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Electronically controlled circuit breaker with integrated latch tripping

  • US 5,946,179 A
  • Filed: 03/25/1997
  • Issued: 08/31/1999
  • Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1997
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. A circuit breaker for interrupting an electrical current in a branch circuit of an electrical distribution system, said circuit breaker comprising:

  • a pair of breaker contacts for opening and closing an electrical power distribution circuit,a trip mechanism connected to at least one of said contacts for opening and closing said contacts,a plurality of sensors coupled to said power distribution circuit for sensing the electrical current in said power distribution circuit, the sensors producing respective output signals each representing a characteristic of said current,a plurality of separate electronic detectors each receiving a different one of the respective output signals, a first one of the detectors detecting occurrences of overload faults, a second one of the detectors detecting occurrences of ground faults and a third one of the detectors detecting occurrences of arcing faults, said detectors producing respective trip signals in response to such occurrences, andan actuator for actuating said trip mechanism to open said contacts in response to said trip signals.

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