US 5,170,310 A · Fail-resistant solid state interruption system

Abstract

A solid state circuit interruption arrangement in a distributed power network provides fast and reliable circuit interruption. A common power source provides power to a plurality of loads via respective current paths. A main circuit breaker and a plurality of solid state circuit breakers are arranged to interrupt the current paths in response to command signals sent from a central controller. Current sensors and voltage sensors are coupled to the current paths for monitoring purposes. An automatic controller responds to any of the current sensors detecting a fault condition by automatically generating a command signal, which forces the associated solid state breaker to interrupt the associated current path. Thereafter, the controller automatically generates a signal to the main circuit breaker to interrupt the power provided from the common power source in the event that the associated current path is not interrupted by the solid state breaker. Alternatively, or in addition, the main interruption device may interrupt the current path when its own internal sensing mechanism detects a magnitude of current that is beyond a predetermined level. Also, the controller automatically generates a signal to the main breaker to interrupt the power provided from the common power source in the event that any of the branch breakers fails in the "off" or interrupted, condition. Other features include a finned housing structure which provides cooling means for the breaker system without the need for cooling fans.

Claims36

Dependent claims

A static switch interruption arrangement, comprising:

a main interruption device and a static switch interruption device, connected in series in a current path between a source and a load, for interrupting and establishing current flow therebetween;
a sensor, coupled to the current path of the static switch interruption device;
and
automatic control means, responsive to the sensor, for automatically controlling the main interruption device and the static switch interruption device, wherein the automatic control means is capable of generating a first signal to cause the static switch interruption device to interrupt the current path, and is capable of automatically generating a second signal to cause the main interruption device to interrupt the current path in response to the static switch interruption device failing;
wherein the sensor includes a voltage sensor which senses voltage input to the static switch interruption device and wherein the automatic control means controls the static switch interruption device in response to the voltage sensor.

2 more elements

A static switch interruption arrangement, comprising:

a main interruption device and a static switch interruption device, connected in series in a current path between a source and a load, for interrupting and establishing current flow therebetween;
a sensor, coupled to the current path of the static switch interruption device;
and
automatic control means, responsive to the sensor, for automatically controlling the main interruption device and the static switch interruption device, wherein the automatic control means is capable of generating a first signal to cause the static switch interruption device to interrupt the current path, and is capable of automatically generating a second signal to cause the main interruption device to interrupt the current path in response to the static switch interruption device failing, wherein the sensor includes a voltage sensor which senses voltage input to the static switch interruption device and wherein the automatic control means controls the static switch interruption device in response to the voltage sensor, wherein the control means includes a micro-computer which is preprogrammed for comparing current, sensed by the sensor, with a threshold and for said automatic generation of the first and second signals, and further including a delay circuit arranged so that the control means does not cause interruption of any current path in response to a transient condition in the associated current path.

1 more element

A solid state interruption arrangement for interrupting a current path between a load and a source, said arrangement comprising:

main interruption means, responsive to a main interruption signal and having an input and output port, the input port being connected to receive the power from the source;
solid state interruption means, responsive to a solid state interruption signal and having an input port connected to the output port of the main interruption means and having an output port connected to the load;
first sensing means, coupled to the current path between the load and the solid state interruption means, for sensing a first power related parameter in the current path;
second sensing means, coupled to the current path, for sensing a second power related parameter in the current path;
and
an automatic controller, responsive to the first and second sensing means, for determining if at least one of said first and second power related parameters exceeds a predetermined threshold and automatically generating the solid state interruption signal when the threshold is exceeded and, thereafter, automatically generating the main interruption signal in the event that the current path is not interrupted by the solid state interruption means;
wherein each of the main and solid state interruption signals causes the associated interruption means to block the current path with the main interruption means acting to back-up the solid state interruption means and wherein one of the first and second power related parameters is voltage and the other of the first and second power related parameters is current.

4 more elements

A solid state interruption arrangement for interrupting a current path between a load and a source, said arrangement comprising:

main interruption means, responsive to a main interruption signal and having an input and output port, the input port being connected to receive the power from the source;
solid state interruption means, responsive to a solid state interruption signal and having an input port connected to the output port of the main interruption means and having an output port connected to the load;
first sensing means, coupled to the current path between the output port of the solid state interruption means and the load, for sensing a first power related parameter in the current path;
second sensing means, coupled to the current path between the main interruption means and the solid state interruption means, for sensing a second power related parameter in the current path;
a pair of bleeder-resistor circuits, respectively coupled to either side of the solid state interruption means and each having a terminal coupled to a ground terminal, which is used to establish an artificial neutral terminal;
determination means for sensing the magnitude of the current through at least one of the bleeder-resistor circuits;
and
an automatic controller, responsive to the determination means and the first and second sensing means, which determines if at least one of said first and second power related parameters exceeds a predetermined threshold and automatically generates the solid state interruption signal when the threshold is exceeded and, thereafter, automatically generates the main interruption signal in the event that the current path is not interrupted by the solid state interruption means;
wherein each of the main and solid state interruption signals causes the associated interruption means to block the current path with the main interruption means acting to back-up the solid state interruption means.

6 more elements

A solid state circuit interruption arrangement in a distributed power network wherein a common power source provides power to a plurality of loads so as to establish a plurality of current paths emanating from the source, the arrangement comprising:

main interruption means, having an input and output port, the input port being connected to receive the power from the source;
a plurality of solid state interruption means, each having an input port connected to the output port of the main interruption means and an output port connected to one of the loads;
a plurality of voltage sensors each of which is coupled to the current path between the output port of an associated one of the solid state interruption means and the associated one of the loads;
a plurality of current sensors each of which is coupled to the current path of the solid state interruption means;
and
an automatic controller responsive to each of the voltage and current sensors for detecting a fault condition in one of the current paths and automatically generating a signal to the associated solid state interruption means so that the associated current path is interrupted when the condition is detected and thereafter automatically generating a signal to the main interruption means to interrupt the power provided from the common power source in the event that the associated current path is not interrupted by the solid state interruption means.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Fail-resistant solid state interruption system

Life of this patent

Fail-resistant solid state interruption system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims36