System for eliminating arcing faults and power distribution system employing the same

A shorting system for eliminating an arcing fault between a first conductor and a second conductor of a power distribution system, said shorting system comprising:

• a first shorting switch comprising first separable contacts, a first operating mechanism and a first input to actuate said first operating mechanism to close said first separable contacts;
• a fuse electrically connected in series with the first separable contacts of said first shorting switch;
• a second shorting switch comprising second separable contacts, a second operating mechanism and a second input to actuate said second operating mechanism to close said second separable contacts, said second separable contacts being electrically connected in parallel with the series combination of said first separable contacts and said fuse, the parallel combination of said second separable contacts and the series combination of said first separable contacts and said fuse being adapted for electrical connection between the first and second conductors of said power distribution system;
• and
• a circuit adapted to detect said arcing fault and responsively output a first signal to the first input of said first shorting switch to close said first shorting switch and, also, responsively output after a predetermined time a second signal to the second input of said second shorting switch to close said second shorting switch.

A power distribution system comprising:

• a first conductor;
• a second conductor;
• a shorting system for eliminating an arcing fault between said first conductor and said second conductor, said shorting system comprising:
• a first shorting switch including a first input,
• a circuit interrupter electrically connected in series with said first shorting switch,
• a second shorting switch including a second input, said second shorting switch being electrically connected in parallel with the series combination of said first shorting switch and said circuit interrupter, and
• a circuit adapted to detect said arcing fault and responsively output a first signal to the first input of said first shorting switch to close said first shorting switch and, also, responsively output after a predetermined time a second signal to the second input of said second shorting switch to close said second shorting switch.

A system for eliminating an arcing fault of power distribution equipment, said system comprising:

• a first switch including a first input;
• a circuit interrupter electrically connected in series with said first switch;
• a second switch including a second input, said second switch being electrically connected in parallel with the series combination of said first switch and said circuit interrupter;
• a circuit adapted to detect said arcing fault and responsively output a first signal to the first input of said first switch to close said first switch and, also, responsively output after a predetermined time a second signal to the second input of said second switch to close said second switch;
• and
• wherein said circuit comprises at least one sensor adapted to detect arc light from said arcing fault and responsively output at least one signal;
• and an actuator including an input for at least one of said at least one signal and an output having said first signal responsive to said at least one of said at least one signal, said first switch being closed to eliminate said arcing fault when said circuit interrupter is also closed.

A system for eliminating an arcing fault of power distribution equipment, said system comprising:

• a first switch including a first input;
• a circuit interrupter electrically connected in series with said first switch;
• a second switch including a second input, said second switch being electrically connected in parallel with the series combination of said first switch and said circuit interrupter;
• a circuit adapted to detect said arcing fault and responsively output a first signal to the first input of said first switch to close said first switch and, also, responsively output after a predetermined time a second signal to the second input of said second switch to close said second switch;
• and
• wherein said circuit comprises a sensor, which is adapted to detect arc light from said arcing fault and responsively output a third signal;
• and wherein said circuit further comprises an activation time delay having an input for said third signal and an output responsive to said third signal after said predetermined time, an AND gate including a first input, which is electrically connected to the input of said time delay, a second input, which is electrically connected to the output of said time delay, and an output, and an actuator including an output having said second signal responsive to the output of said AND gate, said second switch being closed to eliminate said arcing fault when said circuit interrupter is open.

A shorting system for eliminating an arcing fault between a first conductor and a second conductor of a power distribution system, said shorting system comprising:

• a first shorting switch comprising first separable contacts, a first operating mechanism and a first input to actuate said first operating mechanism to close said first separable contacts;
• a fuse electrically connected in series with the first separable contacts of said first shorting switch;
• a second shorting switch comprising second separable contacts, a second operating mechanism and a second input to actuate said second operating mechanism to close said second separable contacts, said second separable contacts being electrically connected in parallel with the series combination of said first separable contacts and said fuse, the parallel combination of said second separable contacts and the series combination of said first separable contacts and said fuse being adapted for electrical connection between the first and second conductors of said power distribution system;
• a circuit adapted to detect said arcing fault and responsively output a first signal to the first input of said first shorting switch to close said first shorting switch and, also, responsively output after a predetermined time a second signal to the second input of said second shorting switch to close said second shorting switch;
• and
• wherein said circuit includes an arcing light detector having an output with a third signal, an activation time delay having an input for the output of said arcing light detector and an output responsive to said third signal after said predetermined time, an AND gate including a first input, which is electrically connected to the input of said time delay, a second input, which is electrically connected to the output of said time delay, and an output, and an actuator having an input for the output of time delay and an output providing the second signal to the second input of said second shorting switch.

A shorting system for eliminating an arcing fault between a first conductor and a second conductor of a power distribution system, said shorting system comprising:

• a first shorting switch comprising first separable contacts, a first operating mechanism and a first input to actuate said first operating mechanism to close said first separable contacts;
• a fuse electrically connected in series with the first separable contacts of said first shorting switch;
• a second shorting switch comprising second separable contacts, a second operating mechanism and a second input to actuate said second operating mechanism to close said second separable contacts, said second separable contacts being electrically connected in parallel with the series combination of said first separable contacts and said fuse, the parallel combination of said second separable contacts and the series combination of said first separable contacts and said fuse being adapted for electrical connection between the first and second conductors of said power distribution system;
• a circuit adapted to detect said arcing fault and responsively output a first signal to the first input of said first shorting switch to close said first shorting switch and, also, responsively output after a predetermined time a second signal to the second input of said second shorting switch to close said second shorting switch;
• and
• wherein said circuit includes a first arcing light detector having an output, a first actuator having an input for the output of said first arcing light detector and an output providing the first signal to the first input of said first shorting switch, a second arcing light detector having an output with a third signal, an activation time delay having an input for the output of said second arcing light detector and an output responsive to said third signal after said predetermined time, an AND gate including a first input, which is electrically connected to the input of said time delay, a second input, which is electrically connected to the output of said time delay, and an output, and a second actuator having an input for the output of time delay and an output providing the second signal to the second input of said second shorting switch.