CN100338710C - Circuit interrupting device - Google Patents

Abstract

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices (ground fault circuit interrupters), ALCI devices (arc fault circuit interrupters), ICDI devices (immersion detection circuit interrupteurs), RCDs (residual current devices), that include reverse wiring protection (fig. 62), and optionally an independent trip portions (fig. 24) and/or a reset lockout portion (60, 330) are provided. Further is a signaling system employing indicator lamp means (64) and an audible alarm (236) is employed to remind a user to periodically test his GFCIs and to provide information regarding the status of the GFCI. The power lines that supply the GFCI with power are also coupled to the circuits on the PCB (122) to disconnect power to those circuits of the GFCI that trips due to faults or tests.

Description

The circuit interruption device

Priority

The application requires the following priority of applying for to USPO's application:

Patent application serial numbers 09/812,601, agent's number of accepting 0267-1689 (41912.017900) name are called " the neutral switch testing mechanism that is used for circuit interrupter ", by Daid Y.Chan, James Richter and Gerald N.King, open March 20 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is 09/812,624, agent's number of accepting is 0267-1415CIP5 (41912.017300), name is called " restore locking mechanism and be used for center exclusive circuit interrupting device independent trip mechanism ", by Frantz.Germain, and Steven Stewart, RogerBradly, David Chan, Nicholas L.Disalvo and William R.Ziegler invention, open March 20 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is 09/829,339, and agent's number of accepting is 0267-1430 (41912.018500), and name is called " have and strengthen the circuit interrupter that surge is drawn up ", by David Y.Chan, and Eagene Shafir invention, open April 9 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is 98/688,481, agent's number of accepting 0267-001-1369, and name is called " ground fault circuit interrupter ", and is by the David.Herzferld invention, open October 16 calendar year 2001.

The application relates to total patent application serial numbers 09/812,875, open March 20 calendar year 2001, name is called " be used to slide locking GFCI recovery locking ", by Frantz Germain, Stephen Stewart, David Hezfeld, Steren Campolo, Nicholas Disalvo and William R.Ziegler invention, agent's number of accepting is 0267-1415CIP8 (41912,018100).For patent application serial numbers is 09/688,481; The part continuation application of calendar year 2001 disclosed application on October 16, at this as a reference in conjunction with this full patent texts.

It is 09/812 that the application relates to publicly-owned patent application serial numbers, 288, open March 20 calendar year 2001, name is called " having the circuit interruption and the manufacture method of restoring locking and reverse-connection protection ", by Steven Campolo, Nicholas Disalvo and William R.Ziegler invention; Agent's number of accepting is the application of 0267-1415CIP9 (41912.015600), for patent application serial numbers is 09/379,138 in the part continuation application of disclosed application on August 20 in 1999, for patent application serial numbers is 09/369,759 in the part continuation application of disclosed application on August 6 in 1999, for patent application serial numbers is 09/138,955 in the part continuation application of disclosed application on August 24 in 1998.U.S. Patent number is 6,040,967 now.Can be as a reference at this in conjunction with these full patent texts.

It is 09/812 that the application relates to publicly-owned patent application serial numbers, 624, disclosed March 20 calendar year 2001, name is called " the recovery locking mechanism and the independent trip mechanism that are used for center exclusive circuit interrupting device ", by Frantz.Geermain Steven Stewart, Roger Bradly, David Chan, Nicholas L.Disalvo and William R.Ziegler invention, agent's number of accepting 0267-1415CIP5 (41912.017300).Can be as a reference at this in conjunction with this patent.

It is 09/379 that the application relates to publicly-owned sequence number, 140, in disclosed application on August 20 in 1999, this application is that patent application serial numbers is 09/369,759, in the part continuation application of disclosed application on August 6 in 1999, for patent application serial numbers is 09/138,955, in the part continuation application of disclosed application on August 24 in 1998.U.S. Patent number is 6,040,967 now, can be in conjunction with these full patent texts as a reference at this.

It is 09/813 that the application relates to publicly-owned patent application serial numbers, 683, disclosed March 21 calendar year 2001, name is called " having the IDCI that restores locking and independent trip ", invent by Nicholas.Disalvo, agent's number of accepting is 0267-1415CIP4 (41912.017500), can be in conjunction with this full patent texts as a reference at this.

It is 09/813 that the application relates to publicly-owned patent application serial numbers, 412, open March 21 calendar year 2001, name is called " the center steering point that is used for ground fault circuit interrupter restores locking mechanism ", by Frantz Germain, Stephen Stewart, Reger Bradley, Nicholas, Disalvo and William R.Ziegler invention, agent's number of accepting is 0267-1415CIP6 (41912.017400), can be in conjunction with this patent as a reference at this.

Background technology

Patent application serial numbers is No.09/812,875, agent's number of accepting is No.0267-1415CIP8 (41912.018100), name is called " the recovery locking of the locking GFCI that is used to slide " by Frantz.Germain, Stephen Stewart, David Herzfeld Steven Campolo, Nicholas Disalvo and William R.Ziegler invention, open March 20 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is No.09/812; 288; agent's number of accepting 0267-1415CIP9 (41912.015600); name is called " having the recovery locking and the circuit interruption device of reverse-connection protection and the manufacture method of this device "; by Steven.Campolo; Nicholas Disalvo and William R.Ziegler invention, open March 20 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is No.09/813,412, agent's number of accepting is 0267-1415CIP6 (41912.017400), name is called " centre of gyration point that is used for ground fault circuit interrupter restores locking mechanism ", by Frantz Germain, Stephen Stewart, Roger Bradly, Nicholas L.Disalvo and William R.Ziegler are open March 21 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is 60/277,448, and agent's number of accepting is 0267-1596 (41912.017700), and name is called " having the GFCI that restores locking ", and is by the RichardBernstein invention, open March 21 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is 09/813,683, and agent's number of accepting is 0267-1415CPI4 (4192.017500), and name is called " having the IDCI that restores locking and independent trip ", and is by NIcholas Disalvo invention, open March 21 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is 60/277,446, agent's number of accepting is 0267-1415CIP7 (41912.17400), name is called " having the ALCI that restores locking and independent trip " by Richard, William R.Ziegler, Nicholas L.Disalvo, Frantz Germain invention, open March 2 calendar year 2001.

Patent application serial numbers is 60/277,097, agent's number of accepting is that 0267-1904 (4192.018200) name is called " locking mechanism that is used for residual current device ", by Frantz, Germain, Stephen Stewart, Armando Calixto and Steve Campolo are open March 19 calendar year 2001.

1. field

But the application relates to the ReSet Circuit interrupting device, comprise nonrestrictive ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI), submergence detection circuit contact maker (IDCI), electrical equipment leak circuit contact maker (ALCI), equipment leak circuit contact maker (ELCl), circuit interrupter, contactor, latching relay and solenoid mechanism.

Some embodiment of the present invention relates to and comprises the circuit interruption device with the recovery lock part that can prevent that locking apparatus restores in some cases.

Some embodiment of the present invention is designed to include the circuit interruption device of interrupt unit, this interrupt unit can line disconnection side and the load-side of device between and the circuit in the conductive path between line side and the user load side.Some embodiment of the application relates to including and can prevent that locking apparatus do not work in circuit interruption part, takes place that centerline disconnects or device is connect the recovery lock part of restoring under the anti-situation.It is the method for the circuit interruption device of tripped condition that some embodiment of the application relates to the manufacturing initial condition.Some embodiment of the application relates to the method for initial condition for the circuit interruption device of recovery lock-out state of making.

Some embodiment of the present invention also relates to the circuit interruption device that includes interrupt unit, and this interrupt unit can be isolated with power lead and load conductor.

But some embodiment of the application relates to the ReSet Circuit interrupting device that comprises the GFCI that does not do to limit.Some embodiment of the application relates to using the circuit interruption device of simulating the center line fault.Some enforcement of the application relates to and includes the circuit interruption device of center line to the center line Test Switchboard.

Some embodiment of the application relates to surge protection, and circuit interrupter particularly, GFCI suppress with the relevant transient state with enhancing and the product of defencive function.

Some embodiment of the application includes the GFCI that does not excite the recovery lock part that solenoid tests.

Some embodiment of the application relates to including and can prevent the recovery lock part that locking apparatus restores in some cases and the IDCI of independent trip mechanism.

Some embodiment of the application relates to ALCI and the IDCI that includes the recovery lock part that can prevent that locking apparatus restores in some cases.

Some embodiment of the application also relates to can restore residual current device (RCD).Particularly, the application relates to the RCE that can lock restoring action when reaching predetermined condition.

Other embodiment of the application relates to ground fault circuit interrupter, particularly, adopts the combination of light color and alarm signal to show the different conditions of GFCI and the GFCI that indicates the time cycle of carrying out some operation.

2. correlation technique

I. invalid tripping mechanism

Many electrical wiring devices have the line side that can be connected to power supply and can be connected to one or more

The load-side of load, and the one or more conductive paths between line side and the load-side.Electrical connection arrangement is connected to the one or more loads that are positioned at line side and load-side jockey with power supply or electric current.The industry of electrical wiring device is for can be with power supply and various load, household electrical appliance for example, and electric product, circuit interruption device or system that consumer products and branch road interrupt have definite ever-increasing demand.Many electric equipments have cord, and these cords have the line side that is connected to power supply and are connected the most load-side of the equipment of electrical load.Some equipment may be immersed in the conducting liquid easily, and this may cause shock hazard.Other positions of fault may be positioned at the combination of other circuit interrupter or several contact makers.Therefore, the industry of electrical wiring device is for can be with power supply and various load, household electrical appliance for example, and electric product, circuit interruption device or system that consumer products and branch road interrupt have definite ever-increasing demand.Particularly, the electric equipment that equipment uses under wet environment, for example hair-dryer just may need to be equipped with IDCI to immerse danger with protection equipment.Such product is sold by some companies, and trade mark comprises Conair, Windmere and Wellong.Particularly, electrical code requires the circuit in Household bathroom and kitchen to be equipped with ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).Nearest known GFCI device, for example at United States Patent (USP) 4,595, the device of describing in 894 has used electric triggering tripping mechanism with being electrically connected between the load-side of mechanical striping trackside and GFCI.This type of device can restore after for example having earth fault to trip by detection., in the described device of 894 patents, tripping mechanism is used to cause the disconnection of the circuit (for example, the conductive path between line side and the load-side) that includes solenoid (or breaking coil).The test knob is used to test tripping mechanism and tests the circuit that is used for the sensing fault, and the electrical equipment that the recovery knob is used to restore between line side and the load-side connects.

But, the abnormal conditions that cause owing to for example being struck by lightning also may appear, and the generation of this situation not only can cause surge and make the device tripping operation in device, also may cause being used in the tripping mechanism forfeiture Motor ability that causes that circuit machinery opens circuit.The user may not understand this situation.In this case, the GFCI of the user who is ignorant of in the face of having tripped may push the recovery knob, and this makes device can not operate tripping mechanism when not having earth fault protection and makes its recovery.Because GFCI will not have to provide power supply to load under the situation of ground protection, so GFCI will be under the dangerous situation.

In addition, for the situation that the neutral point that defines in Underwriters Labortories (UL) Standard PAG943A disconnects, the electric wire of may powering provides power supply to the device of for example GFCI.If the situation that neutral point disconnects is present in the center line on the circuit (with respect to load) of GFCI device, then can produce the current path that passes to the earth via load-side of installing and people from phase that power supply is provided to the GFCI device (or by high-tension electricity) electric wire.If the situation that exists neutral point to disconnect, the GFCI device that has tripped may restore, even the situation that this neutral point disconnects remains unchanged.

On August 24th, 1998, disclosed total application number was NO.09/138,955 United States Patent (USP) 6,040, if if described the situation that comprises that circuit interruption partly is failure to actuate or is existed neutral point to disconnect in 967, but the ReSet Circuit interrupting device family of the recovery part of energy locking device.This class device can use the analogue ground fault to come device is tested.Therefore, help locking in some cases return function.

II. false wiring problem

Circuit interruption device described above also has user Ke Da load jockey.These user Ke Da load-side jockeys comprise one or more tie points, and the user can outside be connected to the power supply from the line side herein.The load-side jockey of load-side jockey and user Ke Da is electrically connected significantly is in the same place.An embodiment of sort circuit interrupting device is typical GFCI socket, and circuit and load-side jockey are terminal screw herein, and user Ke Da load-side jockey is the plug that is connected to inner socket.Point out that at this this type of device is connected to external cable, line wires is connected to the line side jockey like this, and load side wire is connected to the load-side jockey.But, such situation may appear, and the circuit interruption device is connected to external cable mistakenly, and load wires is connected to the line side jockey like this, and line wires is connected to the load jockey.This is considered to wiring and connects instead.The ifs circuit interrupting device is connect instead, then may cancel the error protection for user Ke Da load jockey, even still exist for the error protection of load jockey.

--in addition, to studies show that of relevant GFCI device, the user finds possibility 10%-20% or the akinesia of GFCI device more has been installed.But, when returning these devices to manufacturer, find that most of device can move.Show that thus device has been connect instead (line side and load-side are put upside down) by the user.In addition, adjust rules and industrial standard rules for example by the caution sign that may require the manufacturing of GFCI device to have the suggestion user that the circuit and the face terminals of device are carried out correct wiring of Underwriters Laboratories (UL) appointment.But, even above-mentionedly studies show that this type of warning also is not enough.In addition, rationally the easy scheme that prevents false wiring does not need this type of warning yet.Traditional GFCI device may use the user load as panel jack.Typical GFCI is four arrangements of terminals, and two-phase or AC lead-in wire are used to connect AC power, and two LOAD lead-in wire is used to connect low-level device.If traditional GFCI is by correct wiring, then GFCI provides for low-level device with in conjunction with the earth fault protection of plug.But,, then provide the power supply that does not have protection to socket panel at any time if traditional GFCI is connect instead.For example, when traditional GFCI is connect inverse time, panel jack is " upstream " for the unsymmetrical current induction coil.Like this, if traditional GFCI is in tripping operation or normal condition, the power supply that offers panel jack is just for unshielded.

