WO1994010734A1 - Device for protection - Google Patents

Device for protection Download PDF

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Publication number
WO1994010734A1
WO1994010734A1 PCT/SE1993/000911 SE9300911W WO9410734A1 WO 1994010734 A1 WO1994010734 A1 WO 1994010734A1 SE 9300911 W SE9300911 W SE 9300911W WO 9410734 A1 WO9410734 A1 WO 9410734A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
electrodes
pressure
elastomeric
abutment
current
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/SE1993/000911
Other languages
English (en)
French (fr)
Inventor
Per Olof KARLSTRÖM
Original Assignee
Seldim I Västerås Aktiebolag
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Seldim I Västerås Aktiebolag filed Critical Seldim I Västerås Aktiebolag
Priority to DE69309949T priority Critical patent/DE69309949T2/de
Priority to EP93924865A priority patent/EP0667050B1/en
Priority to JP6510979A priority patent/JPH08505731A/ja
Priority to AU54371/94A priority patent/AU5437194A/en
Publication of WO1994010734A1 publication Critical patent/WO1994010734A1/en
Priority to US08/318,789 priority patent/US5565826A/en
Priority to NO951615A priority patent/NO951615L/no
Priority to FI952040A priority patent/FI952040A0/fi

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H02GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
    • H02HEMERGENCY PROTECTIVE CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS
    • H02H9/00Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection
    • H02H9/02Emergency protective circuit arrangements for limiting excess current or voltage without disconnection responsive to excess current
    • H02H9/026Current limitation using PTC resistors, i.e. resistors with a large positive temperature coefficient
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01CRESISTORS
    • H01C7/00Non-adjustable resistors formed as one or more layers or coatings; Non-adjustable resistors made from powdered conducting material or powdered semi-conducting material with or without insulating material
    • H01C7/02Non-adjustable resistors formed as one or more layers or coatings; Non-adjustable resistors made from powdered conducting material or powdered semi-conducting material with or without insulating material having positive temperature coefficient
    • H01C7/027Non-adjustable resistors formed as one or more layers or coatings; Non-adjustable resistors made from powdered conducting material or powdered semi-conducting material with or without insulating material having positive temperature coefficient consisting of conducting or semi-conducting material dispersed in a non-conductive organic material
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01CRESISTORS
    • H01C7/00Non-adjustable resistors formed as one or more layers or coatings; Non-adjustable resistors made from powdered conducting material or powdered semi-conducting material with or without insulating material
    • H01C7/13Non-adjustable resistors formed as one or more layers or coatings; Non-adjustable resistors made from powdered conducting material or powdered semi-conducting material with or without insulating material current responsive
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01HELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H77/00Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting
    • H01H77/02Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism
    • H01H77/10Protective overload circuit-breaking switches operated by excess current and requiring separate action for resetting in which the excess current itself provides the energy for opening the contacts, and having a separate reset mechanism with electrodynamic opening

