Remote control circuit breaker

{
  "publication_number": "US3584261A",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "A",
  "title": "Remote control circuit breaker",
  "abstract": "A circuit breaker comprising a load switching relay and an automatically resettable overload switch remotely operated through a self protected control line, provides trip indication, and is trip free. A silicon controlled rectifier shunts current from the gate of a transistor, the collector-emitter circuit of which is serially connected to the coil of the relay. The power source for the load can be either alternating or direct current. Isolation of the primary power source and load circuit may be provided by the employment of either normally open or normally closed auxiliary contacts. In several of the embodiments the relay is locked out upon the occurrence of an overload.",
  "claims": [
    "1. Circuit interrupting apparatus comprising: a. current control means including a gated semiconductor, a relay coil connected to the current control means, and means connected to the gate of the semiconductor for initiating conduction of the semiconductor to control current flow in the relay coil; b. a control circuit including means to normally bias the current control means to allow current to flow through the relay and to supply voltage to the anode-cathode of the semiconductor and an on-off switch; and c. a load circuit including an overload switch and a first set of contacts responsive to current flow in the relay coil, and means causing the first set of contacts to open when the on-off switch is off and when the overload switch is open.",
    "2. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which an indicating lamp is included in the control circuit and is visibly incandescent when the overload switch trips open and when a short circuit occurs between the lamp in the control circuit and ground.",
    "3. Apparatus according to claim 1 in which the current control means includes a transistor, the collector-emitter circuit of which is serially connected to the relay coil, and the base of the transistor is connected through a resistor to the anode-cathode circuit of the gated semiconductor device and the control circuit, whereby conduction of the gated semiconductive device shunts the base current of the transistor, turning it off.",
    "4. Apparatus according to claim 3 in which the gate of the gated semiconductive device is connected to a second transistor and the load circuit, the base of the second transistor being connected to the load circuit intermediate a load and the overload switch.",
    "5. Apparatus according to claim 3 further including as a part of the means for initiating conduction, a second set of contacts connected to the gate of the semiconductor and adapted to open and close dependent upon the position of the overload switch.",
    "6. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the second set of contacts is open when the overload switch is closed.",
    "7. Apparatus according to claim 5 in which the second set of contacts is closed when the overload switch is closed.",
    "8. Apparatus according to claim 6 further including a power source for the current control means and the relay coil and a pair of serially connected resistors, one side of the second set of contacts is connected intermediate the power source and the coil, and the other side is connected to the pair of resistors, the gate of the gated semiconductor is connected intermediate the pair of resistors, whereby upon closing of the second set of contacts, the gated semiconductor conducts shunting current from the base of the transistor turning it off and locking the first set of contacts open until the on-off switch is turned off and then on.",
    "9. Apparatus according to claim 7 further including a power source for the current control means and the rElay coil and a first resistor, one side of the second set of contacts is connected to ground, the other side is connected to the first resistor which is connected to the control circuit, the gate of the gated semiconductor is connected intermediate the second set of contacts and the first resistor; wherein upon opening of the second set of contacts the gated semiconductor conducts shunting current from the base of the transistor turning it off and locking the first set of contacts open until the on-off switch is turned off and then on.",
    "10. Apparatus according to claim 9 further including a transistor, the emitter thereof connected to the gate of the gated semiconductor, the collector connected to the control circuit through a second resistor and the base connected intermediate the second set of contacts and the first resistor to amplify the gate current of the gated semiconductor.",
    "11. Circuit interrupting apparatus comprising: a. a control circuit including an on-off switch; b. current control means including a gated semiconductor, a relay coil connected to the current control means, and means connected to the gate of the semiconductor for initiating conduction of the semiconductor to control current flow in the relay coil; and c. a load circuit including an overload switch and a first set of contacts responsive to the current flow in the relay coil; and means causing the first set of contacts to open when the on-off switch is off or when the overload switch is open.",
    "12. In a circuit breaker system comprising a relay coil and a first set of contacts controlled by the relay coil and an overload switch, a remote control system comprising; a remote power source, a control line connected serially to the remote power source, a switch in the control line, the position of the switch controlling current flow through the control line; a transistor, the control line connected to the transistor so current from the remote power source flows to the base of the transistor and controls the off-on state thereof, the transistor being connected to the relay coil and controlling current flow through the relay coil, a gated semiconductor connected at its anode terminal to the control line between the switch and the transistor and shorting base current away from the transistor when in the conductive state, and gating means for controlling the gate current to the semiconductor in accordance with the position of the overload switch whereby: the position of the first set of contacts is determined by the position of the switch and the position of the overload switch through the effect of the positions upon the conductive nonconductive state of the gated semiconductor device.",
    "13. In a circuit breaker system comprising a relay coil, a first set of contacts controlled by the relay coil and an overload switch, a remote control system comprising: a remote power source, a control line connected serially to the remote power source, a switch in the control line, the position of the switch controlling current flow through the control line; a transistor, the control line connected to the transistor so current from the remote power source flows to the base of the transistor and controls the off-on state thereof, the transistor being connected to the relay coil and controlling current flow through the relay coil, a gated semiconductor connected at its anode terminal to the control line between the switch and the transistor and shorting base current away from the transistor when in the conductive state, and gating means including a second set of contacts, the position of which is dependent upon the overload switch for controlling the gate current to the semiconductor in accordance with the position of the overload switch and hence the second set of contacts, whereby upon tripping of the overload switch, the second set of contacts close, gating the semiconductor which will remain conductive shunting base current from the transistor and keeping the first set of conTacts open until the remote power source is interrupted by the switch in the control line.",
    "14. In a circuit breaker system comprising a relay coil, a first set of contacts controlled by the relay coil and an overload switch, a remote control system comprising: a remote power source, a control line connected serially to the remote power source, a switch in the control line, the position of the switch controlling current flow through the control line; a transistor, the control line connected to the transistor so current from the remote power source flows to the base of the transistor and controls the off-on state thereof, the transistor being connected to the relay coil and controlling current flow through the relay coil, a gated semiconductor connected at its anode terminal to the control line between the switch and the transistor and shorting base current away from the transistor when in the conductive state, and gating means including a second set of contacts, the position of which is dependent upon the overload switch for controlling the gate current to the semiconductor in accordance with the position of the overload switch and hence the second set of contacts, whereby upon tripping of the overload switch, the second set of contacts opens, gating the semiconductor which will remain conductive shunting base current from the transistor and keeping the first set of contacts open until the remote power source is interrupted by the switch in the control line."
  ],
  "cpc": [
    "H02H 7/005",
    "H02H 3/08"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "TEXAS INSTRUMENTS INC"
  ],
  "filing_date": "1968-08-16",
  "publication_date": "1971-06-08",
  "grant_date": "1971-06-08",
  "priority_date": "1968-08-16",
  "application_number": "US-3584261D-A",
  "family_id": "25029970",
  "citations": [
    "US2223729A",
    "US3365675A",
    "US3414728A",
    "US3456125A"
  ]
}