WO1998027633A1 - Ground fault-rating plug for molded case circuit breakers - Google Patents

Ground fault-rating plug for molded case circuit breakers Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1998027633A1
WO1998027633A1 PCT/US1997/022698 US9722698W WO9827633A1 WO 1998027633 A1 WO1998027633 A1 WO 1998027633A1 US 9722698 W US9722698 W US 9722698W WO 9827633 A1 WO9827633 A1 WO 9827633A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
ground fault
rating plug
resistor
rating
enclosure
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US1997/022698
Other languages
French (fr)
Inventor
Paul Hamilton Singer
Original Assignee
General Electric Company
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by General Electric Company filed Critical General Electric Company
Priority to JP10527819A priority Critical patent/JP2000505941A/en
Publication of WO1998027633A1 publication Critical patent/WO1998027633A1/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/02—Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings
    • H01H71/0207—Mounting or assembling the different parts of the circuit breaker
    • H01H71/0228—Mounting or assembling the different parts of the circuit breaker having provisions for interchangeable or replaceable parts
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
    • H02H3/00—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition with or without subsequent reconnection ; integrated protection
    • H02H3/006—Calibration or setting of parameters
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H71/00—Details of the protective switches or relays covered by groups H01H73/00 - H01H83/00
    • H01H71/74—Means for adjusting the conditions under which the device will function to provide protection
    • H01H71/7409—Interchangeable elements

Definitions

  • Breaker describes the use of a removable rating plug enclosure that contains the rating resistor to establish the circuit breaker ampere rating.
  • the rating plug enclosure is arranged to allow direct connection between the rating resistor and the trip unit circuit.
  • US Patent 4,077,055 entitled “Ground Fault Protective Device” describes a ground fault circuit interrupter that employs a rating plug to set the ground fault interruption rating.
  • Trip System Having an Intelligent Rating Plug describes a rating plug for setting the circuit breaker ampere rating in an electronic trip unit having dedicated ground fault interruption facility.
  • One purpose of the invention is to provide a standard circuit breaker rating plug receptacle on the cover of a circuit breaker that allows the operator to select whether ground fault function should be initiated within the circuit breaker trip unit.
  • a circuit breaker containing an electronic trip unit configured for overcurrent as well as ground fault protection contains a standard rating plug receptacle for receiving a rating plug containing the rating resistor to set the circuit breaker ampere rating.
  • a ground fault configuring rating plug containing the rating resistor along with a ground fault enabling resistor can be inserted within the rating plug receptacle when ground fault protection is preferred.
  • Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a circuit breaker containing an electronic trip unit and rating plug receptacle according to the prior art
  • Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the circuit within the trip unit of Figure 1 ;
  • FIG. 3 is a top perspective view of the ground fault-rating plug according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
  • the circuit breaker 10 shown in Figure 1 contains an electronic trip unit 9 similar to that described in US Patent 4,672,501 entitled "Circuit Breaker and Protective Relay Unit".
  • the circuit breaker consists of an electrically insulated case 1 1 to which a cover 12 of similar insulative material is attached.
  • An external handle 14 allows the circuit breaker to be turned ON and OFF independent of the electronic trip unit 9 contained within the cover.
  • Electrical connection with the interior current-carrying components is made by load terminal straps 18 extending from one side of the case and then through the line terminal straps (not shown) extending from the opposite side thereof.
  • a rating plug 17A extends within the rating plug receptacle 17 within the circuit breaker accessory cover 13 and connects with the circuit breaker trip unit 9 to set the circuit breaker ampere rating.
  • the trip unit 9 is shown in Figure 2 connected with current transformers 19-22 and potential transformers 23-25.
  • the electrical input is transmitted through multiplexers 27, 28, 31 and sample and hold amplifiers 29, 30 to an A/D converter 34 by means of conductor 32.
  • Circuit protection and control is achieved by utilization of a data bus which is interconnected with an output control 36, transceiver 39, and ROM 37.
  • the RAM 33, microprocessor 38 and nonvolatile memory 35 operate in the manner described within the aforementioned US patent 4,672,501 to insure overcurrent circuit protection along with ground fault protection.
  • the ground fault/rating plug 17B as shown in Figure 3 is in the form of a cover 42 and case 45 that houses a printed circuit board 40 is provided with a rating plug resistor or "burden resistor" 51 along with the ground fault rotary switches 49.
  • the opening 53 within the cover 42 allows access to the jack 41 to test the operability of the circuit breaker as well as to calibrate the trip unit components.
  • the printed circuit board 40 is received within the slots 46 formed within the opposing walls of the case 45 and the upstanding side rails 47 are received within the slots 48 on the opposing edges of the cover in press- fit relation.
  • the burden resistor 51 connects with the trip unit 9 of Figure 1 by means of connector 52 located on the edge of the printed circuit board.
  • the rotary switches 49 connect with the trip unit 9 of Figure 1 by means of connector 52 located on the edge of the printed circuit board. Insertion of the connector 52 into the mating trip unit connector provides the electrical connection between the jack 41 , burden resistor 51 and the rotary switches 49 with the trip unit circuit components and configures the trip unit circuit for ground fault protection.
  • the rating plug 17A containing the burden resistor alone ( Figure 1 ) is inserted within the rating plug receptacle 17.
  • the ground fault/rating plug 17B is inserted within the rating plug receptacle.
  • the connection of the settings provided by the rotary switches 49 automatically configures the trip unit circuit for the ground fault protection function.
  • a jumper located in the ground fault/rating plug enables the ground fault function in the trip unit and informs the trip unit to use the rotary switch configuration to configure the ground fault function. This allows the ground fault function to be configured in the field at a later time rather than at the time of manufacturing. In many applications, the ground fault configuration depends on the breaker rating. By combining the normal rating plug function with the ground fault functions in one module, the ground fault information and the breaker rating information can be easily coordinated by a single plug.

Abstract

A ground fault/rating plug (17B) for molded case circuit breakers is inserted within the circuit breaker cover (42) for electrical connection with the circuit breaker electronic trip unit. A rating resistor (51) within the ground fault/rating plug enclosure (45) sets the circuit breaker ampere rating. Rotary switches (49) on the outer surface of the ground fault/rating plug enclosure configures the trip unit for ground fault protection.

Description

GROUND FAULT-RATING PLUG FOR MOLDED CASE CIRCUIT BREAKERS
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
US Patent 4,649,455 entitled "Rating Plug for Molded Case Circuit
Breaker" describes the use of a removable rating plug enclosure that contains the rating resistor to establish the circuit breaker ampere rating.
The rating plug enclosure is arranged to allow direct connection between the rating resistor and the trip unit circuit.
US Patent 4,728,914 entitled "Rating Plug Enclosure for Molded Case Circuit Breakers", US Patent 5,027,091 entitled "Molded Case Circuit Interrupter Rating Plug Keying and Interlock Arrangement", and US Patent 5,204,798 entitled "Metering Accessory for Molded Case Circuit Breakers" each describe rating plugs that interact with the circuit breaker trip unit for various functions.
US Patent 4,077,055 entitled "Ground Fault Protective Device" describes a ground fault circuit interrupter that employs a rating plug to set the ground fault interruption rating.
US Patent 5,136,457 entitled "Processor Controlled Circuit Breaker
Trip System Having an Intelligent Rating Plug" describes a rating plug for setting the circuit breaker ampere rating in an electronic trip unit having dedicated ground fault interruption facility.
US Patent 5,490,086 entitled "Plug-in Ground Fault Monitor for a Circuit Breaker" describes a circuit breaker electronic trip unit that is configured for ground fault interruption by means of a ground fault monitor module that includes switches and a display. Circuit breakers currently employing rating plug receptacles generally have ground fault facility within the operating firmware. Since some circuit breaker applications do not require ground fault protection, it would be advantageous to the user to select whether the ground fault function should be initiated or not.
One purpose of the invention is to provide a standard circuit breaker rating plug receptacle on the cover of a circuit breaker that allows the operator to select whether ground fault function should be initiated within the circuit breaker trip unit.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A circuit breaker containing an electronic trip unit configured for overcurrent as well as ground fault protection contains a standard rating plug receptacle for receiving a rating plug containing the rating resistor to set the circuit breaker ampere rating. A ground fault configuring rating plug containing the rating resistor along with a ground fault enabling resistor can be inserted within the rating plug receptacle when ground fault protection is preferred.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a top perspective view of a circuit breaker containing an electronic trip unit and rating plug receptacle according to the prior art;
Figure 2 is a schematic representation of the circuit within the trip unit of Figure 1 ; and
Figure 3 is a top perspective view of the ground fault-rating plug according to the invention. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The circuit breaker 10 shown in Figure 1 contains an electronic trip unit 9 similar to that described in US Patent 4,672,501 entitled "Circuit Breaker and Protective Relay Unit". The circuit breaker consists of an electrically insulated case 1 1 to which a cover 12 of similar insulative material is attached. An external handle 14 allows the circuit breaker to be turned ON and OFF independent of the electronic trip unit 9 contained within the cover. Electrical connection with the interior current-carrying components is made by load terminal straps 18 extending from one side of the case and then through the line terminal straps (not shown) extending from the opposite side thereof. A pair of accessory doors 15,
16 allow for the provision of field-installable accessories in the manner described in US Patent 4,754,247 entitled "Molded Case Circuit Breaker Accessory Enclosure". A rating plug 17A extends within the rating plug receptacle 17 within the circuit breaker accessory cover 13 and connects with the circuit breaker trip unit 9 to set the circuit breaker ampere rating.
The trip unit 9 is shown in Figure 2 connected with current transformers 19-22 and potential transformers 23-25. The electrical input is transmitted through multiplexers 27, 28, 31 and sample and hold amplifiers 29, 30 to an A/D converter 34 by means of conductor 32. Circuit protection and control is achieved by utilization of a data bus which is interconnected with an output control 36, transceiver 39, and ROM 37. The RAM 33, microprocessor 38 and nonvolatile memory 35 operate in the manner described within the aforementioned US patent 4,672,501 to insure overcurrent circuit protection along with ground fault protection.
In accordance with the invention, the ground fault/rating plug 17B as shown in Figure 3 is in the form of a cover 42 and case 45 that houses a printed circuit board 40 is provided with a rating plug resistor or "burden resistor" 51 along with the ground fault rotary switches 49. The opening 53 within the cover 42 allows access to the jack 41 to test the operability of the circuit breaker as well as to calibrate the trip unit components. The printed circuit board 40 is received within the slots 46 formed within the opposing walls of the case 45 and the upstanding side rails 47 are received within the slots 48 on the opposing edges of the cover in press- fit relation. The burden resistor 51 connects with the trip unit 9 of Figure 1 by means of connector 52 located on the edge of the printed circuit board. The rotary switches 49 connect with the trip unit 9 of Figure 1 by means of connector 52 located on the edge of the printed circuit board. Insertion of the connector 52 into the mating trip unit connector provides the electrical connection between the jack 41 , burden resistor 51 and the rotary switches 49 with the trip unit circuit components and configures the trip unit circuit for ground fault protection.
To enable the electronic trip unit for overcurrent operation per se, the rating plug 17A containing the burden resistor alone (Figure 1 ) is inserted within the rating plug receptacle 17. To enable the electronic trip unit for ground fault protection as well as overcurrent protection, the ground fault/rating plug 17B is inserted within the rating plug receptacle.
Since the firmware containing the ground fault algorithms of operation is already included within the electronic trip unit ROM 37 (Figure 1 ) the connection of the settings provided by the rotary switches 49 automatically configures the trip unit circuit for the ground fault protection function. A jumper located in the ground fault/rating plug enables the ground fault function in the trip unit and informs the trip unit to use the rotary switch configuration to configure the ground fault function. This allows the ground fault function to be configured in the field at a later time rather than at the time of manufacturing. In many applications, the ground fault configuration depends on the breaker rating. By combining the normal rating plug function with the ground fault functions in one module, the ground fault information and the breaker rating information can be easily coordinated by a single plug.

