778results about "Switch operated by earth fault currents" patented technology

A ground fault detector and interrupter for a photovoltaic (PV) energy conversion system, method and apparatus are disclosed. In an exemplary embodiment, the system includes first and second inputs adapted to couple to a first and second rails of a PV array. An inverter is configured to convert DC power generated from the PV array to AC power. A ground fault detector and interrupter, which is coupled to the first and second rails and to the inverter, is configured to detect ground fault conditions in the PV array and to decouple the PV array from the remaining portion of the PV energy conversion system upon such detection. A known signal is coupled to the input of the ground fault detector and interrupter, and then sensed at the output of the ground fault detector and interrupter to determine whether components of the ground fault detector and interrupter are operating properly.

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include a reset lockout mechanism, an independent trip mechanism and reverse wiring protection. A conical reset plunger is notched to force a successful test before reset.

The power strip of the present disclosure includes an arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) to interrupt power to electrical devices plugged into the power strip when arcing is detected and, when combined with a transient voltage surge suppressor (TVSS) device and / or a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) also can provide transient voltage surge suppression and ground fault protection. The power strip here disclosed can include an AFCI by itself or an ACFI in combination with a GFCI.

A new and improved type of ground fault interruption receptacle is mainly consists of an upper housing, a middle supporter and a lower holder. Two sets of female power-output socket 5, 6, a simulation test button (i.e. test button for fault detecting) and a reset button are disposed on the upper housing. A metal mounting plate is disposed between the upper housing and the middle supporter. At the two sides of the middle supporter is disposed a pair of metal conductors. Between the middle supporter and the lower holder is disposed a printed circuit board, and thereon a differential transformer within which an iron core is inserted, a reset guide member and a flat spring type of resilient off locking switch are arranged. Using the differential transformer and the resilient off locking switch, the receptacle of the present invention may detect whether the fault current exists and whether the damage of a certain element or member for power transmission occurs. If so, the receptacle of the present invention can electrically disconnect the power-out connectors with the relevant power-input connectors so as to accomplish the ground fault interruption.

The present invention is directed to a circuit and method for self-testing a protection device for use in an AC power distribution system. The device is configured to be coupled between an AC power distribution system and at least one load. The method includes the step of introducing a simulated ground neutral fault during a first predetermined half cycle half cycle of the AC power. An attempt is made to detect the introduced simulated grounded neutral fault during the first predetermined half cycle half cycle. A fault condition is signaled if the introduced simulated grounded neutral fault is not detected within a predetermined period of time.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device including a housing assembly including at least one receptacle, the at least one receptacle being configured to receive plug contact blades inserted therein. The housing assembly includes a hot line terminal, a neutral line terminal, a hot load terminal, a neutral load terminal, a hot user-accessible receptacle contact, and a neutral user accessible receptacle contact. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the hot line terminal and the neutral line terminal. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault condition and provide a fault detect signal in response thereto. An interrupting contact assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. A weld breaker mechanism is coupled to the interrupting contact assembly. The weld breaker mechanism is configured to strike the first pair of contacts and / or the second pair of contacts in response to the tripping stimulus.

A circuit protection device connected between two lines of an AC power source self checks for an introduced simulated ground fault every half cycle during a period when a trip SCR cannot conduct. If the self check fails, the device is tripped on the next half cycle of different phase. Possible responses to the self check failure include lighting an indicator lamp and locking out the device reset mechanism.

The present invention provides a GFCI that not only has ground fault protection, but also is capable of providing reverse wiring protection as well as detection of end of the service life of the GFCI by way of utilizing an end of life detection control circuit in connection with the reset button. In addition, the GFCI of the present invention provides a forcible mechanical tripping assembly by way of utilizing the test button. Finally, the present invention provides method for detecting whether the service life of the GFCI has ended.

