Patent ID: 6011680
Filing Date: 2000-01-04
Classification: H01H,H01R,H02H,H02J,Y02B,Y04S

Abstract:
A connecting devices comprising:a switching device for switching through or releasing a connection between conductors from a supply side to a load side of the connection device;monitoring and control electronics for controlling the switching device as a function of information or measured data, the monitoring and control electronics being supplied with voltage;potential-measuring devices on the supply side and/or the load side, the potential-measuring devices measuring conductor potentials continuously or at regular intervals, the switching device being activated if a measured potential falls short of or exceeds specific limits;a fault current detection device for monitoring the conductors to be switched through, the fault current detection device capable of acting on the switching device; anda bus interface for the monitoring and control electronics, information and/or command data being present at the bus interface;the monitoring and control electronics being capable of generating a signal when a connection between the conductors is briefly released or established a predetermined number of times within a predetermined period of time that is sufficient for detecting loose contacts, the monitoring and control electronics being capable of generating a signal if a predetermined number of interruptions corresponding to the loose contacts occurring during a length of time comparatively shorter than a predetermined longer period.