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US 11,303,111 B2Granted
Configurable modular hazardous location compliant circuit protection devices, systems and methods
AssigneeEaton Intelligent Power Limited
InventorsAndrew Butler, Joseph Michael Manahan, Adam Ledgerwood, Graig DeCarr
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Modular circuit protection devices and configurable panelboard systems include arc-free operation, thermal management features providing safe operation in hazardous environments at lower cost and without requiring conventional explosion-proof enclosures and without entailing series connected separately provided packages such as circuit breaker devices and starter motor contactors and controls.
Claims21
A configurable modular hazardous location compliant circuit protection system for an explosive environment, the system comprising:
- at least one modular switch device comprising:
- a housing;
- a line-side terminal and a load-side terminal coupled to the housing;
- a solid state switching element operable in an arc-free manner to connect the load-side terminal to the line-side terminal and disconnect the load-side terminal from the line-side terminal;
- and
- a controller configured to operate the solid state switching element to share a current load with at least one mechanical switching device to limit arcing energy to a level below that which presents an ignition concern in the explosive environment;
- whereby the at least one modular switch device and the at least one mechanical switching device are each compliant for use in the explosive environment without requiring a separately provided explosion-proof enclosure.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.