Device for preventing an electrical equipment from re-powering after recovery of service interruption

• US 5,723,914 A
• Filed: 04/26/1996
• Issued: 03/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi KOKI Company Limited (Koki Holdings Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Nakayama, Eiji, Shinohara, Shigeru, Niyada, Masateru
• Primary Examiner(s): Shoop, Jr., William M.
• Assistant Examiner(s): KAPLAN, JONATHAN STUART
• Application Number:
  US08/638,049
• Time in Patent Office: 676 Days
• Field of Search: 307/125, 307/126, 307/131, 307/130, 307/139, 307/140, 307/59, 307/60, 307/78, 307/86
• US Class Current: 307/125
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/548 Electromechanical and static switch connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for preventing the switching-on in case an undesired electric working condition might result
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 25/10 Commutator motors, e.g. repulsion motors
• CPC Class Codes: H02P 29/025 the fault being a power interruption

Abstract

Re-powering an electrical equipment after recovery of service interruption is prevented if the power switch of the electrical equipment stays in ON position. During a transit period of time just after recovery of service interruption, the detection voltage from a post-voltage detection circuit is set to exceed the detection voltage from a pre-voltage detection circuit. In this condition, a photo triac connected in series to the power switch is rendered non-conductive so that the electrical equipment will not be energized.

Claims

1. A security device for electrical equipment having a power switch, the electrical equipment being connected to a power source in use, said device comprising:

a first voltage detection circuit, operable under a first condition when the electrical equipment is supplied with power from the power source, for detecting a voltage of the power source and outputting a first detection voltage;

a second voltage detection circuit, operable under a second condition when the electrical equipment is supplied with power from the power source and when the power switch is turned on to allow the electrical equipment to be powered by the power source, for detecting a voltage of the power source and outputting a second detection voltage;

a comparator connected to said first voltage detection circuit to receive the first detection voltage and also connected to said second voltage detection circuit to receive the second detection voltage, said comparator comparing the first detection voltage with the second detection voltage and outputting a comparison result, said comparison result differing depending on whether said power source is operating under a normal powering condition or whether power has been restored following a power disruption while said power switch is in a closed position; and

control means for controlling the electrical equipment so as not to be powered by the power source in response to the comparison result obtained after power has been restored following a power disruption while said power switch is in a closed position.

2. A security device according to claim 1, wherein the comparison result is a binary signal having a first level and a second level wherein the comparison result takes the first level during said normal powering condition and the second level when power has been restored after the interruption of power supply while said power switch is in a closed position.

3. A security device according to claim 2, wherein said first voltage detection circuit comprises a first integrating circuit consisting of a first resistor and a first capacitor connected in series across the power source, said first integrating circuit having a first time constant, and said second voltage detection circuit comprises a second integrating circuit consisting of a second resistor and a second capacitor connected in series across the power source, said second integrating circuit having a second time constant smaller than the first time constant, and wherein said first voltage detection circuit outputs a voltage across the first capacitor as the first detection voltage, and said second voltage detection circuit outputs a voltage across the second capacitor as the second detection voltage.

4. A security device according to claim 3, wherein said first voltage detection circuit further comprises a third resistor connected across the first capacitor and wherein said second voltage detection circuit further comprises a fourth resistor connected across the second capacitor.

5. A security device according to claim 4, wherein said control means comprises:

an SCR having a gate connected to said comparator to receive the comparison result and being rendered conductive in response to the comparison result with the second level;

a first light emitting element connected in series with said SCR and emitting light when said SCR is rendered conductive;

a first light receiving element to receive the light from said first light emitting element;

a second light emitting element being short-circuited by said first light receiving element when said first light receiving element receives the light from said first light emitting element; and

a photo-triac connected in series to the power switch and being rendered non-conductive when said second light emitting element is short-circuited.

6. A security device according to claim 5, wherein said second capacitor is connected to said SCR.

7. A security device according to claim 6, further comprising a first Zener diode connected across said first capacitor and a second Zener diode connected across said second capacitor, wherein the first Zener diode has a first Zener voltage and a second Zener diode has a second Zener voltage small than the first Zener voltage.

8. A security device for electrical equipment having a power switch, the electrical equipment being connected to a power source in use, said device comprising:

a first status detection circuit for detecting a first status in which the electrical equipment is supplied with power from the power source, and outputting a first detection signal indicative of the first status;

a second status detection circuit for detecting a second status in which the electrical equipment is supplied with power from the power source and the power switch is turned on to allow the electrical equipment to be powered by the power source, and outputting a second detection signal indicative of the second status; and

switching means connected in series to the electrical equipment, said switching means being selectively rendered ON or OFF according to a combination of the first detection signal and the second detection signal, wherein said switching means is rendered OFF when the first detection signal and the second detection signal have a combination of outputs which indicates that power has been restored following a power disruption while said power switch is in a closed position.

9. A switching device according to claim 8, wherein said switching means is rendered ON when the second detection signal is output following the first detection signal.