Electric circuit breaker having a data store

• US 6,639,775 B1
• Filed: 03/30/2001
• Issued: 10/28/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Jankowiak, Michael-Alexander, Musiol, Aaron-Ernst, Rehaag, Hans, Tietz, Gerhard
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US09/806,451
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42, 361/46, 361/47-50, 361/85, 361/87, 361/92, 361/93.3, 361/93.5, 361/93.7, 361/93.2, 361/93.1, 361/94-98, 439/620, 439/955
• US Class Current: 361/93.3
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/086 Low power connections for auxiliary switches, e.g. shunt trip
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/0228 having provisions for interchangeable or replaceable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/123 using a solid-state trip unit circuits H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/7409 Interchangeable elements

Abstract

An electrical power circuit breaker includes an electric overcurrent trip unit for processing a signal from a current sensor. A flexible connecting line is provided for connecting the current sensor to the overcurrent trip unit and a first component of a two-part plug apparatus is fitted to its end. The second component of this plug apparatus is part of the overcurrent trip unit. At least one resistor is arranged between contact pins in the first component, in order to code individual characteristic values or combinations of such characteristic values, such as the rated current or switching rating class.

Claims

1. An electrical power circuit breaker, comprising:

an electromechanical assembly including at least one switching contact, a drive apparatus which operates the switching contact, and at least one latching devices for allowing energy stores to close and open the switching contact;

a current sensor for detecting a current flowing via the switching contact;

an electronic overcurrent trip unit for processing a signal from the current sensor and for emitting a signal instructing the at least one latching device to open the switching contact;

a moving connecting line for connecting the current sensor to the overcurrent trip unit; and

an information memory for passing characteristic values of the electromechanical assembly in the power circuit breaker to the overcurrent trip unit, wherein

the information memory is a part of a first component, which is connected on the connecting line of a two-part plug and socket apparatus, whose second component is part of the overcurrent trip unit.

2. The power circuit breaker as claim in claim 1, wherein

the information memory is formed by at least one resistor, connected between contact pins of the first component of the plug and socket apparatus.

3. The power circuit breaker as claimed in claim 2, wherein

one resistor is provided for each characteristic value to be coded.

4. The power circuit breaker as claimed in claim 2, wherein

one individual resistor is provided, whose resistance represents a predetermined combination of characteristic values.

5. The power circuit breaker of claim 3, wherein one resistor is provided for each of a plurality of characteristic values to be coded, including rated current of the power circuit breaker, physical size of the power circuit breaker, switching a rating class of the electromechanical assembly, and a standard class.

6. The power circuit breaker of claim 3, wherein each resistor has a resistance between approximately 1Ω

and approximately 1 MΩ

.

7. The power circuit breaker of claim 5, wherein each resistor has a resistance between approximately 1Ω

and approximately 1 MΩ

.

8. The power circuit breaker of claim 7, wherein defined steps of the characteristic values are allocated to the resistance values.

9. The power circuit breaker of claim 2, wherein one single resistor is provided for a plurality of characteristic values to be coded, a resistance of the resistor representing a predetermined combination of the characteristic values.

10. The power circuit breaker of claim 9, wherein the plurality of characteristic values include rated current of the power circuit breaker, physical size of the power circuit breaker, switching a rating class of the electromechanical assembly, and a standard class.