Circuit protector monitoring assembly kit and method
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A circuit protector monitoring system comprising:
- at least one circuit protector defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of a specified operating condition in a circuit; and
a status element associated with the at least one circuit protector and adapted to detect and communicate a change in operating state of the interruptible current path from an uninterrupted state to an interrupted state as the specified operating condition in the circuit occurs; and
a remotely located electronic management system in communication with the status element, the electronic management system configured to;
determine, based on a communication from the status element, a physical location of the at least one circuit protector and the change in operating state of the interruptible current path without requiring physical inspection of the circuit protector; and
automatically alert and summon responsible personnel to the physical location when the interruptible current path changes to the interrupted state.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Monitoring assemblies, kits and methods for determining an operational state of a circuit protector in an electrical circuit.
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Citations
51 Claims
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1. A circuit protector monitoring system comprising:
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at least one circuit protector defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of a specified operating condition in a circuit; and a status element associated with the at least one circuit protector and adapted to detect and communicate a change in operating state of the interruptible current path from an uninterrupted state to an interrupted state as the specified operating condition in the circuit occurs; and a remotely located electronic management system in communication with the status element, the electronic management system configured to; determine, based on a communication from the status element, a physical location of the at least one circuit protector and the change in operating state of the interruptible current path without requiring physical inspection of the circuit protector; and automatically alert and summon responsible personnel to the physical location when the interruptible current path changes to the interrupted state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A monitoring assembly for a circuit protector system, comprising:
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a plurality of circuit protectors, each of the circuit protectors defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified operating conditions in an electrical system; a modular status element associated with each of the circuit protectors, each of the status elements adapted to monitor an operating state of the respective current path, and a transmitter communicating with the modular status elements, the transmitter sending a wireless data signal to a remote location when any of the circuit paths in the plurality of circuit protectors is interrupted, the data signal including a unique identification code and a location code for the circuit protectors having the interrupted current path. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A fuse monitoring assembly comprising:
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an overcurrent protection fuse having a primary fuse element extending between first and second terminal elements, the primary fuse element defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified current conditions through the primary fuse element; and a monitoring module responsive to operation of the fuse; wherein the monitoring module comprises a housing, a mounting element adapted to attach the housing to an exterior surface of the fuse, and first and second conductive arms extending to the respective first and second terminal elements of the fuse; and a transmitter connected to the monitoring module and mounted at a location proximate the fuse, the transmitter sending a data signal to a remote location, the data signal including a unique identifier for the fuse and a location identifier for the fuse. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. A method of monitoring operation of a circuit protector in an electrical system, the circuit protector operable to interrupt a conductive circuit path and isolate one portion of the 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, and a transmitter responsive to the status elements and generating a data signal to a remote location when any one of the circuit protectors has operated to isolate a portion of the electrical system, the data signal comprising a plurality of data bits selected from the group comprising 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; sensing, using the status elements, an operating state of the circuit protectors when installed in the electrical system; and based upon the sensed state of the circuit protectors, transmitting the data signal to a remote location, wherein the data signal includes a unique identifier and a location identifier for an operated circuit protector. - View Dependent Claims (31, 32, 33)
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34. A circuit protector monitoring assembly comprising:
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means for sensing an operating state of a plurality of circuit protectors in an electrical system; means for attaching the means for sensing to the circuit protectors without modifying the electrical system; and means for transmitting a data signal in response to a sensed change in operating state of any of the plurality of circuit protectors, the data signal corresponding to a sensed operation of one or more of the circuit protectors, the data signal uniquely identifying one or more operated circuit protectors and the locations of one or more operated circuit protectors in the electrical system. - View Dependent Claims (35, 36, 37, 50)
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38. A fuse state monitoring kit for a fuse having a fuse body and first and second terminal elements connected to the body, the kit comprising:
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a housing; a sensor in the housing; a mounting element dimensioned to engage an outer surface of the fuse body and affix the housing to the body; and first and second contact arms attachable to the housing and dimensioned to extend from the housing to the first and second terminal elements, respectively, the first and second contact arms being connected to the sensor. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49)
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51. A circuit protector state monitoring assembly comprising:
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a circuit protector comprising first and second terminal elements; and a retrofit monitoring module coupled to an exterior surface of the circuit protector and mechanically and electrically engaged to the first and second terminal elements, the module adapted to determine an operating state of the circuit protector and communicate a unique identification code for the circuit protector and a location code for the circuit protector to a remote location when the operating state of the circuit protector changes.
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Specification