Arc-fault detecting circuit breaker system
US6532140B1 · kind B1 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 2, 2000 |
| Grant date | Mar 11, 2003 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 18, 2020 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/44
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
An arc-fault detecting circuit-breaker system includes a normally closed line circuit breaker in series with a protected electrical circuit element whose current flow is to be interrupted upon the occurrence of an arc fault. A detector senses the rate of change with time of the current flow in the protected electrical circuit element. A silicon-controlled rectifier has a gate of the silicon-controlled rectifier in electrical communication with a detector output signal of the detector. The silicon-controlled rectifier shorts the current flow in the protected electrical circuit element in the event that the detector output signals that the rate of change of current with time in the protected electrical circuit element is in excess of a permitted maximum rate-of-change value, thereby activating the line circuit breaker.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.