Electrical over/under voltage automatic disconnect apparatus and method

• US 20040057179A1
• Filed: 09/20/2002
• Published: 03/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Monster LLC (Atlantic Acquisition, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Monster, Inc. (Atlantic Acquisition, Inc.)
• Inventors: Martin, Demian, Pholpoke, Sobswad, Galang, Einstein C.
• Granted Patent: US 7,262,945 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/90
• 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 for distributing the sensed power; and

disconnecting means for disconnecting the distribution means 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.

2. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the connecting means is a three-conductor electrical cord having a three-prong plug and the distribution means is at least one three-prong receptacle

3. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the sensing means is selected from a group comprising analog circuitry, digital circuitry.

4. The apparatus in accordance with claim 3 wherein the sensing means can detect voltages in excess of 132 Vrms and voltages of less that 60 Vrms.

5. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the supply of alternating current power is a three phase source.

6. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the connecting means is a relay having separate contacts for the line and neutral.

7. The apparatus in accordance with claim 1 wherein the out-of-tolerance voltage condition is a voltage of less than approximately 60 Vrms or greater than approximately 132 Vrms.

8. The apparatus of claim 3 further having a reconnecting means for reconnecting the sensed power to the distribution means when the sensing means no longer detects an out-of tolerance voltage condition.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the reconnecting means has a delay of approximately 15 seconds when the sensing means no longer detects an out-of-tolerance voltage condition.

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

distribution means for distributing the sensed power;

disconnecting means for disconnecting the distribution means 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; and

reconnecting means for reconnecting the sensed power to the distribution means when the sensing means no longer detects an out-of-tolerance voltage condition, wherein the reconnecting means has a delay of approximately 15 seconds when the sensing means no longer detects an out-of-tolerance voltage condition.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 wherein the sensing means is selected from a group comprising analog devices, digital devices.

12. The apparatus in accordance with claim 10 wherein the out-of-tolerance voltage condition is a voltage of less than approximately 60 Vrms or greater than approximately 132 Vrms.

13. 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 distribution means for distributing the sensed power; and

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

14. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein providing a sensing means comprises selecting a sensing means selected from a group comprising analog devices, digital devices.

15. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the sensing means detects voltages in excess of 132 Vrms.

16. The method in accordance with claim 14 wherein the sensing means detects voltages of less that 60 Vrms.

17. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein the distribution means distributes power through at least one three-prong electrical outlet receptacle.

18. The method in accordance with claim 13 wherein detection of the out-of-tolerance voltage condition is detection of a voltage of less than approximately 60 Vrms or greater than approximately 132 Vrms.

19. The method of claim 13 further comprising providing a reconnecting means for reconnecting the sensed power to the distribution means when the sensing means no longer detects an out-of-tolerance voltage condition.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the reconnecting means activates after a delay of approximately 15 seconds when the sensing means no longer detects an out-of-tolerance voltage condition.