Patent US2454494A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US4631629A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4631629A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Solenoid control circuit
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1985-09-13
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Granted: 1986-12-23
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Expires: 2005-09-13
Abstract
Abstract Electrical apparatus is disclosed in which a line voltage supplies current to an electrically operated solenoid through an operable switch interconnected therebetween. A control circuit is coupled to the switch and controls the operation thereof such that the control circuit operates to increase the duration of current flow to the solenoid when the line voltage level decreases. The control circuit includes appropriate circuitry for generating a reference voltage independent of the line voltage level, for generating a control voltage proportional to the line voltage level, and for operating the switch to permit current flow to the solenoid whenever the control voltage exceeds the reference voltage. The control circuit can also include circuitry to increase the duration of current flow to the solenoid upon the occurrence of vibration with the solenoid above a predetermined level, and/or for increasing the duration of current flow upon initial energization of the solenoid.
Inventors
- 👤 George T. Mallick, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-07 10:14
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H47/00; H01H47/22; H01H47/32; H01H47/325
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
139 words
Electrical apparatus comprising: an electrically operated solenoid; line voltage means at a line voltage level for supplying a source of current to said solenoid; operable switch means interconnected between said line voltage means and said solenoid for regulating the flow of current from said line voltage means to said solenoid; and control circuit means coupled to said switch means for controlling the operation of said switch means, said control circuit means operating said switch means to increase the duration of current flow to said solenoid when said line voltage level decreases and comprising: means for generating a reference voltage independent of said line voltage level; means for generating a control voltage proportional to said line voltage level; and means for operating said switch means to permit current flow to said solenoid whenever said control voltage exceeds said reference voltage.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
139 words
Electrical apparatus comprising: an electrically operated solenoid; line voltage means at a line voltage level for supplying a source of current to said solenoid; operable switch means interconnected between said line voltage means and said solenoid for regulating the flow of current from said line voltage means to said solenoid; and control circuit means coupled to said switch means for controlling the operation of said switch means, said control circuit means operating said switch means to increase the duration of current flow to said solenoid when said line voltage level decreases and comprising: means for generating a reference voltage independent of said line voltage level; means for generating a control voltage proportional to said line voltage level; and means for operating said switch means to permit current flow to said solenoid whenever said control voltage exceeds said reference voltage.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said reference voltage generating means generates a ramp voltage, and said operating means comprises comparator means for comparing said control voltage to said ramp reference voltage.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
42 words
The apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said control circuit means comprises vibration compensating means for operating said switch means to increase the duration of current flow to said solenoid upon the occurrence of vibration within said solenoid above a predetermined level.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said vibration compensating means reduces the control voltage being supplied to said comparator means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus according to claim 3 wherein said control circuit means comprises initialization means for operating said switch means to increase the duration of current flow to said solenoid upon initial energization of said solenoid.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said initialization means reduces the control voltage being supplied to said comparator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
102 words
Electrical apparatus comprising: an electrically operated solenoid; line voltage means at a line voltage level for supplying a source of current to said solenoid; operable switch means interconnected between said line voltage means and said solenoid for regulating the flow of current from said line voltage means to said solenoid; and control circuit means coupled to said switch means for controlling the operation of said switch means, said control circuit means comprising shock compensating means for operating said switch means to increase the duration of current flow to said solenoid upon the occurrence of vibration within said solenoid above a predetermined level.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
102 words
Electrical apparatus comprising: an electrically operated solenoid; line voltage means at a line voltage level for supplying a source of current to said solenoid; operable switch means interconnected between said line voltage means and said solenoid for regulating the flow of current from said line voltage means to said solenoid; and control circuit means coupled to said switch means for controlling the operation of said switch means, said control circuit means comprising shock compensating means for operating said switch means to increase the duration of current flow to said solenoid upon the occurrence of vibration within said solenoid above a predetermined level.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
121 words
Electrical apparatus comprising: an electrically operated solenoid; line voltage means at a line voltage level for supplying a source of current to said solenoid; operable switch means interconnected between said line voltage means and said solenoid for regulating the flow of current from said line voltage means to said solenoid; control circuit means coupled to said switch means for controlling the operation of said switch means, said control circuit means comprising initialization means for operating said switch means to increase the duration of current flow to said solenoid upon initial energization of said solenoid; and means for monitoring said initialization means and providing an indication whenever said initialization means operates said switch means for a duration longer than a preset time.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
121 words
Electrical apparatus comprising: an electrically operated solenoid; line voltage means at a line voltage level for supplying a source of current to said solenoid; operable switch means interconnected between said line voltage means and said solenoid for regulating the flow of current from said line voltage means to said solenoid; control circuit means coupled to said switch means for controlling the operation of said switch means, said control circuit means comprising initialization means for operating said switch means to increase the duration of current flow to said solenoid upon initial energization of said solenoid; and means for monitoring said initialization means and providing an indication whenever said initialization means operates said switch means for a duration longer than a preset time.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
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| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1989-12-22 | 1990-06-23 | 1990-12-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1993-12-22 | 1994-06-23 | 1994-12-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1997-12-22 | 1998-06-23 | 1998-12-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |