Michael Di Dimartino

US Patent:

44384734, Mar 20, 1984

Filed:

Jul 21, 1981

Appl. No.:

6/285247

Inventors:

James C. Cawley - Venetia PA
Michael D. DiMartino - Library PA
Thomas J. Fisher - Munhall PA
Roger L. King - Pittsburgh PA
Marcus H. Uhler - Pittsburgh PA

Assignee:

The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the
Interior - Washington DC

International Classification:

H02H 308

US Classification:

361 18

Abstract:

An intrinsically safe power supply employing a binary current interrupter connected between the power source and the electrical load. Normally the load is situated in a potentially dangerous environment, like a coal mine, and the intrinsically safe power supply at a safe remote location, e. g. , on the earth's surface. The interrupter has a pass and switching transistor, current sensor, gating circuitry, a flip-flop switch, and means to delay the turning on of the transistor--but not its turning off. If an overcurrent or overvoltage condition is sensed between the input and output of the intrinsically safe power supply, load current will cease to flow. In normal operation, only the current interrupter pass transistor will open. A reset signal from an oscillator internal of the interrupter may be used to reset the flip-flop after actuation or upon its initial setting, thereby causing the flow of power into the load.