Patent ID: 8077438

Claim:
A peak current limiting apparatus comprising: a trigger element serially connected between a power supply source and a load, and configured for diverting a fault current to other paths connected in parallel when the fault current exceeds a threshold value; a main contact switch serially connected between the trigger element and the load; a driving coil connected in parallel with the trigger element, and configured for generating a repulsive force in response to the fault current in order to open contact points of the main contact switch; a peak limiting impedance element serially connected between the driving coil and a connection node between the trigger element and the main contact switch, and configured for limiting a first peak level of the fault current flowing through the driving coil to a predetermined level; and a first operating switch connected to the driving coil in parallel, the first operating switch including contact points configured to be closed in order to conduct the fault current after the contact points of the main contact switch are opened.