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Abstract

An arc-fault detecting circuit-breaker system includes a normally closed line circuit breaker in series with a protected electrical circuit element whose current flow is to be interrupted upon the occurrence of an arc fault. A detector senses the rate of change with time of the current flow in the protected electrical circuit element. A silicon-controlled rectifier has a gate of the silicon-controlled rectifier in electrical communication with a detector output signal of the detector. The silicon-controlled rectifier shorts the current flow in the protected electrical circuit element in the event that the detector output signals that the rate of change of current with time in the protected electrical circuit element is in excess of a permitted maximum rate-of-change value, thereby activating the line circuit breaker.

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First Claim