Circuit breaker
A circuit breaker is disclosed that provides a warning that the current through the circuit breaker exceeds a warning threshold. The circuit breaker comprises: a switch that carries a current I; an indicator for alternatively indicating: (i) that the current I has not exceeded I W , and (ii) that the current I has exceeded I W ; and an actuator in series with the switch that: (i) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded I W when and only when the current I has exceeded I W , and (ii) opens the switch when and only when the current I exceeds I T ; wherein 0<I W <I T .
1. A circuit breaker for regulating the current I flowing between a first terminal and a second terminal, the circuit breaker comprising:
a switch that when closed carries a current I from the first terminal to the second terminal;
a first indicator-element for alternatively indicating:
(i) that the current I has not exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset, or
(ii) that the current I has exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset;
a second indicator-element for alternatively indicating:
(i) that the current I has not exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset, or
(ii) that the current I has exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset; and
an actuator that:
(i) causes the first indicator-element to indicate that the current I has exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset when and only when the current I has exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset,
(ii) causes the second indicator-element to indicate that the current I has exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset when and only when the current I has exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset, and
(iii) opens the switch when and only when the current I exceeds I T since the circuit breaker was last reset;
wherein 0<I W <I T .
2. The circuit breaker of claim 1 further comprising a reset that:
(i) causes the first indicator-element to indicate that the current I has not exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset, and
(ii) causes the second indicator-element to indicate that the current I has not exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset, and
(iii) closes the switch.
3. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises an electromagnet in series with the switch.
4. The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein the actuator comprises a thermally-activated switch in series with the switch.
5. The circuit breaker of claim 1 further comprising an adjuster for adjusting I W , wherein I W is adjusted by rotating the adjuster.
6. A circuit breaker for regulating the current I flowing between a first terminal and a second terminal, the circuit breaker comprising:
a switch that when closed carries a current I from the first terminal to the second terminal;
a first indicator-element that comprises two mutually-exclusive states:
(i) a normal state, and
(ii) a warning state;
a second indicator-element that comprises two mutually-exclusive states:
(i) a normal state, and
(ii) a tripped state; and
an actuator that:
(i) transitions the first indicator-element from the normal state to the warning state when and only when I exceeds I W ,
(ii) transitions the second indicator-element from the normal state to the tripped state when and only when I exceeds I T , and
(iii) opens the switch when and only when I exceeds I T since the circuit breaker was last reset;
wherein 0<I W <I T .
7. The circuit breaker of claim 6 further comprising a reset that when activated:
(i) transitions the first indicator-element to the normal state,
(ii) transitions the second indicator-element to the normal state, and
(iii) closes the switch.
8. The circuit breaker of claim 6 wherein the actuator comprises an electromagnet in series with the switch.
9. The circuit breaker of claim 6 wherein the actuator comprises a thermally-activated switch in series with the switch.
10. The circuit breaker of claim 6 further comprising an adjuster for adjusting I W , wherein I W can be adjusted from the outside of the circuit breaker.
11. A circuit breaker for regulating the current I flowing between a first terminal and a second terminal, the circuit breaker comprising:
a switch that when closed carries a current I from the first terminal to the second terminal;
an indicator capable of indicating:
(i) that the current I has not exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset,
(ii) that the current I has exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset, and
(iii) that the current I has exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset; and
an actuator that:
(i) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset when and only when the current I has exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset,
(ii) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset when and only when the current I has exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset, and
(iii) opens the switch when and only when the current I exceeds I T since the circuit breaker was last reset;
wherein 0<I W <I T .
12. The circuit breaker of claim 11 further comprising a reset that:
(i) causes the first indicator-element to indicate that the current I has not exceeded I W since the circuit breaker was last reset, and
(ii) causes the second indicator-element to indicate that the current I has not exceeded I T since the circuit breaker was last reset, and
(iii) closes the switch.
13. The circuit breaker of claim 11 wherein the actuator comprises an electromagnet in series with the switch.
14. The circuit breaker of claim 11 wherein the actuator comprises a thermally-activated switch in series with the switch.
15. The circuit breaker of claim 11 further comprising an adjuster for adjusting I W , wherein I W can be adjusted from the outside of the circuit breaker.
16. A circuit breaker for regulating the current I flowing between a first terminal and a second terminal, the circuit breaker comprising:
a switch that when closed carries a current I from the first terminal to the second terminal;
an indicator that comprises:
(i) a normal state,
(ii) a warning state, and
(ii) a tripped state; and
an actuator that:
(i) transitions the indicator from the normal state to the warning state when I exceeds I W ,
(ii) transitions the indicator to the tripped state when and only when I exceeds I T ,
(iii) opens the switch when and only when I exceeds I T since the circuit breaker was last reset;
wherein 0<I W <I T .
17. The circuit breaker of claim 16 further comprising a reset that when activated:
(i) transitions the first indicator-element to the normal state, and
(ii) closes the switch.
18. The circuit breaker of claim 16 wherein the actuator comprises an electromagnet in series with the switch.
19. The circuit breaker of claim 16 wherein the actuator comprises a thermally-activated switch in series with the switch.
20. The circuit breaker of claim 16 further comprising an adjuster for adjusting I W , wherein I W is adjusted by rotating the adjuster.