Although the explanation of detailed explanation and AC and LOAD terminal also is housed in most of GFCI packing boxes, GFCI also can be connect instead sometimes.A reason is that this situation appears in the new structure, finds when installation personnel connects new ground fault protection circuit that in this structure incoming line and downstream cables look the same.This is a problem that is present in the neotectonics really, wherein is not used in the power supply of testing, and this feed cable is with the electric current introducing device.

Many typical dual socket GFCI have the test knob, and this knob makes power source trip and closes when pushing the built-in function of this knob realization GFCI, and problem can become more complicated when considering such situation.But the use of the knob that resets can not show whether the structure in the dual socket is protected.General user may not recognize this situation.The user only tests after will installing installation simply, pushes the test knob and checks trip unit by the sound that for example drips.This will be to the illusion of a gun-ho of user.When GFCI is connect inverse time, the GFCI deenergization can take place really and protect all dirty parts, still can not protect the situation of the socket contact of GFCI itself.This sampling device will trip according to the situation of internal part, and no matter how wiring of GFCI.When GFCI was tested, GFCI was connect anti-not relation.

Describe some list of references of this type of device and attempt to warn the situation of user's reversal connection line, for example, a way has in order to show the GFCI of the correct reversal connection line polarity indicator light of installing of GFCI for using.For example, see that October 25 nineteen eighty-three is disclosed by people such as Bienwald invention and transfer all United States Patent (USP)s of this patentee 4,412,193.Turn round but one of needs push away, manually pushed, to determine that whether GFCI is by wrong according to explanation.

By people such as Neiger invention and transfer this patent people all December nineteen ninety-five in the laid-open U.S. Patents 5,477,412, related to a kind of ground fault circuit interrupting device that prevents the false wiring circuit that is combined with at another.If install by wrong, this false wiring sensor circuit automatic trip, and generation has the Voice ﹠ Video warning signal.This circuit adopts AC terminal and warning that sensor circuit is connected on the side of inner GFCI switch or relay to produce the warning inhibition technology that circuit is connected to the face terminals on the opposite side.

On December 3rd, 1998, disclosed total application NO.09/204 described the device that is used to test the reversal connection line and the reversal connection line indicator is provided in 861, can be in conjunction with this full patent texts as a reference at this.

Above institute's application reference as related application can be in conjunction with these patents as a reference at this for owning together.These applications relate generally to the locking of return function or the circuit interruption device are not worked.

United States Patent (USP) 5,933,063 by people such as Keung invention is intended to describe the GFCI device, and obviously use has a center locking.In conjunction with United States Patent (USP) 5,933,063 in full as a reference at this.United States Patent (USP) 5,594,398 by people such as Marcou invention is intended to describe the GFCI device, and obviously use has the center locking.In conjunction with United States Patent (USP) 5,594,398 in full as a reference at this.United States Patent (USP) 5,510,760 by people such as Marcou invention is intended to describe the GFCI device, and obviously use has the center locking.In conjunction with United States Patent (USP) 5,594,398 in full as a reference at this.Benefit from improved GFCI design according to the present invention and be appointed as Pass﹠amp; Seymour Catalog No.1591 sells.

Benefit from the another kind of design of improved GFCI according to the present invention and be appointed as BryantCatalog Number GFR52FTW sale.

On August 20th, 1999, disclosed total patent application serial numbers was NO.09/379, but the ReSet Circuit interrupting device family that 138 patent has been described the energy independent trip and the reversal connection line is protected, can be in full as a reference at this in conjunction with this patent right.

III. not enough surge protection

Known GFCI product generally includes the metal oxide varistor (MOV) of a cross-over connection in the power line of GFCI product, and this MOV provides surge protection by transient voltage being clamped to an acceptable level to the GFCI product circuit.The clamper degree depends on disk and the electric pressure that links to each other with MOV.Therefore, to be limited to handle at 100A be the transient voltage of 6KV to the GFCI product.This just requires to have the GFCI product that can stand bigger transient voltage.

In addition, because local power office is unusual, superpotential situation can be more popular, this just require circuit for example under the superpotential situation of 240V the product of 120V electric pressure can not be damaged.When this thing happens.GFCI element of the prior art for example MOV can not be preserved; For example, the MOV of prior art operates under the overvoltage of the electric pressure that surpasses it will be cracked, and this like this situation also can be damaged the other electron component in the GFCI product.

Therefore have such needs, promptly surge protection circuit allows the such element of MOV for example to surpass at power supply under its situation of voltage and current grade not to be damaged, the GFCI product also is not damaged under superpotential situation.

IV. lack the state indication

As mentioned above, have and to cause the idle various different situations of circuit interruption device.GFCI does not generally provide the information of GFCI state to the user at present.The GFCI that sells only provides a LED to come display unit to work at present, and promptly the main switch contact is closed.Therefore, have such needs, promptly the user can determine whether the circuit interruption device can not work by the state of understanding this type of device.

Sum up

The application relates to provides the circuit interruption device that restores locking in some cases.Some embodiment of the application relate to comprise restore the lock part the circuit interruption device, before allowing device to restore, if detecting as circuit interruption takes place, the part of detecting by device partly is failure to actuate, or the generation neutral point disconnects, or device is connect anti-situation, then should restore the lock part and can inhibiting apparatus restore.Some embodiment instead also continues to provide protection to the circuit interruption device even install to be connect like this by using bridge circuit so that incoming line is cut off separately from each corresponding load-side jockey and user load jockey.

The circuit interruption device also can comprise the demobilization lock part, and this recovery lock part prevents to be reconstituted in mutually or the electrical continuity in center line conductive path or this two conductive paths, unless the circuit interruption device is by proper operation and/or by correct wiring.In certain embodiments, can make the recovery part, at least one restores the sensing part that contact can be electrically connected in the circuit interruption part like this, and pushes and restore knob at least a portion phase conductive path is contacted with at least one recovery contact.When restoring in phase conductive path and at least one when forming contact between the contact, circuit interruption partly is activated, and restores the lock part like this and does not work, and can rebulid mutually and the electrical continuity in the center line conductive path.

The circuit interruption device also comprises the tripping operation part of independent operation circuit interruption part.In one embodiment, the trip portion branch comprises can be from the trip actuator of the peripheral operation of housing, and trip arm preferably is positioned at housing and is extended by trip actuator.Trip arm preferably is made into when starting trip actuator, implements mechanically to cut off mutually and/or the electrical continuity in the center line conductive path.

In certain embodiments, the circuit interruption device is made with when circuit interrupter trips the bridge circuit of disconnecting consumers side and user load separately.In another embodiment, use and to have two single pole single throw switches to cut-off each power supply respectively to circuit and user load.In another embodiment, circuit interrupter is made into to be in the recovery lock-out state.In another embodiment, use has removable or fixedly connected tripping operation to promote device to impel the device tripping operation when mounted.In another embodiment, be provided with indicating device and connect anti-situation with indicating device.In another embodiment, before device is put goods on the market, an independent promotion tripgear is connected to circuit interrupter.In a method embodiment, before device is put goods on the market, earlier device is arranged to restore lock-out state.

But the invention still further relates to the ReSet Circuit interrupting device, even connect under the anti-situation at device, this circuit interruption device still can be proceeded error protection to it.

In one embodiment, the circuit interruption device comprises a housing and to line side and phase load-side between and the center line conductive path of small part in this housing.Best, the phase conductive path ends at first jockey that can be electrically connected in power supply, can be to second jockey of at least one load conduction and can be to the 3rd jockey of at least one user load conduction.Similarly, the center line conductive path preferably ends at first jockey that can be electrically connected in power supply, and second jockey that can provide center line to connect at least one load is with the 3rd jockey that can provide center line to be connected at least one user load.

The circuit interruption device also comprises and being positioned in the housing, and is formed in when some predetermined case occurring, make between described line side and the load-side one or two mutually and the circuit interruption part of the interruption of the electrical continuity in the center line conductive path.Be provided with to small part and be positioned at housing, and be made into to rebuild the recovery part that disconnects the electrical continuity in the conductive path.

Best, the phase conductive path comprises a plurality of contacts, and these contacts can be opened, with being electrically connected of the phase conductor path between striping trackside and the load-side, and can also be closed to rebuild the electrical continuity in the phase conductive path between line side and the load-side.The center line conductive path also comprises a plurality of contacts, and these contacts can be opened, with the electrical continuity of the center line conductive path between striping trackside and the load-side, and can also be closed to rebuild the electrical continuity of the center line conductive path between line side and the load-side.In this structure, circuit interruption partly makes mutually and open the contact in the center line conductive path, restores part and makes mutually and the closing of contact in the center line conductive path.

An embodiment of circuit interruption part uses electrical continuity dead circuit interrupt unit that has in phase of making and the center line conductive path and the sensor circuit of responding to predetermined case.For example, the electromechanical circuits contact maker comprises a coil block, the moveable piston that links to each other with coil block and be connected to the backstop of piston.Moveable piston reacts on the energising of coil block, and the motion of piston is converted to the motion of backstop.The motion of backstop makes mutually and/or the electrical continuity in the center line conductive path interrupts.

Unless the circuit interruption device also is included in the circuit interruption part by under the situation of correct wiring, prevents the recovery lock part that the electrical continuity in phase or center line conductive path or both conductive paths restores.Just, restore the recovery of the anti-locking apparatus in lock part, unless the circuit interruption part is by correct wiring.In certain embodiments, circuit interruption partly comprises restores the lock part, this recovery lock part can be made at least one and restore the sensor circuit that contact is electrically connected in the circuit interruption part, and pushes and restore knob and can make to small part phase conductive path and contact with at least one recovery contact.When restoring to small part phase conductive path and at least one when forming contact between the contact, circuit interruption partly is activated, and restores the lock part like this and just can not work, and can rebuild electrical continuity in phase and the center line conductive path.

The circuit interruption device also can comprise the tripping operation part that is used for independent operation circuit interruption part.Tripping operation part is positioned at housing at least in part, but and is made into that the independent operation circuit interruption partly makes mutually and/or electric in the center line conductive path rebulids continuously.In one embodiment, the trip portion branch comprises the tripping operation actuator that can see from outside, and trip arm preferably is positioned at housing, and is extended by the tripping operation actuator.Trip arm preferably is made into, if start the tripping operation actuator, can implement the electrical continuity in phase and/or the center line conductive path is cut off.Best, the tripping operation actuator is a knob.But, also can use other known actuators.

In one embodiment, circuit interrupter is made into to have when circuit interrupter trips, respectively the bridge circuit of line disconnection side and load-side.In another embodiment, using has two single pole single throw switches, is used for line power is cut-off from load and user load respectively.In another embodiment, circuit interrupter is made into to be in the recovery lock-out state.In another embodiment, using has removable or fixedly connected tripping operation to promote device, is used for impelling when mounted tripping operation.In another embodiment, be provided with indicating device and connect anti-situation with indicating device.In another embodiment, before device was put on market, discerptible tripping operation promoted that device is connected to circuit interrupter.In a method embodiment, before device was put goods on the market, device was set to restore lock-out state.

But the invention still further relates to a kind of ReSet Circuit interrupting device that restores locking that has, this recovery locking does not rely on solenoidal test.

But the invention still further relates to the ReSet Circuit interrupting device that comprises user interface.Before operative installations, device is tripped.Then, the user must use user interface so that test executing device begins device is tested.If test is passed through, device will restore.Otherwise device is with locked.In another embodiment, can will install tripping operation by user interface for mechanical trip mechanism.

Use among the embodiment of circuit interruption part have make device at least one mutually and the electromechanical circuits contact maker that interrupts of the electrical continuity in the conductive path of center line and the sensor circuit of responding to predetermined case.The machinery trip arm is implemented mechanical cutting to the electrical continuity in phase and/or the center line conductive path after can being made into to start the tripping operation actuator.In addition, mechanical trip arm or bar can be made into and can not device be restored by operating this mechanical arm.

The invention still further relates to can be by restored concerning the RCD of reset condition locking.Being operated the recovery bar by the user makes it move to operating state from off state by test mode.Test mode can be tested device, and if test and pass through, then only allow to enter operating state.

But the application also relates to the ReSet Circuit interrupting device of simulating the center line fault by simulation center line fault condition.Can use switch to produce a feedback path in transducer, by load neutral being connected to the center line fault that line midline is simulated, this will cause the circuit interrupter tripping operation.

In addition, can simulate neutral line fault mutually by using through the 3rd electric wire of instrument transformer or by connecting the load to the phase circuit.

Breakdown switch preferably is made into to implement the mechanical connection between circuit and the load neutral path.But, also can adopt known actuator.

But the invention still further relates to the ReSet Circuit interrupting device that locks return function in some cases.In one embodiment, use test mechanism tests circuit interrupter before allowing recovery.In one embodiment, in order to close test circuit, restore piston and be adjusted on the power that to apply and the locking of triping, continue to move to home position under the situation of circuit interrupter action, to allow restoring piston.

The invention still further relates to and suppress and protective circuit, this inhibition and protective circuit are used in combination to handle instantaneous surge and superpotential situation with the metal oxide varistor (MOV) in ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) product.Inhibition and protective circuit comprise the LC low pass filter that prevents superpotential spark gap and be used to suppress instantaneous surge.

The present invention also provides can provide a large amount of GFCI and the GFCI that is subjected to the state information of its protective circuit to the user.GFCI comprises the polychromatic light that can produce three kinds of different colours.In addition, this lamp can the first slower speed and second fast speeds glimmer.Can generate warning signal or keep noiseless.The information at these families depends on the color of lamp, and whether are the speed of its flicker and the appearance of alarm signal.It is the purpose that the application is used to provide novel GFCI.

Another object of the present invention provides the novel GFCI of the aspect that has the state that shows GFCI and interlock circuit.

Another object of the present invention provides the novel GFCI of information mode that the combination that has by flicker lampion and warning signal shows the state of GFCI and interlock circuit.