A self test (ST) ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) provides a half wave rectifier for powering circuitry for determining and annunciating end of life (EOL) of the GFCI regardless of a shorted diode bridge or opening of a printed circuit board (PCB) trace. A fuse resistor is provided to open before an open PCB trace can occur. A microprocessor-controlled heat-conducting circuit is provided adjacent to a thermal fuse to controllably open the thermal fuse and remove power from face receptacle contacts and load terminals when EOL occurs.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having at least one receptacle. The receptacle is configured to receive plug contact blades inserted therein. The housing assembly includes a hot line terminal, a neutral line terminal, a hot load terminal, and a neutral load terminal. A set of receptacle contacts is disposed in the housing assembly and in communication with the receptacle. The receptacle contacts includes a hot user-accessible load contact and a neutral user accessible load contact. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the test assembly. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault condition and provide a fault detect signal in response thereto. A four-pole interrupting contact assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit and includes a set of four-pole interrupting contacts. A reset mechanism is coupled to the four-pole interrupting contact assembly. The reset mechanism includes a reset button and a reset actuator configured to reestablish electrical continuity between the first pair of hot contacts, the second pair of hot contacts, the first pair of neutral contacts, and the second pair of neutral contacts in response to a reset stimulus.

Located within a GFCI device having a receptacle is a movable contact bearing arm which is held in either a closed or open position with a fixed contact by a latching member that is connected to the spring loaded reset button. The reset button assumes a first or a second position which is determined by the conductive state of the GFCI. When the GFC is in a conducting state, the reset button is substantially fully depressed within the housing of the GFCI. When the GFCI is in a non-conductive state, the reset button projects outward beyond the top surface of the housing of the GCFI. Thus, the movable contact bearing arm, acting through a latching member, determines the position of the reset button. A blocking member located within the body of the GFCI is positioned by the reset button to allow free access of the prongs of a plug into the openings of the receptacle when the reset button is depressed or to block at least one opening of the receptacle to prevent a plug from entering the openings of the receptacle when the reset button projects out beyond the surface of the housing. Thus, when the GFCI is in a conducting state, the reset button is recessed within the GFCI housing and positions the blocking member to the first position to allow the prongs of a plug to be inserted into the receptacle openings. When the GFCI is in a non-conducting state, the reset button protrudes outward from the housing of the GFCI to position the blocking member to the second position to block at least one opening of the receptacle to prevent the prongs of a plug from entering the receptacle. GFCI's normally have two separate sets of internally located contacts known as bridge contacts where one set is used to connect a load to the source of electricity and the second set is used to connect a user accessible load to the source of electricity. The bridge contacts provide isolation between the conductors to the load and the conductors to the contacts of the GFCI receptacle when the GFCI is in a fault state. In the GFCI here disclosed, the blocking member prevents the prongs of a plug from entering the receptacle when the GFCI is in a fault state and, therefore, can eliminate the need for the bridge contacts.

A receptacle device for protection against arc faults and leakage currents, including an arc fault test button, a leakage test button, and a reset button. Test resistors are arranged below the arc fault test button and the leakage test button wherein the test resistors are coupled to an electrical circuit board. The electrical circuit board includes an arc sampling resistor to detect arc faults and a leakage detection differential transformer to detect leakage currents. In order to provide good contacts between mobile and stationary electrical contacts of the receptacle device, a reset button bias member having mobile contact bridges at its two arms is provided. Each of the mobile contact bridges has three triangularly spaced electrical contacts, corresponding to stationary electrical contacts of flexible input fingers, output conductors and electrical output leads of the receptacle device. In order to balance the mobile contact bridges and provide better contacts, the receptacle device of the present invention can utilize a unique system of dual directional locks, i.e., below the reset button, there are two axially symmetrical directional locks provided within a reset button bias member of the receptacle device.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a set of receptacle load terminals. The device includes a fixed contact and a first cantilever member including a first contact disposed thereon. A second cantilever member is disposed between the fixed contact and the first cantilever. The second cantilever member includes a dual contact disposed thereon. The dual contact is disposed between the fixed contact and the first contact. An actuator is configured to move between a closed position and a tripped position. The actuator is configured to urge the first cantilever toward the second cantilever to close the fixed contact, the first contact, and the dual contact such that the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the set of receptacle load terminals are electrically continuous in the closed position. The actuator is also configured to release the first cantilever from the second cantilever to open the fixed contact, the first contact, and the dual contact. The plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the set of receptacle load terminals are decoupled in the tripped position.

A suppression and protection circuit is used in conjunction with a circuit interrupter. In one configuration, a voltage clamping device such as a metal oxide varistor is utilized in a ground fault circuit interrupter product for handling transient surges and overvoltage conditions and is placed in series with a solenoid coil. The suppression and protection circuit includes a crowbar device across the line such as a header spark gap to prevent overvoltages, and a low pass filter such as an LC filter for suppressing transient surges.

