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US 4,922,369 AGranted
Circuit protector
AssigneeInresco, Inc.
InventorMichael J. Sakatos
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A magnetically operated circuit protector utilizing magnetizable reed contacts, primarily reed switches, in combination with a network of coil windings which results in positive trip and reset action, arc suppression, local and remote trip indication, overcurrent and overvoltage protection, operable in alternating and direct current systems, remote turn-on and turn-off, trip time of 50 to 100 microseconds, miniature size, automatic reset, and especially suitable for protecting sensitive electronic systems and instruments.
Claims16
A magnetically operated circuit protector having trip and reset action comprising:
- at least two electromagnetic coil windings for generating aiding magnetic fields;
- at least two magnetizable elements each of which has a contacting portion thereon;
- means for supporting said elements so that the contact portions overlap;
- means including one of said coil windings for inducing lines of flux through said elements to cause said elements to initiate a switching function;
- means including another of said coil windings to complete said switching function causing said elements to assume a switched state and to release said elements from the switched state;
- said switching being induced on the occurrence of a predetermined condition.
3 more elements
A circuit protector comprising:
- a first terminal for connecting said protector to a power source;
- a second terminal for connecting said protector to a load;
- a magnetic Form-C reed switch having two fixed elements and one moveable element for contacting either of said fixed elements;
- two electromagnetic coil windings connected in series, one of said coils coupled for initiating the switching of said reed switch on the occurrence of an overcurrent condition, one of said windings being connected across said first terminal and a first of said fixed elements;
- said moveable contact of said reed switch being connected to said second terminal;
- the other of said coil windings being connected to said moveable contact of said reed switch and to said first fixed element for completing the switching of and retaining said reed switch in its switched state;
- and a third coil winding connected to said moveable element across said second terminal for causing said reed switch to return to an unswitched state as said overcurrent condition is reduced.
4 more elements
A magnetically operated circuit protector comprising an input terminal and an output terminal;
- a Form-C reed switch having a moveable contact and two fixed contacts, one of said fixed contacts being normally closed;
- a first electromagnetic coil connected across said normally closed fixed contact and said input terminal;
- a second electromagnetic coil connected in series with said first coil across said normally closed fixed contact and said moveable contact and to said output terminal, said first coil initiating the switching of said contacts and said second coil completing said switching and maintaining said contacts in the switched state;
- and a third coil connected across said moveable contact and to said output terminal for causing said switch to return to its unswitched state.
1 more element
A circuit protector comprising:
- a first terminal for connecting said protector to a power source;
- a second terminal for connecting said protector to a load;
- a magnetic Form-C reed switch having two fixed elements and one moveable element for contacting either of said fixed elements;
- one of said fixed elements being normally closed;
- first, second and third coil windings;
- said first coil winding generating a trigger flux for actuating said reed switch on the occurrence of an overcurrent condition and being connected across said first terminal and said normally closed fixed element;
- said moveable contact of said reed switch being connected to said second terminal;
- said second coil winding generating a holding flux and being connected to said moveable contact of said reed switch and to said normally closed fixed element for retaining said reed switch in its switched state, said trigger flux aiding said holding flux;
- said third winding being connected to said moveable contact and to said second terminal for generating a flux in opposition to said holding flux.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.