption, the pressure created by the exploding gas forces the auxiliary cover away from the trip unit, creating stress on the flag. The flexible leg permits the flag to move with the auxiliary cover and return to its original form without breaking. The flag can also include a second leg that prevents movement of a hammer of the trip unit out of its pre-assembled position during assembly of the circuit breaker. | 04-28-2011 |
20110066299 | SYSTEM AND METHOD OF MODELING AND MONITORING AN ENERGY LOAD - A system, method, and computer program product for predicting operation for physical systems with distinct operating modes uses observable qualities of the system to predict other qualities of the system. Independent variables including temperature or production volume are observed to determine the degree to which a dependent modeled variable, including energy load, is influenced. Partition variables representing operating conditions of the dependent variables are defined as discrete values. Reference datasets with coincident values of the dependent variable, independent variable, and partition variables are received, and models are created for each discrete value of the partition variables in the reference dataset. Each model is populated with the values of the dependent variable and the independent variable. The dependent variable is modeled as a function of the independent variable. Model accuracy is evaluated by processing new input data to generate output data that includes values of the coincident dependent variable, the independent variable, and the partition variable from the input dataset. | 03-17-2011 |
20110025516 | NATURAL LANGUAGE NAVIGATION FOR POWER MONITORING SYSTEMS - A method of parsing a natural language phrase to retrieve data associated with a power monitoring system. An input receives a natural language phrase including terms, one of which indicates a data manipulation action for manipulating data of the power monitoring system. A parser component parses the phrase to extract the terms and maps those terms to corresponding category items. The parser component constructs a structured query based on the category items and provides the query to a processor component that retrieves the data from a data source specified in the submitted phrase. The processor component also manipulates the data according to the data manipulation action. The output from the processor component is provided to a presentation component that formats the manipulated data for presentation on a video display, and the formatted manipulated data is displayed on the video display. | 02-03-2011 |
20110022734 | DIFFERENTIAL TIME SYNCHRONIZATION OF INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES - In a utility monitoring system, a network of intelligent electronic devices (IEDs), including a master IED that receives master clock information from a global positioning system, includes a differential time synchronization (DTS) algorithm for automatically adjusting the corresponding clocks of each of the IEDs to be synchronized with the master clock information. A controller coupled to the network communicates instructions to the IEDs to collect frequency variation data. A known data alignment algorithm determines a point of alignment between two sets of frequency variation data, and the controller determines based on the data alignment algorithm output a time differential representing a time offset between the IED's clock and the master clock information. The time differential is communicated to the target IED, which advances or retards its clock based on the time differential. | 01-27-2011 |
20110019387 | EXTERNAL NEUTRAL CURRENT SENSOR MATCHED TO A CIRCUIT BREAKER - A highly accurate current sensing transformer, such as an external neutral current transformer (ENCT), accommodates a wide range of loads. The ENCT includes a housing, first and second terminals each having an end portion extending from and external to the housing, a conductor for carrying a current to be measured, and a current sensor having an aperture for receiving the conductor and having a central axis. The conductor joins the first and second terminals to form a current path that passes through the aperture. Increased accuracy is achieved by arranging the conductor such that a portion thereof passing through the aperture forms a substantial angle relative to the central axis, such that the entry angle of the current path via the conductor through the aperture of the current sensor of the ENCT matches an entry angle of a conductor through an aperture of a current sensor in the electronic trip unit to which the ENCT is attached. Other features resist rotation of the terminals during attachment of the ENCT and allow the ENCT to receive any of a variety of different lugs or terminal nuts, enabling easy attachment. | 01-27-2011 |
20110012743 | Monitoring System Supporting Proximity Based Actions - A monitoring system includes a discoverable wireless device, a proximity monitor, and a monitoring server. The proximity monitor is configured to automatically discover the discoverable wireless device in response to the discoverable wireless device being within a wireless range of the proximity monitor. The monitoring server is communicatively connected to the proximity monitor via a communications network. The monitoring server is configured to i) receive proximity information associated with the discoverable wireless device from the proximity monitor, and ii) transmit an instruction signal based on the received proximity information to an electrical component located remotely from the proximity monitor. The instruction signal causes the electrical component to modify an operating parameter of the electrical component. | 01-20-2011 |
