Circuit protector signal transmission, methods and system
First Claim
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.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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.
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Citations
49 Claims
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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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:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43)
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44. A circuit protector system comprising:
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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. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48)
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49. A circuit protector signal transmission kit comprising:
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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.
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Specification