Wiring integrity system

• US 3,946,282 A
• Filed: 05/15/1974
• Issued: 03/23/1976
• Est. Priority Date: 05/15/1974
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: American Construction Equipment Co., Inc. (Fluor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: American Construction Equipment Co., Inc. (Fluor Corporation)
• Inventors: Dinkel, Ernest Josef, Weiss, Hubert Leger
• Primary Examiner(s): Miller, J. D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Salce, Patrick R.
• Application Number:
  US05/470,181
• Time in Patent Office: 678 Days
• Field of Search: 317/47, 317/48, 317/52, 317/54, 317/58, 317/27 R, 317/33 SC, 317/31, 317/22, 317/148.5 B, 317/112, 317/120, 174/52 R, 307/112, 307/147, 307/150, 307/127, 324/82, 324/83 R, 324/86
• US Class Current: 361/77
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/001 in case of incorrect or interrupted earth connection disconnection by breaking of earth connection H02H5/105
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/004 in case of incorrect phase sequence; with switching for obtaining correct phase sequence protection of motors against wrong direction of rotation H02H7/097
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 11/006 in case of too high or too low voltage

Abstract

A temporary or portable electrical distribution system includes a distribution box supplied with power by a flexible cable. Field repairs carelessly made or other causes may result in wires being transposed or open. To eliminate hazards and to ensure proper operation of equipment, sensing means including simple circuitry in the distribution box prevents operation of a master box switch except upon the verification of proper wiring.

Claims

1. In a portable or temporary electrical distribution system:

a. a distribution box;

b. a plurality of one or more service sockets accessible at the box for connection of a load;

c. a multiple circuit conductor cable for supplying electrical energy to the box;

d. a multiple master switch for placing the said one or more service sockets in conductive relationship with the multiple circuit conductor cable

e. sensing means located in the box for preventing operating of said master switch upon the existence of a transportation of wiring ahead of said sensing means; and

f. said cable including at least three conductors corresponding to three elements of an Edison distribution system, there being a neutral conductor and two hot conductors, the voltage between the hot conductors being normally twice the voltage between either hot conductor and the neutral conductor;

said switch having 3 poles;

there being service sockets cooperable with one side of the three conductor system and there being service sockets cooperable with the other side of the three conductor system;

said switch once closed remaining closed notwithstanding a later existing wiring fault sensed by said sensing means whereby possibly vital equipment on the companion circuit side remains operatively connected.

2. In a portable or temporary electrical distribution system for a three wire supply system having a neutral and two hot conductor:

a. a distribution box;

b. a plurality of service sockets, at least one of which is designated to connect to the neutral and one hot conductor, and at least one other of which is designed to connect to the neutral and the other hot conductor;

c. a cable having three conductors for supplying electrical energy to the box;

d. a switch having three poles, said switch having a manual actuator;

e. manually inaccessible linkage means between the actuator and the switch upon which closure of said switch by said manual actuator is dependent;

f. sensing means operative only upon the non-existence of a wiring fault for operatively positioning said linkage; and

g. means for disabling the sensing means once said switch is closed whereby said switch remains closed notwithstanding a subsequent wiring fault.

3. In a portable or temporary electrical power distribution system:

a. a distribution box having one or more service sockets and feeder conductors for feeding electrical power to the service sockets;

b. a power switch having three poles and interposed between the service sockets and said feeder conductors;

c. an electro-mechanical linkage to permit operation of the power switch from open to closed position, including a two state electrical device that must be in one state to render said linkage effective;

d. an electro-mechanical reset device manually movable to a START mode and subject to being electrically tripped to a STOP mode;

e. a controllable switching device having an ON state and an OFF state;

f. an electrical trip circuit for said reset device, and deriving energization from said feeder conductors, and including said controllable switching device;

g. means linking said two state electrical device to said reset device whereby said two state electrical device is in said ONE state when said reset device is in its START mode;

h. a control circuit for said controllable switching device including means sensing a voltage imbalance in said feeder conductors corresponding to open circuit or transposition of the neutral to trip said reset device by causing said controllable switching device to assume its ON state whereby said electro-mechanical linkage is precluded from operation upon existence of such imbalance; and

i. means for disabling said control circuit upon closure of said power switch whereby subsequent parital power circuit open circuit is ineffective to cause said power switch to open whereby possibly vital equipment on one side of said circuit remains in circuit.