Circuit protector signal transmission, methods and system

• US 7,576,635 B2
• Filed: 09/12/2005
• Issued: 08/18/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Bender, Robert Lawrence, Speno, Timothy Hamilton, Douglass, Robert Stephen, Henricks, Michael Craig
• Primary Examiner(s): TRIEU, VAN THANH
• Application Number:
  US11/224,526
• Publication Number:
  US 20060087785A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 340/292, 340/288, 340/635, 340/638, 340/649, 340/650, 340/662, 340/663, 340/664, 340/539.1, 700/292, 700/293, 361/72, 337/206
• US Class Current: 340/292
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/087 Inventory or stock management, e.g. order filling, procurement or balancing against orders
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2085/0266 Structural association with a measurement device, e.g. a shunt
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition with or without subsequent reconnection specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems H02H7/00; systems for change-over to standby supply H02J9/00 ; integrated protection for motors H02H7/0822
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/042 combined with means for locating the fault locating faults in cables G01R31/08
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 7/261 involving signal transmission between at least two stations transmission of signals in general H02H1/0061
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00001 characterised by the display of information or by user interaction, e.g. supervisory control and data acquisition systems [SCADA] or graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/00036 the elements or equipment being or involving switches, relays or circuit breakers circuits for indication of single switches H01H9/167
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 13/0004 involved in a protection system
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/00 Enabling technologies; Technologies with a potential or indirect contribution to GHG emissions mitigation
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/20 using protection elements, arrangements or systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/40 Display of information, e.g. of data or controls
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/50 Systems or methods supporting the power network operation or management, involving a certain degree of interaction with the load-side end user applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y04S 10/52 Outage or fault management, e.g. fault detection or location

Abstract

A circuit protector signal transmission system, kit and method involves at least one circuit protector defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified operating conditions in a circuit, a status element associated with the circuit protector and adapted to monitor an operating state of the current path, an electronic gateway device in communication with the status element and adapted to receive a data signal from the status element corresponding to the operating condition of the current path. The data signal includes location information and identification information for circuit protectors as they operate to interrupt the current paths in an electrical system.

Claims

1. A circuit protector signal transmission system for at least one circuit protector defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified operating conditions in a circuit, and a status element associated with the circuit protector and adapted to monitor an operating state of the current path, the signal transmission system comprising:

an electronic gateway device in communication with the status element and adapted to receive a data signal from the status element corresponding to the operating condition of the current path, the data signal comprising a plurality of data bits selected from the group comprising a unique radio identifier, a manufacturer serial number for the status element, a device type code for the circuit protector, a location or address code for the circuit protector, a power/control code, an equipment identification code, a testing code, a fault code, a customer code, a temperature code, a vibration code, a displacement code, a mechanical stress code, a mechanical strain code, an acoustical emission code, a noise code, a thermal imagery code, an electrical resistance code, a pressure code, a humidity code and a video code; and

wherein the data signal comprises data related to operation of a fuse, the data comprising a unique identification code for the fuse and a location code for the fuse.

2. The signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising an electronic overview and response dispatch system in communication with the electronic gateway device, wherein the response dispatch system is responsive to the gateway device to automatically alert and summon responsible personnel when the circuit protector has operated to open the circuit path, and identify the location of the operated circuit protector.

3. The signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising at least one repeater/router element adapted to receive a signal from the status element, and wherein the repeater/router element is adapted to forward the data signal from the status element to the gateway device.

4. The signal transmission system of claim 3, wherein the repeater/router element communicates wirelessly with the gateway.

5. The signal transmission system of claim 3, wherein the gateway device is adapted to receive a first message protocol from the repeater/router element, and convert the first message protocol to a second message protocol that is different from the first message protocol.

6. The signal transmission system of claim 3, wherein the router/repeater element is adapted to receive radio frequency data signals from the status elements, and forward the radio frequency data signals to the gateway device.

7. The signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a communications link interfacing the status element and the gateway device, the communications link being selected from the group comprising a hard-wired communications link, an optical communications link, a network communications link, a wireless communications link, a satellite communications link, a power line frequency carrier, and combinations thereof.

8. The signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to filter incoming data signals and discard repeat or duplicative signal transmissions from the status element.

9. The signal transmission system of claim 1, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to identify a monitoring mode of the status elements, and wherein the monitoring mode is selected from the group comprising a registered status, a discovered status, an activated status, a suspended status, a deactivated status, and an offline status.

10. The signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of repeater/router elements, the electronic gateway device adapted to perform configuration and monitoring algorithms to ensure proper operation of the repeater/router elements.

11. The signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of repeater/router elements, the electronic gateway device adapted to intelligently manage the addition or subtraction of repeater/router elements to and from the system.

12. The signal transmission system of claim 1, further comprising a mesh network of repeater/router elements, the network comprising multiple signal paths to forward signal transmissions to the gateway device.

13. The signal transmission system of claim 12, wherein the mesh network is self-configuring and self healing with autorouting and rerouting capability.

14. A signal transmission system for a plurality of circuit protectors, each of the circuit protectors defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified current conditions through the interruptible current path, wherein a status element is associated with each of the circuit protectors, each of the status elements being adapted to monitor an operating state of the respective current path, and at least one of the status elements adapted to transmit a data signal when one or more of the current paths are interrupted as the circuit protectors operate, the signal transmission system comprising:

a plurality of repeater/router elements located within a signal transmission range of at least one of the status elements; and

a gateway device adapted to receive the data signal from the at least one status element;

wherein the repeater/router elements are adapted to receive the data signal from the at least one status element and forward the data signal to the gateway device in a first message protocol comprising at least a unique circuit protector identifier and a location identifier for the operated circuit protector.

15. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the repeater/router elements communicate wirelessly with the gateway device.

16. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the data signal comprises a digital radio frequency signal.

17. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the gateway device is adapted to receive the data signal in a first message protocol process the data signal, and convert the data signal to a second message protocol that is different from the first protocol.

18. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of circuit protectors are fuses, the status elements transmitting data related to operation of the fuses, the data comprising a unique identification code, an address code, and a fault code.

19. The signal transmission system of claim 14, further comprising an electronic overview and response dispatch system in communication with electronic gateway device, wherein the overview and response dispatch system is responsive to the gateway device to automatically alert and summon responsible personnel when the circuit protectors operate to open one or more of the current paths, and identify the location of the operated circuit protectors.

20. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to filter incoming data signals and discard repeat or duplicative signal transmissions.

21. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to perform authentication, verification, or security algorithms.

22. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to perform configuration and monitoring algorithms to ensure proper operation of the repeater/router elements.

23. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to perform timestamp alert algorithms to detect errors in a communication path between the status elements and the gateway device.

24. The signal transmission system of claim 14, wherein the plurality of router repeater elements define a mesh network having multiple signal paths to forward signal transmissions to the gateway device.

25. The signal transmission system of claim 24, wherein the mesh network is self-configuring and self healing with autorouting and rerouting capability.

26. A circuit protector signal transmission system for a plurality of overcurrent protection fuses, each of the overcurrent protection fuses having a primary fuse element extending between first and second terminal elements, the primary fuse elements defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified current conditions through the primary fuse element, the signal transmissions system comprising:

a status element corresponding to each of the circuit fuses, the status elements comprising monitoring modules adapted to sense an operating condition of the respective fuses, and at least one communications module having a low power radio frequency (RF) transmitter, the communications module adapted to generate an RF data signal having a first message protocol when opening of the current path in the fuses is sensed;

a plurality of radio repeater/router elements located within a transmission range of the communications module, the repeater/router elements adapted to receive and forward RF data signals from any of the status elements to an intelligent electronic gateway device;

wherein the gateway device is adapted to receive the RF data signals forwarded through the repeater/router elements, and convert the data signals to a network communications protocol, different from the first message protocol.

27. The signal transmission system of claim 26, further comprising an electronic overview and response dispatch system in communication with the gateway device, wherein the overview and response dispatch system is adapted to alert and summon responsible personnel of one or more operated fuses, and identify the locations of the operated fuses for replacement to efficiently re-energize affected circuitry.

28. The system of claim 26, wherein the data signal comprises a digital radio frequency signal.

29. The system of claim 26, wherein the monitoring modules are mechanically and electrically connected to the first and second terminal elements of the respective fuses at a location exterior to a body of the fuse, thereby providing retrofit installation to an installed fuse.

