Ground fault circuit interrupter

• US 9,601,289 B2
• Filed: 02/22/2016
• Issued: 03/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ze Chen
• Original Assignee: Ze Chen
• Inventors: Pan, Xincheng, Wu, Tingting, Zhang, Ye
• Primary Examiner(s): Talpalatski, Alexander
• Application Number:
  US15/049,321
• Publication Number:
  US 20160358733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 393 Days
• Field of Search: 335/18
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2235/01 Spiral spring
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2235/018 Spring seat
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/048 Plug-in mounting or sockets
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 50/54 Contact arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/0228 having provisions for interchangeable or replaceable parts
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 73/44 reset by push-button, pull-knob or slide
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/02 operated by earth fault currents H01H83/14 takes precedence

Abstract

A ground fault circuit interrupter includes a reset key, a reset mechanism, a conductive assembly configured to connect a power supply input side to a load side, a leakage signal detection circuit, and an electromagnetic tripping mechanism. The reset mechanism comprises a reset support and a support return mechanism. The reset support comprises a reset bracket and a support reset spring. The support return mechanism comprises a reset pole, a reset key spring, a compression spring, a reset block, a compression spring container, a reset slider, and a contact conductive part. The contact conductive part is disposed at a lower end of the reset slider and is configured to align with a position of a switch contact on a first PCB board. A state of contact or separation between the contact conductive part and the switch contact is configured to control an on-off state of the conductive assembly.

Claims

1. A ground fault circuit interrupter, comprising:

a reset key;

a reset mechanism;

a conductive assembly configured to connect a power supply input side to a load side;

a leakage signal detection circuit; and

an electromagnetic tripping mechanism configured to be controlled by the leakage signal detection circuit,

wherein;

the reset mechanism comprises a reset support and a support return mechanism;

the reset support comprises a reset bracket and a support reset spring disposed in the reset bracket;

the support return mechanism comprises a reset pole, a reset key spring, a compression spring, a reset block, a compression spring container in the reset block, a reset slider, and a contact conductive part;

the compression spring is disposed within the compression spring container;

the reset bracket and the reset slider have corresponding inclined surfaces configured to engage with each other;

the reset support has a first position in a reset state and a second position in a tripping state;

the support return mechanism is engaged with the reset support such that the reset support is biased to slide from the first position to the second position;

the contact conductive part is disposed at a lower end of the reset slider and is configured to align with a position of a switch contact on a first PCB board; and

a state of contact or separation between the contact conductive part and the switch contact is configured to control an on-off state of the conductive assembly.

2. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 1, wherein the contact conductive part is a conductive strip embedded at the lower end of the reset slider.

3. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 1, wherein the contact conductive part is a conductive strip pasted at the lower end of the reset slider.

4. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 1, further comprising a second PCB board, wherein:

the second PCB board is positioned substantially parallel to the first PCB board on the opposite side of the first PCB board upon which the switch contact is disposed.

5. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 2, further comprising a second PCB board, wherein:

the second PCB board is positioned substantially parallel to the first PCB board on the opposite side of the first PCB board upon which the switch contact is disposed.

6. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 3, further comprising a second PCB board, wherein:

the second PCB board is positioned substantially parallel to the first PCB board on the opposite side of the first PCB board upon which the switch contact is disposed.

7. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 4, further comprising a plug-in unit, wherein plug-in unit connects the second PCB board and the first PCB board.

8. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 5, further comprising a plug-in unit, wherein plug-in unit connects the second PCB board and the first PCB board.

9. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 6, further comprising a plug-in unit, wherein plug-in unit connects the second PCB board and the first PCB board.

10. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 7, wherein:

the plug-in unit is disposed on the first PCB board;

the plug-in unit includes a pin;

the second PCB board includes a plug-in hole configured to correspond with the pin of the plug-in unit; and

the second PCB board is attached to the plug-in unit via insertion of the pin into plug-in hole.

11. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 8, wherein:

the plug-in unit is disposed on the first PCB board;

the plug-in unit includes a pin;

the second PCB board includes a plug-in hole configured to correspond with the pin of the plug-in unit; and

the second PCB board is attached to the plug-in unit via insertion of the pin into plug-in hole.

12. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 9, wherein:

the plug-in unit is disposed on the first PCB board;

the plug-in unit includes a pin;

the second PCB board includes a plug-in hole configured to correspond with the pin of the plug-in unit; and

the second PCB board is attached to the plug-in unit via insertion of the pin into plug-in hole.

13. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 7, wherein:

the plug-in unit is disposed on the second PCB board;

the plug-in unit includes a pin;

the first PCB board includes a plug-in hole configured to correspond with the pin of the plug-in unit; and

the first PCB board is attached to the plug-in unit via insertion of the pin into plug-in hole.

14. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 8, wherein:

the plug-in unit is disposed on the second PCB board;

the plug-in unit includes a pin;

the first PCB board includes a plug-in hole configured to correspond with the pin of the plug-in unit; and

the first PCB board is attached to the plug-in unit via insertion of the pin into plug-in hole.

15. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 9, wherein:

the plug-in unit is disposed on the second PCB board;

the plug-in unit includes a pin;

the first PCB board includes a plug-in hole configured to correspond with the pin of the plug-in unit; and

the first PCB board is attached to the plug-in unit via insertion of the pin into plug-in hole.

16. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 1, wherein the electronic tripping mechanism comprises an iron core that is configured to lock the reset slider to the reset pole.

17. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 2, wherein the electronic tripping mechanism comprises an iron core that is configured to lock the reset slider to the reset pole.

18. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 16, wherein the reset slider further comprises a linkage hole configured to receive the iron core.

19. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 17, wherein the reset slider further comprises a linkage hole configured to receive the iron core.

20. The ground fault circuit interrupter of claim 16, wherein the reset pole further comprises a reset hole configured to receive the iron core.