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US4890186A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Fault current limiting device

Assignee: Yaskawa Electric Corp
•
Filing: 1989-02-14
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Granted: 1989-12-26
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Expires: 2009-02-14
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Abstract

Abstract In the past, a power fuse need be replaced after the current limiting operation and cannot be repeatedly used. To solve this problem, there has been proposed a permanent fuse or the like which uses an alkaline metal having a low melting point such as Hg, K, Na, etc. These are harmful to human body, and since they are completely vaporized, an insulated layer of a vessel cannot be removed, thus giving rise to a difficulty toward higher voltage. The present invention makes best use of characteristic of carbon which sublimates. A plurality of boundary layers of carbon lumps are disposed in series or in series and parallel, and electrode potential drops at the time of large current and potential drops of arc column under high atmosphere presssure which produces for a short period of time are utilized to effect current limiting. Despite the fact that materials used comprise carbon, they are harmless to human body, and since the potential drop is utilized, a large insulated layer of the vessel can be used to facilitate the formation of higher voltage. Since the carbon lumps are not fused, repeatable use becomes possible.

Inventors

  • 👤 Chiaki Matsubara
  • 👤 Hirokuni Ishikawa
  • 👤 Masao Ojima

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 12:17
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H87/00; H01H9/00; H01H9/10; H01H9/106

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim 62 words
A fault current limiting device a tubular vessel formed from an insulated body, electrodes formed of a conductive material provided on opposite ends of said tubular vessel, and materials sublimated at a high temperature provided within said tubular vessel and accommodated while being placed in contact with each other so as to provide an electric conduction from one electrode to the other.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 62 words
A fault current limiting device a tubular vessel formed from an insulated body, electrodes formed of a conductive material provided on opposite ends of said tubular vessel, and materials sublimated at a high temperature provided within said tubular vessel and accommodated while being placed in contact with each other so as to provide an electric conduction from one electrode to the other.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 19 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said materials sublimated at a high temperature comprise carbon.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said materials sublimated at a high temperature are accommodated in the tubular vessel while being electrically placed in contact with each other in a row.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 45 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 1, wherein said materials sublimated at a high temperature are electrically placed in contact with each other in a row, and a plurality of such materials are accommodated in the tubular vessel while being connected to parallel.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 77 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 1, wherein there is provided a slidable body formed of a conductive material and having one end brought into contact with an inner wall of an electrode and having another end brought into contact with the material sublimated at a high temperature provided in a hollow portion of the tubular vessel, and wherein an elastic body is provided between said inner wall of the electrode and said slidable body.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 16 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 5, wherein said elastic body comprises a spring.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 1, wherein the material sublimated at a high temperature comprises carbon grains or graphite grains.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 35 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 2, wherein said materials sublimated at a high temperature are accommodated in the tubular vessel while being electrically placed in contact with each other in a row.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 45 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 2, wherein said materials sublimated at a high temperature are electrically placed in contact with each other in a row, and a plurality of such materials are accommodated in the tubular vessel while being connected to parallel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 45 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 3, wherein said materials sublimated at a high temperature are electrically placed in contact with each other in a row, and a plurality of such materials are accommodated in the tubular vessel while being connected to parallel.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 45 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 8, wherein said materials sublimated at a high temperature are electrically placed in contact with each other in a row, and a plurality of such materials are accommodated in the tubular vessel while being connected to parallel.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 78 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 2 respectively, wherein there is provided a slidable body formed of a conductive material and having one end brought into contact with an inner wall of an electrode and having another end brought into contact with the material sublimated at a high temperature provided in a hollow portion of the tubular vessel, and wherein an elastic body is provided between said inner wall of the electrode and said slidable body.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 78 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 3 respectively, wherein there is provided a slidable body formed of a conductive material and having one end brought into contact with an inner wall of an electrode and having another end brought into contact with the material sublimated at a high temperature provided in a hollow portion of the tubular vessel, and wherein an elastic body is provided between said inner wall of the electrode and said slidable body.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 78 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 4 respectively, wherein there is provided a slidable body formed of a conductive material and having one end brought into contact with an inner wall of an electrode and having another end brought into contact with the material sublimated at a high temperature provided in a hollow portion of the tubular vessel, and wherein an elastic body is provided between said inner wall of the electrode and said slidable body.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 23 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 2, wherein the material sublimated at a high temperature comprises carbon grains or graphite grains.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 23 words
A fault current limiting device according to claim 3, wherein the material sublimated at a high temperature comprises carbon grains or graphite grains.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3528056A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1992-12-25 1993-06-26 1993-12-26 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1996-12-25 1997-06-26 1997-12-26 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2000-12-25 2001-06-26 2001-12-26 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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