ELECTRICAL CONTROL ARRANGEMENT

Abstract: An electrical control arrangement for a low voltage power supply comprises a power source, an output for coupling to an electrical load, a thermal overload cut-out device (4) connected in series between the power source and the output, and a light sensitive transducer (1), wherein the transducer (1) is arranged to actuate a semiconductor switching device (2) coupled to a heating element (3) physically adjacent to the cut-out device (4), whereby under predetermined illumination conditions the switching device (2) is operated so as to cause heating of the cut-out device (4) which interrupts the flow of current between the source and the output.

Description: The present invention relates to an electrical control arrangement, and particularly to photothermic and time switch devices for an outdoor low voltage power supply system. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION. It is understood that owing to the lack of electrical overload and short circuit protective devices in the outdoor low tension power supply system, it often causes the damage of transformer in case of short circuit during operation when the wire is cut off by a lawn mover or run over by a vehicle. To maintain the safety of power supply system, generally a thermal over-current breaker composed of a bi-metal plate with contact points at its end is usually added in series at the secondary side. When the heat of bi-metal plate produced by the current in excess of a rated value in the circuit reaches a specific the activating point constant close contact points are disconnected and open, and after the heat of metal plate is lowered to a normal temperature, it goes to its returning point, making the constant close contact point restore the electric conduction. However, the design of the above thermal current breaker requires additional manpower and material costs. For cost effective purposes, the applicant has developed the circuit design of photothermic controlling switch devices. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION: The convention light controlled outdoor low tension power supply system usually adopts relay type switch as an on and off drive to operate and control the circuit. For the purpose of circuit control and protection, a thermal current breaker should be added in series at the output end of the secondary current of the power supply system so as to prevent from short circuit when the thinly buried wire is cut off by a lawn mover. Nevertheless, the additional current breaker also increases manpower and material costs. This photothermic and time switch is so designed that a photo­ electric element controls a switch device which in turn actuates a thermal element installed outside of a thermal current breaker to obtain following functions. When illuminated, the thermal element is heated by electric current the related circuitry is stated in the paragraph of detailed description of the invention. The current breaker trips off and disconnected the circuit after it stores the heat to delay for a certain period of time. Following the interruption of illumination, the current breaker is cooling down to delay a certain period of time and closes the circuit to flow the current, thus making the relay restored to a constant closing state. The current breaker automatically drops off in case of the short circuit or overload on the transmission line. The above said design is capable of reducing the manpower and material costs, and can avoid the interference from false signal by means of the photothermic and time switch devices. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS: Fig. 1 shows the block diagram of photothermic and time switch. Fig. 2 shows the detailed circuit diagram of example to utilize Fig. 1 block diagram. Fig. 3 shows the sketch of example to utilize SCR as controlling element. Fig. 4 shows the sketch of example to utilize power crystal as controlling element. Fig. 5 shows the sketch of example to utilize direct current as source of power and power crystal switching element. Fig. 6 shows the sketch of example according to Fig. 1 by attaching a heat sensitive resistor to heating element. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION: The detailed description of the photothermic and time switch devices is presented as follows. In the block diagram of photothermic and time switch as shown in Fig. 1 which consists of following components: (1) the photoelectric element which is made of CDS or photoelectric crystal is devised to lower electrical resistance when illuminated. (2) The switching device is composed of SCR, or TRAC, or crystal. It may also be made photo controlled SCR as integral part with the photoelectric element (1). (3) The heating resistance device. (4) The thermal current breaker remains closed circuit under normal condition and it drops off when its heat reaches saturation point. The current breaker is characterised by the action of automatic heating in case of electrical overload. (5) The transformer set. The characteristics of the above block diagram are as follows: Under the daylight during daytime, the photoelectric element (1) actuates the switching device (2), then warms up the heating resistor (3), and stores the heat at thermal current breaker (4) located next to the heating resistor (3). After the heat reaches a specific point, the contact points on the current breakers are disconnected thus cutting off the current to electrical load light. When there is no light after dusk, the photoelectric element (1) turns off the switching devices (2), then deactivates the heating resistor (3) and gradually cools off the thermal current breaker (4). After the temperature is reduced to specific point, the contact points on the current breaker are closed again to enable the transformer set (5) to resume power output. In case of the short circuit or overload on the transmission line, the thermal current breaker becomes heated and disconnects its contact points which will be closed after the temperature is reduced to specific point. The current breaker will repeatedly turn off and on the circuit until the malfunction of transmission line is corrected. The following are specifications for the above elements 1. The capacity of photoelectric element should be big enough to actuate switching element. 2. The switching element should have sufficient capacity to cover the current load of heating resistor. 3. The heating resistor should possess adequate heat capacity to raise the temperature of thermal current breaker to specific point. 4. The capacity of heated current load on the thermal current breaker should be greater than that of its normal current load. The examples for different composition of various elements are described below: In Fig. 2, the CDS reduces its internal resistance when illuminated, then actuates TRIAC, warms up the heating resistor, and disconnects the contactors on the thermal current breaker to cut off the current load. When the CDS is not illuminated, the TRIAC stops actuating the heating resistor, and the contact points on the thermal current breaker are closed after the temperature is reduced to specific point to allow the flow of electrical current. In case of the short circuit on the transmission line, the thermal current breaker turns off and on in a cyclic process to prevent the transformer from burning. In Fig. 3, the SCR is used as substitute for the TRIAC. In Fig. 4, the crystal diode is connected in series with one end of the heating resistor, and the power crystal is used as controlling element. In Fig. 5, the power supply uses direct current, and the power crystal is utilized as switching element. Fig. 6 shows the example of diagram according to Fig. 1 by attaching a heat sensitive resistor to heating element. The heat sensitive resistor is connected in parallel between the gate and cathode of the TRIAC. When the heating element warms up, the heat sensitive resistor reduces its resistance value so as to delay the actuating angle of the TRIAC which precludes the heating resistor from overheat. This overheat protective device is also contained in the sketches of Fig. 2 to Fig. 5. Fig. 7 shows the sketch of example to utilize photoconductive time switch by combining thermal current breaker and heating element to include: One transformer set to provide low tension power supply, Crystal diode CR701 connects in series with time switch T1, and then connects in parallel to both ends of DC power supply, SCR 701 anode connects in series with the heating element, one end of the heating element connects with the positive terminal of power supply, SCR701 gate connects with the delay signal output shaft of time switch T1, and SCR701 cathode links with the negative terminal of power supply, Q701 base connects in series with resistor 701 and then links with SCR 701 anode, SCR 701 cathode links with Q703 emitter, and SCR701 anode links with Q703 collector, On delay relay time switch T1 can send out an electric signal at specified time, and it will automatically return to zero point when the power is off. the time switch can be analog or digital solid state timer, or electro-mechanical timer. Q702 and Q703 make Darlington connection, Q702 base links with Zenner Diode ZD701, R702 connect in parallel with Q702 emitter and ZD701 positive pole, a delay condenser C702 connects in parallel with ZD701 positive pole and negative terminal of power supply to prevent interference, and R703 connects in parallel between Q703 cathode and base. One end of CDS connects with positive terminal of power supply, with other end connecting with Q702 base. The closed circuit thermal current breaker CB is located adjacent to the heating element with its contact points in parallel connection between output and loading ends on AC transformer. The functions of the block diagram in Fig. 7 are as follows: When the CDs is illuminated, it actuates Q702 and Q703, then warms up the heating element, and stores the heat at thermal current breaker CB. Till the heat reaches a specific point, the contact points on the current breaker are disconnected thus cutting off the electrical load. When the CDS is not illuminated, it actuates Q701 and on delay relay time switch T1, and then deactivates Q702 and Q703. The contact points on the thermal current breaker are closed again to resume the electrical load after its delayed cooling-off. The on delay relay time switch sends out an electrical signal at specified time to actuate SCR701, warm up the heating element R702, activate thermal current breaker, and cut off the current to Q701. When the CDs is illuminated again, actuates Q703, and the SCR 701 which in parallel connection with Q703 turns off the elctric current. In case of the overload or short circuit on the transmission line, the thermal current breaker CB turns off and on in a cyclic process to protect power supply system. The internal resistors of ZD701, C702 and CDC constitute a delay circuit, which enables C702 to slowly build up its voltage when it is illuminated with external light. The Q702 is actuated until C702 voltage exceeds ZD701 voltage, so as to preclude interference from temporary sporadic light from the outside. Summing up above, the above design as following characteristics: The delayed on and off effect skillfully designed for thermal current breaker can preclude interference from temporary sporadic light from the outside. The photothermic switch device is characterised by its protective features against electrical overload without the need of relay, therefore, this design is considered practical and creative.

