Arcing fault detector
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorNeftali Rivera
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An arcing fault detector used the thermodynamic conditions created by an arcing fault within a vented electrical equipment enclosure to quickly activate a protective device which causes tripping of the supply circuit breaker(s). A plurality of temperature sensors are located within the enclosure near the top, and a differential pressure sensor is located in the external wall of the enclosure approximately midway between the vents to compare internal and external pressure. The intelligence from the sensors is processed by a fault protector which controls the tripping of the circuit breaker(s).
Claims6
An arcing fault detection system for an electrical equipment enclosure having vents to an ambient atmosphere comprising:
- means for monitoring the temperature of the atmosphere within said electrical equipment enclosure;
- means for comparing the pressure of said ambient atmosphere to the pressure of the atmosphere within said electrical equipment enclosure;
- means for determining from the output of said monitoring means and said comparing means based upon predetermined temperature and pressure differential criteria whether an arcing fault is present;
- and
- means for tripping a circuit breaker when said arcing fault is detected by said determining means.
An arcing fault detection system as recited in claim 10 wherein said temperature monitoring means comprises:
- means for sensing said temperature within said enclosure and for converting said temperature to an electrical signal;
- and
- means for amplifying and for buffering said electrical signal prior to input to said determining means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.