Circuit interrupting device with reverse wiring protection

• US 6,437,953 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2001
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Leviton Manufacturing Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Ziegler, William R., DiSalvo, Nicholas L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Leja, Ronald W.
• Application Number:
  US09/879,563
• Publication Number:
  US 20010036049A1
• Time in Patent Office: 435 Days
• Field of Search: 361/42-50, 335/18, 335/21, 335/24, 335/26, 335/202
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2083/045 Auxiliary switch opening testing circuit in synchronism with the main circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2083/201 the other abnormal electrical condition being an arc fault
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/524 the contact arm being pivoted on handle and mechanism spring acting between cradle and contact arm
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/62 with means for preventing resetting while abnormal condition persists, e.g. loose handle arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 1/0015 Using arc detectors
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/335 the main function being self testing of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 3/338 also responsive to wiring error, e.g. loss of neutral, break
• CPC Class Codes: H02H 5/083 responsive to the entry or leakage of a liquid into an electrical appliance moisture alarm G08B21/20

Abstract

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include reverse wiring protection, and optionally an independent trip portions and/or a reset lockout portion are provided. The reverse wiring protection operates at both the line and load sides of the device so that in the event line side wiring to the device is improperly connected to the load side, fault protection for the device remains. The trip portion operates independently of a circuit interrupting portion used to break the electrical continuity in one or more conductive paths in the device. The reset lockout portion prevents the reestablishing of electrical continuity in open conductive paths if the circuit interrupting portion is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists.

Claims

1. A reset lockout device comprising:

a reset connection to a switch for enabling a reset of the switch from a tripped position to a normal position, wherein the switch includes a switch trip condition sensor and a switch trip actuator for tripping the switch from the normal position to the tripped position in response to an indication from the switch trip condition sensor;

a test connection to the switch for enabling a test of the switch trip condition sensor and the switch trip actuator;

a reset actuator connected to the test connection and reset connection having a rest position, a test position for initiating the test and a reset position for initiating the switch reset to place the switch in a normal position; and

a reset actuator lockout connected to the reset actuator for blocking the enabling of the switch reset unless the test succeeds.

2. The device of claim 1 further comprising:

a trip connection to the switch for tripping the switch from the normal position to the tripped position using a second switch trip actuator;

wherein the reset actuator further comprises an initial trip position; and

wherein the reset actuator actuation sequence from a reset position must first engage the initial trip position, then the test position and then the reset position, wherein the reset actuator lockout blocks the reset actuator from reaching the reset position unless the test succeeds.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein,

the switch is capable of making and breaking an electrical circuit.

4. The device of claim 3 wherein,

the switch trip condition sensor is capable of sensing a ground fault or open neutral condition in the electrical circuit.

5. A circuit interrupting device comprising:

a housing;

a phase conductive path and a neutral conductive path each disposed at least partially within said housing between a line side and a load side, said phase conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load and a third connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one user accessible load, and said neutral conductive path terminating at a first connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity, a second connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one load and a third connection capable of providing a neutral connection to said at least one user accessible load;

a circuit interrupting portion disposed within said housing and configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths between said line side and said load side upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition; and

a reset portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to reestablish electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths;

said circuit interrupting device further comprising a reset lockout portion that prevents reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if a reverse wiring condition exists, wherein said reset portion comprises;

a reset button; and

at least one reset contact which when depressed is capable of contacting at least a portion of said phase conductive path to cause said predetermined condition, wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is operational, the circuit interrupting portion is activated to disable said reset lockout portion and facilitate reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths, and wherein if said circuit interrupting portion is non-operational, said reset lockout portion remains enabled so that reestablishing electrical continuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths is prevented; and

wherein said phase conductive path comprises a plurality of contacts that are capable of opening to cause said electrical discontinuity in said phase conductive path and closing to reestablish electrical continuity in said phase conductive path at both said line and load sides, and wherein said neutral conductive path comprises a plurality of contacts that are capable of opening to cause said electrical discontinuity in said neutral conductive path and closing to reestablish electrical continuity in said neutral conductive path, between said line and load sides.

6. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 5, wherein said circuit interrupting portion causes said plurality of contacts of said phase and neutral conductive paths to open.

7. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 6, wherein said reset portion causes said plurality of contacts of said phase and neutral conductive paths to close.

8. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 5, wherein said circuit interrupting portion includes an electromechanical circuit interrupter used to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths, and sensing circuitry used to sense the occurrence of said predetermined condition.

9. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 8, wherein said electro-mechanical circuit interrupter comprises a coil assembly, a movable plunger responsive to energizing of said coil assembly and a banger attached to said plunger, wherein movement of said plunger is translated to movement of said banger, and wherein movement of said banger causes electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths.

10. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 5 further comprising a trip portion disposed at least partially within said housing and configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths independently of said circuit interrupting portion operation.

11. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 10, wherein said trip portion comprises a trip actuator accessible from an exterior of said housing and a trip arm extending from said trip actuator, said trip arm being configured to mechanical cause electrical discontinuity in said phase and neutral conductive paths, if said trip actuator is actuated.

12. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 11, wherein said trip actuator comprises a button.

13. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 5, wherein said predetermined condition comprises a ground fault, an arc fault, an appliance leakage fault or an immersion fault.

14. A circuit interrupting device for use with an electrical wiring system having at least one conductor comprising:

a line side connection capable of being electrically connected to a source of electricity for connecting to the electrical wiring system;

a load side connection capable of being electrically connected to a load side conductor for providing electricity to load side;

a user load connection capable of conducting electricity to at least one load for providing an electrical connection to the electrical wiring system;

a first conductive path capable of providing an electrical connection between the line side connection and the user load connection;

a second conductive path capable of providing an electrical connection between the line side connection and the load side connection;

a circuit interrupter configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said first conductive path and said second conductive path upon the occurrence of at least one predetermined condition;

a reset portion configured to reestablish electrical continuity in said first conductive path and said second conductive path;

a reset lockout portion that prevents reestablishing electrical continuity in said first conductive path and said second conductive path if said circuit interrupter is non-operational or if an open neutral condition exists;

wherein activation of said reset portion first simulates at least one of the predetermined conditions, wherein if said circuit interrupter is operational, the circuit interrupter causes said reset lockout portion to be disabled to facilitate reestablishing electrical continuity in said first and second conductive paths.

15. The device of claim 14 wherein,

the reset lockout portion prevents reestablishing electrical continuity in said first conductive path and said second conductive path if said circuit interrupter is non-operational, if an open neutral condition exists or if a reverse wiring condition exists; and

wherein activation of said reset portion first simulates at least one of the predetermined conditions, wherein if said circuit interrupter is operational and if said circuit interrupting device is not reverse wired to the electrical wiring system, the circuit interrupter causes said reset lockout portion to be disabled to facilitate reestablishing electrical continuity in said first and second conductive paths.

16. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 14 further comprising an independent trip portion and a predetermined condition sensor where said independent trip portion is configured to cause electrical discontinuity in said first and second conductive paths independently of said predetermined condition sensor.

17. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined condition comprises a ground fault.

18. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined condition comprises a ground fault or an arc fault.

19. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined condition comprises an appliance leakage fault.

20. The circuit interrupting device according to claim 14, wherein said predetermined condition comprises an immersion fault.