US3662369A - Circuit for signalling the operation of a circuit protecting device - Google Patents

Circuit for signalling the operation of a circuit protecting device Download PDF

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Publication number
US3662369A
US3662369A US8952A US3662369DA US3662369A US 3662369 A US3662369 A US 3662369A US 8952 A US8952 A US 8952A US 3662369D A US3662369D A US 3662369DA US 3662369 A US3662369 A US 3662369A
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Prior art keywords
circuit
terminal
point
lamp
load
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Expired - Lifetime
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US8952A
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English (en)
Inventor
Mario Vinsani
Celio Trinca
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Bull HN Information Systems Italia SpA
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Honeywell Information Systems Italia SpA
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    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02H—EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
    • H02H3/00—Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition with or without subsequent reconnection ; integrated protection
    • H02H3/02—Details
    • H02H3/04—Details with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned
    • H02H3/046—Signalling the blowing of a fuse

Definitions

  • ABSTRACT [30] Foreign Application P i it D m A circuit for indicating the operative state of a circuit breaker which protects a load from an alternating voltage source. Feb. 5, 1969 ltaly ..12445 A/69 wherein a lamp is Coupled to Said Source to light when the breaker is open, but is prevented from lighting when the [52] US. Cl. ..340/250, 200/167 A, 340/253 B breaker is closed by a f d biased diode which limits the [51 Int. Cl. ..G08b 2-1/00 voltage across the lamp [58] Field of Search ..340/250, 176, 253 B; 315/120,
  • FIG.1 A first figure.
  • FIG. 3 FIG. L
  • the present invention relates to a simple circuit for signaling the operation of a circuit protecting device.
  • Circuit protecting devices which operate to isolate either a whole apparatus or part thereof are known in the art, particularly in the fields of electricity and electronics.
  • the isolating operation takes place as soon as an unusual operating condition, dangerous or prejudicial to the apparatus, such as overheating, overloading or excessive voltage, occurs.
  • a wellknown particularly simple and economical device which is effective against overloads is the common fuse.
  • a diagnostic function is provided by the fuses in addition to their basic protective function.
  • the diagnostic function is provided because the bum-out of one or more fuses provides an indication effective in delimiting the portion of the apparatus in which the overload has occurred and in facilitating the identification of the causes and malfunctions which caused the fuses to burn out.
  • a signaling means requiring such a visual inspection is not of the same quality as that of other devices more commonly employed for checking and controlling the operation of the apparatus, the operation of which is generally signaled by the lighting of lamps.
  • the object of the present invention is to provide signaling means which are not subject to the above-mentioned disadvantages and which may be used with any apparatus or portions thereof.
  • the signaling means of the instant invention is characterized by its extreme simplicity and low cost and by its capability for employment with every type of protecting device which operates by interrupting an AC supply circuit.
  • Such signalling means provides an optical indication of the operation of the protecting device, wherein the indicating lamp is not physically associated with the protecting device itself but may be located at any convenient place in the apparatus. Finally, the resistance of the indicating lamp is independent of the value of the protected load.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a signaling circuit in accordance with the invention for use with apparatus supplied from a positive voltage source;
  • FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a signaling circuit in accordance with the invention for use with apparatus supplied from a negative voltage source;
  • FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of a signaling circuit in accordance with the invention and supplied by an auxiliary voltage source;
  • FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an alternative form of the signaling circuit of the invention, adapted for apparatus supplied by an alternating voltage source.
  • a DC voltage source G supplies a suitable positive voltage V to a load C through a protecting fuse F.
  • a lamp L and a resistor R of suitable value are connected in series between the high voltage terminal of fuse F and a ground reference voltage. Thus, the series combination of lamp L and resistor R are connected in parallel with load C.
  • connection point between resistor R and lamp L is coupled through a diode D to the low voltage terminal of fuse F.
  • Diode D is connected so as to be forward biased by the voltage +V and, therefore, to conduct when the fuse is intact. With the fuse in this closed condition, a current having a value of approximately V/R flows through diode D and resistor R.
  • Lamp L being shunted by conducting diode D, does not light because across its terminals is only the voltage drop of diode D. This voltage drop is very small, for a silicon diode being about 0.7 v. and for a germanian diode being only about 0.3 v.
  • the operation of the signaling circuit is completely independent of load C. Moreover, when the fuse is burned out, load C receives no current, with the exception of the negligible inverse current through diode D.
  • FIG. 2 A substantially identical circuit is used in the case where the DC voltage source is negative.
  • FIG. 2 the arrangement of the components is the same as that of the embodiment of FIG. 1, only the direction of conduction of diode D being inverted.
  • FIGS. 1 and 2 were shown for use with a load having one terminal connected to ground, a custom normally followed for reasons of safety. However it is apparent that these same signaling and protecting circuits of the invention may be used also with loads which are not grounded (floating-voltage circuits). Moreover, difierent signaling devices, such as neon-lamps (if the applied voltage is more than 70 v.), buzzers, etc., may be employed. Germanium or silicon diodes or other semiconductor components may be used in the circuit. Furthermore, a thermal relay or any other type of circuit breaker may be substituted for the fuse.
  • difierent signaling devices such as neon-lamps (if the applied voltage is more than 70 v.), buzzers, etc.
  • Germanium or silicon diodes or other semiconductor components may be used in the circuit.
  • a thermal relay or any other type of circuit breaker may be substituted for the fuse.
  • FIG. 3 shows another embodiment wherein the arrangement of the components relative to the load and to the supply voltage is the same.
  • the signaling circuit is coupled to a voltage source V which is diflerent from the supply volta e V.
  • connection (1) is, instead When the .fuse is burned out, in order to have diode D reverse biased so as to isolate load C, it is necessary that the voltage present at point 1 be positive.
  • Va(VV') O (2) Conversely, if the polarity of the diode is inverted from that shown in FIG. 3, the corresponding requirement is V- a (V V) Conditions (I) and (2) demonstrate that if V is positive, V may be negative within the limits defined by condition (2). Thus, both V and V may vary in time, provided that at every instant the specified conditions are satisfied.
  • FIG. 4 illustrates a variation of the circuit of FIG. 3 which overcomes this limitation.
  • a diode D is serially connected to lamp L, and has the same direction of conduction relative to point 1 as diode D,.
  • condition (1) which requires that V be greater than V, need not be satisfied. If V is greater than V, lamp L is efi'ectively shunted by diode D,, but if V is less than V, both diodes D, and D, are reverse biased and the lamp is prevented from lighting.
  • a circuit for signalling the operation of said circuit breaking device I comprising: si nailing means a first dio e, connected in a series circuit with said signalling means,
  • said series circuit being connected to a second terminal to a point on said feeding line immediately upstream of said circuit breaking device
  • said first and second diodes have the same directions of conduction relative to said feeding line.
  • an indicating circuit for representing the state of said circuit breaking device comprising:
  • a second nonlinear device connected between said resistor and said second terminal, said first and said second nonlinear devices connected to be conducting in a path from said first and second terminals to said second circuit point.

