Failure prediction device and method for vacuum circuit breakers

• US 10,012,697 B2
• Filed: 12/10/2015
• Issued: 07/03/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Yang, He, Chen, Jiong, Mao, Mark, Hou, Wenjie, Yu, Li
• Primary Examiner(s): Laballe, Clayton E
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sanghera, Jas
• Application Number:
  US14/964,946
• Publication Number:
  US 20170047181A1
• Time in Patent Office: 936 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3277 of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2033/6667 Details concerning lever type driving rod arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/3005 Charging means
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/666 Operating arrangements

Abstract

A component monitoring system structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly component characteristics is provided. The component monitoring system includes a record assembly, a number of impulse sensor assemblies, a comparison assembly, and an output assembly. The record assembly includes selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component. The impulse sensor assemblies are structured to measure a number of actual component characteristics for a substantial portion of the circuit breaker assembly and to transmit actual component characteristic output data. The comparison assembly is structured to receive an electronic signal from the record assembly and the impulse sensor assemblies, to compare each impulse sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to the selected nominal data and to provide an indication signal as to whether the impulse sensor assembly output data is acceptable when compared to the selected nominal data. The output assembly includes a communication assembly and an output device.

Claims

1. A component monitoring system for a circuit breaker assembly, said circuit breaker assembly including a number of components, said circuit breaker assembly component monitoring system structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly component characteristics, said system comprising:

a record assembly including selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component;

a number of impulse sensor assemblies, each impulse sensor assembly structured to measure force and movement actual component characteristics of a number of circuit breaker assembly components and to transmit actual component characteristic output data;

a comparison assembly structured to receive an electronic signal from said record assembly and said impulse sensor assemblies to compare said impulse sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication signal as to whether said impulse sensor assembly output data is acceptable when compared to the selected nominal data;

an output assembly including a communication assembly and an output device;

said communication assembly structured to receive said indication signal from said comparison assembly and to communicate a signal to said output device;

each impulse sensor assembly in electronic communication with said comparison assembly; and

said comparison assembly in electronic communication with said communication assembly.

2. The component monitoring system of claim 1 wherein:

each impulse sensor assembly includes a processing assembly, a number of stress sensors, a number of displacement sensors;

said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly structured to receive a stress signal including stress data and a displacement signal including displacement data;

each said stress sensor structured to provide a stress signal including stress data;

each said stress sensor in electronic communication with said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly;

each displacement sensor structured to provide a displacement signal including displacement data;

each said displacement sensor in electronic communication with said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly;

said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly structured to convert said stress data to a force actual component characteristic; and

said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly structured to convert said displacement data to a movement actual component characteristic.

3. The component monitoring system of claim 1 wherein:

said comparison assembly includes a processing assembly, an input/output device, and a comparison module;

said processing assembly structured to execute said comparison module; and

said comparison assembly structured to compare said impulse sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication signal representing an indication of remaining useful life for a selected circuit breaker component.

4. The component monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said selected nominal data is model selected nominal data.

5. The component monitoring system of claim 4 wherein said model selected nominal data includes segmented signal data.

6. The component monitoring system of claim 5 wherein:

said segmented signal data includes a number of data segments; and

each data segment including segment duration attribute, a segment voltage attribute, a segment displacement attribute, and a segment stress attribute.

7. The component monitoring system of claim 6 wherein:

said comparison assembly is structured to divide said actual component characteristic output data into measured periods substantially corresponding to said segmented signal data segments;

said comparison assembly is structured to calculate calculated component characteristics including a calculated segment voltage characteristic, a calculated segment displacement characteristic, and a calculated segment stress characteristic;

wherein said comparison assembly is structured to compare said calculated component characteristics for each said measured period to the model selected nominal data for a corresponding segmented signal data segment; and

wherein said comparison assembly is structured to compare, within each measured period and segmented signal data segment, said segment voltage characteristic to said segment voltage attribute, said segment displacement characteristic to said segment displacement attribute, and said segment stress characteristic to said segment stress attribute.

8. The component monitoring system of claim 7 wherein:

said measured periods include an open position period, a closing period, a contact impact period, an over-travel period, a closed position period, an opening period, an adjustment rod impact period, a transition period, and a main shaft impact period; and

said segmented signal data segments include an open position segment, a closing segment, a contact impact segment, an over-travel segment, a closed position segment, an opening segment, an adjustment rod impact segment, a transition segment, and a main shaft impact segment.

9. The component monitoring system of claim 7 wherein said comparison assembly structured to associate each said data segment with a selected component of said circuit breaker assembly.

