US 2011/0298625 A1 · Metering Apparatus

Abstract

A metering apparatus is connectable to the terminals of a circuit breaker and includes a detection apparatus that is configured to detect a status of the breaker and one or more operational parameters of the breaker. The metering apparatus may further include a communication apparatus that is configured to communicate the status of the breaker and/or one or more operational parameters of the breaker to another device. The metering apparatus may additionally include a power input that is independent of the breaker. Alternatively or additionally, the metering apparatus can be configured to communicate with the other device via any of a variety of established protocols, with the metering apparatus being capable of retrofitting to change the communications protocol by which it communicates with the other device.

Claims15

Dependent claims

A metering apparatus comprising:

a support;
a connection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to be electrically connected with a circuit interrupter;
a detection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to detect at least a first operational aspect of the circuit interrupter;
a communication apparatus in communication with the detection apparatus, the communication apparatus being disposed on the support and being structured to communicate to another device at least a first parameter of the circuit interrupter based at least in part upon the at least first operational aspect;
and
at least one of the detection apparatus and the communication apparatus comprising a power input structured to be electrically connected with a power source external to the circuit interrupter to make current available to the at least one of the detection apparatus and the communication apparatus.

3 more elements

A metering apparatus comprising:

a support;
a connection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to be electrically connected with a circuit interrupter;
a detection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to detect at least a first operational aspect of the circuit interrupter;
and
a communication apparatus in communication with the detection apparatus, the communication apparatus being disposed on the support and being structured to communicate to another device a plurality of parameters of the circuit interrupter based at least in part upon the at least first operational aspect and including at least one of an ON status, an OFF status, and a TRIPPED status of the circuit interrupter and further including a number of additional parameters comprising one or more of a current, a voltage, a power factor, a reverse energy, a total energy, a total harmonic distortion, a harmonic percentage content, a waveform capture, and root-mean-squared voltage, a peak demand, and a present demand of the circuit interrupter.

2 more elements

A metering apparatus comprising:

a support;
a connection apparatus disposed on the support and comprising a number of first terminals and a number of second terminals, the number of first terminals being structured to be coupled with a number of terminals of a circuit interrupter and to pass current between the number of terminals of the circuit interrupter and the number of second terminals of the detection apparatus;
a detection apparatus disposed on the support and structured to detect at least a first operational aspect of the circuit interrupter;
and
a communication apparatus in communication with the detection apparatus, the communication apparatus being disposed on the support and being structured to communicate to another device at least a first parameter of the circuit interrupter based at least in part upon the at least first operational aspect and including at least one of an ON status, an OFF status, and a TRIPPED status of the circuit interrupter.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Metering Apparatus

Life of this patent

Metering Apparatus

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims15