Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
340638000 | Fuse or circuit breaker | 29 |
20080272925 | Safety-Enhanced Electrical Circuit Interrupter - A circuit interrupting device is disclosed in one embodiment in accordance with the invention as including an input line to conduct electrical current from a source of electricity, a first output line to conduct electrical current to a load, and a second output line to conduct electrical current to a receptacle. A movable bridge is provided to electrically connect and disconnect the input line, first output line, and second output line, to and from one another. A circuit interrupting mechanism is provided to disconnect the input line, first output line, and second output line from one another by moving the bridge into an open position upon detection of a predetermined condition. Similarly, a reset mechanism is provided to electrically connect the input line, first output line, and second output line to one another by moving the bridge into a closed position. | 11-06-2008 |
20090140871 | Devices, Systems, and Methods for Managing a Circuit Breaker - Certain exemplary embodiments can provide a fault detection system, which can comprise a circuit breaker that is adapted to protect an electrical circuit. The circuit breaker can comprise a screen adapted to render a user interface. The user interface can comprise an arc fault detection circuit status indicator indicative of an automatic detection of an electrical circuit arc fault by the circuit breaker. | 06-04-2009 |
20090284385 | APPARATUS AND METHOD OF ILLUMINATING INDICATOR LIGHTS - Embodiments include systems and methods of illuminating indicator lights. For example, one embodiment includes an apparatus for indicating status of an electrical device. The apparatus includes a housing configured to be attached to an electrical device, an electrical input disposed on the housing and configured to receive an electrical signal, a lighting element disposed in the housing and configured to output light in response to the electrical signal, and a first optical element disposed in the housing. The apparatus further includes a second optical element configured to be attached to a panel. The first optical element and the second optical element are positioned so that the first optical element is configured to transmit at least a portion of the output light to the second optical element and the second optical element is configured to output light received from the first optical element. | 11-19-2009 |
20090315731 | RESIDUAL-CURRENT CIRCUIT BREAKER - A residual-current circuit breaker includes at least one summation current transformer through which at least one first lead and one second lead of a network to be protected are guided. At least one secondary winding is arranged on the summation current transformer and operatively connected at least indirectly with at least one energy storage element. At least one discharging resistor is switched in parallel with the energy storage element. The residual-current circuit breaker has a trip element which is operatively connected with break contacts in the at least one first lead and the at least one second lead. In order to reduce unexpected cut-offs of a network to be protected, the at least one discharging resistor includes a first partial resistor, and a second partial resistor switched in series with respect to the first partial resistor, with a least one electric signaling device operatively connected, at least indirectly, with the first partial resistor. | 12-24-2009 |
20090315732 | RESIDUAL-CURRENT CIRCUIT BREAKER - A residual-current circuit breaker includes at least one summation current transformer through which a first lead and a second lead of a network to be protected are guided. At least one secondary winding is arranged on the summation current transformer and operatively connected, at least indirectly, with an energy storage element. A trip element is operatively connected with break contacts in the first and second leads. In order to reduce expected cut-offs of a network to be protected, an electric signaling device is operatively connected, at least indirectly, with the energy storage element. | 12-24-2009 |
20100019913 | CIRCUIT PROTECTION SYSTEM HAVING FAILURE MODE INDICATION - A circuit protection system includes: a fuse holder configured to hold at least one fuse; electronics programmed to: (i) monitor current across the fuse and (ii) determine a short circuit failure mode or a current overload failure mode when the fuse opens; and an indicator in communication with the electronics, the indicator configured to indicate whether the fuse opened due to the short circuit failure mode or the current overload failure mode. | 01-28-2010 |
20100039278 | RESET LOCKOUT FOR SLIDING LATCH GFCI - Resettable circuit interrupting devices using a center latch are provided. The circuit interrupting devices include those with a reset lockout, reverse wiring protection, and/or an independent trip portion. | 02-18-2010 |