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a protective device for protecting against overcurrents in electric circuits, said device comprising at least one electrically conduc ⁇ tive body and two electrodes which function to supply circuit current through said conductive body and which lie against the body at corresponding positions either directly or through the medium of an intermediate part, and further comprising pressure means for generating an abutment pressure.
  • the device is primarily intended for use in low voltage systems having an operating voltage of at most 1000 V.
  • short circuiting protectors are mainly comprised of fuses and circuit-breakers which most often possess current limiting properties.
  • the technique is known to the art and several standards, such as IEC 269 concerning fuses, and IEC 947-2 concerning circuit-breakers, have been insti ⁇ tuted.
  • the short-circuiting protector is excited by the short circuiting currents flowing therethrough.
  • the shortcircuiting protector is excited in accordance with two main principles and is therefore divided here into the following groups 1 and 2:
  • Arc-based, current limiting cut-outs for instance circuit-breakers are excited directly, through the conversion of magnetic energy to mechanical energy, by electrodynamic current forces occurring on the electrical contact system included in the circuit- breaker, or indirectly through the medium of a separate excitation device comprised of an electro ⁇ magnetic release device, a so-called "plunger or schlagitan extract", which is also excited by the main current.
  • An armature included in a magnetic circuit acts on the electrical contact system and/or on a spring mechanism release device which performs an on/off-function.
  • Remote control is also used, for instance in contactors, for maintaining two stable mechanical states of equilibrium, on and off respectively.
  • Electrical contact systems in which electrodynamic current forces act directly on the electrical contacts are earlier known to the art, for instance from Patent Specifications GB 1,519,559, GB 1,489,010, GB 1,405,377.
  • Hybrids in which the two principles are used are dis ⁇ closed in Patent Specification GB 1,472,412 and in the article "A New PTC Resistor for Power Applications" by R.S. Perkins, et al, published in the journal IEEE Transactions on Components, Hybrids and Manufacturing Technology, Vol. CHMT-5, No. 2, June 1982, pages 225-230 and publications U.S. 3,249,810 and DE 35 446 47, among others .
  • the mass iner ⁇ tia As a result of the mass iner ⁇ tia, the arc is delayed on the electrical contacts in arc-based circuit-breakers, and consequently the arc voltage, important in achieving current limitation, will not reach the values at which the otherwise monotonously growing short circuit current is limited until a rela ⁇ tively long delay time (ms) has lapsed. Furthermore, a very high contact pressure, proportional to the square of the rated or nominal current of the apparatus, is required in order for the electrical contacts to be able to carry rated current under normal operating currents. This also prevents the electrical contacts from separat ⁇ ing quickly, since the contact pressure is opposed to the electrodynamical repelling and separating forces.
  • short-circuiting protectors based on the principles disclosed in categories 1 and 2 above are less suited as short-circuiting protectors or current transient protectors for thyristors or electronic equip ⁇ ment, since they are sensitive to both high current derivatives and high short-circuiting currents can also occur in capacitive circuits or inductive motor circuits with high presumptive short-circuiting currents.
  • Typical values of presumptive short-circuiting currents are
  • Ik 50-100 kA and corresponding current time deriva ⁇ tives from 22-44 kA/ms. With a rated current of 100 A, a conventional fuse will then allow a current peak of
  • a self-restoring short-circuiting protector is mainly comprised of so-called thermistors.
  • the expression PTC- element is an accepted designation of thermistors whose resistivity has a Positive Temperature Coefficient.
  • PTC-elements One problem with PTC-elements is that when heated by the current flowing therethrough and the temperature is reached at which the PTC-elements become self-adjusting, the voltage is taken over by a fragment of the PTC- element and the fragment is subjected to very high stresses, which are liable to destroy the PTC-element.
  • PTC-embodiments in which this problem is eliminated are known, for instance, from European Patent EP 0,038,716.
  • PTC-elements for overload protectors are often construc ⁇ ted of a polymeric material, for instance high-pressure polyethylene, containing particles of an electrically conductive material, for instance lamp black or carbon black, and exhibit a resistivity with high positive temperature coefficient.
  • Ceramic thermistors which exhibit PTC-characteristics are known from Patent Publication GB-A-1,570,138. The most common ceramic thermistors are based on BaTiO or
  • the polymer-based thermistor in comparison with the ceramic thermistor is that its resistance increases monotonously with temperature. It is also relatively cheap to produce. However, commer ⁇ cially available polymer-type thermistors are designed for relatively low rated or nominal voltages and cannot therefore be used readily . in distribution networks for instance. Furthermore, the configuration and electrode connections of the thermistors are normally such that the thermistors are subjected to large repulsion forces at high short-circuiting currents, as a result of " anti- parallel current paths, therewith tearing the electrodes apart.
