초록 ▼

An apparatus and method for preventing the miswiring of a protection device. The protection device includes line terminals and load terminals. The protection device further includes a latching mechanism, adapted to move between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line an

An apparatus and method for preventing the miswiring of a protection device. The protection device includes line terminals and load terminals. The protection device further includes a latching mechanism, adapted to move between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals; and an initial reset prevention mechanism, adapted to prevent said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An electrical protection device comprising: a phase line terminal;a phase load terminal;a phase face terminal;a neutral line terminal;a neutral load terminal;a neutral face terminal;a phase switch assembly having first and second phase switch contacts and a third phase switch contact disposed bet

1. An electrical protection device comprising: a phase line terminal;a phase load terminal;a phase face terminal;a neutral line terminal;a neutral load terminal;a neutral face terminal;a phase switch assembly having first and second phase switch contacts and a third phase switch contact disposed between said first and second phase switch contacts, wherein said first, second and third phase switch contacts are aligned in a single axis and electrically isolated when the electrical protection device is in a tripped state;a neutral switch assembly having first and second neutral switch contacts and a third neutral switch contact disposed between said first and second neutral switch contacts, wherein said first, second and third neutral switch contacts are aligned in a single axis and electrically isolated when the electrical protection device is in the tripped state;a reset device including a reset button and a reset pin; anda latch plate, being movable by the reset pin when the reset device is actuated such that the first, second and third phase switch contacts contact each other and the first, second and third neutral switch contacts contact each other to place the electrical protection device into a reset state. 2. The electrical protection device recited in claim 1, wherein said third phase switch contact comprises a single conductive body having first and second phase contact faces, respectively, contacting said first and second phase switch contacts when the electrical protection device is in the reset state; and said third neutral switch contact comprises a single conductive body having first and second neutral contact faces respectively contacting said first and second neutral switch contacts when the electrical protection device is in the reset state. 3. The electrical protection device recited in claim 1, further comprising a reset enable switch electrically connected between said phase line terminal and said neutral line terminal, said reset enable switch being normally closed and opening when AC power is connected between said phase line terminal and said neutral line terminal. 4. The electrical protection device recited in claim 3, wherein said latch plate comprises a hole through a portion thereof and the reset pin contacts said latch plate adjacent the hole therein and lifts said latch plate to bring the first, second and third phase switch contacts into contact with each other and the first, second and third neutral switch contacts into contact with each other when the reset device is actuated. 5. The electrical protection device recited in claim 3, wherein said reset enable switch remains closed when AC power is not connected between said phase line terminal and said neutral line terminal. 6. The electrical protection device recited in claim 3, further comprising a solenoid electrically connected to one or more of said phase line terminal and neutral line terminal, said solenoid being activated when AC power is connected between said phase line terminal and said neutral line terminal. 7. The electrical protection device recited in claim 6, further comprising: a sensor;a phase electrical conductor connecting said phase line terminal to said phase load terminal and being disposed through said sensor;a neutral electrical conductor connecting said neutral line terminal to said neutral load terminal and being disposed through said sensor; anda sensor bypass conductor connecting said phase line terminal to said solenoid and bypassing said sensor such that said sensor bypass conductor does not pass through said sensor. 8. An electrical protection device comprising: a phase line terminal and a phase load terminal;a neutral line terminal and a neutral load terminal;a phase switch assembly electrically connecting said phase line terminal and said phase load terminal in a reset state and electrically isolating said phase line terminal and said phase load terminal in a tripped state, said phase switch assembly including a phase line member attached to said phase line terminal and having a phase line contact, and a phase load member attached to said phase load terminal and having a phase load contact aligned with said phase line contact in a first single axis;a neutral switch assembly electrically connecting said neutral line terminal and said neutral load terminal in a reset state and electrically isolating said neutral line terminal and said neutral load terminal in a tripped state, said neutral switch assembly including a neutral line member attached to said neutral line terminal and having a neutral line contact, and a neutral load member attached to said neutral load terminal and having a neutral load contact aligned with said neutral line contact in a second single axis;a reset device including a reset button and a reset pin;a latch plate having an aperture, the reset pin engaging the reset plate adjacent the aperture when the reset button is pressed;a latch block engaging said latch plate and causing said phase and neutral switch assemblies to enter the reset state when the reset button is released; anda reset enable device having an open state and a closed state, the latch plate being prevented from causing said phase and neutral switch assemblies to remain in the reset state until said reset enable device is in the open state. 