Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
266 words
A leakage-current-sensitive circuit breaker for a D-C power system having a pair of conductors adapted to carry D-C current in opposite directions, including: a toroidal, saturable core ringing said pair of conductors; first and second windings about said core; a source of alternating current; a circuit breaker mechanism including a yoke having first and second legs and magnetic means coupled between said first and second legs for producing magnetic flux in said legs; a first field coil wound in a first direction around said first leg and a second field coil would around said second leg in a direction opposite to said first direction; a magnetic armature movable from a position in proximity to said yoke to a position remote therefrom; a pair of switch arms carried by said yoke and movable from a closed position, when said armature is proximate to said yoke, to an open position, when said armature is remote from said yoke; first biasing means for urging said armature away from said yoke; said first winding and said first field coil being connected in series across said source of alternating current; said second winding being coupled across said second field coil; said first and second field coils producing equal and opposite magnetic fields in the absence of leakage current in said power system; said core being saturable by a predetermined level of leakage current to cause a reduction in the magnetic field produced by said second field coil, whereby said armature is urged away from said yoke by said first biasing means and said switch arms are moved to an open position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
266 words
A leakage-current-sensitive circuit breaker for a D-C power system having a pair of conductors adapted to carry D-C current in opposite directions, including: a toroidal, saturable core ringing said pair of conductors; first and second windings about said core; a source of alternating current; a circuit breaker mechanism including a yoke having first and second legs and magnetic means coupled between said first and second legs for producing magnetic flux in said legs; a first field coil wound in a first direction around said first leg and a second field coil would around said second leg in a direction opposite to said first direction; a magnetic armature movable from a position in proximity to said yoke to a position remote therefrom; a pair of switch arms carried by said yoke and movable from a closed position, when said armature is proximate to said yoke, to an open position, when said armature is remote from said yoke; first biasing means for urging said armature away from said yoke; said first winding and said first field coil being connected in series across said source of alternating current; said second winding being coupled across said second field coil; said first and second field coils producing equal and opposite magnetic fields in the absence of leakage current in said power system; said core being saturable by a predetermined level of leakage current to cause a reduction in the magnetic field produced by said second field coil, whereby said armature is urged away from said yoke by said first biasing means and said switch arms are moved to an open position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 which includes magnetic biasing means for adjusting the level of leakage current in said system which will cause said switch arms to move to an open position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first biasing means is a mechanical spring.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said magnetic means includes a permanent magnet and a magnetic shunt.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said core is a ceramic ferrite.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said first and second field coils have equal numbers of turns.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
18 words
Apparatus according to claim 2 in which said magnetic biasing means includes a third winding on said core.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said source of alternating current is powered from said D-C power system.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
Apparatus according to claim 7 which includes, in addition, variable resistor means for adjusting the level of magnetic bias in said core.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
17 words
Apparatus according to claim 1 in which said source of alternating current supplies current at 60 Hz.