Circuit interrupting device with reverse wiring protection

• US 6,246,558 B1
• Filed: 08/20/1999
• Issued: 06/12/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Ziegler, William R., DiSalvo, Nicholas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US09/379,138
• Time in Patent Office: 662 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42-50, 335/18, 335/21, 335/24, 335/25, 335/26, 335/202
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2083/045 Auxiliary switch opening testing circuit in synchronism with the main circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2083/201 the other abnormal electrical condition being an arc fault
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/524 the contact arm being pivoted on handle and mechanism spring acting between cradle and contact arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/62 with means for preventing resetting while abnormal condition persists, e.g. loose handle arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/335 the main function being self testing of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/338 also responsive to wiring error, e.g. loss of neutral, break
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/083 responsive to the entry or leakage of a liquid into an electrical appliance moisture alarm G08B21/20

Abstract

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Claims

1. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

a housing;

a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path each disposed at least partially within said housing between a line side and a load side, said phase conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load and a third connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one user accessible load, and said neutral conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one load and a third connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one user accessible load;

a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing and configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths between said line side and said load side upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; and

a reset portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to reestablish electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths;

said circuit interrupting device further comprising a reset lockout portion that prevents reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if a reverse wiring condition exists, wherein said reset portion comprises;

a reset button; and

at least one reset contact which when depressed is capable of contacting at least a portion of said phase conductive path to cause said predetermined condition, wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is operational, the circuit interrupting portion is activated to disable said reset lockout portion and facilitate reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths, and wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, said reset lockout portion remains enabled so that reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths is prevented.

2. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

a housing;

a first electrical conductive path disposed at least partially within said housing and terminating at a first connection, said first connection being capable of electrically connecting to a source of electricity,

a second electrical conductive path disposed at least partially within said housing and terminating at a second connection, said second connection being capable of electrically connecting to at least one load when electrical continuity between said first and second electrical conductive paths is made;

a third electrical conductive path disposed at least partially within said housing and terminating at a third connection, said third connection being capable of electrically connecting to at least one user accessible load when electrical continuity between said first and third electrical conductive paths is made;

a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing and configured to break electrical continuity between said first and second conductive paths and between said first and third conductive paths upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; and

a reset portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to make electrical continuity between said first and second conductive paths and between said first and third conductive paths;

said circuit interrupting device further comprising a reset lockout portion that prevents the making of electrical continuity between said first and second conductive paths and between said first and third conductive paths, if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational;

and wherein said reset portion comprises;

a reset button; and

at least one reset contact which when depressed is capable of contacting at least a portion of one of said first or second conductive paths to cause said predetermined condition, wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is operational, said circuit interrupting portion is activated to disable said reset lockout portion and facilitate making of electrical continuity between said first and second conductive paths and between said first and third conductive paths, and wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, said reset lockout portion remains enabled so that making of electrical continuity between said first and second conductive paths and between said first and third conductive paths is prevented.

3. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

housing means;

first electrical conductive path means for conducting electricity within said housing means, and capable of electrically connecting to a source of electricity;

second electrical conductive path means for conducting electricity within said housing means, and capable of electrically connecting to at least one load when electrical continuity between said first and second electrical conductive path means is made;

third electrical conductive path means for conducting electricity within said housing means, and capable of electrically connecting to at least one user accessible load when electrical continuity between said first and third electrical conductive path means is made;

circuit interrupting means disposed within said housing means for breaking electrical continuity between said first and second conductive path means and between said first and third conductive path means, upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; and

reset means disposed at least partially within said housing means for reestablishing electrical continuity between said first and second conductive path means and between said first and third conductive path means;

wherein said reset means comprises;

a reset button; and

reset contact means operatively associated with said reset button for activating said circuit interrupting means by causing said predetermined condition when said reset button is depressed.

4. A circuit interrupting system comprising:

a source of power;

a circuit interrupting device having fault protection at both line and load sides of said device, connected to said source of power;

at least one load connected to said circuit interrupting device;

wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises;

a housing;

a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path each disposed at least partially within said housing between a line side and a load side, said phase conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load and a third connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one user accessible load, and said neutral conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one load and a third connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one user accessible load;

a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing and configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths at both said line side and said load side upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; and

a reset portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to reestablish electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths;

said circuit interrupting device further comprising a reset lockout portion that prevents reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists;

and wherein said reset portion comprises;

a reset button; and

at least one reset contact which when depressed is capable of contacting at least a portion of said phase conductive path to cause said predetermined condition, wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is operational, said circuit interrupting portion is activated to disable said reset lockout portion and facilitate reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths, and wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, said reset lockout portion remains enabled so that reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths is prevented.