Ground fault circuit interrupter device

• US 20080024252A1
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Published: 01/31/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Moreinis, Gregory G., Gallas, Gunter A., Gouhl, Erik J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,623,330 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/18
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/144 with differential transformer
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7135 with ground fault protector H01R13/7132 takes precedence

Abstract

A ground fault circuit interrupter device is described.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a first stationary contact;

a first movable arm adapted to be controllably electrically coupled to the first stationary contact; and

a cam adapted to rotate in place and positioned, relative to the first movable arm, so that at least a portion of the first movable arm moves, relative to the first stationary contact, in response to the rotation of the cam.

2. A method comprising:

providing a first stationary contact and a first movable arm adapted to be controllably electrically coupled thereto;

rotating a cam in a first direction; and

electrically decoupling the first movable arm from the first stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the first direction.

3. A method of operating a device comprising a cam, the method comprising:

electrically coupling a load to the device;

supplying electrical power to the load via the device;

sensing whether a ground fault is present or absent using the device; and

if the ground fault is present, stopping the supply of electrical power to the load;

wherein stopping the supply of electrical power to the load comprises rotating the cam in a first direction.

4. A system comprising:

means for providing a first stationary contact and a first movable arm adapted to be controllably electrically coupled thereto;

means for rotating a cam in a first direction; and

means for electrically decoupling the first movable arm from the first stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the first direction.

5. A system for operating a device comprising a cam, the system comprising:

means for electrically coupling a load to the device;

means for supplying electrical power to the load via the device;

means for sensing whether a ground fault is present or absent using the device; and

means for if the ground fault is present, stopping the supply of electrical power to the load, comprising;

means for rotating the cam in a first direction.

6. A method of operating a device comprising a cam, first and second stationary contacts, and first and second movable arms adapted to be controllably electrically coupled to the first and second stationary contacts, respectively, the method comprising:

electrically coupling the first movable arm to the first stationary contact;

electrically coupling the second movable arm to the second stationary contact;

electrically coupling a load to the first and second movable arms;

supplying electrical power to the load via the first and second stationary contacts and the first and second movable arms;

sensing whether a ground fault is present or absent using the device; and

if the ground fault is present, stopping the supply of electrical power to the load;

wherein stopping the supply of electrical power to the load comprises;

rotating the cam in a first direction;

electrically decoupling the first movable arm from the first stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the first direction; and

electrically decoupling the second movable arm from the second stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the first direction;

wherein the method further comprises;

resuming the supply of electrical power to the load after stopping the supply of electrical power to the load;

wherein resuming the supply of electrical power to the load comprises;

rotating the cam in a second direction;

electrically coupling the first movable arm to the first stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the second direction; and

electrically coupling the second movable arm to the second stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the second direction; and

wherein the method further comprises;

if the ground fault is present, emitting light in response to rotating the cam in the first direction, comprising closing a switch in response rotating the cam in the first direction; and

testing the device, comprising;

rotating the cam in the first direction to stop the supply of electrical power to the load;

rotating the cam in a second direction to resume the supply of electrical power to the load;

emitting light in response to rotating the cam in the first direction to stop the supply of electrical power to the load; and

stopping the emission of light in response to rotating the cam in the second direction to resume the supply of electrical power to the load.

7. A ground fault circuit interrupter device, comprising:

first and second stationary contacts;

first and second movable arms adapted to be controllably electrically coupled to the first stationary contact;

third and fourth movable arms adapted to be controllably electrically coupled to the second stationary contact; and

a cam adapted to rotate in place and positioned, relative to the first and second movable arms, so that least portions of the first and second movable arms move, relative to the first stationary contact, in response to the rotation of the cam;

wherein at least portions of the third and fourth movable arms move, relative to the second stationary contact, in response to the rotation of the cam;

wherein the cam and the first, second, third and fourth movable arms are positioned so that;

the at least portions of the first and second movable arms move away from the first stationary contact in opposite directions in response to the rotation of the cam in a first direction;

the at least portions of the third and fourth movable arms move away from the second stationary contact in opposite directions in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction;

the at least portions of the first and second arms move towards the first stationary contact and towards each other in response to the rotation of the cam in a second direction; and

the at least portions of the third and fourth arms move towards the second stationary contact and towards each other in response to the rotation of the cam in the second direction;

wherein the first and second movable arms are electrically decoupled from the first stationary contact in response to the rotation of the cam in a first direction;

