Wireless gateway and controller for network protector relays

• US 20060165023A1
• Filed: 01/24/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/24/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eaton Power Quality Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Power Quality Corporation (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Howard, Michael R. Jr., Kenny, Thomas J., Faulkner, Mark A., Lagree, James L., Moffat, John R.
• Application Number:
  US11/041,607
• Publication Number:
  US 20060165023A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 370/310
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/04 with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061

Abstract

A power distribution monitoring system includes a wireless gateway/controller, a network protector subnetwork including a plurality of network protectors and a portable electronic device having wireless communication functionality. Each of the network protectors is in electronic communication with the wireless gateway/controller. The wireless gateway/controller receives data from one or more of the network protectors, and wirelessly transmits at least a portion of the data to the portable electronic device. Also, a method of monitoring a power distribution system including receiving data at a first location from a network protector subnetwork that includes a plurality of network protectors, wirelessly transmitting at least a portion of the data from the first location, and wirelessly receiving the at least a portion of the data at a second location separate from the first location.

Claims

1. A power distribution monitoring system, comprising:

a wireless gateway/controller;

a network protector subnetwork, said network protector subnetwork including a plurality of network protectors, each of said network protectors being in electronic communication with said wireless gateway/controller; and

a portable electronic device, said portable electronic device having wireless communication functionality, said wireless gateway/controller and said portable electronic device being adapted for wireless communication with another;

wherein said wireless gateway/controller receives data from one or more of said network protectors, and wirelessly transmits at least a portion of said data to said portable electronic device.

2. The power distribution monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein each of said network protectors are in wired electronic communication with said wireless gateway/controller.

3. The power distribution monitoring system according to claim 2, wherein each of said network protectors are connected to an electrical cabling system, and wherein said electrical cabling system is connected to said wireless gateway/controller.

4. The power distribution monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless gateway/controller selectively requests and receives said data from said one or more of said network protectors.

5. The power distribution system according to claim 4, wherein said wireless gateway/controller selectively requests said data in response to a data request wirelessly received by said wireless gateway/controller from said portable electronic device.

6. The power distribution monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said wireless gateway/controller selectively provides control commands to said one or more of said network protectors.

7. The power distribution monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein said wireless gateway/controller generates said control commands based on at least a second portion of said data.

8. The power distribution system according to claim 6, wherein said wireless gateway/controller selectively provides said control commands in response to a command wirelessly received by said wireless gateway/controller from said portable electronic device.

9. The power distribution monitoring system according to claim 6, wherein said control commands include one or more of breaker trip commands and breaker re-close commands.

10. The power distribution monitoring system according to claim 1, wherein said data includes one or more of network phase to neutral voltages, phasing voltages and angles, feeder currents, breaker status information, operations counter information and a stored log of recent breaker events.

11. A method of monitoring a power distribution system, comprising:

receiving data at a first location from a network protector subnetwork, said network protector subnetwork including a plurality of network protectors, said data being transmitted by one or more of said network protectors;

wirelessly transmitting at least a portion of said data from said first location; and

wirelessly receiving said at least a portion of said data at a second location separate from said first location.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein said at least a portion of said data is received at said second location by a portable electronic device.

13. The method according to claim 11, wherein said receiving step comprises receiving said data at said first location over a wired connection.

14. The method according to claim 11, wherein said receiving step comprises selectively requesting and receiving said data from said one or more of said network protectors.

15. The method according to claim 11, wherein said receiving step comprises selectively requesting and receiving said data from said one or more of said network protectors in response to a data request wirelessly received at said first location from said second location.

16. The method according to claim 12, wherein said receiving step comprises selectively requesting and receiving said data from said one or more of said network protectors in response to a data request wirelessly received at said first location from said portable electronic device.

17. The method according to claim 11, further comprising selectively transmitting control commands from said first location to said one or more of said network protectors.

18. The method according to claim 11, further comprising generating control commands based on at least a second portion of said data and selectively transmitting said control commands from said first location to said one or more of said network protectors.

19. The method according to claim 11, further comprising selectively transmitting control commands from said first location to said one or more of said network protectors in response to a command wirelessly received at said first location from said second location.

20. The method according to claim 17, wherein said control commands include one or more of breaker trip commands and breaker re-close commands.

21. The method according to claim 11, wherein said data includes one or more of network phase to neutral voltages, phasing voltages and angles, feeder currents, breaker status information, operations counter information and a stored log of recent breaker events.