Circuit breaker lockout

• US 20030231447A1
• Filed: 02/25/2003
• Published: 12/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/25/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Papallo, Thomas F., Giglio, Carmine G.
• Granted Patent: US 7,068,483 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/72
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/12 Synchronisation of different clock signals provided by a plurality of clock generators
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/05 Digital input using the sampling of an analogue quantity at regular intervals of time , input from a/d converter or output to d/a converter
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/03 Application domotique, e.g. for house automation, bus connected switches, sensors, loads or intelligent wiring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/20 operated by excess current as well as by some other abnormal electrical condition
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0061 concerning transmission of signals transmission of measured quantities or switching orders; sectionalised protection involving signal transmission between at least two stations H02H7/261; comparison of the voltage or current values at two spaced portions of a single system H02H3/28; transferring the output of a sensing member to another variable G01D5/00; electrical measuring arrangements using modulation of electromagnetic waves, e.g. light beams G01R15/24, G01R15/26
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/05 with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements for logic circuits H03K19/003
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/262 involving transmissions of switching or blocking orders
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/263 involving transmissions of measured values comparison of currents or voltages using pilot wires H02H3/30
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/30 Staggered disconnection
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00007 using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00009 using pulsed signals
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00012 using an auxiliary transmission line
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00016 using a wired telecommunication network or a data transmission bus
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00018 using phone lines
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00028 involving the use of Internet protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00034 the elements or equipment being or involving an electric power substation
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 : involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2203/20 : Simulating, e g planning, reliability check, modelling or computer assisted design [CAD]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 2310/64 : The condition being economic, e.g. tariff based load management
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 : Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/001 : Methods to deal with contingencies, e.g. abnormalities, faults or failures
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/007 : Arrangements for selectively connecting the load or loads to one or several among a plurality of power lines or power sources for providing uninterruptable power supply H02J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/12 : for adjusting voltage in ac networks by changing a characteristic of the network load
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0658 : Clock or time synchronisation among packet nodes
• CPC Class Codes: H04J 3/0661 : using timestamps
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0002 : by adapting the transmission rate
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 1/0018 : based on latency requirement
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 41/0253 : using browsers or web-pages for accessing management information
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/00 : Arrangements for monitoring or testing data switching networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/06 : Generation of reports
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0817 : by checking functioning
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 : Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/30 : Systems integrating technologies related to power network operation and communication or information technologies for improving the carbon footprint of the management of residential or tertiary loads, i.e. smart grids as climate change mitigation technology in the buildings sector, including also the last stages of power distribution and the control, monitoring or operating management systems at local level
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 70/3225 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y02B 90/20 : Smart grids as enabling technology in buildings sector smart grids supporting the management or operation of end-user stationary applications in general, or like technologies with no associated climate change mitigation effect Y04S20/00
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/50 : in wire-line communication networks, e.g. low power modes or reduced link rate
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 80/10 : Efficient use of energy, e.g. using compressed air or pressurized fluid as energy carrier
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/40 : Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/14 : Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/20 : End-user application control systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 20/222 : Demand response systems, e.g. load shedding, peak shaving
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/00 : Systems for electrical power generation, transmission, distribution or end-user application management characterised by the use of communication or information technologies, or communication or information technology specific aspects supporting them
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/121 : using the power network as support for the transmission
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 40/124 : using wired telecommunication networks or data transmission busses
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 50/10 : Energy trading, including energy flowing from end-user application to grid

Abstract

A circuit breaker lockout device is provided that prevents the breaker contacts from being closed when the circuit breaker is in a lockout state in response to a lockout signal and permits the breaker contacts to be closed when the circuit breaker is an enable state in response to an enable signal.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a circuit breaker having at least one contact, said method comprises:

generating a lockout signal or an enable signal;

preventing said contact from closing when said circuit breaker receives said lockout signal, thereby causing a lockout state; and

permitting said contact to close when said circuit breaker receives said enable signal, thereby causing an enable state.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising maintaining said circuit breaker in said lockout state in the absence of said enable signal being generated.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising maintaining said circuit breaker in said enable state in the absence of said lockout signal being generated.

4. The method of claim 2, further comprising maintaining said circuit breaker in said lockout state if said lockout signal is being generated.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein said lockout and enable signals are generated via a microprocessor and communicated over a network to said circuit breaker.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprises:

determining a lockout condition for said circuit breaker wherein said lockout condition is either said lockout state or said enable state;

generating a status signal representative of said lockout condition; and

communicating said status signal to said microprocessor over said network.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising manually placing said circuit breaker into either said lockout state or said enable state.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said circuit breaker is placed into either said lockout state or said enable state by at least one solenoid.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising visually indicating whether said circuit breaker is in either said lockout state or said enable state.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said circuit breaker comprises separable contacts.

11. A method of controlling a circuit breaker with at least one contact disposed within a circuit, said method comprising:

detecting a fault in said circuit;

opening said contact in response to said fault;

generating either a lockout signal or an enable signal;

preventing said contact from closing when said circuit breaker receives said lockout signal, thereby causing a lockout state; and

permitting said contact to close when said circuit breaker receives said enable signal, thereby causing an enable state.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising maintaining said circuit breaker in said lockout state in the absence of said enable signal being generated.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising maintaining said circuit breaker in said enable state in the absence of said lockout signal being generated.

14. The method of claim 12, further comprising maintaining said circuit breaker in said lockout state if said lockout signal is being generated.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising closing said contact if said circuit breaker is in said enable state.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising visually indicating whether said circuit breaker is in either said lockout state or said enable state.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting said fault comprises monitoring electrical parameters of said circuit and communicating said electrical parameters over a network to a microprocessor, said microprocessor being configured to operate said circuit breaker.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising generating a command to open said contact at said microprocessor in response to said electrical parameters and communicating said command to open from said microprocessor to a circuit breaker actuator operably connected to said contact, said open command causing said circuit breaker actuator to open said contact.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising sensing said electrical parameters with a sensor, communicating signals representative of said electrical parameters to a data sample and transmission module and communicating said signals to said microprocessor, wherein said module, said sensor and said microprocessor are communicatively coupled.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating a command to close said contact at said microprocessor and communicating said close command from said microprocessor to said circuit breaker actuator, said close command causing said circuit breaker actuator to close said contact if said circuit breaker is in said enable state.

21. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining a lockout condition for said circuit breaker wherein said lockout condition is either said lockout state or said enable state;

generating a status signal representative of said lockout condition; and

communicating said status signal to said microprocessor over said network.

22. The method of claim 11, wherein said circuit breaker comprises separable contacts.

23. A method of protecting a circuit having a circuit breaker having at least one contact, said method comprising:

generating a lockout signal or an enable signal at a control processing unit;

communicating said lockout signal or said enable signal over a network to said circuit breaker;

preventing said contact from closing when said circuit breaker receives said lockout signal, thereby causing a lockout state; and

permitting said contact to close when said circuit breaker receives said enable signal, thereby causing an enable state.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising maintaining said circuit breaker in said lockout state in the absence of said enable signal being communicated to said circuit breaker.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising maintaining said circuit breaker in said enable state in the absence of said lockout signal being communicated to said circuit breaker.

26. The method of claim 25, maintaining said circuit breaker in said lockout state if said lockout signal is being communicated to said circuit breaker.

27. The method of claim 23, further comprising visually indicating whether said circuit breaker is in either said lockout state or said enable state.

28. The method of claim 23, further comprising detecting a fault in said circuit by monitoring electrical parameters of said circuit and communicating said electrical parameters over said network to said control processing unit, said control processing unit being configured to operate said circuit breaker.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising generating a command to open at said control processing unit in response to said electrical parameters and communicating said command to open from said control processing unit to a circuit breaker actuator operably connected to said circuit breaker, said command to open causing said circuit breaker actuator to open said contact.

30. The method of claim 28, further comprising sensing said electrical parameters with a sensor, communicating signals representative of said electrical parameters to a data sample and transmission module and communicating said signals to said control processing unit, wherein said module, said sensor and said control processing unit are communicatively coupled.

31. The method of claim 29, further comprising generating a command to close at said control processing unit and communicating said command to close from said control processing unit to said circuit breaker actuator, said command to close causing said circuit breaker actuator to close said contact if said circuit breaker is in said enable state.

32. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

determining a lockout condition for said circuit breaker, said lockout condition being either said lockout state or said enable state;

generating a status signal representative of said lockout condition; and

communicating said status signal to said control processing unit over said network.

33. The method of claim 23, further comprising manually placing said circuit breaker into either said lockout state or said enable state.

