Apparatus and method for selectively delaying the connection of an electrical supply voltage to an electrical load
First Claim
1. Apparatus coupled between an electrical supply network and an electrical load for delaying the connection of the supply network to the load when the supply voltage has been restored after a supply voltage interruption or reduction comprising:
- circuit interruption means coupled between the network and the load for interrupting the circuit between the supply network and the load when the supply voltage has been interrupted or reduced; and
means coupled to said circuit interruption means and to said supply network for sensing when the supply voltage has been restored and for actuating said circuit interruption means to reconnect the supply network and the load at a first predetermined time delay after said supply voltage has been restored, said sensing means comprising a delay circuit comprising a threshold device wherein the threshold device provides and activating signal to said circuit interruption means to reconnect said supply network and load at said first predetermined time delay after said supply voltage has been restored when the supply voltage has been restored for a preset period of time corresponding to said predetermined time delay.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus and method for delaying the reconnection of an electrical supply voltage to an electrical load when the supply voltage has been restored after an interruption. In its basic form, the apparatus comprises a circuit interrupter coupled between the network and the load for disconnecting the load from the network when the supply voltage has been interrupted and a sensing circuit coupled to the circuit interrupter and to the supply network for sensing when the supply voltage has been restored and for actuating the circuit interrupter to reconnect the supply and the load at a first predetermined time delay after the supply voltage has been restored. In additional embodiments, the apparatus prevents the disconnection of the network from the load during momentary interruptions of power for less than a specified amount of time, and a power saver circuit may be employed to conserve power, especially if electromechanical relays and power contactors are employed to realize parts of the apparatus.
31 Citations
24 Claims
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1. Apparatus coupled between an electrical supply network and an electrical load for delaying the connection of the supply network to the load when the supply voltage has been restored after a supply voltage interruption or reduction comprising:
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circuit interruption means coupled between the network and the load for interrupting the circuit between the supply network and the load when the supply voltage has been interrupted or reduced; and means coupled to said circuit interruption means and to said supply network for sensing when the supply voltage has been restored and for actuating said circuit interruption means to reconnect the supply network and the load at a first predetermined time delay after said supply voltage has been restored, said sensing means comprising a delay circuit comprising a threshold device wherein the threshold device provides and activating signal to said circuit interruption means to reconnect said supply network and load at said first predetermined time delay after said supply voltage has been restored when the supply voltage has been restored for a preset period of time corresponding to said predetermined time delay. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for delaying the connection of a supply network to an electrical load when the supply voltage from the network has been restored after a supply voltage interruption or reduction comprising:
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interrupting the circuit between the supply network and the load when the supply voltage has been interrupted or reduced; and sensing when the supply voltage has been restored and automatically actuating a circuit interruption device to reconnect the supply network and the load at a first predetermined time delay after the supply voltage has been restored, said step of sensing comprising providing an activating signal from a threshold device to reconnect the circuit between the electrical supply network and the electrical load at said first predetermined time delay after the supply voltage has been restored when the supply voltage has been restored for a preset period of time corresponding to said predetermined time delay. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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Specification