Patent ID: 6741435
Filing Date: 2004-05-25
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
A DC-arc suppression circuit, comprising:an electro-mechanical relay with a relay contact providing for direct current (DC) electricity to be controlled between a power source and an electrical load, and further comprising an inductive armature to open and close said relay contact; a power transistor connected in electrical shunt with said relay contact and having an input for controlling a shunt current; a timing circuit electrically connected to said inductive armature and connected to said input of the power transistor; and a power-control signal input electrically connected to the timing circuit; wherein, when the timing circuit receives a command from the power-control signal input to interrupt a flow of power from said power source to said electrical load, said timing circuit first turns the power transistor on in response to said command, then opens said relay contact, and then turns the power transistor off.