Method of detecting run-dry conditions in fuel systems

• US 7,352,550 B2
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Issued: 04/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: TDG Aerospace, Inc.
• Original Assignee: TDG Aerospace, Inc.
• Inventors: Fish, Daniel E., Wagner, Andrew, Evans, David L., Bench, Gerald, Mladenik, John E., Barba, Jose M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W.
• Application Number:
  US11/049,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20050195545A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,155 Days
• Field of Search: 361/62, 361/87
• US Class Current: 361/87
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/00 Emergency protective circuit arrangements for automatic disconnection directly responsive to an undesired change from normal electric working condition with or without subsequent reconnection specially adapted for specific types of electric machines or apparatus or for sectionalised protection of cable or line systems H02H7/00; systems for change-over to standby supply H02J9/00 ; integrated protection for motors H02H7/0822

Abstract

Systems, methods, and apparatus for fault detection and interruption in power lines are provided. Circuitry is implemented via software and hardware that is configured to sense an operational aspect of a power line, such as current levels in a three-phase power line, and apply signal processing to the sensed operational aspect to detect faults including different types of faults such as transient and steady state faults and can also be configured to identify the type of fault. Information on the fault and the identification of the type of fault can be displayed, stored, or some other output operation can be implemented. Circuitry can be implemented to provide digital signal processing and analog signal processing to, for example, independently and in parallel (e.g., redundant operation) detect faults and respond to faults as they occur (i.e., in real time).

Claims

1. A power line fault response device, comprising:

sensor circuitry configured for sensing an operational aspect of a power line;

analog signal processing circuitry configured to detect electrical current in the power line and configured to perform an output operation in response to detecting a fault comprising a variation in the detected electrical current; and

digital signal processing circuitry comprising a processor and memory that is configured to detect electrical current in the power line based on the operational aspect and to perform the output operation in response to detecting a variation in the detected electrical current, wherein the output operation comprises generating a signaling output.

2. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the output operation comprises generating the signaling output to signal that the power line should be disconnected from a load to which the power line is supplying power.

3. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the output operation comprises generating the signaling output to signal an indicator to be activated.

4. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprising memory, and wherein the output operation comprises storing data generated by the analog signal processing circuitry in the memory for later retrieval.

5. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprising memory, and wherein the output operation comprises storing data generated by the digital signal processing circuitry in the memory for later retrieval.

6. The power line fault response device of claim 1, further comprising memory, and wherein the output operation comprises storing data generated by the analog signal processing circuitry and the digital signal processing circuitry in the memory for later retrieval.

7. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry and the analog signal processing circuitry are configured to perform the operation to prevent a detected fault from damaging a load being supplied with power by the power line.

8. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the sensor circuitry and the digital signal processing circuitry are configured to perform the operation to prevent the detected fault from damaging a load being supplied with power by the power line.

9. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing circuitry and the analog signal processing circuitry are configured to independently detect faults.

10. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the digital signal processing circuitry is configured to detect transient and drift faults.

11. The power line fault response device of claim 1, wherein the analog signal processing circuitry is configured to detect transient faults.

12. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the power line fault response device is configured to be in circuit with a plurality of power lines that each supply power to different loads and is configured to detect faults on each of the power lines during operation.

13. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the analog signal processing circuitry is configured for detecting faults on a poly-phase power line.

14. The power line fault response device of claim 1 wherein the digital signal processing circuitry is configured for detecting faults on a poly-phase power line.

15. The power line fault response device of claim 14 wherein the digital signal processing circuitry is configured to independently detect faults in each phase of the poly-phase power line.

16. A power line fault response device, comprising:

sensor circuitry configured for sensing an operational aspect of a power line;

analog signal processing circuitry configured to detect electrical current in the power line and configured to perform an output operation in response to detecting a fault comprising a variation in the detected electrical current;

digital signal processing circuitry comprising a processor and memory that is configured to detect electrical current in the power line based on the operational aspect and to perform the output operation in response to detecting a variation in the detected electrical current;

wherein the analog signal processing circuitry and the digital signal processing circuitry are each configured to operate independently and simultaneously to respond to faults as they occur to prevent a detected fault from damaging a load being supplied with power by the power line.

17. The power line fault response device of claim 16, further configured to compare the detected electrical current to a stored value within the memory to determine a fault condition.

18. A power line fault response device comprising:

sensors configured for sensing an electrical current of a poly-phase power line;

analog-to-digital circuitry that receives analog signals from the sensors;

processor circuitry comprising a memory that is configured to receive digital signals from the analog-to-digital circuitry and to monitor the digital signals for conditions indicative of faults;

means for comparing the digital signals to known values in the memory to determine a fault condition; and

means for terminating the fault condition.

19. The power line fault response device of claim 18, wherein the means for terminating the fault condition comprises the processor circuitry configured to remove power to the power line.