US 6,618,229 B2 · Aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter and packaging thereof

Abstract

The aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter interrupts an electrical circuit when a current imbalance is sensed. The current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter includes a housing, power supplies, a sensor for sensing a current imbalance at the line side of the electrical circuit, a logic controller and a power controller. In a preferred embodiment, the invention can also include a fault indicator, a press to test switch and a reset switch. The power supplies provide power to the sensor, logic controller, and the power controller. The logic controller receives input from the sensor and the relay control signal, and the power controller receives input from the logic controller, and interrupts power to the load side of the electrical circuit when the sensor senses a current imbalance. Power interruption due to a sensed current imbalance is maintained until the line side power source is cycled. The circuit interrupter is preferably autonomous, requiring no additional signals, inputs, wiring or sources of power. The current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter is packaged in a configuration integral with the power controller, thus easing retrofit with the improved aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter.

Claims31

Dependent claims

An aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter for monitoring the current within an electrical circuit and interrupting the electrical circuit, the electrical circuit having a line side and a load side with an electrical load connected thereto, the aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter comprising:

a housing including electrical connector means for connecting to the electrical circuit line side and load side;
a power supply disposed in the housing and electrically connected to the line side of the electrical circuit;
a sensor disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by the electrical circuit being monitored for sensing a current imbalance in the electrical circuit and for providing a sensor signal indicating the existence of an undesirable current within the electrical circuit based on said sensing of said current imbalance;
a logic controller disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by the electrical circuit being monitored, to receive the sensor signal from the sensor and to output a fault signal representing a fault;
and
a power controller disposed in the housing configured to receive said fault signal from the logic controller and to remove power to the load side of the electrical circuit responsive to the fault signal from the logic controller.

3 more elements

An aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter for interrupting an electrical circuit to an electrical load, the electrical circuit having a line side and a load side, the aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter comprising:

a housing having electrical connector means for connecting to the electrical circuit line side and load side;
a power supply disposed in the housing and connected to the line side of the electrical circuit;
a sensor disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by the power supply for sensing a current imbalance in the electrical circuit and for providing a sensor signal indicating the existence of a current imbalance within the electrical circuit based on said sensing of said current imbalance;
a direct current (DC) controlled power controller configured to remove power to the load side of the electrical circuit when de-energized;
a logic controller disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by the power supply, to receive an external relay control signal and the sensor signal from the sensor, to compare the sensor signal with a predetermined range for acceptable operation for the electrical circuit, to output a fault signal representing a current imbalance and de-energized the power controller when the sensor signal exceeds said predetermined range;
a fault indicator configured to receive said fault signal from the logic controller, to indicate a current imbalance condition has occurred;
and
a reset switch to reset the fault indicator;
wherein the housing has a form factor that packages the current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter circuitry in a space compatible with an existing power controller used in the aircraft.

6 more elements

a housing having electrical connector means for connecting to the electrical circuit line side and load side;
at least one power supply disposed in the housing and connected to the line side of the electrical circuit;
a sensor disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by one of the power supplies for sensing a current imbalance in the electrical circuit and for providing a sensor signal indicating the existence of a current imbalance within the electrical circuit based on said sensing of said current imbalance;
a logic controller disposed in the housing and configured to be powered by one of the power supplies, to receive an external relay control signal and the sensor signal from the sensor, and to compare the sensor signal with a predetermined range for acceptable operation for the electrical circuit and to interrupt the relay control signal when the sensor signal exceeds said predetermined range;
a power controller configured robe energized by the relay control signal and to remove power to the load side of the electrical circuit when the relay control signal is interrupted;
a fault indicator configured to receive said fault signal from the logic controller, to illuminate indicating a current imbalance condition has occurred;
and
a reset switch to reset the fault indicator.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter and packaging thereof

Life of this patent

Aircraft applicable current imbalance detection and circuit interrupter and packaging thereof

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims31