Component monitoring system with monitory latch assembly

• US 9,778,318 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2015
• Issued: 10/03/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Chen, Jiong, Yu, Li, Wu, Fangji, Mao, Binhui, Chen, Steven Zhenghong, Liu, Jingxuan
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, MINH Q
• Application Number:
  US14/825,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20170047186A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3271 of high voltage or medium voltage devices G01R31/333 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/3275 Fault detection or status indication
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 11/0062 Testing or measuring non-electrical properties of switches, e.g. contact velocity monitoring contacts H01H1/0015; monitoring gas density H01H33/563; monitoring vacuum H01H33/668; calibrating H01H69/01; adjusting H01H71/74; testing of electrical properties G01R31/333
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/052 Controlling, signalling or testing correct functioning of a switch see also H01H2300/056 - H01H2300/066 and H01H11/0062
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/42 Driving mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/666 Operating arrangements

Abstract

A monitoring latch assembly structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly operating mechanism component characteristics is provided. The monitoring latch assembly includes a latch member and a sensor assembly. The latch member includes a body. The latch member body defines a pocket. The sensor assembly is disposed in the latch member body pocket.

Claims

1. A monitoring latch assembly structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly operating mechanism component characteristics, said circuit breaker assembly operating mechanism including a number of rotating shafts, a number of cam members, a number of link members, a number of D-shafts, each said link member operatively coupled to at least one of another link member, a cam member, or a rotating shaft, said monitoring latch assembly comprising:

a latch member including a body;

said latch member body defining a pocket;

a sensor assembly, said sensor assembly disposed in said latch member body pocket, said latch member body is a generally planar body including a latching first end and a coupling second end;

said latch member body second end including a latching surface; and

said latch member body pocket disposed adjacent said latch member body first end latching surface.

2. The monitoring latch assembly of claim 1 wherein said sensor assembly is structured to measure at least one of a static pressure or a deformation.

3. A monitoring latch assembly structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly operating mechanism component characteristics, said circuit breaker assembly operating mechanism including a number of rotating shafts, a number of cam members, a number of link members, a number of D-shafts, each said link member operatively coupled to at least one of another link member, a cam member, or a rotating shaft, said monitoring latch assembly comprising:

a latch member including a body;

said latch member body defining a pocket;

a sensor assembly, said sensor assembly disposed in said latch member body pocket;

said latch member body pocket includes a generally planar first surface and a generally planar second surface;

wherein said latch member body pocket first surface and said latch member body pocket second surface are generally parallel;

said sensor assembly includes a generally planar body with a generally planar first surface and a generally planar second surface;

said sensor assembly body first surface engaging said latch member body pocket first surface; and

said sensor assembly body second surface engaging said latch member body pocket second surface.

4. A component monitoring system structured to monitor circuit breaker assembly operating mechanism component characteristics, said circuit breaker assembly operating mechanism including a number of rotating shafts, a number of cam members, a number of link members, a number of D-shafts, each said link member operatively coupled to at least one of another link member, a cam member, or a rotating shaft, said system comprising:

a record assembly including selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component;

a latch member including a body;

said latch member body defining a pocket;

at least one sensor assembly structured to measure a number of actual component characteristics of a selected circuit breaker component and to transmit actual component characteristic output data;

said sensor assembly disposed in said latch member body pocket;

a comparison assembly structured to compare said sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication of whether said sensor assembly output data is acceptable when compared to the selected nominal data; and

said at least one sensor assembly in electronic communication with said comparison assembly.

5. The component monitoring system of claim 4 wherein said record assembly selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component includes a desired range for the force acting upon said latch member body.

6. The component monitoring system of claim 4 wherein:

said record assembly is an electronic construct;

said comparison assembly is an electronic construct; and

said comparison assembly is in in electronic communication with said record assembly.

7. The component monitoring system of claim 4 wherein:

said latch member body is a generally planar body including a latching first end and a coupling second end;

said latch member body second end including a latching surface; and

said latch member body pocket disposed adjacent said latch member body first end latching surface.

8. The component monitoring system of claim 4 wherein:

said latch member body pocket includes a generally planar first surface and a generally planar second surface;

wherein said latch member body pocket first surface and said latch member body pocket second surface are generally parallel;

said sensor assembly includes a generally planar body with a generally planar first surface and a generally planar second surface;

said sensor assembly body first surface engaging said latch member body pocket first surface; and

said sensor assembly body second surface engaging said latch member body pocket second surface.

9. The component monitoring system of claim 4 wherein said sensor assembly is structured to measure at least one of a static pressure or a deformation.

10. A circuit breaker assembly comprising:

a number of rotating shafts;

a number of cam members;

a number of link members;

a number of D-shafts;

a component monitoring system;

each said link member operatively coupled to at least one of another link member, a cam member, or a rotating shaft;

component monitoring system including a record assembly, a latch member, at least one sensor assembly, and a comparison assembly;

said record assembly includes selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component;

said latch member including a body;

said latch member body defining a pocket;

at least one sensor assembly structured to measure a number of actual component characteristics of a selected circuit breaker component and to transmit actual component characteristic output data;

said sensor assembly disposed in said latch member body pocket;

said at least one sensor assembly in electronic communication with said comparison assembly; and

a comparison assembly structured to compare said sensor assembly actual component characteristic output data to said selected nominal data and to provide an indication of whether said sensor assembly output data is not acceptable when compared to the selected nominal data.

11. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 10 wherein:

said latch member body engages a D-shaft; and

wherein said engagement of said latch member body and said D-shaft creates a compressive force acting upon said latch member body.

12. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 10 wherein said record assembly selected nominal data for a selected circuit breaker component includes a desired range for the force acting upon said latch member body.

13. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 10 wherein:

said record assembly is an electronic construct;

said comparison assembly is an electronic construct; and

said comparison assembly is in in electronic communication with said record assembly.

14. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 10 wherein:

said latch member body is a generally planar body including a latching first end and a coupling second end;

said latch member body second end including a latching surface; and

said latch member body pocket disposed adjacent said latch member body first end latching surface.

15. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 10 wherein:

said latch member body pocket includes a generally planar first surface and a generally planar second surface;

wherein said latch member body pocket first surface and said latch member body pocket second surface are generally parallel;

said sensor assembly includes a generally planar body with a generally planar first surface and a generally planar second surface;

said sensor assembly body first surface engaging said latch member body pocket first surface; and

said sensor assembly body second surface engaging said latch member body pocket second surface.

16. The circuit breaker assembly of claim 10 wherein said sensor assembly is structured to measure at least one of a static pressure or a deformation.