The other objects and features of the invention will be at following specification, and claim and accompanying drawing institute diagrammatic sketch middle finger go out, and they pass through embodiment, and the description of the principle of the invention and preferred forms has been made open to the present invention.

Description of drawings

With reference to accompanying drawing the application's preferred embodiment has been made description at this, wherein identical parts represent with identical Reference numeral, wherein:

Fig. 1-41 illustrates especially and has the slip locking GFCI that restores locking;

Fig. 1 is the perspective view according to the GFCI of the application's notion configuration.

Fig. 2 is the bottom view of the GFCI of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is identical with Fig. 1, and just top cover and the bottom of GFCI are removed.

Fig. 4 is the perspective view of the assembling pad of Fig. 1 device.

Fig. 5 is the load neutral of Fig. 1 device and the bottom view of load phase terminal.

Fig. 6 is the printed circuit board (PCB) of Fig. 1 device and the perspective view that restores assembly.

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of removing Fig. 6 device that restores bar and PC plate.

Fig. 8 is the perspective view of the bobbin assembly of Fig. 1 device.

Fig. 9 is the perspective view of the main moving contact of Fig. 1 device.

Figure 10 is the piston of Fig. 1 device, the bottom view of lockplate and auxiliary contact.

Figure 11 is the perspective view that is installed in the instrument transformer on the printed circuit board (PCB) of Fig. 1 device.

Figure 12 is the part end view of Figure 11 transducer bracket assembly.

Figure 13 is the reference test bar of Fig. 1 device and the perspective view of knob.

Figure 14 is the reference test bar that is in open position, test knob, the front view of test arm and test pin.

Figure 15 closes for being in, the front view of the parts shown in Figure 14 of test position.

Figure 16 is the recovery bar of Fig. 1 device and the perspective view that restores knob.

Figure 17 is in to close or the recovery bar of reset condition, restores knob, the front view of main contacts and auxiliary contact.

Figure 18 is the end view according to Figure 17 device.

Figure 19 is the front view that is in Figure 17 parts of tripped condition.

Figure 20 is the end view of Figure 19 device.

Figure 21 is the grade of expression GFCI, and interlock circuit, flash color, speed, and the table of the relation between the appearance of signal tone or the disappearance.

Figure 22 is the schematic diagram of GFCI according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 23 is the schematic diagram according to the GFCI with bridge circuit of the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 24 is the schematic diagram according to the GFCI with bridge circuit and independent trip mechanism of the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 25-25b is the part sectioned view according to the recovery locking mechanism of the GFCI of the embodiment of the invention.

Figure 29 a-c is the fragmentary cross-sectional view of the recovery locking mechanism of GFCI according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 30 is the fragmentary cross-sectional view that restores locking mechanism according to the GFCI of the embodiment of Figure 29 a-c that is shown with hand trip(ping) mechanism.

Figure 31 a-f is the fragmentary cross-sectional view that restores locking mechanism according to the GFCI of the embodiment of Figure 29 a-c that is shown with hand trip(ping) mechanism.

Figure 32 a-b is that GFCI restores the fragmentary cross-sectional view of locking mechanism according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 33 a-f is the fragmentary cross-sectional view of the recovery locking mechanism of GFCI according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 34 a-f is the fragmentary cross-sectional view that the GFCI of two embodiment according to the present invention restores the locking knob.

Figure 35 is the perspective view according to the ground fault circuit interrupting device that has the user load starting switch of the embodiment of the present application.

Figure 36 a-b has the perspective view of embodiment of the ground fault circuit interrupting device of user load starting switch device according to the application.

Figure 37 is for having the perspective view of an embodiment of the ground fault circuit interrupting device of user load starting switch according to the application.

Figure 38 a-c is for having the perspective view of an embodiment of the ground fault circuit interrupting device of user load starting switch device according to the application.

Figure 39 is for for having the perspective view of an embodiment of the ground fault circuit interrupting device of user load starting switch device according to the application, this user load starting switch is used for starting when not having user's knob and restores and tripping operation.

Figure 40 is for having user load starting switch device according to the application and not having the perspective view of an embodiment of the ground fault circuit interrupting device of knob.

Figure 41 is for having the perspective view of an embodiment of the ground fault circuit interrupting device of moveable panel and the motion actuated switching device of panel according to the application, the motion actuated switch of this panel is used for starting when not having user's knob and restores and tripping operation.

Figure 42-70 is the perspective view according to an embodiment of the application's ground fault circuit chopper.

Figure 43 is the wherein end view of a part of GFCI device shown in Figure 42, and wherein part is positioned at the cross section, shows the GFCI device that is in set or forming circuit position.

Figure 44 is the exploded view of the internal part of Figure 42 circuit interruption device.

Figure 45 is arranged on the plan view in the partially conductive path in the GFCI device of Figure 42.

Figure 46 is the partial sectional view in the partially conductive path shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 47 is the partial sectional view in the partially conductive path shown in Fig. 4.

Figure 48 is the end view identical with Fig. 2, shows the GFCI device that is in circuitry cuts or interrupted position.

Figure 49 is the end view identical with Fig. 2, shows the parts of GFCI device during recovery operation.

Figure 50-52 is the representative schematic diagram of the application's recovery operation embodiment partly, show and be used between circuit and load bindiny mechanism, being electrically connected, and the locking piece that interrelates of the operation of the recovery part that will be electrically connected mechanism and circuit interruption part

Figure 53 is used to survey earth fault and the schematic diagram of circuit that the GFCI device of Fig. 1 is restored.

Figure 54 is the perspective view according to the alternative embodiment of the application's ground fault circuit chopper.

Figure 55 is the end view of the device of part GFCI shown in Figure 54, and part is in the cross section, shows the GFCI device that is in set or forming circuit position.

Figure 56 is the end view identical with Figure 55, shows the GFCI device that is in the circuit interruption position.

Figure 57 is the end view identical with Figure 14, shows the parts of GFCI device during recovery operation.

Figure 58 is the exploded view of internal part of the GFCI device of Figure 13.

Figure 59 is used to survey earth fault and the schematic diagram of circuit that the GFCI device of Figure 54 is restored.

Figure 60 is the end view of parts of the part alternative embodiment of GFCI device shown in Figure 54, and wherein part is in the cross section, shows the device that is in set or forming circuit position.

Figure 61 is the end view identical with Figure 60, shows the device that is in the circuit interruption position.

Figure 62 is the structure chart according to the application's circuit interruption system.

Figure 63 a-b is traditional GFCI of the correct wiring of quilt among Figure 63 a and the partial schematic diagram that the quilt among Figure 64 b meets anti-GFCI.

Figure 64 a-b is the partial schematic diagram of GFCI according to an embodiment of the invention, and device is by correct wiring in Figure 64 a, and device is by reversal connection in Figure 64 b.

Figure 65 a-b is for having the partial schematic diagram of the GFCI that restores locking according to another embodiment of the present invention, and device is by correct wiring among Figure 65 a, and device is connect anti-among Figure 65 b.

Figure 66 a is the partial schematic diagram of GFCI according to another embodiment of the present invention, and wherein every circuit uses two single pole single throw switching devices are arranged.

Figure 66 b is the partial schematic diagram of GFCI according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein uses to have to have the double pole single throw switch that an end makes each line short.

Figure 67 is for using the partial schematic diagram of the GFCI that indicating device is arranged according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 68 is the partial schematic diagram that is used to form according to the test connecting apparatus of one embodiment of the invention GFCI.

Figure 69 a-c prepares the method flow diagram of circuit interruption device according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 70 is the perspective view that tripping operation according to an embodiment of the invention promotes device.

Figure 71-76 illustrates the recovery locking mechanism pivoting point that is used for GFCI.

Figure 71 is the identical partial side sectional view according to the GFCI of another embodiment of the application of the device with Figure 42.

Figure 72 a is the identical partial side sectional view according to the GFCI of another embodiment of the application of the device with Figure 42.

Figure 72 b is the identical partial side sectional view according to the GFCI of another embodiment of the application of the device with Fig. 1.

Figure 73 is another embodiment's of expression GFCI, the lateral elevational view identical with Figure 56.

Figure 74 a-b is for restoring lock slots and the perspective view that is in the recovery lock arm of diverse location.

Figure 75 is the sectional view of the backstop in the device of Figure 15.

Figure 75 b is the sectional view according to the backstop of the another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 73.

Figure 76 a-b is the perspective view according to backstop of the another embodiment of the present invention shown in Figure 73 and recovery knob.

Figure 77-91 shows and has the IDCI that restores locking and independent trip.

Figure 77-80 shows first embodiment of IDCI of the present invention.

Figure 81-82 shows second embodiment of IDCI of the present invention.

Figure 83 shows the third embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 84 is the perspective view of the embodiment of submergence detection circuit chopper IDCI according to the present invention.

Figure 85 is the schematic diagram according to the representative embodiment of IDCI of the present invention.

Figure 85 a is the exploded view of IDCI parts.

Figure 85 b is the recovery knob of IDCI and the exploded view of trip arm.

Figure 85 c is the perspective view of the snap close of IDCI.

Figure 85 d is the locking of IDCI and the perspective view of case spring.

Figure 86 is the top view according to the application's IDCI.

Figure 87 is the partial sectional view along figure center line 4 IDCI that does that is in tripped condition.

Figure 87 a is the partial sectional view along figure center line IDCI that 4a does that is in tripped condition.

Figure 87 b is the partial sectional view along figure center line IDCI that 4b does that is in tripped condition.

Figure 87 c is the partial sectional view along figure center line IDCI that 4c does that is in tripped condition.

Figure 87 d is the partial sectional view along figure center line IDCI that 4d does that is in tripped condition.

Figure 88 is the saturating face figure in preceding part that is in the IDCI that restores lock-out state.

Figure 88 a is the fragmentary, perspective view that is in the IDCI that 5a along the line did that restores lock-out state.

Figure 88 b is the fragmentary, perspective view that is in the IDCI that 5b along the line did that restores lock-out state.

Figure 88 c is the fragmentary, perspective view that is in the IDCI that 5c along the line did that restores lock-out state.

Figure 89 be the state that mediates have the fragmentary, perspective view of piston with the IDCI of mobile locking.

Figure 89 a be the state that mediates have the detailed view of piston with the IDCI of mobile locking.

Figure 90 is the schematic partial front perspective view that is in the IDCI of open mode.

Figure 90 a is the fragmentary, perspective view that is in the IDCI that 5a along the line did of open mode.

Figure 90 b is the fragmentary, perspective view that is in the IDCI that 7b along the line did of open mode.

Figure 90 c is the fragmentary, perspective view that is in the IDCI that 7c along the line did of open mode.

Figure 91 be mediate have the fragmentary, perspective view of hand trip(ping) actuator with the IDCI of mobile locking.

Figure 92-95 shows and has the ALCI that restores locking and independent trip.

Figure 92 a and 92c are the perspective view of ALCI according to another embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 92 b and 92d are can be the ALC perspective view of Windmere/TRC ALC.

Figure 93 a-93e is for being the perspective view of the IDCI of Konhan Industries IDCI CatalogNo.303-0118.

Figure 93 f-93g is the perspective view of IDCI according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 94 a-94f is for being the perspective view of the IDCI of Electric shock Protection CatalogNos.ESP-12 and ESP-31.

Figure 94 g-94h is the perspective view of IDCI according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 95 a-95b is for being the perspective view of the IDCI of Wellong Catalog No.P8S.

Figure 95 c is the perspective view of IDCI according to an embodiment of the invention.

Figure 96-97 shows the recovery locking mechanism of RCD.

Figure 96 is for being in the schematic diagram of malfunction RCD according to the operation of asking in the basis.

Figure 97 is for being in the schematic diagram by state RCD according to the application's operation.

Figure 98-101 shows the center line switch testing mechanism that is used for circuit interrupter.

Figure 98 is according to the schematic diagram with GFCI of electric test and bridge circuit of the present invention.

Figure 99 for according to of the present invention have can be mechanical trip be used to restore the independent trip of knob and for the schematic diagram of the GFCI of the earth fault simulation test that restores locking.

Figure 100 for according to of the present invention have can be mechanical trip be used to restore the independent trip of knob and carry out the schematic diagram of GFCI of the mechanical switch (electric test) of center line fault simulation test for restoring locking.

Figure 101 a and 101b be for can finishing the mechanical switch of the center line simulated failure that is used for GFCI, as at the attorney docket0267-1415CIP9 (41912.015600) shown in the Application Serial No.TBD;

Figure 102-117 shows recovery locking mechanism and the independent trip mechanism that is used for central exclusive circuit interrupting device.

Figure 102 a-b is the exploded view of the GFCI of prior art.

Figure 103 a-b is the sectional view of GFCI mechanism of the prior art of Figure 102 a-b.

Figure 104 is the end view of the prior art GFCI mechanism in being shown with Figure 103 a-b of moving contact.

Figure 105 is the end view according to the mechanism of GFCI of the present invention.

Figure 106 is the end view according to GFCI piston of the present invention.

Figure 107 a-c is the end view according to the application's the GFCI mechanism in recuperation.

Figure 108 a-b is the profile of the GFCI mechanism of prior art.

Figure 109 is the perspective view according to ground fault circuit interrupting device one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 110 is the exploded view according to a part of GFCI of the present invention.

Figure 111 a-f is the sectional side view of mechanism of a part of GFCI of Figure 109.

Figure 112 is the exploded view of the prior art GFCI shown in Figure 108 a-b.

Figure 113 is the perspective view according to ground fault circuit interrupting device one embodiment of the present invention.

Figure 114 a is the perspective view according to the solenoid plunger of the GFCI of the embodiment of the invention according to the Figure 113 that is obtained by piston among Figure 112 166 adjustment.

Figure 114 b is for according to by 128 perspective views according to recovery knob/armature piston/test contact of the GFCI of the embodiment of the invention of adjusting the Figure 113 obtain among Figure 112.

Figure 114 c is for according to the perspective view according to the tripping operation knob of the GFCI of the embodiment of the invention of being adjusted the Figure 113 obtain by 126 among Figure 112.

