Equipment protector and energy saving apparatus
First Claim
1. An equipment protector and energy saving apparatus comprising:
- (a) a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals, said pair of input terminals being adapted to be connected to an AC source of voltage, said pair of output terminals being adapted to be connected to an equipment load, said AC voltage source being provided with a continuous electrically conducting path from one of said pair of input terminals to one of said pair of output terminals;
(b) power switching means coupled from the other of said pair of input terminals to the other of said pair of output terminals, said power switching means being in a normally opened position interrupting the electrically conducting path from the other of said pair of input terminals to the other of said pair of output terminals;
(c) control means coupled to said power switching means for changing said normally open position of said power switching means to a closed position to complete said other electrically conducting path;
(d) voltage sensing means connected across said pair of input terminals for sensing the magnitude of the AC voltage connected thereto and providing a first signal voltage, said first signal voltage being coupled to said control means for causing said control means to change from a normally high impedance state to a low impedance state and causing said power switching means to change to a closed position when said AC voltage exceeds a predetermined magnitude, said control means providing a second signal voltage;
(e) first relatively short timing means coupled to said control means for receiving said second signal voltage, said first timing means providing a third signal voltage for a predetermined time after said control means provides said second signal voltage;
(f) locking means coupled in parallel with said control means for holding said power switching means in said closed position responsive to said third signal voltage until said first timing means times out;
(g) differentiation means for differentiating said third signal voltage;
(h) second relatively long timing means, coupled to said first timing means for receiving said differentiated third signal voltage, said second timing means providing a fourth signal voltage for a predetermined time after receiving said differentiated third signal voltage only if said input AC voltage is below said predetermined magnitude;
(i) clamping means coupled to said control means for clamping said control means in its relatively high impedance state responsive to said fourth signal voltage causing said power switching means to be in its normally open position; and
(j) DC power supply means coupled to said control means, said power switching means and said first and said second timer means for providing a DC operating voltage therefor from said AC voltage source.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An equipment protector and energy saving apparatus includes transient protection as well as under voltage protection by preventing the reduced voltage from being applied to motors and other apparatuses that may be damaged because of insufficient voltage being applied thereto. Provision is incorporated to protect for momentary low voltage transients and turn-on prevention, if the line voltage should be reduced below a predetermined value. Provision is also made for correcting for a small increase in line voltage which may occur when the operating equipment is removed from the line. A timing device may be incorporated therein in order to remove the protected equipment from the line for predetermined intervals of time.
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Citations
23 Claims
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1. An equipment protector and energy saving apparatus comprising:
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(a) a pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals, said pair of input terminals being adapted to be connected to an AC source of voltage, said pair of output terminals being adapted to be connected to an equipment load, said AC voltage source being provided with a continuous electrically conducting path from one of said pair of input terminals to one of said pair of output terminals; (b) power switching means coupled from the other of said pair of input terminals to the other of said pair of output terminals, said power switching means being in a normally opened position interrupting the electrically conducting path from the other of said pair of input terminals to the other of said pair of output terminals; (c) control means coupled to said power switching means for changing said normally open position of said power switching means to a closed position to complete said other electrically conducting path; (d) voltage sensing means connected across said pair of input terminals for sensing the magnitude of the AC voltage connected thereto and providing a first signal voltage, said first signal voltage being coupled to said control means for causing said control means to change from a normally high impedance state to a low impedance state and causing said power switching means to change to a closed position when said AC voltage exceeds a predetermined magnitude, said control means providing a second signal voltage; (e) first relatively short timing means coupled to said control means for receiving said second signal voltage, said first timing means providing a third signal voltage for a predetermined time after said control means provides said second signal voltage; (f) locking means coupled in parallel with said control means for holding said power switching means in said closed position responsive to said third signal voltage until said first timing means times out; (g) differentiation means for differentiating said third signal voltage; (h) second relatively long timing means, coupled to said first timing means for receiving said differentiated third signal voltage, said second timing means providing a fourth signal voltage for a predetermined time after receiving said differentiated third signal voltage only if said input AC voltage is below said predetermined magnitude; (i) clamping means coupled to said control means for clamping said control means in its relatively high impedance state responsive to said fourth signal voltage causing said power switching means to be in its normally open position; and (j) DC power supply means coupled to said control means, said power switching means and said first and said second timer means for providing a DC operating voltage therefor from said AC voltage source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23)
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Specification