US3868550A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Circuit breaker
Assignee: Raytheon Co
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Filing: 1973-12-26
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1993-12-26
Abstract
Abstract The circuit breaker interrupts current against a high voltage source by opening an in-line switch and causing termination of conduction therethrough by discharging a parallel capacitor to produce a current zero. The parallel capacitor has a crossedfield switch in series therewith to control the rate of voltage application to the parallel in-line switch, and, furthermore, to limit the voltage applied to the capacitor to a small fraction of the full circuit voltage.
Inventors
- 👤 Wolfgang Knauer
- 👤 Michael A Lutz
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 21:18
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H9/00; H02H9/02; H01; H01H; H01H33/00; H01H33/02; H01H33/59; H01H33/596; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/51; H03K17/56; H03K17/72; H03K17/73
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
239 words
A circuit breaker for serial connection into an electric circuit for operation at line voltage between a power supply and a load for the breaking of the electric circuit between the power supply and the load, comprising: an in-line branch having a controllable electrically conductive device to create electrical continuity for carrying the normal line current and for becoming nonconductive upon operation to nonconductive control condition and cessation of current therethrough to terminate electrical continuity through said in-line branch, said in-line branch device being capable of holding off line voltage; an interrupter branch connected in parallel to said in-one branch, said interrupter branch having therein a capacitor having a voltage holdoff rating less than line voltage and serially connected thereto a crossed-field switch device means for holding off line voltage thereto when nonconductive, for onswitching with voltage applied and for offswitching current and for holding off line voltage, said crossed-field switch device means being serially connected with said capacitor so that said capacitor can be precharged when said crossed-field switch device means is nonconductive and said capacitor can be discharged upon making such crossed-field switch device means conductive to cause cessation of current in said in-line branch to cause said in-line branch device to become nonconductive and said crossed-field device means being also for offswitching against current in said interrupter branch to offswitch current into said capacitor so that said capacitor has a lower voltage thereacross than line voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
239 words
A circuit breaker for serial connection into an electric circuit for operation at line voltage between a power supply and a load for the breaking of the electric circuit between the power supply and the load, comprising: an in-line branch having a controllable electrically conductive device to create electrical continuity for carrying the normal line current and for becoming nonconductive upon operation to nonconductive control condition and cessation of current therethrough to terminate electrical continuity through said in-line branch, said in-line branch device being capable of holding off line voltage; an interrupter branch connected in parallel to said in-one branch, said interrupter branch having therein a capacitor having a voltage holdoff rating less than line voltage and serially connected thereto a crossed-field switch device means for holding off line voltage thereto when nonconductive, for onswitching with voltage applied and for offswitching current and for holding off line voltage, said crossed-field switch device means being serially connected with said capacitor so that said capacitor can be precharged when said crossed-field switch device means is nonconductive and said capacitor can be discharged upon making such crossed-field switch device means conductive to cause cessation of current in said in-line branch to cause said in-line branch device to become nonconductive and said crossed-field device means being also for offswitching against current in said interrupter branch to offswitch current into said capacitor so that said capacitor has a lower voltage thereacross than line voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
17 words
The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein a resistor is connected in parallel to said interrupter branch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
54 words
The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive device in said in-line branch is a mechanical switch which has mechanical contacts which are normally in physical contact to create mechanical and electrical continuity for carrying the normal line current and for opening to terminate mechanical and electrical continuity through said in-line branch.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein said electrically conductive device in said in-line branch is a silicon-controlled rectifier which can be controlled to become electrically conductive and can be controlled to become and remain nonconductive upon cessation of current therethrough.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The circuit breaker of claim 1 wherein there are first and second serially-connected in-line branches, and first and second serially-connected interrupter branches respectively connected in parallel to said first and second in-line branches, and wherein there is a resistor connected in parallel to said second interrupter branch.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
The circuit breaker of claim 5 wherein there is an inductance connected in series with said capacitor in each of said interrupter branches to control the capacitor discharge in each said branches.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
31 words
The circuit breaker of claim 6 wherein said circuit breaker is connected to both a power supply and a load to control current flow from said power supply to said load.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
191 words
The method of controlling the flow of an electric current through a circuit having an in-line branch which has a controllable in-line device having a low impedance state, a high impedance state and a conditioned for nonconductive state, and which has an interrupter branch with a serially-connected capacitor with a voltaGe holdoff capability less than line voltage and crossed-field switch device connected in parallel to said in-line branch, comprising the steps of: controlling the in-line device to the low impedance state so that it is conducting electric current; conditioning the in-line device to the nonconductive state; rendering the crossed-field switch device conductive to discharge the precharged capacitor to cause a current zero in the in-line device to permit the cessation of conduction in the high impedance state; continuing current conduction through the crossed-field switch device and capacitor for a sufficient length of time to permit said in-line device to withstand voltage thereacross; and stopping conduction through said interrupter branch when the voltage across the capacitor is below line voltage by causing the crossed-field switch device to become nonconductive so that circuit voltage builds up across the opened and deionized in-line device.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
191 words
The method of controlling the flow of an electric current through a circuit having an in-line branch which has a controllable in-line device having a low impedance state, a high impedance state and a conditioned for nonconductive state, and which has an interrupter branch with a serially-connected capacitor with a voltaGe holdoff capability less than line voltage and crossed-field switch device connected in parallel to said in-line branch, comprising the steps of: controlling the in-line device to the low impedance state so that it is conducting electric current; conditioning the in-line device to the nonconductive state; rendering the crossed-field switch device conductive to discharge the precharged capacitor to cause a current zero in the in-line device to permit the cessation of conduction in the high impedance state; continuing current conduction through the crossed-field switch device and capacitor for a sufficient length of time to permit said in-line device to withstand voltage thereacross; and stopping conduction through said interrupter branch when the voltage across the capacitor is below line voltage by causing the crossed-field switch device to become nonconductive so that circuit voltage builds up across the opened and deionized in-line device.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-02-24 | 1978-08-26 | 1979-02-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-02-24 | 1982-08-26 | 1983-02-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-02-24 | 1986-08-26 | 1987-02-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |