Patent · US Expired

Hazardous ameprage recognition and relaying techniques

US5548466A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
10References
14Claims
0Family size

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateNov 4, 1994
Grant dateAug 20, 1996
Priority date
Expiry dateNov 4, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02H5/105
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a system for sensing fault current flowing through a person who touches an exposed conductor in a cable connecting a machine to a power distribution center wherein the power distribution center has a number of power cables for connecting a number of machines thereto. Each power cable has a different frequency impressed thereon by an oscillator which frequency is transmitted through an electrical path including the power center if the operator touches the fault. A sensing circuit for each cable is connected in the electrical path and tuned to only the frequency applied to that cable. When the sensing circuit detects that frequency, the sensing circuit interrupts power to the cable. If, for some reason, the sensing circuit fails to interrupt power to the cable, within a selected time interval of less than one-half second, a backup system interrupts power to the entire power center. In order to detect ground faults, the ground conductor in each cable is grounded to the power center's frame through a zener diode bank which is in parallel with a high pass capacitor connected thereto by a preventive resistor. The zener diode bank also suppresses inter…

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