Mountable remote actuated circuit breaker driver

• US 20060244557A1
• Filed: 05/02/2006
• Published: 11/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc. (Littelfuse Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Carling Technologies, Inc. (Littelfuse Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sorenson, Richard W.
• Application Number:
  US11/415,684
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244557A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/172
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/665 the reset mechanism operating directly on the normal manual operator, e.g. electromagnet pushes manual release lever back into "ON" position
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/68 actuated by electromagnet

Abstract

An embodiment may comprise a remotely actuated circuit breaker actuator apparatus for use with a circuit breaker comprising: an actuator; and a mount for holding the actuator; wherein the circuit breaker is remotely actuated via the actuator.

Claims

1. A remotely actuated circuit breaker actuator apparatus for use with a circuit breaker having a switch actuator comprising:

a solenoid;

a moveable plunger actuated by the solenoid;

a mount for holding the solenoid;

wherein the mount is structured to be mountable to the exterior of the circuit breaker in order to position the plunger proximate to the switch actuator in order to actuate the switch actuator remotely via the solenoid.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a guard for enclosing the solenoid and the plunger.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a mounting plate structured to be placed on top on the circuit breaker and connected to the mount.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an intermediate member located between the plunger and the solenoid.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

a magnetically permeable spacer located on the plunger.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

an electrical connector for powering the solenoid.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

springs for dampening movements of the plunger.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount is a slideable mount.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the mount is a slideable mount and a power connector is included which is structured to engage when the slideable mount is slid onto the circuit breaker.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the width of the module is no wider than the width of the circuit breaker.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus is sealed from contaminants.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount has latches.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the mount is structured to mount the apparatus directly above the circuit breaker and within an area defined by vertically projecting the width of the circuit breaker upwards so that no additional width space is required for the module other than the width space located immediately above the circuit breaker.

14. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the apparatus complies with MILC 55-629 standards.

15. A remotely actuated circuit breaker actuator apparatus for retrofitting to a circuit breaker located in a breaker box where the circuit breaker has a switch actuator, comprising:

a module comprising;

a solenoid;

a moveable plunger actuated by the solenoid;

a mount for holding the solenoid;

wherein the mount is structured to be mountable above the circuit breaker in order to position the plunger proximate to the switch actuator in order to actuate the switch actuator remotely via the solenoid.

16. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a guard for enclosing the solenoid and the plunger.

17. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a mounting plate structured to be placed on top on the circuit breaker and connected to the module.

18. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

an intermediate member located between the plunger and the solenoid.

19. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

a magnetically permeable spacer located on the plunger.

20. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

an electrical connector for powering the solenoid.

21. The apparatus of claim 15 further comprising:

springs for dampening movements of the plunger.

22. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the module is structured to be slide mountable.

23. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the mount is a slide mount and a power connector is included which is structured to engage when the slide mount is slid onto the circuit breaker.

24. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the width of the module is no wider than the width of the circuit breaker.

25. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the apparatus is sealed from contaminants.

26. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the apparatus complies with MILC 55-629 standards.

27. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the module has latches.

28. The apparatus of claim 15 wherein the module is structured to mount the module directly above the circuit breaker and within an area defined by vertically projecting the width of the circuit breaker upwards so that no additional width space is required for the module other than the width space located immediately above the circuit breaker.

29. A system comprising:

at least one circuit breaker having a switch actuator;

at least one remotely actuated circuit breaker actuator apparatus for mating with each circuit breaker having a switch actuator comprising;

a solenoid;

a moveable plunger actuated by the solenoid;

a mount for holding the solenoid;

wherein the mount is mountable to the exterior of each circuit breaker in order to position the plunger proximate to the switch actuator in order to actuate the switch actuator remotely via the solenoid and wherein each circuit breaker is mated to a dedicated remotely actuated circuit breaker actuator apparatus;

a breaker panel wherein each remotely actuated circuit breaker actuator apparatus may be mounted;

a breaker box wherein the breaker panel is mounted; and

control electronics linked to the circuit breakers and linked to each remotely actuated circuit breaker actuator apparatus via a communications connection for controlling the actuation of each remotely actuated circuit breaker actuator apparatus.