Ground fault circuit interrupter utilizing a single transformer

• US 4,001,646 A
• Filed: 06/16/1975
• Issued: 01/04/1977
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/1975
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Howell, Edward Keith
• Primary Examiner(s): Moose, Harry
• Application Number:
  US05/586,864
• Time in Patent Office: 568 Days
• Field of Search: 317/18 D, 317/27 R, 317/53
• US Class Current: 361/45
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/331 responsive to earthing of the neutral conductor H02H3/338 takes precedence

Abstract

A GFCI utilizes a single transformer in responding to ground faults on either of the line and neutral conductors of a distribution circuit. The transformer, a differential current transformer, has a secondary winding which is periodically strobed during a first sampling interval for the presence of a fault signal indicative of a line-ground fault. During a second sampling interval, a negative resistance network sets up a ringing oscillation in the transformer secondary circuit. If the neutral conductor is grounded through a low impedance ground fault, the oscillation is damped, and circuit interruption is initiated. Absent a low impedance ground fault on the neutral conductor, the oscillation amplitude increases to exceed a predetermined threshold level during the second sampling interval, and circuit interruption is not initiated.

Claims

1. A ground fault circuit interrupting device for monitoring an electrical distribution circuit including a line conductor and a neutral conductor grounded at the source and interrupting the circuit in the event of a ground fault on the line conductor resulting in a ground fault current exceeding a predetermined current value and a ground fault on the neutral conductor of a resistance below a predetermined resistance value, said device comprising, in combination:

A. a differential current transformer having

1. a first winding for connection in series with the line conductor,

2. a second winding for connection in series with the neutral conductor,

3. The device defined in claim 1, wherein said third means initiates circuit interruption in the event the amplitude of said ringing oscillation fails to exceed a second predetermined threshold level within said prescribed time period.

5. The device defined in claim 3, wherein said third means includes:

1. a gate connected to pass a trip signal issued by said programmer at the conclusion of said second sampling period to initiate circuit interruption,

2. a flip-flop conditioned by said programmer prior to said sampling period to enable said gate, and

3. a threshold detector monitoring the amplitude of said ringing oscillation in said tank circuit and conditioning said flip-flop to disable said gate should the oscillation amplitude exceed said second predetermined threshold at any time during said second sampling period.

2. a third winding in which is developed a fault signal proportional in amplitude to the ground fault current occasioned by a ground fault on the line conductor;

B. first means monitoring the amplitude of said fault signal and initiating circuit interruption when said fault signal amplitude exceeds a first predetermined threshold level correlated to said predetermined current value;

C. second means connected with said third winding to form therewith a tank circuit, the resistive impedance of a neutral ground fault being reflected into said tank circuit via said second winding;

D. a negative resistance network connected to shock excite said tank circuit and develop therein a ringing oscillation, said negative resistance network operative to increase the rate of change of the Q of said tank circuit for variations in neutral ground fault resistance about said predetermined resistance value and to establish a negative Q in said tank circuit for a neutral ground fault resistance equalling said predetermined resistance value, whereby the operation of said tank circuit is regenerative for neutral ground fault resistances equal to and greater than said predetermined resistance value; and

E. third means monitoring the amplitude of said ringing oscillation during a prescribed time period succeeding shock excitation of said tank circuit to detect a neutral ground fault having resistance below said predetermined resistance level, whereupon to initiate circuit interruption.

4. The device defined in claim 2, which further includes a programmer controlling said first and third means to repetitively monitor said fault signal amplitude during a first sampling period and to monitor the amplitude of said ringing oscillation during a second sampling period.

6. The device defined in claim 4, wherein said first means includesa burden resistor connected across said third transformer winding,a level detector monitoring the voltage of said fault signal as developed across said burden resistor, anda first switch connected in shunt with said burden resistor, said switch being normally closed to shunt current from said burden resistor,said programmer operating to open said switch during said first sampling period and divert current through said burden resistor to develop thereacross said fault signal voltage.

8. The device defined in claim 6, wherein said programmer establishes said first and second sampling periods in succession during each cycle of the AC line voltage on the distribution circuit.

9. The device defined in claim 6, which further includes

A. means connected to said third winding by said programmer during said second sampling period to form a tank circuit, and

B. a negative resistance network connected to said tank circuit for the duration of said second sampling period, said network operative upon connection to said tank circuit to shock excite said tank circuit and produce a ringing oscillation therein and thereafter to effect regeneration or degeneration of said ringing oscillation depending on the resistive impedance of any ground fault on the neutral conductor reflected into said tank circuit;

1. said second monitoring means conditioning said responsive means to initiate circuit interruption should the amplitude of said ringing oscillation fail to exceed a predetermined threshold level during said second monitoring period.

11. The device defined in claim 9, which further includes circuit interrupting means electrically responsive to said first and third means.

12. The device defined in claim 9, which further includes a programmer controlling said first and third means to repetitively monitor said fault signal amplitude during a first sampling period and to monitor said ringing oscillation amplitude during a second sampling period.

13. The device defined in claim 11, wherein said programmer is synchronized with the frequency of the distribution circuit such that said first and second sampling periods are repeated in succession during each cycle of the AC voltage thereon.

14. The device defined in claim 11, wherein said first means includesa burden resistor connected across said third transformer winding,a level detector monitoring voltage of said fault signal aas developed across said burden resistor, anda first switch connected in shunt with said burden resistor, said switch being normally closed to shunt current from said burden resistor,said programmer operating to open said switch during said first sampling period and divert current through said burden resistor to develop thereacross said fault signal voltage.

15. The device defined in claim 13 wherein said third means includes a second switch controlled by said programmer to connect said negative resistance network to said tank circuit during said second sampling period.

16. The defice defined in claim 11, wherein said third means includes:

1. a gate connected to pass a trip signal issued by said programmer at the conclusion of said second sampling period to initiate current interruption,

2. a flip-flop conditioned by said programmer prior to said second sampling period to enable said gate, and

3. a threshold detector monitoring the amplitude of said ringing oscillation in said tank circuit and conditioning said flip-flop to disable said gate should the oscillation amplitude exceed said predetermined threshold at any time during said second sampling period.

17. The device in claim 15, wherein said third means further includes a second switch controlled by said programmer to connect said negative resistance network to said tank circuit during said second sampling period, and said first meansa burden resistor connected across said third transformer winding,a level detector monitoring the voltage of said fault signal as developed across said burden resistor, anda first switch connected in shunt with said burden resistor, said first switch controlled by said programmer to be normally closed to shunt current from said burden resistor and to open during said first sampling period, diverting current through said burden resistor to develop thereacross said fault signal voltage.

18. The device defined in claim 14, which further includes a damping resistor and a third switch conditioned by said programmer during an interval between said first and second sampling periods to connect said resistor in circuit with said third current transformer winding such as to damp any energy therein preparatory to the start of said second sampling period.

21. The device defined in claim 18, wherein said second means includes:

1. a gate connected to pass a trip signal issued by said programmer at the conclusion of said second sampling period to initiate circuit interruption,

2. a flip-flop conditioned by said programmer prior to said second sampling period to enable said gate, and

3. a threshold detector monitoring the amplitude of said ringing oscillation in said tank circuit and conditioning said flip-flop to disable said gate should the oscillation amplitude exceed said predetermined threshold at any time during said second sampling period.

7. A ground fault circuit interrupting device for monitoring an electrical distribution circuit including a line conductor and a neutral conductor grounded at the source and selectively interrupting the circuit in the event of a ground fault on either conductor, said device comprising, in combination:

A. a differential current transformer having

1. a first winding for connection in series with the line conductor,

2. a second winding for connection in series with the neutral conductor, and

3. a third winding;

B. first means monitoring the signal condition in said third winding to detect the presence of a ground fault on the line conductor;

C. second means monitoring the signal condition in said third winding to detect the presence of a ground fault on the neutral conductor;

D. a programmer synchronized to the frequency of the distribution circuit for alternately conditioning said first monitoring means to sample the signal condition in said third winding during a first sampling period and the second monitoring means to sample the signal condition in said third winding during a second sampling period, said programmer further operating to disable said second monitoring means during said first sampling period and to disable said first monitoring means during said second sampling period; and

E. means responsive to said first monitoring means for initiating circuit interruption in the event fault current flowing through a ground fault on the line conductor exceeds a predetermined current level and responsive to said second means to initiate circuit interruption in the event the neutral conductor is faulted to ground through an impedance below a predetermined impedance level.

10. A ground fault circuit interrupting device for monitoring an electrical circuit including a line conductor and a neutral conductor grounded at the source and selectively interrupting the circuit in the event of ground faults on either conductor, said device comprising, in combination:

A. a differential current transformer having

1. a first winding for connection in series with the line conductor,

2. a second winding for connection in series with the neutral conductor, and

3. a third winding in which is developed a fault signal proportional in amplitude to any differential in the currents flowing in said first and second windings occasioned by a ground fault on the line conductor;

B. first means monitoring the amplitude of said fault signal and initiating circuit interruption when said fault signal amplitude exceeds a predetermined threshold level;

C. second means connected with said third winning to form a tank circuit;

D. a negative resistance network connected to shock excite said tank circuit and develop therein a ringing oscillation, said network including means for producing either regenerative or degenerative operation of said tank circuit depending on the resistance impedance of any ground fault on the neutral conductor as reflected into said tank circuit via said second transformer winding; and

E. third means monitoring the amplitude of said ringing oscillation and initiating circuit interruption should the amplitude thereof fail to exceed a predetermined threshold level within a prescribed time period succeeding shock excitation of said tank circuit.

19. A ground fault circuit interrupting device for monitoring an electrical circuit including a line conductor and a neutral conductor grounded at the source and selectively interrupting the circuit in the event of ground faults on either conductor, said device comprising, in combination:

A. a differential current transformer having

1. a first winding for connection in series with the line conductor,

2. a second winding for connection in series with the neutral conductor, and

3. a third winding in which is developed a fault signal proportional in amplitude to any differential in the currents flowing in said first and second windings occasioned by a ground fault on the line conductor;

B. first, second and third switches;

C. a burden resistor connected across said first switch;

D. a capacitor connected across said second switch;

E. a resistor connected across said capacitor through said third switch;

F. a negative resistance network connected across said third switch;

G. a programmer synchronized to the frequency of the distributing circuit and operating to control the condition of said switches, said programmer

1. maintaining said switches closed to short-circuit said third winding through said first and second switches,

2. opening said first switch to initiate a first sampling period during which current flow in said third winding is diverted through said burden resistor and to develop thereacross a fault signal voltage.

20. closing said first switch to conclude said first sampling period and opening said switch to connect said capacitor and resistor in parallel across said third winding to form a tank circuit effective to damp out any current in said third winding,opening said third switch to initiate a second sampling period, andclosing said second and third switches to conclude said second sampling period;

H. excitation means operable upon opening of said third switch to shock excite said tank circuit and produce a ringing oscillation therein, said oscillation increasing in amplitude over said second sampling in regenerative fashion at a rate established by said negative resistance network in accordance with the resistive impedance of any ground fault on the neutral conductor as reflected into said tank circuit via said second transformer winding;

I. first means monitoring the amplitude of said fault signal developed across said burden resistor during said first sampling period and initiating circuit interruption when said fault signal voltage exceeds a first predetermined threshold level;

J. second means monitoring the amplitude of said ringing oscillation and initiating circuit interruption should the amplitude thereof fail to exceed a second predetermined threshold level during said second sampling period.