Figure 114 d is the perspective view according to the release lever electric wire of the GFCI of Figure 114 of the embodiment of the present application,

Figure 114 e is for according to the perspective view according to the contact carrier that has the switch that links to each other with GFCI of the embodiment of the invention of being adjusted the Figure 113 obtain by 180-182 among Figure 112.

Figure 114 f is for according to by 178 adjusting the Figure 113 the obtain side-looking and the partial top view of the locking of GFCI according to another embodiment of the present invention among Figure 112.

Figure 115 a-c is the profile of the representative part of GFCI of prior art.

Figure 116 is according to one embodiment of the invention and the representative profile partly of the GFCI relevant with Figure 14 a-c.

Figure 117 a-b is according to one embodiment of the invention and the representative profile partly of the GFCI relevant with Figure 115 a-c.

Figure 118-124 shows to have and strengthens the circuit interrupter that surge suppresses ability.

Figure 118 is connected the disclosed inhibition between input power supply and the GFCI circuit and the structure chart of protective circuit.

Figure 119 shows in detail a circuit among Figure 118 and an embodiment of element.

The schematic diagram that Figure 120 has inhibition and protective circuit according to one embodiment of the invention and has the GFCI circuit that restores the locking test neutral grounded.

Figure 121 is the schematic diagram that uses the alternative embodiment of Fig. 3 GFCI that the flue short-circuiting means is arranged.

It is 0.1 inch spark gap device that Figure 122 a shows the spark gap width.

It is 0.04 inch spark gap device that Figure 122 b shows the spark gap width.

Figure 122 c shows the spark gap device that the spark gap width is the .05 inch.

Figure 122 d shows the spark gap device with vertical header pin and guide angle header pin (angularlyoriented).

Figure 122 e shows and has the spark gap device that two guide angle heads are cut.

Figure 123 a shows the flue device with the spark gap that is formed by two vertical header pin.

Figure 123 b shows the flue device with the spark gap that is formed by a vertical header pin and guide angle header pin.

Figure 124 a shows has the low pass filter that uses zener diode and resistance, is used for the hybrid protection circuit of MOV.

Figure 124 b shows has the low pass filter that uses zener diode and inductor, is used for the hybrid protection circuit of MOV.

Figure 125-145 shows the GFCI that has the state indication.

Figure 125 is the perspective view that has the GFCI of state indication ability.

Figure 126 is the end perspective view of the GFCI of Figure 125.

Figure 127 is identical with Figure 125, has not just had top cover and the bottom of GFCI.

Figure 128 is the perspective view of the assembling pad of Figure 125 device.

Figure 129 is the load neutral of Figure 125 device and the end perspective view of load phase terminal.

Figure 130 is the printed circuit board (PCB) of Figure 125 device and the perspective view that restores assembly.

Figure 131 restores the perspective view of Figure 130 device of bar and PC circuit board for cancellation.

Figure 132 is the perspective view of the bobbin assembly of Figure 125 device.

Figure 133 is the perspective view of the main moving contact of Figure 125 device.

Figure 134 is the piston of Figure 125 device, the end perspective view of lockplate and auxiliary contact.

Figure 135 is the perspective view that is shown with the instrument transformer on the printed circuit board (PCB) that is installed in Figure 125 device.

Figure 136 is the side front view in part Figure 135 transformer component.

Figure 137 is the reference test bar of Figure 125 device and the perspective view of knob.

Figure 138 is the reference test bar that is shown in an open position, test knob, the anterior elevational view of test arm and test pin.

Figure 139 closes for being in, the anterior elevational view of element shown in Figure 138 of test position.

Figure 140 is the demobilization bar of Figure 125 device and the perspective view that restores knob.

Figure 141 is in to close or the recovery bar of reset condition, restores knob, the front view of main contacts and auxiliary contact.

Figure 142 is the end view according to Figure 141 device.

Figure 143 is the front view that is in the element among Figure 141 of tripped condition.

Figure 144 is the end view of Figure 143 device.

Figure 145 is for showing situation and the interlock circuit of GFCI, the color of flashing lamp and speed, and the appearance of audio signal each other the table of relation whether.

The present invention has estimated at least one of energy disconnecting apparatus line side and load-side two places The all kinds of the circuit interrupting device of conductive path. Conductive path is linking to each other with power supply The line side and with load-side that one or more loads link to each other between obviously disconnected. Point out at this, But the various devices in the ReSet Circuit interrupting device family comprise: ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), arc fault circuit interrupter (AFC), submergence detection circuit contact maker (IDCI), Electrical equipment leak circuit contact maker (ALC) and equipment leak circuit contact maker (ELCI).

For realizing the application's purpose, with shown in the figure and at circuit interrupting device described below In structure or mechanism be incorporated into and be suitable for being installed in as in the single cover connecting box in the dwelling house electrical wiring system The GFCI socket in, but but also can be included in ReSet Circuit according to mechanism of the present invention and interrupt In any device in the device family.

GFCI socket described herein has mutually (or power supply) bindiny mechanism of circuit and load, Circuit and load neutral bindiny mechanism are to load phase and the center line bindiny mechanism that the user provides. This A little bindiny mechanisms allow external conductor or equipment to link to each other with this device. These bindiny mechanisms can be, For example external conductor is fixed on or is connected to the electric fastener of circuit interrupting device, and Conductive current. The example of these bindiny mechanisms comprises terminal screw, lug plate, terminal and outside Socket bindiny mechanism.

Circuit described herein interrupts (closing with being connected partly preferably to use disjunction (opening) and be connected Close) electromechanical component of one or more conductive paths between device circuit and the load-side, still Electric component such as solid-state switch and support circuit and so on also can be used for the open and close conductive path Directly.

Usually, the circuit interrupt unit is used for automatic line disconnection and load-side after detection has fault Between one or more conductive paths in circuit. Restore part for the conduction of closing disconnection The path. In including the embodiment that restores the lock part, restore part and be used to remove recovery Lock, and close the conductive path of disconnection. In this structure, restore and restore sticking department The operation that divides is to combine with the operation of circuit breaker part, if such circuit breaker part Do not worked, connect instead by situation if having neutral point to disconnect and/or install, then conductive path The circuit that the footpath breaks can not be restored.

In interchangeable embodiment, circuit interrupting device can comprise independent operation circuit breaker section The tripping operation part of dividing, in the situation that circuit breaker partly is failure to actuate, device still can be jumped like this Lock. Best, the tripping operation part is manually actuated, and it is one or more to use mechanical part to cut off Conductive path, but the tripping operation part also can use circuit and/or electromechanical component to cut off this phase or center line One of both or both conductive path.

But above-mentioned feature can be incorporated in any ReSet Circuit interrupting device, for letter Changing, only the GFCI socket is made description at this, is 09/688,481 in U.S. Patent Application No. Patent US4595894 in the GFCI socket is had more detailed description, can be in conjunction with this at this Full patent texts as a reference. Should be noted that terminal screw is for providing the terminals that are electrically connected The representative types of son, the binding post of other type comprises fixed screw, pressure clamp, pressure Dish is pressed into the type joint, short yarn coil and rapid connecting key.

Provide several illustrated embodiments of center locking GFCI now.

Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 show according to GFCI30 of the present invention.GFCI30 is by top cover 32, and mesochite 34 and drain pan 36 are formed, and drain pan 36 is fixed on assembly by the flexible (not shown) that the U-shaped spare 38 with on the top cover 32 that is arranged on the drain pan 36 is meshed.Assembling pad 40 is installed between top cover 32 and the mesochite 34, and has two and be used for GFCI30 is installed to installing hole 42 on the mounting ear of standard cover box (not shown).Top cover 32 has the face 44 that includes two groups of grooves, and wherein every group of groove is used to receive one three leaf ground pin (not shown).Every group of groove be by the groove 46,48 with first length, and the groove 50,52 of length and being used to receives the U-lag 54,56 of the grounding pin of plug and forms.Because groove 50,52 is longer than groove 46,48, plug is setovered naturally, and meets NEMA standard 5-1SR.Be placed with in the depression 58 in the top cover 32 and restore knob 60, test knob 62 and indicating lamp device 64.Indicating lamp device 64 is to show first color when first filament is activated, and shows second color and show the polychromatic light of the 3rd color when second filament is activated when two filaments all are activated.Drain pan 36 has one group of four terminal screw (wherein two only are shown among the figure).Terminal screw 66 is connected to the load neutral terminal, below will make description to this.Similar terminal screw 68 is connected to the load phase terminal.Terminal screw 70 is connected to the line midline terminal, and similar terminal screw 72 is connected to the circuit phase terminal, will make description to this below.Contiguous each terminal screw 66,68,70,72 place are for receiving two holes 74 of the naked end of electric conductor (not shown).Will make description as following, end conductor extends between terminal contact and electric wire nut, and along with the propelling of terminal screw, electric wire nut and conductor mesh and push it to terminal contact.Rear wall place at mesochite 34 has ground connection screw 76, and earthing conductor (in the insertion groove 78, not shown) can be anchored on this ground connection screw 76 places.

Remove the GFCI30 of top cover 32 and drain pan 36 shown in Fig. 3, Figure 4 and 5 show in detail assembling pad 40 and load mutually and neutral terminal.Assembling pad 40 has two aforesaid holes 42 and is usually located at the circular port 80 and the square opening 82 of admitting reference test bar of the admittance recovery bar at center.Be provided with two sheets folder 84,86 and be inserted into the grounding pin of plug, and sheet folder 84,86 is linked to each other with assembling pad 40 by rivet 88 with engagement.Curved fin 90 has the screwed hole that is used to admit ground connection screw 76 down.Along with the propelling of ground connection screw 76, grounding nut 92 is pushed to down curved fin 90 and fixes with the naked end that will be inserted into the conductor in the groove 78 and be between fin 90 and the grounding nut 92.

Fig. 5 shows load neutral line terminals 94 and load phase terminal 96.Each terminal 94 and 96 all has mid-section body 98,100 respectively, and each end all has the inserted sheet folder and refers to 102,104.Rely on each that folder is referred to cooperation between 102,104, form machinery between the inserted sheet of plug and the plug slice that is inserted and be electrically connected.Embedding fin 106 on the load neutral line terminals 94 receives main fixedly neutral contact, embeds fin 110 and receives main immobile phase contact 112.Three sides are hanged the fin 114 that and are had groove 116, to hold the perforation threaded portion of terminal screw 66.Three similar sides are hanged the fin 118 that and are had groove 120, to hold the perforation threaded portion of terminal screw 68.

The assembling pad 40 of Fig. 4 and the terminal 94,96 of Fig. 5 have been shown among Fig. 3 have been assembled to mesochite 34.Include and can determine the indicator light Show Color, the printed circuit board (PCB) of the various circuit of flicker rate and control signal sound (afterwards being called PCB) 122 also is mounted on the mesochite 34.PCB122 also includes the following fault detector that will make description, instrument transformer, solenoidal various parts.Terminal screw 70 links to each other with fin 124, and fin 124 has the groove 126 of the threaded portion that holds terminal screw 70.Terminal screw 72 has mechanism similar but that do not illustrate in the drawings.

PCB122 assembly and recovery assembly shown in Fig. 6 for removing mesochite 34.Restore assembly and comprise recovery knob 60, restore bar 128 and a return spring 130 and a stop pin, below will make description to this in conjunction with Figure 16-20.Piston 132 is positioned in the passage of solenoid coil 134.Piston 132 shown in the figure is in home position, and part is extended outside the passage of solenoid 134.When solenoid 134 during by the circuit function on the PCB122, piston 132 is further drawn in the solenoid 134.Description will be made with reference to Figure 10 below in the position of piston 132 control lockplates to this.Lockplate cooperates stop pin and return spring 130 that armature 136 is upwards shifted to movable contact arm 138, with main moving contact 140 with lay respectively at main fixed contact 108,112 closures that embed on fin 106,110 downsides.Movable contact arm 138 departs from from coupled embedding fin 106,110 places, and when stop pin is released, promote downwards armature 136 with lockplate so that moving contact 140 opened in 108,112 minutes with the fixed contact that links to each other with it.Neutral instrument transformer 142 and difference instrument transformer 144 also are installed on the PCB122.Neutral instrument transformer 142 only is shown among Fig. 6.Instrument transformer and transducer bracket 146 have been shown among Figure 12.Neutral instrument transformer 142 repeatedly places on the differential instrument transformer 144, and is placed with fibre washer 148 between the two.As shown in figure 11, remove outside the groove 150, the bracket component 146 basic instrument transformers 142,144 that surround are used to place conductor in these grooves.The lead-in wire of instrument transformer winding is directed to four instrument transformer pin ones 52 that can be connected with load conductor with circuit.One of them instrument transformer can the electric current of sensing from the power supply to the load, and another instrument transformer can sensing turns back to the electric current of power supply from load.The variation of electric current of these instrument transformers of flowing through shows and has occurred fault in the circuit-line.Energy measurement electric current minor variations that can obtain from many places and the device that provides fault-signal are an integrated circuit, are the integrated circuit of LM1851 from the style number of international semiconductor for example or are the integrated circuit of MC3426 from the style number of Motorola.This IC is positioned on the PCB122.Line neutral terminal 154 and circuit phase terminal 156 have arm 158 and 160 (see figure 9)s, and these arms extend through the groove in transducer bracket assembly 146 tops.As shown in Figure 7, terminal screw 70 extends through the groove 126 on the fin 124 in the line neutral terminal 154, and enters the screwed hole in the nut 162, circuit neutral conductor (not shown) can be connected to two instrument transformers like this.Arm 158 and 160 circle coils as instrument transformer 142 and 144.Circuit phase conductor (not shown) is connected to fin 164 by terminal screw 72, and this screw 72 extends through the groove 166 in the fin 164 and enters in the screwed hole of nut 168.Fin 162 is the part of circuit phase terminal 156.Between arm 158 and 160, be extended with an insulating part 168, be used to prevent be short-circuited between two arms.Solenoid coil 134 is connected to two bobbin pins 170 so that it can be connected to PCB122.Fig. 7 is similar to Fig. 6, has just omitted PCB122, restores knob 60, restores bar 128 and return spring 130.

