Abstract: An arc fault detector includes: a first electric line; a sensor for monitoring an electric current or voltage spectrum in the first electric line and outputting a broadband measurement signal as a monitored signal; a minimum detection unit for detecting a minimum signal value of the monitored signal over a broadband measurement range as a detected minimum signal value; and a controller unit connected to an output of the minimum detection unit, the controller unit comparing the detected minimum signal value with a predefined arc pattern, and outputting a trigger signal on a trigger output if the detected minimum signal value matches the arc pattern.

Abstract: An electrical feedback barrier is configured to safely interconnect an intrinsically safe power supply to a non-intrinsically safe electrical load device in a hazardous environment. Electrical feedback from the non-intrinsically electrical load device is blocked by the electrical feedback barrier to protect the intrinsically safe power supply from adverse operating conditions. The electrical feedback barrier and the electrical load device are enclosed in an explosion-proof or flameproof enclosure for compliance with electrical equipment safety standards in the hazardous environment.

Abstract: A smart accessory device includes an actuator and is designed to be used to actuate an operating mechanism of a circuit breaker in order to either open or close the separable contacts of the circuit breaker. The accessory can be one of a shunt trip, spring release, or under voltage release device. The actuator includes a solenoid and plunger. The accessory determines the operating condition of the actuator based on how much current flows through the coil when the power source provides power to the accessory device, and continually executes a coil diagnostic to determine the operating condition of the coil while power is being provided to the accessory device. If the accessory fails to trip the circuit breaker when required, the accessory can determine whether the failure was due to either of the solenoid or the plunger.

Abstract: A valve train assembly for an internal combustion engine includes: a dual body rocker arm for controlling a valve of a cylinder, the rocker arm including a first body, a second body mounted for pivotal motion with respect to the first body, a first biasing means, and a latch pin moveable between a first position in which the latch pin latches the first body and the second body together and a second position in which the first body and the second body are un-latched to allow pivotal motion of the second body relative to the first body; and an actuator arrangement external to the dual body rocker arm and drivable by an actuation source, the actuator arrangement moving the latch pin from one of the first position and the second position to the other of the first position to the second position.

Abstract: A dual conductor Thomson coil actuator for use in opening the separable contacts of a circuit interrupter comprises two nested conductors wound to form a single coil, rather than the traditional design comprising one single conductor wound to form a coil of the same size. Each of the two conductors can be excited by half the capacitance that would be used to excite the traditional single conductor coil, using the same voltage as the single conductor coil. When the same total capacitor-stored energy that would be used to excite the single conductor coil is instead used to excite the dual conductor coil, the initial pulse of aggregate current through the dual conductor coil is greater than the initial pulse of current through the single conductor coil, resulting in a faster initial opening distance of the separable contacts during an opening stroke.

Abstract: Methods, devices and systems for detecting an anomaly in a power network are described. A method for detecting an anomaly in a power network includes determining a baseline power usage in the power network, receiving data indicative of an active power usage in the power network, detecting an anomaly based on a difference between the baseline power usage and the active power usage, isolating a fault for an element in the power network, responsive to detecting the anomaly, and transmitting fault isolation information indicating the fault to a user device. Related devices and systems may perform operations of the method described herein.

Abstract: A method of energy distribution from a plurality of energy sources to a plurality of loads wherein a set of selection options for a load are determined. Values are established for the selection options for each loads. The loads are then ordered into a load order according to a load ordering parameter. The energy sources are ordered in a plurality of sequences, where each sequence corresponds to a possible set of values for the selection options and wherein at least one energy source appears in more than one of the plurality of sequences. The loads are then matched with the energy sources according to the load order, with the sources in the sequence corresponding to the set of values for the selection options established for that load. A computing system designed to perform this method, and an electrical grid incorporating such a computing system are also described.

Abstract: Provided in the present utility model is a flameproof surge protector, including: a surge protector main body, a flameproof enclosure, a flameproof stopper plug, and a flameproof cable gland. One end of the flameproof enclosure is connected to the flameproof stopper plug, and the other end thereof is connected to the flameproof cable gland. The surge protector main body has an elongated shape and is disposed inside the flameproof enclosure, and a cable is drawn out of the surge protector main body by means of the flameproof cable gland. The flameproof surge protector provided by the present utility model has a simple structure and small size, can be used easily and installed inside an explosion-proof lamp, further protects a circuit inside the lamp, prevents the circuit from being damaged by surges, and is safe and reliable.

Abstract: Systems and methods for soft starting a motor (40) using solid-state switching devices are disclosed. The system (10) includes a soft starting switch (53) that is made of a plurality of solid-state switches (62, 63). The system (10) also includes a controller (86) that is programmed to regulate currents and voltages delivered to the motor (40) during a start-up operation of the motor by cycling the solid-state switches (62, 63) ON and OFF during the start-up operation.

Abstract: Pairs of phases of an AC power source are connected to pairs of phases of a motor in a first sequence that repeats at a first frequency. The motor is braked by connecting pairs of phases of the AC power source to pairs of phases of the motor in a second sequence that is reversed with respect to the first sequence and that repeats at a second frequency less than the first frequency. In further aspects, pairs of phases of an AC power source are connected to pairs of phases of a motor in a first sequence. The motor is subsequently disconnected from the AC power source for a predetermined dwell interval having a duration greater than a time constant of the motor. The motor is braked using a second sequence that is reversed with respect to the first sequence.

