Patent · US Expired

Multi-purpose passive switching device

US5894397A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
2References
19Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateDec 9, 1996
Grant dateApr 13, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateDec 9, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH02H3/046
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A switching device has a housing containing a magnetic latching relay that operates a set of contacts to respective closed and open conditions. Plural terminals provide for connection of the switching device with controlling circuitry that operates the relay and with controlled circuitry that utilizes the condition of the set of contacts for a control purpose. A thin-line fuse separably mounts on the exterior of the switching device to form a series circuit with the set of contacts between a pair of the terminals that provide connection with the controlled circuitry. The controlling circuitry provides pulse signals to other terminals to operate the relay. The housing further contains a capacitor and LED connected in parallel with the fuse and in series with a resistor so that the LED lights when the fuse is removed or blown. A mechanical override having an external actuator can operate the contacts in the event that they are not operated by the controlling circuitry operating the latching relay.

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