Method And Device For Monitoring A Test Interval For A Residual Current Protective Device

• US 20140132280A1
• Filed: 11/11/2013
• Published: 05/15/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bender GmbH & Co. KG
• Original Assignee: Bender GmbH & Co. KG
• Inventors: Hackl, Dieter
• Application Number:
  US14/076,968
• Publication Number:
  US 20140132280A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 324/550
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/327 Testing of circuit interrupters, switches or circuit-breakers
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/044 Checking correct functioning of protective arrangements, e.g. by simulating a fault for differential current circuit breakers H02H3/335

Abstract

A method and device for monitoring a test interval for a residual current protective device includes measuring an operating time of the residual current protective device, triggering an alarm report if the measured operating time exceeds an operating time limit, and restarting the operating time measurement upon detection of a trigger process of the residual current protective device. In an embodiment of the invention, a time period is measured independent of the operating time of the residual current protective device.

Claims

1. A method for monitoring a test interval for a residual current protective device said method comprising:

measuring an operating time of a residual current protective device, for which a test interval is being monitored;

triggering an alarm report if the measured operating time exceeds an operating time limit; and

restarting the operating time measurement upon detection of a trigger process of the residual current protective device.

2. The method according to claim 1, in which a line voltage is measured on a supply side and a line voltage is measured on a load side of the residual current protective device and that the restart of the operating time measurement takes place as a function of the measured line voltages.

3. The method according to claim 2, in which the restart of the operating time measurement takes place if an evaluation of the measured line voltages reveals that the line voltage on the supply side has the value of the nominal system voltage and the nominal system voltage on the load side is switched off.

4. The method according to claims 1, in which the operating time limit is adjustable.

8. The method according to claim 1, in which an acoustically and/or optically perceptible signal is sent out as the alarm report.

9. The method according to claim 1, in which when an alarm report is triggered, a switching contact is actuated and/or a wired interface and/or a wireless interface is activated.

5. A method for monitoring a test interval for a residual current protective device, said method comprising:

measuring a time period that is independent of the operating time of a residual current protective device, for which a test interval is being monitored;

triggering an alarm report if the measured time period exceeds a time period limit; and

restarting the time measurement upon detection of a trigger process of the residual current protective device.

6. The method according to claim 5, in which for detecting the trigger process of the residual current protective device, vibrations of components of the residual current protective device are detected, said vibrations occurring in connection with the trigger process.

7. The method according to claim 5, in which the time period limit is adjustable.

10. A monitoring device for maintaining a test interval for a residual current protective device, said device comprising:

an operating time counter for measuring an operating time of the residual current protective device for which a test interval is being monitored; and

a limit comparator for detecting an exceedance of an adjustable operating time limit and sending out a trigger signal for an alarm report.

11. The monitoring device according to claim 10, including a voltage detector detecting a line voltage on a supply side of the residual current protective device, a difference detector for detecting a difference in the line voltages between the supply side and a load side of the residual current protective device and generating a reset signal for resetting the operating time counter.

16. The monitoring device according to claim 10, including an alarm generator, which receives the trigger signal of the limit comparator and sends out or transmits an alarm report.

17. The monitoring device according to claim 16, in which the alarm generator is warning device sending out at least one of an acoustic signal and an optic signal.

18. The monitoring device according to claim 17, in which the alarm generator includes at least one of a switching contact, a wired interface, and a wireless interface.

12. A monitoring device for maintaining a test interval for a residual current protective device, said device comprising:

a time measuring device for registering a time period that is independent of the operating time of a residual current protective device for which a test interval is being monitored; and

a limit comparator for detecting an exceedance of an adjustable time period limit and for sending out a trigger signal for an alarm report.

13. The monitoring device according to claim 12, including a vibration detector detecting vibrations of components of the residual current protective device, said vibrations occurring in connection with the trigger process, and for generating a reset signal for the time measuring device.

14. The monitoring device according to claim 12, in which the vibration detector is configured to directly absorb component vibrations or to absorb sound waves caused by said component vibrations.

15. The monitoring device according to claim 12, including an energy supply unit providing energy for the monitoring device.

19. The monitoring device according to claim 12, including an alarm generator, which receives the trigger signal of the limit comparator and sends out or transmits an alarm report.

20. The monitoring device according to claim 19, in which the alarm generator is a warning device sending out at least one of an acoustic signal and an optic signal.