Switchgear with movable user interface module

• US 7,612,988 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2007
• Issued: 11/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/05/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Resa Power LLC
• Original Assignee: Satin America Corporation
• Inventors: Ulinskas, Algerd M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vortman; Anatoly
• Application Number:
  US11/784,390
• Publication Number:
  US 20080247123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 361/605, 361/614
• US Class Current: 361/614
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/006 Provisions for user interfaces for electrical protection devices
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/123 using a solid-state trip unit circuits H02H
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/74 Means for adjusting the conditions under which the device will function to provide protection

Abstract

A switchgear installation has a cubicle with a door to provide access thereinto, and a low voltage circuit breaker is mounted therein and accessible through the door. Coupled to the circuit breaker is a logic module, and a portable user interface module is releasably mounted on the exterior of the cubicle and operatively connected to the logic module to display information concerning the operation of the breaker and to provide an interface for the user to interact with the logic module and thereby with the breaker. The user interface module includes a battery providing the required power for setting and monitoring the functions of the breaker.

Claims

1. A multiplicity of switchgear installations, each comprising:

(a) a cubicle having a door to provide access thereinto and having a docking station mounted on the exterior thereof;

(b) a low voltage circuit breaker mounted in each of said cubicles and accessible through said door;

(c) a logic module coupled to said circuit breaker and operatively connected to various components of said breaker to enable adjustment of its operation and to report on its operation;

(d) at least one cable extending from said logic module to said docking station; and

(e) a portable user interface module releasably mounted in the docking station of one of said cubicles and operatively connected to said logic module by the cable when so mounted, said interface module displaying information concerning the operation of the breaker to which connected and providing an interface for the user to manually interact with said logic module and thereby with said breaker, said interface module including a battery to provide the power necessary for operation of the logic module for reporting the operation of the breaker and for making adjustments thereto.

2. The switchgear installation in accordance with claim 1 wherein said docking station is mounted on said door and provides a mounting into which said portable user interface module may be readily inserted or removed therefrom for mounting in the docking station of another switchgear installation.

3. The switchgear installation in accordance with claim 1 wherein said portable user interface module from said docking station is nested on said logic module and is readily removable therefrom.

4. The switchgear installation in accordance with claim 1 wherein said portable user interface module enables setting up, monitoring, querying functions for said breaker.

5. The switchgear installation in accordance with claim 1 wherein said docking station includes a connector to which said user interface module is coupled upon mounting therein.

6. The switchgear installation in accordance with claim 1 wherein there are multiple cubicles with breakers, docking stations and logic modules, said user interface module being releasably mountable in the docking stations of each of said cubicles to interface with the logic module and breaker in each of the cubicles.