  • sandwich-type, polymer- based PTC-elements do not return to the initial resis ⁇ tance after passing from a low resistive state to a high resistive state.
  • very high electrical stresses such as short-circuiting currents, bubbles and cracks form in the central parts or in other parts of the polymer composition of the PTC-element, so that the element will no longer function, i.e. the element is destroyed.
  • polymer-based thermistors have not hitherto been used to any appreciable extent in practice within electric power technology, but have mainly only been used to protect electronic equipment, although the thermal inertia limits the fields of possible appli ⁇ cation.
  • thermoistors will self-restore after a short-cir ⁇ cuit, i.e. thermistors can be reused after a short- circuit, which also applies to circuit-breakers.
  • Elastomers are comprised of all polymers that exhibit elastic properties which are similar to those exhibited by natural rubber. Elastomers can be compressed or stretched within a relatively large permitted elastic area, and return to their original state when the load is removed.
  • Electrically conductive elastomers are a class of rubber and plastics which have been made elec ⁇ trically conductive, either by the addition of metal mixtures or by orientating metal fibres under the influ ⁇ ence of electric fields, or by the addition of different carbon mixtures or ceramics, for instance V203-material dispersed in the manner described in the article "V203
  • Electrically conductive elastomer are used as pressure transducers within transducer technology. The electrical properties are changed when electrically conductive elastomers are deformed, for instance as a result of being subjected to pressure or tension,' which manifests in a change in resistance.
  • Electrically conductive elastomers can be given very low resistances, for instance resistances of 2 mOhmcm or lower, by admixing metal powder.
  • One advantage afforded by elastomers is that they are very soft in comparison with carbon-filled polyethylene and polypropylene, even when containing large quantities of electrically conduc ⁇ tive filler.
  • Such elastomers will have a typical Shore number of between 20-80, according American Standard ASTM D2240 (Q/C) .
  • the object of the present invention is to provide a relatively simple and inexpensive overload protector which is able to limit the highest short-circuiting currents that occur in a low voltage network, even at very high current derivatives, and the release charac ⁇ teristic of which, i.e. its response sensitivity, can be adapted readily to the object to be protected.
  • This object is achieved in accordance with the invention with a protective device having the characteristic features set forth in the following Claim 1.
  • the device can replace both conventional fuses and so-called automatic circuit-breakers (MCB) , and possesses the advantages afforded by both of these types of circuit-breaker without suffering their disadvantages, such as the limited length of life of the fuse and the limited circuit breaking ability of the automatic circuit-break ⁇ er on short-circuiting occurrences.
  • MBC automatic circuit-breakers
  • the device which functions as a current limiting element includes at least one electrically conductive elastomer- ic body and two electrodes.
  • the polymer composition of the elastomeric body may be of any known kind and forms no part of the present invention. Examples of suitable elastomers in this respect are particularly butyl, natural, polychlorpropene, neoprene, EPDM and silicone rubber.
  • the electroconductive powder material is prefer ⁇ ably comprised of silver, nickel, cobalt, silver-plated copper, silver-plated nickel, silver-plated aluminium, lampblack, conductive soot or carbon black.
  • the powder material will suitably have a particle size of 0.01-10 micro-meters and the powder filler is suitably present in an amount corresponding to 40-90% of the combined weight of the powder filler and elastomeric material.
  • the resistivity of the electric elastomeric body will preferably lie within the range of 0.1 mohmcm-10 Ohmcm.
  • the bodies may be made of mutually the same or mutually different elastomers and then with mutually the same or mutually different fill ⁇ ers and resistivity.
  • the electrodes are of a convention- al kind, for instance silver-plated copper.
  • the elec ⁇ trodes are preferably orientated so that repu " - * .:.on forces will occur between the electrodes when high currents pass therethrough.
  • the pressure achieved on the electrodes for instance with a known pressure device described in U.S. 3,914,727, or by a conventional spring mechanism for the on/off function of an electric switch, deforms the convex abutment surface of the elastomeric body, when the device includes such an abutment surface. This deformation will preferably reach at least 5%. A deformation of 5-30% is particularly preferred, as defined with a starting point from the distance between the bodies that borders on a considered elastomeric body, i.e.
  • elastomeric bodies are those which have a hardness between 30-50 IRHD in accord with British Standard BS903/A26, although materials having both a lower and a higher hardness may conceivably be used.
  • One conceivable reason for the result achieved by the present invention may be as follows: With the normal passage of current, a low transition resistance is" maintained between those elements which are in contact with one another through the transition surface which is formed when the body having a convex abutment surface or the bodies, when more than one such body is included, are deformed by an external pressure device. When high short-circuiting currents occur, the electrodes will separate as a result of current forces. Furthermore, so- called striction forces occur in the transition between the convex abutment surface of the elastomer bodies, when one such abutment surface is included, and border- ing bodies, due to the configuration of the preferred abutment surface.
  • the current density is greatest along the symmetry line of the cross-sectional surface between the electrodes, meaning that the material is under the greatest stress in this region, therewith preventing the formation of cracks and bubbles in the cross-section at right angles to the current direction.
  • the following advantages are ob-tained in a current limiting device when the physical properties described in the Background Art are combined, for instance such properties as pressure response of electrically conductive elastomers, transition surfaces, the electrodynamic repulsion effect that is achieved by suitable geometric configuration of electrically conduc ⁇ tive elastomeric bodies and electrodes, together with a suitable choice of electrode material:
  • the device can be made very low-ohmic, because of deformation of the contact transition between elec ⁇ trically conductive elastomeric body and electrode.
  • the element returns to its initial resistance after passing from a low-resistive state to a high-resis ⁇ tive state.
  • Figures la-c are central sectional views of three pre ⁇ ferred embodiments of one part of the invention, this part mainly comprising electrically conductive elastomeric bod- ies and electrodes;
  • Figure 2 illustrates the resistance R as a func ⁇ tion of the distance d between two elec ⁇ trodes between which an electrically con- ductive elastomeric body of semi-cylin ⁇ drical cross-section of radius r is com ⁇ pressed;
  • Figure 3 illustrates one embodiment of an inven- tive current limiting element connected in an electric circuit
  • Figure 4 illustrates the course of the current in the event of a short-circuit with an ele ⁇ ment according to Figure 3;
  • Figure 5 shows a comparison between i I l • •£ ⁇ dt curves for an inventive current limiting element and a conventional protector, such as a fuse and circuit-breaker, MCCB;
  • Figures 6-7 are central sectional views of an inven ⁇ tive elastomeric body and associated el ⁇ ectrodes, and also a repulsion means;
  • Figures 8-19 illustrate further variants of inventive current limiting elements.
  • Figure 20a is a sectional view of an inventive de ⁇ vice for protecting against overcurrents
  • Figure 20b shows the device illustrated in Figure 20a connected in an electrical circuit
  • Figure 20c is a diagram relating to the relationship between ⁇ (A) and t(ms) ;
  • Figure 21a is a slightly modified form of the device illustrated in Figures 20a;
  • Figure 21b is a side view of the device illustrated in Figure 21a;
  • Figures 22a and 22b are slightly modified forms of the device illustrated in Figures 20a and 21;
  • Figure 23 is a modified form of the device illus ⁇ trated in Figure 22;
  • Figures 24a and 24b illustrate a particularly preferred emb ⁇ odiment of the novel device
  • Figure 24c is a curve relating to the relationship between R(ohm) and X(m) ;
  • Figures 25a-d illustrate arrangements in a further em ⁇ bodiment of the novel protective device.
  • Figure 6 illustrates a current limiting element in accordance with an arrangement analogous with the ar ⁇ rangement illustrated in Figure lb.
  • the current limiting element includes a centrally mounted body (10) in the form of a homogenous cylinder having a diameter of 3 mm and length of 10 mm and being made of a" deformable electrically conductive elastomer material, for instance comprising 80 percent by weight silver powder and 20 percent by weight silicone plastic, and two mutually parallel electrodes (11, 12) which are tangential to the body (10) on opposite sides thereof.
  • the elastomeric body (10) has a Shore number of 40 according to BS 903/A26.
  • the elec ⁇ trodes (11, 12) are comprised of angled, silver-coated copper plates having a thickness of 0.7 mm.
  • the elec ⁇ trodes are held in abutment with the body (10) with the aid of a spring device (14) which exerts pressure on the electrodes (11, 12) in a known manner and therewith deform the abutment surfaces (10 , 10") of the body against respective electrodes, this deformation being about 30%.
  • the sensitivity or response of the arrange- ment can be enhanced by including a repulsion device (13) of the kind described, for instance, in GB 1,519,559 or GB 1,489,010, or the electrodes may be constructed so that they themselves will give rise to repelling electrodynamic current forces.
  • the repulsion device (13) may be a self- activating magnetic circuit of the kind earlier des ⁇ cribed in U.S. 4,513,270, which is intended to act solely on one electrode and which is directed so that the electrodes will separate from one another under the action magnetic forces or electrodynamic current forces.
  • the resistance across the device is 2 Ohm.
