초록 ▼

Electronic circuit breakers safeguard a load connected to a power supply against damage from overload conditions. These circuit breakers interrupt flow of overload currents to the load by instantaneously reducing flow of such current from the power supply to the load to a harmless residual current w

Electronic circuit breakers safeguard a load connected to a power supply against damage from overload conditions. These circuit breakers interrupt flow of overload currents to the load by instantaneously reducing flow of such current from the power supply to the load to a harmless residual current when that electric current flow exceeds a predetermined value. These breakers also avoid downtime after cessation of such a condition by electronically monitoring that residual current to determine when it is safe to restore electric operating current flow to the load. Flow of electric operating current from the power supply to the electronic equipment is restored in response to the latter determination. Preferably, the monitored residual current is used for automatically switching the electronic circuit breaker and the flow of electric operating current electronically back on, when the electronic monitoring has determined that the overload condition has ceased to exist.

대표청구항 ▼

An electronic circuit breaker for preventing damage to a load from overload conditions while minimizing downtime after cessation of such a condition, comprising in combination: means for interrupting flow of overload currents to the load, including means for instantaneously reducing electric current

An electronic circuit breaker for preventing damage to a load from overload conditions while minimizing downtime after cessation of such a condition, comprising in combination: means for interrupting flow of overload currents to the load, including means for instantaneously reducing electric current flow from a power supply to the load to a harmless residual current when that electric current flow exceeds a predetermined value; means for sensing said overload currents; means for connecting at least part of said means for sensing said overload currents and said means for interrupting flow of overload currents in series in a main electric current path to the load; means connected to said electric current flow reducing means for electronically monitoring said residual current; means connected to said monitoring means for indicating when it is safe to restore electric operating current flow to the load; and means for restoring flow of electric operating current from the power supply to the load in response to the latter indication.