US3689800A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Arrangement for disconnecting consumers from a direct current voltage supply source
Assignee: BBC Brown Boveri AG Germany
•
Filing: 1971-04-20
•
Granted: 1972-09-05
•
Expires: 1991-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A protective circuit arrangement is provided for disconnecting a consumer requiring different potentials at different input terminals from a direct current power source having two output terminals supplying the different potentials in the event of a short-circuit between the potential terminals. The protective circuit includes a pair of mechanical circuit breakers located respectively in the connection lines extending between the power output and consumer input terminals which are each equipped with current overload contact release mechanisms and an electronic circuit responsive upon the occurrence of a short-circuit between the potential terminals serves to establish a current flow path from one of the connection lines to ground and short-circuit the input terminals of the consumer until one of the circuit breakers functions through its current overload release mechanism to open its contacts. The contacts of the two circuit breakers are mechanically coupled by an insulating coupling so that an opening movement of the contacts of one circuit breaker causes the contacts of the other circuit breaker to open also.
Inventors
- 👤 Waldemar Lau
- 👤 Anton Schaffernak
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 21:57
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H9/00; H02H9/04; H02H9/041
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
185 words
A protective circuit arrangement for disconnecting a consumer requiring different potentials at different input terminals thereof from a direct current power source having two output terminals supplying the different potentials in the event of a short-circuit between the potential terminals, which comprises a pair of mechanical circuit breakers located respectively in the connection lines extending between said power output and consumer input terminals a current overload release mechanism provided on each circuit breaker for opening the breaker contacts, and an electronic circuit means responsive upon the occurrence of a short-circuit between the potential terminals for establishing a current flow path between said connection line having the lower of said potentials and ground thereby to short-circuit said input terminals until one of said circuit breakers functions through its current overload release mechanism to open its contacts, said electronic circuit means being constituted by a Zener diode connected in series with a blocking resistor and a thyristor connected in parallel with said series connected Zener diode and blocking resistor, the ignition electrode of said thyristor being connected to the junction between said Zener diode and blocking resistor.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
185 words
A protective circuit arrangement for disconnecting a consumer requiring different potentials at different input terminals thereof from a direct current power source having two output terminals supplying the different potentials in the event of a short-circuit between the potential terminals, which comprises a pair of mechanical circuit breakers located respectively in the connection lines extending between said power output and consumer input terminals a current overload release mechanism provided on each circuit breaker for opening the breaker contacts, and an electronic circuit means responsive upon the occurrence of a short-circuit between the potential terminals for establishing a current flow path between said connection line having the lower of said potentials and ground thereby to short-circuit said input terminals until one of said circuit breakers functions through its current overload release mechanism to open its contacts, said electronic circuit means being constituted by a Zener diode connected in series with a blocking resistor and a thyristor connected in parallel with said series connected Zener diode and blocking resistor, the ignition electrode of said thyristor being connected to the junction between said Zener diode and blocking resistor.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
55 words
A protective circuit arrangement as defined in claim 1 and which further includes means establishing an insulating mechanical coupling between the contacts of both circuit breakers such that when the contacts of one breaker are opened in response to operation of its current overload release, the contacts of the other circuit breaker are also opened.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A protective arrangement as defined in claim 1 and which further includes a limiting resistor interposed between the connection line having the lower of said potentials and said thyristor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
169 words
A protective arrangement operative for disconnecting a consumer requiring different potentials at different input terminals thereof from a direct current power source having two output potentials supplying the different potentials in the event of a short-circuit between the potential terminals, which comprises a pair of mechanical circuit breakers located respectively in the connection lines extending between said power output and consumer input terminals, a current overload release provided on each circuit breaker for opening the breaker contacts, a Zener diode and a blocking resistor connected in series between said connection line having the lower of said potentials and ground, and a thyristor connected between said connection line having the higher of said potentials and ground, the ignition electrode of said thyristor being connected to the junction between said Zener diode and blocking resistor and said thyristor being ignited in the event of a short-circuit between said potential terminals to short-circuit said input terminals until one of said circuit breakers functions through its current overload release to open its contacts.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
169 words
A protective arrangement operative for disconnecting a consumer requiring different potentials at different input terminals thereof from a direct current power source having two output potentials supplying the different potentials in the event of a short-circuit between the potential terminals, which comprises a pair of mechanical circuit breakers located respectively in the connection lines extending between said power output and consumer input terminals, a current overload release provided on each circuit breaker for opening the breaker contacts, a Zener diode and a blocking resistor connected in series between said connection line having the lower of said potentials and ground, and a thyristor connected between said connection line having the higher of said potentials and ground, the ignition electrode of said thyristor being connected to the junction between said Zener diode and blocking resistor and said thyristor being ignited in the event of a short-circuit between said potential terminals to short-circuit said input terminals until one of said circuit breakers functions through its current overload release to open its contacts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
29 words
A protective arrangement as defined in claim 4, and which further includes a limiting resistor interposed between the connection line having the higher of said potentials and said thyristor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
54 words
A protective arrangement as defined in claim 4 and which further includes meaNs establishing an insulating mechanical coupling between the contacts of both circuit breakers such that when the contacts of one circuit breaker are opened in response to operation of its current overload release, the contacts of the other circuit breaker are opened.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US2920241A
Cited
US3167685A
Cited
US3225257A
Cited
US3475653A
Cited
US3571659A
Cited
US3573554A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-09-05 | 1976-03-06 | 1976-09-05 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-09-05 | 1980-03-06 | 1980-09-05 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-09-05 | 1984-03-06 | 1984-09-05 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |