Motor operator with ac power circuit continuity sensor
First Claim
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1. A motor operator, for a switch in an electrical system, comprising:
- a motor with an output mechanism to operate the switch;
a battery connected to supply power to the motor;
a charging circuit connected with the battery and to receive power from a power line; and
a control circuit arranged to detect a loss of voltage to the charging circuit with the capability to distinguish between a loss of voltage from the power line and charging circuit discontinuities that produce a loss of voltage in the charging circuit whereby a loss of voltage from the power line initiates an operation of the motor that is not performed upon a loss of voltage due to said discontinuities.
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Abstract
A motor operator with a continuity sensor has a test current injector and a voltage sensor arranged to determine if a loss of AC voltage is due to a discontinuity, such as a blown fuse, in the circuit of a transformer powering the motor operator rather than a loss of voltage from an AC power line. A line voltage detector, such as a resistive or capacitive voltage divider, can also be used with a continuity sensor to distinguish between a discontinuity in the voltage detector and a loss of line voltage. Based on the cause determined by the continuity sensor, signals are generated either to motor operate a disconnect switch or not to.
18 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A motor operator, for a switch in an electrical system, comprising:
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a motor with an output mechanism to operate the switch; a battery connected to supply power to the motor; a charging circuit connected with the battery and to receive power from a power line; and a control circuit arranged to detect a loss of voltage to the charging circuit with the capability to distinguish between a loss of voltage from the power line and charging circuit discontinuities that produce a loss of voltage in the charging circuit whereby a loss of voltage from the power line initiates an operation of the motor that is not performed upon a loss of voltage due to said discontinuities. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An electrical transmission-distribution system comprising:
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a power line of at least one phase carrying AC power; a disconnect switch in series with the power line; a motor for operating the disconnect switch; an electrical power supply for the motor comprising a battery, means for charging the battery by power from the power line, and means for controlling operation of the motor according to predetermined conditions of the power supply, said means for controlling operation comprising means for developing a voltage loss signal indicating voltage not reaching the means for charging and means for developing a discontinuity control signal indicating a discontinuity in the means for charging the battery. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14)
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15. A method of operating a motor operator of a disconnect switch in an electrical transmission-distribution system where a power line supplies power to drive the motor operator through a power supply comprising a battery in a charging circuit coupled with the power line including a high voltage line transformer and a charger transformer having a primary winding intended to be connected with a secondary winding of the line transformer, comprising the steps of:
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monitoring voltage from the charger transformer to detect a loss of voltage; distinguishing, upon a detection of a loss of voltage, such loss due to absence of voltage on the power line and such loss due to a discontinuity in the intended connection between the line transformer secondary winding and the charger transformer primary winding or in the circuit of the secondary winding of the charger transformer; said distinguishing being performed by injecting a current into a winding of the charger transformer and sensing voltage developed across a winding of the charger transformer as a result of the injected current. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17)
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18. An AC power circuit continuity sensor comprising:
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a test current injector arranged for connection with a transformer winding; a voltage sensor connected to respond to a predetermined level of voltage resulting from current injection by the test current injector; and a continuity sensor control comprising a first source of a signal to initiate current injection by the test current injector and a second source of a signal to show the voltage sensor has responded to the voltage resulting from current injection. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. An electrical system comprising:
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an AC power line; a voltage detector circuit for indicating a loss of voltage from the line; an auto-actuation circuit for initiating a predetermined operation in the electrical system upon a loss of voltage from the line; and a continuity sensor for checking the continuity of the voltage detector circuit and to block action by the auto-actuation circuit if detected loss of voltage is due to a discontinuity in the voltage detector circuit. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification