# US 10,320,179 B2 · Circuit breakers with back-feed protection

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 10,320,179 B2
- Document ID: US10320179B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 15/182,337
- Filed: 2016-06-14
- Published: 2017-12-14
- Granted: 2019-06-11
- Earliest claimed: 2016-06-14
- Assignees: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
- Applicants: Sikorsky Aircraft Corporation
- Inventors: Robert F. Longley, Jr.; Christopher P. Sullivan
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10320179B2

## CPC

- H02H 3/18: responsive to reversal of direct current
- B60R 16/02: electric {constitutive elements}
- H02H: EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS (indicating or signalling undesired working conditions G01R, e.g. G01R31/00, G08B; locating faults along lines G01R31/08; emergency protective devices H01H)
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## 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.

## Claims

### Claim 1

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.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker as recited in claim 1, further comprising a housing, wherein the blocking diode is disposed within the housing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The circuit breaker as recited in claim 2, wherein the supply terminal extends from the housing interior to the housing exterior.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The circuit breaker as recited in claim 2, wherein the load terminal extends from the housing interior to the housing exterior.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a mechanical contact with an open position and a closed position, wherein the mechanical contact electrically connects the supply terminal with the load terminal in the closed position, wherein the supply terminal is electrically separated from the load terminal in the open position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker as recited in claim 1, wherein the switch comprises a solid-state device with an electrically-open state and an electrically-closed state, wherein the solid-state switch device electrically connects the supply terminal with the load terminal in the electrically-closed state, wherein the solid-state switch device electrically separates the supply terminal from the load terminal in the electrically-open state.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The circuit breaker as recited in claim 1, wherein the blocking diode is disposed within a footprint of the circuit breaker.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The circuit breaker as recited in claim 7, wherein the footprint is a MS 3320 footprint.

### Claim 9 (depends on 1)

An electrical system, comprising:
a circuit breaker as recited in claim 1;
a supply lead connected to the supply terminal; and
a load lead connected to the load terminal, wherein the blocking diode is arranged to oppose current flow from the load lead to the supply lead.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The electrical system as recited in claim 9, wherein the load terminal is connected in series between the load and the blocking diode.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The electrical system as recited in claim 9, wherein the supply terminal is connected in series between the supply lead and the blocking diode.

### Claim 12 (depends on 9)

The electrical system as recited in claim 9, further comprising a power bus connected to the supply lead.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

A rotorcraft having an electrical system as recited in claim 9.

### Claim 14

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.