wherein the third and fourth movable arms are electrically decoupled from the second stationary contact in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction;

wherein the first and second movable arms are electrically coupled to the first stationary contact in response to the rotation of the cam in a second direction;

wherein the third and fourth movable arms are electrically coupled to the second stationary contact in the response to the rotation of the cam in the second direction;

wherein the device further comprises;

a sensing device operably coupled to the first and second stationary contacts, wherein the sensing device is adapted to sense an imbalance between respective electrical currents in the first and second stationary contacts;

an actuator operably coupled to the sensing device, wherein the actuator is adapted to actuate in response to the sensing of the imbalance by the sensing device;

wherein the cam rotates in place in response to the actuation of the actuator;

wherein the sensing device comprises a transformer assembly and the actuator comprises a solenoid assembly;

wherein the device is a ground fault circuit interrupter device and is adapted to supply electrical power to a load;

wherein the device is adapted to supply electrical power to the load when;

the load is electrically coupled to the first and third movable arms;

the first movable arm is electrically coupled to the first stationary contact; and

the third movable arm is electrically coupled to the second stationary contact;

wherein the cam comprises;

a center portion; and

first and second legs coupled to the center portion and spaced in a parallel relation, one of the first and second legs being adapted to contact the first movable arm, wherein an angle is defined between the center portion and the first and second legs;

wherein the first movable arm is spring biased towards the first stationary contact;

wherein the device comprises;

a first configuration in which the one of the first and second legs contacts the first movable arm and is positioned so that;

the one of the first and second legs resists the spring bias of the first movable arm, and

the at least a portion of the first movable arm is electrically decoupled from the first stationary contact; and

a second configuration in which the one of the first and second legs is positioned so that the first movable arm is permitted to be electrically coupled to the first stationary contact in response to its own spring bias;

wherein the cam further comprises;

axially-aligned first and second pins extending between the center portion and the first and second legs, respectively;

wherein an axis is defined by the axially-aligned first and second pins;

wherein the cam is adapted to rotate in place about the axis;

wherein the device further comprises a switch, the switch comprising;

the first stationary contact; and

a spring, a distal end portion of which is spring biased towards the first stationary contact;

wherein the switch comprises an open configuration in which the distal end portion is separated from the first stationary contact and a closed configuration in which the distal end portion contacts the first stationary contact;

wherein the switch is placed in the open configuration in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction;

wherein the switch is placed in the closed configuration in response to the rotation of the cam in the second direction;

wherein the device further comprises a light-emitting diode electrically coupled to the switch, wherein the diode is adapted to emit light when the switch is in the closed configuration;

wherein the cam further comprises a protrusion extending from one of the first and second legs; and

wherein the protrusion is adapted to contact and separate the distal end portion of the spring from the first stationary contact, thereby placing the switch in the open configuration, in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction.

8. A system for operating a device comprising a cam, first and second stationary contacts, and first and second movable arms adapted to be controllably electrically coupled to the first and second stationary contacts, respectively, the system comprising:

means for electrically coupling the first movable arm to the first stationary contact;

means for electrically coupling the second movable arm to the second stationary contact;

means for electrically coupling a load to the first and second movable arms;

means for supplying electrical power to the load via the first and second stationary contacts and the first and second movable arms;

means for sensing whether a ground fault is present or absent using the device; and

means for if the ground fault is present, stopping the supply of electrical power to the load, comprising;

means for rotating the cam in a first direction;

means for electrically decoupling the first movable arm from the first stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the first direction; and

means for electrically decoupling the second movable arm from the second stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the first direction;

wherein the system further comprises;

means for resuming the supply of electrical power to the load after stopping the supply of electrical power to the load, comprising;

means for rotating the cam in a second direction;

means for electrically coupling the first movable arm to the first stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the second direction; and

means for electrically coupling the second movable arm to the second stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the second direction; and

wherein the system further comprises;

means for if the ground fault is present, emitting light in response to rotating the cam in the first direction, comprising;

means for closing a switch in response rotating the cam in the first direction; and

means for testing the device, comprising;

means for rotating the cam in the first direction to stop the supply of electrical power to the load;

means for rotating the cam in a second direction to resume the supply of electrical power to the load;

means for emitting light in response to rotating the cam in the first direction to stop the supply of electrical power to the load; and

means for stopping the emission of light in response to rotating the cam in the second direction to resume the supply of electrical power to the load.