Title:
CURRENT LIMITER
Document Type and Number:
Japanese Patent JP3896175
Kind Code:
B2
Abstract:
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To make it possible to repeatedly use a current limiter for short- circuiting for circuit protection.
SOLUTION: The title current limiter uses a conductive composite material and an inhomogeneous resistance distribution structure. The inhomogeneous resistance distribution is selected so that the resistance of at least one specified thin film in the current limiter will be by far higher than that of the rest of the current limiter. For an actual current limiter, pressure is applied to the composite material in a direction perpendicular to the specified thin film. If short-circuiting takes place, adiabatic resistance heating occurs in the specified thin film, followed by rapid thermal expansion. This causes partial or complete physical separation of the current limiter at the specified thin film, which increases the resistance of the entire current limiter against current and thus limits short-circuit current passing through the current limiter. When short- circuiting ceases, the current limiter returns to the low-resistance state and permits the normal passage of current.
Inventors:
Anil Large Dugar
Lionel Monty Levinson
Harold Jay Patchen
Larry Neil Lewis
Lionel Monty Levinson
Harold Jay Patchen
Larry Neil Lewis
Application Number:
JP14634496A
Publication Date:
March 22, 2007
Filing Date:
June 10, 1996
Export Citation:
Assignee:
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
International Classes:
H02H9/02; H01C7/02; H01C7/12; H01C7/13; H01H9/46; H01H87/00; (IPC1-7): H02H9/02; H01H87/00
Domestic Patent References:
| JP1225031A | ||||
| JP64074703A | ||||
| JP58028803A |
Foreign References:
| DE4330607A1 | ||||
| EP0640995A2 |
Attorney, Agent or Firm:
Kenichi Matsumoto
Hirokazu Ogura
Toshihisa Kurokawa
Arakawa Satoshi
Hirokazu Ogura
Toshihisa Kurokawa
Arakawa Satoshi