Patent · US Expired

Fault detection method and apparatus

US5303112A · kind A · utility

85Cited by
8References
42Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 26, 1990
Grant dateApr 12, 1994
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 26, 2010

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02H7/261
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

Method and apparatus are provided responsive to the circuit parameters at one or more locations of an electrical power transmission and/or distribution network for detecting protective device operation. The detection of the protective device operation is utilized to locate faults and also to ascertain the status of protective devices. This information is useful in automated power systems for desirable isolation and sectionalizing of faults for optimum restoration of the network. A fault detection unit of the present invention is responsive to sensed circuit parameters and provides at least first and second outputs indicative of protective device operations that open the circuit. The first output is provided upon the occurrence of an overcurrent followed by the loss of a circuit parameter, such as voltage, for a specified time duration. In a preferred arrangement, the timing for a specified time duration is started when the overcurrent ends. Thus, rapid detection is achieved since the specified time duration need not include the maximum operating time of the protective device. The second output is provided if the conditions for the first output are satisfied and the loss of the circ…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.