Patent ID: 7755501
Filing Date: 2010-07-13
Classification: H02H

Abstract:
1. A method of protecting an actuator against failure, comprising: establishing a norm of factors affecting an operation of the actuator as based on an operating environment of the actuator; providing the norm with a tolerance defining a condition for the operation of the actuator in the operating environment; observing the operating environment of the actuator in order to detect a deviation that falls outside said tolerance, the observation being performed by an environmental fuse comprising a sensor member with a first connecting surface and a second connecting surface for feeding a flux through an active layer disposed between the first connecting surface and the second connecting surface, wherein the active later is arranged to cause a change in the flux's passing through the active layer when cumulatively subjecting the active layer to a component present in the operating environment, and limiting and/or interrupting a supply to the actuator when said deviation falls outside said tolerance for the operation.