34. The method of claim 31, wherein said circuit breaker actuator is at least one solenoid.

35. The method of claim 23, wherein said circuit breaker comprises separable contacts.

36. A lockout device, responsive to a lockout signal and an enable signal, for a circuit breaker having at least one contact, said device comprising:

a locking member operably connected to said circuit breaker, said locking member being moveable between a first position preventing said contact from being closed thereby causing a lockout state and a second position permitting said contact to close thereby causing an enable state; and

a locking mechanism operably connected to said locking member for moving said locking member between said first and second positions,

wherein said locking mechanism moves said locking member into said first position in response to said lockout signal and wherein said locking mechanism moves said locking member into said second position in response to said enable signal.

37. The device of claim 36, wherein said locking mechanism maintains said locking member in said first position in the absence of said enable signal.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein said locking mechanism maintains said locking member in said second position in the absence of said lockout signal.

39. The device of claim 36, further comprising an enclosure, wherein said locking member and said locking mechanism are at least partially housed in said enclosure.

40. The device of claim 36, further comprising a status indicator visible from outside of said enclosure, said status indicator indicating whether said circuit breaker is in said lockout state or said enable state.

41. The device of claim 36, further comprising a manual reset lever operably connected to said locking member for manually moving said locking member into said second position.

42. The device of claim 36, further comprising a status switch operably connected to said locking member, said status switch generating a lockout status signal when said circuit breaker is in said lockout state.

43. The device of claim 36, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a first and second mechanism operably connected to said locking member, wherein said first mechanism moves said locking member into said first position in response to said lockout signal and maintains said locking member in said first position in the absence of said enable signal, and wherein said second mechanism moves said locking member into said second position in response to said enable signal and maintains said locking member in said second position in the absence of said lockout signal.

44. The device of claim 43, wherein said first mechanism is a first solenoid having a magnet and a spring.

45. The device of claim 44, wherein said spring is in a charged state when said circuit breaker is in said enable state, wherein said spring is held in said charged state by said magnet and wherein energizing said first solenoid releases said spring.

46. The device of claim 45, wherein said locking member is a first plunger and said first plunger moves in response to said first solenoid being energized.

47. The device of claim 46, wherein said spring biases said first plunger into said first position when said circuit breaker is in said lockout state.

48. The device of claim 43, wherein said second mechanism is a second solenoid.

49. The device of claim 36, wherein said circuit breaker comprises separable contacts.

50. A circuit breaker responsive to a lockout signal and an enable signal comprising:

at least one contact;

an operating mechanism operably connected to said contact for opening and closing said contact;

a locking member operably connected to said operating mechanism, said locking member being moveable between a first position preventing said operating mechanism from closing said contact and a second position permitting said operating mechanism to close said contact; and

a locking mechanism operably connected to said locking member for moving said locking member between said first and second positions,

wherein said locking mechanism moves said locking member into said first position in response to said lockout signal and wherein said locking mechanism moves said locking member into said second position in response to said enable signal.

51. The circuit breaker of claim 50, wherein said locking mechanism maintains said locking member in said first position in the absence of said enable signal.

52. The circuit breaker of claim 51, wherein said locking mechanism maintains said locking member in said second position in the absence of said lockout signal.

53. The circuit breaker of claim 50, further comprising an enclosure and a status indicator, said enclosure at least partially housing said locking member and said locking mechanism, and said status indicator being visible from outside of said enclosure to indicate whether said locking member is in either said first position or said second position.

54. The circuit breaker of claim 50, further comprising a manual reset lever operably connected to said locking member for manually moving said locking member into said second position.

55. The circuit breaker of claim 50, further comprising a status switch operably connected to said locking member, said status switch generating a lockout status signal when said locking member is in said first position.

56. The circuit breaker of claim 50, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a first and second mechanism operably connected to said locking member, wherein said first mechanism moves said locking member into said first position in response to said lockout signal and maintains said locking member in said first position in the absence of said enable signal, and wherein said second mechanism moves said locking member into said second position in response to said enable signal and maintains said locking member in said second position in the absence of said lockout signal.

57. The circuit breaker of claim 56, wherein said first mechanism is a first solenoid having a magnet and a spring.

58. The circuit breaker of claim 57, wherein said locking member is a first plunger and said first plunger engages with said operating mechanism in response to said first solenoid being energized.

