Circuit interrupting device with a single test-reset button
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
H01H-073/00
H01H-073/12
H01H-075/00
출원번호
US-0101313
(2005-04-07)
등록번호
US-7414499
(2008-08-19)
발명자
/ 주소
Germain,Frantz
출원인 / 주소
Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc.
대리인 / 주소
Sutton,Paul J.
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
20인용 특허 :
179
초록▼
A ground fault circuit interrupter device having a single actuator for sequentially activating a circuit interrupting portion when the device is in a reset condition and a reset portion when the device is in a tripped condition. The circuit interrupting portion breaks a conductive path between a lin
A ground fault circuit interrupter device having a single actuator for sequentially activating a circuit interrupting portion when the device is in a reset condition and a reset portion when the device is in a tripped condition. The circuit interrupting portion breaks a conductive path between a line terminal and load terminal upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition thereby placing the device in the tripped condition and the reset portion reestablishes the conductive path between the line terminal and the load terminal thereby placing the device in the reset condition.
대표청구항▼
What is claimed is: 1. A ground fault circuit interrupter device comprising: a circuit interrupter, positioned to engage a conductive path between line and load terminals and, upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, break the conductive path placing the device in a tripped condition; a re
What is claimed is: 1. A ground fault circuit interrupter device comprising: a circuit interrupter, positioned to engage a conductive path between line and load terminals and, upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, break the conductive path placing the device in a tripped condition; a reset system positioned to engage the conductive path to reestablish the conductive path between the line terminal and the load terminal placing the device in a reset condition; a single actuator positioned to activate the circuit interrupter and the reset system, the circuit interrupter, when activated by the single actuator, causes a breaking of a conductive path between line and load terminals, and the reset system, when activated, causes the reestablishment of the conductive path between the line and load terminals; and a reset lockout mechanism, the reset lockout mechanism prevents the reestablishment of the conductive path between the line and load terminals if the circuit interrupter is non-operational. 2. A circuit interrupting device comprising: a first electrical conductor; a second electrical conductor; a third electrical conductor, the first, second and third electrical conductors are electrically isolated from each other; a movable bridge electrically connected to the first electrical conductor, said movable bridge positioned to electrically connect the first, second and third electrical conductors to each other or electrically disconnect the first, second and third electrical conductors from each other; a circuit interrupter coupled to the movable bridge and upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition, the circuit interrupter engages the movable bridge to electrically disconnect the first second and third electrical conductors from each other; a reset system coupled to the movable bridge; and a single actuator positioned to sequentially activate the circuit interrupter and the reset system, the circuit interrupter, when activated by the single actuator, causes the movable bridge to electrically disconnect the first, second and third electrical conductors from each other and the reset system, when activated, causes the movable bridge to electrically connect the first, second and third electrical conductors to each other. 3. The circuit interrupting device of claim 2 where the circuit interrupter comprises a coil and plunger assembly engageable with a latch plate which is engageable to a mechanical trip actuator assembly and slidably mounted to a lifter assembly, said lifter assembly is engageable with a mechanical switch assembly for activating a sensing circuit used to detect the predetermined condition. 4. The circuit interrupting device of claim 2 where the actuator comprises a button attached to a pin which has a flange portion extending from and integral with its end portion. 5. The circuit interrupting device of claim 2 where the predetermined condition comprises one of a ground fault, an arc fault, an appliance leakage fault, equipment leakage fault or an immersion detection fault. 6. The circuit interrupting device of claim 2 further comprising a sensing circuit for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined condition. 7. The circuit interrupting device of claim 2 where the movable bridge is an electricity conducting spring arm mechanically biased away from the second and third electrical conductors. 8. The circuit interrupting device of claim 2 where the first electrical conductor comprises a contact connected to electric conducting material at least part of which extends outside of a housing. 9. The circuit interrupting device of claim 2 where the second electrical conductor comprises a contact connected to electric conducting material at least part of which extends outside of a housing. 10. The circuit interrupting device of claim 2 further comprising a reset lockout mechanism that prevents the reestablishment of electrical continuity between said first, second and third conductors if the circuit interrupter is non-operational. 11. A method of tripping and resetting a ground fault circuit comprising having a single actuator, which when activated, and when the device is in the reset condition, activates a circuit interrupter of the device to break a conductive path between line and load terminals thereby placing the device in a tripped condition; activating the same single actuator when the device is in the tripped condition, to activate a rest system of the device to reestablish a conductive path between the line and load terminals thereby placing the device in a reset condition; and preventing the reestablishment of the conductive path between the line and load terminals if the circuit interrupter is non-operational using a reset lockout. 