Pepperl+fuchs Se

Pepperl & Fuchs Gb Ltd

Peter Lark

A current output apparatus adapted for electrical connection to a load to output an electrical current thereto. The apparatus comprises a current output terminal for connecting to a first terminal of the load to pass an electrical current thereto. A current input terminal is provided for connecting to a second terminal of the load to receive said electrical current returned from the load. A voltage regulator is operable to supply to the current output terminal an electrical voltage regulated to differ from an electrical voltage applied to the current input terminal by an amount sufficient to cause said electrical current to flow from the current output terminal to the current input terminal via the load. The voltage regulator is operable and arranged to supply to the current output terminal an electrical voltage of positive polarity or of negative polarity for supplying said electrical current to a load presenting to the current output terminal a voltage of positive polarity or of negative polarity, respectively.

Current output

An electrical barrier () for connecting a power supply to electrical equipment situated in a potentially explosive atmosphere comprises an input (), output (), a shunt Zener diode (), a fuse (), an output resistor () and the sensor resistor (). The Zener diode () is operable to limit the output voltage of the barrier. In some embodiments multiple Zener diodes are used if desired or appropriate. The output resistor () acts to limit the maximum output current whilst the fuse () acts to prevent operation of the barrier in the event of an excessive input. The sensing resistor (), being in series with the Zener diodes (), allows the current flowing through the Zener diode () to be determined. The value of this current is then used to regulate the voltage input to the barrier (). By using such a sensing resistor in series with the Zener diode (), the voltage on the Zener diode () can be controlled so that the desired current flows. This advantageously requires that no allowance or adjustment for the tolerance of the voltage regulator or the Zener diode is required and furthermore no allowance or adjustment needs to be made to accommodate the temperature coefficient of the Zener diode ().

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Manchester, United Kingdom

Peter Lark