Apparatus and Method for High Frequency Low Pressure Arc Flash Sensor
AssigneeThe Johns Hopkins University
InventorH. Bruce Land, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A pressure sensor for detecting an electric arc in an electrical switchboard, the sensor being in an enclosed case containing a conical opening, the case being placed in the switchboard. A pressure switch in the sensor is attached to the interior of the case and is electrically connected to a circuit board for transmitting a signal when a contact in the pressure switch is closed. When a pressure wave created by the electric arc enters the case through the conical opening it forces a contact on the pressure switch to close thereby completing a circuit with the circuit board which transmits the signal to, for example, a central processor, to turn off the source of electricity thereby quenching the electric arc.
Claims11
A pressure sensor comprising:
- an enclosed case containing an opening wherein the opening in the case is conical in shape, the opening on the exterior face of the case being larger than the opening on the interior face of the case thereby allowing the air to enter the case more easily than the air can exit the case through the opening;
- a pressure switch attached to the interior of the case;
- and
- means for transmitting a signal when a contact in the pressure switch is closed, the transmitting means electrically connected to the pressure switch;
- whereby air comprising a pressure wave enters the case through the opening forcing a contact on the pressure switch to close thereby completing a circuit with the transmitting means and transmitting the signal.
A pressure sensor for detecting an electric arc in an electrical switchboard comprising:
- an enclosed case containing an opening, the case being placed in the switchboard wherein the opening in the case is conical in shape, the opening on the exterior face of the case being larger than the opening on the interior face of the case thereby allowing the air to enter the case more easily than the air can exit the case through the opening;
- a pressure switch attached to the interior of the case;
- means for transmitting a signal when a contact in the pressure switch is closed, the transmitting means electrically connected to the pressure switch;
- and
- means for receiving the signal and turning off the source of electricity;
- whereby air comprising a pressure wave created by the electric arc enters the case through the opening forcing a contact on the pressure switch to close thereby completing a circuit with the transmitting means and transmitting the signal to the receiving means to turn off the source of electricity and quench the electric arc.
A method for detecting an electric arc inside an electrical switchboard using a pressure sensor, the method comprising:
- placing an enclosed case containing an opening in the switchboard wherein the opening in the case is conical in shape, the opening on the exterior face of the case being larger than the opening on the interior face of the case thereby allowing the air to enter the case more easily than the air can exit the case through the opening;
- attaching a pressure switch to the interior of the case;
- transmitting a signal when a contact in the pressure switch is closed;
- and
- receiving the signal and turning off the source of electricity;
- whereby air comprising a pressure wave created by the electric arc enters the case through the opening forcing a contact on the pressure switch to close thereby completing a circuit and transmitting the signal to turn off the source of electricity and quench the electric arc.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.