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 Title: |
US4949214:
Trip delay override for electrical circuit breakers
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Spencer, George A.; Plano, TX 75074
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| Assignee: |
None
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| Published / Filed: |
1990-08-14
/ 1989-08-28
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| Application Number: |
US1989000399151
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G03G 15/16;
H02H 3/093;
H02H 3/33;
Core:
H02H 3/32;
more...
IPC-7:
H02H 3/08;
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| U.S. Class: |
Current:
361/095;
361/042;
361/096;
Original:
361/095;
361/096;
361/042;
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| Field of Search: |
361/042,87,92,94,95,96
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| Priority Number: |
| 1989-08-28 |
US1989000399151 |
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| Abstract: |
An automatic override circuit is responsive to the magnitude of instantaneous current flow through a monitored conductor to produce an output signal which can actuate a solenoid or a ground fault interrupter to automatically trip a circuit breaker in repsonse to an excursion of current flow which exceeds a predetermined maximum current overhead level. The short circuit protector can automatically override a thermal trip delay and cause the circuit breaker to trip instantly or delay tripping for a prescribed period of short circuit events which exceed the maximum current overload level. In one embodiment, a control signal is generated which actuates a solenoid which is coupled to a thermal magnetic circuit breaker. In an alternative embodiment, the control signal is utilized for automatically triggering a ground fault interrupter. In both embodiments, the power distribution circuit is interrupted in response to a short circuit condition which would otherwise be tolerated during the thermal trip delay of a conventional circuit breaker.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Griggs, Dennis T. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Jennings, Derek S.;
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| Maintenance Status: |
CC Certificate of Correction issued
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family Legal Status Report
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| Family: |
Show 3 known family members
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First Claim:
Show all 22 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A protector circuit for automatically overriding the trip delay of a circuit breaker of the type having a movable contact arm for making and breaking an electrical circuit in a power distribution system having first and second power conductors, said protector circuit comprising, in combination:
- current to voltage transforming means having an input adapted to be coupled to a selected one of said power conductors for producing a control voltage output signal having a magnitude proportional to the magnitude of current conducted through said selected power conductor;
- a control solenoid having an actuator linkage member movably coupled to the movable contact arm of the circuit breaker and having an armature winding electrically coupled to conduct current from the first power conductor to the second power conductor; and,
- a gate controlled switch having switched and unswitched power terminals connected in series electrical relation with the armature winding of said control solenoid, said switch having a control gate terminal electrically coupled to said transforming means for receiving the control voltage output signal.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 72 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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