Abstract: Direct transfer trip apparatus for sharing a common active communication channel utilized for signal transfer between at least two electromechanical units which form a current differential protective relay for protecting at least one power line in a power system network is disclosed. Each electromechanical unit includes an operating relay coil for effecting an interruption of current through the protected power line when an internal fault of the power line is detected. The direct transfer trip function induces signals to be transmitted through the common active communication channel either upstream or downstream from a faulted power line section where a breaker has failed to open. These direct transfer trip signals are supplied directly to an upstream or downstream breaker unit to operate the breaker to interrupt current through the faulted section independent of the energization of its corresponding operating relay coil.

Abstract: Active pilot wire apparatus for replacing a passive continuous metallic wire pair coupling between the electromechanical units of a conventional electromechanical pilot wire protective relay is disclosed. For the protection of a power line section, an electromechanical unit is coupled to each end thereof. Each electromechanical unit includes an operating relay coil which when energized operates breaker contacts to interrupt current through the protected power line section. A signal representative of the potential across the operating coil of each electromechanical unit is transmitted through an active communication channel to the other electromechanical unit where it is buffered by a high impedance amplifier. In each case, the output signal of the buffer amplifier is representative substantially of the corresponding operating relay coil potential. An impedance element is coupled between each buffer amplifier and the other operating relay coil.

Abstract: Phase comparison relaying apparatus associated with the local and remote end terminals of a protected line section wherein the phase comparison is performed at one terminal by unsupervised circuitry to generate an echo trip signal which is employed to effect breaker tripping at the other terminal. Additional circuitry supervises the generation of a breaker trip signal for use at the terminal where the echo trip signal is generated without preventing generation and transmission of the echo trip signal.The use of such circuitry is described in the operating context of phase comparison relaying apparatus adapted to utilize offset keying. Also described is the effectiveness of such circuitry during open breaker or zero-feed conditions.

Abstract: Phase comparison relaying apparatus wherein the keying threshold levels at the local and remote ends of a protected power line section are each offset by a different value from the effective zero axis of the current waveform. One of the keying threshold values is set at a magnitude which will cause a trip response in the presence of low or medium magnitudes of outfeed current. The other keying threshold level is set at a magnitude which will cause a trip response in the presence of maximum magnitudes of expected outfeed current. The upper and lower current margin threshold levels are set to appropriately reflect the keying threshold level with which they are respectively associated. In addition, the transmmitter having the higher keying threshold level is located at that end of the protected line section where outfeed is expected.

Abstract: A phase comparison relaying network wherein a transmitter keying threshold is set at a predetermined value of the current wave at the transmitter end which is offset from the effective zero axis of the current wave. This yields a signal which, when phase compared with the current wave at the receiver end of the protected line section, permits a tripping response in the presence of "outfeed" current at the "weak feed" end of the protected line section which might occur during an internal fault.