Electrical over/under voltage automatic disconnect apparatus and method

• US 7,262,945 B2
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Issued: 08/28/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Monster LLC (Atlantic Acquisition, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Monster LLC (Atlantic Acquisition, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Demian, Pholpoke, Sobswad, Galang, Einstein C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sircus; Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Danny
• Application Number:
  US10/251,240
• Publication Number:
  US 20040057179A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,803 Days
• Field of Search: 361 42- 50, 361 71- 73, 361/75, 361/90, 361/92, 361/91.1
• US Class Current: 361/91.1
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/207 also responsive to under-voltage window comparators for indication G01R19/165

Abstract

An analog or digital circuit that senses both low and high input voltage and operates to disconnect both line and neutral electrical power connections to a protected device when abnormally low or high voltages are received from a single- or multi-phase power source, and reconnects the protected device when input power has stabilized. The sensing circuit and power supply is functional with voltages up to at least 240 Vac. The nominal 120 Vac circuit is designed to withstand a 6 kilovolt surge without damage. The apparatus does not disconnect the ground line during an out-of-tolerance voltage condition.

Claims

1. An electrical apparatus comprising:

connecting means for connecting the apparatus to a supply of at least one phase of alternating current power having a line, neutral and ground;

sensing means for sensing the voltage of the supplied power across the line-neutral, line-ground and neutral ground;

distribution means having corresponding line, neutral and ground for distributing the sensed power; and

disconnecting means for disconnecting the distribution means line and neutral from the power source when the sensing means detects an out-of-tolerance voltage condition,

wherein the sensing means activates the disconnecting means before the apparatus suffers electrical damage,

wherein the sensing means is selected from a group comprising analog circuitry and digital circuitry,

wherein the sensing means can detect voltages in excess of 132 Vrms and voltages of less that 60 Vrms.

2. An electrical apparatus comprising:

connecting means for connecting the apparatus to a supply of at least one phase of alternating current power having a line, neutral and ground;

sensing means for sensing the voltage of the supplied power across the line-neutral, line-ground and neutral ground;

distribution means having corresponding line, neutral and ground for distributing the sensed power; and

disconnecting means for disconnecting the distribution means line and neutral from the power source when the sensing means detects an out-of-tolerance voltage condition,

wherein the sensing means activates the disconnecting means before the apparatus suffers electrical damage,

wherein the out-of-tolerance voltage condition is a voltage of less than approximately 60 Vrms and greater than approximately 132 Vrms.

3. A method of providing electrical over/under voltage protection comprising:

providing a connecting means for connecting to a supply of at least one phase of alternating current power having a line, neutral and ground;

providing a sensing means for sensing the voltage of the supplied power;

providing a power surge absorption means;

providing a distribution means having a corresponding line, neutral and ground for distributing the sensed power; and

providing a disconnecting means for disconnecting the distribution means line, and neutral from the power source when the sensing means detects an out-of-tolerance voltage condition across the line-neutral, line-ground and neutral-ground, wherein the sensing means activates the disconnecting means before the apparatus suffers electrical damage,

wherein providing a sensing means comprises selecting a sensing means selected from a group comprising analog devices and digital devices,

wherein the sensing means detects voltages of less that 60 Vrms.