9. The electrical protection device recited in claim 8, further comprising: a phase face contact aligned in the first single axis and connected to a phase receptacle, said phase face contact being electrically connected to said phase line contact and said phase load contact in the reset state and electrically isolated from said phase line contact and said phase load contact in the tripped state; anda neutral face contact aligned in the second single axis and connected to a neutral receptacle, said neutral face contact being electrically connected to said neutral line contact and said neutral load contact in the reset state and electrically isolated from said neutral line contact and said neutral load contact in the tripped state. 10. The electrical protection device recited in claim 8, further comprising: a solenoid electrically connected to said phase line terminal; anda plunger actuated to move said latch plate when power is applied to said solenoid, power being applied to said solenoid when both AC power is applied to said phase line terminal and said reset enable device is in the closed state. 11. The electrical protection device recited in claim 10, further comprising: a sense transformer arranged to detect an imbalance in electrical current flowing through two or more conductors;a phase electrical conductor connecting said phase line terminal and said phase switch assembly, said phase electrical conductor traversing through said sense transformer;a neutral electrical conductor connecting said neutral line terminal and said neutral switch assembly, said neutral electrical conductor traversing through said sense transformer;a fault switch electrically connected to said solenoid and having a conducting state and a nonconductive state; anda trip circuit activating said fault switch when said sense transformer detects an imbalance in electrical current between said phase electrical conductor and said neutral electrical conductor, power being applied to said solenoid when said fault switch is in the conductive state, when AC power is applied to said phase line terminal and, said reset enable device is in the open state. 12. The electrical protection device recited in claim 10, wherein said reset enable device comprises a pair of electrical contacts and a conductive switch plate held in contact with the pair of electrical contacts when AC power is applied to said phase load terminal. 13. The electrical protection device recited in claim 12, wherein said switch plate comprises an aperture and is held in contact with the pair of electrical contacts by said plunger engaging the aperture of said switch plate. 14. The electrical protection device recited in claim 8, wherein when said reset enable device is in the closed state, the reset pin is unable to engage the aperture in said latch plate if said reset enable device is in the closed state. 15. The electrical protection device recited in claim 8, wherein one of said phase line contact and said phase load contact comprises a phase dual contact having an electrical contact surface on each of two opposite sides thereof; and wherein one of said neutral line contact and said neutral load contact comprises a neutral dual contact having an electrical contact surface on each of two opposite sides thereof. 16. An electrical protection device comprising: a phase line terminal and a phase load terminal;a neutral line terminal and a neutral load terminal;a phase switch assembly electrically connecting said phase line terminal and said phase load terminal in a reset state and electrically disconnecting said phase line terminal and said phase load terminal in a tripped state;a neutral switch assembly electrically connecting said neutral line terminal and said neutral load terminal in a reset state and electrically disconnecting said neutral line terminal and said neutral load terminal in a tripped state;a sensor;a phase conductor electrically coupled to said phase line terminal and said phase switch assembly and traversing through said sensor;a neutral conductor electrically coupled to said neutral line terminal and said neutral switch assembly and traversing through said sensor;an enable circuit enabling the electrical protection device to enter the reset state after AC power is attached to one or more of said phase line terminal and said neutral line terminal, electrical current not flowing through said phase conductor through said sensor when electrical current is flowing through said enable circuit and AC power is attached to one or more of said phase line terminal and said neutral line terminal. 17. The electrical protection device recited in claim 16, further comprising: a detection circuit electrically coupled to said sensor and generating a detection signal when an imbalance exists between an electrical current flowing in said phase conductor and an electrical current flowing in said neutral conductor, said detection circuit not generating the detection signal when electrical current flows through said enable circuit. 18. The electrical protection device recited in claim 16, wherein one of said phase switch assembly and said neutral phase assembly includes, a line contact electrically coupled to a respective line terminal;a load contact electrically coupled to a respective load terminal and aligned with said line contact in a first axis; anda face contact electrically coupled to a respective face receptacle and aligned with said line contact and said load contact in the first axis. 19. The electrical protection device recited in claim 16, wherein said enable circuit comprises at least an actuator and a switch, said switch permanently open circuiting said enable circuit after AC power is attached to one or more of said phase line terminal and said neutral line terminal. 20. The electrical protection device recited in claim 19, wherein said actuator opens said switch to permanently open circuit said enable circuit. 21. The electrical protection device recited in claim 16, wherein one or more of said phase switch assembly and said neutral switch assembly includes, a line conductor attached to a respective phase or neutral line terminal at a first thereof and having a line contact attached to a movable second end thereof,a load conductor attached to a respective phase or neutral load terminal at a first thereof and having a load contact attached to a movable second end thereof, the load contact being aligned in a single axis with the line contact, anda face conductor attached to a respective phase or neutral face receptacle and having a face contact attached thereto, the face contact being aligned in the single axis with the line contact and the load contact. 