US 12,074,424 B2
End of line protection with trip signal engaging
Vahid Madani, Crockett, CA (US); Robert B. Stuart, Discovery Bay, CA (US); Ronald E. Smith, Antioch, CA (US); Kenneth Hyung Choi, Santa Clara, CA (US); and Justin Dongjin Choi, Santa Clara, CA (US)
Assigned to Viking Sentinel Technology, LLC, Houston, TX (US)
Filed by Ronald E. Smith, Antioch, CA (US)
Filed on Jul. 19, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/300,485.
Application 17/300,485 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2020/017931, filed on Feb. 12, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/841,094, filed on Apr. 30, 2019.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/806,551, filed on Feb. 15, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2024/0079869 A1, Mar. 7, 2024
Int. Cl. H02H 3/00 (2006.01); G01R 19/25 (2006.01); H02H 3/027 (2006.01); H02H 3/16 (2006.01); H02H 3/26 (2006.01); H02H 11/00 (2006.01); H02J 3/00 (2006.01); H02J 13/00 (2006.01)
CPC H02H 11/00 (2013.01) [G01R 19/2513 (2013.01); H02H 3/027 (2013.01); H02H 3/16 (2013.01); H02H 3/26 (2013.01); H02J 3/001 (2020.01); H02J 13/00002 (2020.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for engaging a trip signal at an interrupting device of a set of three phase electric distribution lines, the method comprising:
measuring, via one or more sensors, a potential from a three phase transformer at one end of the set of three phase distribution lines; detecting an abnormal condition with respect to the set of distribution lines based on the measured potential, wherein the abnormal condition is selected from the group consisting of: (a) a voltage unbalance; (b) a negative sequence voltage unbalance; or (c) both a voltage unbalance and a negative sequence unbalance; responsive to detecting an abnormal condition, transmitting the trip signal from another device to the interrupting device without use of a positive sequence power source, thereby blocking the interrupting device at least temporarily from closing;
wherein the detection is performed via a tripping apparatus that includes four conductors, three of the four conductors tapping the three phase transformer, and one of the four conductors being a ground or neutral.