Fault circuit interrupter device

• US 8,587,914 B2
• Filed: 01/06/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Kamor, Michael, Porter, James, Dykema, Kurt
• Primary Examiner(s): BAUER, SCOTT ALLEN
• Application Number:
  US12/986,016
• Publication Number:
  US 20110149453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 361/115, 361/42, 335/77
• US Class Current: 361/115
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/02 Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/04 Means for indicating condition of the switching device by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/10 Operating or release mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/125 characterised by sensing elements, e.g. current transformers for differential protection H01H83/144
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/66 Power reset mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 73/00 Protective overload circuit-breaking switches in which excess current opens the contacts by automatic release of mechanical energy stored by previous operation of a hand reset mechanism
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 73/12 Means for indicating condition of the switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/144 with differential transformer

Abstract

In one embodiment, there is a fault interrupter device comprising at least one sensor comprising at least one first transformer having at least one outer region forming an outer periphery and at least one inner hollow region. There is also at least one second transformer that is disposed in the inner hollow region of the at least one first transformer. The transformers can be substantially circular in configuration, and more particularly, ring shaped. In another embodiment there is a rotatable latch which is used to selectively connect and disconnect a set of separable contacts to selectively disconnect power from the line side to the load side. The rotatable latch is in one embodiment coupled to a reset button. In at least one embodiment there is a slider which is configured to selectively prevent the manual tripping of the device.

Claims

1. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

a first pair of electrical conductors including a phase conductor and a neutral conductor, the first pair of electrical conductors adapted to electrically connect to a source of electric current;

a second pair of electrical conductors including a phase conductor and a neutral conductor;

a third pair of electrical conductors including a phase conductor and a neutral conductor and positioned to electrically connect to at least one user accessible receptacle, wherein the first, second, and third pairs of electrical conductors are capable of being electrically isolated from each other;

a lifter configured to move between a first position which provides electrical continuity between the phase and neutral conductors of the first pair of electrical conductors and the corresponding phase and neutral conductors of at least one of the second and third pairs of electrical conductors and a second position in which the first, second, and third pairs of electrical conductors are electrically isolated from each other;

a latch rotatable between a reset position in which said latch engages said lifter and a trip position; and

a circuit interrupter configured to be energized upon the occurrence of a fault to engage said latch and cause the latch to rotate from the reset position to the trip position, said latch thereby disengaging from said lifter, causing said lifter to move from the first position to the second position.

2. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 1, wherein said first electrical conductors are line conductors, said second electrical conductors are load conductors, and said third electrical conductors are face conductors.

3. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 1 further comprising at least a first transformer and a second transformer, the first transformer circumscribing an inner region, wherein at least one of said at least two transformers is electrically coupled to said circuit interrupter, and wherein said second transformer is at least partially nested within said inner region circumscribed by said first transformer.

4. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 1, wherein said circuit interrupter comprises a solenoid and a plunger.

5. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 1 further comprising:

a test button; and

a trip slider movable to a trip position from a reset position upon actuation by said test button.

6. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 5, wherein said trip slider comprises at least one ramp surface, said trip slider positioned relative to said test button when in the reset position such that said test button interfaces with said ramp surface upon actuation of said test button, causing said trip slider to move to said trip position.

7. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 5, further comprising a slider spring coupled to said trip slider, said slider spring biasing said trip slider towards said trip position.

8. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 5, wherein said lifter has a surface, which upon said lifter moving to said first position, said lifter surface contacts a surface of said trip slider causing said trip slider to move to said reset position of said trip slider.

9. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 5, wherein said trip slider comprises at least one visual indication surface for providing visual indication of whether said trip slider is in the trip position, and wherein said housing further comprises a window for providing visual access to said visual indication surface.

10. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 5, wherein said trip slider in said trip position inhibits actuation of said test button.

11. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 1 further comprising:

a) a first transformer having at least one outer region forming an outer periphery and at least one inner hollow region; and

b) a second transformer that is disposed at least partially in said at least one inner hollow region of said first transformer;

wherein at least one of the first transformer and said second transformer are configured to detect at least one fault.

12. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 11, wherein at least one of said first transformer and said second transformer comprises a differential transformer and wherein another of said first transformer and said second transformer comprises a grounded neutral transformer.

13. The circuit interrupting device as in claim 11, further comprising a transformer housing, said transformer housing configured to at least partially house said first transformer and said second transformer, wherein said transformer housing has an interior region that is substantially ring shaped having an inner recessed volume configured to accept said first transformer and said second transformer, and wherein said transformer housing has an inner securing section for securing at least one transformer inside of said transformer housing.