Electrical wiring safety device for use with electrical wire

• US 7,482,535 B2
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Issued: 01/27/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/05/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Newire Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Newire Incorporated
• Inventors: Martin, Fred Lane, Sexton, Robert Jay, Garris, Charles Alexander
• Primary Examiner(s): Mayo, III; William H
• Application Number:
  US11/932,871
• Publication Number:
  US 20080047735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 454 Days
• Field of Search: 174/36, 174/110.R, 174/113.R, 174/117.R, 174/117.F, 174/117.FF, 174/32
• US Class Current: 174/36
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 7/0216 Two layers
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/006 Constructional features relating to the conductors
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 9/04 Concentric cables

Abstract

An electrical wiring system includes an electrical wire and an electrical safety device. The electrical wire includes at least one electrifiable conductor, first and second insulating layers formed on opposing sides of the at least one electrifiable conductor, first and second return conductors formed on the first and second insulating layers respectively, such that the at least one electrifiable conductor is at least substantially entrapped by the first and second return conductors, third and fourth insulating layers respectively formed on the first and second return conductors, and first and second grounding conductors respectively formed on the third and fourth insulating layers. The electrical safety device is coupled to the electrical wire and is operable to test the electrical wire for at least one of a short or a miswire. The electrical safety device tests the electrical wire prior to the electrification of the electrical wire or subsequent to the electrification of the electrical wire.

Claims

1. An electrical wiring system, comprising:

an electrical wire, comprising (i) at least one electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power, (ii) first and second insulating layers formed on opposing sides of the at least one electrifiable conductor, (iii) first and second return conductors formed on the first and second insulating layers respectively, such that the at least one electrifiable conductor is at least substantially entrapped by the first and second return conductors, (iv) third and fourth insulating layers respectively formed on the first and second return conductors, and (v) first and second grounding conductors respectively formed on the third and fourth insulating layers; and

an electrical safety device coupled to the electrical wire, wherein the electrical safety device tests the electrical wire for at least one of a short or a miswire,

wherein the electrical safety device tests the electrical wire prior to the electrification of the electrical wire or subsequent to the electrification of the electrical wire.

2. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the electrical safety device is operable to detect, prior to the electrification of the electrical wire, a short between at least one of the first return conductor or the second return conductor and at least one of the first grounding conductor or the second grounding conductor.

3. The electrical wiring system of claim 2, wherein the electrical safety device (i) detects a short and (ii) is further operable to prevent the electrification of the electrical wire.

4. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the electrical safety device detects a short in an electrified electrical wire and removes the electrification of said electrical wire.

5. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the electrical safety device is coupled to one end of the electrical wire,

wherein a destination device is coupled to the distal end of the electrical wire, and

wherein the electrical safety device is further configured to detect, prior to the electrification of the electrical wire, the proper termination of the first grounding conductor and the second grounding conductor by communicating a signal onto the first grounding conductor and detecting a return signal on the second grounding conductor.

6. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, further comprising a ground fault circuit interrupter.

7. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the electrical safety device is coupled to one end of the electrical wire,

wherein a destination device is coupled to the distal end of the electrical wire, and

wherein the electrical safety device is further configured to communicate a signal to the destination device via the electrical wire.

8. The electrical wiring system of claim 7, wherein the signal comprises at least one of a voice communication signal or a data communication signal.

9. The electrical wiring system of claim 7, wherein the signal is communicated to the destination device via at least one of the first grounding conductor, the second grounding conductor, the first return conductor, or the second return conductor.

10. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein an object penetrating an outer surface of the electrical wire contacts at least one of the first grounding conductor or the second grounding conductor and at least one of the first return conductor or the second return conductor before contacting the at least one electrifiable conductor.

11. The electrical wiring system of claim 1, wherein the electrical wire comprises at least one of 120V AC electrical wire or 240V AC electrical wire.

12. A method for testing an electrical wire, comprising:

providing an electrical wire, comprising (i) at least one electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power, (ii) first and second insulating layers formed on opposing sides of the at least one electrifiable conductor, (iii) first and second return conductors formed on the first and second insulating layers respectively, such that the at least one electrifiable conductor is at least substantially entrapped by the first and second return conductors, (iv) third and fourth insulating layers respectively formed on the first and second return conductors, and (v) first and second grounding conductors respectively formed on the third and fourth insulating layers; and

coupling an electrical safety device to the electrical wire, wherein the electrical safety device is operable to detect, prior to the electrification of the electrical wire, a short between at least one of the first return conductor or the second return conductor and at least one of the first grounding conductor or the second grounding conductor.

13. An electrical wiring system, comprising:

an electrical wire, comprising (i) at least one electrifiable conductor for delivering electrical power, (ii) a return conductor formed around the at least one electrifiable conductor, such that the at least one electrifiable conductor is completely entrapped by the return conductor, (iii) a first insulating layer formed between the at least one electrifiable conductor and the return conductor, (iv) a grounding conductor formed around the return conductor, and (v) a second insulating layer formed between the return conductor and the grounding conductor; and

an electrical safety device coupled to the electrical wire, wherein the electrical safety device tests the electrical wire for at least one of a short or a miswire,

wherein the electrical safety device tests the electrical wire prior to the electrification of the electrical wire or subsequent to the electrification of the electrical wire.

14. The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein the electrical safety device is operable to detect, prior to the electrification of the electrical wire, a short between the return conductor and the first grounding conductor.

15. The electrical wiring system of claim 13, further comprising a ground fault circuit interrupter.

16. The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein an object penetrating an outer surface of the electrical wire contacts the grounding conductor and the return conductor before contacting the at least one electrifiable conductor.

17. The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein the electrical wire comprises at least one of 120V AC electrical wire or 240V AC electrical wire.

18. The electrical wiring system of claim 13, wherein the electrical safety device is coupled to one end of the electrical wire,

wherein a destination device is coupled to the distal end of the electrical wire, and

wherein the electrical safety device is further configured to communicate a signal to the destination device via the electrical wire.

19. The electrical wiring system of claim 18, wherein the signal comprises at least one of a voice communication signal or a data communication signal.

20. The electrical wiring system of claim 18, wherein the signal is communicated to the destination device via at least one of the grounding conductor or the return conductor.