Patent ID: 7327542

Claim:
A current limiter for limiting current in case of a fault, comprising two similar inductivities/throttles ( 1 , 2 ) arranged in series, two similar controlled electric valves ( 3 , 4 ) arranged in series in opposition to each other and in parallel with the inductivities ( 1 , 2 ) so as to bridge the inductivities, additional electrical valves ( 7 , 8 ) arranged each in series with one of the two controlled electric valves ( 3 , 4 ) and being conductive in the same direction as the associated controlled electric valves ( 3 , 4 ), so as to form valve branches having a common potential point connected to a common potential point of the two inductivities ( 1 , 2 ), a passive complex circuitry ( 5 , 6 ) arranged in parallel with the respective additional electrical valves ( 7 , 8 ) for limiting current in case of a fault and for determining a voltage U 7 and, respectively, U 8 across the respective additional valves ( 7 , 8 ), the passive complex electrical circuitry ( 5 , 6 ) being so designed that, during fault-free operation of the current limiter, the maximum voltage U 7max and, respectively, U 8max across the additional valve ( 7 ) and, respectively, ( 8 ) is below the maximum voltage U 3max and, respectively, U 4max across the controlled electric valves ( 3 ) and, upon occurrence of a fault, that is a short circuit/breakdown of at least one of the controlled electric valves ( 3 , 4 ), the voltage U 7max or U 8max is above the comparative voltage 0.5 U 3max or 0.5 U 4max or a predetermined voltage U v2 .