Abstract: A method for estimating a property of an electrical switching device that includes an electromagnetic actuator that includes a coil. The method includes: measuring electric current flowing through the coil; measuring supply electrical voltage of a control circuit for the actuator; injecting an electric current pulse into the coil; identifying a first time corresponding to a time for which the current flowing through the coil reaches a predetermined threshold value when the current increases following the injection of the pulse; and identifying a second time corresponding to a time for which the current flowing through the coil again reaches the predetermined threshold value when the current decreases after a spike. The method further includes estimating a resistance of the coil on the basis of a ratio of a sum of the values of the voltage that are measured between the second time and the first time, to a sum of the values of the current that are measured between the second time and the first time.

Abstract: Method and system for measuring electrical quantities.

Abstract: A method for estimating a property of an electrical switching device includes: measuring the electric current flowing through the coil; measuring the supply electrical voltage of a control circuit for the actuator; injecting an electric current pulse into the coil; identifying a first time corresponding to the time for which the current flowing through the coil reaches a predetermined threshold value when the current increases following the injection of the pulse; identifying a second time corresponding to the time for which the current flowing through the coil again reaches the predetermined threshold value when the current decreases after the spike; and estimating the resistance of the coil on the basis of the ratio of the sum of the values of the voltage that are measured between the second time and the first time, to the sum of the values of the current that are measured between the second time and the first time.

Abstract: Method and system for measuring electrical quantities.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively automatically resetting an electronic protection device. The electronic protection device may protect a motor load by disconnecting the load from a power source when the current drawn by the load exceeds a threshold, when the power source suffers from a phase imbalance or phase loss, or when another condition is detected. The electronic protection device discriminates between different types of fault conditions and determines whether to suppress an automatic reset function of the device. The electronic protection device includes a reset energy storage device for automatically resetting the electronic protection device following a trip event using energy from the reset energy storage device. In operation, the electronic protection device detects a fault condition not calling for an automatic reset, then discharges the reset energy storage device and trips the electronic protection device before the reset energy storage device recharges.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for selectively automatically resetting an electronic protection device. The electronic protection device may protect a motor load by disconnecting the load from a power source when the current drawn by the load exceeds a threshold, when the power source suffers from a phase imbalance or phase loss, or when another condition is detected. The electronic protection device discriminates between different types of fault conditions and determines whether to suppress an automatic reset function of the device. The electronic protection device includes a reset energy storage device for automatically resetting the electronic protection device following a trip event using energy from the reset energy storage device. In operation, the electronic protection device detects a fault condition not calling for an automatic reset, then discharges the reset energy storage device and trips the electronic protection device before the reset energy storage device recharges.

Abstract: A method of initiating combustion in an internal combustion engine that has a main chamber (5) of variable volume into which an ignitable mixture is introduced, an auxiliary chamber (10) opening out into the main chamber and a controlled valve unit (11, 14, 15) for putting the auxiliary chamber into communication with, or isolating it from, the main chamber. The method includes controlling the controlled valve to put the auxiliary chamber into communication with the main chamber during a period that includes the top dead center between the compression stage and the expansion stage. An engine is specially adapted to implement the method.

Abstract: A water holding tank with an approximately rectangular bottom wall and four side walls that are connected respectively to the sides of the bottom wall, each side wall has number of upper support platforms that are arranged periodically along one side of the bottom wall, a number of lower support platforms that are arranged alternately relative to the upper support platforms at a distance from the bottom wall, and a number of connecting walls, whereby each connecting wall connects an upper support platform to a lower support platform while leaving open a passage for water, in which the upper support platforms of a side wall are arranged in mirror positions of the lower support platforms of the opposite side wall relative to a 180° rotation and vice versa.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of initiating combustion in an internal combustion engine that comprises a main chamber (5) of variable volume into which an ignitable mixture is introduced, an auxiliary chamber (10) opening out into the main chamber and a controlled means (11, 14, 15) for putting the auxiliary chamber into communication with the main chamber, or for isolating it therefrom. The method includes the step of controlling the controlled means to put the auxiliary chamber into communication with the main chamber during a period that includes the top dead center between the compression stage and the expansion stage. The invention also provides an engine specially adapted to implement the method of the invention.

