Electrical safety device

Abstract

An electrical safety device (ESD) for switching off an input voltage when a contact voltage or a residual current is exist. The ESD includes a contact voltage detector (CVD), a residual current device (RCD), a tripping relay, and an electromagnetic control unit (EC). The RCD includes a transformer, where a net flux of the transformer is changed by the CVD and The EC. The EC may be configured to tune a residual current threshold (RCTH) of the ESD, in real-time, by adjusting the net flux of the transformed. The tripping relay may be configured to switch off the input voltage of the ESD based on the RCTH (or the net flux of the transformer).

Description

Ref-1403-02-8146ELECTRICAL SAFETY DEVICETECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The Present invention relates to an exemplary electrical safety device, and more particularly to an exemplary electrical safety device that may operate responsive to a contact voltage (i.e., an exemplary voltage being dangerous to human) or an exemplary residual current (e.g., phase residual current).BACKGROUND

[0002] Electrical shock poses a significant danger when people come into contact with electrical appliances, potentially causing anything from minor shocks to fatal electrocution. This risk arises when an electric current passes through a person who is between an electrified body and the ground. Additionally, residual or leaking currents can lead to fires, resulting in further financial and life-threatening consequences. Therefore, protecting against electric shock and preventing destructive leakage currents is crucial and is emphasized in engineering standards.

[0003] While residual currents are a risk factor for electric shock, the main cause is the contact voltage, which must be capable of generating an effective residual current to pose a danger. In industrial settings, voltage spikes from switching or lightning can damage equipment and disrupt protective measures. Conventional safety switches are often unreliable in large commercial and industrial environments due to unintended outages caused by noise and disturbances. Although switches with higher threshold currents are sometimes used as a solution, they are ineffective at protecting against electrocution if the threshold exceeds 30 mA, functioning only as leakage current switches.

[0004] Therefore, there is need to provide a system that addresses the risks of electrocution and damage to equipment by considering residual currents. The system must seek to: identify bothRef-1403-02-8146 the contact voltage and effective residual (leakage) / ground currents, eliminate the risk of electrocution and residual currents by switching off the power supply, enhance the reliability of the switch's performance in the face of momentary network disturbances, detect a live neutral fault, and mitigate the impact of momentary voltage surges as much as possible.SUMMARY

[0005] This summary is intended to provide an overview of the subject matter of the present disclosure, and is not intended to identify essential elements or key elements of the subject matter, nor is it intended to be used to determine the scope of the claimed implementations. Its sole purpose is to present some concepts of one or more aspects in a simplified form as a prelude to the more detailed description that is presented later. The proper scope of the present disclosure may be ascertained from the claims set forth below in view of the detailed description below and the drawings.

[0006] One or more exemplary embodiments describe an exemplary method for switching off an exemplary input voltage of an exemplary electrical safety device (ESD), an exemplary ESD may comprise an exemplary contact voltage detector (CVD), an exemplary residual current device (RCD), an exemplary tripping relay, and an exemplary electromagnetic control unit (EC). In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary method may comprise an exemplary first phase, an exemplary second phase, and an exemplary third phase.

[0007] In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary first phase may comprise passing an exemplary at least one first current though an exemplary at least one first coil wound around an exemplary first segment of an exemplary transformer of an exemplary RCD (TRCD) and connected between an exemplary at least one first input and first output of an exemplary ESD, wherein passing an exemplary at least one first current though an exemplary at least one first coil may comprise passing an exemplary at least one first current through an exemplary at least oneRef-1403-02-8146 first contact of an exemplary tripping relay connected between an exemplary at least one first input of an exemplary ESD and an exemplary first coil; adding an exemplary first flux to an exemplary net flux of an exemplary TRCD by passing an exemplary at least one first current through an exemplary at least one first coil; and passing an exemplary second current though an exemplary second coil wound around an exemplary second segment of an exemplary TRCD and connected between an exemplary second input and second output of an exemplary ESD, wherein passing an exemplary second current though an exemplary second coil may comprise passing an exemplary second current through an exemplary second contact of an exemplary tripping relay connected between an exemplary second input of an exemplary ESD and an exemplary second coil.

[0008] In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary first phase may further comprise subtracting an exemplary second flux from an exemplary net flux of an exemplary TRCD by passing an exemplary second current through an exemplary second coil; and increasing an exemplary residual current threshold(RCTH) of an exemplary ESD by reducing an exemplary net flux of an exemplary TRCD utilizing an exemplary third coil wound around an exemplary third segment of an exemplary TRCD and connected in parallel with an exemplary EC, reducing an exemplary net flux of an exemplary TRCD may comprise inducing an exemplary third current in an exemplary EC by passing an exemplary net flux through an exemplary third segment of an exemplary TRCD;

[0009] In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary second phase may comprise transmitting an exemplary contact voltage received from an exemplary third input of an exemplary ESD to an exemplary input of an exemplary CVD through an exemplary first conductive element connected between an exemplary input of an exemplary CVD and an exemplary third input of an exemplary ESD; transforming an exemplary transmitted contact voltage to an exemplary fourth current using an exemplary resistor of an exemplary CVD connected in series with an exemplary second conductive element; and transmitting an exemplary fourth current to an exemplary second terminalRef-1403-02-8146 of an exemplary tripping relay through an exemplary second conductive element connected between an exemplary output of an exemplary CVD and an exemplary second contact of an exemplary tripping relay, an exemplary second conductive element comprising an exemplary fourth coil wound around an exemplary fourth segment of an exemplary TRCD, wherein transmitting an exemplary fourth current to an exemplary second contact of an exemplary tripping relay comprises adding an exemplary fourth flux induced by passing an exemplary fourth current through an exemplary fourth coil to an exemplary net flux of an exemplary TRCD;

[0010] In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary third phase may comprise switching off an exemplary input voltage of an exemplary ESD by an exemplary tripping relay, wherein an exemplary tripping relay comprises an exemplary parallel connection with an exemplary fifth coil wound around an exemplary fifth segment of an exemplary TRCD, switching off an exemplary input voltage of an exemplary ESD by an exemplary tripping relay may comprise inducing an exemplary fifth current by passing an exemplary non-zero value of an exemplary net flux of an exemplary TRCD through an exemplary fifth coil; and tripping an exemplary input voltage of an exemplary ESD when an exemplary tripping relay receives an exemplary induced fifth current greater than an exemplary RCTH.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the present disclosure, as to its structure, organization, use and method of operation, together with further objectives and advantages thereof, will be better understood from the following drawings in which a presently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure will now be illustrated by way of example. It is expressly understood, however, that the drawings are for the purpose of illustration and description only and are not intended as a definition of the limits of the present disclosure. Embodiments ofRef-1403-02-8146 the present disclosure will now be described by way of example in association with the accompanying drawings in which:

[0012] FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic of an exemplary first embodiment of electrical safety device with exemplary key building blocks thereof, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0013] FIG. IB illustrates a schematic of an exemplary first embodiment of electrical safety device when an exemplary power supply and an exemplary load is connected thereto, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 1C illustrates a schematic of an exemplary first embodiment of electrical safety device when an exemplary electromagnetic control unit is connected thereto, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0015] FIG. ID illustrates a schematic of an exemplary first embodiment of electrical safety device when an exemplary contact voltage is received thereinto, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0016] FIG. IE illustrates a schematic of an exemplary first embodiment of electrical safety device when an exemplary tripping relay switches off an exemplary power supply, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0017] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of an exemplary electromagnetic control unit, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic of an exemplary first embodiment of contact voltage detector, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0019] FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic of an exemplary second embodiment of contact voltage detector, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0020] FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic of an exemplary third embodiment of contact voltage detector, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.Ref-1403-02-8146

[0021] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic of an exemplary second embodiment of electrical safety device, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0022] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic of an exemplary artificial neutral transformer, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0023] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of an exemplary third embodiment of electrical safety device, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0024] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method for setting up an exemplary electrical safety device, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0025] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of an exemplary method for switching off an exemplary input voltage when an exemplary contact voltage is detected in an exemplary electrical safety device, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0026] In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth by way of examples to provide a thorough understanding of the relevant teachings related to the exemplary embodiments. However, it should be apparent that the present teachings may be practiced without such details. In other instances, well known methods, procedures, components, and / or circuitry have been described at a relatively high-level, without detail, in order to avoid unnecessarily obscuring aspects of the present teachings.