10. The component monitoring system of claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker assembly includes a rocker link member, an adjustment rod and a movable contact assembly, said rocker link member including a first end, said rocker link member movable between a first position and a second position, said adjustment rod including an upper portion and a lower portion, said rocker link member coupled to said adjustment rod, said adjustment rod coupled to said movable contact assembly, wherein:

each impulse sensor assembly includes a number of stress sensors, a number of displacement sensors;

a first stress sensor disposed on said adjustment rod upper portion;

a second stress sensor disposed on said adjustment rod lower portion; and

a first displacement sensor disposed adjacent said rocker link member first end, said first displacement sensor structured to determine the displacement of said rocker link member first end as said rocker link member moves between said first position and said second position.

11. A circuit breaker assembly comprising:

a number of components;

a component monitoring system structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly component characteristics, said component monitoring system including a record assembly, a number of impulse sensor assemblies, a comparison assembly, and an output assembly;

said record assembly including selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component;

each impulse sensor assembly structured to measure force and movement actual component characteristics of a number of circuit breaker assembly components and to transmit actual component characteristic output data;

said comparison assembly structured to receive an electronic signal from said record assembly and said impulse sensor assemblies, to compare said impulse sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication signal as to whether said impulse sensor assembly output data is acceptable when compared to the selected nominal data;

said output assembly including a communication assembly and an output device;

said communication assembly structured to receive said indication signal from said comparison assembly and to communicate a signal to said output device;

each impulse sensor assembly in electronic communication with said comparison assembly; and

said comparison assembly in electronic communication with said communication assembly.

12. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 11 wherein:

each impulse sensor assembly includes a processing assembly, a number of stress sensors, a number of displacement sensors;

said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly structured to receive a stress signal including stress data and a displacement signal including displacement data;

each said stress sensor structured to provide a stress signal including stress data;

each said stress sensor in electronic communication with said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly;

each displacement sensor structured to provide a displacement signal including displacement data;

each said displacement sensor in electronic communication with said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly;

said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly structured to convert said stress data to a force actual component characteristic; and

said impulse sensor assembly processing assembly structured to convert said displacement data to a movement actual component characteristic.

13. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 11 wherein:

said comparison assembly includes a processing assembly, an input/output device, and a comparison module;

said processing assembly structured to execute said comparison module; and

said comparison assembly structured to compare said impulse sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication signal representing an indication of remaining useful life for a selected circuit breaker component.

14. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 11 wherein said selected nominal data is model selected nominal data.

15. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 14 wherein said model selected nominal data includes segmented signal data.

16. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 15 wherein:

said segmented signal data includes a number of data segments; and

each data segment including segment duration attribute, a segment voltage attribute, a segment displacement attribute, and a segment stress attribute.

17. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 16 wherein:

said comparison assembly is structured to divide said actual component characteristic output data into measured periods substantially corresponding to said segmented signal data segments;

said comparison assembly is structured to calculate calculated component characteristics including a calculated segment voltage characteristic, a calculated segment displacement characteristic, and a calculated segment stress characteristic;

wherein said comparison assembly is structured to compare said calculated component characteristics for each said measured period to the model selected nominal data for a corresponding segmented signal data segment; and

wherein said comparison assembly is structured to compare, within each measured period and segmented signal data segment, said segment voltage characteristic to said segment voltage attribute, said segment displacement characteristic to said segment displacement attribute, and said segment stress characteristic to said segment stress attribute.

18. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 17 wherein:

said measured periods include an open position period, a closing period, a contact impact period, an over-travel period, a closed position period, an opening period, an adjustment rod impact period, a transition period, and a main shaft impact period; and

said segmented signal data segments include an open position segment, a closing segment, a contact impact segment, an over-travel segment, a closed position segment, an opening segment, an adjustment rod impact segment, a transition segment, and a main shaft impact segment.

19. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 17 wherein said comparison assembly structured to associate each said data segment with a selected component of said circuit breaker assembly.

20. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 11 wherein said circuit breaker assembly includes a rocker link member, an adjustment rod and a movable contact assembly, said rocker link member including a first end, said rocker link member movable between a first position and a second position, said adjustment rod including an upper portion and a lower portion, said rocker link member coupled to said adjustment rod, said adjustment rod coupled to said movable contact assembly, wherein:

each impulse sensor assembly includes a number of stress sensors, a number of displacement sensors;

a first stress sensor disposed on said adjustment rod upper portion;

a second stress sensor disposed on said adjustment rod lower portion; and

a first displacement sensor disposed adjacent said rocker link member first end, said first displacement sensor structured to determine the displacement of said rocker link member first end as said rocker link member moves between said first position and said second position.