The field of the disclosure relates generally to a circuit breaker assembly and, more particularly, to high-speed couplings for use in circuit breaker assemblies and methods of assembling such couplings.
Conventional electrical distribution systems employ switching devices, such as for example, circuit breakers in switchgear applications, are conventionally housed in a metal enclosure or “drawout” unit. The drawout units releasably connect the electrical switching devices to an electrical busbar. It is sometimes necessary, such as for scheduled maintenance or testing purposes, to move, or “rack”, the circuit breaker in and out of the enclosure to make and break electrical connection within an electrical power distribution circuit. Conventional drawout units are configured to rack the circuit breakers between a disconnect position, in which the primary contacts or terminals of the circuit breaker are fully disengaged from mating primary contacts within the enclosure, and a connect position in which the primary contacts of the circuit breaker and enclosure are fully engaged. A racking mechanism is typically employed to ensure steady movement of the circuit breaker as it moves between the disconnected and connected positions.
Circuit breakers are also typically equipped with a variety of auxiliary electronic devices and related control circuitry, including switches, motors, solenoids and the like, for providing control of various functions of the circuit breaker. In such cases, terminals are conventionally arranged on the outside surface of the circuit breaker assembly to provide power to the auxiliary devices and control circuitry, and arranged for automatic connection and disconnection from corresponding mating terminals or contacts arranged within the enclosure. Such corresponding terminals arranged on the circuit breaker and the enclosures are conventionally referred to as “secondary disconnect” terminals or contacts, to distinguish these terminals from the main or “primary” current-carrying circuit breaker and enclosure terminals.
When the circuit breaker is inserted, or racked in, from the disconnect position to the connect position, the corresponding secondary disconnect terminals on the circuit breaker and enclosure must be engaged for power to provided to the auxiliary devices and control electronics. Conversely, when the circuit breaker is removed, or racked out, to the disconnect position, the secondary disconnect terminals must be disengaged. Additionally, it is common to provide a test position, between the connected and disconnected positions of the circuit breaker, wherein the secondary disconnect terminals are engaged, but the primary terminals are not engaged. In such cases, the auxiliary functions of the circuit breaker can be safely tested while the circuit breaker is disconnected from the primary circuit, or “OFF”.
At least some known circuit breakers include secondary disconnects rated for between 400-600 volts, and, as such, require relatively large size conductors to accommodate current and larger creepage and clearance spacing to accommodate voltage. As such, at least some known secondary disconnect constructions are not be optimal for CAT5 and CAT6 high speed connections, such as those used in typical Ethernet and HDMI communications, which require signal level voltages typically under 24 volts. Such high speed communications connectors are generally smaller and have less contacting engagement than connectors used for relatively slower speed communications, such as CAT4 communications cables. As such, at least some known circuit breakers position a high speed communications connector outside the main breaker. However, in order to transmit data through the high speed connector, such circuit breakers convert the data into different data types, which slows the data output and prevents the circuit breaker from transmitting the high speed data in real time.
For at least the reasons stated above, a need exists for a circuit breaker having a high speed communications connector embedded in the primary electronics to enable transmission of high speed communications data and arranged for automatic connection and disconnection from corresponding mating terminals or contacts arranged within the enclosure.