  • high short-circuiting currents preferably currents above 50 A, and more particularly above 500 A
  • the current density will increase in the deformed abutment surfaces (10', 10"), wherewith the resistance in the element will increase to 100 mOh or more. This is sufficient to limit short-circuiting currents in low voltage systems, which through the agency of the preferred arrangement in " Figure 6 and the circuit illustrated in Figure 3 limits the short ⁇ circuiting currents and produces the current-time dia ⁇ gram shown in Figure 4.
  • Figure 7 illustrates a current limiting element which is similar to the element illustrated in Figure 6 and
  • the body of the Figure 7 embodiment includes a cavity (9) which enables deformation of the elastomeric body to be increased to 30% or more, depending on the dimensions of the cavity. This enables a material of relatively high Shore number to be used, for instance a Shore number of 80.
  • the body (20) is preferably deformable so that the resultant convex abutment surface (9') will be in physical contact with the abutment surface (9").
  • Figure 8 illustrates an embodiment of the invention in which two electrically conductive elastomeric bodies (i ⁇ a, 10b) have been stacked one upon the other, whereas the electrically conductive elastomeric bodies (10a, 10b) of the Figure 9 embodiment have been placed side- by-side.
  • Figures lOa-b illustrate an inventive device in which an electrically conductive elastomeric body (10) according to Figure 7 is placed between two electrodes (11, 12) which extend longitudinally parallel with the body (10).
  • the pressure applied to the electrodes and the elasto ⁇ meric body abutment surfaces (10', 10") is obtained- through the agency of the earlier described resilient pressure device.
  • Figure 11 illustrates an inventive device in which an electrically conductive elastomeric body (10) is placed between two electrodes (11, 12) according to Figures lOa-b.
  • a ferromagnetic repulsion circuit (13) surrounds the longitudinally extending electrodes (11, 12) and the elastomeric body (10), and amplifies the repulsion effect of electrode (11) when overcurrents flow through the current limiting element.
  • Pressure is applied to the electrodes and the elastomeric body abutment surfaces (10', 10") by the aforedescribed resilient pressure device.
  • Figure 12 illustrates a device which is analogous with the device shown in Figures lOa-b with the exception that the electrically conductive elastomeric body (10) is semi-cylindrical in shape and may be firmly anchored to the electrode (12) by means of an electrically con ⁇ ductive adhesive, or may lie free.
  • Figure 13 illustrates an inventive device • which two electrically conductive elastomeric bodies (10a, 10b) are placed between two electrodes (11, 12), between wltiich a further two elastomeric bodies (10c) and (lOd) respectively have been placed, these further bodies surrounding the electrodes (11, 12). Pressure is applied to the electrodes, and particularly to the elastomeric bodies provided with convex end-surfaces, by the afore ⁇ said, known pressure device.
  • Figure 14 illustrates a further embodiment of the inven ⁇ tion according to the Figure 12 and Figure 9 embodi ⁇ ments, in which the elastomeric bodies (10c, 16a) and (10e, 16b) respective surrounding electrodes (11, 12) are comprised respectively of electrically conductive elastomer material (10c, lOe) and electrically insulat ⁇ ing elastomeric material (16a, 16b).
  • the respective elastomeric bodies (10c, 16a) and (lOe, 16b) are advan ⁇ tageously moulded in a two-part mould, so that the elastomeric bodies will be mutuallyjorned, and the electrodes are electrically insulated..
  • the electrical connections to the electrodes are not shown in the Figure.
  • Figure 15 illustrates an inventive device according to Figures 6 and 7, in which two electrically insulating, polyethylene bodies (15a, 15b) are disposed parallel with an electrically conductive elastomeric body (10).
  • the body (10) When the device is subjected to pressure, as symbolized by the force F acting on the electrodes (11, 12), the body (10) is deformed and will therewith lie against the defining surfaces (15a') and (15b') of the electrically insulating bodies. There is obtained in this way an electric insulation which prevents flashover in the event of a short-circuit, at the same time as the elec- trically conductive elastomeric body will not flow outwards, which is otherwise a common problem.
  • Figure 16 illustrates an inventive device in which the electrically conductive elastomeric body (10) includes several convex deformable abutment surfaces (10a', 10b', 10c', 10d'), comprising several integrated elastomeric bodies according to earlier Figures.
  • the elastomeric body (10) is coherent and homogeneous.
  • Figure 17 illustrates an inventive device in which the electrically conductive elastomeric body (10) has a convex deformable abutment surface in a "spline configu ⁇ ration" , comprising several integrated elasto e-ric bodies according to earlier Figures.
  • the elastomeric body (10) is thus coherent and several convex surfaces can be activated, for instance by in ⁇ creasing the pressure with the aid of the pressure device (14) .
  • Figures 18a-b illustrate an inventive device which is comprised of two electrically conductive elastomeric bodies (20a, 20b) having convex deformable abutment surfaces (20a', 20b'), and two electrodes (11, 12).
