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Circuit interrupting device with reset lockout and reverse wiring protection and method of manufacture

  • US 20100134932A1
  • Filed: 11/10/2009
  • Published: 06/03/2010
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1998
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A resettable circuit interrupting device comprising:

  • an input electrical hot-line connection terminal;

    an input electrical neutral-line connection terminal;

    an output electrical hot-line connection terminal;

    an output electrical neutral-line connection terminal;

    a resettable circuit interrupter providing (a) a first interruptible connection along a first electrically conductive path between said input and output hot-line connection terminals and (b) a second interruptible connection along a second electrically conductive path between said input and output neutral-line connection terminals;

    said resettable circuit interrupter having;

    (i) a first state in which said interruptible connections present a closed electrical circuit condition along each of said first and second electrically conductive paths, (ii) a second state in which said interruptible connections present an open electrical circuit condition along each of said first and second electrically conductive paths, (iii) an electrically operable circuit which causes transition from said first state to said second state when triggered, and (iv) a manually operable mechanism for resetting from said second state to said first state only if predetermined conditions are satisfied;

    a fault-sensing circuit configured and connected to monitor currents flowing along said first and second conductive paths and to automatically trigger said circuit interrupter from said first state to said second state if unequal currents are detected flowing along said first and second conductive paths; and

    a testing circuit connected to said resettable circuit interrupter and to said fault-sensing circuit, said testing circuit being engaged by said manually operable mechanism and configured to prevent resetting of the interrupter from said second state to said first state unless said predetermined conditions are satisfied, said predetermined conditions including at least;

    (a) the fault-sensing circuit remains operative, (b) the electrically operable circuit remains operative and (c) electrical power is being supplied to said input connection terminals thereby not permitting resetting to said first state unless the resettable circuit interrupting device is still in working condition.

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