Circuit interrupting device with automatic end of life test
First Claim
1. A circuit interrupting device comprising:
- a test circuit which automatically generates a simulated leakage current to test components of said circuit interrupting device;
wherein said test circuit comprises an end-of-service-life detecting integrated circuit chip; and
wherein said end-of-service-life detecting integrated circuit chip is connected to a switch which interacts with a reset button;
whereby when said circuit interrupting device is powered and said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped state, if all of said components of said circuit interrupting device are working properly, said test circuit allows said circuit interrupting device to be reset;
whereby when said circuit interrupting device is powered and said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped state, if at least one of said components of said circuit interrupting device is not working properly, said test circuit prevents said circuit interrupting device from being reset;
whereby when said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped state, said switch is conductive which sends a signal to said end-of-service life detecting integrated circuit chip to generate a simulated leakage current to test said components of said circuit interrupting device;
whereby when all of said components of said circuit interrupting device are working properly, said reset button is capable of being reset; and
whereby when at least one of said components of said circuit interrupting device is not working properly, said reset button is not capable of being reset.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention provides to a circuit interrupting device, particularly a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), with a test circuit which is capable of automatically generating a simulated leakage current to detect whether the service life of the circuit interrupting device has ended, i.e., whether the main components of the device are working properly, when the device is properly connected to power input terminals and in a tripped state. The test circuit contains an end-of-service-life integrated circuit chip, which is connected to a switch that interacts with the reset button, thereby, by observing whether the device is capable of resetting, a user can determine whether the service life of the device has ended, i.e., if the device can be reset, the device is working properly; if the device cannot be reset, the service life of the device has ended. Optionally, the circuit interrupting device contains an indicating light on the face of the device, thereby, by observing whether a normal status indicating light or a problem status indicating light is turned on and displayed on the face of the device, the user can determine whether the service life of the device has ended. The circuit interrupting device also possesses a forcible tripping mechanism through the operation of the test button to interrupt the power output to the device. The present invention also provides methods for detecting the end of service life of the circuit interrupting device.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A circuit interrupting device comprising:
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a test circuit which automatically generates a simulated leakage current to test components of said circuit interrupting device; wherein said test circuit comprises an end-of-service-life detecting integrated circuit chip; and wherein said end-of-service-life detecting integrated circuit chip is connected to a switch which interacts with a reset button; whereby when said circuit interrupting device is powered and said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped state, if all of said components of said circuit interrupting device are working properly, said test circuit allows said circuit interrupting device to be reset; whereby when said circuit interrupting device is powered and said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped state, if at least one of said components of said circuit interrupting device is not working properly, said test circuit prevents said circuit interrupting device from being reset; whereby when said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped state, said switch is conductive which sends a signal to said end-of-service life detecting integrated circuit chip to generate a simulated leakage current to test said components of said circuit interrupting device; whereby when all of said components of said circuit interrupting device are working properly, said reset button is capable of being reset; and whereby when at least one of said components of said circuit interrupting device is not working properly, said reset button is not capable of being reset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A circuit interrupting device comprising:
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a test circuit which automatically generates a simulated leakage current to test components of said circuit interrupting device; whereby when said circuit interrupting device is powered and said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped state, if all of said components of said circuit interrupting device are working properly, said test circuit allows said circuit interrupting device to be reset; whereby when said circuit interrupting device is powered and said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped state, if at least one of said components of said circuit interrupting device is not working properly, said test circuit prevents said circuit interrupting device from being reset; wherein said circuit interrupting device is a around fault circuit interrupter, an arc fault circuit interrupter, an immersion detection circuit interrupter, an appliance leakage circuit interrupter, or a circuit breaker; wherein said ground fault circuit interrupter comprises; a housing; a tripping device positioned in a base of said housing; a circuit board positioned in said base of said housing;
said circuit board comprisinga first pair of flexible metal pieces having a first end and a second end; wherein said first pair of flexible metal pieces is operationally connected to power source input terminals;
wherein said first end of each of said first pair of flexible metal pieces is operationally connected to a hot input line or a neutral input line through a differential transformer;
wherein said second end of each of said first pair of flexible metal pieces has a movable contact;a second pair of flexible metal pieces having a first end and a second end; wherein said first end of each of said second pair of flexible metal pieces is operationally connected to a hot power output terminal or a neutral power output terminal;
said second end of each of said second pair of flexible metal pieces having a movable contact;a pair of output conductors positioned in an insulated middle support;
wherein each of said output conductors contains a pair of fixed contacts; andwherein said movable contact of each of said first pair of flexible metal pieces and said movable contact of each of said second pair of flexible metal pieces are capable of connecting/disconnecting to each of said fixed contacts on said pair of output conductors. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A method for detecting an end of life of a circuit interrupting device comprising:
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properly connecting said circuit interrupting device to power input terminals; making sure that said circuit interrupting device is in a tripped position; observing whether said circuit interrupting device is capable of being reset;
whereby when a service life of said circuit interrupting device has not ended, said circuit interrupting device is capable of being reset; andwhereby when said service life of said circuit interrupting device has ended, said circuit interrupting device is incapable of being reset. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) comprising:
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a test circuit which automatically generates a simulated leakage current to test components of said GFCI;
wherein said components of said GFCI comprise a differential transformer, a leakage current detecting integrated circuit chip, a silicon control rectifier, and a solenoid coil;whereby when said GFCI is powered and in a tripped state, if all of said components of said GFCI are working properly, said test circuit allows said GFCI to be reset; and whereby when said GFCI is powered and said GFCI is in a tripped state, if at least one of said components of said GFCI is not working properly, said test circuit prevents said GFCI from being reset; a housing; a tripping device positioned in said housing; a circuit board positioned in said housing; a first pair of flexible metal pieces electrically connected to a hot input line or a neutral input line of power source input terminals through said differential transformer; a second pair of flexible metal pieces electrically connected to a hot power output line or a neutral power output line of power output terminals; and a pair of output conductors electrically connected to a user accessible load; wherein each of said first pair of flexible metal pieces and each of said second pair of flexible metal pieces are capable of electrically connecting/disconnecting to each of said pair of output conductors to cause electrical continuity or discontinuity between said power source input terminals, said power output terminals, and said user accessible load. - View Dependent Claims (26)
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Specification