Abstract:
Discloses an a-c circuit breaker comprising the series combination of a reactor and a circuit interrupter that opens in response to overcurrents. The reactor saturates during a severe overcurrent and then comes out of saturation just prior to current zero to force the arcing current to decay at a much lower rate during this latter period than during the immediately preceding period. The reactor is prevented from saturating during normal currents by an air gap in its core which is bridged in response to an overcurrent by a magnetizable armature.
Abstract:
A high-speed AC electric power switch and current-limiting impedance combination suitable for interconnecting a static inverter and its load circuit is arranged to respond to an overload condition by inserting the impedance in series with the load so fast that the inverter can remain in service with its integrity unimpaired. The switch is also arranged to subsequently isolate the load circuit from the inverter in the event that the overload condition has not otherwise been relieved within a predetermined length of time.