Circuit interrupter with continuous self-testing feature
First Claim
1. A circuit interrupter comprising:
- a circuit interrupting actuation circuit; and
a fault current test circuit disposed and electrically coupled to the circuit interrupting actuation circuit to test at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting actuation circuit, the fault current test circuit disposed and configured to receive power from a power source,wherein when the fault current test circuit is receiving power from the power source, the fault current test circuit continuously generates a continuous test current for continuously testing at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting circuit without user intervention.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A circuit interrupter includes a current transformer, phase conductor and neutral conductor. The phase conductor and the neutral conductor are each configured to pass through the transformer from line side to load side that are defined by the current transformer. The circuit interrupter generates a continuous test current by continuous current imbalance established between the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor, or between the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor. A continuous test conductor may be coupled correspondingly to establish the current imbalance. Alternatively, an integrated circuit coupled correspondingly receives power and is energized by a quiescent current thereby. The current imbalance is established by the quiescent current. The current transformer detects the quiescent current as the continuous test current. Corresponding methods are also disclosed.
86 Citations
49 Claims
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1. A circuit interrupter comprising:
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a circuit interrupting actuation circuit; and a fault current test circuit disposed and electrically coupled to the circuit interrupting actuation circuit to test at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting actuation circuit, the fault current test circuit disposed and configured to receive power from a power source, wherein when the fault current test circuit is receiving power from the power source, the fault current test circuit continuously generates a continuous test current for continuously testing at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting circuit without user intervention. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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10. A circuit interrupter comprising:
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a circuit interrupting actuation circuit; a fault current test circuit disposed and electrically coupled to the circuit interrupting actuation circuit to test at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting actuation circuit, the fault current test circuit disposed and configured to receive power from a power source, wherein when the fault current test circuit is receiving power from the power source, the fault current test circuit continuously tests at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting circuit without user intervention, wherein the circuit interrupter is selected from the group consisting of a (a) a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI);
(b) arc fault circuit interrupter (ACFI);
(c) immersion detection circuit interrupter (IDCI);
(d) appliance leakage circuit interrupter (ALCI);
(e) circuit breaker;
(f) contactor;
(g) latching relay; and
(h) solenoid mechanism,wherein the circuit interrupting actuation circuit comprises; a current transformer; a phase conductor; and a neutral conductor, the phase and neutral conductors each having a line side and a load side, the phase conductor and the neutral conductor being each configured to pass through the transformer from the line side to the load side, the line side and the load side of the phase and neutral conductors being defined by the current transformer, and wherein when the fault current test circuit is receiving power from the power source, the fault current test circuit continuously tests at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting circuit via the fault current test circuit being disposed and electrically coupled to allow passage of a continuous test current by a continuous current imbalance one of (a) between the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor, and (b) between the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor, wherein the circuit interrupter is configured to allow passage of the continuous test fault current by being configured to allow passage of the continuous current imbalance via a continuous test conductor electrically coupling one of (a) the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor; and
(b) the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor, respectively,the circuit interrupter further comprising; a fault generator circuit electrically coupled in the continuous test conductor and configured to generate the continuous test fault current therein, and an integrated circuit, wherein the current transformer is electrically coupled to the integrated circuit, wherein the integrated circuit is configured to detect the continuous test fault current, and an autogain circuit electrically coupled to the current transformer and to the integrated circuit, and wherein the autogain circuit is configured to substantially null the continuous test fault current detected by the integrated circuit.
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17. A circuit interrupter comprising:
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a circuit interrupting actuation circuit; and a fault current test circuit disposed and electrically coupled to the circuit interrupting actuation circuit to test at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting actuation circuit, the fault current test circuit disposed and configured to receive power from a power source, wherein when the fault current test circuit is receiving power from the power source, the fault current test circuit continuously tests at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting circuit without user intervention, wherein the circuit interrupter is selected from the group consisting of a (a) a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI);
(b) arc fault circuit interrupter (ACFI);
(c) immersion detection circuit interrupter (IDCI);
(d) appliance leakage circuit interrupter (ALCI);
(e) circuit breaker;
(f) contactor;
(g) latching relay; and
(h) solenoid mechanism,wherein the circuit interrupting actuation circuit comprises; a current transformer; a phase conductor; and a neutral conductor, the phase and neutral conductors each having a line side and a load side, the phase conductor and the neutral conductor being each configured to pass through the transformer from the line side to the load side, the line side and the load side of the phase and neutral conductors being defined by the current transformer, and wherein when the fault current test circuit is receiving power from the power source, the fault current test circuit continuously tests at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting circuit via the fault current test circuit being disposed and electrically coupled to allow passage of a continuous test current by a continuous current imbalance one of (a) between the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor, and (b) between the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor, wherein the circuit interrupter further comprises; an integrated circuit configured and disposed to receive power one of (a) across the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor, and (b) across the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor, respectively, said integrated circuit being energized by a quiescent current thereby, wherein the current imbalance is established by the quiescent current, the current transformer being configured and disposed to detect the quiescent current as the continuous test current, and an autogain controller electrically coupled to the integrated circuit wherein the autogain controller is configured to substantially null the current imbalance received as the quiescent current by the integrated circuit.
