Power interruption bridge circuit
AssigneeHamilton Sundstrand Corporation
InventorsPaul Swearingen, Robert L. Seagren, Joshua Berg
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A controller is employed in conjunction with an electrical power distribution system (EPDS). The controller includes at least a first input for receiving DC power from a DC power bus and a power supply circuit connected to the first input to provide operational power to the controller. The controller further includes a power interrupt bridge circuit that monitors the voltage provided of the first input. In response to the monitored voltage being less than a threshold value, the power interrupt bridge circuit supplies power to the power supply circuit from a DC emergency source for a defined time period.
Claims16
A controller for providing control commands associated with at least one of an alternating current (AC) power bus and a direct current (DC) power bus, the controller comprising:
- at least a first input for receiving DC power from a DC power bus;
- a power supply circuit connected to the first input to receive DC power that is used to power the controller;
- and
- a power interrupt bridge circuit connected to monitor a voltage provided by the DC power bus and in response to the monitored voltage being less than a threshold value supplies power to the power supply circuit from a DC emergency source for only a defined time period to ensure the controller remains powered and prevents power from being supplied from the DC emergency source to the controller after the end of the defined time period, wherein the power interrupt bridge circuit includes:
- a time constant selector that stores a time value, wherein the time value equals a duration of the defined time period;
- wherein the controller is employed in conjunction with a RAM air turbine (RAT) and provides deployment instructions to the RAT, wherein the defined time period is greater than a time required to deploy the RAT in response to a detected loss of power.
A power distribution system comprising:
- a direct current (DC) power bus;
- an emergency DC power bus;
- a RAM air turbine (RAT) generator that is deployed to generate emergency power;
- a controller that receives operating power from the DC power bus, the controller including a power interrupt bridge circuit that monitors a voltage of the DC power bus and in response to the monitored voltage decreasing below a threshold level supplies operating power to the controller from the emergency DC power bus for a defined time period and prevents operating power from being supplied from the emergency DC power bus to the controller after the end of the defined time period, wherein the power interrupt bridge circuit includes:
- a time constant selector that stores a time value, wherein the time value equals a duration of the defined time period;
- wherein the controller provides deployment instructions to the RAT, wherein the defined time period is greater than a time required to deploy the RAT in response to a detected loss of power.
A method of supplying power to a controller during emergency operations, the method comprising:
- monitoring a voltage associated with operational power provided to the controller;
- comparing the monitored voltage to a threshold value to detect a low voltage condition;
- connecting an emergency DC power supply to supply operational power to the controller in response to the monitored voltage being less than the threshold value;
- and
- disconnecting the emergency DC power supply from the controller upon expiration of a defined time period, wherein a duration of the defined time period equals a time value stored in a time constant selector of a power interrupt bridge circuit;
- wherein the controller utilizes power received from the emergency DC power supply to deploy a RAM air turbine (RAT) generator for generating emergency power.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.