Load protecting arrangement
AssigneeGTE Automatic Electric Labs Inc.
InventorJames S. Butcher
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A protecting arrangement is dislcosed for multiple loads supplied from a single DC power source. Each load is monitored by a separate protection circuit. Detection of an over-current condition associated with one of the loads will cause the associated protection circuit to assume a non-conducting state and provide a visual indication of same. Periodically enabled common reset means are provided to restore conduction to non-conducting protection circuits following removal of the cause of over-current.
Claims16
A protection circuit for use between a first source of DC power and a load, comprising:
- current pass means connected between said load and said DC source;
- DC bias means connected to said current pass means, conditioning said current pass means to conduct therethrough, current from said first DC power source to said load;
- sensing means connected to said current pass means;
- control means connected to said sensing means and to said current pass means, initially operated in response to detection of a flow of current in excess of a predetermined value, from said first source to said load by said sensing means, to operate said current pass means to limit the flow of current therethrough;
- feedback means connected between said current pass means and said control means, developing a signal in response to said limiting of current flow through said current pass means, to render said control means fully operated, and render said current pass means inoperative;
- and reset means operated in response to said rendering of said current pass means inoperative, to disable said feedback means developed signal to thereby render said current pass means reoperated.
A protection circuit for use between a first source of DC power and a load, comprising:
- current pass means connected between said load and said DC source;
- DC bias means connected to said current pass means, conditioning said current pass means to conduct therethrough, current from said first DC power source to said load;
- sensing means connected to said current pass means;
- control means connected to said sensing means and to said current pass means, initially operated in response to detection of a flow of current in excess of a predetermined value, from said first source to said load by said sensing means, to operate said current pass means to limit the flow of current therethrough;
- and
- feedback means including a light emitting diode connected between said current pass means and said control means, developing a signal in response to said limiting of current flow through said current pass means, to render said control means fully operated, and thereby render said current pass means inoperative, said light emitting diode operated in response to said feedback means developed signal to give a visual indication of said pass means inoperative condition.
A load protecting arrangement for use with a first DC power source and a plurality of loads, including periodically enabled reset means, and a plurality of protection circuits, each connected between said first source and an associated one of said loads and each comprising:
- current pass means connected between said load and said DC source;
- DC bias means connected to said current pass means, conditioning said current pass means to conduct therethrough, current from said first DC power source to said load;
- sensing means connected to said current pass means;
- control means connected to said sensing means and to said current pass means, initially operated in response to detection of a flow of current in excess of a predetermined value, from said first source to said load by said sensing means, to operate said current pass means to limit the flow of current therethrough;
- feedback means connected between said current pass means and said control means, developing a signal in response to said limiting occurred flow through said current pass means, to render said control means fully operated, and thereby render said current pass means inoperative;
- and signal blocking means connecting said feedback means to said reset means, operated to conduct said feedback means developed signal to said reset means but block signals from any other ones of said protection circuits;
- said enabled reset means operated, in response to said rendering of at least one of said current pass means inoperative, to disable said associated control means and thereby render said current pass means reoperated.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.