Voltage surge and overvoltage protection with sequenced component switching
First Claim
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1. A voltage surge and overvoltage protection system, comprising:
- at least one first voltage clamping device configured to clamp a voltage of an input power voltage applied to an electrical load to a predetermined first voltage clamping level;
at least one second voltage clamping device configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load to a predetermined second voltage claiming level;
a series inductance coupled between the first and second voltage clamping devices;
a first selectable actuatable switch connected between the series inductance and the electrical load;
a second selectively actuatable switch in parallel with the first switch for connecting an impedance component between the series inductance and the electrical load; and
a switch control circuit that controls actuation of the first switch and the second switch in a plurality of predetermined sequences, each of the plurality of predetermined sequences corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operating conditions on the input power voltage.
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Abstract
Disclosed are various embodiments of voltage protectors that include a first voltage clamping device configured to clamp a voltage of an input power applied to an electrical load, and a second voltage clamping device configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load. A series inductance separates the first and second voltage clamping devices. Also, a switching element is employed to selectively establish a direct coupling of the input power to the electrical load, where a circuit is employed to control the operation of the switching element.
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Citations
58 Claims
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1. A voltage surge and overvoltage protection system, comprising:
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at least one first voltage clamping device configured to clamp a voltage of an input power voltage applied to an electrical load to a predetermined first voltage clamping level; at least one second voltage clamping device configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load to a predetermined second voltage claiming level; a series inductance coupled between the first and second voltage clamping devices; a first selectable actuatable switch connected between the series inductance and the electrical load; a second selectively actuatable switch in parallel with the first switch for connecting an impedance component between the series inductance and the electrical load; and a switch control circuit that controls actuation of the first switch and the second switch in a plurality of predetermined sequences, each of the plurality of predetermined sequences corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operating conditions on the input power voltage. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 21, 22, 23, 24, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 54, 55)
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11. A method for providing voltage surge and overvoltage protection to an electrical load, comprising the steps of:
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applying an input power voltage to the electrical load; providing a first parallel clamping device and a second parallel clamping device between the input power voltage and the electrical load; providing a series inductance between the first and second voltage clamping devices; providing a first selectably actuatable switch connected between the series inductance and the electrical load; providing second selectively actuatable switch in parallel with the first switch for connecting an impedance component between the series inductance and the electrical load; and controlling the actuation of the first switch and the second switch in a plurality of predetermined sequences, each of the plurality of predetermined sequences corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operating conditions on the input power voltage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 25, 26, 56, 57, 58)
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18. A system for conditioning an input power voltage applied to an electrical load, comprising:
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a first selectively actuatable switch connected between the input power voltage and the electrical load for maintaining a direct connection between the input power voltage and the electrical load unless turned off; a second selectively actuatable switch connected in parallel with the first switch for connecting an impedance component between the input power voltage and the electrical load; means for distributing a dissipation of an overvoltage experienced in the input power voltage among a first parallel clamping device and a second parallel clamping device; and means for providing a plurality of operating sequences of the first switch and the second switch in response to detection of a corresponding one of a plurality of predetermined operating conditions on the input power voltage. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 27, 28)
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29. An apparatus for protecting an electrical load from transient voltage surges and overvoltages when connected to an input power voltage, comprising:
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at least one first voltage clamping device connected to the input power voltage configured to clamp the voltage of the input power voltage to a first predetermined clamping level; at least one second voltage clamping device connected to the electrical load configured to clamp the voltage applied to the electrical load to a second predetermined clamping level lower than said first predetermined clamping level, in parallel arrangement with said first clamping device; a first switch responsive to a first switching signal to switch between (i) a first state in which the input power voltage is directly coupled to the electrical load and first clamping device and (ii) a second state in which the direct coupling is opened; a second switch in parallel with the first switch and responsive to a second switching signal to switch between (i) a first state in which an impedance component is coupled between the input power voltage and the electrical load prior to the second clamping device and (ii) a second state in which the impedance component is disconnected; a voltage detector circuit that provides a control signal representing the input power voltage; a processor circuit responsive to the control signal from the voltage detector circuit operative to provide the first switching signal and the second switching signal in a plurality of predetermined sequences, each of the plurality of predetermined sequences corresponding to one of a plurality of predetermined operating conditions on the input power voltage; and a memory associated with the processor circuit for storing a control program for providing the plurality of predetermined sequences and for storing data for use in determining the plurality of predetermined operating conditions on the input power voltage. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40)
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Specification