Circuit interrupting system with remote test and reset activation

• US 8,199,446 B2
• Filed: 06/08/2011
• Issued: 06/12/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Bonasia, Gaetano, Tee, Kangpin, Laurent, Maxim
• Primary Examiner(s): PATEL, DHARTI HARIDAS
• Application Number:
  US13/156,336
• Publication Number:
  US 20110279932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 370 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/04 with warning or supervision in addition to disconnection, e.g. for indicating that protective apparatus has functioned watching of pilot wires H02H1/0084; protection of protective arrangements H02H7/008; indication of the state of electronic switches H03K17/18
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/335 the main function being self testing of the device

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a circuit interrupting device and system capable of being tested and reset from remote locations, and in particular to circuit interrupting devices and system capable of being tested and reset from remote locations. A remote monitoring device can also be included which can be used to control an actuation device which is capable of controlling a circuit interrupting device. Alternatively the remote monitoring or control device can be used to control the device directly.

Claims

1. A portable interrupting apparatus comprising:

a) a cable having at least a first end and a second end;

b) a plug disposed at said first end of said cable for engaging a receptacle;

c) a connector disposed at said second end of said cable for releasable connection to another electrical component;

d) a circuit interrupting housing;

e) a circuit interrupting device, coupled between said plug and said connector, and at least partially disposed within said circuit interrupting housing; and

f) at least one remote activating device comprising a remote housing;

wherein said circuit interrupting device is in communication with said at least one remote activating device and wherein said circuit interrupting device has at least one activator, and said at least one remote activating device has at least one activator, resulting in a portable circuit interrupting device that can be tested and reset via at least two different devices in at least two different locations.

2. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one activator of said at least one remote activating device comprises at least one of a test button and a reset button and wherein said at least one activator of said circuit interrupting device comprises at least one of a test button and a reset button to respectively test and reset said circuit interrupting device.

3. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising at least one communication line comprising at least one of an Ethernet line and a fiber optic line.

4. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one communication line is disposed in said cable.

5. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one remote activating device communicates with said circuit interrupting device via X-10 protocol.

6. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one remote activating device communicates with said circuit interrupting device via TCP/IP protocol.

7. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional cable and at least one branching element wherein said at least one branching element is coupled to said cable and said at least one additional cable is coupled to said at least one branching element.

8. The apparatus as in claim 7, wherein said at least one remote activating device is coupled to said at least one additional cable.

9. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one remote activating device further comprises addressable circuitry which allows said at least one remote activating device to be identified on a network.

10. The apparatus as in claim 9, wherein said addressable circuitry is coupled to said circuit interrupting system for identification of said circuit interrupting system on a network.

11. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one remote activating device comprises at least one of a transmitter and receiver configured to communicate with said circuit interrupting device.

12. The apparatus as in claim 11, wherein said at least one remote activating device communicates with said circuit interrupting device via a wireless protocol taken from the group consisting of:

802.11x;

all IEEE 802 channels;

Digital Enhanced Cordless Telecommunications (DECT);

Cellular;

personal area networks;

UltraWideband (UWB);

WLAN;

WMAN;

Broadband Fixed Access;

Local Multipoint Distribution Service (LMDS);

WiMax; and

HiperMAN.

13. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one remote activating device is configured to monitor said circuit interrupting device.

14. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said at least one remote activating device is in the form of one of:

a computer, a computer workstation, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a cellular telephone, and a text messaging device.

15. The apparatus as in claim 1, further comprising at least one additional remote device configured to communicate with said at least one remote activating device.

16. The apparatus as in claim 15, wherein said at least one additional remote device is in the form of one of:

a computer, a computer workstation, a desktop computer, a laptop computer, a server, a personal digital assistant, a telephone, a cellular telephone, and a text messaging device.

17. The apparatus as in claim 1, wherein said circuit interrupting device is one selected from the group consisting of:

a ground fault circuit interrupter, AFCI, a ELCI, and an ALCI.

18. The apparatus as in claim 17, further comprising addressable circuitry disposed in said at least one remote activating device, wherein said addressable circuitry allows said at last one remote activating device to be identified on a computer network.