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US 12,451,308 B2Granted
Circuit breaker systems
AssigneeSchneider Electric USA, Inc.
InventorsJuan Ignacio Melecio Ramirez, Skylar Frances Wetzel, Jeremy D. Schroeder
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit breaker assembly can include a mechanism configured to be actuated by an operator toward a first position. The mechanism can be configured to move between the first position and a second position to change a state of a contactor between a closed state and an open state. The assembly can include a position sensor system configured to sense a position of the mechanism between the first position and the second position.
Claims21
A circuit breaker assembly, comprising:
- a mechanism configured to be actuated by an operator toward a first position, wherein the mechanism is configured to move between the first position and a second position to change a state of a contactor between a closed state and an open state;
- a magnetic coupler disposed on, within, or forming a portion of the mechanism;
- a primary inductor disposed in magnetic proximity to the magnetic coupler, wherein the primary inductor is configured to receive an input signal and configured to generate a reference magnetic field;
- a sense inductor disposed to be in magnetic communication with the magnetic coupler and/or the primary inductor, wherein the mechanism is configured to move the magnetic coupler relative to the sense inductor and the primary inductor, and wherein the sense inductor is configured to sense a magnetic field flux, wherein a relative position of the magnetic coupler affects the reference magnetic field to effect the magnetic field flux sensed by the sense inductor, wherein the sense inductor and the primary inductor are planar coils that are concentric;
- and
- a position sensor system configured to sense a position of the mechanism between the first position and the second position.
3 more elements
A circuit breaker assembly, comprising:
- a mechanism configured to be actuated by an operator toward a first position, wherein the mechanism is configured to move between the first position and a second position to change a state of a contactor between a closed state and an open state;
- a permanent magnet disposed on, within, or forming a portion of the mechanism;
- a sense inductor disposed to be in magnetic communication with the permanent magnet, wherein the mechanism is configured to move relative to the sense inductor, and wherein the sense inductor is configured to sense a magnetic field flux associated with motion of the permanent magnet to output a sense signal;
- and
- a position module operatively connected to the sense inductor and configured to determine a position of the mechanism in motion based on the sense signal.
2 more elements
A circuit breaker assembly, comprising:
- a mechanism configured to be actuated by an operator toward a first position, wherein the mechanism is configured to move between the first position and a second position to change a state of a contactor between a closed state and an open state;
- a magnetic coupler disposed on, within, or forming a portion of the mechanism;
- a primary inductor disposed in magnetic proximity to the magnetic coupler, wherein the primary inductor is configured to receive an input signal and configured to generate a reference magnetic field;
- a sense inductor disposed to be in magnetic communication with the magnetic coupler and/or the primary inductor, wherein the mechanism is configured to move the magnetic coupler relative to the sense inductor and the primary inductor, and wherein the sense inductor is configured to sense a magnetic field flux associated with a position and/or motion of the magnetic coupler to output a sense signal, wherein a relative position of the magnetic coupler affects the reference magnetic field to effect the magnetic field flux sensed by the sense inductor, wherein the sense inductor and the primary inductor are planar coils that are concentric;
- and
- a position module operatively connected to the primary inductor to provide the input signal to the primary inductor, wherein the position module is also connected to the sense inductor and configured to determine a position of the mechanism based on the sense signal.
3 more elements
A non-transitory computer readable medium, comprising computer executable instructions configured to cause a computer to perform a method, the method comprising:
- inputting an input signal to a primary inductor to create a reference magnetic field, receiving a sense signal from a sense inductor positioned relative to a mechanism of a remotely operated circuit breaker to be in magnetic communication with a portion of the mechanism which moves relative to the sense inductor, wherein the sense inductor and the primary inductor are planar coils that are concentric;
- and
- determining a position of the mechanism based on the sense signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.