  • the electrodes are surrounded by concentrical, electrically conductive elastomeric bodies (20a, 20b) whose abutment surfaces (20a', 20b') are in physical abutment with one another.
  • the abutment surfaces (20a', 20b') are deformed by pressure exerted by a pressure device (14).
  • the electrodes (11, 12) are provided with electrical con ⁇ necting means (31) and (32) respectively.
  • Figure 19 illustrates an inventive device in which the electrically conductive elastomeric bodies (lOal, 10a2, 10a3, 10a4) have convex-defining surfaces which are orientated perpendicularly to the convex-defining sur- faces of the electrically conductive bodies (lObl,” 10b2, 10b3, 10b4).
  • the device includes two electrodes (11, 12) for conducting current therethrough, electrodes on which a pressure device exerts pressure such as to deform the abutment surfaces (lOal...lObl... ) .
  • Figure 20a illustrates a device in which two polymer- based thermistors 15a and 15b are connected in parallel to the elastomeric body 10. Also included is a fix resistor 16a, 16b.
  • Figure 20b is a circuit diagram in which the broken line 17 symbolizes the entire protec ⁇ tive device, i.e. the elastomeric body, electrodes, resistors and thermistors.
  • the polymer-based therm ⁇ istor 15 will function as an "energy absorber" during short-circuiting. This prevents overloading of the elastomeric body 10.
  • the fix resistor 16 can then be permitted to be much larger than when the thermistor 15 is not found. This will be understood from the following energy consideration (c.f. Fig. 20c).
  • the current limiting element according to Figure 20 is readily adapted to circuits which include superordinate and subordinate short-circuiting protectors, i.e. in which full selectivity can be readily achieved in, for instance, distribution systems within the low voltage range.
  • the embodiment illustrated in Figure 20 also enables the elastomeric body 10 to be made thinner, i.e. enables the distance between the electrodes 11 and 12 to be reduced. This fact is utilized in the embodiment illustrated in Figure 21.
  • Figure 21 illustrates a device according to Figure 20 in which the elastomeric body 10 is much thinner than in the Figure 20 embodiment. This improves, the heat trans ⁇ fer from the elastomeric body 10 to the electrodes, at the same time as power generation is reduced as a result of the thinner elastomeric body. This means that an increase in the rated current of the current limiting element can be allowed.
  • Figure 21b is a side view of the current limiting element.
  • the electrode 12 has been "split up" into several electrodes, referenced 12', 12", 12'" and 12'"'. This results in a current limiting element which is more receptive during short-circuiting, since essentially adiabatic conditions prevail.
  • the firing pin device or the excitation coils activate a contact system (50), either directly (40) or indirectly (41), via a mechanism according to Figure 22b, so that the circuit will be broken.
  • Figure 23 illustrates a device according to Figure 22.
  • the .excita ⁇ tion coils/firing pin device act on at least one elec ⁇ trode (11, 12). This is symbolized by the arrow (45) ' in Figure 23.
  • the electrodes are therewith mutually dis- placed during short-circuiting.
  • the elastomeric body therewith "exercised", which has been found advantageous with regard to the return time to a low resistive state for instance.
  • certain turns of the coils may be connected in series to the elastomeric body, so as to enhance the responsiveness of the elastpmeric body 10 (see Fig. 23b (45')(and 45")).
  • Figure 24 (a-c) illustrates a particularly preferred embodiment of a polymer-based thermistor (15a, 15b) in the device.
  • the resistance of an infinitesimal element of cross-sectional area dA varies as indicated by the curve in Figure 24c.
  • the polymeric material in zones adjacent to the elasto ⁇ meric body (10) will first pass from a low to a high resistive state. This process continues until the whole of the thermistor (15) is "through-tripped” if the circuit has not previously been broken. This results in gentle commutation of the current (c.f. Figs. 20a-c) and an improved energy absorbing thermistor.
  • FIGs 25a-d illustrate an embodiment of the invention in which an internal excitation device (13) is imple ⁇ mented by electrodes (11 and 12) of helical configura ⁇ tion.
  • repulsion forces, Fr occur between the electrodes (11) and (12) when short-circuit currents flow through the electrodes.
  • These repulsion forces act to mutually separate the electrodes, which results in greater sensitivity of the overcurrent protector.
  • the sensitivity or responsiveness of cascade-coupled ele- ments can be varied by means of separate connecting devices 19a and 19b, as illustrated in Figures -25c-d.
  • the repulsion force Fs will be approximately four times greater than that obtained with a parallel coupling Fp at the same current in total.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Microelectronics & Electronic Packaging (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Electromagnetism (AREA)
  • Power Engineering (AREA)
  • Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
  • Dispersion Chemistry (AREA)
  • Ceramic Engineering (AREA)
  • Thermistors And Varistors (AREA)
  • Emergency Protection Circuit Devices (AREA)
  • Fuses (AREA)
  • Adjustable Resistors (AREA)
PCT/SE1993/000911 1992-11-02 1993-11-01 Device for protection WO1994010734A1 (en)

