Group protection module for a switchgear arrangement and switchgear arrangement having such a group protection module

• US 20090040673A1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Rossler, Andreas, Maigret, Guillaume, Moosburger, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,974,058 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/63
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2089/065 Coordination between protection and remote control, e.g. protection job repartition, mutual assistance or monitoring
• 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 47/002 Monitoring or fail-safe circuits
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 89/06 Combination of a manual reset circuit with a contactor, i.e. the same circuit controlled by both a protective and a remote control device
• 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: Y04S 20/14 Protecting elements, switches, relays or circuit breakers

Abstract

A group protection module for a switchgear arrangement is provided in order to protect a group of load feeders, each having a contactor for connecting or disconnecting a respective load. The group protection module has a circuit breaker for providing short-circuit protection, said circuit breaker being connected to a supply-side input and to a load-side output of the group protection module for connection to a power supply system and for connecting the group of load feeders. The group protection module has a safety evaluation unit via which the circuit breaker can be tripped if a status signal detectable by the respective load feeders indicates that one of the contactors of the load feeders can no longer be de-energized. The group protection module is implemented as a constructional unit.

Claims

1-11. -11. (canceled)

12. A group protection module for a switchgear arrangement for protecting a group of load feeders, each having a contactor for connecting or disconnecting a respective load, comprising:

a circuit breaker for implementing short-circuit protection wherein the circuit breaker is connected to a supply-side input and a load-side output of the group protection module for connection to a power supply system and for connecting the group of load feeders;

a safety evaluation unit via which the circuit breaker is tripped if a status signal detectable by the respective load feeders indicates that one of the contactors of the load feeders can no longer be de-energized; and

a first and second loop contact connected to the safety evaluation unit, wherein the two loop contacts are component parts of a prefabricated first connector, wherein the first connector is accessible from outside a housing and is implemented such that a second connector of a load feeder is intermateable with the first connector of the group protection module to establish an automatic status signaling loop, wherein the safety evaluation unit trips if the status signaling loop is interrupted.

13. The group protection module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the group protection module is a constructional unit.

14. The group protection module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the group protection module has a block-shaped housing for buttable mounting to a DIN rail.

15. The group protection module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the group protection module has a block-shaped housing for buttable mounting to a DIN rail.

16. The group protection module as claimed in claim 13, wherein the first and second connector are disposed such that the second connector of the load feeder and the first connector of the group protection module are automatically intermated, when the load feeder is attached to the group protection module.

17. The group protection module as claimed in claim 14, wherein the first and second connector are disposed such that the second connector of the load feeder and the first connector of the group protection module are automatically intermated, when the load feeder is attached to the group protection module.

18. The group protection module as claimed in claim 12, wherein the safety evaluation unit checks the status signaling loop for an interruption only after an emergency or safety disconnection.

19. A switchgear arrangement with a group of load feeders, each having at least one contactor for connecting or disconnecting a respective load, comprising:

a circuit breaker for providing short-circuit protection, wherein the circuit breaker is preceded, said circuit breaker having a supply-side input for connecting to a power supply system and a load-side output for connecting the load feeders;

a safety evaluation function to trip the circuit breaker if a status signal detectable by the respective load feeders indicates that one of the contactors of the load feeders can no longer be de-energized; and

a group protection module having a first and second loop contact connected to a safety evaluation unit, wherein the two loop contacts are component parts of a first connector, wherein the first connector is accessible from outside a housing and is implemented such that a second connector of a load feeder is intermateable with the first connector of the group protection module to establish an automatic status signaling loop.

20. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein the load feeder is a motor starter.

21. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein the group of load feeders is block-shaped for modular, buttable mounting to a DIN rail.

22. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein

the load feeders each have a module housing, a switch, a feed contact, a return contact, a first and second forwarding contact, a switching device and a first and second actuating element, wherein

the switch and the switching device are disposed in the module housing, wherein

the feed contact and the first forwarding contact are interconnected via the switch, and the return contact and the second forwarding contact are interconnected directly, wherein

the feed contact, the return contact and the first actuating element are component parts of a second prefabricated connector, and the forwarding contacts and the second actuating element are component parts of a third prefabricated connector, wherein

the connectors are accessible from outside the module housing and are implemented such that the second connector of a first modular load feeder is intermateable with the third connector of a second modular load feeder, and wherein

intermating of the connectors causes one of the forwarding contacts of the second load feeder to be connected to the feed contact and the return contact of the first load feeder, and the first actuating element of the first load feeder acts on the second actuating element of the second load feeder such that the switching device of the second load feeder interrupts a current path from the first to the second forwarding contact of the second load feeder.

23. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the switching device is implemented as a mechanical switching device, and wherein the actuating elements are implemented as mechanical actuating elements.

24. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the switching device is implemented as an electronic switching device, and wherein the actuating elements are implemented as electrically interacting contacts.

25. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the connectors are disposed such that the second connector of the first load feeder and the third connector of the second load feeder are automatically intermated, when the first load feeder is attached to the second load feeder.

26. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 19, wherein the switchgear arrangement has a control module which has a terminal for connecting to a higher-order bus system and which is communicatively connected via an internal bus system to a control unit of the group protection module and to a control unit of each of the connected load feeders.

27. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 20, wherein the switchgear arrangement has a control module which has a terminal for connecting to a higher-order bus system and which is communicatively connected via an internal bus system to a control unit of the group protection module and to a control unit of each of the connected load feeders.

28. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 22, wherein the switchgear arrangement has a control module which has a terminal for connecting to a higher-order bus system and which is communicatively connected via an internal bus system to a control unit of the group protection module and to a control unit of each of the connected load feeders.

29. The switchgear arrangement as claimed in claim 23, wherein the switchgear arrangement has a control module which has a terminal for connecting to a higher-order bus