Claims: 1. An electrical control arrangement responsive to ambient light comprising a power source, an output for coupling to an electrical load, a thermal overload cut-out device connected in series between the power source and the output, and a light sensitive transducer, wherein the transducer is arranged to actuate a semiconductor switching device coupled to a heating element physically adjacent the cut-out device, whereby under predetermined illumination conditions the switching device is operated so as to cause heating of the cut-out device which interrupts the flow of current between the source and the output. 2. An arrangement according to Claim 1 including a time switch. 3. A delayed switching and overload protective device of photothermic switch used for outdoor low tension illumination system is primarily composed of a solid state switch device (including crystal and thryistor) controlled by a photoelectric element. When illuminated, the switch actuates the heating element adjacent to the thermal current breaker with following features. The heating element has adequate capacity to actuate and heat the thermal switching element, and the current load on the thermal current breaker is greater than the specified current output load. 4. As claimed in claim 3 above, the photoconductive time switch composed of thermal current breaker and heating is featured by:- One transformer set to provide low tension power supply, Crystal diode CR701 and condenser C701 which constitute direct current power supply circuit, PNP crystal Q701 connects in series with time switch T1, and then connects in parallel to both ends of DC power supply, SCR 701 anode connects in series with the heating element, one end of the heating element connects with the positive terminal of power supply, SCR 701 gate connects with the delay signal output shaft of time switch T1, and SCr cathode links with the negative terminal of power supply, Q701 base connects in series with resistor 701 and the links with SCR701 anode, SCR701 cathode links with Q703 emitter, and SCR 701 anode links with Q703 collector. , On delay relay time switch T1 can send out an electric signal at specified time, and it will automatically return to zero point when the power is off. The time switch can be analog or digital solid state timer, or electro-mechanical timer, Q702 and Q703 make Darlington connection, Q702 base links with zener Diode ZD701, R702 connects in parallel with Q702 emittor and ZD 701 positive pole, a delay condenser C702 connects in parallel with ZD701 positive pole and negative terminal of power supply to prevent interference, and R703 connects in parallel between Q703 cathode and base, One end of CDS connects with positive terminal of power supply, with other end connecting with Q702 base, The closed circuit thermal current breaker is located adjacent to the heating element with its contact points in parallel connection between output and loading ends on AC transformer. 5. The time switch device as claimed in claims 3 and 4 above is further featured with the design that the switch device is installed around the heating element and is connected in parallel between the gate and cathode of solid state thryistwe switch element or between the crystal base and emitter, thus forming the heating element to control switch element to reduce the electric current of heating element when the heating element becomes hotter.

Inventors: YANG, TAI-HER
Applicants: YANG, TAI-HER
Application year: 1986
Main classification: H03K17
IPC codes: H02H3, H03K17