Power distribution system with circuit breakers remotely resettable by signals transmitted over the power lines
First Claim
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1. An electric power distribution system comprising:
- a network of power conductors forming a plurality of branch circuits connected to a main circuit;
at least one remotely reclosable circuit breaker comprising;
a set of separable contacts connected in power conductors of one of said branch circuits adjacent to said main circuit; and
operating means comprising trip means opening said separable contacts to disconnect said one branch circuit downstream of said separable contacts from said main circuit, and reclose means connected for energization to said power conductors upstream of said separable contacts and responsive to a remote reclose signal to reclose said separable contacts; and
at least one other circuit breaker connected in at least one other branch circuit; and
remote means connected to said network of power conductors through said at least one other branch circuit downstream of said at least one other circuit breaker for transmitting said remote reclose signal to said reclose means over said network of power conductors through said at least one other circuit breaker.
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Abstract
Circuit breakers in an electric power distribution system, such as in a residence or a light commercial facility, are remotely reclosed using a power line communications system such as an X10 or CEBus system, which transmits a reclose signal over the power conductors to a recloser controlling the separable contacts of the circuit breaker in the load center. A remote master unit which generates the reclose signal is connected to an unaffected branch circuit, preferably by plugging into a receptacle located in a convenient part of the house or office remote from the load center. The reclosers may be addressed individually or globally.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. An electric power distribution system comprising:
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a network of power conductors forming a plurality of branch circuits connected to a main circuit; at least one remotely reclosable circuit breaker comprising; a set of separable contacts connected in power conductors of one of said branch circuits adjacent to said main circuit; and operating means comprising trip means opening said separable contacts to disconnect said one branch circuit downstream of said separable contacts from said main circuit, and reclose means connected for energization to said power conductors upstream of said separable contacts and responsive to a remote reclose signal to reclose said separable contacts; and at least one other circuit breaker connected in at least one other branch circuit; and remote means connected to said network of power conductors through said at least one other branch circuit downstream of said at least one other circuit breaker for transmitting said remote reclose signal to said reclose means over said network of power conductors through said at least one other circuit breaker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification