Novel circuit interrupting device with high voltage surge protection

• US 20090086390A1
• Filed: 12/13/2007
• Published: 04/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Huadao Huang
• Original Assignee: Huadao Huang
• Inventors: Huang, Huadao
• Granted Patent: US 7,940,498 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/49
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly

Abstract

The present invention provides a circuit interrupting device which is capable of providing protection against electrical surge through its innovative electrical discharge design; establishing or discontinuing electrical continuity among the input power source, output load, and user accessible load through its innovative contacts connection/disconnection design; automatic or manual testing of the condition of the key components in the circuit interrupting device by way of a simulated leakage current; and testing whether the device is properly wired by way of a reset switch.

Claims

1. A circuit interrupting device having an input end which is electrically connected to an input power source, an output end which is electrically connected to an output terminal, and a user accessible load end which is electrically connected to a user accessible output socket;

wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises;

a pair of input power connecting pieces, each being electrically connected to a hot or a neutral wire of said input power source respectively;

wherein each of said input power connecting pieces has an end extended to a discharge metal piece having a tip; and

wherein said tip of said discharge metal piece of one input power connecting piece faces, but does not contact with, said tip of said discharge metal piece from the other input power connecting piece;

whereby during a high voltage surge said discharge metal pieces of said input power connecting pieces cause a discharge of electricity through said tips of said discharge metal pieces to protect said circuit interrupting device from being damaged due to said high voltage surge.

2. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 1, wherein said circuit interrupting device further comprises a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source;

wherein each of said input flexible metal pieces comprises a discharge metal piece with a tip facing but not contacting the tip of the other discharge metal piece in opposite direction.

3. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 1, wherein said high voltage surge is a lightning.

4. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 1, wherein said circuit interrupting device is a ground fault circuit interrupter.

5. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 1, wherein said hot wire of said input power source is operationally connected to said neutral wire of said input power source through a solenoid coil and a metal oxide varistor (MOV).

6. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of output power conductors extended to said user accessible load end;

wherein each of said pair of said output power conductors comprising a fixed contact and an output conductor flexible metal piece containing a movable contact;

a pair of output terminal metal pieces, each comprising a fixed contact; and

a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source;

wherein each of said pair of said input flexible metal pieces contains a movable contact;

wherein said movable contact of said output conductor flexible metal piece is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output terminal metal pieces and each of said input flexible metal pieces is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output conductors to establish or discontinue electrically continuity between said input end, said output end, and said user accessible load end.

7. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 6, wherein said input flexible metal piece is adapted to pass through a differential transformer.

8. A circuit interrupting device having an input end which is electrically connected to an input power source, an output end which is electrically connected to an output terminal, and a user accessible load end which is electrically connected to a user accessible output socket;

wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises;

a pair of output power conductors extended to said user accessible load end;

wherein each of said pair of said output power conductors comprising a fixed contact and an output conductor flexible metal piece containing a movable contact;

a pair of output terminal metal pieces, each comprising a fixed contact; and

a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source;

wherein each of said pair of said input flexible metal pieces contains a movable contact;

wherein said movable contact of said output conductor flexible metal piece is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output terminal metal pieces and each of said input flexible metal pieces is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output conductors to establish or discontinue electrically continuity between said input end, said output end, and said user accessible load end.

9. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 8, wherein said input flexible metal piece is adapted to operationally pass through a differential transformer.

10. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 8, wherein said circuit interrupting device further comprises a tripping mechanism located underneath a reset button comprising a reset support piece and a tripping device.

11. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 10, wherein said tripping device moves with said reset button when said reset button is depressed or released.

12. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 10, wherein said tripping device extended outward to form a pair of lifting arms;

wherein each of said pair of lifting arms has an upper step and a lower step, each having a protrusion which is capable of passing through a through hole on said output conductor flexible metal piece or said input flexible metal piece to be connected to said reset support piece.

13. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 10, wherein said reset support piece and said tripping device each contains a through hole which is aligned to allow a directional lock from underneath said reset button to pass through.

14. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 13, wherein said directional lock is capable of passing through a hole in a locking member when said reset button is depressed and a solenoid coil is energized to reset said circuit interrupting device.

15. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 13, wherein said directional lock has a larger diameter in an upper part than in a lower part.

16. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 15, wherein a step is formed between an upper part and a lower part of said directional lock;

wherein a reset spring slides onto said upper part of said directional lock and wherein a quick trip spring slides onto said lower part of said directional lock.

17. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 16, wherein said reset spring is located between said reset button and an insulated middle support of said circuit interrupting device and wherein said quick trip spring is located between said step of said directional lock and said reset support piece.

18. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 12, wherein said reset support piece has a length which is shorter than a length of said tripping device with said pair of lifting arms extended out from said tripping device.

19. A circuit interrupting device having an input end which is electrically connected to an input power source, an output end which is electrically connected to an output terminal, and a user accessible load end which is electrically connected to a user accessible output socket;

wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises;

a simulated leakage current generating switch (KR-1) coupled to a reset button;

wherein when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired and in a tripped state, said simulated leakage current generating switch automatically causes said circuit interrupting device to generate a simulated leakage current which is capable of testing components of said circuit interrupting device;

20. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 19, wherein said simulated leakage current generating switch comprises a first switch piece, a second switch piece, and a third switch piece arranged in a triangular position with said first switch piece located at the bottom;

said second switch piece situated in the middle; and

said third switch piece located at the top.

21. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 20, wherein said first switch piece is in series with a resistor and is electrically connected to a neutral line of said input power source;

wherein said first switch piece has a contact located at an upper end of said first switch piece;

wherein said second switch piece is electrically connected to a hot line of said input power source via a solenoid coil;

wherein said second switch piece has two contacts located at an upper and a lower ends of said second switch piece;

wherein a third switch piece is electrically connected to said neutral line of said input power source through a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR);

wherein said third switch piece has a contact located at a lower end of said third switch piece.

22. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 20, wherein said second switch piece is in contact with said first switch piece when said circuit interrupting device is connected to the wall and said reset button is in a tripped state to allow said simulated leakage current to be generated automatically.

23. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 20, wherein a reset support piece is located underneath said reset button;

wherein when said reset button is in a tripped state, said reset support piece has a touch pin which is capable of extending downward to push said second switch piece into contact with said first switch piece to allow said simulated leakage current to be generated automatically.

24. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 19, wherein said simulated leakage current ceases to be generated when said circuit interrupting is reset.

25. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 19, further comprising a test switch (KR-5) coupled to a test button;

wherein said test switch comprises a flexible test switch piece and a metal piece in series with a simulated leakage current generating resistor;

whereby when said test button is depressed, said flexible test switch piece is in contact with said metal piece to manually generate said simulated leakage current to test said circuit interrupting device.

26. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 25, wherein said flexible test switch piece is electrically connected to a hot wire of said load end;

and wherein said metal piece is electrically connected to a neutral wire of said input power end.

27. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 19, further comprising a reset indicator light;

wherein when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired and in a tripped state, and when components of said circuit interrupting device work properly, said reset indicator light lights up.

28. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 27, further comprising a power output indicator light;

wherein when said circuit interrupting device has power to said output end and said user accessible load end, said power output indicator light is lit.

29. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 19, further comprising

a pair of output power conductors extended to said user accessible load end;

wherein each of said pair of said output power conductors comprising a fixed contact and an output conductor flexible metal piece containing a movable contact;

a pair of output terminal metal pieces, each comprising a fixed contact; and

a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source;

wherein each of said pair of said input flexible metal pieces contains a movable contact;

wherein said movable contact of said output conductor flexible metal piece is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output terminal metal pieces and each of said input flexible metal pieces is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output conductors to establish or discontinue electrically continuity between said input end, said output end, and said user accessible load end.

30. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 19, further comprising a pair of input power connecting pieces, each being electrically connected to a hot or a neutral wire of said input power source respectively;

wherein each of said input power connecting pieces has an end extended to a discharge metal piece having a tip; and

wherein said tip of said discharge metal piece of one input power connecting piece faces, but does not contact with, said tip of said discharge metal piece from the other input power connecting piece;

whereby during a high voltage surge said discharge metal pieces of said input power connecting pieces cause a discharge of electricity through said tips of said discharge metal pieces to protect said circuit interrupting device from being damaged due to said high voltage surge.

31. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 30, wherein each of said pair of input flexible metal pieces comprises a discharge metal piece with a tip facing but not contacting the tip of the other discharge metal piece in the opposite direction;

whereby during a high voltage surge said discharge metal pieces of said input flexible metal pieces cause a discharge of electricity through said tips of said discharge metal pieces to protect said circuit interrupting device from being damaged due to said high voltage surge.

32. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 19, further comprising a reset switch (KR-4) coupled to said reset button;

wherein said reset switch comprises a flexible metal switch piece and an electric contact;

whereby when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired and in a stripped state, a depression of said reset button allows said flexible reset switch piece to be in contact with said electric contact to allow reset.

33. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 32, wherein one end of said flexible metal switch piece is electrically connected to a hot wire of said input power end through a solenoid coil and the other end is suspended;

wherein said electric contact is electrically connected to a positive pole of a silicon controlled rectifier(SCR), and to a neutral wire of said input power end;

whereby when said reset button is depressed, said flexible metal switch piece is in contact with said electric contact.

34. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 32, wherein one end of said flexible metal switch piece is electrically connected to a neutral wire of said input power end through a solenoid coil and the other end is suspended;

wherein said electric contact is electrically connected to a hot wire of said input power end through a positive pole of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR);

whereby when said reset button is depressed, said flexible metal switch piece is in contact with said electric contact.

35. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 19, wherein said components of said circuit interrupting device comprises solenoid coil and silicon controlled rectifier (SCR).

36. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 35, further comprises a differential transformer and a leakage current detection integrated chip.

37. A circuit interrupting device having an input end which is electrically connected to an input power source, an output end which is electrically connected to an output terminal, and a user accessible load end which is electrically connected to a user accessible output socket;

wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises;

a reset switch (KR-4) coupled to a reset button;

wherein said reset switch comprises a flexible metal switch piece and an electric contact;

whereby when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired and in a stripped state, a depression of said reset button allows said flexible reset switch piece to be in contact with said electric contact to allow reset.

38. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 37, wherein one end of said flexible metal switch piece is electrically connected to a hot wire of said input power end through a solenoid coil and the other end is suspended;

wherein said electric contact is electrically connected to a positive pole of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR), and to a neutral wire of said input power end;

whereby when said reset button is depressed, said flexible metal switch piece is in contact with said electric contact.

39. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 37, wherein one end of said flexible metal switch piece is electrically connected to a neutral wire of said input power end through a solenoid coil and the other end is suspended;

wherein said electric contact is electrically connected to a hot wire of said input power end through a positive pole of a silicon controlled rectifier (SCR);

whereby when said reset button is depressed, said flexible metal switch piece is in contact with said electric contact.

40. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 37, further comprising a pair of input power connecting pieces, each being electrically connected to said hot or said neutral wire of said input power source respectively;

wherein each of said input power connecting pieces has an end extended to a discharge metal piece having a tip facing but not contacting the tip of the other discharge metal piece in opposite direction;

whereby during a high voltage surge said discharge metal pieces of said input power connecting pieces cause a discharge of electricity through said tips of said discharge metal pieces to protect said circuit interrupting device from being damaged due to said high voltage surge.

41. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 40, further comprising a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source;

wherein each of said input flexible metal pieces comprises a discharge metal piece with a tip facing but not contacting the tip of the other discharge metal piece in opposite direction.

42. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 40, wherein said hot wire of said input power source is operationally connected to said neutral wire of said input power source through a solenoid coil and a metal oxide varistor (MOV).

43. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 37, further comprising:

a pair of output power conductors extended to said user accessible load end;

wherein each of said pair of said output power conductors comprising a fixed contact and an output conductor flexible metal piece containing a movable contact;

a pair of output terminal metal pieces, each comprising a fixed contact; and

a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source;

wherein each of said pair of said input flexible metal pieces contains a movable contact;

wherein said movable contact of said output conductor flexible metal piece is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output terminal metal pieces and each of said input flexible metal pieces is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output conductors to establish or discontinue electrically continuity between said input end, said output end, and said user accessible load end.