GFCI that cannot be reset until wired correctly on line side and power is applied

• US 7,184,250 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2003
• Issued: 02/27/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hubbell, Inc.
• Inventors: Bonilla, Nelson, DeBartolo, Joseph V. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja; Ronald
• Application Number:
  US10/434,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20040004801A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,390 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42, 361/45, 361/93.1, 361/93.5, 361/93.6, 361/658, 361/356, 361/46, 340/635, 340/638, 340/653, 335/18
• US Class Current: 361/42
• 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 3/338 also responsive to wiring error, e.g. loss of neutral, break

Abstract

An apparatus and method for preventing the misfiring of a protection device. The protection device includes line terminals and load terminals. The protection device further includes a latching mechanism, adapted to move between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals; and an initial reset prevention mechanism, adapted to prevent said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals.

Claims

1. A protection device having line and load terminals, the device comprising:

a latching mechanism, adapted to move between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals;

an initial reset prevention mechanism, adapted to prevent said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals; and

a reset pin;

wherein;

said latching mechanism comprises a latching plate;

said initial reset prevention mechanism prevents said latching plate from engaging said reset pin to said latching mechanism to said closed state when power is not applied to said line terminals; and

said initial reset prevention mechanism comprises;

a solenoid, adapted to drive a plunger;

a contact arrangement; and

a locking plate, adapted to contact said contact arrangement to enable said contact arrangement to apply power to said solenoid when said power is applied to said line terminals, to energize said solenoid to drive said plunger from a first position to a second position to move said latching plate to a position at which said reset pin is engagable with said latching plate to said latching mechanism to said closed state.

2. A protection device as claimed in claim 1, wherein when said plunger is moved to said second position said locking plate is moved out of contact with said contact arrangement.

3. A protection device according to claim 2, wherein said initial reset prevention mechanism further comprises:

a spring, adapted to move said locking plate out of contact with said contact arrangement when said plunger is moved to said second position.

4. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said locking plate has an aperture thereon for engaging with a projection on said plunger when said plunger is in said first position.

5. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said protection device comprises:

an alarm indicator, adapted to provide an indication that said protection device is not providing ground fault protection.

6. A protection device according to claim 5, wherein said alarm indicator is a bicolor Light Emitting Diode (LED).

7. A protection device according to claim 6, wherein the LED flashes red to indicate the device is not providing ground fault protection.

8. A protection device according to claim 1, further comprising:

isolated face receptacles, configured such that when said latching mechanism is in said open state, said face terminals are electrically isolated from said line and load terminals and when said latching mechanism is in said closed state, said face terminals are in electrical contact with said line and load terminals.

9. A protection device according to claim 1, wherein said protection device is non-operational when powered from the load terminals prior to being powered from the line terminals.

10. A method of preventing miswiring of a protection device having line and load terminals, comprising:

providing a latching mechanism for moving between a closed state which establishes electrical contact between said line and load terminals, and an open state which prevents electrical contact between said line and load terminals;

providing an initial reset prevention mechanism for preventing said latching mechanism from being set in said closed state until power is applied to said line terminals; and

providing a reset pin;

wherein;

said latching mechanism comprises a latching plate;

said initial reset prevention mechanism prevents said latching plate from engaging said reset pin with said latching mechanism to said closed state when power is not applied to said line terminals; and

the providing of said initial reset prevention mechanism comprises;

providing a solenoid for driving a plunger;

providing a contact arrangement; and

providing a locking plate for contacting said contact arrangement to enable said contact arrangement to apply power to said solenoid when said power is applied to said line terminals, to energize said solenoid to drive said plunger from a first position to a second position to move said latching plate to a position at which said reset pin is engagable with said latching plate to said latching mechanism to said closed state.

11. A method according to claim 10, wherein when said plunger is moved to said second position said locking plate is moved out of contact with said contact arrangement.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said initial reset prevention mechanism step further comprising:

providing a spring for moving said locking plate out of contact with said contact arrangement when said plunger is moved to said second position.

13. A method according to claim 10, wherein said locking plate has an aperture thereon for engaging with a projection on said plunger when said plunger is in said first position.

14. A method according to claim 10, further comprising:

providing an alarm indicator for indicating that said protection device is not providing ground fault protection.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said alarm indicator is a bicolor Light Emitting Diode (LED).

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein the LED flashes red to indicate the device is not providing ground fault protection.