Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.

An installation switching device has a housing and screw connecting clamp with an essentially frame-shaped clamping part having longitudinal faces, narrow faces and broad faces, a head-clamp screw received in a clamping part threaded aperture, and a current rail arranged fixed in the device extending through the frame-shaped clamping part interior, wherein a current rail broad face is oriented, as assembled, parallel to a clamping part broad face facing the head clamping screw, the screw supporting itself, screwed in, on the current rail, wherein consequently, the clamping part is displaceable in its longitudinal direction, parallel to the narrow face, relative to the current rail by further screwing in the head clamping screw so a connecting conductor can be fixedly clamped between the current rail face remote from the screw and the clamping part broad face remote from the screw, the housing having a screw receiving region guiding the screw head.

A circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, a trip actuator structured to cause the separable contacts to trip open, a conductor structured to carry power through the circuit interrupter, a sensor having a forward bias voltage drop inversely proportional to temperature and being disposed proximate the conductor, an amplifier circuit electrically connected to the sensor and being structured to amplify the forward bias voltage drop of the sensor, and a comparator circuit structured to compare the amplified forward bias voltage drop with a predetermined reference voltage and to output a signal to the trip actuator when the amplified forward bias voltage drop is less than or equal to the predetermined reference voltage. The signal causes the trip actuator to cause the separable contacts to trip open.

Electromechanical circuit breakers are disclosed herein. In some embodiments, the breakers can be integrated into battery management systems to simplify battery management circuitry and/or to provide redundancy to the battery management systems. In some embodiments, the breakers can be provided to reduce damage to the battery management systems during hot-swapping of a battery cell. The breakers can be automatically resettable or not automatically resettable in various embodiments.

Circuit breakers are configured with line terminal geometry that drives the current from a terminal input in a direction that can reduce electromagnetic forces and that can also or alternatively include an arc chute assembly that can reduce repulsive electromagnetic forces to improve the operating level of withstand current (Icw).

Circuit breakers are configured with line terminal geometry that drives the current from a terminal input in a direction that can reduce electromagnetic forces and that can also or alternatively include an arc chute assembly that can reduce repulsive electromagnetic forces to improve the operating level of withstand current (Icw).

A circuit interrupter includes separable contacts, a trip actuator structured to cause the separable contacts to trip open, a conductor structured to carry power through the circuit interrupter, a sensor having a forward bias voltage drop inversely proportional to temperature and being disposed proximate the conductor, an amplifier circuit electrically connected to the sensor and being structured to amplify the forward bias voltage drop of the sensor, and a comparator circuit structured to compare the amplified forward bias voltage drop with a predetermined reference voltage and to output a signal to the trip actuator when the amplified forward bias voltage drop is less than or equal to the predetermined reference voltage. The signal causes the trip actuator to cause the separable contacts to trip open.

An electrical device includes a case defining an interior space. The case includes a sidewall and a cover. The sidewall defines an opening therethrough to provide access to the interior space. The electrical device also includes a power connector coupled to the case and disposed at least partially within the interior space. The power connector is coupleable to a cable extending through the opening into the interior space of the case. The electrical device further includes a shield removably coupleable to the case. The shield includes an engagement feature and a wall. The engagement feature is arranged to engage the case. The wall is arranged to at least partially cover the opening when the shield is coupled to the case such that the wall and the cable are spaced apart a distance that is less than a width of the opening when the cable is coupled to the power connector.

A switch with an integrated overcurrent protection element can include multiple arc gap between the contacts when opening the circuit during overload protection and switching operations. The switch can include an overcurrent protection element which can make contact with two contact terminals, and which can change to a different shape upon exposure to an overcurrent condition. The overcurrent protection element can also be moved in a direction normal to the two contact terminals between a first position and a second position through the use of a rotary switch to selectively place the overcurrent protection element in contact with the two contact terminals.

A switch with an integrated overcurrent protection element can include multiple arc gap between the contacts when opening the circuit during overload protection and switching operations. The switch can include an overcurrent protection element which can make contact with two contact terminals, and which can change to a different shape upon exposure to an overcurrent condition. The overcurrent protection element can also be moved in a direction normal to the two contact terminals between a first position and a second position through the use of a rotary switch to selectively place the overcurrent protection element in contact with the two contact terminals.