Control apparatus

Claim 2

Control apparatus for use in a circuit containing a primary source of energy and a load, comprising a secondary source of energy having a common signal point, means for activating said secondary source of energy from the primary source thereof, a multi-state device energizable by said secondary source, means for initiating the energization of said multi-state device when the signal level of said primary source is below a prescribed magnitude level, an electrically operated switch connectable in said circuit between said primary source and said load, and means for operating said switch from said multi-state device, the initiating means comprising means operated by said secondary source for connecting said multi-state device to said common signal point when the signal level of said primary source is below a prescribed magnitude level and holding the connection until the apparatus is deactivated.

Claim 3

Control apparatus as defined in claim 1 wherein the connecting means comprises a silicon controlled rectifier interconnecting said multi-state device with said common signal point and means operated from said secondary source for triggering said silicon controlled rectifier to Provide a low impedance interconnection when the signal level of said primary source is below said prescribed magnitude value and maintaining said low impedance connection thereafter.

Claim 4

Control apparatus for use in a circuit containing a primary source of energy and a load, comprising a secondary source of energy, means for activating said secondary source of energy from the primary source thereof, the activating means including a low level, momentarily closable starting switch, a multi-state device energizable by said secondary source and operating a latch device for holding said starting switch in its closed position, means for initiating the energization of said multi-state device when the signal level of said primary source is below a prescribed magnitude level, an electrically operated switch connectable in said circuit between said primary source and said load, and means for operating said switch from said multi-state device.

Claim 5

Control apparatus for use in a circuit containing a primary source of energy and a load, comprising a secondary source of energy, means for activating said secondary source of energy from the primary source thereof, the activating means including a low level, momentarily closable starting switch, a multi-state device energizable by said secondary source and operating a latch device for holding said starting switch in its closed position, means for initiating the energization of said multi-state device when the signal level of said primary source is below a prescribed magnitude level, an electrically operated switch connectable in said circuit between said primary source and said load, and means for operating said switch from said multi-state device.

Claim 6

Control apparatus for use in a circuit containing a primary source of energy and a load, comprising a secondary source of energy, means for activating said secondary source of energy from the primary source thereof, a multi-state device energizable by said secondary source, means for initiating the energization of said multi-state device when the signal level of said primary source is below a prescribed magnitude level, means for assuring that said multi-state device adopts a prescribed state when it is energized by said secondary source, an electrically operated switch connectable in said circuit between said primary source and said load, and means for operating said switch from said multi-state device.

Claim 7

Control apparatus for use in a circuit containing a primary source of energy and a load, comprising a secondary source of energy, means for activating said secondary source of energy from the primary source thereof, a multi-state device energizable by said secondary source, means for initiating the energization of said multi-state device when the signal level of said primary source is below a prescribed magnitude level, means for assuring that said multi-state device adopts a prescribed state when it is energized by said secondary source, an electrically operated switch connectable in said circuit between said primary source and said load, and means for operating said switch from said multi-state device.

Claim 8

Control apparatus for use in a circuit containing a primary source of energy and a load, a secondary source of energy, means for activating said secondary source of energy from the primary source thereof, a multi-state device energizable by said secondary source, means for initiating the energization of said multi-state device when the signal level of said primary source is below a prescribed magnitude level, an electrically operated switch connectable in said circuit between said primary source and said load, means for operating said switch from said multi-state device, means for sensing an excess signal condition on said circuit, and a threshold detector responsive to the sensing of said excess signal condition, said detector interconnecting said multi-state device with the sensing means.

Claim 9

Control apparatus for use in a circuit containing a primary source of energy and a load, a secondary source of energy, means for activating said secondary source of energy from the primary source thereof, a multi-state device energizable by said secondary source, means for initiating the energization of said multi-state device when the signal level of said primary source is below a prescribed magnitude level, an electrically operated switch connectable in said circuit between said primary source and said load, means for operating said switch from said multi-state device, means for sensing an excess signal condition on said circuit, and a threshold detector responsive to the sensing of said excess signal condition, said detector interconnecting said multi-state device with the sensing means.

Claim 10

Control apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said sensing means includes means for controlling the time duration before said threshold detector responds to said excess signal condition.

Claim 11

Control apparatus as defined in claim 5 wherein said sensing means includes means for sensing an excess voltage condition and an excess current condition in said circuit.

Claim 12

Control apparatus as defined in claim 5 for switchably connecting an alternating current power source to a load and for simultaneously providing overcurrent protection, wherein said secondary source of energy comprises a power supply having a common signal point and including rectifying means; said activating means comprises a reed switch that is momentarily closed to energize said power supply from said power source; said multi-state device comprises a flip-flop having at least one input terminal, a complementary output terminal and a direct output terminal, said complementary output terminal being connected to a start controller for providing a control signal on said direct output terminal when said flip-flop is energized; the initiating means comprises a silicon controlled rectifier interconnecting said flip-flop with said common signal point and operable from rectifying means of said power supply; said electrically operated switch comprises a triac bidirectional semiconductive switch having main terminals in circuit with the load and saId power source and a trigger terminal connected to the direct output terminal of said flip-flop; and the sensing means comprises a current transformer with a primary winding formed by said circuit and a secondary winding connected to a rectifier to provide a signal to a threshold detector which is in turn connected to the input terminal of said flip-flop.