IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0419689
(2006-05-22)
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등록번호 |
US-7400477
(2008-07-15)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Campolo,Steve
- Disalvo,Nicholas L.
- Ziegler,William R.
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
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대리인 / 주소 |
Carter, DeLuca, Farrell & Schmidt, LLP
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
18 인용 특허 :
152 |
초록
▼
Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event li
Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if the device is reverse wired. Methods for ensuring a reset lock out state before shipment are provided.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A method for distributing a circuit interrupting device having a circuit interrupter, and a reset assembly in a housing comprising the steps of: setting said circuit interrupting device to a tripped state, said circuit interrupting device having, within the housing, a first e
What is claimed is: 1. A method for distributing a circuit interrupting device having a circuit interrupter, and a reset assembly in a housing comprising the steps of: setting said circuit interrupting device to a tripped state, said circuit interrupting device having, within the housing, a first electrical conductor capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity; a second electrical conductor capable of conducting electrical current to a load when electrically connected to said first electrical conductor; a third electrical conductor capable of being electrically connected to user accessible plugs and/or receptacles where the first, second and third electrical conductors are electrically isolated from each other; at least one movable bridge electrically connected to the first electrical conductor, said at least one movable bridge capable of electrically connecting the first, second and third electrical conductors to each other; said circuit interrupter comprises a sensing circuit and a coil and plunger assembly coupled to the at least one movable bridge, said coil when energized due to the occurrence of a predetermined condition, is capable of causing said plunger to engage said movable bridge thus causing electrical discontinuity between said first, second and third electrical conductors; said reset assembly being coupled to the circuit interrupter, and when said reset portion is activated, is capable of energizing the coil and moving the plunger which causes the at least one movable bridge to reestablish electrical continuity between the first, second and third electrical conductors and whereby continuity between the first, second and third electrical conductors is not reestablished when the activated reset assembly is not capable of energizing the circuit interrupter; and placing said tripped circuit interrupting device into the stream of commerce. 2. The method of claim 1 for distributing a circuit interrupting device, further comprising the test of: testing the reset assembly before placing the circuit interrupting device into the stream of commerce. 3. A method for distributing a circuit interrupting device having a reset lockout assembly, sensing circuitry to sense the occurrence of a predetermined condition, and a circuit interrupter in a housing comprising the steps of: setting said circuit interrupting device to a tripped state, said circuit interrupting device having, within the housing, a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path between a line side and a load side; said phase conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load and a third connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one user accessible load; and said neutral conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one load and a third connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one user accessible load; said circuit interrupter coupled to said sensing circuitry and a coil and plunger assembly and configured to trip the circuit interrupting device to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths between said line side and said load sides and said at least one user accessible load upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; said reset lockout assembly being coupled to said sensing circuitry and the coil and plunger assembly, and configured to reestablish electrical continuity in said phase or neutral conductive paths or both conductive paths upon being activated by electricity from said phase line side unless at least the sensing circuit or coil and plunger is not operating properly; and placing said tripped circuit interrupting device into a stream of commerce. 4. The method of claim 3, wherein said reset lockout assembly is adapted to be selectively electrically powered by the phase conductive path. 5. The method of claim 3, wherein said circuit interrupting device further comprises a mechanically operated mechanism for tripping said circuit interrupting device. 6. A method of distributing an electrical wiring device capable of being installed in cooperation with a current carrying electrical circuit, said electrical wiring device including a reset lockout assembly having a circuit interrupter disposed within a housing, said method comprising the steps of: receiving said electrical wiring device in a tripped or not tripped state, said circuit interrupter including within the housing a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path between a line side and a load side, said phase conductive path including a portion thereof terminating at a first electrical conducting connector which is capable of being in electrical communication with a source of electricity, a second electrical conducting connector capable of being in electrical communication with at least one load, and a third electrical conducting connector capable of being in electrical communication with at least one user accessible load, said neutral conductive path including a portion thereof terminating at a fourth electrical conducting connector capable of being in electrical communication with a source of electricity, a fifth electrical conducting connector capable of being in neutral electrical communication with said at least one load, and a sixth electrical conducting connector capable of being in neutral electrical communication with said at least one user accessible load, said circuit interrupter having a sensing circuit being capable of causing electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths intermediate said line and load sides upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, said reset lockout assembly preventing the establishment of electrical continuity in either said phase or neutral conductive paths or both conductive paths unless said reset lockout assembly and said circuit interrupter is operating properly, and distributing said electrical wiring device into a stream of commerce. 7. A method of distributing a circuit interrupting device having a circuit interrupter and at least one reset arm having a latch disposed thereon comprising the steps of: setting the circuit interrupting device to a tripped state, the circuit interrupting device having a first electrical conductor adapted to electrically connect to a source of electric current; a second electrical conductor; a third electrical conductor, wherein the first, second, and third electrical conductors are positioned to electrically connect to at least one user accessible receptacle; at least one movable bridge electrically connected to the first electrical conductor and movable between a closed position to provide electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and at least one of the second and third electrical conductors and an open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors; the at least one reset arm configured to move between a reset position causing the latch to move the at least one movable bridge to the closed position and a tripped position causing the latch to disengage the at least one movable bridge upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position; the circuit interrupter configured to move the at least one reset arm to the tripped position upon the occurrence of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors, wherein, upon resolution of the predetermined condition, movement of the at least one reset arm from the tripped position to the reset position is permitted to cause the latch to reorient the at least one movable bridge to the closed position, thereby reestablishing electrical continuity between the electrical conductors; and placing the tripped circuit interrupting device into the stream of commerce. 