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:
Mar. 20, 2012
Filed:
Jan. 22, 2009
Timo Väätäinen, Espoo, FI;
Pertti Seväkivi, Lepsämä, FI;
Vesa Tiihonen, Beijing, CN;
ABB Oy, Helsinki, FI;
Abstract
A load control apparatus adapted to indirectly detect an overcurrent, i.e. a current magnitude exceeding a predetermined limit value, occurring in an electric conductor element () belonging to a load current circuit (), on the basis of an increase in temperature. The load control apparatus () comprises a control current circuit including a temperature-sensitive switch member (S) capable of changing its operational state in response to an increase in the temperature to a predetermined value, and a control unit () adapted to detect a change in the operational state of the temperature-sensitive switch member (S), and to detect an overcurrent occurring in the electric conductor element () based thereon, the temperature-sensitive switch member (S) being adapted to be connected heat-conductively to a target element, in which at least part of the load current of the electric conductor element () passes in an operating situation, and the temperature-sensitive switch member (S) being further adapted to be electrically insulated from the electric conductor element () of the load current circuit.