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US 12,586,738 B2Granted
Electronic snubber for elimination of switch contact impedance increase and arc contaminant deposition
AssigneeHydra-Electric Company
InventorRobert Andrew Guziak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems, devices, and methods for a switch comprising two or more contacts, where the switch is configured to transition between an open state and a closed state; and a circuit comprising a snubber circuit in communication with the switch, where a snubber circuit or energy limiting isolator circuit is configured to eliminate arcing during the transition between the closed state and the open state by limiting voltage that prevents arcing sufficient to trigger a chemical breakdown of a surrounding atmosphere on at least one of the two or more contacts.
Claims25
A system, comprising:
- a switch comprising two or more contacts, wherein the switch is configured to transition between an open state and a closed state;
- and
- a circuit comprising a snubber circuit in communication with the switch, wherein the snubber circuit is configured as an energy limiting isolator circuit to reduce arcing during the switch transition between the closed state and the open state by limiting voltage, to prevent arcing that triggers a chemical breakdown of a surrounding atmosphere on at least one of the two or more switch contacts to eliminate increased contact resistance;
- wherein the snubber circuit comprises:
- an impedance module, and a reactive energy storage module in electrical communication with the impedance module, configured to provide a steady voltage source;
- a rectifier module in electrical communication with the steady state voltage source, configured to control voltage relative to a threshold voltage;
- and
- a voltage clamping module in electrical communication with the steady voltage source, configured to control ringing signals.
5 more elements
A system, comprising:
- a snubber circuit configured as an electrical energy limiting circuit for electrical connection with an electrical switch, wherein the snubber circuit is configured to reduce electrical arcing in the switch during a transition between a closed state and an open state of the contacts;
- wherein the snubber circuit comprises:
- an impedance module, and a reactive energy storage module in electrical communication with the impedance module, configured to provide a steady voltage source;
- a rectifier module in electrical communication with the steady state voltage source, configured to control voltage relative to a threshold voltage;
- and
- a voltage clamping module in electrical communication with the steady voltage source, configured to control ringing signals.
3 more elements
A method comprising:
- limiting arc energy, arc event occurrences, and arc event duration in a snubber circuit system comprising a switch via a snubber circuit in communication with the switch, wherein the snubber circuit is configured to electrically isolate the switch and prevent at least one of:
- a chemical breakdown with a burning that causes contact impedance increases due to organic atmospheres;
- an arc induced burning of contaminants in atmospheres surrounding the switch, which deposit contaminants on at least one of two or more contacts of switch;
- and
- a reduction of a duration of the chemical breakdown of the atmosphere surrounding the switch;
- wherein the snubber circuit comprises:
- a resistor;
- a capacitor, wherein the resistor and the capacitor are connected in series;
- a first diode, wherein the first diode is connected in parallel across the resistor;
- and
- a second diode, wherein the second diode is connected in parallel across the capacitor.
8 more elements
A method comprising:
- transitioning a switch between an open state and a closed state, wherein the switch comprises two or more contacts;
- and
- dissipating stored energy via a snubber circuit in communication with the switch, wherein the snubber circuit is configured to eliminate arcing during the transition between the closed state and the open state by limiting voltage that prevents arcing sufficient to trigger a chemical breakdown of a surrounding atmosphere on at least one of the two or more contacts;
- wherein the snubber circuit comprises:
- an impedance module, and a reactive energy storage module in electrical communication with the impedance module, configured to provide a steady voltage source;
- a rectifier module in electrical communication with the steady state voltage source, configured to control voltage relative to a threshold voltage;
- and
- a voltage clamping module in electrical communication with the steady voltage source, configured to control ringing signals.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.