Circuit interrupter trip apparatus and method
First Claim
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1. A circuit interrupter trip apparatus operably connected to an operating mechanism of a circuit interrupter, the trip apparatus comprising:
- a sensor;
a microswitch operably connected and responsive to the sensor, said sensor configured to change the operating state of the switch in response to detection of a predetermined electrical condition; and
a computer controller configured and disposed to receive and execute computer executable instructions, the controller being operably connected to the switch and configured to activate the operating mechanism in response to a change in the operating state of the switch.
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Abstract
A circuit interrupter trip apparatus operably connected to an operating mechanism of a circuit interrupter includes a sensor and a switch operably connected and responsive to the sensor. The switch is positioned such that the sensor changes the operating state of the switch in response to detection of a predetermined electrical condition, such as an electrical fault. A controller is operably connected to the switch and is configured to activate the operating mechanism in response to a change in the operating state of the switch.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A circuit interrupter trip apparatus operably connected to an operating mechanism of a circuit interrupter, the trip apparatus comprising:
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a sensor; a microswitch operably connected and responsive to the sensor, said sensor configured to change the operating state of the switch in response to detection of a predetermined electrical condition; and a computer controller configured and disposed to receive and execute computer executable instructions, the controller being operably connected to the switch and configured to activate the operating mechanism in response to a change in the operating state of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A circuit interrupter comprising:
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a first electrical contact; a second electrical contact disposed in separable communication with the first electrical contact; an operating mechanism disposed and configured to selectively open and close the first and second electrical contacts; a first trip device operably connected to the operating mechanism to activate the operating mechanism in response to at least one first condition being met; and a second trip device operably connected to the operating mechanism to activate the operating mechanism in response to at least one second condition being met, the second trip device comprising; a computer controller configured and disposed to receive and execute computer readable instructions, the controller being configured to issue a trip command; a microswitch having at least two operating states, the switch being in electrical communication with the controller; a sensor disposed and configured to change the operating state of the switch in response to detecting a predetermined electrical condition, the predetermined electrical condition being an at least one second condition; an actuator operably connected to the controller and the operating mechanism, the actuator disposed and configured to activate the operating mechanism in response to the trip command from the controller; and wherein the controller is configured to issue the trip command to the actuator in response to the change in the operating state of the switch. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A circuit interrupter trip method comprising:
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providing a sensor; providing a microswitch; providing a computer controller configured to receive and execute computer readable instructions; connecting the microswitch to the computer controller; configuring the sensor to change an operating state of the microswitch when a predetermined condition is detected; monitoring the operating state of the microswitch with the computer controller; and activating an operating mechanism of a circuit interrupter with the computer controller when the operating state of the microswitch changes. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19)
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Specification