Abstract: A medium voltage controller for electrical equipment, such as motors, transformers, reactors, and capacitors, having an arc resistant cabinet, swaged internal electrical connections, a one-piece self-aligning withdrawable finger cluster, a pull-out instrument compartment, a load discharge device, cast fuse holders, disconnect switch, a switch illuminator, low power current transformers, and an optical temperature measuring system. The arc resistant cabinet relies on the pressure generated by an arc fault to provide the sealing action to contain the fault forces. The cabinet's rear panels are inside the cabinet and the panel lips mate to edges of the cabinet opening. The front doors each have a series of latching tabs along one side and a hinge along the opposing side. A dimple-in-a-dimple joint provides shear strength for panel joints. At the top of the cabinet is an exhaust vent.

Abstract: A system for determining the location of a disturbance event in a power distribution system. More specifically, the present invention provides a system for determining the direction of a disturbance event at the individual meter location and a system for analyzing this data from multiple meter locations to locate the cause of the event in the power system. The system includes a power feed bus for supplying electrical signals and a circuit monitor coupled to the feed bus. The circuit monitor is responsive to detect the disturbance event by comparing a disturbance event signal with a pre-event signal on a plurality of time scales.

Abstract: A method and system for determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit includes sensing a change in an alternating current in the circuit and developing a corresponding input signal, analyzing the input signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal, and processing the input signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The processing includes determining a type of load connected to the electrical circuit, based at least in part upon the input signal and the output signal, and monitoring high frequency noise in a 20 KHz band for each ? cycle of the alternating current.

Abstract: The invention relates to a trip assembly for use in an electro-mechanical device, such as a circuit breaker. The trip assembly is used for interrupting the flow of current upon the detection of excess current in a circuit breaker and comprises a trip bar, a stationary armature bracket, a movable armature, and a spring. The movable armature includes a first end coupled to a base portion of the armature bracket, and a trip-actuating surface being disposed proximate a trip finger of the trip bar. The spring is directly coupled at its respective ends to a spring-support portion of the armature bracket and to a spring tab of the movable armature.

Abstract: A switching mechanism provides sequential switching of first and second circuit breakers to enable switching between a primary power supply and a backup power supply. The switching mechanism comprises a first actuator plate to operate a first circuit breaker connected to a primary power supply, a second actuator plate to operate a second circuit breaker connected to a secondary power supply, and an actuator. The first and second actuator plates are independently movable between on and off positions. The actuator is operatively connected to the first and second actuator plates so that the actuator moves the first actuator plate to an on position and the second actuator plate to an off position when the actuator is moved in a first direction, and moves the first actuator plate to an off position and the second actuator plate to an on position when the actuator is moved in a second direction.

Abstract: A multivariable control system provides regulation for a plurality of control variables of interest based on selecting a particular one of the variables for regulation relative to a corresponding setpoint, while continuing to monitor the other variables and switching regulation control over to another one of the variables as needed to maintain all of them within their allowed ranges. The system includes one or more PID regulators that tune themselves for the particular variables selected for regulation control. In an exemplary embodiment, the control system is configured for controlling an alternative energy system, wherein it includes one or more power flow devices that control power flow between electrical energy storage devices (EESDs) and a common dc bus and/or power flow between the dc bus and an external ac electrical system.

Abstract: An economical digital voltage sag compensator for overcoming sags in distributed electrical power. The voltage sag compensator employs an inexpensive micro-controller, a full wave bridge rectifier, a DC power supply, a voltage divider and an output switch. The micro-controller continuously monitors and evaluates, with respect to a setpoint measured in volt-seconds, the rectified DC voltage. At regularly spaced trigger events, as determined by the micro-controller, the micro-controller concurrently monitors the rectified DC voltage, evaluates the monitored voltage with respect to the setpoint, produces an output signal and sends that output signal to the output switch. The output switch supplies an electrical device, connected electrically in series with the full wave bridge rectifier and the output switch, with a constant average current of sufficient level to maintain the electrical device in a desired operating condition.

Abstract: A three-phase monitoring system for detecting and dynamically correcting wiring errors in an electrical circuit. The system includes a voltage divider circuit and a current transformer circuit connected to three voltage channels and three current channels, respectively. Samples of the voltages and currents are held in respective sample and hold circuits, which are provided to an analog multiplexer. The analog multiplexer is controlled by a processor, and is coupled to gain and filter circuitry, sample and hold circuitry, and to an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC is connected to the processor, which analyzes the power factor for a given voltage/current pair. If the power factor is outside of an expected range, the processor dynamically changes the addresses assigned to the channels such that the data arrives in the processor in an expected sequence.

Abstract: A microcontroller-based system to detect ground-fault and grounded-neutral conditions in a monitored circuit of an electrical distribution system having line and neutral conductors. The system includes a single sensor producing an output signal responsive to current flow in both the line and neutral conductors of the monitored circuit, and a microcontroller receiving the sensor output signal and initiating the generation of a circuit status signal indicating one of a normal operating condition, a ground-fault condition or a grounded-neutral condition in the monitored circuit. The microcontroller is programmed to continuously test for ground-fault conditions by evaluating the sensor output signal and, at selected intervals, test for grounded-neutral conditions by evaluating the sensor's output signal response to a microcontroller initiated ping in the sensor circuit.