Fig. 8 illustrates to have solenoid coil 134 that is connected to bobbin pin 170 and the bobbin assembly 172 that includes piston 132 in its passage.Chamber 174 accommodates armature 136, and can support armature 136 when armature is positioned at lower.Crossware 176 supports the auxiliary switch that is made of auxiliary fixed contact arm 178 and auxiliary movable contact arm 180.When auxiliary fixed contact 186 and 188 engagements of auxiliary moving contact, auxiliary switch provides power supply to the various parts that are positioned on the PCB122.When auxiliary fixed contact 186 disconnected with auxiliary moving contact 188, auxiliary switch cut off the power supply of the parts on the PCB122, prevents the damage of the parts on the PCB122, for example, when main contacts disconnects,, then might burn solenoid coil 134 if apply signal for repeatedly solenoid coil 134.The auxiliary fixed contact arm 178 of auxiliary movable contact arm 180 deflections does not impel the contact to open if do not apply external force, and then the contact keeps engagement always.

Figure 9 shows that the armature 136 that contacts with movable contact arm 138, and located by the lockplate of controlling successively by piston 132 and piston return spring 184 182.The position of restoring bar 128 is depended in the position of armature 136 and lockplate 182, below will make description to this.Armature 136 is also controlled auxiliary movable contact arm 180.When armature 136 was positioned at the lower position place, auxiliary moving contact 188 moved apart contacted auxiliary fixed contact 188 (not shown)s with it.In case piston 132 is by recovery shown in Figure 10, lockplate return spring (not shown) is about to make lockplate to restore.

Be shown with lockplate 182 among Figure 10, piston 132 and have the auxiliary fixed contact arm 178 of auxiliary fixed contact 186 and auxiliary movable contact arm 180 with auxiliary moving contact 188.Piston return spring 184 is fixed on the rear end 200 of lockplate 182, and fin 198 extends in the oblong openings 196.When piston 132 is pushed to right side among Figure 10, because the effect of solenoid coil 134, piston return spring 184 is compressed, and elongation is so that piston 132 returns its home position, promptly by shown in Figure 6, piston portion ground does not stretch out outside the solenoid coil 134 when solenoid coil 132 is not activated.Lockplate return spring 190 is connected between armature 136 and the fin 198, and moves by lockplate 182 right side in Figure 10 that causes that moved right by piston 132, and compresses this return spring 190.When piston 132 was shunk back, 190 elongations of lockplate return spring were so that lockplate 182 is back to the left side among Figure 10.Arm 192 supports the arm of armature 136.Centre bore 194 is oval, it extend than the central longitudinal axis of long axis along lockplate 182.194 the center in the hole, hole 194 are enough big so that the stop pin (not shown) can pass through hole 194 and with armature 136 motion of engagement ground not take place.Stop pin is fixed at the locked plate 182 of its end than small end, and makes armature move with stop pin, below will make description to this.Auxiliary movable contact arm 180 is to upper offset, so that its auxiliary moving contact 188 that drives on it contacts with fixed contact 186 formation on the auxiliary fixed contact arm 178.An arm of armature 136 and 180 engagements of auxiliary movable contact arm make auxiliary moving contact 188 separate with auxiliary fixed contact 186, and disconnect auxiliary circuit so that this auxiliary contact arm below in Figure 10 is promoted.

Figure 13,14,15 show test knob 62 and description have been made in its operating process.Test knob 62 tool head parts 204 are extended with side part 206 from this head part.Also be extended with the center pole 208 that comprises cam 210 by head part 204.Bar 208 extends through the square opening 82 in the assembling pad 40.When pressing test knob 62, cam 210 is with test arm 212 engagements and move its free end 214, it is formed with test pin 216 contact.The position of test pin 216 has been shown among Fig. 6.Test pin 216 is connected with small resistor and extends through the lead-in wire of instrument transformer 142 or instrument transformer 144, in order to producing unsymmetrical current in power line, and makes integrated circuit LM1851 generate a signal that can activate solenoid 134, gets final product simulated failure like this.Test knob return spring (not shown) can make test knob 62 be back to its initial position.Figure 14 illustrates the home position of test knob 64, and its cam 210 is not pushed test arm 212, and free end 214 separates with test pin 216.When pressing test knob 62, as shown in figure 15, cam 210 forms the free end 214 of test arm 212 downwards and contacts with test pin 216, and with the generation simulated failure, and operation GFCI30 is to determine the GFCI30 operate as normal.When release button 62, it is back to the home position shown in Figure 14.

Figure 16 shows and restores knob 60.Restore knob 60 and have head part 218, complying with this head part has side part 220.Also be extended with its end from head part 218 and terminate in securing rod 222 in the stop pin 224.Usually, form the free end 228 of point in the end of stop pin 224.Because the diameter of stop pin 224 greater than securing rod 222, therefore forms locking shoulder 226.As shown in figure 17, return spring 230 is around securing rod 222.Figure 17 and 18 illustrates the GFCI230 that is in home position.Figure 17 is a rearview, and Figure 18 is an end view.The switch block around structure permission GFCI30 among the figure shown in the dotted line is outstanding.Among Figure 18, piston 132 stretches out solenoid 134, and lockplate 182 is pulled to the left side of figure so that slotted eye 194 than 222 engagements of small end and securing rod.Stop pin 224 can not be pulled by slotted eye 194.The leading end 232 of lockplate 182 rests on the locking shoulder 226, and is positioned under the armature 136.Return spring 230 upwards pushes away short securing rod 222, makes armature 136 also move up.This moves upward and makes movable contact arm 138 also move up, and forms contact thereby drive moving contact 140 with fixed contact 108,112 (seeing Figure 17).The extension 234 of armature 136 with and its contacted auxiliary movable contact arm 180 separate, auxiliary moveable arm 180 quilts so that its auxiliary moving contact 188 and the auxiliary fixed contact on the auxiliary fixed contact arm 178 186 mesh, provide power supply to PCB to upper offset thus.

React on inside or external fault, or react on the test that use test knob 62 is carried out, if the GFCI30 operate as normal will become Figure 19, the tripped condition shown in 20, promptly main circuit and auxiliary circuit all will disconnect.When satisfying trip condition, the circuit of PCB can send signal.This signal is provided for solenoid coil 134, and this solenoid coil 134 further draws piston 132 go in the solenoid coil 134.Piston 132 moves the right side of lockplate 182 in Figure 20, and the central part of slotted eye 194 is placed on the securing rod 224.In this position, the leading end 232 of lockplate 182 no longer meshes with locking shoulder 226, and securing rod 222 can freely pass slotted eye 194.Therefore without any parts make moving contact 140 on the movable contact arm 138 keep respectively with fixed arm 106,110 on fixed contact 108,112 contacts.Movable contact arm 138 biased downward rest on the armature 136, so that armature moves downward separated contacts 108,112 and 140.Protuberance 234 relies on auxiliary movable contact arm 180, and armature is moved downward, and will assist moving contact 188 to separate with auxiliary fixed contact 186, and the circuit of disconnection on PCB provides the auxiliary circuit of power supply.Owing to the action of return spring 230 causes the ejection of restoring knob 60, expression GFCI30 need be restored.

Remove to eject and restore outside the knob 60 the piezo-electric resonator that GFCI also has multi-colour LED device 64 and driven by the oscillator on the PCB (not shown) with the generation audio signal.By the concussion frequency of selecting 3.0KHZ+/-20% and the operate time of controlling oscillator, audio signal can be activation and stopped 2 seconds in 0.1 second.Figure 21 shows producible in order to show the light color of the various states of GFCI30, the various combinations of lamp flash degree and signal tone.Preceding 25 days of GFCI30 cycle are provided with the pilot signal in order to show whether GFCI30 works.This suggestion every 30 days with GFCI30 test with restore once, can operate as normal to guarantee GFCI30.

But the user has often ignored this explanation.In order to encourage the user that GFCI30 is tested, adopted the method for various lamps and signal tone.To 25 days latter stage, the green light of sudden strain of a muscle slowly of display unit operate as normal became quickflashing.Monitoring or dodging slowly is 0.10 second " bright " 15 seconds " going out ".Quickflashing is to go out in 0.1 second bright 0.9 second.This quickflashing continues five days, and the filament of indicating lamp device 64 begins to produce the yellow light of fast blink during this period.If power supply begins to restore, then before reaching monitoring condition, also fast blink always of yellow light.This time cycle is to be calculated by counter on the PCB and clock generator to produce.If identification has external fault, amber light is luminous, and generation has audio signal.At this moment, need GFCI30 is restored.If fault is created in GFCI30 self inside, for example solenoid coil 134 burns, the red filament light-emitting of indicating lamp device 64 then, and produce audio signal is arranged.If fault occurs in GFCI30 inside, then must change GFCI30.

Sometimes may need to have the circuit interruption device that restores locking device and isolated user load cut-out point.

Figure 22 is the schematic diagram of GFCI according to an embodiment of the invention, and shown device has the recovery locking mechanism that carries out electric test by R4.

Figure 23 is the schematic diagram of GFCI according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein is combined with to have the bridge circuit that restores locking.Good is, separates separately with the line side of the neutral line mutually with each with user load by making load-side, bridge circuit can be installed in the device shown in Fig. 1-2 1.For example, need to adjust sliver 98 and 100, so that fin 114,118 is separated with the counter pair relative with it with fin 102 respectively.At 108 places, has an additional contact 108.

Figure 24 is the schematic diagram of GFCI according to an embodiment of the invention, wherein has to have bridge circuit and the independent trip mechanism that restores locking.

Figure 25-28b is arranged at the recovery locking mechanism and the independent manual tripping mechanism of Fig. 1-2 1 shown device.

The device of Fig. 1-2 1 has the following restoring mechanism of method of operation.When pressing the recovery knob, the end of restoring pin is placed in the center in the hole on locking and the armature, makes to restore to sell to pass through this hole.In case restore pin by this hole, the locking spring moves to its rotine positioning with locking, and device is in " home position " (contacting between circuit and the load) then.When solenoids (because fault or by pushing the test knob), piston is opened locking and discharge to be restored pin.

Figure 25-28b shows an embodiment of restoring mechanism, this restoring mechanism have towards with the disk 510 that restores recovery bar 502 ends that knob 500 links to each other.When pressing recovery knob 500, as shown in figure 26,, and make recovery pin dish 510 inconsistent with locking 530 owing to locking 530 interior holes 534 and recovery pin dishes 510 do not have aligning.At this moment, device is in the lock state.Continue to move down and restore pin 502, close Test Switchboard 550.If test successfully, the solenoid (not shown) is excited, thereby the hole 534 in the locking 530 is aimed at recovery pin dish 510.When restoring pin dish 510 fully by locking 530, locking is back to the rotine positioning shown in Figure 28 a, and the return spring (not shown) is pulled upwardly to home position with recovery dish 510, closes the closed contact (not shown) thus.Be provided with manual tripping device, test knob thus and locate to form an angle endways impelling locking 532 by cam, and make that restoring pin dish 510 can pass through hole 534, device is about to recovery.

Figure 29 a-30 has another embodiment that restores knob 600 and restore the restoring mechanism of end 620.When pressing recovery knob 600, locking 640 moves to the open position in the foregoing description.In this embodiment, spacer 650 is fixed on its open position with locking 640, prevents to restore passing through of pin end 620.Spacer 650 is positioned in armature 630 by spring 652, locking 640, and between the bobbin 644.

When pressing recovery knob 600, Test Switchboard pin 610 triggers Test Switchboards 616.If device can make the solenoid (not shown) excite, motivating solenoid then, and make piston extend oblique tube 642 spacer 650 is pushed away locking 640, so that locking is closed.At this moment, device is in " home position ".

Good is, if the solenoid (not shown) does not excite for some reason, then can discharge recovery knob 600 by pushing manual releasing knob 670 (can be denoted as the test knob).When pressing test knob 670 (by spring 672 to upper offset), the configuration of axle 674 ends is equivalent to the arm 676 of a cam in the locking 640, so that locking 640 is opened and discharged recovery pin end 620 to upper offset.

Good is if solenoid does not excite for some reason, then to restore knob 600 and can all be pressed without barrier, and can be back to its upper position with not meshing.

Figure 31 a-f is the various views of parts of the recovery locking mechanism of this embodiment, and these parts are in the different phase of aforesaid operations process.

Figure 32 a-b shows another embodiment of the present invention, wherein uses individual palpation to turn round the startup method and restores locking.In this embodiment, device restores by the mode of device shown in Figure 25.Locking means is also identical.When device was in home position, shown in Figure 32 a, lockplate 706 moved up in the C direction, and hang plate 704 is fixed to " preparation " position.At this some place, push downwards when restoring the knob (not shown), make that lockplate 706 discharges hang plates 704 when shoulder 712 collides 706.Hang plate 704 presses to restoring pin 702 then, and feasible recovery pin 702 turns forward and remains on the position shown in Figure 32 b.Be released owing to restore the knob (not shown), make the spring (not shown) that restore pin 702 biasings the C direction upwards traction restore pin since restore pin 702 still as Figure 32 b as shown in mode tilt, the bottom of then restoring pin 710 can be by the interior hole of lockplate 707.When restoring the whole upwards (not shown) of knob (not shown), the effect of then restoring pin 702 is equivalent to cam, and hang plate 704 is pushed back to the latched position (not shown).At this moment, device is by manual releasing.

The mechanism of present embodiment allows only to use a knob, is set to home position earlier and will install, and is set to the off-position then.The operation of present embodiment device is to push away the mode of operation of turning round latch switch similar.

Figure 33 a-f shows another embodiment of the present invention, wherein uses individual palpation to turn round the startup method and restores locking.In this embodiment, the device of Figure 25 uses the individual palpation that is useful on the recovery locking mechanism to turn round the startup method.In an embodiment, two are restored knob 720 recoveries and discharge GFCI.The operation of this embodiment is similar to the operation that pressure is turned round latch switch.Shown in Figure 33 a, when knob 720 made progress, device was by tripping operation (open the contact).When pressing knob 720, if test successfully, device will restore.If test crash, this test can be the analogue ground fault, and then knob 720 is locked and can not restore.

