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Group protection module for a switchgear arrangement and switchgear arrangement having such a group protection module

  • US 7,974,058 B2
  • Filed: 07/10/2008
  • Issued: 07/05/2011
  • Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2007
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A group protection module for a switchgear arrangement for protecting one or more load feeder operative with the group protection module, each load feeder having a contactor for connecting or disconnecting a load from a power source, the group protection module comprising:

  • a circuit breaker for implementing short-circuit protection, wherein the circuit breaker is connected to a supply-side input and a load-side output of the group protection module for respective connection to a power supply system and connection to the group of load feeders;

    a safety evaluation unit for tripping the circuit breaker if a status signal indicates that a contactor in one of the load feeders has not been de-energized and for determining the status signal by checking a status signaling loop;

    a first and a second loop contact connected to the safety evaluation unit, wherein the first and second loop contacts are component parts of a prefabricated first connector, wherein the first connector is accessible from outside a housing of the group protection module such that a second connector of the one or more load feeders is intermateable with the first connector to establish the status signaling loop, the status signaling loop further comprising a first switch within each one of the load feeders and operative with the contactors, the first switch controlled to an open configuration responsive to the contactor in an opened configuration and the first switch controlled to a closed configuration responsive to the contactor in a closed configuration, wherein if each of the contactors remains in the closed configuration upon receiving a command to open, the first switch remains in the open configuration thereby interrupting the status signaling loop, wherein the safety evaluation unit opens the circuit breaker responsive to an open status signaling loop and wherein the safety evaluation unit checks the status of the signaling loop for an interruption only after an emergency or safety disconnection of the contactor from the power source; and

    each of the one or more load feeders further comprising a second switch connected across the first and the second loop contacts, the second switch in a closed condition in a last load feeder of a string of the one or more load feeders, and the second switch in an open condition in each of the one or more load feeders of the string of load feeders except the last load feeder.

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