BI-DIRECTIONAL GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER

• US 20070274012A1
• Filed: 05/17/2007
• Published: 11/29/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Campolo, Steve, Porter, James, Moadel, Benjamin, Bonasia, Gaetano
• Granted Patent: US 7,558,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly

Abstract

The present invention relates to a family of resettable circuit interrupting devices that eliminates the need to rewire a resettable circuit interrupting device after it is installed and powered up to correct for a reverse wiring conditions.

Claims

1. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

a housing;

a first pair of terminals disposed at least partially within said housing and capable of being line terminals to receive electricity from a line, or being load terminals to feed electricity to a load;

a second pair of terminals disposed at least partially within said housing to feed electricity to a load when said first pair of terminals is connected as line terminals, or of being line terminals when said first pair of terminals is connected as load terminals;

a pair of electrical conductors disposed within said housing for electrically connecting the first pair of terminals and the second pair of terminals together;

a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing and configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said pair of electrical conductors between said first pair of terminals and said second pair of terminals;

switching latching circuit disposed within said housing coupled to identify which of said first and said second pair of terminals is connected as line terminals and to connect the pair of terminals identified as being line terminals to the circuit interrupting device as the line terminals and connect said other pair of terminals to the circuit interrupting device as the load terminals; and

a reset portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to establish electrical continuity between said first pair of terminals and said second pair of terminals.

2. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said circuit interrupting portion further comprises bridge contacts.

3. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said circuit interrupting portion further comprises double pole single throw switch contacts.

4. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said switching latching circuit further comprises:

a first latching member having a coil and fixed and movable contacts where said coil is coupled across the first pair of terminals and said contacts are latchable; and

a second latching member having a coil and fixed and movable contacts where said coil is coupled across the second pair of terminals and said contacts are latchable.

5. The circuit interrupting device of claim 4 wherein the coil of said first latching member is coupled in series with a fusible member;

and

the coil of said second latching member is coupled in series with a fusible member.

6. The circuit interrupting device of claim 5 wherein the fusible member of said first latching member is configured to becomes non-conductive and disconnect the coil from across the first pair of terminals when the first pair of terminals is connected to receive electricity from a line.

7. The circuit interrupting device of claim 5 wherein the fusible member of said second latching member is configured to becomes non-conductive and disconnect the coil from across the second pair of terminals when the second pair of terminals is connected to receive electricity from a line.

8. The circuit interrupting device of claim 6 wherein, when the first pair of terminals is connected to receive electricity from a line, the movable contacts of said first and second latching members are urged to a first position.

9. The circuit interrupting device of claim 7 wherein, when the second pair of terminals is connected to receive electricity from a line, the movable contacts of said first and second latching members are urged to a second position.

10. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said switching latching circuit further comprises:

a first relay having a coil and fixed and movable contacts where said coil is coupled across the first pair of terminals and said contacts; and

a second relay having a coil and fixed and movable contacts where said coil is coupled across the second pair of terminals and said contacts.

11. The circuit interrupting device of claim 10 wherein said first and second relays are latchable relays.

12. The circuit interrupting device of claim 11 wherein said first and second relays are AC relays.

13. The circuit interrupting device of claim 11 wherein the first and second relays are DC relays.

14. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said switching latching circuit comprises solid state devices.

15. The circuit interrupting device of claim 1 wherein said switching latching circuit comprises at least one manually operated device.

16. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

a housing;

a first pair of terminals disposed at least partially within said housing and capable of being line terminals to receive electricity from a line, or being load terminals to feed electricity to a load;

a second pair of terminals disposed at least partially within said housing to feed electricity to a load when said first pair of terminals is connected as line terminals, or of being line terminals when said first pair of terminals is connected as load terminals;

at least one pair of face terminals capable of being electrically connected to at least one user accessible plug;

a pair of electrical conductors disposed within said housing for electrically connecting the first pair of terminals, the second pair of terminals and the face terminals together;

a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing and configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said pair of electrical conductors between said first pair of terminals, said second pair of terminals and said at least one pair of face terminals;

switching circuit disposed within said housing coupled to connect either the first or second pair of terminals to be line terminals for the circuit interrupting device and the other pair of terminals to be load terminals for the circuit interrupting device; and

a reset portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to establish electrical continuity between said first pair of terminals, said second pair of terminals and said at least one pair of face terminals.

17. The circuit interrupting device of claim 16 wherein the switching circuit is manually operated.

18. The circuit interrupting device of claim 17 wherein the switching circuit is accusable from the face of the housing.