Electrical transmission or interconnection systems – Switching systems – Condition responsive
Patent
1997-04-28
1999-04-27
Gaffin, Jeffrey
Electrical transmission or interconnection systems
Switching systems
Condition responsive
307139, 307141, H01H 4700
Patent
active
058982370
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART
This invention relates to a device for interrupting the power supply to an object, particularly after a certain operation time or after an alarm from any device associated with the present device and adapted to this target. Stoves are here treated as an example of such an object, the stoves forming arrangements by which it is possible to substantially reduce the risks by means of a device according to the present invention for such accidents that have occurred at a large number of occasions as stove plates have been overheated or as objects located on the stove plate has caught fire due to the heat thereof.
Investigations show that a large number of accidents occur through overheated objects being set on fire. Accordingly, by way of example, 30% of all the fires in homes are caused by electrical stoves, i.e. because of the user having forgotten to turn off the stove. Also in those cases where such negligence does not cause fire, other economical damage is obtained, such as damaged hot plates and/or cooking vessels due to excessive heating.
Due to similar reasons, and to avoid wasting energy in vain, it is also an advantage to be able to control the power supply to an oven included in a stove so that the power supply is interrupted after a certain operation time or at a given alarm signal from any alarm device associated with the oven.
It is known per se to arrange means or arrangement for interrupting the power supply to objects heated by means of the power supply and thereby running the risk of being overheated. However, such means or arrangements have the disadvantage of having only a thermostat function and will turn the power supply off only on the basis of the temperature of the object in question. Then, as the temperature is under a certain value, they will once again make the power supply possible. Any permanent interruption of the power supply to the object when the latter has been used for certain time or reached the temperature which is too high will not be effected by these devices of prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide a device for interrupting the power supply to an object, particularly a stove, and more precisely the hot plates or the oven thereof, to obtain advantages in comparison to stoves of a conventional type with reference to safety aspects and economical aspects, regard being taken to the elapsed time at every occasion when the object is used.
Therefore, the device according to the invention comprises means for effecting at which time, that is to control when, the power supply is to be interrupted.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, these means comprise a timer with which a desired operation time of the object can be set.
According to another preferred embodiment, the object itself has one or more own power supply breakers, which as in the case of stoves, can comprise knobs which are maneuvered by hand by the one handling the object. They may comprise breakers associated to possible thermostat functions of the object in question. If the user of the object would forget to turn the power supply off through the object's own breakers, the device will, accordingly, effect the accomplishment thereof as a set operation time has passed or, as will be explained hereinafter, after a certain number of on- and off-switching cycles regarding the power supply to the object has occurred or an alarm signal has been given to the device.
According to yet another preferred embodiment, the device also comprises means for keeping the power supply to the object interrupted until the object's own breakers are open. Thereby, particularly breakers maneuverable by hand are referred to, such as a those associated to knobs present at stoves. An advantage obtained through this characteristic is that the user thereby has to actively open the power supply breakers of the object before power once again can be supplied to the object. Of course, this reduces the risks for possible accidents.
According to another preferr
REFERENCES:
patent: 4782420 (1988-11-01), Holdgaard-Jensen
Helios (1994); brochure cover and p. 84.
Ardesjo Carl-Gosta
Birging Torbjorn
Gaffin Jeffrey
Kaplan Jonathan S.
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