Ground fault circuit interrupter device

• US 7,623,330 B2
• Filed: 07/28/2006
• Issued: 11/24/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Copper Technologies Company
• Inventors: Moreinis, Gregory G., Gallas, Gunter A., Gouhl, Erik J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera; Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US11/495,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20080024252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,215 Days
• Field of Search: 335/6, 335/15, 335/18, 335/185, 335/189, 335/190, 361 42- 50, 200/1.A, 200 6 A- 6 C, 200/573
• 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
• 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 switch comprising;

a first stationary contact; and

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

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

a cam rotatable in place in a first direction and a second direction about an axis 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 wherein the cam comprises;

a center portion;

first and second legs coupled to the center portion and spaced in parallel relation, one of the first and second legs contacting the first movable arm and separating the first movable arm from the stationary contact in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction; and

a protrusion extending from at least one of the first and second legs, wherein the protrusion contacts and separates 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 second direction.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the cam further comprises axially-aligned first and second pins extending between the center portion and the first and second legs, respectively, wherein the axis is defined by the axially-aligned first and second pins and the cam rotates in place about the axis.

3. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

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

wherein 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 the first direction.

4. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

a second stationary contact;

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

wherein 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.

5. The device of claim 4, wherein the portions of the first and second arms move towards the first stationary contact and towards each other and the 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.

6. The device of claim 3, further comprising:

a second stationary contact;

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

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.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the third and fourth movable arms are electrically decoupled form the second stationary contact in response to the rotation of the cam in the second direction.

8. The device of claim 3, wherein the first and second movable arms are electrically coupled to the first stationary contact in response to the rotation of the cam in the second direction.

9. A method comprising:

providing a switch comprising a first stationary contact;

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

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

rotating a cam in a first direction, said cam comprising;

a center portion;

first and second legs coupled to the center portion and spaced in parallel relation, one of the first and second legs adapted to contact the first movable arm and the second movable arm; and

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

10. 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 stationary contact;

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

stopping the supply of electrical power to the load comprising;

rotating the cam in a first direction;

electrically decoupling the first and second movable arms from the first stationary contact in response to rotating the cam in the first direction.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein electrically decoupling the first and second movable arms from the first stationary contact comprises moving at least a portion of the first and second movable arms in opposite directions in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of:

rotating the cam in a second direction; and

electrically coupling the first and second movable arms to the first stationary contact by moving the portion of the first and second movable arms towards the first stationary contact and towards each other in response to the rotation of the cam in the second direction.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising the steps of:

electrically decoupling the third and fourth movable arms from the second stationary contact by moving at least a portion of the third and fourth movable arms away from the second stationary contact in opposite directions in response to rotating the cam in the first direction.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising the steps of:

rotating the cam in a second direction; and

electrically coupling the third and fourth movable arms to the second stationary contact by moving the portion of the third and fourth movable arms towards the second stationary contact and towards each other in response to the rotation of the cam in the second direction.

15. 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 second direction;

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

16. A device comprising:

a switch comprising;

a first stationary contact;

a second stationary contact; and

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

a first movable arm adjustably electrically coupled to the first stationary contact;

a second movable arm adjustably electrically coupled to the first stationary contact;

a third movable arm adjustably electrically coupled to the second stationary contact;

a fourth movable arm adjustably electrically coupled to the second stationary contact;

a cam rotatable in place in at least a first direction about an axis and positioned, relative to the first, second, third, and fourth movable arms, so that at least a portion of the first and second movable arms moves relative to and decouples from the first stationary contact and at least a portion of the third and fourth movable arms moves relative to and decouples from the second stationary contact in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein at least a portion of the first movable arm and at least a portion of the second movable arm moves away from the first stationary contact, the portions of the first and second movable arms moving in opposite directions in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction and at least a portion of the third movable arm and at least a portion of the fourth movable arm moves away from the second stationary contact, the portions of the third and fourth movable arms moving in opposite directions in response to the rotation of the cam in the first direction.

18. The device of claim 16, 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 opposite the first direction.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the third and fourth movable arms are electrically coupled to the second stationary contact in response to the rotation of the cam in the second direction.

20. The device of claim 16, wherein the cam comprises:

a center portion;

first and second legs coupled to the center portion and spaced in parallel relation, one of the first and second legs adapted to contact the first movable arm;

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

a protrusion extending from at least one of the first and second legs, wherein the protrusion contacts and separates 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 second direction.