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  • Circuit Arrangement For Electric Light Sources In General (AREA)
US8952A 1969-02-05 1970-02-05 Circuit for signalling the operation of a circuit protecting device Expired - Lifetime US3662369A (en)

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IT1244569 1969-02-05

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FR (1) FR2030318B1 (xx)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3730296A (en) * 1972-02-23 1973-05-01 Lisle Corp Interlock safety device for machinery
US4394647A (en) * 1981-09-14 1983-07-19 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Voltage monitoring arrangement for ORed power diodes
US4698621A (en) * 1984-09-25 1987-10-06 Masot Oscar V Circuit breaker panels with alarm system
US4706073A (en) * 1984-09-25 1987-11-10 Oscar Vila Masot Circuit breaker panels with alarm system
US6342995B1 (en) 2000-03-02 2002-01-29 Instrument Transformers, Inc. Lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment
US20050231320A1 (en) * 2004-04-20 2005-10-20 Ackermann John M Wireless communication fuse state indicator system and method
US20080231410A1 (en) * 2004-04-20 2008-09-25 Frank Anthony Doljack RFID Open Fuse Indicator, System, and Method
US20130118278A1 (en) * 2011-11-15 2013-05-16 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Dust test system

Families Citing this family (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
FR2558121A1 (fr) * 1984-01-16 1985-07-19 Halvick Georges Controleur de fusibles pour vehicules automobiles
ES2020959B3 (es) * 1986-06-27 1991-10-16 Audi Ag Disposicion para la alimentacion de tension a componentes electricos

Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3423745A (en) * 1965-05-13 1969-01-21 Burroughs Corp Indicator lamp control circuit

Family Cites Families (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
CH253845A (de) * 1946-03-30 1948-03-31 E Herzer Alfred Meldeanordnung an einer gesicherten Leitungsanlage.
CH252002A (de) * 1946-12-03 1947-11-30 Patent Und Versuchs Anstalt Elektrische Schalteinrichtung.
DE1163954B (de) * 1962-08-30 1964-02-27 Licentia Gmbh Sicherungsueberwachung
US3548399A (en) * 1967-10-18 1970-12-15 Cutler Hammer Inc Contact-monitoring fault indicators

Patent Citations (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3423745A (en) * 1965-05-13 1969-01-21 Burroughs Corp Indicator lamp control circuit

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3730296A (en) * 1972-02-23 1973-05-01 Lisle Corp Interlock safety device for machinery
US4394647A (en) * 1981-09-14 1983-07-19 Bell Telephone Laboratories, Incorporated Voltage monitoring arrangement for ORed power diodes
US4698621A (en) * 1984-09-25 1987-10-06 Masot Oscar V Circuit breaker panels with alarm system
US4706073A (en) * 1984-09-25 1987-11-10 Oscar Vila Masot Circuit breaker panels with alarm system
US6342995B1 (en) 2000-03-02 2002-01-29 Instrument Transformers, Inc. Lighted escutcheon plate for power distribution equipment
US20050231320A1 (en) * 2004-04-20 2005-10-20 Ackermann John M Wireless communication fuse state indicator system and method
US7369029B2 (en) * 2004-04-20 2008-05-06 Cooper Technologies Company Wireless communication fuse state indicator system and method
US20080231410A1 (en) * 2004-04-20 2008-09-25 Frank Anthony Doljack RFID Open Fuse Indicator, System, and Method
US8134445B2 (en) * 2004-04-20 2012-03-13 Cooper Technologies Company RFID open fuse indicator, system, and method
US20130118278A1 (en) * 2011-11-15 2013-05-16 Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd. Dust test system

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
FR2030318A1 (xx) 1970-11-13
FR2030318B1 (xx) 1974-09-20

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