Circuit interrupter including arc fault test and/or ground fault test failure indicator

• US 7,215,520 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2004
• Issued: 05/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Elms, Robert T., Natili, Thomas E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson; Stephen W.
• Assistant Examiner(s): THOMAS, LUCY M
• Application Number:
  US10/894,523
• Publication Number:
  US 20060018059A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,022 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/044 Monitoring, detection or measuring systems to establish the end of life of the switching device, can also contain other on-line monitoring systems, e.g. for detecting mechanical failures
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/335 the main function being self testing of the device

Abstract

A circuit breaker includes a test circuit having one or two indicators, an arc fault signal generator, and first and second test switches. A first indicator is electrically connected in series with the first test switch. This series combination provides a first alternating current signal to the arc fault signal generator, which provides an arc fault signal to an arc fault trip circuit, in order to trip open separable contacts in response to closure of the first test switch. The series combination of the second test switch and the second indicator provides a second alternating current signal to a ground fault trip circuit, in order to trip in response to closure of the second test switch. The indicators provide a visual indication of failure of the arc fault or ground fault trip circuits to trip in response to closure of the first or second test switches, respectively.

Claims

1. An arc fault circuit interrupter comprising:

separable contacts;

an operating mechanism adapted to open and close said separable contacts;

an arc fault trip circuit cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts in response to an arc fault condition; and

a test circuit including an indicator, a test member and an arc fault signal generator, said indicator being electrically connected in series with said test member, said test member and said indicator both being adapted to provide an alternating current signal to said arc fault signal generator, said arc fault signal generator being adapted to provide an arc fault signal to said arc fault trip circuit, in order to trip open said separable contacts in response to actuation of said test member, said indicator being adapted to provide a visual indication of failure of said arc fault trip circuit to trip open said separable contacts in response to actuation of said test member.

2. The arc fault circuit interrupter of claim 1 wherein said indicator is a bi-directional light emitting diode.

3. The arc fault circuit interrupter of claim 2 wherein said bi-directional light emitting diode is a red bi-directional light emitting diode.

4. The arc fault circuit interrupter of claim 1 wherein said indicator is operatively associated with an indicia of failure of said arc fault circuit interrupter.

5. The arc fault circuit interrupter of claim 1 wherein said test member is a test button.

6. The arc fault circuit interrupter of claim 1 wherein said indicator provides said visual indication of failure of said arc fault trip circuit to trip open said separable contacts during said actuation of said test member.

7. A ground fault circuit interrupter comprising:

separable contacts;

an operating mechanism adapted to open and close said separable contacts;

a ground fault trip circuit cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts in response to a ground fault condition; and

a test circuit including an indicator and a test member, said indicator being electrically connected in series with said test member, said test member and said indicator both being adapted to provide an alternating current signal to said ground fault trip circuit, in order to trip open said separable contacts in response to actuation of said test member, said indicator being adapted to provide a visual indication of failure of said ground fault trip circuit to trip open said separable contacts in response to actuation of said test member.

8. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 7 wherein said indicator is a bi-directional light emitting diode.

9. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 8 wherein said bi-directional light emitting diode is a red bi-directional light emitting diode.

10. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 7 wherein said indicator is operatively associated with an indicia of failure of said ground fault circuit interrupter.

11. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 7 wherein said test member is a test button.

12. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 7 wherein said indicator provides said visual indication of failure of said ground fault trip circuit to trip open said separable contacts during said actuation of said test member.

13. An arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter comprising:

separable contacts;

an operating mechanism adapted to open and close said separable contacts;

an arc fault trip circuit cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts in response to an arc fault condition;

a ground fault trip circuit cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts in response to a ground fault condition; and

a test circuit including at least one indicator, an arc fault signal generator, a first test switch and a second test switch, said at least one indicator being electrically connected in series with said first test switch, said first test switch and said at least one indicator both being adapted to provide a first alternating current signal to said arc fault signal generator, said arc fault signal generator being adapted to provide an arc fault signal to said arc fault trip circuit, in order to trip open said separable contacts in response to closure of said first test switch, said second test switch and said at least one indicator also both being adapted to provide a second alternating current signal to said ground fault trip circuit, in order to trip open said separable contacts in response to closure of said second test switch, said at least one indicator being adapted to provide a visual indication of failure of said arc fault trip circuit or said ground fault trip circuit to trip open said separable contacts in response to closure of said first test switch or said second test switch, respectively.

14. The arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 13 wherein said at least one indicator is a single bi-directional light emitting diode.

15. The arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 13 wherein said at least one indicator includes a first bi-directional indicator associated with said arc fault trip circuit and a second bi-directional indicator associated with said ground fault trip circuit, said first bi-directional indicator being electrically connected in series with said first test switch, said second bi-directional indicator being electrically connected in series with said second test switch.

16. The arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 13 wherein said at least one indicator includes a first bi-directional light emitting diode associated with said arc fault trip circuit and a second bi-directional light emitting diode associated with said ground fault trip circuit.

17. The arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 13 wherein said at least one indicator includes a single red bi-directional light emitting diode.

18. The arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 13 wherein said at least one indicator is operatively associated with at least one indicia of failure of said arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter.

19. The arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 13 wherein said first and second test switches form a three position test button including a first actuated position to actuate said arc fault trip circuit, a second actuated position to actuate said ground fault trip circuit and a third non-actuated position, said first actuated position corresponding to said closure of said first test switch and said second actuated position corresponding to said closure of said second test switch.

20. The arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 19 wherein said at least one indicator includes a first bi-directional indicator associated with said arc fault trip circuit and a second bi-directional indicator associated with said ground fault trip circuit;

wherein said first bi-directional indicator provides said visual indication of failure of said arc fault trip circuit to trip open said separable contacts during said actuation of said three position test button in the first actuated position thereof and wherein said second bi-directional indicator provides said visual indication of failure of said ground fault trip circuit to trip open said separable contacts during said actuation of said three position test button in the second actuated position thereof.