20100060468 | ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS INCLUDING A TRIP COIL OPEN CIRCUIT TEST CIRCUIT AND SYSTEM INCLUDING THE SAME - A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip circuit including a trip coil and a fault detector. The fault detector energizes the trip coil to cause the operating mechanism to open the separable contacts. A test circuit is structured to test the trip coil and determine an open circuit condition thereof. An annunciation circuit is structured to annunciate the open circuit condition of the trip coil. | 03-11-2010 |
20100073176 | Method for Detecting Operations of a Power Storage Device and Related Power Storage Device - A method for detecting operations of a power storage device is disclosed. The power storage device includes an electricity storage unit for storing power output from an electronic device or outputting power to the electronic device. The method includes detecting current between the electricity storage unit and the electronic device to determine whether the electricity storage unit is malfunctioned and causes short circuit, and generating an alarm signal when the electricity storage unit is malfunctioned and causes short circuit. | 03-25-2010 |
20100090848 | FUSE AND BREAKER ALARM DEVICE AND METHOD USING A FINITE STATE MACHINE - An alarm circuit and method of monitoring a circuit protection device are disclosed. The alarm circuit includes a circuit protection device connected in series at an input voltage of a load. The alarm circuit also includes a programmable circuit connected in parallel to the circuit protection device and including an alarm signal. The programmable circuit is programmed to include a plurality of functional states, and at least one functional state corresponds to activation of the alarm signal. The at least one functional state activating the alarm signal corresponds with an interruption condition in the circuit protection device. | 04-15-2010 |
20100109891 | POWER SUPPLY DEVICE - A power supply device for supplying power to a communication device includes a power source, a first fuse, a second fuse, a voltage converter, a photo coupler, and a central processing unit (CPU). The voltage converter is configured for receiving first power signals from the power source via the first fuse and the second fuse, and converting the first power signals to second power signals. The photo coupler connected in parallel to the third resistor, configured for outputting a first electrical signal upon the condition that the first fuse and the second fuse are operational, and outputting a second electrical signal upon the condition that at least one of the first fuse and the second fuse is blown. The CPU is connected to the photo coupler, configured for generating an alarm message upon receiving the second electrical signal from the photo coupler. | 05-06-2010 |
20100134306 | Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter With End-Of-Life Indicator - A circuit interrupter with end-of-life indicator is provided. A fuse is provided between the power supply and the control chip, and between the power supply and the main circuit. If the current passing through the control chip or the main circuit is drawing too much current, it indicates a short-circuit fault has occurred. In this case, the fuse is melted, and cutting off power supply to the control chip and the main circuit. An end-of-life indicator light turns off to signal to the user that an fault has occurred to the GFCI device. | 06-03-2010 |
20110140902 | Fuse box system and method - A fuse box system and method providing for visual and/or remote sensing of interrupted fusing elements is disclosed. The system incorporates LEDs and/or remote sensing apparatus to permit indication of a “blown” fuse and/or circuit protection breaker. This system may be configured for both polarized and/or non-polarized applications and generally provides for indicator illumination when a fuse/breaker is blown. Some preferred embodiments may incorporate current sourcing technologies to permit operation of the system over wide range of system voltages, as well as provisions for wired and/or RF/wireless interrogation of the fuse/breaker status. Alternate embodiments including systems/methods to permit remote sensing of fuse status and/or circuit current monitoring, and may be retrofit within existing fuse/breaker panel systems in some configurations. | 06-16-2011 |
