Process for detecting electrical faults
OwnerCharles J. Neuhoffinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Process and apparatus for detecting electrical phase to ground or phase to phase fault currents occuring in enclosures retaining electric switch gear, switchboards, panel boards, and the like providing ionization chamber sensing of the particulate and/or ionized matter generated by the electrical fault, and generating a signal as a result of the parameter. The signal is transmitted to a means for opening the circuit and the circuit is opened to stop further current flow and damage to the devices to which it is connected. Audio or visual alarms as well as sensor status readouts may also be used with the invention.
Claims11
A process for detecting at an incipient stage thereof, phase-to-phase and phase to ground faults characterized by arcing and generated in an enclosure configured and dimentioned to provide a volumetric capacity substantially only for retaining select electrical power distribution and regulation components within a normally enclosed and stable environment of atmospheric air, said enclosure being situate at a predetermined location within a power input system wherein electrical circuits extend in power supply relationship into said enclosure and are coupled electrically with said components, comprising the steps of:
- monitoring the said atmospheric air environment only of said enclosure by the surveillance thereof with ionization chamber detection means, the presence of said arcing characterized fault derived ionized matter and subsequently generated particulate matter within said enclosure altering a known electrical parameter thereof from a first to a second condition to sense the said incipient stage of a said fault;
- generating an electrical signal in response to the said ionization chamber detection means electrical parameter alteration to said second condition;
- transmitting said generated electrical signal to means for opening the said electrical circuit coupled to said component at which said fault occurs;
- and
- opening the said electrical circuit to halt the flow of current therewithin to said component at which said fault occurs in response to said signal transmitted to said means for opening said electrical circuit.
A system for detecting, at an incipient stage thereof, arc characterized phase-to-phase and phast-to-ground faults generated with electrical power distribution and regulation components at a given location within a power supply system, comprising:
- enclosure means configured for retaining select said electrical power distribution and regulation components within a normally enclosed environment of atmospheric air and situate at said given location;
- monitoring means communicating with said enclosure environment of atmospheric air and including ionization chamber detection means operative to alter a known electrical parameter from a clear condition to a signal condition in response to the arc characterized fault-derived ionized matter and subsequently generated particulate matter within said environment;
- shunt means actuable to divert the supply of said electrical power to said enclosure means retained distribution and regulation components to provide a cessation of the effects of a said fault;
- and
- control means responsive to the presence of said electrical parameter signal condition for actuating said shunt means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.