20110006123 | ELECTRICAL LOAD DISCONNECT DEVICE WITH ELECTRONIC CONTROL - Electrical load spreading arrangements reduce peak power demand. An enclosure houses an electronic circuit board, which receives at a first input terminal a first thermostat control signal from a thermostat intended to control a first air conditioning unit and at a second input terminal a second thermostat control signal from a thermostat intended to control a second AC unit. A controller on the circuit board is programmed with instructions stored in a memory coupled to the controller causing the controller to monitor the first and second input terminals to determine the timing and duration of the thermostat control signals passed to the output terminals for activating or deactivating the AC units such that overlapping operation of the AC units is reduced particularly during peak demand periods. A similar arrangement may be applied to a broader class of HVAC equipment, including water heaters, for example. | 01-13-2011 |
20110004324 | AUTOMATIC IDENTIFICATION OF MULTIPLE POWER GRIDS USING DATA SYNCHRONIZATION - A method of automatically identifying whether intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) in a power monitoring system are in multiple electrical grids. A controller sends an instruction to each IED in a predetermined time sequence such that each IED receives the instruction at a different time, commanding each IED to begin logging variation data indicative of frequency variations in a current/voltage signal monitored by the IED and to send the variation data to the controller and an associated cycle count of a point in the current/voltage signal. The controller receives the variation data and associated cycle count and determines a peak correlation using a data alignment algorithm on IED pair combinations. If the IEDs are on the same electrical grid, the peak correlations should occur at cycle count offsets that match the order that the IEDs received the instruction. Any discrepancies in the expected order of peak correlations are flagged, and the corresponding IEDs are determined to be on different grids. | 01-06-2011 |
20110002089 | PANELBOARD PLUG-ON NEUTRAL WITH BREAKER MOUNTING - A load center is equipped with a neutral phase conductive rail with breaker mounting and retention features providing automatic neutral connection for a plug-on mounted AFI and/or GFI circuit breaker. Breakers may be designed to have specific interfaces to the breaker mounting and retention features of the load center rails. The neutral rail may have two pieces including a breaker undercut positioning rail shorted to a standard neutral rail, or a neutral rail may be designed to have all mounting features integrated therewith. The new panel is compatible with non-AFI and non-GFI breakers. | 01-06-2011 |
20100321836 | MULTI-POLE ARC-FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER - A multi-pole circuit breaker having the same number of sensors and controllers as poles. One pole is monitored by a first sensor and a first controller, which are disposed on a first circuit board. Another pole is monitored by a second sensor and a second controller, which are disposed on a second circuit board that is cable-connected to the first circuit board. A ground-fault sensor monitors the sum of current flowing through the line conductors and a neutral conductor, and the output of the ground-fault sensor is provided to one or both of the controllers. Each controller is operable to detect arc faults on the respective line that it is monitoring, and at least one is operable to detect ground faults. A push-to-test algorithm is executed in relay fashion, with one controller executing the test before passing the result of the test onto the next controller, which in turns executes the test. | 12-23-2010 |
20100319958 | INSULATION OF BUSBARS USING INSULATING MEMBERS HAVING CORRUGATED SECTIONS - Busbars of a busway system are insulated so as to minimize or eliminate air gaps between busbars. In an embodiment, an insulating sheath is provided with corrugations in regions corresponding to busbar bends. The corrugations allow the sheath to follow the busbar bends without the need to cut or interrupt the sheath. Busbars may therefore be fully insulated without the need for further insulating materials (e.g., tape). Good thermal contact between busbars throughout their length is achieved, improving heat dissipation and efficiency. | 12-23-2010 |
20100319954 | Angled Stabs For A Busway Plug In Unit - A busway system includes a plurality of busbars arranged in a flat stacked configuration. The system further includes at least one uninsulated stab having a base in direct contact with one of the busbars at a first length portion of the busbars. The stab also has a tip extending away from the base and angled at the length of the busbars such that the tip is positioned at least in part at a second length portion of the busbars. The stab is insulated from other stabs via one or more of a MYLAR® sheet and a wall of a plug-in opening base. | 12-23-2010 |
20100312875 | AUTOMATED DISCOVERY OF MONITORING DEVICES ON A NETWORK - A system and method are disclosed for the automated discovery of devices on a network, such as a TCP/IP network using Dynamic Host Configuration Protocol (“DHCP”) and Domain Name System (“DNS”) servers. Devices on the network may be discovered, identified, and tracked by a monitoring server. Communications with the monitoring server may include identification information for each device. The identification information may be stored in DHCP option fields, transmitted with DHCP messages, and used to identify whether the device is new to the network. | 12-09-2010 |
20100296272 | Recessed LED Downlight - A unitary die-cast cap for a downlight can includes a base section and a plurality of heat-sink fins. The base section is a plate that includes an interior base-surface, an exterior base-surface, and an exterior wall-surface. The exterior base-surface, which is an opposite surface of the interior base-surface, forms an exterior top-surface of a downlight tubular can. The exterior wall-surface is configured to be positioned in direct attachment to an interior wall-surface of the downlight can. The plurality of heat-sink fins extend from the interior base-surface and form a substantially cylindrical exterior heat-sink wall touching or in close proximity to the interior wall-surface of the downlight can. | 11-25-2010 |
20100213926 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR VOLTAGE SENSING IN ELECTRICAL METERING SYSTEMS - A voltage isolation circuit. The input voltage Vin is connected to a primary winding of a transformer T | 08-26-2010 |
20100179776 | UTILITY MONITORING SYSTEM WITH VARIABLE LOGGING - A method of storing data in a utility monitoring system includes monitoring a characteristic of a utility system in an intelligent electronic device (IED) to produce monitored characteristic values that are buffered in the IED. The IED is communicatively coupled to a server via a network. The monitored characteristic values are indicative of the characteristic. The method further includes storing a first monitored characteristic value of the buffered monitored characteristic values periodically at a first logging interval in a memory of the IED. The method further includes storing a second monitored characteristic value of the buffered monitored characteristic values periodically at a second logging interval in the memory of the IED in response to satisfying a criterion. The second logging interval is distinct from the first logging interval. | 07-15-2010 |
20100169876 | AUTOMATIC FIRMWARE UPDATES FOR INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A method for automatically updating an existing firmware file stored in a memory of an intelligent electronic device (IED) communicatively coupled to a network in a monitoring system. The IED downloads from a remote server to the IED an update file that includes a version of a firmware file and a filename of the firmware file. The IED determines whether the firmware version specified in the update file is updated compared to a version of the existing firmware file. If the firmware version in the update file is greater than the existing version, the IED communicates to the remote server an instruction to download to the IED the updated firmware file specified in the update file. The IED receives from the remote server the updated firmware file. If a criterion is satisfied, the IED automatically updates the firmware file stored in its memory with the updated firmware file. | 07-01-2010 |
20100164657 | Add-On Trip Module For Multi-Pole Circuit Breaker - An add-on module adapted to be attached to the basic mechanical structure of a multi-pole circuit breaker includes multiple extended terminal plates each of which is adapted to replace one of the input and output terminals for one of the poles, multiple electromechanical transducers each of which is coupled to one of the extended terminal plates for producing a mechanical movement in response to a predetermined magnitude of electrical current in the extended terminal plate to which that transducer is coupled, a mechanical actuator coupled to the electromechanical transducers and to the breaker contacts for operating a trip mechanism in response to a predetermined mechanical movement of any of the transducers, and a mechanical reset arm coupling the reset mechanism to the mechanical actuator for resetting the actuator in response to the resetting of the host circuit breaker. | 07-01-2010 |
20100161835 | SYSTEM FOR MANAGING A POWER MONITORING SYSTEM CONTAINING A MULTIPLICITY OF INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A method of managing a power monitoring and control informational system that encompasses multiple intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) of varying types comprises creating different device types, including tags associated with each of the device types; creating at least one profile for each of the device types; and generating a user interface display that enables a user to create a new profile, the display including options to create a new profile or to create a profile by modifying a copy of data representing an existing profile. | 06-24-2010 |
20100156576 | CIRCUIT BREAKER HAVING REDUCED AUXILIARY TRIP REQUIREMENTS - A bimetal in a circuit breaker can deflect in a first direction or a second direction depending upon conditions. If the bimetal deflects in the second direction it can increase the force necessary to operate a trip mechanism of the circuit breaker. A yoke stop helps to control bimetal deflection forces and thus, the amount of force necessary to operate the trip mechanism. This allows better control, size, and selection of operating parts for the circuit breaker. | 06-24-2010 |