30. The system of claim 26, wherein the data signal comprises a unique identification code, an address code, and a fault code.

31. The signal transmission system of claim 26, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to filter incoming messages from the plurality of repeater/router elements and discard repeat or duplicative signal transmissions.

32. The signal transmission system of claim 26, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to perform authentication, verification, or security algorithms.

33. The signal transmission system of claim 26, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to perform diagnostic, testing, and troubleshooting procedures to ensure proper operation of the repeater/router elements.

34. The signal transmission system of claim 26, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to intelligently manage the addition or subtraction of repeater/router elements and status modules to and from the system.

35. The signal transmission system of claim 26, wherein the electronic gateway device is adapted to identify a monitoring mode of the status elements, and wherein the monitoring mode is selected from the group comprising a registered status, a discovered status, an activated status, a suspended status, a deactivated status, and an offline status.

36. The signal transmission system of claim 26, wherein the plurality of router repeater elements define a mesh network having multiple signal paths to forward signal transmissions to the gateway device.

37. The signal transmission system of claim 26, wherein the mesh network is self-configuring and self healing with autorouting and rerouting capability.

38. A method of efficiently re-energizing affected circuitry in an electrical system when a circuit protector operates to isolate one portion of an electrical system from another portion of the electrical system, the method comprising:

providing a status element proximate to the respective circuit protectors of interest, the status element adapted to generate a data signal representative of an operating state of the associated circuit protector, at least one repeater/router element within the signal transmission range of the status element, and an electronic gateway device adapted to receive signals from the repeater/router elements;

sensing, using the status elements, an operating state of the circuit protectors when installed in the electrical system;

based upon the sensed state of the circuit protectors, transmitting a data signal from at least one of the status elements to the repeater/router element; and

forwarding, using the repeater/router element, the data signal to the electronic gateway device;

wherein transmitting a data signal from the status elements comprises transmitting a data signal comprising at least an identification code and an address code to identify the location of the operated circuit protector.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising communicating, using the gateway device, a signal to an electronic overview and response system when one of the circuit protectors has operated to isolate a portion of the electrical system.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein sensing an operating state of the circuit protectors comprises sensing a voltage drop across the circuit protectors.

41. The method of claim 38, wherein transmitting a data signal from at least one of the status elements comprises wirelessly transmitting the data signal.

42. The method of claim 38, further comprising processing, using the gateway device, signals received from the repeater/routers, before communicating with a remote management system.

43. The method of claim 38, wherein providing a status element proximate to the respective circuit protectors of interest comprises attaching a sensing module to an exterior surface of the circuit protectors of interest, thereby facilitating retrofit installation to existing fuses of an electrical system.

44. A circuit protector system comprising:

means for sensing an operating state of a plurality of circuit protectors in an electrical system;

means for transmitting a data signal corresponding to a sensed operation of one or more of the circuit protectors, thereby isolating at least one portion of the electrical system from another portion of the electrical system;

means for receiving and forwarding the data signal, located remotely from the means for transmitting; and

means for processing the forwarded data signals and communicating with a remote overview and response dispatch system;

wherein the circuit protectors are fuses.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the means for transmitting comprises means for transmitting a low power wireless signal.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the means for receiving comprises an intelligent gateway device element.

47. The system of claim 44, the means for sensing an operating state comprising means for attaching a voltage sensor to an exterior surface of the fuse.

48. The system of claim 44, wherein the means for sensing an operating state comprises one of a means for sensing an overcurrent condition, means for sensing an overload condition, means for sensing a short circuit condition, means for sensing an overvoltage condition, and means for sensing a temperature overlimit condition.

49. A circuit protector signal transmission kit comprising:

at least one status element adapted for retrofit installation to a circuit protector in an electrical system, the status element adapted to generate a low power wireless data signal when the circuit protector operates to interrupt and isolate one portion of the electrical system from another portion of the electrical system;

at least one router repeater element adapted to receive the wireless data signal at a location within a signal transmission range of the status element; and

a gateway device adapted to receive data signals forwarded from the at least one repeater/router element, the gateway device adapted to convert the data signals to a network communications protocol for communication to a network-based overview and response dispatch system.