Current limiting system and method
US5867356A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Nov 5, 1997 |
| Grant date | Feb 2, 1999 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 5, 2017 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/025
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A current limiting system for a circuit limits current flow through the system. The current limiting system comprises at least one main switch comprising first and second main switch contacts and a contactor connecting the first and second main switch contacts; at least one current limiting device and at least one solid-state switch, which are mechanically unconnected to the main switch, and the at least one current limiting device and least one solid-state switch are arranged in series on a series side of the circuit; the at least one main switch is on a main switch side of the circuit arranged in parallel with the series side; a control that senses a predetermined condition of the circuit, and operably connected with the at least one solid state switch to open and it. Under normal operating conditions, most current flows through the at least one main switch side. When the predetermined condition causes the main switch to open, and the resistance increases in a main switch side. Thus, current flows to the series side of the circuit side. The current limiting device then switches its state from a low resistance to a high resistance state to limit the current passing through the cur…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.