Priority Applications (7)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE69309949T DE69309949T2 (de) 1992-11-02 1993-11-01 Vorrichtung zum schutz gegen überstrome
EP93924865A EP0667050B1 (en) 1992-11-02 1993-11-01 Device for protection against overcurrents
JP6510979A JPH08505731A (ja) 1992-11-02 1993-11-01 保護装置
AU54371/94A AU5437194A (en) 1992-11-02 1993-11-01 Device for protection
US08/318,789 US5565826A (en) 1992-11-02 1994-10-14 Overload protective system
NO951615A NO951615L (no) 1992-11-02 1995-04-27 Anordning for beskyttelse mot overströmmer
FI952040A FI952040A0 (fi) 1992-11-02 1995-04-28 Suojalaite

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
SE9203234-1 1992-11-02
SE9203234A SE9203234L (sv) 1992-11-02 1992-11-02 Anordning för skydd mot överström i elektriska kretsar
US08/318,789 US5565826A (en) 1992-11-02 1994-10-14 Overload protective system

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO1994010734A1 true WO1994010734A1 (en) 1994-05-11

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Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/SE1993/000911 WO1994010734A1 (en) 1992-11-02 1993-11-01 Device for protection

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US (1) US5565826A ( )
EP (1) EP0667050B1 ( )
JP (1) JPH08505731A ( )
AU (1) AU5437194A ( )
CZ (1) CZ109595A3 ( )
FI (1) FI952040A0 ( )
HU (1) HUT73126A ( )
NO (1) NO951615L ( )
PL (1) PL308547A1 ( )
SE (1) SE9203234L ( )
WO (1) WO1994010734A1 ( )