Abstract: A method of determining whether arcing is present in an electrical circuit includes sensing a change in current in the circuit and developing a corresponding input signal, analyzing the input signal to determine the presence of broadband noise in a predetermined range of frequencies, and producing a corresponding output signal, and processing the input signal and the output signal in a predetermined fashion to determine whether an arcing fault is present in the circuit. The processing includes determining a type of load connected to the electrical circuit, based at least in part upon the input signal and the output signal.

Abstract: A system for accumulating and evaluating electromagnetic phenomena of at least one power quality category of a power distribution system, using a circuit monitor or processing system that summarizes and trends electromagnetic phenomena. The system provides for expressing the power quality index as a single number for each power quality category present and for combining multiple power quality indices into a single overall power quality index.

Abstract: A monitoring system includes a power source, a power bus coupled to said power source, a plurality of power taps coupled to said power bus, each of said power taps having a ride-through capacitor operatively coupled thereto to provide power during brief interruptions in the power supply to said power bus by said power source.

Abstract: An arrangement for reducing pressure inside a circuit breaker caused by gas produced during an electrical interruption event, including a base, an interrupter assembly, and a trip unit base. A structure having a surface is positioned in the base at an angle relative to a vent opening of the interrupter assembly. The trip unit base includes a complementary structure opposing the structure to form a cavity. The base includes a chamber area adjacent to an opening of a vent chute that leads away from the circuit breaker. During an electrical interruption event, hot explosive gas, carbon, and molten metal debris are directed away from the vent opening of the interrupter assembly along the angled surface of the structure and toward the opening of the vent chute. In this manner, pressure in the circuit breaker is reduced during an electrical interruption event, and undesirable buildup of debris is reduced.

Abstract: A power inverter includes a regulator circuit that controls real and reactive power output by the inverter. The regulator measures real and reactive output power by calculating x-phasor components of the inverter's voltage and current output waveforms. Phasor calculation can be adapted for one or more pairs of single-phase voltages and currents. Determining the fundamental in-phase and quadrature components of output voltage and current reduces computational complexity by permitting the regulator to perform its power control processing largely in a dc signal domain, and enables separate real and reactive power control. The power inverter can include islanding detection logic, which exploits the ability to separately control reactive power. Exemplary islanding detection logic is based on determining whether changing the amount of reactive power output by the inverter induces an output frequency shift.

Abstract: A terminal cover for use on molded case circuit breakers. The terminal cover limits access to circuit breaker electrical terminals and uninsulated portions of electrical conductors entering the terminals. The terminal cover also provides selective access to the terminal binding screws.

Abstract: The present invention provides an electrical contactor for connecting and disconnecting an electrical power source to an electrical device wherein the electrical power source is electrically connected to a line terminal having a line terminal electrical contact and the electrical device is electrically connected to a load terminal electrical contact. The electrical contactor contains a plurality of electrical contacts which contact the line and load terminal electrical contacts.

Abstract: A system and method for data table multiplexing on a serial multiplex data (bit level) system is described. The present invention combines the benefits of previous systems with the capability to transfer large tables of data. The method used to transfer this data is a software data multiplexing protocol that utilizes the previous physical layer protocol and is capable of coexisting with previous systems. Multiple bit addresses are assigned functions such as address, data, and error detection. This establishes a data transfer frame that is used to multiplex data between a host and a module. Communication to and from the host is accomplished through the register map. The register map contains module setup information, software configuration settings, raw data, or summary data.

Abstract: A load terminal cover assembly for use on circuit breakers installed in electrical enclosures. The assembly selectively limits access to circuit breaker load terminals and uninsulated portions of load conductors entering the load terminals when the enclosure cover assembly is removed.

Abstract: A remote-controlled circuit breaker system, comprising a single voltage input connector for receiving current from an external power supply, at least two pole assemblies each including a trip mechanism, and a trip crossbar. The input connector provides a single power source to both pole assemblies, and the trip crossbar couples the trip mechanisms together. One of the pole assemblies further includes a remote-controlled actuator that controls only one of the two pole assemblies.

Abstract: A Modbus slave device is operable in an agile mode that allows the slave device to automatically interpret and respond to first-type and second-type message frames conveyed to the slave device by a master device. The slave device detects a first incoming character of a master query message frame generated by the master device. If the first incoming character is a prompt character for the first-type message frame, the slave device interprets the master query message frame as the first-type message frame. If the first incoming character is not the prompt character for the first-type message frame, the slave device interprets the master query message frame as the second-type message frame. If the slave device is addressed in the master query message frame, the slave device performs the command associated therewith and, if required by the command, generates a responsive slave message frame of the same type as the master query message frame.