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18. A method of testing a circuit interrupter comprising the steps of:
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providing a circuit interrupter; coupling electrical power to the circuit interrupter; and continuously generating a test current for continuously at least partially testing operability of the circuit interrupter without user intervention. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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27. A method of testing a circuit interrupter comprising the steps of:
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providing a circuit interrupter; coupling electrical power to the circuit interrupter; continuously at least partially testing operability of the circuit interrupter using a fault current test circuit without user intervention; wherein the circuit interrupter is one of the group consisting of a (a) a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI);
(b) arc fault circuit interrupter (ACFI);
(c) immersion detection circuit interrupter (IDCI);
(d) appliance leakage circuit interrupter (ALCI);
(e) circuit breaker;
(f) contactor;
(g) latching relay; and
(h) solenoid mechanism,wherein the circuit interrupter comprises a circuit interrupting actuation circuit comprising; a current transformer; a phase conductor; and a neutral conductor, the phase and neutral conductors each having a line side and a load side, the phase conductor and the neutral conductor being each configured to pass through the transformer from the line side to the load side, the line side and the load side of the phase and neutral conductors being defined by the current transformer, coupling electrical power to the fault current test circuit; continuously at least partially testing the operability of the circuit interrupting circuit by establishing a continuous current imbalance one of;
(a) between the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor; and
(b) between the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor;electrically coupling a continuous test conductor one of (a) between the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor; and
(b) between the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor, respectively;wherein the ground fault circuit interrupter is configured to allow passage of the continuous current imbalance via the continuous test conductor electrically coupling one of (a) the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor; and (b) the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor, respectively, providing a fault generator circuit electrically coupled in the continuous test conductor; generating the continuous test fault current in the continuous test conductor via the fault generator circuit; electrically coupling an integrated circuit to the current transformer; detecting the continuous test fault current via the integrated circuit; providing an autogain circuit electrically coupled to the current transformer and to the integrated circuit; and substantially nulling the continuous test fault current detected by the integrated circuit via the autogain circuit.
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35. A method of testing a circuit interrupter comprising the steps of:
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providing a circuit interrupter; coupling electrical power to the circuit interrupter; continuously at least partially testing operability of the circuit interrupter using a fault current test circuit without user intervention; wherein the circuit interrupter is one of the group consisting of a (a) a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI);
(b) arc fault circuit interrupter (ACFI);
(c) immersion detection circuit interrupter (IDCI);
(d) appliance leakage circuit interrupter (ALCI);
(e) circuit breaker;
(f) contactor;
(g) latching relay; and
(h) solenoid mechanism,wherein the circuit interrupter comprises a circuit interrupting actuation circuit comprising; a current transformer; a phase conductor; and a neutral conductor, the phase and neutral conductors each having a line side and a load side, the phase conductor and the neutral conductor being each configured to pass through the transformer from the line side to the load side, the line side and the load side of the phase and neutral conductors being defined by the current transformer, the method further comprising; coupling electrical power to the fault current test circuit; continuously at least partially testing the operability of the circuit interrupting circuit by establishing a continuous current imbalance one of;
(a) between the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor; and
(b) between the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor;electrically coupling an autogain controller to the integrated circuit; and substantially nulling, via the autogain controller, the current imbalance received as the quiescent current by the integrated circuit.
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36. A method of manufacturing a circuit interrupter comprising the steps of:
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providing a circuit interrupter; configuring the circuit interrupter to receive electrical power from a power source; and configuring the circuit interrupter with circuitry to continuously generate a continuous test current to enable at least partial continuous testing of the circuit interrupter when electrical power is received by the circuit interrupter without user intervention. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46)
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47. A method of manufacturing a circuit interrupter comprising the steps of:
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providing a circuit interrupter; configuring the circuit interrupter to receive electrical power from a power source; configuring the circuit interrupter with circuitry to enable at least partial continuous testing of the circuit interrupter when electrical power is received by the circuit interrupter without user intervention, wherein the circuit interrupter is one of the group consisting of a (a) a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI);
(b) arc fault circuit interrupter (ACFI);
(c) immersion detection circuit interrupter (IDCI);
(d) appliance leakage circuit interrupter (ALCI);
(e) circuit breaker;
(f) contactor;
(g) latching relay; and
(h) solenoid mechanism,wherein the step of configuring the circuit interrupter with circuitry to enable at least partial continuous testing of the circuit interrupter when electrical power is received by the circuit interrupter is performed by configuring the circuit interrupter with circuitry allowing passage of a continuous test current therein to enable at least partial continuous testing of the circuit interrupter when electrical power is received by the circuit interrupter, wherein the circuitry of the circuit interrupter comprises; a phase conductor having a line side and a load side; and a neutral conductor having a line side and a load side, and wherein the step of configuring the circuit interrupter with circuitry allowing passage of the continuous test current therein to enable the at least partial continuous testing is performed by; configuring the circuit interrupter to allow passage of the continuous test current as a continuous current imbalance one of (a) between the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor; and
(b) between the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor,further comprising the steps of; providing a current transformer; and configuring the phase conductor and the neutral conductor each to pass through the transformer from the line side to the load side, wherein the line side and the load side of the phase and neutral conductors being defined by the current transformer, providing an integrated circuit configured and disposed to receive power one of (a) across the load side of the phase conductor and the line side of the neutral conductor, and (b) across the line side of the phase conductor and the load side of the neutral conductor, respectively, said integrated circuit being energized by a quiescent current thereby, configuring the circuit interrupter wherein the current imbalance is the quiescent current; configuring and electrically coupling the current transformer to detect the quiescent current as the continuous test current, providing an autogain controller; and electrically coupling the autogain controller to the integrated circuit wherein the autogain controller substantially nulls the current imbalance received as the quiescent current by the integrated circuit.
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48. A circuit interrupter, comprising:
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a circuit interrupting actuation circuit comprising a transformer; a fault current test circuit disposed and electrically coupled to the circuit interrupting actuation circuit to continuously test at least partially the operability of the circuit interrupting actuation circuit using a continuous test fault current; at least one integrated circuit electrically coupled to the current transformer; and an autogain circuit electrically coupled to the transformer and to the at least one integrated circuit, wherein the autogain circuit is configured to substantially null the continuous test fault current detected by the at least one integrated circuit. - View Dependent Claims (49)
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Specification