22. A GFCI receptacle comprising: phase line, load and face terminals;neutral line, load and face terminals;a latching mechanism movable between a closed state establishing one or more of electrical contact between said phase line, load and face terminals and electrical contact between said neutral line, load and face terminals, and an open state disconnecting one or more of electrical contact between said phase line, load and face terminals and disconnecting electrical contact between said neutral line, load and face terminals;the latching mechanism including, a first switch assembly being in a phase current path between the phase line and phase load terminals and having a first switch contact, a second switch contact, and third and fourth dual-switch contacts disposed between said first and second switch contacts for selectively opening or closing the phase current path, the first and second switch contacts and the third and fourth dual-switch contacts being aligned in a single axis, and a second switch assembly being in a neutral current path between the neutral line and neutral load terminals and having a fifth switch contact, a sixth switch contact, and seventh and eighth dual-switch contacts disposed between said fifth and sixth switch contacts for selectively opening or closing a second conductive path, the fifth and sixth switch contacts and the seventh and eighth dual-switch contacts being aligned in a single axis; anda movable and spring biased reset pin coupled to said latching mechanism and causing the respective switch contacts to move between open and closed positions. 23. A GFCI receptacle as claimed in claim 22, wherein said third and fourth dual-switch contacts comprise a first contact surface oriented along the single axis, and a second contact surface oriented in the opposite direction from said first surface along the single axis. 24. A GFCI receptacle as claimed in claim 23, wherein said first and second contact surfaces are both part of a single unitary conductive contact structure attached to a movable end of a flexible conductive brush arm. 25. A GFCI receptacle as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first contact surface of said third and forth dual-switch contacts faces the first switch contact of said first switch assembly and the second contact surface of said third and forth dual-switch contacts faces the second switch contact of said first switch assembly. 26. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacle comprising: a line terminal;a load terminal;a user accessible face terminal;a resilient first cantilevered contact arm electrically connected to said line terminal at a fixed end of said first cantilevered contact arm and having a movable line electrical contact at a free end of said first cantilevered contact arm;a resilient second cantilevered contact arm electrically connected to said load terminal at a fixed end of said second cantilevered contact arm and having a movable load electrical contact at a free end of said second cantilevered contact arm;a face electrical contact electrically connected to said user accessible face terminal, each of said load, line and face electrical contacts being substantially aligned along a common axis, being electrically isolated from each other when the GFCI is in a tripped condition and being electrically connected with each other when the GFCI is in a reset condition, at least two of said load, line and face electrical contacts being biased toward an electrically isolated position; anda movable and spring biased reset pin connected to said electrical contacts to move said electrical contacts between electrically isolated and electrically connected positions. 27. The GFCI receptacle recited in claim 26, wherein one of the line electrical contact and the load electrical contact is a dual-sided contact assembly having two contact surfaces located on opposite sides thereof, and the other of the line and load contacts is a single-sided contact having a single contact surface located on one side of the respective electrical contact, and a movable latch block coupled to said reset pin engages at least one of said cantilevered contact arms to move the line electrical contact, the load electrical contact and the face electrical contact into electrical contact. 28. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) receptacle comprising: a housing;phase and neutral line terminals at least partially disposed within said housing and connected to a source of AC power;phase and neutral load terminals at least partially disposed within said housing and connected to a first electrical load;phase and neutral user accessible face terminals at least partially disposed within said housing; phase and neutral first flexible conductive contact arms having first ends being fixedly connected to said phase and neutral line terminals, respectively, and second ends each having a respective first electrical contact connected adjacent a respective free end thereof;phase and neutral second flexible conductive contact arms having first ends being fixedly connected to said phase and neutral load terminals, respectively, and the second ends each having a respective second electrical contact adjacent a respective free end thereof;phase and neutral face electrical contacts electrically respectively connected to said phase and neutral user accessible face terminals and aligned substantially along phase and neutral axes with the respective first and second electrical contacts, the first and second contacts being movable along the respective axes between first positions in which the respective face, line and load electrical contacts are electrically connected and second positions in which the respective face, line and load contacts are spaced and electrically isolated from one another, respective ones of said electrical contacts being biased toward said second positions;a reset assembly at least partially disposed within said housing and including a spring biased and movable reset pin;a latch plate engaging at least the reset pin; anda latch block assembly engaging at least one of said phase and neutral first flexible conductive contact arms and said phase and neutral second flexible conductive contact arms and said latch plate;whereby when said reset assembly is activated the reset pin engages said latch plate and moves said latch block assembly towards each of said flexible contact arms such that the phase first electrical contact and the phase second electrical contact are moved to contact the phase face electrical contact, and the neutral first electrical contact and the neutral second electrical contact are moved to contact the neutral face electrical contact.