[0027] The following detailed description is presented to enable a person skilled in the art to make and use the methods and devices disclosed in one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. For purposes of explanation, specific nomenclature is set forth to provide a thorough understanding of the present disclosure. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that these specific details are not required to practice the disclosed exemplary embodiments.Ref-1403-02-8146Descriptions of specific exemplary embodiments are provided only as representative examples. Various modifications to the exemplary implementations will be plain to one skilled in the art, and the general principles defined herein may be applied to other implementations and applications without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The present disclosure is not intended to be limited to the implementations shown, but is to be accorded the widest possible scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0028] Disclosed herein is an exemplary electrical safety device (ESD) with an exemplary associated method for switching off an exemplary input voltage received into an exemplary ESD in response to presence of contact voltage or an exemplary residual current on an exemplary load, such as washing machine, dish washing machine etc. In an exemplary embodiment, contact voltage may refer to an exemplary voltage that may exist on body of an exemplary load connected to an exemplary ESD, where an exemplary voltage may be dangerous or deadly to humans (e.g. a current in range 10-40 mA may cause a serious damage such as heart attack). In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary residual current may refer to, For example, an exemplary residual current may include an exemplary residual current of phase natural terminal of a power supply or load connected to an exemplary ESD.

[0029] An exemplary ESD may be capable of detecting an exemplary contact voltage without aid of any active sensing mechanize, such as sensors, or without human touch. An exemplary ESD may detect an exemplary range of contact voltage or residual current with aid of an exemplary electromagnet unit that may change, in real-time, operating point or sensitivity of an exemplary ESD. An exemplary ESD may reduce abrupt change in an exemplary power supply voltage / current or an exemplary load voltage / current that may pass across / through an exemplary ESD.

[0030] Referring to the figures, FIG. 1A illustrates a schematic of first embodiment of electrical safety device 100 (ESD 100) with key building blocks thereof, consistent with one orRef-1403-02-8146 more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. FIG. IB illustrates a schematic of an exemplary first embodiment of ESD 100 when power supply 1000 and load 2000 is connected thereto, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. 1A, ESD 100 may include CVD 102, RCD 104, tripping relay 106, EC 108, at least one first input 110, second input 112, third input 114, at least one first output 116, and second output 118. In an exemplary embodiment, ESD 100 may be connected to power supply 1000, wherein an exemplary phase terminal 1002 of power supply 1000 may be connected to at least one first input 110 and neutral terminal 1004 of power supply 1000 may be connected to second input 112. In an exemplary embodiment, ESD 110 may be connected to load 2000, wherein an exemplary phase terminal 2002 of load 2000 may be connected to at least one first output 116 and an exemplary neutral terminal 2004 of load 2000 may be connected to second output 118.

[0031] In further detail with respect to FIGs. 1A-B, in an exemplary embodiment, RCD 104 may include transformer 1042, at least one first coil 1044 wound around first segment of transformer 1042, second coil 1046 wound around a second segment of transformer 1042, third coil 1048 wound around a third segment of transformer 1042, fourth coil 10410 wound around a fourth segment of transformer 1042, fifth coil 10412 wound around a fifth segment of transformer 1042, test resistor 10428 and test button 10430. In an exemplary embodiment, test resistor 10428 and test button 10430 may be used for testing the operation of fourth coil 10410. In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary testing the operation of fourth coil 10410 may refer to pushing test button 10430 and connecting directly at least one first input 110 to fourth coil 10410 through testing resistor 10428. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one first input 110 may be connected to at least one first coil 1044 through at least one first contacts 1062 of tripping relay 106, and second input 112 may connect to second coil 1046 through second contact 1064 of tripping relay 106. In an exemplary embodiment, net flux 10414 may refer to vector summation of all fluxRef-1403-02-8146 passing through transformer 1042. In an exemplary embodiment, positive value of net flux 10414 of transformer 1042 may be defined in counter-clockwise direction.

[0032] In further detail with respect to FIG. IB, at least one first current 122 may be fed to first input 110 by phase terminal 1002 of power supply 1000. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one first current 122 may then pass through at least one first contact 1062 of tripping relay 106 and may add first flux 10416 to net flux 10414 of transformer 1042 by passing through at least one first coil 1044 and feeding load 2000 through at least one first output 116. In an exemplary embodiment, at least one first current 122 may be selected from the group consisting of singlephase and three-phase current, and at least one first coil 1044 may be selected from the group consisting of single-phase and three-phase coil.

[0033] With further reference to FIG. IB, in an exemplary embodiment, second current 124 may be fed to second output 118 by neutral terminal 2004 of load 2000, then may pass through second coil 1046 when second contact 1064 is connected and may induce second flux 10418, which may reduce net flux 10414, and then may back to neutral terminal 1004 of power supply 1000 through second input 112.

