Electrical apparatus for differential protection with a test circuit

• US 5,978,191 A
• Filed: 09/11/1997
• Issued: 11/02/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Schneider Electric SA (Schneider Electric SE)
• Original Assignee: Schneider Electric SA (Schneider Electric SE)
• Inventors: Bonniau, Michel, Paupert, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US08/913,285
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42, 361/45, 361/49, 361/78, 361/187, 361/93, 361/102, 361/115, 324/418, 324/420, 324/422-424
• US Class Current: 361/45
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/335 the main function being self testing of the device

Abstract

A trip device comprising a differential current detection transformer, a trip relay of a breaking mechanism of the circuit breaker and a test circuit for checking the operation of the trip device. The relay comprises a fixed yoke bearing a coil and a blade that is mobile with respect to the yoke. During normal operation of the trip device, the blade is held magnetically in the position pressing against the yoke and when a differential current occurs, the blade actuates the breaking mechanism. The test circuit generates a vibration of the blade, without causing tripping of the mechanism, in order to check its ability to disengage from the fixed yoke. Advantageously, this vibration is obtained by application of a voltage in the form of pulses to the terminals of the coil.

Claims

1. An electrical apparatus for differential protection by a circuit breaker comprising:

a trip device which comprises a differential current detection transformer, a trip relay and a breaking mechanism;

said breaking mechanism comprising a blade;

said trip relay comprising a fixed yoke with a coil, said blade being moveable between an engaged position pressing against said yoke and a disengaged position spaced away from said yoke;

said trip relay being electrically connected by the coil to said current detection transformer so that said blade is held in the engaged position during normal operation; and

a test circuit for checking an operational status of said trip device;

said test circuit comprising means for generating a vibration of said blade, without moving said blade to the disengaged position that trips said breaking mechanism from said yoke when a differential current is detected by said differential current detection transformer, to verify operability of said blade to disengage from said yoke.

2. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating a vibration further comprises a pulse voltage applied to a pair of terminals of the coil of said trip relay.

3. The electrical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein an amplitude and width of the pulse voltage are adjusted to obtain a vibration of said blade without causing it to completely disengage from said yoke.

4. The electrical apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said applied pulse voltage is a square wave.

5. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a means for measuring a variation of inductance at a pair of terminals of the coil during operation of said means for generating vibration, wherein a sudden variation of the inductance is indicative of proper operation of said trip relay.

6. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for measuring includes means for measuring a variation of a current in said test circuit during operation of said means for generating a vibration, wherein a sudden variation of the current is indicative of correct operation of said trip relay.

7. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for measuring includes means for measuring an over-voltage at a pair of terminals of the coil during operation of said means for generating a vibration, said over-voltage being indicative of an ability of said blade to disengage from said yoke.

8. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5, comprising means for providing local and remote signaling, said means for providing local and remote signaling being electrically connected to said means for measuring a variation of inductance to indicate a possible failure of said differential protection.

9. The electrical apparatus according to claim 6, comprising means for providing local and remote signaling, said means for providing local and remote signaling being electrically connected to said means for measuring a variation of inductance to indicate a possible failure of said differential protection.

10. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating a vibration is operable periodically.

11. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for generating a vibration and said means for measuring a variation of inductance are operable periodically.

12. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for generating a vibration and said means for measuring are operable periodically.

13. The electrical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for generating a vibration, said means for measuring and said means for providing local and remote signaling are operable periodically.

14. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating a vibration is operable automatically.

15. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for generating a vibration and said means for measuring are operable automatically.

16. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for generating a vibration and said means for measuring are operable automatically.

17. The electrical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein said means for generating a vibration, means for measuring, and means for providing local and remote signaling are operable automatically.

18. The electrical apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said means for generating a vibration is repeatably operable over a time interval of a few tenths of a millisecond to several months.

19. The electrical apparatus according to claim 5, wherein said means for generating a vibration and said means for measuring are repeatably operable over a time interval of a few tenths of a millisecond to several months.

20. The electrical apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said means for generating a vibration and said means for measuring are repeatably operable over a time interval of a few tenths of a millisecond to several months.

21. The electrical apparatus according to claim 8, wherein a said means for generating a vibration, means for measuring, and means for providing local and remote signaling ranges are repeatable operable over a period of a few tenths of a millisecond to several months.