US Patent No: 5,940,256

Number of patents in Portfolio can not be more than 2000

Circuit breaker responsive to repeated in-rush currents produced by a sputtering arc fault

Stats

ATTORNEY / AGENT: (SPONSORED)
 

Importance

Loading Importance Indicators... loading....

Abstract

A circuit breaker responds to sputtering arc faults by counting the times that a bandwidth limited di/dt signal exceeds a threshold magnitude within a selected time interval. In the exemplary circuit breaker, if the threshold is exceeded twice within a one second interval, a trip solenoid is energized. The di/dt sensor can share a sensing coil with a ground fault detector. Alternatively, the resistance of the neutral lead within the circuit breaker is utilized to sense current which is converted to a bandwidth limited di/dt signal for level detection and counting of sputtering arc events.

Loading the Abstract Image... loading....

First Claim

Related Publications

Loading Related Publications... loading....

Patent Owner(s)

Patent OwnerAddressTotal Patents
EATON CORPORATIONCLEVELAND, OH4186

International Classification(s)

  • [Classification Symbol]
  • [Patents Count]

Inventor(s)

Inventor Name Address # of filed Patents Total Citations
Engel, Joseph C Monroeville, PA 82 1815
MacKenzie, Raymond W Baldwin Boro, PA 19 1155

Cited Art

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
ABB FLEXIBLE AUTOMATION INC. (1)
4,402,030 Electrostatic voltage control circuit 28 1982
 
BIO-RAD LABORATORIES, INC. (1)
5,280,404 Arc detection system 66 1992
 
EATON CORPORATION (1)
RE30678 Dormant oscillator ground to neutral protection for ground fault interrupters 40 1976
 
GENERAL MOTORS CORPORATION (1)
4,376,243 Arc detector for electric rod furnace 38 1981
 
GSK TECHNOLOGIES, INC. (1)
4,949,214 Trip delay override for electrical circuit breakers 74 1989
 
SQUARE D COMPANY (1)
4,897,756 Add-on ground fault module 12 1989
 
THE TEXAS A&M UNIVERSITY SYSTEM (1)
4,466,071 High impedance fault detection apparatus and method 124 1981
 
WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC CORP. (1)
5,224,006 Electronic circuit breaker with protection against sputtering arc faults and ground faults 217 1991

Patent Citation Ranking

Forward Cites

Patent Info (Count) # Cites Year
 
LEVITON MANUFACTURING CO., INC. (8)
7,535,234 ARC fault detector 7 2007
7,715,158 Circuit interrupter with live ground detector 3 2007
7,907,371 Circuit interrupting device with reset lockout and reverse wiring protection and method of manufacture 1 2008
7,925,458 Arc fault detector with circuit interrupter 2 2008
7,924,537 Miswiring circuit coupled to an electrical fault interrupter 0 2008
7,986,148 Arc fault detector 0 2009
8,054,595 Circuit interrupting device with reset lockout 1 2009
8,130,480 Circuit interrupting device with reset lockout 1 2011
 
ALLEGRO MICROSYSTEMS, INC. (3)
7,687,882 Methods and apparatus for integrated circuit having multiple dies with at least one on chip capacitor 1 2006
7,676,914 Methods for sensor having capacitor on chip 1 2007
8,093,670 Methods and apparatus for integrated circuit having on chip capacitor with eddy current reductions 0 2008
 
SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC. (3)
7,492,562 AFCI temperature compensated current sensor 0 2003
7,441,173 Systems, devices, and methods for arc fault detection 1 2006
7,499,250 Systems, devices, and methods for temperature compensation in arc fault detection systems 5 2006
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY (2)
6,128,170 Analog based first and fast second pulse removal system 7 1998
6,678,137 Temperature compensation circuit for an arc fault current interrupting circuit breaker 10 2000
 
DIPL.-ING. WALTHER BENDER GMBH & CO. (1)
6,392,422 Monitoring insulation and fault current in an A/C current network to provide load shutoff whenever differential current exceeds a certain response value 6 2000
 
EATON CORPORATION (1)
7,746,605 Arc fault circuit interrupter and method of detecting and interrupting a resistive series arc of a power circuit 0 2007
 
HONEYWELL INTERNATIONAL INC. (1)
7,460,346 Arc fault detection and confirmation using voltage and current analysis 3 2005
 
PASS & SEYMOUR, INC. (1)
6,839,208 Arc fault circuit interrupter recognizing arc noise burst patterns 14 2001
 
RAYTHEON COMPANY (1)
6,532,140 Arc-fault detecting circuit breaker system 13 2000
 
ROUND ROCK RESEARCH, LLC (1)
7,180,211 Temperature sensor 15 2003
 
SENSATA TECHNOLOGIES MASSACHUSETTS, INC. (1)
6,642,832 ARC responsive thermal circuit breaker 16 2001
 
THE BOEING COMPANY (1)
6,717,786 Automatic voltage source selector for circuit breakers utilizing electronics 3 2001