Methods, systems, and apparatus for protection system activation and dynamic labeling

• US 8,981,954 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2012
• Issued: 03/17/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG (ABB Limited)
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Kumfer, Brent Charles, Caggiano, Robert Joseph, Leporace, Michael Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): BLACK-CHILDRESS, RAJSHEED O
• Application Number:
  US13/466,248
• Publication Number:
  US 20130300566A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• US Class Current: 340/686.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/02 Alarms for ensuring the safety of persons
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 25/08 using communication transmission lines G08B13/19658, G08B21/0286, G08B25/016 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 3/10 using electric transmission; using electromagnetic transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/12 responsive to undesired approach to, or touching of, live parts by living beings

Abstract

Methods, devices, and systems for activation of a protection system and dynamic labeling are described. An example system for use with a plurality of circuit protection devices coupled to a switchgear unit includes a first sensor for detecting a body located within a first zone associated with a threshold distance from the switchgear unit, and a controller coupled to the first sensor. The controller is configured to selectively enable the plurality of circuit protection devices. The controller is configured to enable a first circuit protection device of the plurality of circuit protection devices in response to detecting, via the first sensor, a body within the first zone.

Claims

1. A protection system for use with a plurality of circuit protection devices coupled to a switchgear unit, said protection system comprising:

a first sensor for detecting a body located within a first zone associated with a threshold distance from the switchgear unit;

a second sensor for detecting a body within a second zone associated with a second threshold distance from the switchgear unit;

a display device positioned to be visible to bodies in the first zone and the second zone; and

a controller coupled to said first sensor, said second sensor and the display device, said controller configured to;

selectively enable the plurality of circuit protection devices, said controller configured to enable a first circuit protection device of the plurality of circuit protection devices in response to detecting, via said first sensor, a body within the first zone, and said controller configured to enable a second circuit protection device of the plurality of circuit protection devices in response to detecting, via a second sensor, a body within the second zone; and

cause said display device to display a first information in response to detecting a body in the first zone and to display a second information in response to detecting a body in the second zone.

2. A protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first sensor is a door sensor configured to detect when a door to the switchgear unit is opened.

3. A protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first sensor is a door sensor configured to detect when a door to a room in which the switchgear unit is located is opened.

4. A protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first sensor is a motion sensor configured to detect motion of a body within the first zone.

5. A protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first sensor is a laser sensor configured to detect when a body crosses the threshold distance from the switchgear unit.

6. A protection system in accordance with claim 1, further comprising an interposing relay, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are coupled to said controller via said interposing relay.

7. A protection system in accordance with claim 6, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are coupled in parallel to said interposing relay.

8. A protection system in accordance with claim 6, further comprising a logic gate, wherein said first sensor and said second sensor are coupled to said logic gate and said logic gate is coupled to said interposing relay.

9. A protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said first sensor is configured to detect a location of the body relative to the switchgear unit and the first information is based at least in part on the distance of the body from the switchgear unit.

10. A protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first sensor is configured to detect whether a door is in a first position or a second position and the first information is based at least in part on whether the door is in the first position or the second position.

11. A protection system in accordance with claim 1, wherein said controller is further configured to cause said display device to display a third information based at least in part on a status of the circuit protection devices.

12. A method comprising:

determining a level of danger to a body based at least in part on a location of the body relative to a switchgear unit, wherein determining a level of danger to a body comprises determining in which one of a plurality of zones relative to the switchgear unit the body is located;

enabling a first circuit protection device to protect the switchgear unit in response to detecting the body within a first zone,

enabling a second circuit protection device to protect the switchgear unit in response to detecting the body within a second zone, and

displaying information visible to the body at the location based at least in part on the detected level of danger, wherein displaying warning information comprises displaying information relevant to the one of the plurality of zones in which the body is located.

13. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein determining a level of danger to a body comprises detecting the location of the body relative to the switchgear unit utilizing at least one sensor.

14. A method in accordance with claim 12, wherein determining a level of danger to a body comprises determining in which one of a plurality of zones relative to the switchgear unit the body is located, and wherein enabling a circuit protection device comprises enabling a different one of a plurality of types of protection devices of the circuit protection device based on the one of the plurality of zones in which the body is located.

15. A method comprising:

detecting a body within one of a first zone associated with a first threshold distance from a device protectable by a plurality of circuit protection devices and a second zone associated with a second threshold distance from the device;

enabling a first circuit protection device of the plurality of circuit protection devices in response to detecting a body within the first zone,

enabling a second circuit protection device of the plurality of circuit protection devices in response to detecting a body within the second zone, and

causing a display device, positioned to be visible to bodies in the first zone and the second zone, to display a first information in response to detecting a body in the first zone and to display a second information in response to detecting a body in the second zone.