Abstract: A pull box for accepting cable in electrical wiring installations includes a main body. The main body includes a first leg, a second leg, and a bridge portion spanning between and interconnecting the first leg and the second leg. The first leg, the second leg, and the bridge portion form a U-shape and define an interior space. The pull box further includes a cover. The cover is movable relative to the housing to transition the pull box between an open state and a closed state. The cover permits access to the interior space when the pull box is in the open state and prevents access to interior space when the pull box is in the closed state.

Abstract: Solid state and hybrid circuit protection devices include improved chemical, static discharge and impact resistant housing construction, arc-free switching operation, secure terminal assemblies and thermal management features. The solid state and hybrid circuit protection devices are ignition protected and avoid possible explosions and therefore obviate a need for conventional explosion-proof enclosures to ensure safe operation of an electrical power system in a potentially explosive environment.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power factor correction circuit (21, 22), a power factor correction assembly (2) and an on-line uninterruptible power supply including the same. The power factor correction circuit (21) comprises a pulse width modulated rectifier (211, 221) and an isolated DC-DC converter (212, 222), wherein an output of the pulse width modulated rectifier (211, 221) is connected to an input of the isolated DC-DC converter (212, 222). The power factor correction assembly (2) comprises a plurality of power factor correction circuits (21, 22) described above, wherein inputs of pulse width modulated rectifiers (211, 221) in the plurality of power factor correction circuits (21, 22) are connected in series, and outputs of isolated DC-DC converters (212, 222) in the plurality of power factor correction circuits (21, 22) are connected in parallel.

Abstract: A bi-directional power converter includes: a plurality of input nodes, each input node configured to electrically connect to one phase of a multi-phase AC electrical power distribution network; and an electrical network configured to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC) and to convert DC current to AC current, the electrical network including a plurality of electronic switches. The bi-directional power converter also includes a control system configured to: estimate harmonic voltage content at three intermediate nodes in the bi-directional power converter based on a measured electrical quantity; and control the electronic switches to compensate for the estimated harmonic voltage content.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for monitoring the effects of conductive dust deposits that compromise the ability of a trip unit to accurately detect AC current in a circuit interrupter. When a Rogowski coil is used as a current sensor in the circuit interrupter and the trip unit processes the output of the Rogowski coil using a printed circuit board assembly (PCBA) processing circuit, the DC component of the processing circuit output signal can be analyzed to determine whether any conductive dust has formed unintended electrical pathways on the PCBA and compromised the ability of the PCBA to accurately measure AC current in the circuit interrupter. It can be determined that such unintended electrical pathways have formed when the DC component of the processing circuit output either exceeds a predetermined threshold or has increased by a significant amount after opening of the separable contacts.

Abstract: A support bracket for a hanger assembly that supports one or more non-structural components in a building comprises a web having opposite upper and lower edge margins and opposite left and right edge margins. The web defines at least one non-structural component opening configured to receive and support one of the non-structural components. The at least one non-structural component opening having a closed shape. A first flange extends from the upper edge margin of the web in a first direction and is configured to be attached to at least one support rod. A second flange extends from the lower edge margin of the web in a second direction opposite the first direction. The left and right edge margins of the web define partial openings. Each of the partial openings having an open shape that is a segment of the closed shape of the at least one non-structural component opening.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for protecting semiconductor components from thermal failure in an electronic circuit interrupter. The electronic trip unit (ETU) is configured to determine what range of current the detected current signal corresponds to, out of several ranges categorized as being either non-fault/normal, non-severe fault, and severe fault. The ETU then selects a mode of operation in which to operate based on the determined range of current. In modes of operation corresponding to a fault condition, the ETU monitors certain characteristics of the current such as magnitude and/or rate of rise, and if the aforementioned current characteristics exceed a specified threshold for a minimum interval of time, the ETU will trip the electronic interrupter. If, however, the aforementioned current characteristics fall below the specified threshold prior to the minimum interval of time elapsing, the ETU will not trip the electronic interrupter.

Abstract: A method of using a through axle switching rocker arm according to one example of the present disclosure is provided. The switching rocker arm comprises an outer and inner arm and a roller axle. The inner arm is pivotally coupled to the outer arm about a pivot axle and has an inner bushing that supports an inner roller. The inner bushing defines an inner diameter. The roller axle extends through the inner bushing and defines an outer diameter. The inner diameter of the inner bushing engages the outer diameter of the roller axle thereby inhibiting further pivoting of the inner arm relative to the outer arm defining a rocker arm travel constraint. The method includes designing first and second cam profiles based on the through axle switching rocker arm such that a difference in lift between the first and second cam profiles is held within the rocker arm travel constraint.

Abstract: Motor control centers have units or buckets with an extendable/retractable power connection (stab) assembly and one or more operating lever interlocks that include a unit latch to latch to a cabinet and a power connection position interlock that blocks the handle of the units or buckets based on position of the power connection assembly, optionally also including a shutter cam that slides a shutter right and left.