ENERGY VALIDATION ARRANGEMENT FOR A SELF-POWERED CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

摘要

A self-powered circuit interrupter arrangement for interrupting current in a circuit path uses a current-blocking component to ensure that an insufficient amount of accumulated power for actuating interruption of the circuit path is not misused in an unwarranted attempt to interrupt the current path. The arrangement includes a current inducer circuit for providing a current signal having a magnitude corresponding to the current in the circuit path; a power supply operating from the current signal provided by the current inducer and providing a voltage signal of a predetermined value relative to common; a solenoid mechanism having a coil through which current from the power supply passes to cause interruption of the current in the circuit path; a trip command circuit, responsive to a fault in the circuit path and including an overload detector, for sending an electrical signal commanding that the circuit path be interrupted; an electrical latch actuated in response to both the electrical signal from the trip command circuit and the voltage signal exceeding a predetermined value, the electrical latch arranged in series with the coil between the power supply and common and including a first terminal coupled to the trip command circuit and a second terminal coupled to the power supply; and a prevention circuit constructed and arranged to prevent one of the electrical signal from the trip command circuit or the voltage signal from engaging the electrical latch until the voltage signal exceeds the predetermined value. A number of alternative arrangements for overcoming problems with self-powering a circuit interrupter are also described.