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US 10,320,179 B2Granted
Circuit breakers with back-feed protection
AssigneeSikorsky Aircraft Corporation
InventorsRobert F. Longley, Jr., Christopher P. Sullivan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A circuit breaker includes a switch with a supply terminal and a load terminal. A blocking diode is electrically connected in series between the switch and one of the supply terminal and the load terminal. The blocking diode is arranged to oppose current flow between the load terminal and the supply terminal through the switch to prevent current back-flow through the circuit breaker.
Claims14
A circuit breaker, comprising:
- a switch with a supply terminal and a load terminal;
- and
- a blocking diode electrically connected in series between the switch and the load terminal, the blocking diode comprising an anode and a cathode;
- wherein the blocking diode is arranged to oppose current flow from the load terminal to the supply terminal through the switch, thereby preventing current back-flow through the circuit breaker;
- wherein:
- the anode is connected to the load terminal and the cathode is connected to the switch, or
- the anode is connected to the switch and the cathode is connected to the load terminal;
- wherein a load comprising an internal load power supply is coupled to the load terminal.
5 more elements
A method of controlling current flow through a circuit breaker, comprising:
- electrically connecting a load terminal with a supply terminal of a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker comprising a switch;
- applying a supply voltage to the supply terminal;
- applying a load voltage to the load terminal, the load voltage being greater than the supply voltage;
- and
- blocking current from the load terminal to the supply terminal via a blocking diode, the blocking diode electrically connected in series between the switch and the load terminal, the blocking diode comprising an anode and a cathode;
- wherein:
- the anode is connected to the load terminal and the cathode is connected to the switch, or
- the anode is connected to the switch and the cathode is connected to the load terminal;
- wherein a load comprising an internal load power supply is coupled to the load terminal.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.