Electricity: electrical systems and devices – Control circuits for electromagnetic devices – For relays or solenoids
Utility Patent
1998-06-05
2001-01-02
Fleming, Fritz (Department: 2836)
Electricity: electrical systems and devices
Control circuits for electromagnetic devices
For relays or solenoids
C361S819000
Utility Patent
active
06169651
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to protective relay devices for providing protective control in electrical distribution systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to a protective relay device having a modular control and display panel.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Protective relay devices are necessary elements of an electrical power distribution system, as they provide a variety of protection and control functions. Protective relays monitor conditions in the power distribution system and operate circuit breakers in response to the detection of adverse conditions, thereby protecting various segments and components of the power distribution system from damage.
Older protective relays were analog devices, which have been largely replaced by digital protective relays. Digital protective relays include digital processing circuitry which can be programmed to provide a wider variety of protection and control functions than were available with analog relay devices.
Digital protective relays typically include a front panel for providing display and control functions. Such panels are typically fixed, in a secure and relatively permanent manner, to the protective relay circuitry. Because they are fixed to the relay circuitry, conventional control and display panels are of limited utility. For example, space considerations in a power distribution substation sometimes make it desirable for protective relays to have either a horizontal or vertical orientation; conventional protective relays are restricted to one orientation, as the control panel is fixed to the protective relay device during assembly. Further, because the control panel is fixed in a conventional protective relay, relay monitoring and control must be performed by a technician at the protective relay device, rather than at some distance from the protective relay device.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,742,428 to Conrad discloses a protective relay which includes an operating unit that can be withdrawn from an insulating housing through an opening in the front of the housing. The withdrawability of the protective relay circuitry allows for routine testing, maintenance, and replacement of the internal relay circuitry with minimal disruption of the power distribution system. However, the control panel of the Conrad protective relay is shown as being fixed to the relay processing circuitry, and is not shown or described as being removable, capable of multiple orientations, or remotely mountable.
Accordingly, it would be desirable for a protective relay to have a more functional control panel which would alleviate the limitations of conventional fixed control panels, and enhance the functionality of the protective relay device.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention solves the above-described problems, and achieves additional advantages, by providing for a protective relay device having a modular control panel comprised of a frame with removable support struts, a display board, and a rear cover. The control panel is securely mountable in a protective relay housing, and the support struts define a plurality of module spaces into which a plurality of control panel modules can be removably mounted. The control panel modules are independently removable and replaceable by substitute modules to allow the control panel to be easily modified or upgraded. The control panel modules can be mounted in multiple orientations, by changing the orientation of the support struts, and hence the module spaces allowing the control panel to be reconfigurable for horizontally or vertically oriented protective relay devices. Further, the control panel is hinged, to facilitate access to the digital relay processing circuitry, and is removable and remotely mountable to allow the protective relay to be remotely controlled and monitored. The control panel modules can include any one or more of indicators, meters, a display, a keypad, and external connections for receiving data or electrical power. As will be described in more detail below, a modular control panel according to the present invention greatly improves and enhances a protective relay device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3763400 (1973-10-01), Layton et al.
patent: 4742428 (1988-05-01), Conrad
patent: 4870531 (1989-09-01), Danek
patent: 5095403 (1992-03-01), Pin et al.
patent: 5185705 (1993-02-01), Farrington
patent: 5488338 (1996-01-01), Seymour et al.
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patent: 5877691 (1999-03-01), Suptitz et al.
patent: 5949640 (1999-09-01), Cameron et al.
patent: 2515152A1 (1976-10-01), None
patent: 4121610A1 (1993-01-01), None
patent: 0351060A2 (1990-01-01), None
Blasey Thomas M.
Fleming Fritz
General Electric Company
Horton Carl B.
Hunton & Williams
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