12. The method of claim 11 where the circuit interrupter comprises a coil and plunger assembly, a latch plate and lifter assembly, a mechanical switch assembly and a mechanical trip actuator assembly for engaging a sensing circuit used to detect a predetermined fault condition. 13. The method of claim 11 where the actuator comprises a button attached to a pin which has a flange portion extending from and integral with its end portion. 14. The method of claim 11 further comprising detecting the occurrence of a predetermined condition using a sensing circuit. 15. A circuit interrupting device comprising: a first electrical conductor; a second electrical conductor; a third electrical conductor, the first, second and third electrical conductors are electrically isolated from each other; a movable bridge electrically connected to the first electrical conductor, said movable bridge positioned to electrically connect the first, second and third electrical conductors to each other or to electrically disconnect the first, second and third electrical conductors from each other; and a mechanism coupled to the movable bridge and comprising a single actuator, a reset system, and circuit interrupter, wherein the circuit interrupter activates the movable bridge to cause electrical discontinuity between the first, second and third electrical conductors, and the reset system activates the movable bridge to reestablish electrical continuity between the first, second and third electrical conductors, and wherein the single actuator sequentially activates the circuit interrupter and the reset system. 16. The circuit interrupting device of claim 15 where the circuit interrupter comprises a coil and plunger assembly engageable with a latch plate which is engageable to a mechanical trip actuator assembly and slidably mounted to a lifter assembly, said lifter assembly is engageable with a mechanical switch assembly for activating a sensing circuit used to detect the predetermined condition. 17. The circuit interrupting device of claim 16 where the predetermined condition comprises a ground fault, an arc fault, an appliance leakage fault, equipment leakage fault or an immersion detection fault. 18. The circuit interrupting device of claim 15 further comprising a sensing circuit for detecting the occurrence of a predetermined condition. 19. The circuit interrupting device of claim 15 where the movable bridge is an electricity conducting spring arm mechanically biased away from the second and third electrical conductors. 20. The circuit interrupting device of claim 15 where the first electrical conductor comprises a contact connected to electric conducting material at least part of which extends outside a housing. 21. The circuit interrupting device of claim 15 where the second electrical conductor comprises a contact connected to electric conducting material at least part of which extends outside a housing. 22. The circuit interrupting device of claim 15, further comprising a reset lockout mechanism that prevents the reestablishment of electrical continuity between said first, second and third conductors if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational. 23. A GFCI device comprising: a housing; a pair of line terminals disposed at least partially within said housing and capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity; a pair of load terminals disposed at least partially within said housing and capable of conducting electrical current to a load when electrically connected to said line terminals; a pair of movable bridges each having two fingers and a bent portion where each end of the bent portions is connected to a line terminal, said two fingers of each of the movable bridges are mechanically biased away from the line and load terminals and said two fingers are capable of electrically connecting the line, load and face terminals to each other; and a mechanism for initiating electrical continuity and electrical discontinuity, wherein the mechanism comprises a single actuator, a reset system, and circuit interrupter, wherein the circuit interrupter causes electrical discontinuity by engaging the movable bridges to break a connection between the line terminals, the load and face terminals, wherein the reset system reestablishes electrical continuity by engaging the movable bridges to reconnect the line terminals to the load and face terminals, and wherein the single actuator sequentially activates the circuit interrupter and the reset system. 24. The GFCI device of claim 23 where the pair of line terminals are metallic conductors with binding screws attached thereto where such binding screws are at least partially located outside of the housing. 25. The GFCI device of claim 23 where the pair of load terminals are metallic conductors with binding screws attached thereto where such binding screws are at least partially located outside of the housing. 26. The GFCI device of claim 23 where the user accessible receptacles are configured to receive an outlet plug. 27. The GFCI device of claim 23 where each movable bridge of the pair of movable bridges is a metallic strip having a connecting portion and a bent end portion, where the connecting portion comprises two fingers with each finger having a contact attached thereto for engaging corresponding face and load contacts and the connecting portion is mechanically biased away from the face and load terminals. 28. The GFCI device of claim 23 further comprising a reset lockout mechanism that prevents the reestablishment of electrical continuity between the line, load and face terminals if the circuit interrupter is non-operational.
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