Method of actuating a test function of an electrical switching apparatus at a panel and electrical switching apparatus employing the same
First Claim
1. A method of actuating a test function of a first circuit interrupter including a housing, a first side and an opposite second side, said first circuit interrupter being coupled to a panel having a first side and an opposite second side, said first circuit interrupter being coupled to said panel intermediate a second circuit interrupter adjacent the first side of said first circuit interrupter, and a third circuit interrupter adjacent the opposite second side of said first circuit interrupter, said method comprising:
- coupling said housing to said panel at the opposite second side thereof;
disposing a proximity sensor on or within said housing and proximate the opposite second side of said panel;
disposing a target in a holding member proximate the first side of said panel and opposite said proximity sensor;
providing first and second openings passing from the first side to the opposite second side of said panel;
disposing a protrusion and an alignment member from said housing;
passing said protrusion from the opposite second side of said panel, through the first opening of said panel, and beyond the first side of said panel;
passing said alignment member from the opposite second side of said panel and through the second opening of said panel;
disposing said proximity sensor proximate the protrusion of said housing;
disposing said target in said holding member proximate the protrusion of said housing at the first side of said panel and opposite said proximity sensor;
limiting rotational movement of said holding member about said protrusion by said alignment member and said protrusion, and thereby preventing said target disposed in said holding member from actuating a corresponding test function of either of said second and third circuit interrupters;
sensing said target with said proximity sensor; and
responsive to said sensing said target, actuating said test function of said first circuit interrupter without said target actuating the corresponding test function of either of said second and third circuit interrupters.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An arc fault circuit breaker includes a panel having a first side and an opposite second side, a housing coupled to the opposite second side of the panel, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close the separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The trip mechanism includes a test circuit structured to simulate a trip condition to trip open the separable contacts, and a proximity sensor disposed on or within the housing proximate the opposite second side of the panel. The proximity sensor is structured to sense a target to actuate the test circuit when the target is disposed proximate the first side of the panel and opposite the proximity sensor.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A method of actuating a test function of a first circuit interrupter including a housing, a first side and an opposite second side, said first circuit interrupter being coupled to a panel having a first side and an opposite second side, said first circuit interrupter being coupled to said panel intermediate a second circuit interrupter adjacent the first side of said first circuit interrupter, and a third circuit interrupter adjacent the opposite second side of said first circuit interrupter, said method comprising:
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coupling said housing to said panel at the opposite second side thereof; disposing a proximity sensor on or within said housing and proximate the opposite second side of said panel; disposing a target in a holding member proximate the first side of said panel and opposite said proximity sensor; providing first and second openings passing from the first side to the opposite second side of said panel; disposing a protrusion and an alignment member from said housing; passing said protrusion from the opposite second side of said panel, through the first opening of said panel, and beyond the first side of said panel; passing said alignment member from the opposite second side of said panel and through the second opening of said panel; disposing said proximity sensor proximate the protrusion of said housing; disposing said target in said holding member proximate the protrusion of said housing at the first side of said panel and opposite said proximity sensor; limiting rotational movement of said holding member about said protrusion by said alignment member and said protrusion, and thereby preventing said target disposed in said holding member from actuating a corresponding test function of either of said second and third circuit interrupters; sensing said target with said proximity sensor; and responsive to said sensing said target, actuating said test function of said first circuit interrupter without said target actuating the corresponding test function of either of said second and third circuit interrupters. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system comprising:
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a target member disposed in a holding member; a panel having a first side, an opposite second side, and first and second openings passing from the first side to the opposite second side of said panel; and three electrical switching apparatus, a first one of said three electrical switching apparatus comprising; a housing coupled to the opposite second side of said panel, said housing including a first side, an opposite second side, and a protrusion and an alignment member disposed from said housing, said protrusion passing from the opposite second side of said panel, through the first opening of said panel, and beyond the first side of said panel, said alignment member passing from the opposite second side of said panel and through the second opening of said panel, separable contacts, an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, and a trip mechanism cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts, said trip mechanism comprising; a test circuit structured to simulate a trip condition to trip open said separable contacts, and a proximity sensor disposed on or within said housing proximate the opposite second side of said panel and proximate the protrusion of said housing, said proximity sensor being structured to sense said target member to actuate said test circuit without said target member actuating a corresponding test function of either of a second one and a third one of said three electrical switching apparatus when said target member disposed in said holding member is disposed proximate the protrusion of said housing at the first side of said panel and opposite said proximity sensor, wherein said first one of said three electrical switching apparatus is coupled to said panel intermediate said second one of said three electrical switching apparatus adjacent the first side of said housing of said first one of said three electrical switching apparatus, and said third one of said three electrical switching apparatus adjacent the opposite second side of said housing of said first one of said three electrical switching apparatus, and wherein said alignment member and said protrusion limit rotational movement of said holding member about said protrusion, and thereby prevent said target member disposed in said holding member from actuating the corresponding test function of either of said second one and said third one of said three electrical switching apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification