Self testing digital fault interrupter
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1. A self testing fault detector and interrupter having a line side and a load side and a conductive path therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
- a solenoid, adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in said conductive path from a first position to a second position when said self testing fault detector is powered from the line side;
a programmable processor programmed to energize said solenoid by activating a first switch using a first output thereof for a selected period of time determined by the processor and to maintain said solenoid in said energized state by activating a second switch using a second output thereof after said selected period of time has elapsed and deactivating said first switch; and
a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) chip, configured to detect an occurrence of a ground fault, and having an output to said second switch to control deenergization of said solenoid independently of the processor when a fault condition is detected.
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Abstract
A self testing fault detector having a line side and a load side and a conductive path there between. The apparatus includes a solenoid, which is adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in the conductive path from a first position to a second position when the self testing device is powered from the line side; and a processor, which is adapted to energize the solenoid using a first switch and maintain said solenoid in the energized state using a second switch.
119 Citations
28 Claims
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1. A self testing fault detector and interrupter having a line side and a load side and a conductive path therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
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a solenoid, adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in said conductive path from a first position to a second position when said self testing fault detector is powered from the line side; a programmable processor programmed to energize said solenoid by activating a first switch using a first output thereof for a selected period of time determined by the processor and to maintain said solenoid in said energized state by activating a second switch using a second output thereof after said selected period of time has elapsed and deactivating said first switch; and a Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter (GFCI) chip, configured to detect an occurrence of a ground fault, and having an output to said second switch to control deenergization of said solenoid independently of the processor when a fault condition is detected. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A self testing fault interrupter apparatus having line terminals and load terminals and a conductive path therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
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a fault sensing transformer, adapted to detect a fault condition in said conductive path; a solenoid, adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in said conductive path from a first position when said solenoid is deenergized or to a second position when said solenoid is energized; a microprocessor; and a fault detection chip comprising a first output connected to a switch circuit for the solenoid, and adapted to place said solenoid in an initial deenergized state and place said contacts in said first position independently of the microprocessor when a fault condition is detected by said fault sensing transformer; wherein said microprocessor comprises a second output connected to the switch circuit for the solenoid, and is adapted to maintain said solenoid in a deenergized state when said microprocessor detects that said contacts are in said first position. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21)
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22. A self testing fault detector and interrupter having a line side and a load side and a conductive path therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
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a solenoid, adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in said conductive path from a first position to a second position when said self testing fault detector and interrupter is powered from the line side; and a processor, adapted to energize said solenoid using a first switch and to maintain said solenoid in said energized state using a second switch; wherein said processor performs a periodic test, said periodic test detects at least one of electrical functionality and mechanical functionality of said self testing fault detector and interrupter and, if said self testing fault detector and interrupter is determined to be inoperable, said self testing fault detector and interrupter is configured to selectively operate in a power denial to load state and a receptacle mode of operation state depending on which state is selected, the receptacle mode of operation state corresponding to when power is provided to a load but said processor does not operate the solenoid to protect against a fault. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. A self testing fault detector and interrupter having a line side and a load side and a conductive path therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
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a solenoid, adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in said conductive path from a first position to a second position when said self testing fault detector and interrupter is powered from the line side; a processor, adapted to energize said solenoid using a first switch and to maintain said solenoid in said energized state using a second switch; and an alarm indicator; wherein the alarm indicator comprises a red LED that flashes at a first rate when said self testing fault detector and interrupter is in a power denial to load state and at a second rate when said self testing fault detector is operating in a receptacle mode of operation depending on which state is selected, the receptacle mode of operation state corresponding to when power is provided to a load but said processor does not operate the solenoid to protect against a fault.
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25. A self testing fault detector and interrupter having a line side and a load side and a conductive path therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
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a solenoid, adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in said conductive path from a first position to a second position when said self testing fault detector and interrupter is powered from the line side; a processor, adapted to energize said solenoid using a first switch and to maintain said solenoid in said energized state using a second switch; wherein the plurality of contacts comprises a pair of primary contacts, a pair of auxiliary contacts and a pair of face contacts and the primary contacts are configured to be open when the auxiliary contacts are closed and to be closed when the auxiliary contacts are open; and wherein said processor is programmed to perform a self-test by controlling the solenoid to deenergize, detecting when the primary contacts are open via closure of the auxiliary contacts, and maintaining the primary contacts open for a selected period of time to validate a selected signal generated when opening of the primary contacts while avoiding disruption operation of a load powered via the self testing fault detector and interrupter. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27)
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28. A line powered self testing fault protection device having a line side and a load side and a conductive path therebetween, said apparatus comprising:
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a solenoid, adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in said conductive path from a first position to a second position; a fault detector, adapted to energize said solenoid to place said contacts in said first position; a processor, adapted to energize said solenoid to place said contacts in said second position via a switch; and an alarm indicator, adapted to indicate at least one of a presence of a fault, a presence of electrical power on the line side of said line powered self testing fault protection device, and an operational state of said line powered self testing fault protection device; wherein said operational state comprises a receptacle mode corresponding to when power is provided to a load but said processor does not operate the solenoid to protect against a fault.
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Specification