[0034] FIG. 1C illustrates a schematic of ESD 100 when EC 108 is connected thereto, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. 1C, third current 1082 may be induced by passing net flux 10414 through third coil 1048 and then may pass through EC 108. In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100 may determine by amount of net flux 10414 passing through fifth coil 10412, wherein inducing third current 1082 may increase or decrease amount of net flux 10414 passing through fifth coil 10412 which may increase or decrease an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100. In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100 may be interpreted as an amount of current in which ESD 100 may activate tripping relay 106 and then may switch off an input voltage that may be fed by power supply 3000.Ref-1403-02-8146

[0035] In further detail with respect to FIG. 1C, in an exemplary embodiment, passing an exemplary abrupt leakage current through at least one first coil 1044 or second coil 1046, due to abrupt over-voltage disturbances caused by removing / inserting loads or of atmospheric origin, may abruptly trigger net flux 10414 through at least one first flux 10416 or second flux 10418, wherein an unwanted tripping caused by an exemplary abrupt leakage current may be avoided by third current 1082 induced by an exemplary abrupt change in net flux 10414 Therefore, amount of inducing third current 1082 may determine an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100 and may increase an exemplary sensitivity of ESD 100 against an exemplary abrupt change in net flux 10412.

[0036] FIG. ID illustrates a schematic of ESD 100 when contact voltage 126 is received thereto, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. ID, contact voltage 126 may be fed by third input 114 of ESD 100 and be transmitted to input 1022 of CVD 102 by first conductive element 120. In an exemplary embodiment, first conductive element 120 may be a current fuse. In an exemplary embodiment, input 1022 and output 1026 of CVD 102 may connect to first conductive element 120 and fourth coil 10410 respectively. In an exemplary embodiment, contact voltage 126 may be transformed to fourth current 1024 by CVD 102. In an exemplary embodiment, passing fourth current 1024 through fourth coil 10410 may induce fourth flux 10420 in transformer 1042, where the fourth flux 10420 may increase net flux 10414 of transformer 1042.

[0037] FIG. IE illustrates a schematic of ESD 100 when tripping relay 106 switches off power supply 1000, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. IE, passing an exemplary non-zero value of net flux 10414 of transformer 1042 through fifth coil 10412 may induce fifth current 10422 which may pass through tripping relay 106. In an exemplary embodiment, passing fifth current 10422 greater than an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100 through tripping relay 106 may cause tripping relay 106 to openRef-1403-02-8146 at least one first contacts 1062 and second contact 1064 which consequently, may switch off an exemplary input voltage fed by at least one first input 110 and second input 112 of ESD 100.

[0038] FIG. 2 illustrates a schematic of EC 108, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment, an electromagnetic control unit 108 may comprise variable resistor 1084 connected in parallel with capacitor 1086. In an exemplary embodiment, real-time changing an exemplary value of variable resistor 1084 may change an exemplary amount of third current 1082 passing through electromagnetic control unit 108.

[0039] FIG. 3A illustrates a schematic of first embodiment of contact voltage detector 102A (CVD 102A), consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. 3A, CVD 102A may include resistor 1028 connected between input 1022 and output 1026 of CVD 102A.

[0040] FIG. 3B illustrates a schematic of second embodiment of contact voltage detector 102B (CVD 102B), consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. 3B, CVD 102B may include resistor 1028 connected between first input 1022 of CVD 102B and nonlinear resistor 10210, wherein nonlinear resistor connected to output 1026 of CVD 102B. In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary V / I characteristic of nonlinear resistor 10210 may determine an exemplary amount of fourth current 1024 generated by voltage across input 1022 and output 1026 of CVD 102B. In an exemplary embodiment, nonlinear resistor 10210 may be an exemplary varistor.

[0041] FIG. 3C illustrates a schematic of third embodiment of contact voltage detector 102C(CVD 102C), consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. 3C, CVD 102C may include bridge rectifier 10212 connected between input 1022 and output 1026 of CVD 102C, resistor 1028 connected in series with positive polarity 10214 of bridge rectifier 10212, break-down diode 10216 connected between resistorRef-1403-02-81461028 and negative polarity 10218 of bridge rectifier 10212, and constant resistor 10220 connected in parallel with break-down diode 10216.