Be in home position (power contact is closed) from GFCI and begin operation, push knob 720 and will install tripping operation, knob 720 rises then.The release arm 722 that links to each other with the top of restoring knob 720 utilizes cam to push release block 724 to lockplate 726.This effect makes lockplate 726 move and discharges.This device moves according to the device of Figure 25 then.It has a Test Switchboard 728.Two recovery knobs 720 have two springs 730,732 in order to when pressing the recovery knob, produce two different effects.By pushing the first that restores the stroke that knob carries out, can impel mechanical trip, second portion can be used for restoring locking, needs to carry out the test of success before will install recovery.Figure 33 illustrates and is in tripping operation, the device of contact open mode.Figure 33 b illustrates blocked device.Figure 33 e illustrates and is in recovery, the device of contact closed condition.

Figure 34 a-c and 34d-f show two additional use individual palpations in addition of the present invention and turn round the embodiment that locking is restored in operation.In this embodiment, device shown in Figure 25 can use the individual palpation that restores locking mechanism to turn round method of operation.When the piston that promotes the demobilization locking mechanism 752,753 o'clock, be generally used for mechanical trip GFCI, can use an independent test or tripping operation knob.This knob can move to a slide plate position that can make axle 752,753 (pistons) freely be discharged (tripping operation) as when the solenoid (not shown) excites.As shown in this embodiment, can use identical recovery knob 750,751 to finish this releasing operation, be equivalent to bar in the effect of this (piston) 752,753.Along with axle 752,753 moves by mode shown in Figure 34 b and the e, each axle can use knob 750,751 as the type of switch of stirring shown in Figure 34 c and f.

This only illustrate and not as the restriction with GFCI as the representative circuit interrupter.With reference to Figure 35-41, show the GFCI810 device of user load starting switch.

With reference to the GFCI810 of Figure 35, shown in Figure 36 a, the plug that each user will have plug blades 811 is inserted in the device, then starts the one-time mechanical tripping operation.The trigger arm 820 that user's plug blades 811 engages by spring 825 biasings.Along with trigger arm 820 moves on the A direction, the cam application of force is given original slide plate 831 that moves on the D direction.Install 810 mechanical trips, and installing 810 before user load provides energy, restore locking mechanism and must restore.Good is, removes by bias spring 825 to be applied outside the power, and user's socket also can apply enough power so that plug 811 is fixing.

With reference to Figure 36 b, when plug that the user will have an inserted sheet 811 takes out, start mechanical trip from device.The trigger arm 820 that user's inserted sheet 811 engages by spring 825 biasings.Along with sheet 811 moves on the B direction, spring 825 impels trigger arm 820 at motion on the B direction and the original slide plate 830 that moves on the C direction of promotion.Device 810 is mechanical trip once more, and restores locking mechanism at device 810 before user load provides power supply and must restore.

Good is that the GFCI socket that has minimum user's socket can utilize two such switches that adopt normal elements to start tripping mechanism.Similarly, device only can be constructed to when inserting first plug or only trip when extracting last plug.

Therefore, in this embodiment, when using with recovery locking device GFCI, the each use test-operative installations of user all must the hand reset device.In the device that adopts the present embodiment that restores locking mechanism, when GFCI moved, device just was in reset condition, did not disconnect or the state of reversal connection line and can not be in center line.

In this embodiment, start and be mechanical trip independently.But also can adopt instant shut-in to carry out the above-mentioned electric test that will install tripping operation.Above-mentioned electric test circuit can be used to the starting drive tripping operation.Certainly, device can be made into or be initialized as above-mentioned recovery lock-out state.In addition, can use other known mode, comprise and trigger arm is installed, the trigger arm biasing is set so that the mode of spring biasing to be provided.

With reference to Figure 37 and Figure 38 a-b, show the device that only has to restore knob.Because when plug is inserted into or be moved out of, plug will start mechanical tripping mechanism, does not therefore need to be provided with test or tripping operation knob.Except that test knob mechanism was not set, the device of Figure 38 a-b was identical with the device among Figure 36 a-b.

With reference to Figure 39, show another embodiment of the present invention.Automatic test GFCI device 910 is arranged shown in the figure, and it is constructed to can automatically test when by user load.To carry out tripping operation and recovery by spring that starts user load shown in Figure 36 a and switch, if device is in off position, neutral line off-state or reversal connection line states then this reset condition can be locked.When unpluging 811, device can be tripped once more.Good is, the hybrid user socket for resembling in the device 810 inserts first plug and can test and restore, and takes out last plug and device can be released to standby tripped condition.Because the insertion of each plug can be finished tripping operation and restore the locking test, does not need to be provided with user's knob with this.

The mechanism of no push button device 910 has been shown among Figure 40.Pin 910 and trigger arm 920 engagements of setovering by spring 925.Along with inserted sheet 911 moves on the B direction, trigger arm 920 at first uses following cam to impel slide plate 931 will restore bar and is released into trip position, and device for mechanical is tripped.Trigger arm is downward always, up to it with restore that bar 930 contact and the recovery locking mechanism is carried out above-mentioned test.Therefore, device is without any need for knob and preferably be set to tripped condition.

With reference to Figure 41, show another embodiment of the present invention.Remove the switch activated mechanism of user load and be by being applied to outside the pressure action on the panel 916, shown automatic test GFCI device 912 is similar with device 910, and when insertion user plug, panel 916 is outward-dipping to be subjected to inside power simultaneously.

Be pointed out that at this, though the parts that use during circuit breaker and device recovery operation are essentially dynamo-electric, but the application also estimates to adopt electronic unit, for example the parts that can constitute and cut off circuit in the conductive path of solid-state switch and support circuit and other types.

Among Figure 42, GFCI socket 310 has the housing 312 that is made of the main body 314 that is positioned at relative middle part, outside removably being fixed with on this mid-section body 314 or cap 316 and rear portion 318.Facial 316 have inlet 320 and 321, are common in the standard or the polarization inserted sheet of the plug at electric light or place, electrical equipment line group (not shown) end in order to reception, also have the grounding insert-pin receiver hole 322 that puts three pin plug.This socket also comprises the assembling pad 24 that is used for socket is fixed to terminal box.

Test knob 326 extends through the hole 328 in the outside 16 of housing 312.The test knob is used to start test operation, and this operation is used to test the operation of the circuit breaker part (or circuit interrupter) that is placed in the device.Below the circuit breaker that will be described in detail partly is used for the circuit of shearing device and the circuit of the one or more conductive paths between the load-side.Extend through hole 332 in the outside 316 of housing 312 as restoring one of them recovery knob 330 of part.Restore knob and be used to start recovery operation, this recovery operation is to rebulid circuit in the conductive path that has disconnected.

Being electrically connected in the home electric wiring is to realize by terminal screw 334,336, and wherein screw 334 is input (or circuit) device that is connected, and screw 336 is output (or load) device that is connected.Be pointed out that two additional terminal screws 338 and 340 (seeing Figure 44) are positioned on the opposite side of socket 310.These auxiliary connection screws provide circuit to be connected with load neutral respectively.United States Patent (USP) 4,595 has more detailed description to the GFCI socket in 894, can be in conjunction with this full patent texts to do reference at this.What be also pointed out that is terminal screw 334,446, and 338 and 340 for being used as the representative types that the binding post that is electrically connected is provided.The binding post of other type comprises fixed screw, and pressure clamp advances the shape connector, lead-in wire and connect trimmer soon.

Figure 43-47, circuit be connected device 334 and load be connected that conductive path between the device 336 comprises can be at the contact point arm 350 of pressurized and not pressurized place activity, be installed in the moving contact 352 on the contact point arm 350, be fixed on or be connected contact point arm 354 on the device 336 of integrated formation load, fixed contact 356 is installed on the contact point arm 354.The load that is used for the user-operable of this embodiment device that is connected comprises terminal assemblies 358, and this terminal assemblies 358 has the terminal 360 that two energy are meshed with the inserted sheet of the plug of insertion.The circuit conductive path that device 334 and user side load be connected between the device that is connected comprises, contact point arm 350, be installed in the moving contact 362 on the contact point arm 350, the contact point arm 364 of fixing or integrated formation terminal assemblies 358 is installed in the fixed contact 366 on the contact point arm 364.These conductive paths are collectively referred to as the phase conductive path.

Similarly, conductive path between line midline jockey 338 and the load neutral jockey 340 comprises, can be at pressurized and the contact point arm 370 that does not move between two positions of pressurized, be installed in the moving contact 372 on the contact point arm 370, the contact point arm 374 of fixing or integrated formation load neutral jockey 340 is installed in the fixed contact 376 on the contact point arm 374.The load neutral jockey of user-operable comprises in the present embodiment, and contact point arm 370 is installed in the moving contact 382 on the contact point arm 370, and the contact arm 384 of fixing or integrated formation terminal assemblies 378 is installed in the fixed contact 386 on the contact point arm 384.These conductive paths are collectively referred to as the center line conductive path.

The circuit breaker of Figure 43 partly has the electronic circuit of circuit interrupter and energy sense faults, for example unsymmetrical current on induction charging body and/or the neutral conductor.In the preferred embodiment of GFCI socket, circuit interrupter comprises coil block 390, reacts on the piston 392 of coil block energising and outage, the relay 394 that links to each other with piston 392.Relay 394 has the backstop 396,398 that a pair of and movable latching member 1100 acts on mutually, and movable locking piece 1100 is used for set and the electric wiring of recovery in one or more conductive paths.Coil block 390 reacts on can be by earth fault that for example sensor circuit shown in Figure 53 sensed and start.Figure 53 shows the common circuit that is used to survey earth fault of the difference instrument transformer that comprises the sensing unsymmetrical current.

Restore part and comprise and restore knob 330, and restore the movable latching member 1100 that knob 330 links to each other, locking refers to 1102 and the interim start-up circuit recovery contact 1104 and 1106 partly of opening circuit when pressing knob at the trip position place.Best, restore contact 1104 with 1106 for often opening instantaneous the contact.Locking refers to that 1102 are used to mesh the R side of each contact point arm 350,370, and is used for arm 350,370 is moved back to the depressed position place, contacts contact 356,366 respectively in this contact 352,362, place, and contact 372,382 contacts contact 376,386 respectively.

In this embodiment, movable latching member 1102 is that each part (for example, circuit interrupter restores and restore the lock part) institute is public, is used to carry out the circuit connection of one or more conductive paths, cuts off or locking.Circuit interruption device according to the application also can plan to adopt the embodiment that does not have common mechanism or parts between each part or specific part.In addition, the application also plan to adopt have can to mutually or one of them of center line conductive path or the circuit among both connect, cut off or the opening circuit of lock-in circuit, restore, restore the circuit interruption device of lock part.

In Figure 43 and 44 illustrated embodiments, to restore the lock part and comprise that locking refers to 1102, this locking refers to 1102 after the device tripping operation, with the L side engagement of moveable arm 330,370 motion with retardance moveable arm 350,370.Motion by retardance moveable arm 350,370 can prevent contact 352 and 356 respectively, contact 362 and 366, and contact 372 and 376, contact 382 contacts with 386.Interchangeable is that only a moveable arm 350 or 370 is blocked, to prevent their contact contacts separately.In addition, in this embodiment, locking refers to 1102 as the activity inhibitor that prevents the contact contact.Interchangeable is that the natural biasing of moveable arm 350,370 can be used as the passive inhibitor that prevents the contact contact.

Figure 43 and 48-52 show circuit interruption part that is in different phase in operating process and the mechanical part that restores part.Only description is made in the operation of phase conductive path in the description of this part, if but wish to disconnect and when closing two conductive paths, the operation of this phase is identical with the operation of center line conductive path.Among Figure 43, the GFCI socket that illustrates is in the set position, and this place's movable contact arm 350 is in pressured state, so that moving contact 52 carries out electric engagement with the fixed contact 356 on the contact point arm 354.If the sensing circuit senses of GFCI socket is to earth fault, coil block 390 is energized so that piston 392 is drawn to coil block 390, and piston 394 is moved up.Along with moving up of piston, backstop 398 bump latching members 1100 make latching member 1100 rotate (seeing Figure 48) around the junction point that top 1112 and inner surface 1114 by finger 1110 form by counter clockwise direction C before the relay.The motion of latching member 1100 makes definiteness 1102 be meshed from its R side with the far-end 116 of movable contact arm 350 and removes, and allows contact point arm 350 to be back to its pre-pressurized place, and opens contact 352 and 356, sees Figure 48.

After the tripping operation, coil block 390 is de-energized, and spring 393 is back to its initial extended position with piston 392 like this, and relay 394 moves to its initial position, discharges latching member 1100.At this moment, latching member 1100 is in latched position, and this place's locking refers to that 1102 inhibition moving contacts 352 contact with fixed contact 356, see shown in Figure 51.Point out that at this one or two locking refers to that 1102 can be used as the activity inhibitor that suppresses the contact contact.Interchangeable is that the biasing naturally of movable contact arm 350,370 can be used as the passive inhibitor that prevents the contact contact.

, restore knob 330 and pressed overcoming the bias force of return spring 1120, and latching member 1100 is moved on the arrow A direction so that contact 356,352 is closed and the phase conductive path is communicated with for replacement GFCI socket, see Figure 49 by whole.When restoring knob 330 when being pressed, locking refers to the L side of 1102 contact movable contact arm 350, continues to push to restore 330 and impel latching member to overcome by what arm 350 applied to make recovery contact 1104 and the pressure that restores contact 1106 closures on the arm 350.By the closed contact of restoring of for example simulated failure, with the start-up circuit contact maker, piston 392 upwards drives relay 394 like this, and bump refers to that with locking 1102 is the latching member 1100 of pivot, and latching member 1100 continues to move on the arrow A direction simultaneously.The result is, locking refers to that 1102 are put forward the L side of the far-end of crossing movable contact arm 350, and places on the R side of far-end of movable contact arm, sees Figure 48 and 52.The not depressed position place that contact point arm 350 is back to it opens contact 352 and 356, and contact 362 and 366, with the open circuit action of part of termination circuit, thus with coil block 390 outage.

After the operation of start-up circuit contact maker, coil block 390 outages, piston 392 is back to its original elongation position like this, and relay 394 discharges latching member 1100, and locking refers to that 1102 are positioned at the home position place like this, sees Figure 50.The release of restoring knob causes latching member 1100 and movable contact arm 350 moves (seeing Figure 50) on the arrow B direction, up to the contact 352 and contact 356 carry out electric engagement as shown in figure 43.

As mentioned above, if wish closed and open circuit in the center line conductive path, more than the description of phase conductive path is equally applicable to the center line conductive path.

In interchangeable embodiment, the circuit interruption device also can comprise the tripping operation part of independent operation circuit breaker part, and the ifs circuit part that opens circuit is not worked like this, installs and still can trip.Preferably, tripping operation is partly by manual operation, and the use mechanical part cuts off phase or center line conductive path or cuts off phase and center line conductive path simultaneously.

For realizing the application's purpose, structure in the present embodiment or mechanism also can be bonded in the GFCI socket, see Figure 54-61, are suitable for being assembled in home-use single set of connections box.But the mechanism according to the application can be used in the various devices of the ReSet Circuit interrupting device in any family.

Figure 54 is the GFCI socket 1200 according to present embodiment, and is identical with the GFCI socket shown in Figure 42-53.Identical with Figure 42, GFCI socket 200 has housing 12, and this housing 12 is made of the main body 314 that is in the middle part relatively, and face or cap 316 and rear portion 318 preferably removably are fixed on the main body 314.

Tripping operation actuator 1202 is preferably a knob, is the following wherein part that will make the tripping operation part of detailed description, extends through the facial interior hole 328 of housing 312.Using in this exemplary embodiment has tripping operation actuator, with the tripping operation of GFCI socket, for example, cuts off the circuit in one or more conductive paths, independent operation circuit interruption part with mechanically.

Restoring actuator 330, be preferably a knob, is a wherein part of restoring part, extends through the hole 332 in the face 316 of housing 312.Restore knob and be used to start recovery operation, recovery operation is used for making the circuit conducting again of the conductive path of disconnection, and for example ifs circuit part work of opening circuit then makes device restore.

In the above-described embodiments, carry out being electrically connected in family's electrical wiring by using terminal screw 334 and 336, wherein screw 334 is connected for input (or circuit), and screw 336 is connected for output (or load).Should be noted that two auxiliary connection screws 338 and 340 (seeing Figure 44) are positioned on the opposite side of socket 1200.These auxiliary connection screws provide circuit to be connected with load neutral respectively.United States Patent (USP) 4,595 has more detailed description to the GFCI socket in 894, can be in conjunction with this full patent texts as a reference at this.

Figure 45-47,55 and 58, conductive path among this embodiment and above-mentioned conductive path are basic identical.Circuit is connected and comprises between device 334 and load phase 336 jockeys, the contact point arm 350 that can between depressed position place and non-depressed position place, move, be installed in the moving contact 352 on the contact point arm 350, be fixed on or integrated formation load be connected 336 the device contact point arms 354, the fixed contact 356 that is installed on the contact point arm 354 (is seen Figure 45,46,58).The load that provides to the user in the present embodiment device that is connected comprises the terminal assemblies 358 with two binding posts 360, and this binding post can be meshed with the inserted sheet of insert plug therebetween.The circuit conductive path that device 334 and user side load be connected between the device that is connected comprises, contact point arm 350, be installed in the moving contact 362 on the contact point arm 350, fixing or integrated to form the contact point arm 364 of terminal assemblies 358, be installed in the fixed contact 366 on the contact point arm.These conductive paths are collectively referred to as the phase conductive path.

Similarly, conductive path between line midline jockey 338 and the load neutral jockey 340 comprises, the contact point arm 370 that can between pressurized and non-depressed position, move, be installed in the moving contact 372 on the contact point arm 370, be fixed on or the contact point arm 374 of integrated formation load neutral jockey 340, be installed in the fixed contact 376 (seeing Figure 45,47,58) on the contact point arm 374.The load neutral jockey of the user side in the present embodiment comprises the terminal assemblies 378 with two binding posts 380, and connection point terminal 380 can be meshed with the inserted sheet that inserts plug therebetween.Conductive path between line midline jockey 338 and the user side load neutral connector comprises contact point arm 370, be installed in the moving contact 382 on the contact point arm 370, be fixed on or the contact point arm 384 of integrated formation terminal assemblies 378, be installed in the fixed contact 386 on the contact point arm 384.These conductive paths are collectively referred to as the center line conductive path.

In Figure 55, also be shown with the mechanical part that is used for circuit interruption and recovery operation process according to this embodiment of the application.Though these parts shown in the figure are essentially dynamo-electric, the application also estimates to adopt semi-conductor type to open circuit and restore parts, can be connected and cut off the mechanism of circuit with other.

Circuit interruption device according to present embodiment is that an independent trip partly is bonded in the circuit interruption device of Figure 42-53.Therefore, omitted circuit breaker, restored and restored the description of lock part at this.

Shown in Figure 55-57 according to the application trip the part representational embodiment, comprising tripping operation actuator 1202, be preferably a knob, this knob can move between set position and trip position place, shown in Figure 55, can close and contact with 356 in contact, set position 352, shown in Figure 56, be opened in contact, trip position place 352 and 356.Usually spring 1206 will trip actuator's 1202 biasings to the set position.The tripping operation part also comprises trip arm 1202, and trip arm 1202 is extended by tripping operation actuator 1202, and when the tripping operation knob was shifted to the trip position place, the surface 1208 of trip arm 1206 moved to movable latching member 1100 and contacts like this.When tripping operation actuator 1202 was in the set position, the surface 1208 of trip arm 1202 can contact with movable latching member 1100 or be approaching, sees Figure 55.Certainly the tripping operation knob can be denoted as the standard testing knob.

During operation, by pushing tripping operation actuator 1202, tripping operation actuator is that fulcrum rotates with the some T of the pivot arm 1210 of being extended by bonding jumper 356, contact so that the surface 1208 of trip arm 1206 can form with movable latching member 1100.Actuator 1202 moves towards the trip position place along with tripping operation, trip arm 1202 also enters and the motion path that restores the finger 1100 that knob 330 links to each other, retardance refers to the 1102 further motions of (seeing Figure 56) on the arrow A direction thus, refer to 2200 motion by retardance, trip arm 1206 suppresses the startup of recovery operations, and startup with recovery operation so simultaneously can suppress to trip.Further push tripping operation actuator 1202, making movable latching member 1100 is that fulcrum (is seen Figure 56) and rotated on direction shown in the arrow C with a T.The pivoting action of latching member 1100 makes the locking of lock arm 1100 refer to that 1102 move apart and the contacting of movable contact arm 350, and arm 350 is back to its not depressed position place like this, and cuts off conductive path.Device restores in a manner described and starts.The representative embodiment that is used for the sensing fault and restores conductive path shown in Figure 59.

Point out that at this if wish to disconnect or close circuit in the center line conductive path, the method for operation of above-mentioned phase conductive path also is applicable to neutral line conductive path.

With reference to Figure 60,61 couples of tripping operation part one interchangeable embodiment make description.In this embodiment, the trip portion branch comprises the tripping operation actuator 1202 that can move between set position and trip position, shown in Figure 60, in the set position, contact 352 can be closed or be contacted with 356, shown in Figure 61, at the trip position place, contact 352 and 356 disconnects.Spring 1202 will trip actuator's 1202 biasings usually to the set position.The tripping operation part also comprises the trip arm 1224 that is extended by tripping operation actuator 1202, so that the end 1226 of trip arm movably contacts with movable latching member 1100.As mentioned above, in the present embodiment, movable latching member 1100 is common to tripping operation, circuit breaker, and it is public to restore and restore the sticking department branch, is used for cutting off or being electrically connected of locking phase and/or center line conductive path.

In the present embodiment, movable latching member 1100 comprises sloping portion 1100a, and when tripping operation actuator 1202 was mobile between set and trip position, sloping portion 1100a disconnected contact 352 and 356 or be closed.Shown in the figure, when tripping operation actuator was in the set position, the end 1226 of trip arm 1224 and the last side contacts of sloping portion 1100a were seen Figure 60.When pressing tripping operation actuator, the end 1226 of trip arm 1224 moves along the inclined plane, and with latching member 360 is that pivot rotates with direction shown in the arrow C around a P, make the locking of latching member 1100 refer to that 1102 move apart and the contacting of movable contact arm 350, so that arm 350 is back to its not depressed position place, and cut off circuit.The recovery of implement device in a manner described.

Circuit interruption device according to the application can be used in the electric power system, shown in the block diagram of Figure 62.System 1240 comprises power supply 1242, household AC power for example, and the circuit interruption device that at least one links to each other with power supply, as circuit interruption device 310 or 1200, the one or more loads 1244 that link to each other with the circuit interruption device.One of this system is exemplified as; family expenses to the AC power of single set of connections box power supply can with have an above-mentioned reversal connection line error protection; independent tripping operation or recovery lock function, or the GFCI socket that these several functions are incorporated into arbitrarily in the circuit interruption device links to each other.Inserting the interior housed device of socket subsequently just becomes the load of load or system.

Might wish to obtain having the circuit interruption device that restores locking device and isolated user load cut-out point.

See that Figure 63 a-b shows the circuit interruption device GFCI1300 of prior art.For 1302 center lines 1306 of circuit phase are isolated with load 1304 and 1308 respectively, pre-condition transducer 310 is opened switching device 1312,1324.Good is, when device is connect inverse time shown in Figure 63 b, user load, socket 1320 are not subjected to transducer 1310 protections.

Figure 64 a-b illustrates partial circuit interrupting device (GFCI1400) according to another embodiment of the present invention.Device is correct wiring in Figure 64 a, is the reversal connection line in Figure 64 b.Disconnect from load 1404 and 1408 respectively for processing circuit phase 1402 and center line 1406, pre-condition transducer 1410 will be opened switching device 1412,1414.Good is that when device is connect inverse time shown in Figure 64 b, when switching device tripped, user load, socket 1420 were subjected to transducer 1410 protections.Good is, if device does not comprise the recovery locking, anti-even device is connect, it also can restore.As shown in figure 46, two contact switchs 1414 can be used to respectively circuit jockey 1402,1406 and load- side 1404,1408 and user load 1420 be cut off.Such structure can be considered to a bridge circuit, and shown in Figure 65 a, this structure can comprise the conductor of crossing in the bridge architecture.

Shown in Figure 42-53, and, can obtain the mechanical resilience locking device in conjunction with above corresponding detailed description.

Good is, for circuit interrupter, estimated it the various faults mode, and they are designed to and can protect these faults.For example, GFCI protects uneven earth current usually.When the neutral ground fault takes place,, use two sensing instrument transformers to carry out the neutral ground protection usually in order to make the device tripping operation.Good is that GFCI can protect the neutral point open failure.Because the line in the GFCI socket is deflection, so provides such protection in the GFCI socket, the GFCI socket is fixed installation.Therefore, good is, uses cross-over connection in circuit mutually and mid point, and for example cross-over connection is in 338 and 334 of Figure 59, and the constant duty relay solenoid switch of power supply can disconnect neutral point be protected.In this case, if owing to the disconnection of neutral point makes power cut-off, the constant duty coil can excite, and disconnects phase and center line conductor.

Embodiment according to GFCI of the present invention also can protect reversal connection line fault.

Figure 65 a-b shows partial circuit interrupting device (GFCI1401) according to another embodiment of the present invention.Device is by correct wiring in Figure 65 a, and device is connect anti-in Figure 65 b.For circuit phase 1402 and center line 1406 are separated with load 1404 and 1408 respectively, pre-condition transducer 1410 is opened switching device 1412,1414.Good is, device is connect inverse time shown in Figure 65 b, when switching device trips, and user load, socket 1420 is protected by transducer 1410.Good is, if device comprises the recovery locking, even then device is connect instead, and its also part recovery.Restore locking device is tested, make contact 1414 shift to contact 1422 along A-B, so that set up the circuit of the current-limiting resistance 1424 of flowing through, and by transducer 1410, be preferably a belt coil and pick up.When device is connect inverse time shown in Figure 65 b, two contact switchs 1414 are used to circuit jockey 1402,1406 and load- side 1404,1408 and user load 1420 are cut off, then, will can not work by the recovery locking test of resistance 1424 because line power is disconnected by switch 1414.

Figure 65 a-b is circuit interruption device 1403,1405 according to another embodiment of the present invention, wherein can adopt the bridge circuit of different structure.For example, device 1403 preferably adopts two one poles, singly throws mechanical switch 1430,1432 and is used for isolating circuit.Also can use other to comprise the switching device of semiconductor switch.In addition, device 1405 adopts a cover to have the double pole single throw switch that is connected an end 144 that connects together.

Figure 67 is circuit interruption device 1407 according to another embodiment of the present invention, preferably includes the indicating device that index signal can be provided reversal connection wire condition.Good is that the device 1407 that has bridge circuit and recovery locking can have the shielded user load 1420 that disconnects with power supply.But, make device tripping operation and " safety ", but still wish to obtain the indicating device that indicating device connects anti-situation.This type of indicating device can make the user meet difficulty in looking for the process of fault.Therefore, this embodiment utilizes switch 1452,1454 indicating device 1450 to be connected to the circuit interrupter side that has load (1404,1408) usually.Switch 1452 and 1454 is preferably by forming a switch that overlaps by 1412 and 1414 respectively.But also can adopt other switching device as semiconductor switch and so on.If install 1407 by the reversal connection of mode shown in the figure, then device tripping operation, switch 1452 and 1454 is with enabling signal indicating device 1450.Switch preferably can the break-make indicating device power supply, this indicating device preferably includes a neon lamp.But also can use other as audio frequency, video or traffic indicator.Same, indicating device 1450 can be powered by an other power supply, rather than by the power supply power supply to the power supply of circuit interruption device, power supply can be battery, and receives an activation signal from switch 1452 and 1454.

