System for eliminating arcing faults and power distribution system employing the same
US7145757B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 13, 2004 |
| Grant date | Dec 5, 2006 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Feb 20, 2025 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/023
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A shorting system, which eliminates persistent arcing faults in power distribution equipment, includes a first shorting switch having separable contacts, an actuation input and a fuse electrically connected in series with those contacts. A second shorting switch includes an actuation input and separable contacts, which are electrically connected in parallel with the series combination of the fuse and the first shorting switch contacts. A detection circuit includes one or more arcing light sensors and an actuation circuit. The light sensors detect arcing fault light and the actuation circuit responsively outputs a first trigger signal to the first shorting switch actuation input to close its contacts. For a persistent arcing fault, which is not eliminated by the first shorting switch, a predetermined time after the first trigger signal, the actuation circuit responsively outputs a second trigger signal to the second shorting switch actuation input to close its contacts.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.