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US 8,553,381 B2Granted
Gradually reducing resistive clamp
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsVietson M. Nguyen, John D. Sagona, Waleed M. Said
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A voltage spike protection system minimizes a voltage spike by connecting a resistive clamp to a power source when the voltage spike is detected. The voltage spike detection system disconnects the resistive clamp after a portion of the voltage spike is dissipated.
Claims14
A method for minimizing a voltage spike comprising the steps of:
- connecting a resistive clamp to a three phase power source using a circuit selected from a group of circuits consisting of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) bridge and a set of triacs when a voltage spike is detected;
- and
- disconnecting said resistive clamp from said three phase power source after at least a portion of said voltage spike is dissipated within said resistive clamp;
- wherein said resistive clamp comprises multiple resistive clamp stages;
- and
- wherein said step of disconnecting said resistive clamp from said three phase power source comprises disconnecting each resistive clamp stage individually.
3 more elements
A voltage spike protection system comprising:
- a first resistive clamp having at least one stage;
- a controller capable of causing said first resistive clamp to be connected to a power source through a circuit selected from a group of circuits consisting of silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) bridge and a set of triacs when a voltage spike is detected;
- wherein said first resistive clamp comprises a plurality of resistive clamp stages;
- and
- wherein at least a portion of said resistive clamp stages comprises a switching element operable to individually remove one of said resistive clamp stages from said resistive clamp.
2 more elements
An electrical system comprising:
- a power source;
- an electrical load connected to said power source;
- a controller having at least a voltage sensor for detecting a voltage spike in said power source;
- a resistive clamp switchably coupled to said power source such that said controller can connect said resistive clamp to said power source using a circuit selected from a group of circuits consisting of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR) bridge and a set of triacs when said controller detects a voltage spike;
- said resistive clamp comprising a plurality of resistive clamp stages;
- and
- at least a portion of said resistive clamp stages comprises a switching element operable to individually remove one of said resistive clamp stages from said resistive clamp.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.