System and method for circuit protector monitoring and management

A circuit protector system comprising:

• a plurality of circuit protectors, each of the circuit protectors defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified operating conditions in an electrical system;
• a status element associated with each of the circuit protectors, each of the status elements adapted to monitor an operating state of the respective current path, and at least one of the status elements adapted to transmit a data signal when one or more of the current paths are interrupted as the circuit protectors operate, the data signal including a unique identification code and a location code for an operated circuit protector;
• a gateway device adapted to receive the data signal from the at least one status element;
• and
• an electronic management system in communication with the gateway device, wherein the management system is adapted to alert and summon responsible personnel when the circuit protector has operated to open the circuit path, and identify the location of the operated circuit protector.

A circuit protector system comprising:

• a plurality of overcurrent protection fuses, each of the overcurrent protection fuses having a primary fuse element extending between first and second terminal elements, the primary fuse elements defining an interruptible current path therethrough upon an occurrence of specified current conditions through the primary fuse element;
• a status element associated with each of the circuit protectors, the status elements comprising monitoring modules adapted to sense a voltage differential across the first and second terminal elements of the respective fuses, and at least one communications module comprising a low power radio frequency (RF) transmitter, the communications module adapted to generate an RF data signal when a voltage drop across the first and second terminal elements is sensed, the RF data signal including a unique identification code and a location code for the fuses when the voltage drop is sensed;
• a plurality of radio repeater/router elements adapted to forward RF data signals from any of the status elements to an intelligent gateway device;
• the gateway device adapted to receive data signals forwarded through the repeater/router elements;
• and
• an overview and response dispatch system in communication with the gateway device, wherein the overview and response dispatch system is adapted to alert and summon responsible personnel of one or more operated fuses, and identify the locations of the operated fuses for replacement to efficiently re-energize affected circuitry.

A method of efficiently re-energizing affected circuitry in an electrical system when a circuit protector operates to isolate one portion of an electrical system from another portion of the electrical system, the method comprising:

• providing a status element proximate to the respective circuit protectors of interest, and an electronic management system responsive to the status elements;
• sensing, using the status elements, an operating state of the circuit protector when installed in the electrical system;
• and
• based upon the sensed state of the circuit protectors, communicating a data signal from at least one of the status elements to a remote location when one of the circuit protectors has operated to isolate a portion of the electrical system, the data signal comprising a unique identification code and a location code for the operated circuit protector.

A circuit protector system comprising:

• means for sensing an operating state of a plurality of circuit protectors in an electrical system;
• means for communicating a data signal corresponding to a sensed operation of one or more of the circuit protectors, thereby isolating at least one portion of the electrical system from another portion of the electrical system;
• means for receiving the data signal corresponding to a sensed operation of one or more of the circuit protectors;
• and
• means for generating an alert and summons to responsible personnel, without human intervention, of the type and location of operated circuit protectors to permit efficient re-energization of the circuitry;
• wherein the data signal includes a unique identification code and a location code for an operated circuit protector.