Electronic control of solenoid operated circuit breakers
First Claim
1. An electronic controller for controlling solenoid operated circuit breakers, used to provide electrical power to one or more electrical loads, coupled to a master controller through a common network line forming a bidirectional communication link therebetween, comprising:
- receiving means for receiving commands from said master controller over said common network line;
control means for controlling said circuit breaker in accordance with the command from said master controller; and
circuit breaker status determining means for determining the status of the circuit breaker independently of the electrical load to which the circuit breaker is connected to verify that the command was properly executed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electronic controller, connected to a digital communication network, is responsive to commands from a master controller to control solenoid operated circuit breakers. The electronic controller also determines the status of all circuit breakers and reports back to the master controller to verify that the command from the master controller was executed and to provide historical data regarding the status of the circuit breakers. The electronic controller is synchronized to the same alternating current (AC) power source as the circuit breakers to control the operation of the respective circuit breakers to minimize electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by the switching of the circuit breakers. The electronic controller further controls the operation of the circuit breakers to reduce the duty cycle of the power supply for the circuit breaker solenoids.
23 Citations
37 Claims
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1. An electronic controller for controlling solenoid operated circuit breakers, used to provide electrical power to one or more electrical loads, coupled to a master controller through a common network line forming a bidirectional communication link therebetween, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving commands from said master controller over said common network line; control means for controlling said circuit breaker in accordance with the command from said master controller; and circuit breaker status determining means for determining the status of the circuit breaker independently of the electrical load to which the circuit breaker is connected to verify that the command was properly executed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electronic controller for controlling solenoid operated circuit breakers coupled to a master controller through a common network line forming a bidirectional communication link therebetween, comprising:
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receiving means for receiving commands from said master controller over said common network line; control means for controlling said circuit breaker in accordance with the command from said master controller; circuit breaker status determining means for determining the status of the circuit breaker to verify that the command was properly executed; and means for synchronizing said current circuit breaker status determining means with a reference signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An electronic controller for controlling solenoid operated circuit breakers, used to supply alternating current electrical power to one or more electrical loads, having a status contact comprising:
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means for determining the circuit breaker status by determining whether the status contact is pen or closed independently of the electrical load to which the circuit breaker is connected; comparing means responsive to said determining means for comparing the current circuit breaker status with the desired circuit breaker status; and control means responsive to said comparing means for changing said circuit breaker status when the current circuit breaker status is different from the desired circuit breaker status. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. An electronic controller for controlling solenoid operated circuit breakers having a status contact coupled to a source of alternating current electrical power comprising:
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means for determining the circuit breaker status by determining whether the status contact is open or closed; comparing means responsive to said determining means for comparing the current circuit breaker status with the desired circuit breaker status; control means responsive to said comparing means for changing said circuit breaker status when the current circuit breaker status is different from the desired circuit breaker status; and means for reducing the electromagnetic interference (EMI) caused by the switching of the circuit breakers. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30, 31)
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32. An electronic controller responsive to commands to controlling solenoid operated circuit breakers coupled to a source of alternating current electrical power comprising:
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first means responsive to said commands for actuating at least one of said circuit breakers as commanded; and second means for controlling the number of said circuit breakers actuated by said first means during a predetermined time period; and means for synchronizing said first means to said source of alternating current electrical power. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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Specification