Power controller module providing user selectable overload protection
First Claim
1. In a power distribution system, a power controller module for preventing excessive current flow between a power source and a load, said power controller module comprising:
- a plurality of current limiting channels each having a predetermined current flow limit;
each of said plurality of current limiting channels comprising an input line, an output line, and a current limit switch connected between the input and output lines;
said current limit switch allowing current to flow between said input line and said output line when current flow through the respective current limiting channel is below said predetermined current flow limit and limiting current flow between said input line and said output line when said current flow through the respective current limiting channel exceeds said predetermined current flow limit; and
said plurality of current limiting channels being selectively interconnectable in parallel with one another to form one or more current pathways, each of said current pathways having a current flow limit corresponding to the sum of the predetermined current flow limits of the respective current limiting channels that are connected in parallel to form the respective current pathway.
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Abstract
A remote power controller module for use in power distribution systems having a number of current limiting channels that are capable of being paralleled to provide current pathways from a power source to a load. In one embodiment, the current limiting channels may contain control and monitoring circuitry for monitoring the trip status of all channels and for disabling all paralleled channels in response to the disablement of one channel. The control and monitoring circuitry may also reset the disabled current limiting channels. In another embodiment toggle switches may be used to reset the disabled current limiting channels. The current limiting channels may contain circuitry for monitoring the load across the channel and for tripping current a limit switch within the channel. In one embodiment, the circuitry may monitor current flow through the current limit switch. In another embodiment, the circuitry may monitor the current flow through the switch as well as the voltage drop across the switch.
53 Citations
32 Claims
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1. In a power distribution system, a power controller module for preventing excessive current flow between a power source and a load, said power controller module comprising:
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a plurality of current limiting channels each having a predetermined current flow limit; each of said plurality of current limiting channels comprising an input line, an output line, and a current limit switch connected between the input and output lines; said current limit switch allowing current to flow between said input line and said output line when current flow through the respective current limiting channel is below said predetermined current flow limit and limiting current flow between said input line and said output line when said current flow through the respective current limiting channel exceeds said predetermined current flow limit; and said plurality of current limiting channels being selectively interconnectable in parallel with one another to form one or more current pathways, each of said current pathways having a current flow limit corresponding to the sum of the predetermined current flow limits of the respective current limiting channels that are connected in parallel to form the respective current pathway. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. In a power distribution system, a power controller module for preventing excessive current flow between a power source and a load, said power controller module comprising a plurality of current limiting channels, each of said plurality of current limiting channels having a predetermined current flow limit, said plurality of current limiting channels being selectively interconnectable in parallel with one another to form one or more current pathways, each of said current pathways having a current flow limit corresponding to the sum of the predetermined current flow limits of the respective current limiting channels that are connected in parallel to form the respective current pathway, each of said plurality of current limiting channels comprising:
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evaluation means for determining whether current flow through said current limiting channel exceeds said predetermined current flow limit; a switch connected between the power source and the load which enables or limits current flow through said current limiting channel in response to the evaluation means, said switch responsive to said evaluation means to allow current to flow through said current limiting channel when current flow through said current limiting channel is below said predetermined current flow limit and responsive to limit current flow through said switch when said current flow through said current limiting channel exceeds said predetermined current flow limit; and each of said plurality of current limiting channels that are connected in parallel passing only a portion of the total current flowing through the respective current pathway. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. In a power distribution system, a power controller module for preventing excessive current flow between a power source and a load, said power controller module comprising a plurality of current limiting channels, each of said plurality of current limiting channels having a predetermined current flow limit, said plurality of current limiting channels being selectively interconnectable in parallel with one another to form one or more current pathways, each of said current pathways having a current flow limit corresponding to the sum of the predetermined current flow limits of the respective current limiting channels that are connected in parallel to form the respective current pathway, each of said plurality of current limiting channels comprising:
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evaluation means for determining whether current flow through said current limiting channel exceeds said predetermined current flow limit; a switch connected between the power source and the load which enables or limits current flow through said current limiting channel in response to the evaluation means, said switch responsive to said evaluation means to allow current to flow through said current limiting channel when current flow through said current limiting channel is below said predetermined current flow limit and responsive to limit current flow through said current limiting channel when said current flow through said current limiting channel exceeds said predetermined current flow limit; a signal path for permitting said switch to disrupt current flow through the current limiting channel independently of said evaluation means; and each of said plurality of current limiting channels passing only a portion of the total current flowing through the respective current pathway. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. In a power distribution system, a power controller module for preventing excessive current flow between a power source and a load, said power controller module comprising:
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a plurality of current limiting channels each having a predetermined current flow limit; each of said plurality of current limiting channels comprising an input line, and output line, evaluation means for determining whether current flow through said current limiting channel exceeds said predetermined current flow limit, and a switch which enables or limits current flow between said input line and said output line of the current limiting channel in response to the evaluation means, said switch responsive to allow current to flow through said current limiting channel when current flow through said current limiting channel is below said predetermined current flow limit and responsive to limit current flow through said current limiting channel when said current flow through said current limiting channel exceeds said predetermined current flow limit; said plurality of current limiting channels being selectively interconnectable in parallel with one another to form one or more current pathways, each of said current pathways having a current flow limit corresponding to the sum of the predetermined current flow limits of the respective current limiting channels that are connected in parallel to form the respective current pathway; and auxiliary means for causing the switch of each of said plurality of current limiting channels to disrupt current flow through said current limiting channel independently of said evaluation means. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. In a power distribution system, a power controller module for preventing excessive current flow between a power source and a load, said power controller module comprising:
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a plurality of current limiting channels each having a predetermined current flow limit; said plurality of current limiting channels being selectively interconnectable in parallel with one another to form one or more current pathways, each of said current pathways having a current flow limit corresponding to the sum of the predetermined current flow limits of the respective current limiting channels that are connected in parallel to form the respective current pathway; and means for urging current limiting channels that are connected in parallel to share current generally equally. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32)
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Specification