Circuit interruption device with indicator having function of auto-monitoring and multi-protecting circuit

• US 7,525,402 B2
• Filed: 01/18/2007
• Issued: 04/28/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Zhejiang Trimone Science & Technology Electric Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Zhejiang Trimone Science & Technology Electric Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Gao, Shaohua
• Primary Examiner(s): Enad; Elvin G
• Assistant Examiner(s): Talpalatskiy; Alexander
• Application Number:
  US11/655,322
• Publication Number:
  US 20070229202A1
• Time in Patent Office: 831 Days
• Field of Search: 335/18, 335/78, 335/113, 335167-172, 335253-254, 361 42- 51
• US Class Current: 335/18
• 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 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/161 comprising light emitting elements

Abstract

A circuit interruption device having an input for receiving AC power, an AC socket electrically connected to the power input, a reset switch electrically coupling the power source to the AC socket, a controller coupled to the power input, a stationary electromagnet connected to the controller, an electronic switch connected to the electromagnet and the controller, a pivotally mounted permanent magnet adapted to move between a first position apart from the electromagnet and a second position in contact with the electromagnet, and a mechanical connection connecting the pivotally mounted permanent magnet to the reset button.

Claims

1. A circuit interruption device, comprising:

an input for receiving AC power;

an AC socket electrically coupled to the power input;

a reset switch having an open and a closed position, which electrically couples the power source to the AC socket, the reset switch including a reset button to move the reset switch between the open and closed positions, the reset switch being biased in the open position and comprising a first set of electrical contacts electrically coupled to the power input and a second set of electrical contacts, electrically coupled to the AC socket;

a controller, coupled to the power input, and producing an output voltage in response to a change in current at the power input;

a stationary electromagnet coupled to the input and to the controller;

an electronic switch connected to the electromagnet and the controller which can receive the output voltage from the controller and turn off the electromagnet;

a pivotally mounted permanent magnet having a first and a second position, the first position of the pivotally mounted magnet being apart from the electromagnet, the second position of the pivotally mounted magnet being in contact with the electromagnet, the pivotally mounted magnet being placed into the first position or the second in response to the presence or absence of a magnetic field generated by the electromagnet; and

a mechanical connection connecting the pivotally mounted permanent magnet to the reset button such that the permanent magnet'"'"'s first position corresponds to the reset switch'"'"'s open position and the permanent magnet'"'"'s second position corresponds to the reset switch'"'"'s closed position and further comprising

a reset push rod connected to the reset button and having a first position and a second position that correspond to the open position and the closed position of the reset switch;

a lifter having an aperture and a first and a second position that correspond to the open position and the closed position of the reset switch, the lifter being biased in the first position;

a latch, connected to the lifter and passing through the aperture of the lifter, and having an aperture, a first position and a second position that correspond to the open position and the closed position of the reset switch, the latch being biased in the first position; and

a reset pull rod connected to the reset button, configured to pass through the aperture of the lifter and the latch, having a cone shaped tip and a groove, located above the cone shaped tip, and having a first position and a second position that correspond to the open position and the closed position of the reset switch, the reset pull rod being configured to engage the latch such that the lifter is moved to the second position when the reset button is in the second position;

wherein the first set of electrical contacts are connected to the lifter; and

the second set of electrical contacts are located in proximity to the lifter such that the first set of electrical contacts and the second set of electrical contacts touch when the lifter is in the second position.

2. The circuit interruption device in claim 1, wherein the pivotally mounted magnet is biased in the first position.

3. The circuit interruption device in claim 2, wherein the pivotally mounted magnet is biased in the first position by at least one return spring.

4. The circuit interruption device in claim 1, wherein the electromagnet comprises a solenoid including a solenoid bobbin surrounded by a coil electrically connected to the power input, the bobbin having a back end and a hollow bobbin core, the solenoid further including a fixed magnet attached to the back end and a plunger fixedly connected to the fixed magnet, wherein with current flowing through the coil surrounding the bobbin, the plunger and the fixed magnet become magnetized whereby the solenoid functions as an electromagnet and holds the pivotally mounted permanent magnet against the plunger and if no current flows through the coil, the solenoid releases the pivotally mounted permanent magnet.

5. The circuit interruption device in claim 1, further comprising a first indication lamp connected in electrical parallel with the controller and electromagnet such that the first indication lamp is illuminated while current flows through the device.

6. The circuit interruption device in claim 1, further comprising a test circuit, including a test button which, when depressed, simulates a ground fault.

7. The circuit interruption device in claim 6, further comprising:

a first indication lamp, connected in electrical parallel with the controller and electromagnet such that first indication lamp is illuminated while current flows through the device; and

a second indication lamp, connected to the test circuit and arranged in electrical parallel with the controller and electromagnet such that the second indication lamp is illuminated and the first indication lamp ceases to be illuminated if the device fails a simulated ground fault test, thereby indicating an end of life of the circuit interruption device.

8. The circuit interruption device of claim 1, wherein the reset switch further comprises a pair of contacts electrically coupling the AC socket to the power input, the contacts including at least one moveable contact and at least one spring mounted moveable contact, and mechanically coupled to the reset button to adjust and balance contact pressure between the pair of contacts.

9. The circuit interruption device of claim 1, further comprising a spring coupled to the reset button to bias the reset switch in the open position.

10. The circuit interruption device of claim 1, wherein the mechanical connection further comprises:

a moveable crosshead configured to receive the reset push rod and move between a first position and a second position, that correspond to the open position and the closed position of the reset switch, respectively, the moveable crosshead being biased in the first position; and

a moveable gangplank configured to receive the moveable crosshead and move between a first and a second position that correspond to the open position and the closed position of the reset switch, respectively, the moveable gangplank being biased in the first position when the crosshead is in the first position and the moveable gangplank being biased in the second position when the moveable crosshead is in the second position;

wherein the pivotally mounted permanent magnet is attached to the moveable gangplank such that the pivotally mounted permanent magnet comes into contact with the electromagnet when the moveable gangplank is in the second position, whereby the electromagnet, in the on state, holds the pivotally mounted permanent magnet in the second position and, in the off state, permits the crosshead to return to the first position.

11. The circuit interruption device of claim 10, wherein the lifter further comprises:

at least one spring to balance the contact pressure between the first and second set of electrical contacts.

12. The circuit interruption device in claim 10, further comprising an auxiliary switch mechanically coupled to the crosshead, having an open and closed position, and electrically connected between the power source and the controller such that the auxiliary switch is placed in the closed position when the reset button is pressed and stays in the closed position only when a magnetic field is generated by the electromagnet.

13. The circuit interruption device in claim 7, wherein the first indication lamp glows green to indicate normal operating condition.

14. The circuit interruption device in claim 13, wherein the first indication lamp goes out to indicate a successfully conducted test.

15. The circuit interruption device in claim 7, wherein the simulated ground fault test fails if the end-of-life fault test circuit and the circuit interruption device circuit fail to respond to a simulated fault signal in a predetermined period of time, and the second indication lamp glows red to indicate the failed simulated fault test and the end of life for the circuit interruption device.