[0042] In further detail with respect to FIG. 3C, in an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary AC voltage across input 1022 and output 1026 of CVD 102C may be converted to DC voltage across positive polarity 10214 and negative polarity 10218 by bridge rectifier 10212. In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary break-down voltage of break-down diode 10216 along with resistors 10220 and 1028 may determine an exemplary amount of fourth current 1024 generated by an exemplary DC voltage across the positive polarity 10214 and negative polarity 10218 of bridge rectifier 10212.

[0043] FIG. 4 illustrates a schematic of an exemplary second embodiment of electrical safety device 200 (ESD 200), consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. 4, ESD 200 may include artificial neutral transformer 202 (ANT 202) which may comprises 3 -line input 2022 and output 2024. In an exemplary embodiment, ANT 202 may connect between at least one first contacts 1062 and second contact 1064 of tripping relay 106. In an exemplary embodiment, ANT 202 may provide an exemplary neutral line to all elements of ESD 200 when an exemplary neutral-less 3-phase or an exemplary isolated power supply 1000 may be connected to at least one first input 110 or neutralless 3-phase load 2000 may be connected to at least one first output 116 of ESD 200.

[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates a schematic of ANT 202, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. 5, 3-line input 2022 of ANT 202, which may include first input 2026, second input 2028, and third input 20210, may connect to output 2024 of ANT 202 with a Zig-Zag structure.

[0045] FIG. 6 illustrates a schematic of a third embodiment of an electrical safety device 300 (ESD 300), consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In further detail with respect to FIG. 6, ESD 300 may include surge protective device 302 (SPDRef-1403-02-8146302)connected between at least one first input 110 and sixth coil 10424 wound around sixth segment of transformer 1042. In an exemplary embodiment, sixth coil 10424 may connect to first output 112 of ESD 300. In an exemplary embodiment, SPD 302 may be configured to generate sixth current 3022 in response to present an exemplary high and abrupt voltage across at least one first input 110 and first output 112 of ESD 400. In an exemplary embodiment, passing sixth current 3022 through sixth coil 10424 may induce sixth flux 10426 on transformer 1042 that may increase net flux 10414.

[0046] FIG. 7 illustrates a flow chart of method 400 for setting up ESD 100- 300, consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment with further reference to FIGs. 1B-C, and 2, method 400 may include initializing net flux 10414 (step 402), and tuning an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100-300 (step 404). In further detail with respect to step 402, step 402 may include initializing net flux 10414. In an exemplary embodiment, initializing net flux 10414 may include connecting power supply 100 to at least one first input 110 and second input 112; connecting load 2000 to at least one first output 116 and second output 118; feeding at least first current 122 to at least one first input 110 by phase terminal of power supply 1000; passing at least one first current 122 through at least one closed first contact 1062 then at least one first output 116; and feeding at least one first current 122 to load 2000. In an exemplary embodiment, passing at least one first current 122 through at least one closed first contact 1062 may include inducing at least one first flux 10416; and generating net flux of net flux 10414 by at least first flux 10416.

[0047] In further detail with respect to FIG. 7 and step 402, in an exemplary embodiment, step 402 may include feeding second current 124 to second output 118 by neutral terminal of load 2000; passing second current 124 through second coil 1046 then closed second contact 1064 of tripping relay 106; feeding second current to negative terminal of power supply 1000 by secondRef-1403-02-8146 input 112. In an exemplary embodiment, passing second current 124 through second coil 1046 may include inducing second flux 10418; and decreasing net flux 10414 by second flux 10418.

[0048] In further detail with respect to FIG. 7 and step 404, step 404 may include tuning a RCTH of ESD 100-300. In an exemplary embodiment, tuning an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100- 300 may include adjusting net flux 10414, and determining of an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100- 300 based on adjusted net flux 10414. In an exemplary embodiment, adjusting net flux 10414 may include adjusting an exemplary back magneto motive force in third coil 1048 and inducing third current 1082 on EC 108 based on adjusted back magneto motive force in third coil 1048, where an amount of induced third current 1082 may change in real-time with real-time changing an exemplary value of variable resistor 1084 in FIG. 2.

[0049] In further detail with respect to tuning an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100-300 based on adjusted net flux 10414, in an exemplary embodiment, determining of an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100-300 based on adjusted net flux 10414 may include determining induced current 10422 that may activate tripping relay 106 and may cause tripping relay to switch off an exemplary input voltage that may fed by power supply 1000. In an exemplary embodiment, an exemplary value of induced current 10422 may be an exemplary value of an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100-300. In an exemplary embodiment, determining induced current 10422 may include determining an exemplary back magneto motive force in fifth coil 10412 and calculating an exemplary value of induced current 10422 based on determined an exemplary back magneto motive force in fifth coil 10422 and an exemplary number of turns of fifth coil 10422.

[0050] FIG. 8 illustrates a flow chart of method 500 for switching off an input voltage, which may be fed by power supply 1000, when an exemplary contact voltage 126, which may be fed by second input 114, is detected in ESD 100-300; consistent with one or more exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. In an exemplary embodiment with further reference to FIGs. 1B-E, method 500 may include detecting contact voltage 126 and transforming contactRef-1403-02-8146 voltage 126 to residual current / fourth current 1024(step 502), and switching off an input voltage based on an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100-300(step 504).

[0051] In further detail with respect to step 502, step 502 may include transmitting contact voltage , which may be fed by second input 114, to across input 1022 and output 1026 by second conductive element 120; transforming voltage across input 1022 and output 1026 into fourth current 1024, by CVD 102A-C; adding induced fourth flux 10420 to net flux 10414 by passing fourth current 1024 through fourth coil 10410; adding a residual current to fifth current 10422, wherein the residual current induced by passing fourth flux 10420 through fifth coil 10412.

[0052] In further detail with respect to FIG. 8 and step 504, step 504 may include switching off an exemplary input voltage based on an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100-300. In an exemplary embodiment, switching off an exemplary input voltage based on an exemplary RCTH of ESD 100- 300 may include comparing an exemplary value of fifth current 10422 with an exemplary value RCTH of ESD 100-300; and switching of an exemplary input voltage, which may be fed by power supply 1000 through at least one first input 110 and second input 112, if an exemplary value of fifth current 10422 greater than or equal to an exemplary value of RCTH of ESD 100-300. In an exemplary embodiment, switching of the input voltage may include opening at least first contacts 1062 and second contact 1064.

[0053] While the foregoing has described what are considered to be the best mode and / or other examples, it is understood that various modifications may be made therein and that the subject matter disclosed herein may be implemented in various forms and examples, and that the teachings may be applied in numerous applications, only some of which have been described herein. It is intended by the following claims to claim any and all applications, modifications and variations that fall within the true scope of the present teachings.

[0054] Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, including in the claims thatRef-1403-02-8146 follow, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.

[0055] The scope of protection is limited solely by the claims that now follow. That scope is intended and should be interpreted to be as broad as is consistent with the ordinary meaning of the language that is used in the claims when interpreted in light of this specification and the prosecution history that follows and to encompass all structural and functional equivalents. Notwithstanding, none of the claims are intended to embrace subject matter that fails to satisfy the requirement of Sections 101, 102, or 103 of the Patent Act, nor should they be interpreted in such a way. Any unintended embracement of such subject matter is hereby disclaimed.

[0056] Except as stated immediately above, nothing that has been stated or illustrated is intended or should be interpreted to cause a dedication of any component, step, feature, object, benefit, advantage, or equivalent to the public, regardless of whether it is or is not recited in the claims.

[0057] It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as first and second and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions. An element proceeded by “a” or “an” does not, without further constraints, preclude the existence of additional identical elements in the process, method, article, or apparatus that comprises the element.

[0058] Unless otherwise stated, all measurements, values, ratings, positions, magnitudes, sizes, and other specifications that are set forth in this specification, are approximate, not exact. They are intended to have a reasonable range that is consistent with the functions to which they relate and with what is customary in the art to which they pertain.Ref-1403-02-8146

[0059] It will be understood that the terms and expressions used herein have the ordinary meaning as is accorded to such terms and expressions with respect to their corresponding respective areas of inquiry and study, except where specific meanings have otherwise been set forth herein. Relational terms such as “first” and “second” and the like may be used solely to distinguish one entity or action from another without necessarily requiring or implying any actual such relationship or order between such entities or actions.

[0060] The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it may be seen that various features are grouped together in various implementations. This is for purposes of streamlining the disclosure, and is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed implementations require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus, the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.

[0061] While various implementations have been described, the description is intended to be exemplary, rather than limiting and it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many more implementations and implementations are possible that are within the scope of the implementations. Although many possible combinations of features are shown in the accompanying figures and discussed in this detailed description, many other combinations of the disclosed features are possible. Any feature of any embodiment may be used in combination with or substituted for any other feature or element in any other embodiment unless specifically restricted. Therefore, it will be understood that any of the features shown and / or discussed in the present disclosure may be implemented together in any suitable combination. Accordingly, theRef-1403-02-8146 implementations are not to be restricted except in light of the attached claims and their equivalents.Also, various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of the attached claims.

Claims

Ref-1403-02-8146What is claimed is:

1. A method for switching off an input voltage of an electrical safety device (ESD) comprising a contact voltage detector (CVD), a residual current device (RCD), a tripping relay, and an electromagnetic control unit (EC), the method comprising: a first phase comprising: passing at least one first current through at least one first coil wound around a first segment of a transformer of the RCD (TRCD) and connected between at least one first input and first output of the ESD, wherein passing the at least one first current though the at least one first coil comprises passing the at least one first current through at least one first contact of a tripping relay connected between the at least one first input of the ESD and the first coil; adding a first flux to a net flux of the TRCD by passing the at least one first current through the at least one first coil; passing a second current though a second coil wound around a second segment of the TRCD and connected between a second input and second output of the ESD, wherein passing the second current though the second coil comprises passing the second current through a second contact of the tripping relay connected between the second input of the ESD and the second coil; subtracting a second flux from the net flux of the TRCD by passing the second current through the second coil; and increasing a residual current threshold (RCTH) of the ESD by reducing the net flux of the TRCD utilizing a third coil wound around a third segment of the TRCD and connected in parallel with the EC, reducing the net flux of the TRCD comprising inducing a back magneto motive force in the third coil by passing the net flux through the third segment of the TRCD and inducing a third current in the EC by the induced back magneto motive force in the third coil;Ref-1403-02-8146 a second phase comprising: transmitting a contact voltage received from a third input of the ESD to an input of the CVD through a first conductive element connected between the input of the CVD and the third input of the ESD; transforming the transmitted contact voltage to a fourth current using a resistor of the CVD connected in series with the second conductive element; and transmitting the fourth current to the second terminal of the tripping relay through a second conductive element connected between the output of the CVD and the second contact of the tripping relay, the second conductive element comprising a fourth coil wound around a fourth segment of the TRCD, wherein transmitting the fourth current to the second contact of the tripping relay comprises adding a fourth flux induced by passing the fourth current through the fourth coil to the net flux of the TRCD; and a third phase comprising: switching off the input voltage of the ESD by the tripping relay, wherein the tripping relay comprises a parallel connection with a fifth coil wound around a fifth segment of the TRCD, switching off the input voltage of the ESD by the tripping relay comprising: inducing a fifth current by passing a non-zero value of the net flux of theTRCD through the fifth coil; and tripping the input voltage of the safety electrical device when the tripping relay receives the fifth current greater than the RCTH.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein inducing the third current in the EC comprises passing the third current through a variable resistor coupled parallel with a capacitor.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein transforming the transmitted contact voltage to the fourth current using the resistor of the CVD comprises transforming the transmitted contact voltage to the fourth current using a constant resistor.Ref-1403-02-81464. The method of claim 1, wherein transforming the transmitted contact voltage to the fourth current using the resistor of the CVD comprises transforming the transmitted contact voltage to the fourth current using a constant resistor connected in series with a nonlinear resistor.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein transforming the transmitted contact voltage to the fourth current using the resistor of the CVD comprises passing the transmitted contact voltage through a bridge rectifier connected between the input and the output of the CVD, and transforming transmitted contact voltage to the fourth current using a first constant resistor of the CVD connected in series with a second constant resistor of the CVD connected in parallel with a breakdown diode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein passing the second current through the second coil comprises passing the second current through an artificial neutral transformer (ANT) connected between the at least one first input and the second input of the ESD when a power supply is connected to the at least one first input of the ESD.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the power supply selected from the group consisting of a neutral-less power supply and an isolated power supply.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein passing the second current through the ANT comprises passing the second current through a Zig-Zag transformer.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the second phase further comprises increasing the value of the net-flux of the TRCD by passing a sixth current generated by a surge protective device (SPD) through a sixth coil wound around a sixth segment of the TRCD and connected between the SPD and the second input of the electrical safety device, wherein the SPD connected between the at least one first input and the second input of the electrical safety device.

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