BODY CURRENT ACTIVATED CIRCUIT BREAKER

• US 3,784,842 A
• Filed: 12/11/1972
• Issued: 01/08/1974
• Est. Priority Date: 02/03/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Frederic B. Kremer
• Original Assignee: Frederic B. Kremer
• Inventors: Kremer, Frederic B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hohauser, Herman J.
• Application Number:
  US05/314,162
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 317/18B,18A 200/DIG.2 340/279 128/2R,2E,2N,2.1R 307/92,93,131,143
• US Class Current: 307/326
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/276 Protection against electrode failure
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/301 providing electrical separation, e.g. by using isolating transformers or optocouplers
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/162 for ac systems

Abstract

A body current activated circuit breaker responsive to the blow of current through the human body including at least one body encircling sensor to monitor the flow of electrical current in a human being. A circuit breaker is interposed between the source of electrical power supply and an electrical appliance being operated by the human being which causes the current flow, the circuit breaker being responsive to the flow of electrical current monitored by the sensor to automatically and rapidly interrupt the current supply to the electrical appliance upon detecting current flow through the body that exceeds a predetermined, safe level.

Claims

1. In a body current activated circuit breaker which is responsive to the flow of electrical current in a human body caused by the malfunction of an electrical appliance which is activated by line current, the combination of A. a circuit breaker device receiving line current and feeding the line current to the electrical appliance, 1. said circuit breaker device including a line current interruptor which functions from a line current passing position to a line current interrupting position upon receipt of an alarm signal, 2. the flow of current to the electrical appliance quickly ceasing when the interruptor is functioned to its line current interrupting position;

B. at least one body current sensing device encircling a portion of the body to detect the flow of electrical current therethrough, 1. said sensing device including an electromagnetic field sensing device, 2. said sensing device inducing a voltage upon the passage of current through the encircled portion of the body, 3. and conductor means to transmit the induced voltage to the circuit breaker device to rapidly deliver an alarm signal to the interruptor.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the circuit breaker device includes an amplifier section, said amplifier section receiving the output from the toroidal coil and amplifying the voltage received up to one thousand times its original magnitude.

3. and conductor means to transmit the induced voltage to the circuit breaker device to rapidly deliver an alarm signal to the interruptor.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the circuit breaker device includes means to initiate action to interrupt the flow of line current within twenty microseconds after current flow in the body has started.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the circuit breaker device includes means to completely interrupt the flow of line current to the electrical appliance within a period of 100 microseconds after current flow in the body has started.

6. The invention of claim 3 wherein the sensing device is a toroidal coil.

7. The invention of claim 3 wherein there is no contact between the sensing device and the said body.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein the conductor means is a pair of wire conductors.

9. The invention of claim 6 wherein the conductor means is a radio transmitted signal.