Energy validation arrangement for a self-powered circuit interrupter

A circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a multi-phase circuit path, comprising:

• a current circuit, including a plurality of current transformers and at least one rectifier, for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the circuit path, each current transformer respectively inducing current from the multi-phase circuit path;
• a power supply including a capacitor charged to a predetermined value from the current signal provided by the current circuit and providing a voltage signal relative to common;
• a solenoid mechanism having a coil through which current discharging from the capacitor passes to cause interruption of the current in the circuit path;
• a trip command circuit, responsive to a fault in the circuit path and including an overload detector, for sending an electrical signal commanding that the circuit path be interrupted;
• an electrical latch actuated in response to both the electrical signal from the trip command circuit and the voltage signal exceeding the predetermined value, the electrical latch arranged in series with the coil between the power supply and common and including a first terminal coupled to the trip command circuit and a second terminal coupled to the power supply;
• and
• a prevention circuit constructed and arranged in series with the trip command circuit and the first terminal of the electrical latch to prevent the electrical signal from the trip command circuit from engaging the electrical latch until the voltage signal exceeds the predetermined value.

A circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a multi-phase circuit path, comprising:

• a current circuit, including a plurality of current transformers and at least one rectifier, for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the circuit path, each current transformer respectively inducing current from the multi-phase circuit path;
• a power supply including a capacitor charged to a predetermined value from the current signal provided by the current circuit and providing a voltage signal relative to common;
• a solenoid mechanism having a coil through which current discharging from the capacitor passes to cause interruption of the current in the circuit path;
• a trip command circuit, responsive to a fault in the circuit path and including an overload detector, for sending an electrical signal commanding that the circuit path be interrupted;
• an electrical latch actuated in response to the electrical signal from the trip command circuit and the voltage signal exceeding the predetermined value, the electrical latch arranged in series with the coil between the power supply and common and including a first terminal coupled to the trip command circuit and a second terminal coupled to the power supply;
• and
• a prevention circuit constructed and arranged in series with the coil and the power supply to prevent the electrical latch from being engaged until the voltage signal exceeds the predetermined value and the electrical signal from the trip command circuit is present at the first terminal.

A circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a circuit path, comprising:

• a current inducer circuit for providing at least one current signal induced from the circuit path and having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the circuit path;
• a power supply including a capacitor being charged to a predetermined value over a prescribed minimum period of time by a first current signal of said at least one current signal provided by the current inducer circuit and providing a voltage signal relative to common;
• a trip command circuit, responsive to a fault in the circuit path, for sending an electrical signal commanding that the circuit path be interrupted by using the voltage signal provided by the power supply;
• an electrical latch actuated in response to the electrical signal from the trip command circuit;
• and
• a control circuit responsive to said at least one current signal provided by the current inducer circuit, arranged for preventing the electrical signal from engaging the latch until after the prescribed minimum period of time.

A circuit arrangement for interrupting current in a circuit path, comprising:

• a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having magnitude corresponding to the current in the circuit path;
• a power supply operating from the current signal provided by the current inducer circuit and providing a voltage signal relative to common;
• a trip command circuit, responsive to a fault in the circuit path, for sending an electrical signal commanding that the circuit path be interrupted by using the voltage signal provided by the power supply;
• a circuit interruption circuit, including a circuit interrupting mechanism, actuated in response to the trip command circuit when the power supply has provided the voltage signal at a sufficient magnitude to actuate the circuit interrupting mechanism;
• a timing circuit producing a current pulse having a particular high-level duration and a particular low-level duration;
• a solenoid feedback circuit, responsive to a mechanical or an electrical change in the circuit interruption circuit caused by the high-level duration of the current pulse from the timing circuit;
• and
• a feedback controlled circuit, responsive to a signal from the solenoid feedback circuit, for selectively causing the electrical signal from the trip command circuit to be continued or discontinued.

A circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a circuit path, wherein the current in the circuit path is controlled by a contactor control circuit operating a contactor coil for selectively closing and opening contacts electrically in series with the circuit path, the interrupter arrangement comprising:

• a power supply circuit extracting operating power from the contactor control circuit operating the contactor coil and providing a voltage signal relative to common;
• a fault detection circuit, responsive to a fault in the circuit path, for sending an electrical signal commanding that the circuit path be interrupted by using the voltage signal provided by the power supply circuit;
• and
• a trip mechanism constructed and arranged for interrupting the current in the circuit path in response to the electrical signal.