Power distribution system

• US 6,490,141 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2001
• Issued: 12/03/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
• Original Assignee: Ellenberger & Poensgen GmbH
• Inventors: Naumann, Michael, Fischer, Erich
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Smith, Michael
• Application Number:
  US09/996,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20020075620A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 361/62, 361/63, 361/93.2, 361/93.3, 361/93.9, 361/64, 361/65, 361/66, 361/18, 361/2, 361/19, 361/56, 361/57, 361/78, 307/42
• US Class Current: 361/66
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/548 Electromechanical and static switch connected in series
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/087 for dc applications
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/14 Balancing the load in a network
• CPC Class Codes: H02M 1/32 Means for protecting converters other than automatic disconnection

Abstract

A power distribution system includes circuits each having an electronic circuit breaker as a protection for short-circuits and/or overloads, and a clocked power supply unit. The clocked power supply unit is connected to the circuits and feeds power to the circuits. The electronic circuit breaker has a power stage and an adjustable current limiting device connected to the power stage. The adjustable current limiting device, in the event of an overload, when a first adjustable current threshold is exceeded, turns off the power stage after a first adjustable disconnection time has expired, and in the event of a short circuit, after a second adjustable current threshold has been exceeded, turns off the power stage after a second disconnection time has expired.

Claims

1. A power distribution system, comprising:

circuits each having an electronic circuit breaker as a protection for at least one of short-circuits and overloads;

a clocked power supply unit, said clocked power supply unit connected to said circuits and feeding power to said circuits; and

said electronic circuit breaker having;

a power stage; and

an adjustable current limiting device connected to said power stage, said adjustable current limiting device;

in the event of an overload and when a first adjustable current threshold is exceeded, turning off said power stage after a first adjustable disconnection time has expired; and

in the event of a short circuit and after a second adjustable current threshold has been exceeded, turning off said power stage after a second disconnection time has expired.

2. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable current limiting device is:

programmed to turn off said power stage after a first adjustable disconnection time has expired in the event of an overload and when a first adjustable current threshold is exceeded; and

programmed to turn off said power stage after a second disconnection time has expired in the event of a short circuit and after a second adjustable current threshold has been exceeded.

3. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable current limiting device has:

a means for turning off said power stage after a first adjustable disconnection time has expired in the event of an overload and when a first adjustable current threshold is exceeded; and

a means for turning off said power stage after a second disconnection time has expired in the event of a short circuit and after a second adjustable current threshold has been exceeded.

4. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein the power distribution system is in the 24V DC range.

5. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said electronic circuit breaker has:

a measured-value registration part for measuring a load current flowing in a corresponding one of said circuits; and

a control stage adjusting current limiting of said power stage and turning said power stage off as a function of time, said control stage connected to said power stage and said measured-value registration part.

6. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable current limiting device electromagnetically isolates a relevant one of said circuits from said power supply unit in the event of one of the group consisting of a short circuit and an overload.

7. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable current limiting device is programmed to electromagnetically isolate a relevant one of said circuits from said power supply unit in the event of one of the group consisting of a short circuit and an overload.

8. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein said adjustable current limiting device has a means for electromagnetically isolating a relevant one of said circuits from said power supply unit in the event of one of the group consisting of a short circuit and an overload.

9. The power distribution system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said circuits has a fail-safe element for at least one of redundant line protection and reverse polarity protection.

10. The power distribution system according to claim 5, wherein:

at least one of said circuits has a fail-safe element for at least one of redundant line protection and reverse polarity protection; and

said fail-safe element is connected to at least one of said power stage and said control stage.

11. The power distribution system according to claim 5, wherein:

at least one of said circuits has a fail-safe element for at least one of redundant line protection and reverse polarity protection; and

said fail-safe element is connected to said power stage and said control stage.

12. A power distribution system, comprising:

circuits each having an electronic circuit breaker as a protection for at least one of short-circuits and overloads;

a clocked power supply unit, said clocked power supply unit connected to said circuits and feeding power to said circuits;

said electronic circuit breaker having;

a power stage; and

a means for adjustably limiting current turning off said power stage after a first adjustable disconnection time has expired in the event of an overload and when a first adjustable current threshold is exceeded, and turning off said power stage after a second disconnection time has expired in the event of a short circuit and after a second adjustable current threshold has been exceeded.

13. In a power distribution system having circuits and a clocked power supply unit feeding power to the circuits, at least one electronic circuit breaker connected to the circuits for protecting the circuits from at least one of short-circuits and overloads, the circuit breaker comprising:

a power stage; and

an adjustable current limiting device connected to said power stage, said adjustable current limiting device;

in the event of an overload and when a first adjustable current threshold is exceeded, turning off said power stage after a first adjustable disconnection time has expired; and

in the event of a short circuit and after a second adjustable current threshold has been exceeded, turning off said power stage after a second disconnection time has expired.