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US 7,116,538 B2Granted
Modular overload relay system
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsSteven T. Haensgen, Dallas J. Bergh, Daniel J. Bolda, Donald J. King, Gary L. Lehman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular overload relay provides a low cost analog base unit performing overload detection functions and one or more add-on units communicating with the base unit through an electric conductor on a side of the base unit to which the add-on module may be attached. The add-on units augment the circuitry of the base unit through additional analog or microprocessor-based circuitry communicating with various points within the analog circuitry of the base unit.
Claims22
A modular overload relay comprising:
- a) a base overload relay module having:
- i) a first housing supporting first terminals and second terminals, the second terminals receivable by a contactor;
- ii) current conductors for conducting current from the first terminals to the second terminals;
- iii) solid-state analog circuitry monitoring the current in the current conductors to produce an overload signal being a function of the current, the overload signal receivable by the contactor to open the contactor upon detection of an overload signal;
- iv) an electrical connector extending from a wall of the first housing and communicating with different points in the solid-state analog circuitry;
- b) an added function module having:
- i) a second housing that is separate from the first housing and attachable to the wall of the first housing of the overload relay module;
- ii) a second electrical connector joining with the electrical connector of the overload module when the added function module is attached to the wall of the first housing;
- and
- iii) ancillary circuitry communicating with the solid-state analog circuitry to augment a function of the solid-state analog circuitry;
- wherein the base overload relay module is operable as an overload relay without being engaged with the added function module.
8 more elements
An overload relay kit comprising:
- a) a base overload relay module having:
- i) a housing supporting first terminals and second terminals, the second terminals receivable by a contactor;
- ii) current conductors for conducting current from the first terminals to the second terminals;
- iii) solid-state analog circuitry monitoring the current in the current conductors to produce an overload signal being a function of the current;
- iv) an electrical connector extending from a wall of the housing and communicating with different points within the solid-state analog circuitry;
- b) at least two added function modules each having:
- i) a second housing alternately attachable to the wall of the first housing of the overload relay module;
- ii) a second electrical connector joining with the electrical connector of the overload relay module when the added function module is attached to the wall of the first housing;
- iii) ancillary circuitry communicating with the solid-state analog circuitry to augment the function of the solid-state analog circuitry when the added function module is attached to the wall of the first housing;
- and
- c) wherein the base overload relay module is configured to perform as an overload relay independently of the at least two added function modules.
8 more elements
An overload relay comprising:
- a) a base overload relay module having:
- i) a housing supporting first terminals and second terminals, the second terminals receivable by a contactor;
- ii) current conductors for conducting current from the first terminals to the second terminals;
- iii) circuitry monitoring the current in the current conductors to produce an overload signal being a function of the current;
- iv) a power supply circuit tapping power from the current conductors to produce an isolated power source;
- iv) an electrical connector extending from a wall of the housing and communicating with the monitoring circuitry;
- b) a network communication module having:
- i) a second housing that is separate from the housing of the overload relay module and attachable to the wall of the housing of the overload relay module;
- ii) a second electrical connector joining with the electrical connector of the overload relay module when the network communication module is attached to the wall of the housing;
- iii) a network connector attachable to a serial communication network;
- and
- iv) network interface circuitry communicating with the network connector and with the monitoring circuitry to provide an interface between the overload relay and a network.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.