Breaker/starter with auto-configurable trip unit
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An electrical motor starter circuit, comprising:
- a trip unit connected so as to sense a current associated with an electrical motor and to operate an instantaneous trip circuit breaker associated with the electrical motor, the trip unit being capable of receiving at least one removably connectable module, the trip unit including a microprocessor; and
at least one removably connected module connected to said trip unit for performing a motor starter function, wherein the microprocessor automatically determines, from the removably connectable module, one or more configuration parameters for the electrical motor, automatically adjusts the configuration parameters, and automatically provides control signals to perform at least two different control functions in the electrical motor, wherein said at least two control functions include a motor overload trip function and a circuit breaker trip function, and wherein said the circuit breaker trip function trips said instantaneous trip circuit breaker.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A combination circuit breaker/motor starter includes a circuit breaker trip unit having a microprocessor and at least one removably connectable contactor or other functional module. The functional module is encoded with an identifier, such that the microprocessor can determine the type of functional module and appropriate configuration parameters, such as trip times, for the particular application of the functional module. Power is supplied continuously to the trip unit during motor overload or short circuit conditions.
-
Citations
19 Claims
-
1. An electrical motor starter circuit, comprising:
-
a trip unit connected so as to sense a current associated with an electrical motor and to operate an instantaneous trip circuit breaker associated with the electrical motor, the trip unit being capable of receiving at least one removably connectable module, the trip unit including a microprocessor; and
at least one removably connected module connected to said trip unit for performing a motor starter function, wherein the microprocessor automatically determines, from the removably connectable module, one or more configuration parameters for the electrical motor, automatically adjusts the configuration parameters, and automatically provides control signals to perform at least two different control functions in the electrical motor, wherein said at least two control functions include a motor overload trip function and a circuit breaker trip function, and wherein said the circuit breaker trip function trips said instantaneous trip circuit breaker. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for controlling operation of a motor in a circuit breaker trip unit, comprising:
-
selecting configuration parameters for performing circuit breaker operation and operation of a contactor associated with the motor;
automatically adjusting the configuration parameters based on said selecting;
monitoring inputs to the microprocessor to determine whether a predetermined condition has occurred;
performing one or more of said circuit breaker operation and said operation of at least one contactor when the predetermine condition has occurred, wherein said circuit breaker operation includes an instantaneous trip function. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
-
Specification