20100155136 | Circuit Breaker Current Transformer Conductor Location Device For Improved Sensing Accuracy And Assembly - A circuit breaker includes a breaker housing, a transformer housing, and a plurality of conductor locators. The transformer housing is enclosed within the breaker housing and has an opening for receiving a plurality of conductors. The plurality of conductor locators is desirably located adjacent to the transformer housing and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The conductors are generally centered in the opening of the transformer housing when the conductor locators are in the closed position. | 06-24-2010 |
20100153036 | POWER METERING AND MERGING UNIT CAPABILITIES IN A SINGLE IED - An intelligent electronic device (IED) integrating a power metering unit (PMU) and a merging unit that combines signals from both analog transformers and digital transformers into a set of merged digital samples. Analog current/voltage signals from analog CTs/PTs are received at the IED's analog inputs and converted to digitized samples. Digital current/voltage samples from digital CTs/PTs are received via point-to-point connections at digital inputs of the IED. A tagging unit applies metadata tags to the digitized and digital samples. The metadata tags include the transformer providing the input signal, sampling rate, primary and/or secondary timestamps, scaling values, calibration values, and/or the location of the IED in the electrical system. The PMU performs metering and/or power quality calculations on the samples, and the calculation results are formatted and transmitted via a master-slave protocol to a requesting master. A grouping unit groups the merged samples into default or custom groupings, which are formatted and transmitted over a network via a publish-subscribe mechanism. | 06-17-2010 |
20100153035 | Progressive Humidity Filter For Load Data Forecasting - A method, via a processor, of forecasting energy usage including selecting a plurality of reference days with at least one feature matching a corresponding feature of a day to be forecasted and filtering the plurality of reference days with a humidity filter to identify at least one matching reference day. The at least one matching reference day is associated with a correlation coefficient greater than or equal to a minimum correlation coefficient, and a minimum number of humidity values within a range of corresponding humidity values of the day to be forecasted. The method also includes retrieving energy load values and corresponding temperature values corresponding to the at least one matching reference day, calculating a plurality of regression coefficients of a polynomial equation linking the temperature values to the energy load values, and calculating and storing a forecasted load value of the day to be forecasted according to the polynomial equation. | 06-17-2010 |
20100149842 | Low EMI Producing Switch-Mode Power Supply Within An Intelligent Electronic Device - An apparatus for varying the timing of a SMPS, including a microcontroller configured to output a first PWM signal. A converter is coupled to the microcontroller and is configured to receive the first PWM signal and output an analog signal to a SMPS timing capacitor coupled to a SMPS. The analog signal varies the discharge time of the timing capacitor to vary a switching frequency of the SMPS. | 06-17-2010 |
20100149772 | Residential Circuit Breaker With Flexible Printed Circuit Boards - A circuit breaker includes a housing, a rigid circuit board, and a flexible circuit board. The rigid circuit board is enclosed within the housing and has a main surface for supporting an electronic component. The flexible circuit board has a first end that is directly attached to an edge of the rigid circuit board. | 06-17-2010 |
20100148901 | Current Sensor Assembly - A current-sensing assembly comprising a housing and first and second current transformers contained in and fixed in position by the housing. The assembly includes at least one conducting pin corresponding to each of the first and second current transformers and inserted through the housing to expose a top end and a bottom end. The top end of the pin is electrically coupled to an end of the conducting wire of the corresponding current transformer through a window in the housing coinciding with the current transformer. The top end of a common pin is electrically coupled through the window to the opposite end of the coil conductor. The bottom end of each pin is configured to be coupled to a printed circuit board. The housing includes first and second elongated rings passing substantially through the centers of the current transformers and configured to accept first and second current lines. | 06-17-2010 |
20100134221 | ADD-ON TRIP MODULE FOR MULTI-POLE CIRCUIT BREAKER - An add-on module adapted to be attached to the basic mechanical structure of a multi-pole circuit breaker includes multiple extended terminal plates each of which is adapted to replace one of the input and output terminals for one of the poles, multiple electromechanical transducers each of which is coupled to one of the extended terminal plates for producing a mechanical movement in response to a predetermined magnitude of electrical current in the extended terminal plate to which that transducer is coupled, a mechanical actuator coupled to the electromechanical transducers and to the movable contacts for operating the trip mechanism in response to a predetermined movement of any of the transducers, and a calibration element for adjusting mechanical movement of at least one of said multiple electromechanical transducers so as to control an aspect of trip actuation. | 06-03-2010 |
20100134220 | ADD-ON TRIP MODULE FOR MULTI-POLE CIRCUIT BREAKER - An add-on module adapted to be attached to the basic mechanical structure of a multi-pole circuit breaker includes multiple extended terminal plates each of which is adapted to replace one of the input and output terminals for one of the poles, multiple electromechanical transducers each of which is coupled to one of the extended terminal plates for producing a mechanical movement in response to a predetermined magnitude of electrical current in the extended terminal plate to which that transducer is coupled, and a mechanical actuator coupled to the electromechanical transducers and to the breaker contacts for operating a trip mechanism in response to a predetermined mechanical movement of any of the transducers. | 06-03-2010 |
20100130142 | 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. | 05-27-2010 |
20100123991 | BACKUP TRIPPING FUNCTION FOR A CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH MICROCONTROLLER-BASED FAULT DETECTION - A circuit breaker capable of microcontroller-based fault detection having a backup circuit for causing the circuit to trip in response to a microcontroller fault or a failure of a regulated power supply powering the microcontroller. The circuit breaker includes an RC circuit connected to an SCR. The resistor of the RC circuit is connected between the anode and gate of the SCR, and the capacitor is connected between the gate and cathode of the SCR. The microcontroller has a first pin coupled to the RC circuit, which is initially in a high input impedance state. In the event of a microcontroller fault or power supply failure, the capacitor will charge to a voltage sufficient to activate the SCR and trip the breaker. If the microcontroller startup routine is successful, the pin is configured as an output and is pulled low, shorting out the capacitor. | 05-20-2010 |
20100123990 | LOW VOLTAGE STARTUP TIMER FOR A MICROCONTROLLER-BASED CIRCUIT BREAKER - A circuit breaker capable of microcontroller-based fault detection having a backup circuit for causing the circuit breaker to trip in response to a microcontroller fault, including a timing circuit powered by a power supply and a microcontroller. The timing circuit is electrically coupled to an SCR that causes the circuit breaker to trip. The timing circuit includes a BJT coupled to the gate of the SCR. The microcontroller has a first output coupled to the timing circuit and a second output coupled to the SCR. The first output is coupled to a node between a resistor and a grounded capacitor in the timing circuit, and the node is coupled to a gate of the SCR and to a base of the transistor. A voltage develops at the node sufficient to cause the gate of the SCR to turn on unless the microcontroller pulls the first high-impedance output to a logic low state. | 05-20-2010 |
20100123981 | Multiple Pole Arc-Fault Circuit Breaker Using Single Test Button - A multiple pole arc-fault circuit breaker includes a first pole assembly, a second pole assembly, a microprocessor, and a single test button. At least one of the first pole assembly and the second pole assembly has a trip mechanism. The microprocessor is electrically coupled to the first pole assembly and to the second pole assembly, and, in response to receiving a single test signal, is operative to perform electrical tests for both the first pole assembly and the second pole assembly. In response to successful completion of the electrical tests, the microprocessor is further operative to actuate the trip mechanism. The single test button is mounted to the housing and includes a single test position which causes the sending of the single test signal for initiating the electrical tests. | 05-20-2010 |
20100118451 | MULTIPLE-POLE CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH SHARED CURRENT SENSOR FOR ARCING FAULT DETECTION - A multi-pole circuit breaker for a power distribution system having multiple line conductors carrying AC currents that are out of phase with each other, and a common neutral conductor, comprises first and second current sensors, a ground fault detection circuit, and an arcing fault detection circuit. The first current sensor is adapted to be coupled to both of the line conductors and to the neutral conductor and produces a first output signal indicative of the resultant of the electrical currents flowing in the line and neutral conductors. The ground fault detection circuit receives the first output signal and produces a trip signal in response to the detection of a ground fault. The second current sensor comprises a coil wound on a toroidal core and is adapted to be coupled to both of the line conductors in a manner that the electrical currents in the line conductors flow in opposite directions inside the toroidal core, thus inducing in the coil a second output signal that is a function of the difference of the electrical currents in the line conductors. The arcing fault detection circuit receives the second output signal and includes a processor programmed to analyze the second output signal and produce a trip signal in response to the detection of an arcing fault. | 05-13-2010 |
20100114390 | LOAD OPERATION PROFILING AND NOTIFICATION IN A MONITORED ELECTRICAL POWER DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM - A method of monitoring the operation of a load in an electrical power distribution system comprises selecting a parameter representing operation of the load, determining an expected characteristic of the parameter during normal operation of the load, and comparing measured values of the parameter with the expected characteristic to detect potential abnormal operation of the load. | 05-06-2010 |
