Arc fault circuit protection device with asymmetrical transformer

• US 6,538,863 B1
• Filed: 11/16/2001
• Issued: 03/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Macbeth, Bruce F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US09/990,820
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42, 361/45, 361/78, 361/93
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/334 with means to produce an artificial unbalance for other protection or monitoring reasons or remote control H02H3/338 takes precedence

Abstract

A protection device for an electrical circuit includes an asymmetrical transformer for producing a signal in response to an arc fault in the circuit; and an arc fault detector connected to the transformer which receives the signal. The asymmetrical transformer preferably includes a primary winding of the asymmetrical transformer being formed by a hot conductor and a neutral conductor of the electrical circuit. An asymmetry of a symmetrical secondary winding is produced by placing an asymmetrical tap into the symmetrical secondary winding of the transformer. The tap receives an asymmetrical part of common mode core flux to produce the signal, while the symmetrical secondary winding receives full common mode flux but in equal and opposite directions so as not to produce a signal.

Claims

1. A protection device for an electrical circuit, comprising:

an asymmetrical transformer for producing a signal in response to an arc fault in said circuit; and

an arc fault detector connected to said transformer which receives said signal.

2. A protection device according to claim 1, further comprising a hot electrical conductor and a neutral electrical conductor, wherein each conductor forms a primary winding of said asymmetrical transformer.

3. A protection device according to claim 2, in which said transformer produces an output signal that is more responsive to signals on a selected one of said hot and neutral conductors than to signals on the other conductor.

4. A protection device according to claim 2, in which said asymmetrical transformer includes a core selected from the group consisting of toroidal cores, sectional cores, and square cores.

5. A protection device according to claim 4, in which said asymmetrical transformer includes a first winding coupled to an oscillator for producing a grounded neutral transformer.

6. A protection device according to claim 5, in which said first winding of said asymmetrical transformer, which is used to generate a grounded neutral indicating sign, is also used as an output winding for an arc fault detection signal.

7. A protection device according to claim 1, in which said asymmetrical transformer includes a core having circumferentially non uniform magnetic characteristics.

8. A protection device according to claim 1, in which said asymmetrical transformer includes a core having a notch formed therein.

9. A protection device according to claim 1, further comprising a circuit interrupter operationally connected to said arc fault detector.

10. A protection device according to claim 1, further comprising an arc fault simulator coupled to said asymmetrical transformer for simulating an arc fault for verifying the operation of said protection device.

11. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said asymmetrical transformer includes:

a primary winding of said asymmetrical transformer being formed by a hot conductor and a neutral conductor of said electrical circuit;

a symmetrical secondary winding of said transformer;

wherein an asymmetry of said symmetrical secondary winding is produced by placing an asymmetrical tap into said symmetrical secondary winding of said transformer, such that said tap receives an asymmetrical part of common mode transformer core flux to produce said signal, whereas said symmetrical secondary winding receives full common mode flux but in substantially equal and opposite directions so as not to produce a signal.

12. A protection device according to claim 11, wherein said transformer produces a second signal in response to a ground fault in said electrical circuit.

13. A protection device according to claim 12, further comprising a ground fault detector which receives said second signal.

14. A protection device according to claim 11, wherein symmetrical secondary winding connects to a ground fault detector.

15. A protection device according to claim 11, wherein an arc fault detector is connected to one end of said asymmetry of said symmetrical secondary winding.