Two terminal arc suppressor
First Claim
1. An arc suppressor for switchable contacts coupling a voltage source to a load, said arc suppressor comprising:
- a pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a set of switchable contacts to be protected;
a solid state triggerable switch connected between the pair of terminals;
a triggering circuit operatively coupled to the solid state triggerable switch operative upon the switchable contacts moving from a closed state to an open state for driving the solid state triggerable switch into a conductive state to short out the switchable contacts; and
a pinch-off circuit coupled to the triggering circuit for controlling the length of time that the solid state triggerable switch remains in said conductive state following movement of the switchable contacts from the closed state to the open state; and
a voltage surge limiting component connected between the pair of terminals;
wherein the component is a transient voltage suppressor.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A two terminal arc suppressor for protecting switch, relay or contactor contacts and the like comprises a two terminal module adapted to be attached in parallel with the contacts to be protected and including a circuit for deriving an operating voltage upon the transitioning of the switch, relay or contactor contacts from a closed to an open disposition, the power being rectified and the resulting DC signal used to trigger a power triac switch via an optoisolator circuit whereby arc suppression pulses are generated for short predetermined intervals only at a transition of the mechanical switch, relay or contactor contacts from an closed to an open transition and, again, at an open to a close transition during contact bounce conditions.
310 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An arc suppressor for switchable contacts coupling a voltage source to a load, said arc suppressor comprising:
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a pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a set of switchable contacts to be protected; a solid state triggerable switch connected between the pair of terminals; a triggering circuit operatively coupled to the solid state triggerable switch operative upon the switchable contacts moving from a closed state to an open state for driving the solid state triggerable switch into a conductive state to short out the switchable contacts; and a pinch-off circuit coupled to the triggering circuit for controlling the length of time that the solid state triggerable switch remains in said conductive state following movement of the switchable contacts from the closed state to the open state; and a voltage surge limiting component connected between the pair of terminals; wherein the component is a transient voltage suppressor.
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2. An arc suppressor for switchable contacts coupling a voltage source to a load, said arc suppressor comprising:
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a pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a set of switchable contacts to be protected; a solid state triggerable switch connected between the pair of terminals; a triggering circuit operatively coupled to the solid state triggerable switch operative upon the switchable contacts moving from a closed state to an open state for driving the solid state triggerable switch into a conductive state to short out the switchable contacts; and a pinch-off circuit coupled to the triggering circuit for controlling the length of time that the solid state triggerable switch remains in said conductive state following movement of the switchable contacts from the closed state to the open state; wherein the solid state triggerable switch comprises a power triac having a first anode electrode connected to one of the pair of terminals, a second anode electrode connected to the other of the pair of terminals and a triggering electrode. - View Dependent Claims (4, 6, 7, 8)
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3. An arc suppressor for switchable contacts coupling a voltage source to a load, said arc suppressor comprising:
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a pair of terminals adapted to be connected across a set of switchable contacts to be protected; a solid state triggerable switch connected between the pair of terminals; a triggering circuit operatively coupled to the solid state triggerable switch operative upon the switchable contacts moving from a closed state to an open state for driving the solid state triggerable switch into a conductive state to short out the switchable contacts; and a pinch-off circuit coupled to the triggering circuit for controlling the length of time that the solid state triggerable switch remains in said conductive state following movement of the switchable contacts from the closed state to the open state; wherein the solid state triggerable switch comprises a full wave rectifier bridge having input terminals connected to said pair of terminals and a transistor switch connected across output terminals of the rectifier bridge. - View Dependent Claims (5)
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9. A solid state, two terminal arc suppressor comprising:
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(a) a pair of terminals adapted to be connected across switchable contacts to be protected; (b) a contact power harvester circuit connected between the pair of terminals for producing a DC voltage upon the switchable contacts transitioning from a closed state to an open state; (c) a power triac circuit having a first anode electrode connected to one of the pair of terminals, a second anode electrode connected to the other of the pair of terminals and a triggering electrode; and (d) circuit means connected to the contact power harvester circuit and the triggering electrode for driving the power triac circuit into a conducting state only for a predetermined time interval when the switchable contacts transition from an open state to a closed state and for again rendering the power triac circuit conducting for only a predetermined time interval when the switchable contacts transition from a closed state to an open state; wherein the circuit means comprises an optoisolator having an IR emitter source and an IR detector wherein the IR detector is connected in driving relation to the triggering electrode and the IR emitter source is connected to a source of DC current. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A solid state, two terminal arc suppressor comprising:
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(a) a first pair of input terminals adapted to be connected in parallel relation to a set of switchable contacts to be protected, (b) a surge suppressor component connected between the first pair of input terminals; (c) a snubber circuit comprising a resistor and a capacitor connected in series between the first pair of input terminals; (d) a triggerable solid state switching device connected between the first pair of input terminals; and (e) a triggering circuit for driving the triggerable solid-state switch into a conducting state for a predetermined time interval upon the making or the breaking of the set of switchable contacts; wherein the triggerable solid state switching device comprises a full-wave rectifier bridge having a second pair of input terminals connected individually to the first pair of input terminals and a pair of output terminals with a transistor switch having a collector to emitter path connected to the pair of output terminals; and said triggering circuit including an optoisolator having an IR emitter source connected in series with a resistor and a capacitor between the first pair of input terminals and an IR detector connected in driving relation to a base electrode of the transistor switch.
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Specification