20110199224 | SUBSTRATE INTER-TERMINAL VOLTAGE SENSING CIRCUIT - A substrate inter-terminal voltage sensing circuit which can promptly sense a plasma charge-up occurring on a semiconductor wafer across a wide range without connection of a voltage measuring instrument. The substrate inter-terminal voltage sensing circuit is adapted to sense a voltage occurring between a pair of electrodes arranged on a semiconductor substrate. The voltage sensing circuit includes a resistance path that is connected between the electrodes. The voltage sensing circuit also includes a circuit power supply that is connected at one end to a midpoint of the resistance path. The voltage sensing circuit also includes at least two fuse circuits that are connected between one end of the resistance path and the other end of the circuit power supply so as to be in parallel with each other. The fuse circuits have different rated fusing currents from each other. Each of the fuse circuits includes a switch that turns ON or OFF depending on a potential difference between the one end and midpoint of the resistance path. Each fuse circuit also has a current path that is connected across the circuit power supply. The current path possesses a resistive element and a fuse element serially connected to the switch. | 08-18-2011 |
20120105239 | FAULT SIGNALING DEVICE, PARTICULARLY FOR ELECTRICAL APPARATUSES SUCH AS INTERLOCKED SOCKETS - A fault signaling device, particularly for electrical apparatuses such as interlocked sockets and the like has an indicator constituted by a lamp ( | 05-03-2012 |
20120212348 | METHOD OF MONITORING THE GRADING MARGIN BETWEEN TIME-CURRENT CHARACTERISTICS OF INTELLIGENT ELECTRONIC DEVICES - A method of monitoring the grading margin between at least two time-current characteristics of Intelligent Electronic Devices (IED | 08-23-2012 |
20120218113 | INTEGRATED FUSE STATUS INDICATION IN AN OPEN FUSE BLOCK - An open fuse block is provided having a visual indicator or light assembly connected in parallel with a replaceable fuse mounted in the fuse block. When the fuse is blown, the corresponding visual indicator is illuminated to identify the blown fuse, thereby facilitating quick and easy replacement of the fuse. Since the visual indicator is connected in parallel with the fuse element, when the fuse is blown, the fuse results in an open circuit and the flow of electricity is rerouted through the visual indicator. The visual indicator is thereby illuminated and the corresponding blown fuse can be easily identified. The visual indicator or light assembly can include, for example, a neon bulb, light emitting diode, fluorescent bulb, incandescent bulb, or any other visual indicator that emits light. | 08-30-2012 |
20120256753 | ARC FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER TESTER - An arc fault circuit interrupter test circuit is disclosed. The test circuit incorporates a controller along with at least one power transistor, a current sense circuit and a voltage sense circuit. When the power transistor is operated, the current flowing through the transistor is sensed, and if the current is not at least equal to a threshold value, the voltage at which the power transistor is operated is increased. | 10-11-2012 |
20120280821 | FUSE AND BREAKER ALARM DEVICE AND METHOD USING A FINITE STATE MACHINE - An alarm circuit and method of monitoring a circuit protection device are disclosed. The alarm circuit includes a circuit protection device connected in series at an input voltage of a load. The alarm circuit also includes a programmable circuit connected in parallel to the circuit protection device and including an alarm signal. The programmable circuit is programmed to include a plurality of functional states, and at least one functional state corresponds to activation of the alarm signal. The at least one functional state activating the alarm signal corresponds with an interruption condition in the circuit protection device. | 11-08-2012 |
20120299739 | POLE MOUNTED FUSE CUTOUT INDICATOR - A fuse cutout indicator includes: a battery pack; an alarm; and a power controller. The power controller has a contactless power sensor for communication with a fuse, and is operable to connect the alarm to the battery pack in response to cessation of current through or voltage across the fuse. | 11-29-2012 |
20120306656 | GAS DENSITY MONITORING SYSTEM - A circuit breaker monitoring system may monitor both at least one gas characteristic of a gas surrounding the circuit breaker and at least one fault arc energy characteristic. The monitored characteristics may be used to forecast maintenance events. The monitored characteristics may be used to control the operation of the circuit breaker. | 12-06-2012 |
20130021163 | CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIP NOTIFICATION SYSTEMS AND METHODS - The present invention provides circuit breaker notification to users. The invention includes systems, apparatus, and methods to monitor a position of an operating handle of a circuit breaker; sense a change in the position of the circuit breaker operating handle to a tripped position; generate a first signal representative of an identifier of the circuit breaker with the operating handle in the tripped position; transmit the first signal to a communications device; and provide notification of a trip event within the identified circuit breaker to a user via the communications device. Numerous additional aspects are disclosed. | 01-24-2013 |
