APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CIRCUIT BREAKER TRIP DEVICE

• US 20080151463A1
• Filed: 12/20/2007
• Published: 06/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Mason, Henry Hall, Williams, Craig B., Dwyer, Sean, Shaikh, Sohaib Uddin, Rivers, Cecil
• Granted Patent: US 7,692,903 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/186
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 47/32 Energising current supplied by semiconductor device
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/121 Protection of release mechanisms with auxiliary contact H01H71/48
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/24 Electromagnetic mechanisms

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling the operation of a solenoid in a circuit breaker includes a control circuit configured to receive an activation signal in response to a predetermined condition. The control circuit, in response to said activation signal, provides a first energizing signal to the solenoid for a first predetermined period, and cuts off the first energizing signal for a second predetermined period. The control circuit further provides a second energizing signal to the solenoid for a third predetermined period.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling the operation of a solenoid in a circuit breaker, said apparatus comprising:

a trip unit operative to issue a first activation signal in response to a first predetermined condition; and

a control circuit configured to receive said activation signal;

wherein said control circuit, in response to said activation signal, provides a first energizing signal to said solenoid for a first predetermined period of time, and thereafter cuts off said first energizing signal for a second predetermined period of time; and

thereafter provides a second energizing signal to said solenoid for a third predetermined period of time.

2. The Apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a power supply having one side electrically connected to one terminal of the solenoid.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control circuit is configured to enable any one of an adjustment of the duration of the said first energizing signal, a duration of said second predetermined period, and a duration of said second energizing signal.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said control circuit includes a switching device;

said control circuit further comprising a timer in electrical communication with said switching device;

wherein said timer, in response to said activation signal, triggers said switching device to provide said first energizing signal to said solenoid for said first predetermined period, and

said timer shuts off said switching device to cut off said first energizing signal to said solenoid for said second predetermined period,

and said timer triggers said switching device to provide said second energizing signal to said solenoid for said third predetermined period.

8. The apparatus of claim 6, wherein said timer is configured to enable adjustment of the duration of said first energizing signal, the duration of said second predetermined period, and the duration of said second energizing signal.

10. The apparatus of any of claim 1, wherein said control circuit includes a microcontroller;

wherein said microcontroller further comprises a timer in electrical communication with a switching device;

wherein said microcontroller, in response to said activation signal, triggers said switching device to provide said first energizing signal to said solenoid for said first predetermined period, and

said microcontroller shuts off said switching device to cut off said first energizing signal to said solenoid for said second predetermined period, and

said microcontroller triggers said switching device to provide said second energizing signal to said solenoid for said third predetermined period.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said control circuit is configured to enable adjustment of the duration of the said first energizing signal, the duration of said second predetermined period, and the duration of said second energizing signal.

3. A control system for controlling the operation of a solenoid in a circuit breaker, said control system comprising:

a switch operative to issue a first activation signal; and

a control circuit configured to receive said first activation signal;

wherein said control circuit, in response to said activation signal, provides a first energizing signal to said solenoid for a first predetermined period of time, and thereafter cuts off said first energizing signal for a second predetermined period of time; and

thereafter provides a second energizing signal to said solenoid for a third predetermined period of time.

5. The control system of claim 3, wherein said control circuit includes a switching device to cut off said first energizing signal for said second predetermined period;

and said switching device further provides said second energizing signal to said solenoid for said third predetermined period.

7. The control system of claim 3, wherein said control circuit includes a switching device;

said control circuit further comprising a timer in electrical communication with said switching device;

wherein said timer, in response to said activation signal, triggers said switching device to provide said first energizing signal to said solenoid for said first predetermined period, and

said timer shuts off said switching device to cut off said first energizing signal to said solenoid for said second predetermined period,

and said timer triggers said switching device to provide said second energizing signal to said solenoid for said third predetermined period.

9. The control system of claim 7, wherein said timer is configured to enable adjustment of the duration of said first energizing signal, the duration of said second predetermined period, and the duration of said second energizing signal.

11. The control system of claim 3, wherein said control circuit includes a microcontroller;

wherein said microcontroller further comprises a timer in electrical communication with a switching device;

wherein said microcontroller, in response to said activation signal, triggers said switching device to provide said first energizing signal to said solenoid for said first predetermined period, and

said microcontroller shuts off said switching device to cut off said first energizing signal to said solenoid for said second predetermined period, and

said microcontroller triggers said switching device to provide said second energizing signal to said solenoid for said third predetermined period.

13. The control system of claim 11, wherein said control circuit is configured to enable adjustment of the duration of the said first energizing signal, the duration of said second predetermined period, and the duration of said second energizing signal.

14. A method for controlling the operation of a solenoid in a circuit breaker having circuit interrupting contacts whose separation is initiated by energizing of the solenoid, the method comprising:

sensing an activation signal indicative of a predetermined condition;

providing a first energizing signal to said solenoid;

cutting off said first solenoid energizing signal after a first predetermined period of time, for a second predetermined period of time;

providing a second solenoid activation signal to said solenoid after said second predetermined period; and

maintaining said second solenoid activation signal for a third predetermined period.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting the duration of said first energizing signal, the duration of said second predetermined period, and the duration of said second energizing signal.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising adjusting any of said duration periods independently of the other said duration periods.