Electrical control module for a circuit breaker stored energy operator assembly

• US 6,107,702 A
• Filed: 03/29/1999
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Siemens Industry Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Bilac, Mario, Reagan, Paul D., Bollinger, Parker A. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleming, Fritz
• Assistant Examiner(s): DeBeradinis, Robert L.
• Application Number:
  US09/277,913
• Time in Patent Office: 512 Days
• Field of Search: 307/125, 307/116, 307/131, 307/139, 307/140, 307/35, 361/61, 361/71, 361/59, 361/115, 335/14
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/70 actuated by electric motor

Abstract

An electrical control module for use with a stored energy assembly having a motor for use with a circuit breaker assembly, the circuit breaker assembly providing an electrical signal through electrical contacts for actuating the circuit breaker assembly, the electrical control module comprising a rectifying circuit, which receives and rectifies the electrical signal so as to provide a rectified electrical signal; a motor switch circuit connected to the motor; and an electrical signal flow maintenance circuit, which is operatively connected to the rectifying circuit, the motor switch circuit and the motor, wherein the electrical signal flow circuit maintenance maintains at least a threshold rectified electrical when the electrical contacts are closed so that the motor switch circuit is on and the motor operates.

Claims

1. An electrical control module for use with a stored energy assembly having a motor for use with a circuit breaker assembly, the circuit breaker assembly providing an electrical signal through electrical contacts for actuating the circuit breaker assembly, the electrical control module comprising:

a rectifying circuit, which receives and rectifies said electrical signal so as to provide a rectified electrical signal;

a motor switch circuit connected to the motor; and

an electrical signal flow maintenance circuit, which is operatively connected to said rectifying circuit, said motor switch circuit and the motor, wherein said electrical signal flow circuit maintenance maintains at least a threshold rectified electrical when the electrical contacts are closed so that said motor switch circuit is on and the motor operates.

2. The electrical control module of claim 1, wherein said electrical signal is an AC electrical signal.

3. The electrical control module of claim 1, wherein said electrical signal is a DC electrical signal.

4. The electrical control module of claim 1, wherein said rectified electrical signal is a full wave rectified DC electrical signal.

5. The electrical control module of claim 1, wherein said rectifying circuit comprises a bridge circuit.

6. The electrical control module of claim 5, wherein said bridge circuit comprises diodes.

7. The electrical control module of claim 6, wherein said motor switch circuit comprises a thyristor.

8. The electrical control module of claim 7, wherein said thyristor is a silicon-controlled rectifier.

9. The electrical control module of claim 8, wherein said electrical signal maintenance circuit comprises a voltage storage element connected across said bridge circuit so as to maintain the on state of the silicon-controlled rectifier.

10. The electrical control module of claim 9, wherein the voltage storage element comprises a capacitor.

11. The electrical control module of claim 10, wherein said motor switch circuit comprises a rectified electrical signal filter in parallel with a zener diode, which is used to control a gate of said silicon-controlled rectifier.

12. The electrical control module of claim 11, wherein said signal filter comprises a resistive element in series with at least one other voltage storage structure.

13. The electrical control module of claim 12, wherein said silicon-controlled rectifier is connected to an electrical protective element.

14. The electrical control module of claim 13, wherein said electrical protective element comprises a voltage storage element.

15. The electrical control module of claim 14, wherein said voltage storage element is a capacitor connected in parallel with respect to said silicon-controlled rectifier.