Ground fault interrupt circuit apparatus for 400-Hz aircraft electrical systems
US5835322A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 7, 1997 |
| Grant date | Nov 10, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 7, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/04
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A resettable ground fault circuit interrupter most advantageously suited for use with 400-Hz aircraft electrical systems and designed to interrupt the AC power between an aircraft electrical system and one or more electrical appliances being operated therein when a ground fault occurs. The circuit relies upon an imbalance sensor which is implemented in the preferred embodiment disclosed herein as a multi-turn coil of a transformer through which input wires connected to an AC input terminal are threaded so that an imbalance resulting from a ground fault can be detected by the coil. The signal generated by the coil as a result of such an imbalance is then amplified and applied to a thyristor, the conducting or non-conducting state of which determines whether or not the circuit is in a configuration for interrupting the AC signal or not interrupting the AC signal. Light emitting diodes are utilized to indicate the interruption status of the circuit. A reset switch is provided to reset the thyristor after an imbalance ceases because of removal of a ground fault that had previously occurred.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.