Circuit Breaker
OwnerWalter Michael Pitio, Allen Francis Santamariainventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A circuit breaker is disclosed that provides a warning that the current through the circuit breaker exceeds a warning threshold. The circuit breaker comprises: a switch that carries a current I; an indicator for alternatively indicating: (i) that the current I has not exceeded IW, and (ii) that the current I has exceeded IW; and an actuator in series with the switch that: (i) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded IW when and only when the current I has exceeded IW, and (ii) opens the switch when and only when the current I exceeds IT; wherein 0<IW<IT.
Claims23
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a switch that carries a current I;
- an indicator for alternatively indicating:
- (i) that the current I has not exceeded IW, and
- (ii) that the current I has exceeded IW;
- and
- an actuator that:
- (i) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded IW when and only when the current I has exceeded IW, and
- (ii) opens the switch when and only when the current I exceeds IT;
- wherein 0<IW<IT.
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a switch that carries a current I;
- an indicator for indicating:
- (i) that the current I has exceeded IW, and
- (ii) that the current I has exceeded IT;
- and
- an actuator that:
- (i) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded IW when and only when the current I has exceeded IW, and
- (ii) causes the indicator to indicate that the current I has exceeded IT when and only when the current I has exceeded IT;
- wherein 0<IW<IT.
A circuit breaker comprising:
- a switch that carries a current I and that is opened when and only when the current I exceeds IT;
- an indicator that comprises:
- (i) a first state S1,
- (ii) a second state S2, and
- (iii) a third state S3;
- and
- a first actuator, wherein a current I through the first actuator:
- (i) puts the indicator into the first state S1 when 0<I<IW,
- (ii) puts the indicator into the second state S2 when IW<I<IT, and
- (iii) puts the indicator into the third state S3 when I>IT;
- wherein 0<IW<IT.
The circuit breaker of claim 16 wherein the actuator is an electromagnet.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.