Protective device with an auxiliary switch

• US 7,920,365 B2
• Filed: 06/29/2009
• Issued: 04/05/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/29/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Original Assignee: Pass & Seymour Incorporated (Legrand SA)
• Inventors: Weeks, Richard, Savicki, Gerald R. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Barrera; Ramon M
• Application Number:
  US12/493,783
• Publication Number:
  US 20090262472A1
• Time in Patent Office: 645 Days
• Field of Search: 335/6, 335/13, 335/15, 335/18, 335/21, 335/22, 335/24, 335/25, 361 42- 50
• US Class Current: 361/42
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2071/044 Monitoring, detection or measuring systems to establish the end of life of the switching device, can also contain other on-line monitoring systems, e.g. for detecting mechanical failures
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/001 Means for preventing or breaking contact-welding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 83/04 with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/7135 with ground fault protector H01R13/7132 takes precedence

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a protective device that includes a housing having a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of user-accessible terminals accessible via apertures disposed in a front major surface of the housing. A fault detection assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the fault detection assembly. The circuit interrupter includes a first set of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the plurality of user-accessible terminals in a reset state. The first set of interrupting contacts are decoupled in response to the fault detection output to enter a tripped state such that the plurality of line terminals are decoupled from the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of user-accessible terminals. An auxiliary switch is coupled to the fault detection assembly. The auxiliary switch includes a second set of contacts configured to decouple at least a portion of the fault detection assembly from a source of electrical power in the tripped state. The second set of contacts being self-biased toward a predetermined switch position when no force is applied thereto. A latch block assembly is coupled to the circuit interrupter. The latch block assembly includes a first latch block portion and a second latch block portion. The first latch block portion is configured to drive the first set of contacts to close when transitioning from the tripped state to the reset state. The second latch block portion is configured to overcome the self bias of the second set of contacts to thereby drive the second set of contacts open when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state.

Claims

1. A protective device comprising:

a housing including a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of user-accessible terminals accessible via apertures disposed in a front major surface of the housing;

a fault detection assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the fault detection circuit being configured to provide a fault detection output in response to detecting a fault condition;

a circuit interrupter coupled to the fault detection assembly, the circuit interrupter including a first set of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the plurality of user-accessible terminals in a reset state, the first set of interrupting contacts being decoupled in response to the fault detection output to enter a tripped state such that the plurality of line terminals are decoupled from the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of user-accessible terminals;

an auxiliary switch coupled to the fault detection assembly, the auxiliary switch including a second set of contacts configured to decouple at least a portion of the fault detection assembly from a source of electrical power in the tripped state, the second set of contacts being self-biased toward a predetermined switch position when no force is applied thereto; and

a latch block assembly coupled to the circuit interrupter, the latch block assembly including a first latch block portion and a second latch block portion, the first latch block portion being configured to drive the first set of contacts to close when transitioning from the tripped state to the reset state, the second latch block portion being configured to overcome the self bias of the second set of contacts to thereby drive the second set of contacts open when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein the second set of contacts are self-biased toward a closed position.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the second set of contacts are self-biased toward an open position.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein the first set of interrupting contacts includes four sets of interrupting contacts.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of load terminals are decoupled from the plurality of user-accessible terminals in the tripped state.

6. The device of claim 1, wherein the first latch block portion includes a first surface configured to drive the first set of interrupting contacts into the reset state and wherein the second latch block portion includes a second surface configured to drive the second set of contacts into an open state.

7. The device of claim 1, further comprising a reset mechanism coupled to the latch block assembly, the reset mechanism including a manually accessible reset button connected to a stem portion, the stem portion being configured to engage the first latch block portion, the second latch block portion or both.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the first latch block portion and the second latch block portion are separate regions of an integrated latch block assembly.

9. The device of claim 1, further comprising a manually accessible reset mechanism coupled to the latch block assembly, and wherein the first latch block portion is a first latch block mechanism and the second latch block portion is a second latch block mechanism, the first latch block mechanism and the second latch block mechanism being separately movable in response to movements of the reset mechanism between the tripped state and the reset state.

10. The device of claim 9, wherein the first latch block mechanism and the second latch block mechanism are characterized by a first axis of movement and a second axis of movement, respectively.

11. The device of claim 10, wherein the first axis of movement and the second axis of movement are substantially collinear.

12. The device of claim 10, wherein the first axis of movement and the second axis of movement are parallel.

13. The device of claim 9, wherein the first latch block mechanism is configured to drive the first set of contacts to close when transitioning from the tripped state to the reset state and the second latch block mechanism is configured to drive the second set of contacts open when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state.

14. The device of claim 1, wherein at least one contact of the second set of contacts is disposed on a cantilevered member.

15. The device of claim 1, wherein the first set of interrupting contacts includes four sets of interrupting contacts.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein the four sets of interrupting contacts are at least partially disposed on a line hot cantilever operatively coupled to a load hot cantilever, and a line neutral cantilever operatively coupled to a load neutral cantilever.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein the four sets of interrupting contacts are configured to individually disconnect the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the plurality of user-accessible terminals in the tripped state.

18. The device of claim 1, further comprising a third latch block portion configured to drive the first set of contacts open when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state.

19. The device of claim 1, wherein the latch block assembly further comprises at least one break spring configured to drive the first set of contacts to open when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state.

20. The device of claim 1, further comprising a miswire detection circuit coupled between the plurality of line terminals such that current flows through the miswire circuit without propagating through either the first or second set of contacts when the plurality of line terminals are properly connected to a source of AC power.

21. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wiring state detection circuit configured to detect a wiring state associated with the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals, the wiring state indicating whether the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals are coupled to a source of AC power.

22. The device of claim 1, further comprising a wiring state detection circuit including a circuit segment coupled between the line terminals and configured to generate a predetermined signal in response to detecting a proper wiring condition, the predetermined signal not simulating a fault condition, a proper wiring condition being effected when the line terminals are connected to a source of AC power.

23. A device comprising:

a housing including a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a plurality of user-accessible terminals accessible via apertures disposed in a front major surface of the housing;

an electromechanical assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the electromechanical assembly being configured to selectively generate a magnetic field in response to at least one predetermined condition, the electromechanical assembly including a moveable mechanism responsive to the magnetic field, the moveable mechanism being actuatable between a reset position and a tripped position;

a circuit interrupter portion coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals, the circuit interrupter portion being responsive to the moveable mechanism, the circuit interrupter portion including four sets of interrupting contacts being configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in the reset position and be electrically discontinuous in the tripped position; and

an auxiliary switching portion responsive to the moveable mechanism and configured to deactivate at least a portion of the electromechanical assembly in the tripped position, the moveable mechanism sequentially moving the auxiliary switching portion relative to the circuit interrupter portion in a predetermined sequence.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the four set of contacts including a plurality of moveable contacts and a plurality of fixed contacts, the plurality of movable contacts being disposed on a plurality of cantilever members.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein the at least one interrupter cantilever member is pre-biased in an open position.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the plurality of cantilever members include at least one hot cantilever member and at least one neutral cantilever member.

27. The device of claim 26, wherein the electromechanical assembly further comprises a weld breaking portion configured to drive the four sets of contacts open when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state.

28. The device of claim 23, further comprising a latch block assembly coupled to the circuit interrupter, the latch block assembly including a first latch block mechanism and a second latch block mechanism, the first latch block mechanism and the second latch block mechanism being conjointly movable together between the reset state and the tripped state, the first latch block mechanism being configured to urge the four sets of contacts to close when transitioning from the tripped state to the reset state, the second latch block mechanism being configured to urge the auxiliary switching portion open when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state.

29. A protective device comprising:

a housing including a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals, the plurality of load terminals including a plurality of feed-through terminals and a plurality of user-accessible terminals accessible via apertures disposed in a front major surface of the housing;

an electro-mechanical assembly coupled to the plurality of line terminals, the electromechanical assembly being configured to provide at least one output when detecting at least one predetermined condition;

a circuit interrupter coupled between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals, the circuit interrupter including four sets of interrupting contacts configured to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in a reset state and decouple the four sets of interrupting contacts in response to the at least one output to drive the four sets of interrupting contacts into a tripped state, the four sets of interrupting contacts being configured to be biased toward the tripped state;

an auxiliary switching mechanism coupled to the electromechanical assembly, the auxiliary switching mechanism being configured to deactivate at least a portion of the electromechanical assembly from a source of electrical power in response to the at least one output, the auxiliary switching mechanism being self-biased toward an open switch state; and

a latching assembly coupled to the circuit interrupter, the latching assembly including a first portion configured to close the four sets of interrupting contacts when transitioning from the tripped state to the reset state, the latching assembly further including a second portion configured to open the auxiliary switching mechanism when transitioning from the reset state to the tripped state; and

a user-accessible reset mechanism coupled between the circuit interrupter and the latching assembly, the user-accessible reset mechanism being configured to close the four sets of interrupting contacts and close the auxiliary switching mechanism in a predetermined sequence when transitioning from the tripped state to the reset state.