Plug-in ground fault monitor for a circuit breaker
US5490086A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Feb 5, 1993 |
| Grant date | Feb 6, 1996 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 5, 2013 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01H2071/006
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
The present invention provides a plug-in ground fault monitor module for a circuit breaker trip unit configured to operate with a plurality of different plug-in plug-in modules. The ground fault monitor module includes a memory which stores data representative of the its particular function. This memory is readable by the trip unit and enables the trip unit to automatically adapt to communicate monitored ground fault data to the ground fault module. The ground fault module also includes means for setting threshold levels for a ground fault alarm signal. The ground fault alarm signal is generated independently of ground fault alarms in the trip unit based on its internal thresholds. This signal can be used to control an external relay which operates a shunt trip mechanism or an external alarm. The trip unit includes a processor and programming which permits a bi-directional flow of data between the units, such as display data and control data.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.