Automated AC line filter and surge suppression apparatus and method
OwnerJoseph S. Lewisinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A automated AC line filter and surge suppression apparatus 100 having an inductive current sense loop (ICSL) circuit 10 for sensing inductive current at a load and controlling the application of AC line filter 112 to an AC power line to the load. Current sensor 12 in series with the input line senses inductive load current. A first bridge rectifier 14 rectifies the sensed load current to a proportionate DC voltage, which triggers a switch 24. The output of switch 24 is fed into an opto-isolator 26, which in turn controls second switch 28. Switch 28 connects or disconnects AC line filter 112 from the system according to a predetermined sensed inductive current at the load. MOVs 102 and capacitive elements 104 provide continuous surge suppression protection to the load.
Claims19
An automated AC line filter comprising:
- an AC line filter;
- a current sensor adapted for electrical communication with an AC power line to a load for sensing a current at the load;
- and
- a switch mechanism in electrical communication with said current sensor and said AC line filter, said switch for providing electrical continuity between said AC line filter and the AC power line to the load upon a predetermined sensed current at said current sensor.
A method of automatically providing AC line filtering to an AC power line to a load based on a predetermined amount of current at the load, the method comprising:
- providing an AC line filter;
- sensing an amount of current at the load with a current sensor;
- and
- applying AC line filtering to the AC power line to the load based upon an output from the current sensor.
An automated AC line filter and surge suppression apparatus comprising:
- surge suppression circuitry adapted for continuous electrical communication with an AC power line to a load;
- an inductive current sense loop circuit in electrical communication with an AC power line to a load, said inductive current sense loop circuit comprising:
- a current sensor for sensing current at the load;
- and
- a switching mechanism in electrical communication with said current sensor, said switching mechanism for providing the application of AC line filtering upon sensing a current at the load with said current sensor;
- and
- an AC line filter in electrical communication with said switching mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.