Claims

CLAIMS:
1. A ground fault-rating plug for electronic trip circuit breakers comprising: a case and a cover defining an enclosure; a rating plug resistor within said enclosure, said rating plug resistor having a first predetermined resistance value for providing a circuit breaker ampere rating; a ground fault resistor within said enclosure, said ground fault resistor having a second predetermined resistance value for configuring a circuit breaker trip to provide ground fault protection.
2. The ground fault-rating plug of claim 1 including a printed circuit board within said enclosure, said rating plug resistor being arranged on said printed circuit board.
3. The ground fault-rating plug of claim 1 wherein said ground fault resistor comprises a variable resistor.
4. The ground fault-rating plug of claim 3 wherein said variable resistor comprises a variable resistance pot.
5. The ground fault-rating plug of claim 3 wherein a part of said variable resistor extends outside said enclosure for manual access thereto.
6. The ground fault-rating plug of claim 2 including means at one end of said printed circuit board for electrical connection with a circuit breaker trip unit circuit.
7. A circuit interrupter having ground fault and overcurrent protection facility comprising: a circuit breaker cover attached to circuit breaker case; an electronic trip unit within said cover, said electronic trip unit being capable of overcurrent and ground fault circuit interruption; a rating plug receptacle on said cover, over said trip unit whereby insertion of a rating plug containing a rating plug resistor within said receptacle configures said trip unit for overcurrent protection; and insertion of a ground fault-rating plug containing a ground fault resistor along with said rating plug resistor configures said trip unit for both overcurrent and ground fault protection.
8. The circuit interrupter of claim 7 wherein said ground fault- rating plug comprises: a rating plug case and a rating plug cover defining an enclosure; said rating plug resistor being within said enclosure, said rating plug resistor having a first predetermined resistance value for providing a circuit breaker ampere rating; said ground fault resistor being within said enclosure, said ground fault resistor having a second predetermined resistance value for configuring a circuit breaker trip to provide ground fault protection.
9. The circuit interrupter of claim 8 including a printed circuit board within said enclosure, said rating plug resistor being arranged on said printed circuit board.
10. The circuit interrupter of claim 8 wherein said ground fault resistor comprises a variable resistor.
11. The circuit interrupter of claim 10 wherein said variable resistor comprises a variable resistance pot.
12. The circuit interrupter of claim 10 wherein a part of said variable resistor extends outside said enclosure for manual access thereto.
13. The circuit interrupter of claim 9 including means at one end of said printed circuit board for electrical connection with a circuit breaker trip unit.
14. The circuit interrupter of claim 9 wherein said printed circuit board extends between said rating plug cover and said rating plug case.
PCT/US1997/022698 1996-12-17 1997-12-16 Ground fault-rating plug for molded case circuit breakers WO1998027633A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
JP10527819A JP2000505941A (en) 1996-12-17 1997-12-16 Ground fault and rating adjustment plug for wiring breaker

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US08/767,748 1996-12-17
US08/767,748 US5877925A (en) 1996-12-17 1996-12-17 Ground fault-rating plug for molded case circuit breakers

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1998027633A1 true WO1998027633A1 (en) 1998-06-25

Family

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/US1997/022698 WO1998027633A1 (en) 1996-12-17 1997-12-16 Ground fault-rating plug for molded case circuit breakers

Country Status (3)

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US (1) US5877925A (en)
JP (1) JP2000505941A (en)
WO (1) WO1998027633A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (16)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7463124B2 (en) 1998-08-24 2008-12-09 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Circuit interrupting device with reverse wiring protection
US6288882B1 (en) * 1998-08-24 2001-09-11 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Circuit breaker with independent trip and reset lockout
US6437700B1 (en) * 2000-10-16 2002-08-20 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Ground fault circuit interrupter
US7400477B2 (en) 1998-08-24 2008-07-15 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Method of distribution of a circuit interrupting device with reset lockout and reverse wiring protection
MXPA00012699A (en) * 1999-12-27 2003-04-25 Gen Electric Electronic trip unit with a rating plug for circuit.
US6346869B1 (en) * 1999-12-28 2002-02-12 General Electric Company Rating plug for circuit breakers
US6836396B1 (en) 2000-09-13 2004-12-28 General Electric Company World wide web enabled and digital rating plug
US6949994B2 (en) * 2002-12-30 2005-09-27 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. GFCI without bridge contacts and having means for automatically blocking a face opening of a protected receptacle when tripped
US7944331B2 (en) 2003-02-03 2011-05-17 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Circuit interrupting device with reverse wiring protection
US7737809B2 (en) * 2003-02-03 2010-06-15 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Circuit interrupting device and system utilizing bridge contact mechanism and reset lockout
US20050047045A1 (en) * 2003-08-29 2005-03-03 Puskar Michael P. Circuit breaker and trip unit employing multiple function time selector switch
US7455538B2 (en) * 2005-08-31 2008-11-25 Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. Electrical wiring devices with a protective shutter
US8116054B2 (en) * 2006-12-29 2012-02-14 General Electric Company Universal rating plug for electronic trip unit
US7804255B2 (en) 2007-07-26 2010-09-28 Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc. Dimming system powered by two current sources and having an operation indicator module
US8444309B2 (en) 2010-08-13 2013-05-21 Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc. Wiring device with illumination
KR200483252Y1 (en) * 2016-12-28 2017-04-19 엘에스산전 주식회사 Rated current setting mechanism for overcurrent relay in circuit breaker

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Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
JP2000505941A (en) 2000-05-16
US5877925A (en) 1999-03-02

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