US 2008/0304190 A1 · AIRCRAFT APPLICABLE CIRCUIT IMBALANCE DETECTION AND CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER AND PACKAGING THEREOF

Abstract

The aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter interrupts an electrical circuit when a current imbalance is sensed. The current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter includes a housing, power supplies, a sensor system for sensing a current imbalance at the line side of the electrical circuit, a logic controller and a power controller including a power relay having contacts capable of surviving carry-break and make-carry-break types of ground fault conditions at anticipated current levels. At power up, the device performs a test to confirm that none of the relay contacts have failed in a closed position, and to check whether a switching FET which controls the relay coil has shorted.

Claims14

Dependent claims

1-35. (canceled)

An aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter device for retrofitting a circuit breaker in an existing application, wherein such circuit breaker complies with a form factor, engages a connector to interface with a line side and a load side of an electrical circuit and controls a current path from said line side to said load side, comprising:

a housing complying with said form factor and including a connection means for engaging said connector;
a power supply disposed in the housing;
a sensor system disposed in the housing for sensing a current imbalance in the electrical circuit and for providing a sensor signal indicating the existence of an undesirable current within the electrical circuit based on said sensing of said current imbalance;
a logic controller disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by the electrical circuit being monitored, to receive the sensor signal from the sensor system and to output a fault signal representing a fault;
and
a power controller disposed in the housing configured to receive said fault signal from the logic controller and to remove power to the load side of the electrical circuit responsive to the fault signal from the logic controller, the power controller including a power relay having contacts capable of surviving carry-break and make-carry-break types of ground fault conditions at anticipated current levels.

3 more elements

a housing complying with said form factor and having electrical connection means for engaging said connector;
at least one power supply disposed in the housing;
a sensor system disposed in the housing for sensing a current imbalance in the electrical circuit and for providing a sensor signal indicating the existence of a current imbalance within the electrical circuit based on said sensing of said current imbalance;
a logic controller disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by one of the power supplies, to receive an external relay control signal and the sensor signal from the sensor system, and to compare the sensor signal with a predetermined range for acceptable operation for the electrical circuit and to interrupt the relay control signal when the sensor signal exceeds said predetermined range;
a power controller configured to be energized by the relay control signal and to remove power to the load side of the electrical circuit when the relay control signal is interrupted, the power controller including a power relay having contacts capable of surviving carry-break and make-carry-break types of ground fault conditions at anticipated current levels;
a fault indicator configured to receive said fault signal from the logic controller, to illuminate indicating a current imbalance condition has occurred;
and
a reset switch to reset the fault indicator and the current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aircraft applicable circuit imbalance detection and circuit interrupter and packaging thereof

Life of this patent

Aircraft applicable circuit imbalance detection and circuit interrupter and packaging thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims14