Resettable circuit breaker for use in ground fault circuit interrupters and the like
First Claim
1. A method of interrupting an electrical connection between input conductors and output conductors of a circuit in response to a current imbalance across phase and neutral power lines of said circuit, comprising the steps of:
- (a) sensing said current imbalance by means of a differential transformer and generating a voltage pulse in response thereto;
(b) integrating said voltage pulse by means of an integrating circuit directly connected to said differential transformer;
(c) causing an element of said circuit to conduct current and open a switch in response to an integrated voltage pulse of a predetermined magnitude and duration, and(d) causing an interrupting of said electrical connection in response to the opening of said switch.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A resettable circuit breaker has a pair of normally closed contacts through which a load is connected to a power line and means for opening the contacts in response to a predetermined change in electrical current flowing to and from the power line. One of the contacts is mounted on a rocking member which is maintained between a pivot on the base of the apparatus and the armature of a latching solenoid responsive to the predetermined current change by a spring assembly which causes the rocking member to rotate about the pivot means thereby opening and closing the contacts depending on the position of the armature.
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Citations
6 Claims
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1. A method of interrupting an electrical connection between input conductors and output conductors of a circuit in response to a current imbalance across phase and neutral power lines of said circuit, comprising the steps of:
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(a) sensing said current imbalance by means of a differential transformer and generating a voltage pulse in response thereto; (b) integrating said voltage pulse by means of an integrating circuit directly connected to said differential transformer; (c) causing an element of said circuit to conduct current and open a switch in response to an integrated voltage pulse of a predetermined magnitude and duration, and (d) causing an interrupting of said electrical connection in response to the opening of said switch. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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Specification