Receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter

• US 7,408,432 B2
• Filed: 04/25/2006
• Issued: 08/05/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wenzhou Yongtai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Wenzhou Yongtai Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Shi, Jie
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): TALPALATSKI, ALEXANDER
• Application Number:
  US11/410,657
• Publication Number:
  US 20070188276A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 335/6, 335/18, 335/17, 336/42, 336/72, 336/617, 336/633, 439/109, 439/110, 439/113, 439/134, 361/91.1, 361/93.1, 361/1, 307/39, 307/86, 307/97, 307/328, 307/116
• US Class Current: 335/17
• 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: H01H 71/04 Means for indicating condition of the switching device by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly

Abstract

A receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) device adapted for connecting to input lines, which includes a pair of input terminals for connecting to the input lines, a pair of receptacle outlets, a ground-fault current detector for detecting a ground fault condition on the input lines, a reset and trip device, and a self detecting and testing structure. The device further includes a normal working condition indicator and an end-of-life indicator. When the GFCI device is correctly wired and working properly, the device can be properly reset by a reset button. When the ground-fault is detected, the GFCI is put in a normal tripped state with no power output. When the input terminals and the output terminals are reversely wired, no power is output. If an input line is broken, no power is output.

Claims

1. A receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter device adapted for connecting to input lines, comprising:

a pair of input terminals for connecting to the input lines;

a pair of receptacle outlets;

a ground-fault current detector for detecting a ground fault condition on the input lines;

a reset and trip device including;

a reset button assembly;

an electromagnetic coil;

an electromagnetic coil control circuit for controlling the electromagnetic coil, the electromagnetic coil control circuit being connected to the input terminals and being closed by the reset button assembly and opened by the ground-fault current detector;

a moveable iron core disposed within the electromagnetic coil;

a pair of static contact tips electrically connected to the receptacle outlets;

a pair of elastic moveable contact sheets mechanically coupled to the moveable iron core and correspondingly disposed adjacent the pair of static contact tips, the pair of elastic moveable contact sheets being electrically connected to the pair of input terminals, respectively, via the ground-fault cuffent detector; and

a pair of moveable contact tips disposed on the pair of elastic moveable contact sheets and moveable to make and break contact with the pair of static contact tips; and

a self detecting and testing structure including;

a test button assembly;

a light emitting diode;

a ganged switch being controlled to close by the test button assembly and to open by the reset button assembly;

an end-of-life indicator,

wherein the light emitting diode, the ganged switch and end-of-life indicator are connected in series to form a simulated ground-fault loop; and

a fault self-detecting control circuit including a photosensitive resistor optically coupled to the light emitting diode, the fault self-detecting control circuit being operable to open the electromagnetic coil control circuit.

2. The receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter device of claim 1,

wherein the reset button assembly includes:

a reset button;

a reset button accessory mounted on a lower side of the reset button;

a ganged switch rod having a notch and connected with the reset button accessory;

a reset short-circuit conductor mounted inside of the reset button accessory; and

a reset spring disposed at an end of the reset button accessory;

where the test button assembly includes;

a test button;

a test button accessory mounted on a lower side of the test button;

a switch push rod having an inclined surface and connected with the test button accessory;

a test short-circuit conductor mounted inside of the test button accessory; and

a test spring; and

wherein the ganged switch includes;

two static contact spring sheets;

a rail;

a sliding sheet slidably mounted on the rail, the sliding sheet having a through hole corresponding to the ganged switch rod of the reset button accessory and a connecting arm at the center which cooperates with the two static contact spring sheets to provide conductivity, the sliding sheet being disposed against the inclined surface of the switch push-rod of the test button accessory; and

a support spring disposed at an end of the sliding sheet near the reset button 4.

3. The receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter device of claim 1, further comprising a normal working condition indicator connected at one end to the input terminal and at the other end to the receptacle outlet.

4. The receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter device of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic steel piece above the moveable iron core and a fixed iron core below the moveable iron core.

5. The receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter device of claim 1, further comprising a U-shaped magnetic cover disposed outside of the electromagnetic coil and a magnetic lid on a top opening of the cover.

6. The receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter device of claim 1, further comprising a shell including a face-cover, a middle frame and a bottom case, wherein the a ground-fault cuffent detector, the reset and trip device and the self detecting and testing structure are mounted inside the shell.

7. The receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter device of claim 1, further comprising a pair of output terminals,

wherein the reset and trip device further includes:

another pair of static contact tips connected to the pair of output terminals;

another pair of elastic moveable contact sheets correspondingly disposed adjacent the other pair of static contact tips and electrically connected to the pair of input terminals, respectively, via the ground-fault current detector; and

another pair of moveable contact tips disposed on the other pair of elastic moveable contact sheets and cooperating with the other pair of static contact tips.

8. The receptacle type ground-fault circuit interrupter device of claim 7, further comprising a moveable contact holder connected to an end of the moveable iron core, wherein the pair of elastic moveable contact sheets are held by the moveable contact holder.