Surge-resistant relay switching circuit
US5633540A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 25, 1996 |
| Grant date | May 27, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 25, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02P7/295
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
In a relay switching panel, a switching circuit operates to selectively connect and disconnect resistive, capacitive and inductive loads to an AC power source with substantially no arcing. The switching circuit comprises a pair of relays, preferably connected in parallel, with one of such relays having a triac, connected in series therewith. With the relays open, an air gap isolates the power source and the load. In closing the relays in sequence, one relay provides a conductive path from the power source to the triac. After a suitable delay to allow the relay contacts to stabilize in the closed position, the triac is triggered to provide a conductive path from the power source to the load, and a large current surge flows to the load. After the current surge has subsided, the second relay is closed to provide a direct conductive path between the power source and the load. Next the first relay and the triac are removed from the circuit to ensure full conduction through the second relay. Another sequence of opening and closing the relays and the triac in a particular order can be employed to provide substantially arcless switching during turn off. As a result of this arrangement, the…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.