Transient suppression and detection system with operational indicator means

Claim 2

An on-line dynamically operating transient suppression and detection system including, in combination, a pair of input terminals constructed for coupling to a desired load and also to a power distribution circuit; means coupled to said input terminals for suppressing and dissipating transient energies appearing across said input terminals; means coupled to said input terminals for automatically detecting possible transient presence thereat should said suppressing and dissipating means fail to operate; and means coupled to said detecting means for indicating the operationally effective status of said transient suppressing and dissipating means as reflected in said detecting means.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 wherein said suppressing and dissipating means comprises a varistor.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 1 wherein said suppressing and dissipating means comprises a varistor and also a capacitor coupled in shunt relationship across said varistor.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 wherein said detecting means comprises a pair of series-coupled comparators, and normally-closed manually-operable reset switch means shunted across a respective one of said comparators.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 1 wherein said detecting means includes a voltage divider input circuit having manually-operable switch means for selectively shorting across a portion of said voltage divider circuit whereby to simulate transient presence, whereby to serve to check out the operational effectiveness of said detecting means.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 2 wherein said varistor includes a series-coupled direct-current-passing impedance.

Claim 8

The combination of claim 3 wherein said suppressing and dissipating means also includes a series circuit coupled in parallel across said varistor, said series circuit comprising a normally-open manually-operable switch and a series-connected light-indicator.

Claim 9

The combination of claim 4 wherein one of said comparators includes circuit means for constituting said one comparator a memory device, whereby to indicate that a transient has been detected at said input terminals.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 4 wherein one of said comparators includes a voltage-divider circuit as an input.

Claim 11

An on-line dynamically operating transient suppression and detection system with operational indicator means, said system including, in combination: a transient suppression circuit having a pair of electrical input terminals constructed also for coupling to a desired load, one of said input terminals being constructed for coupling to an input alternating-current line-voltage lead, the remainder of said input terminals being maintained at a common reference potential relative to said one input terminal; electrical circuit means coupled to said one input terminal, and including means for inducing simulated transients, for detecting automatically, transient voltage excursions, from a nominal sinusoidal line-voltage waveform to be impressed across said input terminals, only when said transient supression circuit fails to operate or when said detecting means is being tested by simulated induced transients as produced by said inducing simulated transient means; electrical circuit means for indicating the presence of transients in said electrical circuit detecting means; and a direct-current power supply for supplying direct-current voltages to said electrical circuit detecting means and also to said electrical circuit indicating means, being coupled thereto.

Claim 12

An on-line dynamically operating transient suppression and detection system with operational indicator means, said system including, in combination: a transient suppression circuit having a pair of electrical input terminals constructed also for coupling to a desired load, one of said input terminals being constructed for coupling to an input alternating-current line-voltage lead, the remainder of said input terminals being maintained at a common reference potential relative to said one input terminal; electrical circuit means coupled to said one input terminal, and including means for inducing simulated transients, for detecting automatically, transient voltage excursions, from a nominal sinusoidal line-voltage waveform to be impressed across said input terminals, only when said transient supression circuit fails to operate or when said detecting means is being tested by simulated induced transients as produced by said inducing simulated transient means; electrical circuit means for indicating the presence of transients in said electrical circuit detecting means; and a direct-current power supply for supplying direct-current voltages to said electrical circuit detecting means and also to said electrical circuit indicating means, being coupled thereto.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 wherein said transient suppression circuit comprises first means for filtering out high-frequency noise; second means, shunted across said first means, for shorting-out high voltage transients above a predetermined voltage threshhold; and a series circuit also shunted across said first means and comprising a normally-open manually-operable switch and, series-coupled thereto, and an indicator light.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 wherein a current-limiting resistor is disposed in series with said indicator light.

Claim 15

The combination of claim 11 wherein said indicating means comprising means for giving an audible indication signifying transient presence.

Claim 16

The combination of claim 11 wherein said electrical circuit indicating means includes means for presenting a visual indication as to transient presence.