Patents Assigned to Square D
  • Publication number: 20110004324
    Abstract: A method of automatically identifying whether intelligent electronic devices (IEDs) in a power monitoring system are in multiple electrical grids. A controller sends an instruction to each IED in a predetermined time sequence such that each IED receives the instruction at a different time, commanding each IED to begin logging variation data indicative of frequency variations in a current/voltage signal monitored by the IED and to send the variation data to the controller and an associated cycle count of a point in the current/voltage signal. The controller receives the variation data and associated cycle count and determines a peak correlation using a data alignment algorithm on IED pair combinations. If the IEDs are on the same electrical grid, the peak correlations should occur at cycle count offsets that match the order that the IEDs received the instruction. Any discrepancies in the expected order of peak correlations are flagged, and the corresponding IEDs are determined to be on different grids.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: January 6, 2011
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventors: Jon A. Bickel, Ronald W. Carter
  • Patent number: 7865320
    Abstract: A method of monitoring the electrical power in multiple branch circuits of an AC electrical power distribution system comprises monitoring at least one voltage common to said multiple branch circuits using a main meter unit, monitoring currents of the multiple branch circuits using multiple current cards that receive a plurality of current inputs from current transducers in the multiple branch circuits, sampling the monitored voltage in the main meter unit and the monitored currents in the current cards multiple times in each cycle of the AC power signal, determining the magnitudes and angles of spectral components of the sampled current in the current cards, sending data representing the magnitudes and angles of at least selected spectral components from the current cards to the main meter unit, and storing the voltage samples and the magnitudes and angles of at least the selected spectral components in the main meter unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Avery Long, Ronald W. Carter
  • Publication number: 20100319958
    Abstract: Busbars of a busway system are insulated so as to minimize or eliminate air gaps between busbars. In an embodiment, an insulating sheath is provided with corrugations in regions corresponding to busbar bends. The corrugations allow the sheath to follow the busbar bends without the need to cut or interrupt the sheath. Busbars may therefore be fully insulated without the need for further insulating materials (e.g., tape). Good thermal contact between busbars throughout their length is achieved, improving heat dissipation and efficiency.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventor: Drew Latimer
  • Publication number: 20100321836
    Abstract: A multi-pole circuit breaker having the same number of sensors and controllers as poles. One pole is monitored by a first sensor and a first controller, which are disposed on a first circuit board. Another pole is monitored by a second sensor and a second controller, which are disposed on a second circuit board that is cable-connected to the first circuit board. A ground-fault sensor monitors the sum of current flowing through the line conductors and a neutral conductor, and the output of the ground-fault sensor is provided to one or both of the controllers. Each controller is operable to detect arc faults on the respective line that it is monitoring, and at least one is operable to detect ground faults. A push-to-test algorithm is executed in relay fashion, with one controller executing the test before passing the result of the test onto the next controller, which in turns executes the test.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventors: Robert F. Dvorak, Brett Larson
  • Publication number: 20100319954
    Abstract: A busway system includes a plurality of busbars arranged in a flat stacked configuration. The system further includes at least one uninsulated stab having a base in direct contact with one of the busbars at a first length portion of the busbars. The stab also has a tip extending away from the base and angled at the length of the busbars such that the tip is positioned at least in part at a second length portion of the busbars. The stab is insulated from other stabs via one or more of a MYLAR® sheet and a wall of a plug-in opening base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2009
    Publication date: December 23, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventor: Jim Ramsey
  • Publication number: 20100296272
    Abstract: A unitary die-cast cap for a downlight can includes a base section and a plurality of heat-sink fins. The base section is a plate that includes an interior base-surface, an exterior base-surface, and an exterior wall-surface. The exterior base-surface, which is an opposite surface of the interior base-surface, forms an exterior top-surface of a downlight tubular can. The exterior wall-surface is configured to be positioned in direct attachment to an interior wall-surface of the downlight can. The plurality of heat-sink fins extend from the interior base-surface and form a substantially cylindrical exterior heat-sink wall touching or in close proximity to the interior wall-surface of the downlight can.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: November 25, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventors: Scott Roos, Bruce Layne, Matt Wnek
  • Publication number: 20100249952
    Abstract: Aspects of the invention support direct communication between a low-level device and a programmable controller over an automation bus in an industrial automation system for controlling and monitoring an industrial process. A leaf node device may include a low-level device. The leaf node device communicates directly with the programmable controller at the network layer, e.g., Internet Protocol (IP) based on an IP address contained in a signal so that the programmable controller may control the low-level device or receive status information about the low-level device. The industrial automation system may support a plurality of leaf node devices, which may be associated with different automation buses having different communication media. Signals between the programmable controller and the leaf node device may be directed with or without a switching element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 31, 2009