8. The method of claim 7, wherein the latch is configured to lockably engage the at least one movable bridge to prevent movement thereof from the open position to the closed position if the predetermined condition remains unresolved. 9. The method of claim 7 for distributing a circuit interrupting device further comprising the step of testing the at least one reset arm before the step of placing the tripped circuit interrupting device into the stream of commerce. 10. The method of claim 7, wherein the circuit interrupting device further includes an actuator operatively coupled to the at least one reset arm and configured to selectively move the at least one reset arm from the tripped position to the reset position upon actuation of the actuator after the resolution of the predetermined condition. 11. The method of claim 7 for distributing a circuit interrupting device wherein the circuit interrupting device further comprises a tripper configured to selectively move the at least one reset arm to the tripped position upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors. 12. The method of claim 7 for distributing a circuit interrupting device wherein the circuit interrupting device further comprises a solenoid having a movable electro-mechanical linkage operatively coupled to the circuit interrupter, wherein the electro-mechanical linkage is configured to cause the circuit interrupter to engage the at least one reset arm upon the occurrence of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors, and to cause the circuit interrupter to disengage the at least one reset arm after the resolution of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the reset arm from the tripped position to the reset position to cause the latch to reorient the at least one movable bridge to the closed position, thereby reestablishing electrical continuity between the electrical conductors. 13. The method of claim 7, wherein the at least one movable bridge comprises: at least one contact electrically connected to the first electrical conductor and configured to electrically engage at least one of at least one corresponding load contact electrically connected to the second electrical conductor and at least one corresponding user accessible contact electrically connected to the third electrical conductor. 14. The method of claim 12, wherein the circuit interrupting device further comprises a sensing circuit operatively coupled to the solenoid and configured to detect the occurrence of the predetermined condition, wherein the sensing circuit energizes the solenoid, thereby causing the electro-mechanical linkage to cause the circuit interrupter to move the at least one reset arm from the reset position to the tripped position upon the occurrence of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors. 15. A method of distributing a circuit interrupting device having a movable bridge, at least one reset arm having a latch disposed thereon, and a solenoid and plunger disposed within a housing comprising the steps of: setting the circuit interrupting device to a tripped state, the circuit interrupting device having, within the housing, a first electrical conductor adapted to electrically connect to a source of electric current; a second electrical conductor; a third electrical conductor, wherein the first, second, and third electrical conductors are positioned to electrically connect to at least one user accessible receptacle; the at least one movable bridge electrically connected to the first electrical conductor and movable between a closed position to provide electrical continuity between the first electrical conductor and at least one of the second and third electrical conductors and an open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors; the at least one reset arm being configured to move between a reset position causing the latch to move the at least one movable bridge to the closed position and a tripped position causing the latch to disengage the at least one movable bridge upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position; the solenoid and plunger being operatively coupled to a movable contact arm configured to move the at least one reset arm to the tripped position upon the occurrence of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors, wherein, upon resolution of the predetermined condition, movement of the at least one reset arm from the tripped position to the reset position is permitted to cause the latch to reorient the at least one movable bridge to the closed position, thereby reestablishing electrical continuity between the electrical conductors; and placing the tripped circuit interrupting device into the stream of commerce. 16. The method of claim 15, wherein the latch is configured to lockably engage the at least one movable bridge to prevent movement thereof from the open position to the closed position if the predetermined condition remains unresolved. 17. The method of claim 15 for distributing a circuit interrupting device further comprising the step of testing the at least one reset arm before the step of placing the tripped circuit interrupting device into the stream of commerce. 18. The method of claim 17 for distributing a circuit interrupting device further comprising the step of connecting a power source to the circuit interrupting device before the step of testing the at least one reset arm before the step of placing the tripped circuit interrupting device into the stream of commerce. 19. The method of claim 15, wherein the circuit interrupting device further includes an actuator accessible from an exterior of the housing and operatively coupled to the at least one reset arm and configured to selectively move the at least one reset arm from the tripped position to the reset position upon actuation of the actuator after the resolution of the predetermined condition. 20. The method of claim 15, wherein the circuit interrupting device further comprises a tripper disposed at least partially within the housing and configured to selectively move the at least one reset arm to the tripped position upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors. 21. The method of claim 15, wherein the circuit interrupting device wherein the plunger is configured to cause the movable contact arm to engage the at least one reset arm upon the occurrence of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors, and to cause the movable contact arm to disengage the at least one reset arm after the resolution of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the reset arm from the tripped position to the reset position to cause the latch to reorient the at least one movable bridge to the closed position, thereby reestablishing electrical continuity between the electrical conductors. 22. The method of claim 15, wherein the circuit interrupting device further comprises a sensing circuit operatively coupled to the solenoid and configured to detect the occurrence of the predetermined condition, wherein the sensing circuit energizes the solenoid, thereby causing the plunger to cause the movable contact arm to move the at least one reset arm from the reset position to the tripped position upon the occurrence of the predetermined condition, thereby permitting movement of the at least one movable bridge to the open position to break electrical continuity between at least two of the electrical conductors.
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