Ground fault circuit interrupters providing end of the life test
First Claim
1. A circuit interrupting device containing a line side connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity;
- a load side connection capable of being electrically connected to a load side conductor; and
a user accessible load;
wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises;
a housing;
a circuit board;
a trip apparatus capable of tripping said circuit interrupting device to cause electrical discontinuity between said line side connection, said load side connection, and said user accessible load when a fault occurs;
a reset button; and
a two-level test button;
wherein when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired or powered, depressing said two-level test button activates a first-level test button which generates a leakage current to test whether components of said circuit interrupting device are working properly;
wherein when said components of said circuit interrupting device are functioned properly, said reset button can be reset;
wherein when one or more of said components of said circuit interrupting device are not functioned properly, said reset button cannot be reset; and
wherein when said circuit interrupting device is not properly wired or powered, depressing said two-level test button does not activate said first-level test button, but a further depression of said two-level test button activates a second-level test button which mechanically trips said circuit interrupting device.
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Accused Products
Abstract
This invention discloses a ground fault circuit interrupter capable of detecting its end of life, and is characterized by: a pair of flexible metal sheets connected to the power output end are added on the circuit board of the interrupter, and there is a pair of moving contacts on the metal sheets; there are two pairs of fixed contacts on the power output conductors; the two pairs of fixed contacts on the power output conductors respectively correspond to the moving contacts on the power input metal sheets and the moving contacts on flexible metal sheets, thus forming two groups and four pairs of switches. There is also a tripping apparatus on the circuit board, which can release/trip the interrupter, thus cutting off the power output of the interrupter. An end of life detection circuit has also been added to the circuit board. After the interrupter is energized, various components in the interrupter are automatically detected. If it is found that the interrupter has come to the end of its life, the reset button will be prevented from resetting, so that neither the load end of the interrupter nor the power output holes on the surface of the interrupter have any power output. This invention has powerful applications, with sound safety precautions, thus effectively ensuring the personal safety of the user as well as the safety of the appliances.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A circuit interrupting device containing a line side connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity;
- a load side connection capable of being electrically connected to a load side conductor; and
a user accessible load;
wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises;a housing; a circuit board; a trip apparatus capable of tripping said circuit interrupting device to cause electrical discontinuity between said line side connection, said load side connection, and said user accessible load when a fault occurs; a reset button; and a two-level test button; wherein when said circuit interrupting device is properly wired or powered, depressing said two-level test button activates a first-level test button which generates a leakage current to test whether components of said circuit interrupting device are working properly; wherein when said components of said circuit interrupting device are functioned properly, said reset button can be reset; wherein when one or more of said components of said circuit interrupting device are not functioned properly, said reset button cannot be reset; and wherein when said circuit interrupting device is not properly wired or powered, depressing said two-level test button does not activate said first-level test button, but a further depression of said two-level test button activates a second-level test button which mechanically trips said circuit interrupting device. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
- a load side connection capable of being electrically connected to a load side conductor; and
Specification