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AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsSteven C. Schmalz, Michael F. Walz
Estimating the term…
The continuity of the coil of the actuating solenoid of an electric power switch is detected through utilization of a signaling device, such as a light emitting diode (LED) that monitors energization of a dc power supply fed from the source side of the coil. A circuit energized from the other side of the coil generates a dc voltage V2 that is applied to the gate electrode of an electronic switch shunting the LED. The voltage V2 is greater than the dc supply voltage to bias the electronic switch off so that the LED is illuminated when there is continuity through the coil. If the coil fails, V2 will be zero and the electronic switch is turned on to short circuit the LED to signal the failure of the coil.
An apparatus for detecting failure of an actuating solenoid coil of an electric power switch where the actuating solenoid coil is energized by a power source connected to a first terminal of the actuating solenoid coil through a power switch connected in series with the power source and a second terminal of the actuating solenoid coil, the apparatus comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.