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US 4,394,148 AGranted
Short circuit proof driver and alarm circuit for a solenoid in a glassware forming machine
AssigneeOwens-Illinois, Inc.
InventorWilliam H. Ryan
Life of this patent
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AssigneeOwens-Illinois, Inc.
InventorWilliam H. Ryan
Estimating the term…
A short circuit proof driver and alarm circuit for a solenoid actuator in a glassware forming machine is disclosed. Power to the solenoid is switched from a power source by a VMOS enhancement mode power transistor. Under normal operating conditions, the power transistor will be operated in saturation, whereby very little voltage is dropped between the drain and the source. When a short circuit condition occurs in the solenoid or connecting cable, the power transistor will be pulled out of saturation and the amount of voltage drop will become significant. Circuitry is provided for limiting current flow through the power transistor to a value somewhat above the maximum normal load current. The components of the system are selected to operate properly in the short circuit condition, thereby preventing the accidental activation of a solenoid in the glassware forming machine. A detector circuit senses the increased power dissipation across the power transistor and generates a signal to an alarm circuit to generate an alarm signal. The alarm signal can be used by an operator to determine which solenoid has failed.
In a glassware forming machine including at least one forming means for forming articles of glassware, the forming means including an actuator having a first electrical characteristic when functioning in a normal operating mode and a second electrical characteristic when in a failure operating mode and a source of power connectable to the actuator, a self-protecting driver circuit for selectively actuating the actuator comprising:
In a glassware forming machine including at least one forming means for forming articles of glassware, the forming means including an actuator having a first electrical characteristic when in a normal operating mode and a second electrical characteristic when in a failure operating mode and a source of power connectable to the actuator, a self-protecting driver circuit for selectively actuating the actuator comprising:
In a glassware forming machine including at least one forming means for forming articles of glassware, a solenoid means for actuating the forming means, the solenoid means having a first electrical load when in an operating mode and a second lesser electrical load when in a short circuit mode, a power source, and means for generating control signals to control the operation of the forming means, a self-protecting driver circuit for controlling the solenoid means comprising:
In a glassware forming machine including at least one forming means for forming articles of glassware, a solenoid means for actuating the forming means, the solenoid means having a first electrical load when functioning in an operating mode and a second lesser electrical load when functioning in a short circuit mode, a power source, and means for generating control signals to control the operation of the forming means, a self-protecting driver circuit for controlling the solenoid means comprising:
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.