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: Schneider Electric/Square D Company
    Inventor: Todd A. Snide
  • Patent number: 7788055
    Abstract: A method and system to calibrate a motor circuit protection device is disclosed. An example method calibrates a signal chain of a circuit breaker. The signal chain includes a current transformer, a burden resistor, a stored energy circuit and a controller. The circuit breaker includes a memory coupled to the controller. A calibration instruction routine is written in a first location of the memory. A test current is injected in the circuit breaker signal chain. The test current peak of the test current in the circuit breaker signal chain is measured. Data indicative of the test current peak is stored in a second location of the memory. The test current peak data is read from the second location of the memory. The test current peak data is compared with nominal current data related to the signal chain remotely from the circuit breaker. A calibration factor is determined based on the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Susan Jean Walker Colsch, William Davison, David Joseph Dunne, Kevin John Malo, Steve M. Meehleder, Ryan James Moffitt, Richard Allen Studer, II, Gary Michael Stumme
  • Publication number: 20100213926
    Abstract: A voltage isolation circuit. The input voltage Vin is connected to a primary winding of a transformer T1 through a current limiting resistor R1. R1 is preferably sized such that the current flow in the primary at nominal input voltage is approximately 1 milliamp. Transformer T1 is wound as a current transformer with a fixed ratio between the primary and secondary windings. Thus, when 1 mA flows in the primary winding, 1 mA will also flow in the secondary winding. An inverting operational amplifier will continuously attempt to drive its inverting input to a zero potential through resistor R2. The voltage at Vout produced by the op-amp is a faithful replica of the voltage at Vin, but scaled according to the values selected for R1 and R2.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 20, 2009
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventor: Lee D. Wallis
  • Publication number: 20100169876
    Abstract: A method for automatically updating an existing firmware file stored in a memory of an intelligent electronic device (IED) communicatively coupled to a network in a monitoring system. The IED downloads from a remote server to the IED an update file that includes a version of a firmware file and a filename of the firmware file. The IED determines whether the firmware version specified in the update file is updated compared to a version of the existing firmware file. If the firmware version in the update file is greater than the existing version, the IED communicates to the remote server an instruction to download to the IED the updated firmware file specified in the update file. The IED receives from the remote server the updated firmware file. If a criterion is satisfied, the IED automatically updates the firmware file stored in its memory with the updated firmware file.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 31, 2008
    Publication date: July 1, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventor: Cameron R. Mann
  • Publication number: 20100155136
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a breaker housing, a transformer housing, and a plurality of conductor locators. The transformer housing is enclosed within the breaker housing and has an opening for receiving a plurality of conductors. The plurality of conductor locators is desirably located adjacent to the transformer housing and is movable between an open position and a closed position. The conductors are generally centered in the opening of the transformer housing when the conductor locators are in the closed position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2008
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventors: Cameron L. Woodson, Chad R. Mittelstadt
  • Publication number: 20100148901
    Abstract: A current-sensing assembly comprising a housing and first and second current transformers contained in and fixed in position by the housing. The assembly includes at least one conducting pin corresponding to each of the first and second current transformers and inserted through the housing to expose a top end and a bottom end. The top end of the pin is electrically coupled to an end of the conducting wire of the corresponding current transformer through a window in the housing coinciding with the current transformer. The top end of a common pin is electrically coupled through the window to the opposite end of the coil conductor. The bottom end of each pin is configured to be coupled to a printed circuit board. The housing includes first and second elongated rings passing substantially through the centers of the current transformers and configured to accept first and second current lines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2009
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventors: Rodney Powell, Jerry Scheel, Randall J. Gass
  • Publication number: 20100149772
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a housing, a rigid circuit board, and a flexible circuit board. The rigid circuit board is enclosed within the housing and has a main surface for supporting an electronic component. The flexible circuit board has a first end that is directly attached to an edge of the rigid circuit board.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 16, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventors: Randall James Gass, Rodney Powell, Nick Campbell, Timothy John Luksetich, Roger Wolf, Jerry Scheel
  • Publication number: 20100149842
    Abstract: An apparatus for varying the timing of a SMPS, including a microcontroller configured to output a first PWM signal. A converter is coupled to the microcontroller and is configured to receive the first PWM signal and output an analog signal to a SMPS timing capacitor coupled to a SMPS. The analog signal varies the discharge time of the timing capacitor to vary a switching frequency of the SMPS.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventors: Erin McPhalen, Shawn Balding
  • Publication number: 20100149711
    Abstract: A circuit breaker is disclosed that has a bi-stable display that maintains an indication of a fault condition after power is interrupted to the circuit breaker. The circuit breaker has a microcontroller that receives power derived from a line current that passes through the circuit breaker or the line voltage when the circuit breaker is in an on state. The bi-stable display is electrically coupled to and controlled by the microcontroller. A tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to detection of a fault condition. The tripping mechanism trips the circuit breaker in response to receiving a trip signal from the microcontroller. The microcontroller is programmed to modify the bi-stable display when sending the trip signal to the electronic switching device. The bi-stable display shows an indication of one of the several fault types that would have caused the circuit breaker to trip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 17, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Square D
    Inventors: Brett Larson, Gary Scott
  • Publication number: 20100153035
    Abstract: A method, via a processor, of forecasting energy usage including selecting a plurality of reference days with at least one feature matching a corresponding feature of a day to be forecasted and filtering the plurality of reference days with a humidity filter to identify at least one matching reference day. The at least one matching reference day is associated with a correlation coefficient greater than or equal to a minimum correlation coefficient, and a minimum number of humidity values within a range of corresponding humidity values of the day to be forecasted. The method also includes retrieving energy load values and corresponding temperature values corresponding to the at least one matching reference day, calculating a plurality of regression coefficients of a polynomial equation linking the temperature values to the energy load values, and calculating and storing a forecasted load value of the day to be forecasted according to the polynomial equation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2008
    Publication date: June 17, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventor: Shruti Gautam
  • Publication number: 20100127691
    Abstract: An apparatus for monitoring line voltage in a circuit breaker includes a controller, a neutral input for receiving a neutral voltage, a first input for receiving a first alternating current (AC) line voltage that periodically changes polarity with respect to the neutral voltage, and a second input for receiving a second AC line voltage that periodically changes polarity with respect to the neutral voltage and is 180 degrees out of phase from the first AC line voltage. The apparatus also includes a first circuit coupled to the first input, the second input, and the controller. The first circuit is configured to output to the controller a first signal representing the voltage difference between the first AC line voltage and the second AC line voltage. The apparatus also includes a second circuit coupled to the neutral input and the controller configured to output to the controller a second signal representing the difference between the neutral input voltage and the AC line voltage of negative polarity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company - Schneider Electric
    Inventors: Randall J. Gass, Issa Drame
  • Publication number: 20100128404
    Abstract: A method of tripping a circuit breaker including sampling an AC line voltage at regular intervals during a first time period to generate a plurality of AC line voltage samples. Each sample of the set of AC line voltage samples is summed to generate a voltage area value. A controller determines whether the voltage area value exceeds a threshold. In response to the voltage area value exceeding the threshold, an amount determined as a function of the voltage area value is added to a count value. The circuit breaker is caused to trip in response to the count value equaling or exceeding a maximum count value. An improper line-to-neutral voltage can be detected by monitoring the line-to-neutral voltage and comparing it to a function such as a trip curve. Thus, components downstream from a circuit breaker, as well as the circuit breaker itself, can be protected from prolonged exposure to improper voltages, which can lead to component failure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2008
    Publication date: May 27, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company-Schneider Electric
    Inventors: Randall J. Gass, Issa Drame, Gary Scott
  • Publication number: 20100123981
    Abstract: A multiple pole arc-fault circuit breaker includes a first pole assembly, a second pole assembly, a microprocessor, and a single test button. At least one of the first pole assembly and the second pole assembly has a trip mechanism. The microprocessor is electrically coupled to the first pole assembly and to the second pole assembly, and, in response to receiving a single test signal, is operative to perform electrical tests for both the first pole assembly and the second pole assembly. In response to successful completion of the electrical tests, the microprocessor is further operative to actuate the trip mechanism. The single test button is mounted to the housing and includes a single test position which causes the sending of the single test signal for initiating the electrical tests.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 20, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventors: Robert Erger, Issa Drame, Randall James Gass, Jeremy D. Schroeder, Brett E. Larson
  • Publication number: 20100082792
    Abstract: An energy efficiency solution for automatically pushing data measured by IEDs in a utility system to an Internet server. Before the utility system is commissioned, the manufacturer pre-configures each IED to automatically push measured data to the server at regular intervals and associates each IED with a unique identifier that is transmitted with the data and with a customer who has purchased the solution. After commissioning, the IEDs come online and begin to automatically push their measured data to the server. The customer logs into the website via a manufacturer-provided access code to access the measured data instantly. Requests to change the type of data pushed from IEDs and other configuration changes can be made via the website. Periodically, the IEDs ask whether any configuration updates exist, and if so, the server makes available to the IEDs the updated configuration. By having IEDs initiate communications for data transmission and configuration updates, intervening firewalls are bypassed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Publication date: April 1, 2010
    Applicant: Square D Company
    Inventor: Jeffrey Wayne Johnson