Patent Application
20180261994
The disclosed concept relates to modular ground fault protective relays. The disclosed concept also relates to protection modules for modular ground fault protective relays.
Ground fault relays are employed in a number of electrical systems (e.g., without limitation, systems having panelboards for distribution pedestals for marine and recreational vehicles, hydraulic pumps, motors, and/or waste water treatment apparatus) to provide ground fault circuit protection. Current ground fault relays are available either as a single circuit protective unit capable of protecting a single circuit, or, as a multi-circuit protective unit that is capable of protecting a large number of circuits (e.g., twelve circuits). Known multi-circuit ground fault relays present a relatively expensive and unnecessary solution when only a few circuits require protection.
There is thus room for improvement in ground fault protective relays and protection modules therefor.
These needs and others are met by embodiments of the disclosed concept, which are directed to a modular ground fault protective relay and protection module therefor.
In accordance with one aspect of the disclosed concept, a protection module is provided for a modular ground fault protective relay. The modular ground fault protective relay includes a power supply module having a connection port. The protection module includes a body having a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side, a module connector extending outwardly from the first side, the module connector being structured to be removably coupled to the connection port of the power supply module, and a module expansion port extending inwardly from the second side toward the first side.
In accordance with another aspect of the disclosed concept, a modular ground fault protective relay comprises a power supply module having connection port; and a protection apparatus comprising a number of protection modules, one of the number of protection modules comprising a body having a first side and a second side disposed opposite the first side, a module connector extending outwardly from the first side, the module connector being removably coupled to the connection port of the power supply module, and a module expansion port extending inwardly from the second side toward the first side.
A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “coupled” or “connected” together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts.
As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (i.e., a plurality).
As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts or components “engage” one another shall mean that the parts exert a force against one another either directly or through one or more intermediate parts or components.
The protection apparatus 5 further includes a number of electrical switching apparatus (two example shunt trip circuit breakers 70,72 are shown in simplified form in
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Moreover, the power bus members of each of the connection port 16, and the module connectors 40 and module expansion ports 42 of the protection modules 30,60,62,64,66 are electrically connected with each other. The neutral bus members of each of the connection port 16, and the module connectors 40 and module expansion ports 42 of the protection modules 30,60,62,64,66 are electrically connected with each other. The fault bus members of each of the connection port 16, and the module connectors 40 and module expansion ports 42 of the protection modules 30,60,62,64,66 are electrically connected with each other.
In accordance with the disclosed concept, while the power supply module 4 and the protection module 30 (i.e., and also the protection modules 60,62,64,66) are each mounted to (i.e., coupled to) the DIN rail 78, the slidable engagement between the module connector 40 and the connection port 16 is preferably the only mechanism by which the protection module 30 is coupled to the power supply module 4. More specifically, as discussed above, the module connector 40 slidably engages and is located internal with respect to (i.e., is plugged into) the connection port 16 in order to be removably coupled to the connection port 16. Similarly, the slidable engagement between the module connector of the protection module 60 and the module expansion port 42 is preferably the only mechanism by which the protection module 60 is coupled to the protection module 30. That is, the module connector of the protection module 60 is located internal with respect to and slidably engages (i.e., is plugged into) the module expansion port 42 of the protection module 30 in order to be removably coupled to the protection module 30. In other words, separate fasteners and/or other coupling mechanisms are preferably not needed to couple the power supply module 4 to the protection module 30, or to couple the protection module 30 to the protection module 60. Stated differently, the disclosed concept provides for a quick and inexpensive solution whereby any desired number of protection modules can readily be slid onto either the power supply module 4 and/or each other.
Additionally, all of the power bus members 50 (i.e., and the power bus members of the connection port 16, the module expansion port 42, and like components of the other protection modules 60,62,64,66) are parallel to each other and aligned with each other, all of the neutral bus members 52 (i.e., and the neutral bus members of the connection port 16, the module expansion port 42, and like components of the protection modules 60,62,64,66) are parallel to each other and aligned with each other, and all of the fault bus members 54 (i.e., and the fault bus members of the connection port 16, the module expansion port 42, and like components of the protection modules 60,62,64,66) are parallel to each other and aligned with each other. In this manner, responsive to a fault condition in any one of the branch circuits 106,108 (
Furthermore, the connection between the protection modules 60,62,64,66 (i.e., the connection between the protection modules 60 and 62, the connection between the protection modules 62 and 64, and the connection between the protection modules 64 and 66) is the same as the connection between the protection modules 30 and 60, discussed above. As such, the modular ground fault protective relay 2 provides a novel mechanism by which any predetermined number of protection modules can be employed with a power supply module in order to provide ground fault circuit protection to a given number of branch circuits. This is advantageous when protection is needed for only a few (e.g., 2, 3, or 4) circuits, or for a predetermined large number of circuits (i.e., 9). Prior art solutions (not shown) are inefficient and/or are relatively expensive in that they provide circuit protection to either one single circuit, or, to a fixed, and relatively large, number of other circuits (e.g., to 12 circuits). Thus, the disclosed concept is efficient and relatively inexpensive in that an operator can readily preset the number of protection modules to correspond to the number of branch circuits in need of protection by simply plugging on the desired number of protection modules to the power supply module. Thus, extra protection modules will not be wasted.
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the disclosed concept provides for an improved (e.g., without limitation, more versatile, efficient, and less expensive) modular ground fault protective relay 2 and protection module 30,60,62,64,66 therefor, in which the modular ground fault protective relay 2 is advantageously able to protect any preset number of branch circuits without requiring excess protection modules.
While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
