Patent · US Expired

Current limiting device

US6043731A · kind A · utility

9Cited by
16References
25Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 1996
Grant dateMar 28, 2000
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
  • CPC primaryY10S505/881
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A current limiting device having an electrical superconductor for attachment in an electrical circuit, the superconductor being made of material having a critical current density which varies with applied magnetic field. A magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field to which the superconductor is exposed. Under normal working conditions a magnetic field applied causes the critical current density to be less than a maximum critical current density. A controller adjusts the critical current density such that after a current carried by the superconductor exceeds the critical current density so that the superconductor transforms to a resistive state, the controller can be activated to increase the critical current density causing the superconductor to return the superconducting condition without terminating the flow of current through the superconductor.

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