Ground fault circuit interrupter with functionality for reset
First Claim
1. An electric circuit interrupter, comprising:
- a housing;
a detection mechanism located within the housing and configured to determine when a ground fault in a first circuit exists; and
an interrupter device located within the housing and configured to open the first circuit when a ground fault is detected by the detection mechanism, wherein the interrupter device includes a bistable latching relay configured such that a state of the relay can be changed when the electric circuit interrupter is operational and the state of the relay cannot be changed when the electric circuit interrupter is not operational.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A fault circuit interrupter with functionality for reset can include a relay that trips a first circuit when a ground fault or other error is detected in the first circuit. The relay can be a bistable type of relay that is caused to change state by the detection of a ground fault (or other error) in the first circuit. To reset the fault circuit interrupter after it has tripped, a reset mechanism can include means for simulating a ground fault (or other error). A signal can be sent to the relay when a simulated ground fault (or other simulated fault) is output, such that the signal causes the relay to change state to re-close the first circuit after the trip. Accordingly, the interrupter is automatically tested for functionality when it is reset. Moreover, the fault circuit interrupter cannot be reset if the circuitry of the fault circuit interrupter is not operational.
-
Citations
35 Claims
-
1. An electric circuit interrupter, comprising:
-
a housing;
a detection mechanism located within the housing and configured to determine when a ground fault in a first circuit exists; and
an interrupter device located within the housing and configured to open the first circuit when a ground fault is detected by the detection mechanism, wherein the interrupter device includes a bistable latching relay configured such that a state of the relay can be changed when the electric circuit interrupter is operational and the state of the relay cannot be changed when the electric circuit interrupter is not operational. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
-
-
11. A method for using an electric circuit interrupter comprising circuitry that includes a relay and a means for detecting when a ground fault exists in a first circuit, the method comprising the steps of:
-
connecting the electric circuit interrupter to the first circuit;
activating a reset switch on the electrical circuit interrupter to cause a simulated ground fault to occur; and
causing the relay to change states in response to detection of the simulated ground fault when the circuitry of the electric circuit interrupter is operational, such that the first circuit changes from a closed state to an open state. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
-
19. An electric circuit interrupter, comprising:
-
a housing;
a detection mechanism located within the housing and configured to determine when a ground fault in a first circuit exists and when a simulated ground fault exists;
an interrupter device located within the housing comprising a relay configured such that a state of the relay can be changed when the electric circuit interrupter is operational and the state of the relay cannot be changed when the electric circuit interrupter is not operational; and
a reset mechanism wherein when the electric circuit interrupter is operational and the reset mechanism is activated, the simulated ground fault is detected by the detection mechanism and the relay is caused to change states to close the first circuit when the first circuit is open, and to open the first circuit when the first circuit is closed. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
-
-
24. A method for using an electric circuit interrupter comprising circuitry that includes a relay, the method comprising the steps of:
-
connecting the electric circuit interrupter to a first circuit;
detecting whether a ground fault exists in the first circuit or whether a simulated ground fault exists; and
causing the relay to change states in response to detection of the simulated ground fault when the circuitry of the electric circuit interrupter is operational, such that the first circuit changes to a closed state when in an open state, and to the open state when in the closed state. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
-
-
31. An electric circuit interrupter, comprising:
-
a housing;
a detection mechanism located within the housing and configured to sense when a ground fault in a first circuit exists and to output an electrical signal upon sensing the ground fault;
a bistable latching relay located within the housing and configured to have a closed state wherein the first circuit is closed and an open state wherein the first circuit is opened, the bistable latching relay further configured to change from the closed state to the open state and the open state to the closed state when the electric circuit interrupter is operational and the electrical signal is received from the detection mechanism. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35)
-
Specification