Electrical switching device or trip unit acquiring predetermined settings from another electrical switching device or trip unit

• US 6,005,757 A
• Filed: 05/11/1998
• Issued: 12/21/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Shvach, Randal P., Matsko, Joseph J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sherry, Michael J.
• Application Number:
  US09/075,799
• Time in Patent Office: 589 Days
• Field of Search: 361/62-70, 361/93-97, 361/99, 361/102, 361/78-87
• US Class Current: 361/64
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/006 Provisions for user interfaces for electrical protection devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/006 Calibration or setting of parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061

Abstract

A first trip unit for interconnection with a second trip unit includes current transformers and potential transformers for sensing current, voltage and frequency conditions of a circuit breaker'"'"'s separable contacts. A microprocessor-based trip mechanism provides a trip signal, which is employed by the circuit breaker'"'"'s operating mechanism to open the separable contacts as a function of the sensed electrical conditions and related predetermined operating values. The microcomputer'"'"'s transceiver communicates with the second trip unit over a passive two-wire communication cable to acquire the predetermined settings of the second trip unit. The microcomputer includes a firmware routine which employs the acquired predetermined settings as its predetermined values.

Claims

1. A pair of substantially similar electrical switching devices comprising:

a first electrical switching device having at least one predetermined setting;

a second electrical switching device; and

a communication channel interconnecting said first and second electrical switching devices,

with each of said first and second electrical switching devices comprising;

separable contacts,

operating means emnloving a trip signal to open said separable contacts,

means for sensing at least one electrical condition operatively associated with said separable contacts, and

a trip unit comprising;

memory means for storing at least one predetermined value,

means for providinp the trip signal to said operating means as a function of said at least one sensed electrical condition and said stored at least one predetermined value, and

means for communicating with another electrical switching device by employing said communication channel, and

with the trip unit of said second electrical switching device further comprising;

means cooperating with said means for communicating with another electrical switching device for transferring said at least one predetermined setting from said first electrical switching device,

means for receiving said transferred at least one predetermined setting from said means for communicating with another electrical switching device, and

means for storing said received transferred at least one predetermined setting in said memory means as said at least one predetermined value,

wherein said at least one predetermined setting is a plurality of predetermined settings;

wherein said at least one predetermined value is a plurality of predetermined values;

wherein the memory means of the trip unit of said first electrical switching device stores a plurality of first operating values as the predetermined values of the last said memory means;

wherein the memory means of the trip unit of said second electrical switching device stores a plurality of second operating values as the predetermined values of the last said memory means;

wherein said means for communicating with another electrical switching device of the trip unit of said second electrical switching device includes means for requesting said first operating values from said first electrical switching device; and

wherein said means for communicating with another electrical switching device of the trip unit of said first electrical switching device includes means for responding to said second electrical switching device with said first operating values.

2. A pair of substantially similar electrical switching devices comprising:

a first electrical switching device having at least one predetermined setting;

a second electrical switching device; and

a communication channel interconnecting said first and second electrical switching devices,

with each of said first and second electrical switching devices comprising;

separable contacts,

operating means employing a trip signal to open said separable contacts,

means for sensing at least one electrical condition operatively associated with said separable contacts, and

a trip unit comprising;

memory means for storing at least one predetermined value,

means for providing the trip signal to said operating means as a function of said at least one sensed electrical condition and said stored at least one predetermined value, and

means for communicating with another electrical switching device by employing said communication channel, and

with the trip unit of said second electrical switching device further comprising;

means cooperating with said means for communicating with another electrical switching device for transferring said at least one predetermined setting from said first electrical switching device,

means for receiving said transferred at least one predetermined setting from said means for communicating with another electrical switching device, and

means for storing said received transferred at least one predetermined setting in said memory means as said at least one predetermined value;

wherein said first electrical switching device includes means for providing power to said second electrical switching device, in order to transfer said at least one predetermined setting from said first electrical switching device to said second electrical switching device.