Inventors:
Wen T. Chen - West Newton MA
Vincent C. Oxley - Wayland MA
Assignee:
GTE Laboratories Incorporated - Waltham MA
International Classification:
H02H 908
Abstract:
A circuit breaker, having a latching mechanism and a solenoid senses current through a circuit. The sensed current is converted to a proportional voltage. A current rating plug and receptacle system, responsive thereto, provides a standardized voltage. The proportional voltage is applied across a resistor in series with parallel connected permanent shunt resistor and replaceable plug resistor. The standardized voltage is obtained across the parallel connection. A peak detector provides an approximate true peak value voltage of the standardized voltage. An instantaneous trip circuit, a ground fault detector, and both short term and long term delay circuits provide trip signals upon certain conditions. Upon the presence of any trip signal, an OR circuit provides a control signal to gate an SCR having a thermal switch coupled across its anode and cathode. A supply voltage is applied across a serial connection of the anode, the cathode, and the solenoid.