US3868552A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Electrical circuit and interrupter
Assignee: Garrett Corp
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Filing: 1973-11-05
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Granted: 1975-02-25
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Expires: 1993-11-05
Abstract
Abstract One or more fuses are connected in series with an electrical power line and coupled to a current-multiplying circuit. The current-multiplying circuit, in turn, is coupled to an energy storage and switching circuit. The switching circuit is triggered by a signal from a sensing circuit coupled to the power line when an electrical disturbance is present on the electrical power line, thereby delivering the energy to the current-multiplying circuit causing the fuse or fuses to open within a substantially shorter time than the line fuse and in response to electrical disturbances which would not normally cause the fuse to blow and without producing an unacceptable electrical disturbance itself during the process.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur K Wickson
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 20:53
CPC Classifications
H; H02; H02H; H02H3/00; H02H3/02; H02H3/021; H02H3/08
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 17
Claim 1
Independent Claim
142 words
An electrical circuit interrupter for a current-carrying circuit between a power source and a load circuit comprising: a. fuse means connected in series with said current-carrying circuit; b. current-amplifying means having input and output connections, one of said output connections being operatively coupled to one end of said fuse means; c. means operatively connected between the other of said output connections and said other end of said fuse means to prevent the flow of current from the power source to the load circuit after the fuse has ruptured; d. means for sensing electrical disturbances in said currentcarrying circuit to provide signal information; and, e. means operatively coupled to said input connections for providing electrical current to said current amplifying means in response to said signal information whereby said fuse means is ruptured to interrupt the flow of current in said currentcarrying circuit.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
142 words
An electrical circuit interrupter for a current-carrying circuit between a power source and a load circuit comprising: a. fuse means connected in series with said current-carrying circuit; b. current-amplifying means having input and output connections, one of said output connections being operatively coupled to one end of said fuse means; c. means operatively connected between the other of said output connections and said other end of said fuse means to prevent the flow of current from the power source to the load circuit after the fuse has ruptured; d. means for sensing electrical disturbances in said currentcarrying circuit to provide signal information; and, e. means operatively coupled to said input connections for providing electrical current to said current amplifying means in response to said signal information whereby said fuse means is ruptured to interrupt the flow of current in said currentcarrying circuit.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 1 in which said fuse means is a rupturable link fixedly supported at spaced-apart terminals for connection in said current-carrying circuit.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 1 in which said current-amplifying means is a transformer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 3 in which said transformer matches the impedance of the circuits coupled to said primary winding to the impedance of the circuits coupled to said secondary winding.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
49 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 1 in which said signal information provided by said sensing means varies with the magnitude of the current in said current-carrying circuit, said means for providing electrical current being energized upon the advent of a predetermined magnitude of current in said current-carrying circuit.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical circuit interrupter for a current-carrying circuit comprising: a. a pair of series-connected fuses connected in series with said current-carrying circuit; b. a pair of back-to-back, series-connected diodes connected in parallel with said pair of fuses; c. a transformer having one end of its secondary winding connected to the junction of said pair oF fuses and the other end connected to the junction of said diode pair; d. current-sensing means for sensing the current in said current-carrying circuit to provide signal information. e. electrical energy storage means; f. means for charging said energy storage means; g. switch means operatively connected to the primary winding of said transformer and said energy storage means; and h. switch control means operatively coupled to said current-sensing means and said switch means for triggering said switch on in response to said signal information whereby said energy in said storage means is delivered to said fuses via said transformer and said diodes to activate said fuses to thereby interrupt the flow of current in said current-carrying circuit.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
172 words
An electrical circuit interrupter for a current-carrying circuit comprising: a. a pair of series-connected fuses connected in series with said current-carrying circuit; b. a pair of back-to-back, series-connected diodes connected in parallel with said pair of fuses; c. a transformer having one end of its secondary winding connected to the junction of said pair oF fuses and the other end connected to the junction of said diode pair; d. current-sensing means for sensing the current in said current-carrying circuit to provide signal information. e. electrical energy storage means; f. means for charging said energy storage means; g. switch means operatively connected to the primary winding of said transformer and said energy storage means; and h. switch control means operatively coupled to said current-sensing means and said switch means for triggering said switch on in response to said signal information whereby said energy in said storage means is delivered to said fuses via said transformer and said diodes to activate said fuses to thereby interrupt the flow of current in said current-carrying circuit.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 6 in which said fuses are rupturable links fixedly supported at spaced-apart terminals for connection in said current-carrying circuit.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
14 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 6 in which said diodes are connected anode-to-anode.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
42 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 6 in which said transformer is an impedance-matching transformer wherein the impedance of the circuits coupled to said primary winding are matched to the impedance of the circuits coupled to said secondary winding of said transformer.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
16 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 6 in which said transformer is a current step-up transformer.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
46 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 6 in which the signal information provided by said sensing means varies with the magnitude of the current in said current-carrying circuit, said switch means being energized upon the advent of a predetermined magnitude of current in said current-carrying circuits.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 6 in which said electrical energy storage means is a capacitor.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
15 words
The electrical circuit interrupter of claim 6 in which said switch means is a thyristor.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of interrupting the flow of electrical current from a power source to a load in a current-carrying circuit comprising the steps of: a. Providing fuse means in series with said current-carrying circuit; b. Charging an electrical energy storage means; c. Sensing an electrical disturbance in a current-carrying circuit to provide signal information; d. Discharging said energy storage means in response to said signal information into a current-increasing means to provide increased current; e. Delivering said increased current from said current-increasing means through said fuse means in the direction of current flow in said current-carrying circuit to rapidly activate said fuse means to interrupt the flow of current in said current-carrying circuit; and, f. Blocking the flow of current from the power source to the load through said current increasing means.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
132 words
The method of interrupting the flow of electrical current from a power source to a load in a current-carrying circuit comprising the steps of: a. Providing fuse means in series with said current-carrying circuit; b. Charging an electrical energy storage means; c. Sensing an electrical disturbance in a current-carrying circuit to provide signal information; d. Discharging said energy storage means in response to said signal information into a current-increasing means to provide increased current; e. Delivering said increased current from said current-increasing means through said fuse means in the direction of current flow in said current-carrying circuit to rapidly activate said fuse means to interrupt the flow of current in said current-carrying circuit; and, f. Blocking the flow of current from the power source to the load through said current increasing means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3045148A
Cited
US3728583A
Cited
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 |