Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for power controller operation using master and slave firing units

US5537026A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
27References
21Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 26, 1995
Grant dateJul 16, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 26, 2015

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02M5/2573
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A power controller (10) and a method for supplying power to a power distribution network (N) in which power from a polyphase source (G) is routed to using equipment (E) connected to the network through the power controller. A plurality of solid-state power devices (82) switch each separate phase of the polyphase power to the equipment. A firing circuit (14) controls gating of the switches to route the power. Fuses (F) are connected between the switches and the using equipment to interrupt power flow to the equipment if excessive current begins to be drawn. Circuit breakers (74) are connected between the power source and the switches to interrupt current flow to the equipment if excessive current is drawn. A control unit (20) controls operation of the controller. The firing circuit includes a master firing unit (164a) and a slave firing unit (164b). These units each enable the switches during each firing interval with the master unit enabling the switches for one portion of the interval, and the slave unit the balance thereof.

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