Cited By (10)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5867356A (en) * 1997-11-05 1999-02-02 General Electric Company Current limiting system and method
US5929744A (en) * 1997-02-18 1999-07-27 General Electric Company Current limiting device with at least one flexible electrode
US5977861A (en) * 1997-03-05 1999-11-02 General Electric Company Current limiting device with grooved electrode structure
US6124780A (en) * 1998-05-20 2000-09-26 General Electric Company Current limiting device and materials for a current limiting device
US6133820A (en) * 1998-08-12 2000-10-17 General Electric Company Current limiting device having a web structure
US6191681B1 (en) 1997-07-21 2001-02-20 General Electric Company Current limiting device with electrically conductive composite and method of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite
US6290879B1 (en) 1998-05-20 2001-09-18 General Electric Company Current limiting device and materials for a current limiting device
US6323751B1 (en) 1999-11-19 2001-11-27 General Electric Company Current limiter device with an electrically conductive composite material and method of manufacturing
US6373372B1 (en) 1997-11-24 2002-04-16 General Electric Company Current limiting device with conductive composite material and method of manufacturing the conductive composite material and the current limiting device
US6535103B1 (en) 1997-03-04 2003-03-18 General Electric Company Current limiting arrangement and method

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US6128168A (en) 1998-01-14 2000-10-03 General Electric Company Circuit breaker with improved arc interruption function
US6144540A (en) * 1999-03-09 2000-11-07 General Electric Company Current suppressing circuit breaker unit for inductive motor protection
US6157286A (en) 1999-04-05 2000-12-05 General Electric Company High voltage current limiting device
US6388553B1 (en) 2000-03-02 2002-05-14 Eaton Corproation Conductive polymer current-limiting fuse
US6411191B1 (en) 2000-10-24 2002-06-25 Eaton Corporation Current-limiting device employing a non-uniform pressure distribution between one or more electrodes and a current-limiting material
EP1213728A3 (en) * 2000-11-27 2005-10-26 Eaton Corporation Current-limiting device
US7215529B2 (en) * 2003-08-19 2007-05-08 Schlegel Corporation Capacitive sensor having flexible polymeric conductors
US20140002215A1 (en) * 2012-06-29 2014-01-02 Siemens Industry, Inc. Electrical contact apparatus, assemblies, and methods of operation

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Cited By (13)

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Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US5929744A (en) * 1997-02-18 1999-07-27 General Electric Company Current limiting device with at least one flexible electrode
US6535103B1 (en) 1997-03-04 2003-03-18 General Electric Company Current limiting arrangement and method
US5977861A (en) * 1997-03-05 1999-11-02 General Electric Company Current limiting device with grooved electrode structure
US6191681B1 (en) 1997-07-21 2001-02-20 General Electric Company Current limiting device with electrically conductive composite and method of manufacturing the electrically conductive composite
US5867356A (en) * 1997-11-05 1999-02-02 General Electric Company Current limiting system and method
US6373372B1 (en) 1997-11-24 2002-04-16 General Electric Company Current limiting device with conductive composite material and method of manufacturing the conductive composite material and the current limiting device
US6540944B2 (en) 1997-11-24 2003-04-01 General Electric Company Current limiting device with conductive composite material and method of manufacturing the conductive composite material and the current limiting device
US6124780A (en) * 1998-05-20 2000-09-26 General Electric Company Current limiting device and materials for a current limiting device
US6366193B2 (en) 1998-05-20 2002-04-02 General Electric Company Current limiting device and materials for a current limiting device
US6290879B1 (en) 1998-05-20 2001-09-18 General Electric Company Current limiting device and materials for a current limiting device
US6133820A (en) * 1998-08-12 2000-10-17 General Electric Company Current limiting device having a web structure
US6323751B1 (en) 1999-11-19 2001-11-27 General Electric Company Current limiter device with an electrically conductive composite material and method of manufacturing
US6711807B2 (en) 1999-11-19 2004-03-30 General Electric Company Method of manufacturing composite array structure

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
CZ109595A3 (en) 1996-04-17
SE470296B (sv) 1994-01-10
HUT73126A (en) 1996-06-28
JPH08505731A (ja) 1996-06-18
NO951615D0 (no) 1995-04-27
US5565826A (en) 1996-10-15
FI952040A (fi) 1995-04-28
EP0667050B1 (en) 1997-04-16
FI952040A0 (fi) 1995-04-28
PL308547A1 (en) 1995-08-21
SE9203234L (sv) 1994-01-10
AU5437194A (en) 1994-05-24
NO951615L (no) 1995-04-27
EP0667050A1 (en) 1995-08-16
HU9501148D0 (en) 1995-06-28
SE9203234D0 (sv) 1992-11-02

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