US 2004/0203271 A1Published application

Method and system for preventing the formation of an electric arc in a connector which is inserted in a power load supply line

AssigneeLear Corporation

InventorsCarles Borrego Bel, Fernando Gallego Hugas

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Abstract

The connector (11) is made up of electroinsulator supports (1, 2) carriers of at least one pair of terminals (3, 4) capable of coupling to a plug said terminals (3, 4), being in a coupling position for said electroinsulator supports (1, 2), electrically joined to each other establishing a channel (5) for the passing of electrical energy towards said power load (10), the method and system being made up of a connection (15) between a point (23) of said channel (5) near to the load (10) and after the connector (11), whose connection passes through the connector (11), in order to detect a voltage (V2) and/or intensity in the second point (23), which is compared with the voltage (V1) of supply, and in the event of a sudden change being observed, said supply is cut off.

Claims14

Dependent claims

Method to prevent the formation of electrical arcs in a connector inserted into a line of supply of a power load, said connector (11) being of the type that is made up of first and second electroinsulator supports (1, 2) carriers of at least one pair of terminals (3, 4) capable of freely coupling to a plug, said terminals (3, 4), being in a coupling position for said electroinsulator supports (1, 2), joined electrically between themselves establishing a channel (5) for the passing of energy towards said power load (10) and, in a coupling position for the electroinsulator supports (1, 2), the terminals (3, 4) separate physically interrupting said channel (5), said connector being inserted into a network of supply and distribution of electrical energy in which there are primary means of detection linked to an electronic unit (20) to continually detect a first voltage (V1) of supply of said network at a first point (22) situated on said channel (5) before the connector (11), the level of the aforementioned voltage being such that the aforementioned physical separation of the pair of terminals (3, 4) may generate an electrical arc, characterized by including the steps for:

a) detecting, by means of the secondary means of detection linked to said electronic unit (20), a second voltage (V2) at a second point (23) situated on said channel (5) near to the power load (10) and after the connector (11);
b) comparing said first and second voltages (V1 and V2) by means of an electronic comparative device (21) and;
in the event that within a predetermined minimum time interval, a difference detected between the first and second voltages (V1 and V2) is greater than the predetermined threshold indicative of a sudden interruption in the aforementioned channel (5) for the passing of electrical energy or in said secondary means of detection,
c) cutting, by means of a protection device by disconnection (7) linked to the electronic unit (20), the supply of electrical energy to the aforementioned channel (5) towards the power load (10) through the connector (11).

1 more element

System to prevent the formation of electrical arcs in a connector inserted into a supply line of a power load, said connector (11) being of the type that is made up of first and second electroinsulator supports (1, 2) carriers of at least one pair of terminals (3, 4) capable of freely coupling to the plug, said terminals (3, 4), being in a coupling position for said electroinsulator supports (1, 2), joined electrically between themselves establishing a channel (5) for the passing of electricity towards said power load (10) and, in a uncoupling position for the electroinsulator supports (1, 2), the terminals (3, 4) separate physically interrupting said channel (5), said connector being inserted in a network of supply and distribution of electrical energy in which there is a first connection (14) between a first point (22) situated in said channel (5) before the connector (11) and an electronic unit (20) to continually detect a first voltage (V1) and/or intensity of supply of said network, the aforementioned voltage and/or intensity being such that the aforementioned physical separation of the pair of terminals (3, 4) may generate an electrical arc, characterized by consisting of a second connection (15) between a second point (23) situated in said channel (5) near to the power load (10) and after the connector (11) and said electronic unit (20) to detect a second voltage (V2) and/or intensity at said second point (23), an electronic comparative device (21) being planned in the electronic unit (20) to compare said first and second voltages (V1 and V2) and/or intensities, a microprocessor (8) to process the result of said comparison and a protection device by disconnection (7) able to cut, at the request of the microprocessor (8), the supply of electrical energy to the aforementioned channel (5) in the event that the result of said comparison, in a predetermined minimum time interval, of a difference between the first and second voltages (V1 and V2) and/or intensities greater than a predetermined threshold.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.