A new type of switching mechanism for a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) with reverse wiring protection preferably includes two pairs of fixed contact holders, each member of each pair having at least one fixed contact at one end; a pair of movable contact holders, each having an end having one or more of movable contacts, each movable contact being arranged for contacting one of the fixed contacts; and a movable assembly that moves between first and second positions, wherein the first position is a position in which each of the contacts of the fixed contact holders makes contact with one of the contacts of the movable end of one of the movable contact holders, and wherein the second position is a position in which the contacts of the fixed contact holders are separated from the contacts of the movable contact holders.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having at least one line terminal and at least one load terminal partially disposed therein. A first conductive path is electrically coupled to the at least one line terminal. A second conductive path is electrically coupled to the at least one load terminal, the second conductive path being connected to the first conductive path in a reset state. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the first conductive path. The fault detection circuit is configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition. A wiring state detection circuit is coupled to the first conductive path. The wiring state detection circuit selectively provides a wiring state detection signal when the at least one line terminal is coupled to a source of AC power, and not providing the wiring state detection signal otherwise. An actuator assembly is configured to provide an actuation stimulus in response to the fault detection signal or the wiring state detection signal. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the actuator assembly. The circuit interrupter is configured to disconnect the first conductive path and the second conductive path in response to the actuation stimulus.

Located within a GFCI is a movable contact bearing arm which cooperates with at least one fixed contact. When the movable arm is moved up to allow the at least one contact on the arm to close with at least one fixed contact, the GFCI is in a conducting state and current flows from a source of electricity through the closed contacts to a load and to the contacts of a receptacle. When the movable arm is moved down to open the contacts, the GFCI is in a non-conducting state and current cannot flow from the source of electricity to either the load or the receptacle contacts. In this invention, the up and down movement of the movable contact bearing arm is harnessed to move a blocking member located within the housing of the GFCI to a first position to block at least one opening of the receptacle as the movable arm is moved down or to a second position to allow the prongs of a plug to enter the openings of the receptacle as the movable arm is moved up. The downward movement of the movable contact bearing arm occurs when the GFCI goes into a non-conducting state. Resetting the GFCI by pressing in and then releasing a reset button causes the movable contact bearing arm to move up to make contact with the at least one fixed contact. As the movable arm moves up, the blocking member moves to the first or non-blocking position to allow the prongs of a plug to freely enter the openings in the face of the receptacle. GFCI's normally have two separate sets of internally located contacts known as bridge contacts where one set is used to connect a load to the source of electricity and the second set is used to connect a user accessible load to the source of electricity. The bridge contacts provide isolation between the conductors to the load and the conductors to the contacts of the GFCI receptacle when the GFCI is in a non-conducting state. In the GFCI here disclosed, the blocking member prevents the prongs of a plug from entering the receptacle when the GFCI is in a non-conducting state and, therefore, the need for the bridge contacts is diminished.

The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a plurality of line terminals configured to be connected to an electrical distribution system, and a plurality of load terminals configured to be connected to a load. The device includes a fault detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault in the electrical distribution system. A power interruption circuit couples the plurality of line terminals to the plurality of load terminals to thereby provide power to the load under normal operating conditions. The power interruption circuit also is coupled to the fault detection circuit, and configured to decouple the plurality of line terminals from the plurality of load terminals in response to the fault detection circuit detecting the at least one fault. A test circuit is coupled to the fault detection circuit and the power interruption circuit. The test circuit is configured to provide a simulated fault signal to the fault detection circuit in response to a user stimulus. An end-of-life indication circuit is coupled to the test circuit and the power interruption circuit. The end-of-life indication circuit provides the user with an end-of-life alarm indicator if the fault detection circuit fails to respond to the simulated fault signal within a predetermined period of time.

A self testing fault detector having a line side and a load side and a conductive path there between. The apparatus includes a solenoid, which is adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in the conductive path from a first position to a second position when the self testing device is powered from the line side; and a processor, which is adapted to energize the solenoid using a first switch and maintain said solenoid in the energized state using a second switch.

A self testing fault detector having a line side and a load side and a conductive path there between, said apparatus is provided. The self testing fault detector includes a controller, adapted to perform periodic status tests on a protection circuit of the self testing fault detector without interrupting power to the load.