SWITCH CABINET WITH PROTECTIVE SWITCH DEVICE

• US 20190319449A1
• Filed: 12/07/2017
• Published: 10/17/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Gegenbauer, Bernhard, Reuberger, Georg
• Granted Patent: US 11,289,898 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/14 the means being photocells or other devices sensitive without mechanical contact
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/08 operating with magnetic or electric fields produced or modified by objects or geological structures or by detecting devices with electromagnetic waves G01V3/12
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0023 sensing non electrical parameters, e.g. by optical, pneumatic, thermal or sonic sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/14 responsive to occurrence of voltage on parts normally at earth potential monitoring earth connection H02H5/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/16 responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass with balanced or differential arrangement H02H3/26 ; monitoring earth connection H02H5/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/12 responsive to undesired approach to, or touching of, live parts by living beings
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/22 for distribution gear, e.g. bus-bar systems; for switching devices detecting mechanical or electrical defects in gas-insulated switchgears H02B13/065

Abstract

An electrical installation includes: a switch cabinet; a protective switch arranged in the switch cabinet; and a cladding having electrical conductors and a voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device for measuring a current flowing through the electrical conductors, the voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device being operatively connected to the protective switch and being capable of triggering or switching off the protective switch when a measured value exceeding a threshold value is detected.

Claims

1. An electrical installation, comprising:

a switch cabinet;

a protective switch arranged in the switch cabinet; and

a cladding having electrical conductors and a voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device configured to measure a current flowing through the electrical conductors,

the voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device being operatively connected to the protective switch and

configured to trigger or switch off the protective switch when a measured value exceeding a threshold value is detected.

2. The electrical installation according to claim 1, wherein

the protective switch has a switching input configured to trigger or switch off the protective switch,

wherein the voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device has a switch output which is connected to the switching input of the protective switch, and

wherein the voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device is configured to change the a state of the switch output when the measured value exceeding the threshold value is detected and to subsequently trigger or switch off the protective switch.

3. The electrical installation according to claim 1, wherein the protective switch comprises a line protective switch, an arc short-circuit switch, or a combined line and arc short-circuit switch.

4. The electrical installation according to claim 1, further comprising two measuring electrodes configured for attachment to the human body and

a) a voltage-measuring device arranged therebetween configured to measure a voltage between the measuring electrodes, and/or

b) a current-measuring device arranged therebetween configured to measure a current flowing between the measuring electrodes.

5. The electrical installation according to claim 4, wherein one electrode is arranged on each armband/leg band, or

wherein both measuring electrodes are arranged at a distance from each other on a single armband/leg band.

6. The electrical installation according to claim 1, further comprising

a current-measuring resistor which is connected to the electrical conductors of the cladding and, in both cases, a voltage-measuring device configured to measure an electrical voltage drop at the current-measuring resistor, and/or

the voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device has a ring-type transducer configured to measure an electromagnetic field caused by a current flowing through the electrical conductors of the cladding.

7. The electrical installation according to claim 1, wherein the electrical conductors provided in the cladding comprise electrically conductive wires, an electrically conductive braid, and/or an electrically conductive foil.

8. The electrical installation according to claim 1, wherein the electrical conductors of the cladding are connected to an earth potential.

9. The electrical installation according to claim 8, wherein the earth potential is arranged on an armband or a leg band.

10. The electrical installation according to claim 8, wherein the measuring electrodes and/or the earth potential are arranged inside the cladding.

11. The electrical installation according to claim 1, wherein the cladding comprises a glove, jacket, overall, trousers, or protective suit.

12. The electrical installation according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one optical triggering device which is operatively connected to the protective switch and which is configured to trigger or switch off the protective switch when an arc is detected;

a detection device configured to detect an entry to or a request to enter a safe zone of the electrical installation; and

an electronic switch which is connected to the detection device and configured so as to enable the protective switch to be triggered or switched off by the at least one optical triggering device when the entry or the entry request is detected, and otherwise configured to prevent the protective switch from being triggered or switched off by the at least one optical triggering device.

13. The electrical installation according to claim 12, wherein the electronic switch comprises a logical AND conjunction of a positive arc signal from the optical triggering device and an entry signal from the detection device, or is configured as such, and is operatively connected to the protective switch on an output side.

14. The electrical installation according to claim 12, wherein:

d) the detection device configured to detect a closed state of a switch cabinet door and/or an entrance door to the electrical installation and the electronic switch connected to the detection device is configured to enable the protective switch to be triggered or switched off by the at least one optical triggering device in an OPEN state of the switch cabinet door/entrance door and to prevent the protective switch from being triggered or switched off by the at least one optical triggering device in a CLOSED state of the switch cabinet door/entrance door, and/or

e) the detection device comprises a manually actuatable entrance switch for the switch cabinet and/or for the electrical installation, and the electronic switch connected to the detection device is configured to enable the protective switch to be triggered or switched off by the at least one optical triggering device when the entrance switch is actuated and otherwise to prevent the protective switch from being triggered or switched off by the at least one optical triggering device, and/or

f) the detection device is configured to detect a presence of the at least one optical triggering device in a danger zone of the electrical installation, and the electronic switch connected to the detection device is configured to enable the protective switch to be triggered or switched off by the at least one optical triggering device when the optical triggering device is present in the danger zone and otherwise to prevent the protective switch from being triggered or switched off by the at least one optical triggering device.

15. The electrical installation according to claim 14, wherein

g) the at least one optical triggering device is configured for attachment to the human body, or

h) the at least one optical triggering device is arranged in the switch cabinet or outside the switch cabinet, or

i) a first optical triggering device is configured for attachment to the human body and a second optical triggering device is arranged in the switch cabinet or outside the switch cabinet.

16. The electrical installation according to claim 15, wherein the at least one optical triggering device is arranged on a helmet, an armband, and/or on the cladding.

17. The electrical installation according to claim 1, wherein the operative connection between the protective switch and the voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device and/or between the protective switch and the optical triggering device is established wirelessly or by wire.

18. The electrical installation according to claim 17, wherein

a switch output of the voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device and/or of the optical triggering device comprises a wireless transmitter or is connected to a wireless transmitter,

wherein a switching input of the protective switch comprises a wireless receiver or is connected to a wireless receiver, and

wherein the wireless transmitter and the wireless receiver are configured to establish a wireless connection.

19. The electrical installation according to claim 17, wherein a switch output of the voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device and/or of the optical triggering device is connected electrically or by wire to a switching input of the protective switch.

20. The electrical installation according to claim 1, wherein the switch cabinet is configured for an operating current of at least 250 amperes and/or for an operating voltage of at most 1000 VAC or 1500 VDC.

24. The electrical installation according to claim 4, wherein

the electrical installation has, in case b), a current-measuring resistor which is electrically connected to the measuring electrodes and a voltage-measuring device configured to measure an electrical voltage drop at the current-measuring resistor, and/or

the current-measuring device has a ring-type transducer configured to measure an electromagnetic field which is caused in case b) by a current flowing between the measuring electrodes.

25. The electrical installation according to claim 4, wherein one of the two measuring electrodes in cases a) and b) is connected to an earth potential, or

wherein an earth electrode connected to an earth potential is provided which is configured for attachment to a human body.

21. A method for securing an electrical installation comprising a switch cabinet and a protective switch arranged in the switch cabinet, the method comprising:

determining, using

a current-measuring device of the electrical installation, which is operatively connected to the protective switch, a current flowing through electrical conductors of a cladding, and

triggering or switching off, using a voltage-measuring device/current-measuring device, the protective switch when a measured value exceeding a threshold value is detected.

22. The method according to claim 21, wherein the cladding, which has electrical conductors, is worn on a human body and the current flowing through the electrical conductors is determined.

23. The method according to claim 22, wherein the electrical conductors of the cladding are connected to an earth potential.

26. The method according to claim 23, wherein two measuring electrodes are additionally attached to the human body and a) a voltage drop on the human body between the measuring electrodes or b) a current flowing between the measuring electrodes, is determined.