59. The circuit breaker of claim 58, wherein said spring is in a charged state when said first plunger is in said second position, wherein said spring is held in said charged state by said magnet, wherein energizing said first solenoid releases said spring and wherein said spring biases said first plunger into engagement with said operating mechanism when said first plunger is in said first position.

60. The circuit breaker of claim 59, wherein said second mechanism is a second solenoid.

61. The circuit breaker of claim 50, wherein said at least one contact is separable contacts.

62. A protection system for a circuit comprising:

a circuit breaker having at least one contact, said circuit breaker being coupled to said circuit;

a lockout device operably connected to said circuit breaker to prevent said contact from closing thereby causing a lockout state and to permit said contact to be closed thereby causing an enable state;

at least one control processing unit controlling said lockout device; and

a network communicatively coupled to said at least one control processing unit and said lockout device,

wherein said at least one control processing unit selectively generates a lockout signal and communicates said lockout signal over said network to said lockout device, said circuit breaker being placed into said lockout state by said lockout device in response to said lockout signal, and

wherein said at least one control processing unit selectively generates an enable signal and communicates said enable signal over said network to said lockout device, said circuit breaker being placed into said enable state by said lockout device in response to said enable signal.

63. The system of claim 62, wherein said lockout device maintains said circuit breaker in said lockout state in the absence of said enable signal being communicated to said lockout device.

64. The system of claim 63, wherein said lockout device maintains said circuit breaker in said enable state in the absence of said lockout signal being communicated to said lockout device.

65. The system of claim 64, wherein said lockout device maintains said circuit breaker in said lockout state while said lockout signal is being communicated to said lockout device.

66. The system of claim 62, wherein said lockout device comprises a locking member and a locking mechanism, said locking member being operably connected to said circuit breaker and moveable between a first position in which said circuit breaker is placed into said lockout state by said locking member and a second position in which said circuit breaker is placed into said enable state, said locking mechanism being operably connected to said locking member for moving said locking member between said first and second positions.

67. The system of claim 62, wherein said lockout device further comprises an enclosure and a status indicator, said enclosure at least partially housing said locking member and said locking mechanism, and said status indicator being visible from outside of said enclosure, wherein said status indicator indicates whether said circuit breaker is either in said lockout state or said enable state.

68. The system of claim 66, wherein said lockout device further comprises a manual reset lever operably connected to said locking member for manually moving said locking member into said second position.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein said lockout device further comprises a status switch operably connected to said locking member, said status switch generating a lockout status signal when said circuit breaker is in said lockout state.

70. The system of claim 66, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a first and second mechanism operably connected to said locking member, wherein said first mechanism moves said locking member into said first position in response to said lockout signal and maintains said locking member in said first position in the absence of said enable signal being communicated to said lockout device, and wherein said second mechanism moves said locking member into said second position in response to said enable signal and maintains said locking member in said second position in the absence of said lockout signal being communicated to said lockout device.

71. The system of claim 70, wherein said first mechanism is a first solenoid having a magnet and a spring, wherein said spring is in a charged state when said circuit breaker is in said enable state, wherein said spring is held in said charged state by said magnet and wherein energizing said first solenoid releases said spring.

72. The system of claim 71, wherein said locking member is a first plunger, wherein said first plunger moves in response to said first solenoid being energized and wherein said spring biases said first plunger into said first position when said circuit breaker is in said lockout state.

73. The system of claim 71, wherein said second mechanism is a second solenoid.

74. The system of claim 62, wherein said at least one contact is separable contacts.

75. The system of claim 62, further comprising a circuit breaker actuator operably connected to said circuit breaker for opening and closing said contact, wherein said at least one control processing unit generates a command to open and communicates said command to open to said circuit breaker actuator, said command to open causing said circuit breaker actuator to open said contact.

76. The system of claim 62, further comprising a sensor and a data sample and transmission module, wherein said sensor senses electrical parameters of said circuit, communicates signals representative of said electrical parameters to said data sample and transmission module, and wherein said module communicates said signals over said network to said at least one control processing unit.

77. The system of claim 75, further comprising generating a command to close at said control processing unit and communicating said command to close from said control processing unit to said circuit breaker actuator, said command to close causing said circuit breaker actuator to close said contact if said circuit breaker is in said enable state.