20130214927 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CORRECTING ERROR OF ACQUIRED DATA - Disclosed are an apparatus for correcting an error of acquired data and a method thereof. The method includes determining whether states of at least one circuit breaker and at least one disconnecting switch included in at least one station are consistent with each other based on data received from at least one remote control apparatus including the at least one station; assigning a weight to a corresponding circuit breaker and a corresponding disconnecting switch and the station including the corresponding circuit breaker and the corresponding disconnecting switch when the determination result represents that the states of the circuit breaker and the disconnecting switch are inconsistent with each other; creating alarm information notifying a malfunction of the corresponding circuit breaker and the corresponding disconnecting switch when an accumulated weight value is equal to or greater than a preset reference weight value; and outputting an alarm corresponding to the alarm information. | 08-22-2013 |
20140104068 | Method And Structure For Monitoring Breaker Status Contacts On Circuit Breaker Applications - A trip control circuit for a circuit breaker which provides for self-diagnostics includes a normally opened trip contact, a tripping circuit, and a signal light in series with the tripping circuit and the trip contact. The trip control circuit also includes a flasher circuit constructed and arranged to provide signaling of an abnormal condition of a circuit breaker to the signal light, while permitting the circuit breaker to trip provided that a cause of the abnormal condition signaled is not one which prevents tripping of the circuit breaker. | 04-17-2014 |
20140111345 | INTEGRAL MODULE WITH LIGHTED FACEPLATE DISPLAY - A faceplate assembly is provided. The faceplate assembly includes a faceplate having planar member with a first side and a second side, the planar member having a number of openings therethrough, the planar member first side having a number of opaque portions and a number of translucent portions, each planar member first side translucent portion disposed adjacent one planar member opening, a number of sources of localized illumination, each the source of localized illumination disposed adjacent the planar member second side and adjacent a planar member first side translucent portion, and wherein the source of localized illumination may be illuminated causing a selected planar member first side translucent portion to be illuminated. | 04-24-2014 |
20150009037 | CIRCUIT BREAKER INDICATION DEVICE - A circuit breaker device with an integrated indication light display is disclosed. The integrated indication light display may display a representation of the amount of current running through a circuit that the circuit breaker device is connected to. The indication light display may be a Light Emitting Diode Bar and may display multi levels indicating whether there will be a circuit overload. The circuit breaker device may further be connected to a remote alarm system indicating the amount of current running through a circuit to a remote location. | 01-08-2015 |
20160180687 | CIRCUIT PROTECTIVE DEVICE FAULT DIAGNOSTIC TRANSLATOR | 06-23-2016 |
340639000 | Plural | 2 |
20090051557 | METHOD AND ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS INCLUDING A NUMBER OF ACCESSORIES EMPLOYING WIRELESS COMMUNICATION - A circuit breaker includes separable contacts, an operating mechanism opening and closing the contacts, a first processor determining an open or closed state of the contacts, and a wireless transceiver transmitting the open or closed state from the first processor and receiving a signal. A first accessory includes a wireless receiver, a second processor and outputs. A second accessory includes a wireless transmitter, a third processor and a circuit generating the signal for or communicating the signal to the third processor, which outputs the signal to the wireless transmitter, which transmits the signal to the wireless transceiver. The first processor receives the signal from the wireless transceiver and causes the mechanism to open or close the contacts. The wireless receiver receives the open or closed state from the wireless transceiver. The second processor receives the open or closed state from the wireless receiver and outputs the same to the outputs. | 02-26-2009 |
20100060469 | COMMUNICATION INTERFACE APPARATUS FOR AN ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION PANEL, AND SYSTEM AND ELECTRICAL DISTRIBUTION PANEL INCLUDING THE SAME - A system includes a number of electrical switching apparatus having separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts, a test circuit structured to test the trip mechanism and determine a failure to protect condition thereof, and a communication circuit structured to communicate the failure to protect condition. The system also includes an electrical distribution panel having a housing housing the number of electrical switching apparatus, and a communication interface structured to receive the failure to protect condition from the communication circuit and annunciate the failure to protect condition. | 03-11-2010 |