The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 02, 1999
Filed:
Nov. 05, 1997
Anil Raj Duggal, Niskayuna, NY (US);
John Norton Park, Rexford, NY (US);
William Newell Schultz, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Minyoung Lee, Niskayuna, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Schenectady, NY (US);
Abstract
A current limiting system for a circuit limits current flow through the system. The current limiting system comprises at least one main switch comprising first and second main switch contacts and a contactor connecting the first and second main switch contacts; at least one current limiting device and at least one solid-state switch, which are mechanically unconnected to the main switch, and the at least one current limiting device and least one solid-state switch are arranged in series on a series side of the circuit; the at least one main switch is on a main switch side of the circuit arranged in parallel with the series side; a control that senses a predetermined condition of the circuit, and operably connected with the at least one solid state switch to open and it. Under normal operating conditions, most current flows through the at least one main switch side. When the predetermined condition causes the main switch to open, and the resistance increases in a main switch side. Thus, current flows to the series side of the circuit side. The current limiting device then switches its state from a low resistance to a high resistance state to limit the current passing through the current limiting system, where the control has sensed a predetermined condition and signals the solid-state switch to open, thereby interrupting current flow through of the current limiting system.