20100111112 | AUTOMATED SYNCHRONIZATION OF DATA BETWEEN ELECTRICAL GRIDS - A method and system of automatically correlating data measured by monitoring devices that monitor first and second electrical grids. The second electrical grid producing alternating current signals that are electrically isolated from alternating current signals produced by the first electrical grid. An example power monitoring device includes a controller, a first monitoring device interface and a second monitoring device interface. The first monitoring device interface is coupled to a first monitoring device in the first electrical grid and the second monitoring device interface is coupled to a second monitoring device in the second electrical grid. A first counter stores data counts of occurrences from the first electrical grid. A second counter stores data counts of occurrences from the second electrical grid. A synchronization monitoring algorithm automatically synchronizes the first and second counters by associating a data count from the first counter with a data count from the second counter with a time from either the first or second grid corresponding to the occurrence of an event on either the first or the second electrical grid or both. | 05-06-2010 |
20100102760 | AUTOMATIC TIMING ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM FOR OCCUPANCY SENSORS - A lighting control system for a space equipped with lamps for illuminating the space comprises a power circuit for supplying power to the lamps, a controllable switch in the power circuit for turning the lamps on and off, an occupancy sensor for detecting motion within the space and generating a motion-detected control signal in response to the detection of such motion, and a timer for measuring a time-out interval following the generation of the motion-detected control signal by the occupancy sensor and producing a time-out control signal in response to completion of the measurement of the time-out interval. A processor receives the control signals from the occupancy sensor and the timer and produces a switch-off control signal for the controllable switch to turn the lamps off in response to the time-out control signal, modifies the time-out interval by a time-out offset value in response to preselected events, counts the number of times the switch-off control signal is produced, without the receipt of the motion-detected control signal, within a predetermined time following the end of the time-out interval, and decrements the time-out interval by the offset value in response to the count reaching a predetermined value. | 04-29-2010 |
20100097074 | CONTINUOUS SERIES ARC GENERATOR - An arc fault demonstrator device for testing the efficacy of an arc fault interrupter (AFI) circuit breaker. The device includes a motor that moves a movable electrode relative to a stationary electrode under microprocessor control. A relay switches the electrodes connection between an arc voltage measurement circuit and an electrode close circuit. When current is applied to the electrodes, the measurement circuit provides voltage measurements to the microprocessor, which instructs the motor to move the electrodes closer or apart. When the arc voltage is below a low threshold, the electrodes are moved apart until the arc voltage exceeds a medium threshold. When the arc voltage exceeds a high threshold, the electrodes are moved closer until the arc voltage falls below the medium threshold. A switch switches between the AFI circuit breaker or a conventional circuit breaker to confirm that the AFI breaker will trip upon detection of the arc whereas the conventional breaker will not. | 04-22-2010 |
20100094473 | System For Detecting Load Loss Following An Electrical Power Disturbance - A method of detecting an electrical load loss following an electrical power disturbance in a monitored electrical power distribution system comprises (1) determining an expected characteristic of a parameter representing normal operation of an electrical load receiving power from the electrical power distribution system, (2) detecting a disturbance in the monitored electrical power distribution system, and (3) determining whether the load, or power circuit, or a portion of the load or power circuit, was lost as a result of the disturbance, by evaluating an actual characteristic of the parameter after termination of the disturbance with respect to the expected characteristic of said parameter. | 04-15-2010 |
20100082792 | PLUG AND PLAY ENERGY EFFICIENCY SOLUTION AND AUTOMATIC DATA-PUSH METHOD FOR SAME - An energy efficiency solution for automatically pushing data measured by IEDs in a utility system to an Internet server. Before the utility system is commissioned, the manufacturer pre-configures each IED to automatically push measured data to the server at regular intervals and associates each IED with a unique identifier that is transmitted with the data and with a customer who has purchased the solution. After commissioning, the IEDs come online and begin to automatically push their measured data to the server. The customer logs into the website via a manufacturer-provided access code to access the measured data instantly. Requests to change the type of data pushed from IEDs and other configuration changes can be made via the website. Periodically, the IEDs ask whether any configuration updates exist, and if so, the server makes available to the IEDs the updated configuration. By having IEDs initiate communications for data transmission and configuration updates, intervening firewalls are bypassed. | 04-01-2010 |