Abstract: Water holding tank (1) that includes an approximately rectangular bottom wall (2) and four side walls (3) that are connected respectively to the sides of the bottom wall, characterized in that each side wall includes: A number of upper support platforms (9) that are arranged periodically along one side of the bottom wall; A number of lower support platforms (8) that are arranged alternately relative to the upper support platforms at a distance from the bottom wall; and A number of connecting walls (30), whereby each connecting wall connects an upper support platform to a lower support platform while leaving open a passage for water, in which the upper support platforms of a side wall are arranged in mirror positions of the lower support platforms of the opposite side wall relative to a 180° rotation and vice versa.

Abstract: The invention concerns a control and protection module (10) for a low voltage multipolar switch device that is comprised of a connector base (50), a control electromagnet (41) and a trip mechanism (42) capable of acting upon the moving contacts (52) in order to open and break the power poles. The detachable control and protection unit (10), an electronic board (20) which has a processing unit (30), a control device (31) and a protection device (32), responsible respectively for operating the electromagnet and the trip mechanism in response respectively to a control signal (310) and a trip signal (320) transmitted by the processing unit (30). The processing unit can suppress the control signal (310) from the electromagnet (41) in the event of malfunction of the protection device (32).

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-pole contactor—circuit breaker type switch composed of a housing (1) containing breaking poles (11) activated by a control electromagnet (16) and by a trip control mechanism (18, 14) and comprising a protection module (2) equipped with means (21) for measuring pole currents and means (22) for acting on the electromagnet (16) and on the trip control mechanism (14) if a fault current is detected, characterised by the fact that it comprises a control and/or communication module (3) that is installed removably on the housing, below the protection module (2) and communicating with the processing circuit (22) on the said protection module (2) through connectors (23, 33).

Abstract: The invention concerns a control and protection module (10) for a low voltage multipolar switch device that is comprised of a connector base (50), a control electromagnet (41) and a trip mechanism (42) capable of acting upon the moving contacts (52) in order to open and break the power poles. The detachable control and protection unit (10), an electronic board (20) which has a processing unit (30), a control device (31) and a protection device (32), responsible respectively for operating the electromagnet and the trip mechanism in response respectively to a control signal (310) and a trip signal (320) transmitted by the processing unit (30). The processing unit can suppress the control signal (310) from the electromagnet (41) in the event of malfunction of the protection device (32).

Abstract: This invention relates to a multi-pole contactor-circuit breaker type switch composed of a housing (1) containing breaking poles (11) activated by a control electromagnet (16) and by a trip control mechanism (18, 14) and comprising a protection module (2) equipped with means (21) for measuring pole currents and means (22) for acting on the electromagnet (16) and on the trip control mechanism (14) if a fault current is detected, characterised by the fact that it comprises a control and/or communication module (3) that is installed removably on the housing, below the protection module (2) and communicating with the processing circuit (22) on the said protection module (2) through connectors (23, 33).

Abstract: An electronic device for modeling the temperature of a motor by utilizing signals output from current sensors placed on motor power supply phases. Signals from the current sensors are sent to an interface that outputs a voltage which is an image of a summation a ratio of the motor currents sensed by each of the current sensors to a corresponding adjustment current for each of the phases. A calculation circuit utilizes the voltage as an input and outputs a charging current wave stream, the amplitude and the duration of the charging current being proportional to the summation the ratio. An RC type modeling circuit is provided to receive the charging current wave stream and to model the thermal state of the motor based on the charging current wave stream.

Abstract: A control device for an electromechanical circuit breaker device. The device includes a bistable type electromagnet to deliberately control power contacts and a monostable trip electromagnet to open the contacts in case of a fault. The bistable electromagnetic coil and the trip electromagnetic coil are placed in parallel with a capacitance. The control device includes a maintained control switch and an H bridge of two-way switches associated with the bistable coil. The control device acts on the bridge of switches and a trip switch opens the contacts depending on the current in the coils measured by sensors.

Abstract: A shelter for protecting large-size objects, such as open-air machines, cycles, motorcycles, windsurfers, etc. . . . comprises, on its front face, a door giving access to the interior of the shelter and, in its lower part, a flooring on which the object or objects to be protected with beneath the flooring, a compartment in which is housed a heave mass of which the weight is transferred onto the walls of the shelter, in order considerably to increase the total weight of the shelter and prevent easy handling thereof.