System for wireless monitoring of circuit breakers

• US 20060176630A1
• Filed: 02/09/2005
• Published: 08/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Carlino, Harry J., Shaak, Todd M.
• Granted Patent: US 7,403,015 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/64
• 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 1/06 Arrangements for supplying operative power power supply arrangements in general G05F, H02M

Abstract

A system for monitoring a circuit breaker that includes a monitoring device in electronic communication with the circuit breaker and a receiving device located separately from the monitoring device. The monitoring device receives data from the circuit breaker and wirelessly transmits at least a portion of the data such as one or more phase currents measured from a network which the circuit breaker protects, an ambient temperature within the circuit breaker, and/or data relating to a trip condition of the circuit breaker. The receiving device receives the transmitted data and displays all or a portion thereof. The monitoring device also includes a display that displays all or a portion of the data.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring a circuit breaker, comprising:

a monitoring device, said monitoring device being in electronic communication with said circuit breaker and receiving data from said circuit breaker, said monitoring device having a first wireless communications device, said first wireless communications device receiving at least a portion of said data and wirelessly transmitting said at least a portion of said data; and

a receiving device located separately from said monitoring device, said receiving device having a second wireless communications device, said second wireless communications device receiving said at least a portion of said data.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said monitoring device includes a display, said display displaying at least a second portion of said data.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said circuit breaker measures one or more phase currents from a network which said circuit breaker protects, and wherein said at least a second portion of said data includes said one or more phase currents.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit breaker measures one or more phase currents from a network which said circuit breaker protects, and wherein said at least a portion of said data includes said one or more phase currents.

5. The system according to claim 2, wherein said circuit breaker measures an ambient temperature within said circuit breaker, and wherein said at least a second portion of said data includes said ambient temperature.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said ambient temperature is displayed on said display only if said ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature level.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit breaker measures an ambient temperature within said circuit breaker, and wherein said at least a portion of said data includes said ambient temperature.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit breaker is movable to a plurality of tripped conditions, said circuit breaker generating trip data when said circuit breaker moves to one of said plurality of tripped conditions, and wherein said at least a portion of said data includes said trip data.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said monitoring device wirelessly transmits said at least a portion of said data only after said circuit breaker moves to one of said plurality of tripped conditions.

10. The system according to claim 2, wherein said circuit breaker is movable to a plurality of tripped conditions, said circuit breaker generating trip data when said circuit breaker moves to one of said plurality of tripped conditions, and wherein said at least a second portion of said data includes said trip data.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said receiving device includes a display, said display displaying at least a portion of said at least a portion of said data.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit breaker includes a trip unit having a microprocessor, said monitoring device being in electronic communication with and receiving said data from said trip unit.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit breaker includes a source of power, wherein said monitoring device includes a rechargeable battery, and wherein said monitoring device selectively draws power from either said source of power or said rechargeable battery.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein said circuit breaker is movable between a closed condition and a tripped condition, wherein said monitoring device draws power from said source of power when said circuit breaker is in said closed condition with current flowing through said circuit breaker, and wherein said monitoring device draws power from said rechargeable battery when said circuit breaker is in either said tripped condition or said closed condition without current flowing through said circuit breaker.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said monitoring device automatically shifts from drawing power from said source of power to drawing power from said rechargeable battery when said circuit breaker moves from said closed condition with current flowing through said circuit breaker to either said tripped condition or said closed condition without current flowing through said circuit breaker.

16. The system according to claim 13, wherein said rechargeable battery is electrically connected to said source of power, said source of power charging said rechargeable battery, and wherein said monitoring device includes a voltage regulator electrically connected to said source of power, said monitoring device selectively drawing power from said source of power through said voltage regulator.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein said system monitors said circuit breaker and a plurality of additional circuit breakers, each of said additional circuit breakers being in electronic communication with and sending additional data to a corresponding one of a plurality of additional monitoring devices each having a corresponding additional first wireless communications device, said corresponding additional first wireless communications device receiving at least a portion of said additional data and wirelessly transmitting said at least a portion of said additional data, wherein said second wireless communications device of said receiving device receives the at least a portion of said additional data transmitted by the additional first wireless communications device of each of said additional monitoring devices.

18. A method of monitoring a circuit breaker, comprising:

receiving data from said circuit breaker at a first location proximate to said circuit breaker;

wirelessly transmitting at least a portion of said data;

wirelessly receiving said at least a portion of said data at a second location, said second location being separate from said first location; and

performing at least one of;

(i) displaying at least a portion of said at least a portion of said data at said second location, and (ii) displaying at least a second portion of said data at said first location.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said circuit breaker measures at least one of one or more phase currents from a network which said circuit breaker protects and an ambient temperature within said circuit breaker, and wherein said at least a second portion of said data includes at least one of said one or more phase currents and said ambient temperature.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein said circuit breaker measures at least one of one or more phase currents from a network which said circuit breaker protects and an ambient temperature within said circuit breaker, and wherein said at least a portion of said data includes at least one of said one or more phase currents and said ambient temperature.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein said displaying at least a second portion of said data at said first location comprises displaying said ambient temperature only if said ambient temperature exceeds a predetermined threshold temperature level.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein said circuit breaker is movable to a plurality of tripped conditions, said circuit breaker generating trip data when said circuit breaker moves to one of said plurality of tripped conditions, and wherein at least one of said at least a portion of said at least a portion of said data and said at least of second portion of said data includes said trip data.

23. The method according to claim 18, wherein said circuit breaker is movable to a plurality of tripped conditions, and wherein said wirelessly transmitting at least a portion of said data comprises wirelessly transmitting said at least a portion of said data only after said circuit breaker moves to one of said plurality of tripped conditions.