20100065533 | Adaptive Resistance Weld Control - A resistance weld control employing a model-based run-to-run estimate of load impedance, giving the weld control system the ability to maintain and predict the expected impedance of a successfully completed resistance spot weld, and to detect when the load impedance observed by the resistance weld control is within a target neighborhood of that impedance predicted by the model-based run-to-run estimate of load impedance. A target weld current and a range of weld times may be specified, such that the actual weld time employed in making the resistance spot weld is responsive to the time required to complete the contact preparation phase. Further, a fixed weld time and a range of target weld currents may be specified to make a resistance spot weld, such that the actual target weld current employed is responsive to the time required to complete the contact preparation phase of the weld. | 03-18-2010 |
20100051342 | EFFICIENT HIGH-AMPACITY BOWL-SHAPED TUBULAR CONDUCTORS - A high ampacity busbar includes a pair of oppositely facing bowl-shaped conductors, each of whose cross sections resembles half of a hexagon or an open isosceles trapezoid, separated by an air gap in both horizontal and vertical configurations. The air gap increases cooling efficiency by natural convection by exposing more surface area of the conductors directly to the air flow within the electrical distribution equipment cabinet. As a result, the overall temperature of the bus system is reduced. The shaped conductors have smoother transitions presented to the electrical current between the bends of the conductors. These smooth transitions improve current distribution throughout the conductor, reducing skin effects. As a result of improved thermal dissipation and reduced skin effects, the amount of copper needed to maintain the same ampacity is significantly reduced. Magnetic shields can be placed between adjacent busbars, reducing proximity effects. | 03-04-2010 |
20090322314 | 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. | 12-31-2009 |
20090321130 | Enclosure With Integrated Heat Wick - An electrical enclosure system for transferring heat from a closed environment, includes an electrical device having a heat-generating part, and a polymer-based ventless housing for protecting the electrical device from environmental contaminants. The ventless housing fully encloses the electrical device and includes a base layer forming an impact-resistant portion of the ventless housing. The base layer includes one or more open areas in close proximity to the heat-generating part. The ventless housing further includes an integrated thermally conductive layer that forms a heat-flow path for conducting heat away from the heat-generating part towards an exterior environment. The integrated thermally conductive layer is molded around the base layer such that portions of the integrated thermally conductive layer cover the open areas of the base layer. | 12-31-2009 |
20090300165 | Message Monitor, Analyzer, Recorder and Viewer in a Publisher-Subscriber Environment - A method of performing a sequence-of-events analysis in a power monitoring system includes the acts of monitoring, receiving, analyzing, and storing. The act of monitoring includes monitoring messages published by multiple power monitors over a peer-to-peer communications network. The messages include electrical power monitoring parameters. The act of receiving includes receiving the published messages in a subscriber intelligent electronic device in the power monitoring system. The act of analyzing includes analyzing at least a portion of the received messages, performing statistical analysis and/or continuously scanning for an event of interest. The act of storing includes storing at least one record including at least one of statistical data or event of interest data. | 12-03-2009 |
20090289809 | Graphical Representation of Utility Monitoring System Having Multiple Monitoring Points - A method of graphically representing values of at least one selected parameter at multiple monitoring points in a utility system, comprises receiving data measured at the multiple monitoring points; determining the values of the selected parameter at the multiple monitoring points, based on the received data, and using the values to generate a graphical representation of the values of the selected parameter at the multiple monitoring points, the graphical representation including shapes having (1) sizes representative of the magnitudes of the values and (2) locations representative of the hierarchy of the monitoring points. In one application, the selected parameter is at least one of electrical power and energy consumed in portions of an electrical power distribution system that correspond to the multiple monitoring points. | 11-26-2009 |