78. A power distribution system comprising:

a circuit having a circuit breaker, a power source and a load, said circuit breaker having at least one contact;

a lockout device operably connected to said circuit breaker to prevent said circuit breaker from closing said contact thereby causing a lockout state and to permit said circuit breaker to close said contact thereby causing an enable state;

at least one control processing unit controlling said lockout device and controlling opening and closing of said contact; and

a network communicatively coupled to said at least one control processing unit, said lockout device and said circuit breaker,

wherein said at least one control processing unit selectively generates a lockout signal and communicates said lockout signal over said network to said lockout device, said circuit breaker being placed into said lockout state by said lockout device in response to said lockout signal, and

wherein said at least one control processing unit selectively generates an enable signal and communicates said enable signal over said network to said lockout device, said circuit breaker being placed into said enable state by said lockout device in response to said enable signal.

79. The system of claim 78, wherein said lockout device maintains said circuit breaker in said lockout state in the absence of said enable signal being communicated to said lockout device.

80. The system of claim 79, wherein said lockout device maintains said circuit breaker in said enable state in the absence of said lockout signal being communicated to said lockout device.

81. The system of claim 79, wherein said lockout device maintains said circuit breaker in said lockout state while said lockout signal is being communicated to said lockout device.

82. The system of claim 78, wherein said at least one control processing unit detects a fault in said circuit, generates a command to open in response to said fault and communicates said command to open to said circuit breaker, said circuit breaker opening said contact in response to said command to open.

83. The system of claim 78, wherein said at least one control processing unit generates a command to close and communicates said command to close said circuit breaker, said circuit breaker closing said contact in response to said command to close if said circuit breaker is in said enable state.

84. The system of claim 78, wherein said lockout device comprises a locking member and a locking mechanism, said locking member being operably connected to said circuit breaker and moveable between a first position causing said circuit breaker to enter said lockout state and a second position causing said circuit breaker to enter said enable state, said locking mechanism being operably connected to said locking member for moving said locking member between said first and second positions.

85. The system of claim 78, wherein said circuit breaker further comprises an enclosure at least partially housing said lockout device.

86. The system of claim 78, wherein said lockout device further comprises a status indicator and an enclosure, and wherein said status indicator is visible from outside of said enclosure and indicates whether said circuit breaker is in either said lockout state or said enable state.

87. The system of claim 84, wherein said lockout device further comprises a manual reset lever operably connected to said locking member for manually moving said locking member into said second position.

88. The system of claim 84, wherein said lockout device further comprises a status switch operably connected to said locking member, and wherein said status switch generates a lockout status signal when said circuit breaker is in said lockout state and communicates said lockout status signal to said at least one control processing unit.

89. The system of claim 84, wherein said locking mechanism comprises a first and second mechanism operably connected to said locking member, wherein said first mechanism moves said locking member into said first position in response to said lockout signal and maintains said locking member in said first position in the absence of said enable signal being communicated to said lockout device, and wherein said second mechanism moves said locking member into said second position in response to said enable signal and maintains said locking member in said second position in the absence of said lockout signal being communicated to said lockout device.

90. The system of claim 89, wherein said first mechanism is a first solenoid having a magnet and a spring, wherein said spring is in a charged state when said locking member is in said second position, wherein said spring is held in said charged state by said magnet, and wherein energizing said first solenoid releases said spring.

91. The system of claim 90, wherein said locking member is a first plunger, wherein said first plunger moves in response to said first solenoid being energized, and wherein said spring biases said first plunger into said first position when said circuit breaker is in said lockout state.

92. The system of claim 89, wherein said second mechanism is a second solenoid.

93. The system of claim 78, wherein said at least one contact is separable contacts.

94. The system of claim 78, further comprising a data sample and transmission module communicatively coupled to said at least one control processing unit, said circuit and said network, wherein said module monitors electrical parameters of said circuit and communicates parameter signals representative of said electrical parameters to said at least one control processing unit, and wherein said at least one control processing unit selectively generates said lockout and enable signals in response to said parameter signals.

95. The system of claim 78, further comprising a data sample and transmission module communicatively coupled to said at least one control processing unit, said circuit and said network, wherein said module monitors conditions of said circuit breaker and said lockout device and communicates condition signals representative of said conditions to said at least one control processing unit, and wherein said at least one control processing unit selectively generates said lockout and enable signals in response to said condition signals.

96. The system of claim 95, wherein said conditions comprise a lockout condition and a breaker condition, wherein said lockout condition is either said lockout state or said enable state, and wherein said breaker condition is either open or closed.