Patent US3735201A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3735201A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Arcing time relay
Assignee: ABB Inc USA
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Filing: 1972-07-18
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Granted: 1973-05-22
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Expires: 1992-07-18
Abstract
Abstract An arcing time relay is provided for vacuum circuit breakers, and measures the length of time that arcing occurs after the circuit breaker contacts are open, or measures the time that excessive leakage current flows while the contacts are open, and provides an output signal if arcing time or leakage current exceeds given bounds which indicate improper vacuum conditions.
Inventors
- 👤 W May
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 07:34
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H7/00; H02H7/22; H02H7/222; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/60; H01H33/66; H01H33/668
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
212 words
An arcing time relay for a circuit breaker; said circuit breaker including at least one interrupter having a pair of separable contacts, a current monitor means for monitoring current flow through said pair of separable contacts and contact means which are closed when said pair of separable contacts are opened, and which are opened when said pair of separable contacts are closed; said arcing time relay including: a. a phase pickup circuit connected to said current monitor means and producing an output current in response to the measurement of current in excess of a given magnitude by said current monitor means, b. a time delay circuit having input means connectable to an input circuit and producing a given output after an input current is connected to its said input means for longer than a given time, c. circuit means connecting said output current of said phase pickup circuit to said input means of said time delay circuit through said contact means, d. and output circuit means connected to the output of said time delay circuit and operable in response to said given output of said time delay circuit, wherein said given output is produced only in response to current flow through said pair of separable contacts after said separable contacts are opened.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
212 words
An arcing time relay for a circuit breaker; said circuit breaker including at least one interrupter having a pair of separable contacts, a current monitor means for monitoring current flow through said pair of separable contacts and contact means which are closed when said pair of separable contacts are opened, and which are opened when said pair of separable contacts are closed; said arcing time relay including: a. a phase pickup circuit connected to said current monitor means and producing an output current in response to the measurement of current in excess of a given magnitude by said current monitor means, b. a time delay circuit having input means connectable to an input circuit and producing a given output after an input current is connected to its said input means for longer than a given time, c. circuit means connecting said output current of said phase pickup circuit to said input means of said time delay circuit through said contact means, d. and output circuit means connected to the output of said time delay circuit and operable in response to said given output of said time delay circuit, wherein said given output is produced only in response to current flow through said pair of separable contacts after said separable contacts are opened.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
The relay of claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker contains a plurality of interrupter phases and a corresponding plurality of phase pickup circuits identical to said phase pickup circuit, one for each of said phases; the output current of each of said plurality of phase pickup circuiTs being connected to said input means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
The relay of claim 1 wherein said circuit breaker contains a plurality of interrupter phases and a corresponding plurality of pickup circuits identical to said phase pickup circuit, one for each of said phases; the output current of each of said plurality of phase pickup circuits being connected to said input means, and wherein there is a plurality of circuits breakers of identical construction to said circuit breaker; each of the phases of each of said plurality of circuits breakers containing respective phase pickup circuits; the contact means of each of said plurality of circuit breakers connected in parallel, whereby excessive arcing current in any phase of any of said plurality of circuit breakers causes the production of said given output by said time delay circuit.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
The relay of claim 1 wherein said interrupter is a vacuum interrupter.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
46 words
The relay of claim 1 which further includes fault current protection circuit means connected between said current monitor means and said phase pickup circuit for preventing the application of excessive signals to said phase pickup circuit produced by fault current through said pair of separable contacts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
106 words
The relay of claim 1 which further includes fault current protection circuit means connected between said current monitor means and said phase pickup circuit for preventing the application of excessive signals to said phase pickup circuit produced by fault current through said pair of separable contacts, and wherein said phase pickup circuit includes operational amplifier means coupled to said current monitor means through said fault current protection circuit means, and a dual comparator circuit means coupled to said operational amplifier means for producing an output signal from said phase pickup circuit when the output of said operational amplifier means deviates from a given steady state level.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
47 words
The arcing time relay of claim 1 wherein said output circuit means includes a Schmidt trigger circuit which is switched in response to said time delay circuit producing said given value and which further includes alarm circuit means actuated by the switching of said Schmidt trigger circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The relay of claim 6 wherein said interrupter is a vacuum interrupter.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
52 words
The relay of claim 8 wherein said circuit breaker contains a plurality of interrupter phases and a corresponding plurality of pickup circuits identical to said phase pickup circuit, one for each of said phases; the output current of each of said plurality of phase pickup circuits being connected to said input means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
47 words
The arcing time relay of claim 8 wherein said output circuit means includes a Schmidt trigger circuit which is switched in response to said time delay circuit producing said given value and which further includes alarm circuit means actuated by the switching of said Schmidt trigger circuit.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3431431A
Cited
US3641359A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-05-21 | 1976-11-20 | 1977-05-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-05-21 | 1980-11-20 | 1981-05-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-05-21 | 1984-11-20 | 1985-05-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |