Patent ID: 6201678
Filing Date: 2001-03-13
Classification: H01H,H02H

Abstract:
A switch gear circuit for use in electric vehicles, comprising:a power source;a capacitive load;a circuit breaker element in series with said power source between said power source and said load and configured to open said circuit when a current flow through said circuit breaker element exceeds a first preselected maximum;a first pathway having a first switch element that is selectively closed to allow current flow between said power source and said load and opened only when a voltage drop across said first switch element is less than a predetermined threshold value; anda second pathway in parallel with said first pathway and including a second switch element in series with a second circuit breaker element that is configured to open when a current flow through said second circuit breaker element exceeds a second preselected maximum, said second switch element being selectively closed to allow current to flow through said second pathway so that said voltage drop across said first switch element becomes less than said predetermined threshold value to thereby allow said first switch element to be selectively opened.