20090287463 | METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING ROTOR SLOTS - A method of determining a quantity of rotor slots in an induction motor through analysis of voltage and current signals. An approximate slip is calculated according to an approximate slip function that is independent of a rotor slots quantity. 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 that includes the saliency frequency, a saliency order, the fundamental frequency, a rotor slots index in the set of rotor slots indices, and a quantity of poles of the motor, such that the slip estimate is evaluated at respective ones of the set rotor slots indices. A slip estimation error signal is calculated according to a slip estimation error function that includes a difference between the approximate slip and respective ones of the slip estimates. A rotor slots performance surface representative of an aggregate of the slip estimation error signals evaluated over the set of the rotor slots indices 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. | 11-19-2009 |
20090287437 | COMPLEX PHASE LOCKED LOOP - A method of estimating an instantaneous frequency of a component of interest in a complex primary signal via a complex Phase Locked Loop (PLL). A complex incident signal including a complex exponential evaluated at a synthesis frequency is calculated according to a complex Voltage Controlled Oscillator (VCO) function. A complex mixed signal is calculated according to a function that includes multiplying the complex primary signal by a representation of the complex incident signal. A complex baseband signal is calculated according to a function that includes filtering the complex mixed signal such that the bandwidth of the complex baseband signal is less than or equal to the bandwidth of the complex mixed signal. A residual frequency of the complex baseband signal is calculated via a complex Phase Discriminator (PD). The synthesis frequency is modified according to a function that includes the synthesis frequency and the residual frequency, such that the residual frequency is minimized. The instantaneous frequency is calculated according to a function that includes a representation of the synthesis frequency and stored. | 11-19-2009 |
20090284212 | METHODS AND APPARATUSES FOR ESTIMATING TRANSIENT SLIP - A method of determining a slip estimate associated with an induction motor through analysis of voltage and current signals. A fundamental frequency is calculated from a representation (e.g., complex representation) of the voltage signal, and a saliency frequency is calculated from a representation of the current signal. An estimation of slip quantity is calculated according to a slip estimation function that includes the saliency frequency, a saliency order, the fundamental frequency, a quantity of rotor slots, and a quantity of poles of the motor. | 11-19-2009 |
20090284211 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING INDUCTION MOTOR ELECTRICAL PARAMETERS - A method and apparatus to provide estimates of electrical parameters for line-connected induction motors during either steady-state or dynamic motor operations. The electrical parameters are calculated from the motor nameplate data and voltage and current measurements. No speed sensors or electronic injection circuits are needed. The method can be divided into 4 major steps. First, complex space vectors are synthesized from voltage and current measurements. Second, the instantaneous rotor speed is detected by calculating the rotational speed of a single rotor slot harmonic component with respect to the rotational speed of the fundamental frequency component. Third, the positive sequence fundamental frequency components are extracted from complex space vectors. Finally, least-squares estimates of the electrical parameters are determined from a dynamic induction motor equivalent circuit model. | 11-19-2009 |
20090284204 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ESTIMATING INDUCTION MOTOR ROTOR TEMPERATURE - A method and apparatus to provide continuous and reliable rotor temperature estimates for line-connected induction motors during steady-state and/or dynamic motor operations. Rotor temperature is calculated from voltage and current measurements without any temperature or speed sensors. First, complex space vectors are synthesized from voltage and current measurements. Second, the instantaneous rotor speed is detected by calculating the rotational speed of a single rotor slot harmonic component with respect to the rotational speed of the fundamental frequency component. Third, the positive sequence fundamental frequency components are extracted from complex space vectors. Fourth, the rotor time constant is estimated in a model-reference adaptive system based on a dynamic induction motor equivalent circuit model. Finally, the rotor temperature is calculated according to the linear relationship between the rotor temperature and the estimated rotor time constant. Real-time induction motor thermal protection is achieved through this continuous tracking of the rotor temperature. | 11-19-2009 |
20090282165 | Communication System for a Control System Over Ethernet and IP Networks - A communication system is provided for communication within a control system. The communication system has a plurality of simple devices connected to an intra-level communications network, each simple device being adapted to directly exchange data with the other simple devices. The communications system also has at least one intelligent device connected to the intra-level communications network, each intelligent device being adapted to directly exchange data with each simple device on the intra-level communications network. The communication system can have a plurality of intra-level communications networks. The intra-level communications networks can be directly connected by an intra-level core connector or by an inter-level core connector through an inter-level network of the intelligent devices | 11-12-2009 |