In the application's embodiment, adopt the mechanical caging structure, device can be constructed to make the circuit interrupter that offers the user to be in the recovery lock-out state.

Figure 69 a is the method by the preparation circuit interruption device of 1500 expressions.As shown in the figure, structure circuit interruption device 510, the circuit interruption device is configured to be in recovery lock-out state 520 like this.Device construction finishes 522.Alternatively, when not to device power supply when guaranteeing that device can not be restored, test restoring knob.After this, device 1400 can be placed circulation market.

The be as the criterion method 500 of power backup road interrupting device of Figure 69 b.As shown in the figure, structure circuit interruption device 51O, the circuit interruption device is configured to restore lock-out state 520 like this.Constructing apparatus finishes 522.Alternatively, when not to device power supply when guaranteeing that device can not be restored, carriage return button is tested 524.After this, but assembling device 400 can put goods on the market 526.

Figure 68 and 69c provide the method for preparing the circuit interruption device.For realizing locking, before being put on market, uses in the circuit interruption device locking set parts as simulation test.For example, can be made into and have above-mentioned mechanism for testing, the GFCI circuit interrupter that restores locking mechanism and bridge-type user load reverse-connection protection mechanism and link to each other with power supply.Be arranged to lock-out state in order to restore locking mechanism, can start mechanism for testing.To be in then during the GFCI circuit interrupter that restores lock-out state puts on market.Good is can guarantee the process of quality and device is fabricated to tripped condition.As shown in the figure, in order to be predisposed to the recovery lock-out state will installing before the user sells, the circuit interruption device as GFCI1400 can link to each other with testing power supply 1490.1540 have described and have guaranteed that device is in the method for restoring lock-out state when selling.During the manufacturing 1541 of device 1400, provide test knob 1542.After the manufacturing, power supply 1490 links to each other with device 1544.Startup will be installed the tripping operation test of tripping operation, will install set thus and become to restore lock-out state 1546.After this, device 1400 can be placed circulation market, for example use 1540 realization quality to guarantee.

Among Figure 42 and 70, be provided with tripping operation and promote device 1610.As shown in the figure, device has main body 1638, and when tripping operation promoted that device is inserted in the socket of circuit interruption device 310, main body 1638 can be applied to power tripping operation and promote on the projection 1640.Good is, inserted sheet 1631,1632, and 1633,1634 can be inserted in the circuit interruption device 310, and projection 1640 will be pushed test knob 326 like this.Therefore, when being inserted into, device 310 can be configured to tripping operation.Will install 310 insert circulation market before, can be equipped with such tripping operation and promote device 1610.

With reference to the described embodiment of Figure 42 is the circuit interruption device with face or cap 316 and test knob 326.Dismountable test promotion trimmer (not shown) can be connected or be welded into and cover in 316.When the user packs circuit interruption device 310 into, device must be arranged to tripping operation and restore lock-out state.After this, dismountable promotion test trimmer can be removed, the work of ifs circuit contact maker is then installed and can only be restored, the situation that can not exist neutral point to disconnect, and device can not connect anti-yet.

Good is, if restore that locking device adopts as the electronic installation of nonvolatile memory device of storage variableness and so on, then this type of can make this type of device or it is set to restore lock-out state before shipment restoring under the lock-out state.

As mentioned above, though the parts that use during circuit breaker and device recovery operation are essentially dynamo-electric, but the application also estimates to adopt electric component, and these electric components can be solid-state switch and support circuit, and the parts of the energy closure of other types and the circuit in the cut-out conductive path.

With reference to Figure 71,72a, and 72b have described another embodiment of the present invention.The GFCI2300 of present embodiment is identical with the device of Figure 42-53, only their difference is made description at this.With reference to Figure 71, GFCI2300 has the knob 2330 of recovery, restores locking 2300 and lock arm 2305.When backstop 2396 was rotated around pivoting point 2302, its position Test Switchboard different with aforementioned Test Switchboard 2306 was connected to R4 in the test circuit.

With reference to Figure 72 a and 72b, description has been made in the operation of restoring locking.When GFCI2301 is in tripping operation (pass) state, restores knob 2330 and be positioned at its position, the top.When the user begins to push recovery knob 2330, restore locking 2300 and begin to move down, lock arm forces backstop 2396 to move downward, up to its Closing Switch 2306.If by test, and solenoids, backstop will and allow device to restore by lock arm 2305.Otherwise lock arm 2305 will restore by holdout device 2301.

Figure 73,74a, 74b, 75a, 75b, 76a and 76b have described another embodiment according to the application's GFCI.Among Figure 73, GFCI400 has the knob 2430 of recovery, and this recovery knob has recovery knob leg 2405.Backstop 2496 has rib 2497 and restores lock-in line 2430, and this recovery lock-in line has an end 2431 that links to each other with backstop 2406.Among Figure 74 a and the b, in the bottom of housing 2440, be formed with the recovery lock slots.Because when lead is positioned at B and is the latched position place, lead 2430 can prevent that backstop 2496 from blocking all and passing through, stop rib 2497 execution lock functions, and lock rib prevents to push the recovery knob like this.

Operating process is as follows.When entering tripped condition, backstop 2496 moves, and lead 2430 makes terminal 2431 move in the groove 2442, and the path of motion is the C point from A point B point last arrival becoming lock-out state.In this position, backstop 2496 begins upwards, and knob 2430 is restored in rib 2497 retardances will install 2400 recoveries.Be the locking of decontrol, preferably push test knob (not shown), carry out electric test by the user.The solenoid (not shown) excites, and housing 2445 makes terminal 2431 move to D place, position from position C by groove 2422, last E place, in-position, herein since stop rib 2497 no longer overslaugh restore knob arm 2405, therefore install and can be restored.Like this, device 2400 restores and power supply can be provided.Like this, lead 2430 is added to backstop 2496.Housing can be configured as has 2440,2460,2445,2443 and 2450.Can find out that from Figure 74 a good is that housing 2450 guarantees that terminal 2431 at first places the path left side.Sloping portion 2443 can be arranged on the single channel locking in the groove 2442, and terminal passes inclined plane 2443 close position B like this, and can backhaul and in-position C place.Notch on the housing 2445 can guarantee that when the solenoid (not shown) excited, terminal 2431 moved to the D place from position C, arrived the E place at last.Like this, " location " or " stop and locking " action, with the knob pen adopted identical.In case the solenoid (not shown) excites, backstop 2496 can be locked in a front position place.Two ribs 2497 of end that are connected to backstop 2496 are as brake, make to restore knob and can not move down, and can locks the recovery knob like this shown in Figure 75 a-b.Restore in order to install 2400, must excite solenoid, the front position of backstop 2496 from it discharged.When backstop 2496 was back to its back-end location place, restoring knob can freely be pressed.Good is for the device in the present embodiment 2400 is restored, must at first press the recovery knob.If device to test success (solenoids), then device can be restored.

Be pointed out that at this, though the parts that use during circuit breaker and device recovery operation come down to dynamo-electric, but the application also expects the use electric component, as solid-state switch and support circuit, and the parts that can connect and cut off other type of the circuit in the conductive path.

NO.09/379138 with reference on August 20th, 1999 application applies for resultant device, among Figure 77-91 to having made description according to another embodiment of the present invention, can be as a reference at this in conjunction with the full text of this patent.Below only description is made in the difference of this device and the top device of mentioning.

With reference to Figure 77-80, first embodiment has been made description.When coil electricity, backstop moves with releasing contact.When this situation occurring, locking occurs and is positioned in the lock hole to prevent that spring from helping returning of piston/backstop.Push the recovery knob locking is descended, lock hook is discharged from lock hole, allow device under normal circumstances to restore.If SCR is short circuit, cause coil overheated and finally burn, and make stuck piston, then because backstop keeps making locking leave the contact, device can not be restored.

If coil blocks when locking the time,,, then can be stoped it to be pressed by following mode by backstop if restore the guide post elongation of knob for further guaranteeing to restore.

For guaranteeing that coil can be not overheated, the coil lp piston of piston slip place can be made or be assembled by material contracting with heat.

With reference to Figure 81,82, second embodiment is made description.It is identical with first embodiment in theory.But, locking/hook device is not set, the substitute is on GFCI housing downside spring is set, when coil electricity, this spring can be placed in the backstop gathering sill according to the mode that the backstop guide post is fixing.

Push recovery knob promotion retainer spring and push away, can return under normal conditions to allow piston backstop.Coil blocks and will stop recovery by mode described in first embodiment.

Figure 83 has made description to the 3rd embodiment.If the coil piston is presetting usually as it ' position blocks, by locking is pushed the recovery knob by adjusting to block shown in Figure 83.If backstop is stuck, push and restore knob and backstop is trended towards but can not move to the left, make and restore locking.

Be pointed out that, though the parts that use during circuit breaker and device recovery operation are essentially dynamo-electric, but the application also estimates to use electric component, as solid-state switch and support circuit, and can connect and turn-off the parts of the other types of the circuit in the conductive path.

Be the purpose of next embodiment of realizing the application, shown in (Figure 84-91) and the structure or the mechanism that use in the circuit interruption device described here, can be incorporated in the IDCI device that is suitable in load facility or the device power supply (DPS) line among the figure.But can be included in according to the application's mechanism in the various devices of ReSet Circuit interrupting device of family expenses.

Common ID CI utilizes bipolar single switch of singly throwing (DPST) switch.In this embodiment of the present invention, S1 comprises double-pole double-throw (DPDT) centre position cut-off switch.Typical case IDCI can not have test circuit.In this embodiment, use R4 to form test circuit.Typical case IDCI can have not with close division every solenoid plunger.In this embodiment, by isolator 2074 locking 2070 and piston 2086 are isolated, piston 2086 can be shortened to provide the space to isolator.Typical IDCI can not have test function, and as described below, this embodiment uses supplementary contact and arm in order to there not to be the providing circuit that device to test is provided power supply under the situation of load power source.

Figure 84 shows representational IDCI1, and one of them IDCI is connected to the end of device power supply (DPS) line 2002.Power supply can be connected to line side inserted sheet 2030,2035.The IDCI of this embodiment has two user interfaces, and one is restored knob 2020 and independent trip bar 2040.

Figure 85 is the schematic diagram according to the representative embodiment of the application's a IDCI.Good is according to instruction of the present invention, can adopt a lot of physical structures.S1 is a double-pole double-throw centre position cut-off switch, is used for the electric test to institute's operative installations, can make to restore the lockout protection device recovery.Switch S 2 and R4 have test circuit, and this test circuit is used to test sensor circuit and coil.Coil L1 is the solenoid coil of trigger equipment tripping operation.For the sensing submergence, be provided with induction coil, this induction coil with when sensing has fault, trigger SCR so that the sensor circuit R1 that coil L1 excites, R2, C1, D1 is continuous.

With reference to Figure 85 a, show the exploded view of the IDCI of present embodiment.Top cover 2005 and bottom 2006 are provided with securing member 2008.Be provided with and have mutually and the power line 2002 of center line 2004,2003.Be provided with strain solutions lotus 2007.Printed circuit board (PCB) (PCB) 2050 links to each other with bottom.Have coil 2082, the solenoid 2080 of piston 2086 and piston bias spring 2084 is connected to PCB2050.Tripping operation locking 2070 locked springs 2072 are setovered, and contact with backstop 2060.Recovery knob 2020 has test contact 2022 and is setovered by spring 2068.Test contact 2022 is connected to and the p-wire 2024 that links to each other with test resistance R4 (not shown). Plug 2035,2030 has coupled contact 2036,2031 respectively.Moveable arm 2066,2062 is connected to power line. Use securing member 2054,2055,2056 that arm 2064 is connected to moveable arm 2066.Folder 2052 is connected to and stops 2060.Trip arm 2040 is rotatably connected into to restore in the knob 2020.

With reference to Figure 85 b, the recovery knob 2020 with trip arm 2040 and test contact 2022 is shown.

With reference to Figure 85 c, show backstop 2060.Locking 2070 is connected to backstop 2060 slidably, and restoring knob 2020 can overslaugh locking 2070 in backstop 2060.

With reference to Figure 85 d, show locking 2070 with locking spring 2072 and insulating part 2074, the insulating part 2074 of increase is used for piston 2086 and locking 2070 insulation.

Figure 86 is shown to be the top view of IDCI.

With reference to Figure 87,87a, 87b, 87c and 87d show the IDCI that is in tripped condition.Shown in Figure 87, moveable arm 2066 and linking arm 2064 do not contact with the contact 2037 of inserted sheet 2035, and line circuit 20 is disconnected like this.Shown in Figure 87 b, another moveable arm 2062 also disconnects and does not link to each other with the contact 2063 of inserted sheet 2030.Can from Figure 87 a, find out, restore knob 2040 and be in bias state as being setovered by spring 2068.Shown in Figure 87 c and 87d, locking 2070 moves to the right side, discharges when it moves apart recovery knob backstop 2026 and restores knob 2020.

With reference to Figure 88,88a, 88b and 88c show the device that is in the recovery lock-out state.Shown in Figure 88, push the recovery knob.Shown in Figure 89 a, test contact 2022 contacts with locking 2070.By lead 2024 and the closed test circuit of resistance R 4 (not shown).Good is if solenoid coil 2082 does not excite, then because the recovery knob is blocked by locking 2070, to restore knob and can not be continued to press.

Shown in Figure 88 c, push and restore knob driving switch S1B, to use connector 2031 and arm 2062 line midline is connected to the load neutral lead.Shown in Figure 88 b, under the situation of not giving moveable arm 2064 energisings of isolating with equipment plug phase line 2003, arm 2064 and its extension 2064 are connected to phase plug 2036.In the method, can be to the IDCI circuit supply under can not the situation of power devices.

Good is that in test process, circuit is connected to test circuit mutually, but does not link to each other with load, shown in Figure 85.

Shown in Figure 89 and 89a, if test circuit successfully makes solenoid 2080 excite, piston 2086 will clash into locking 2070 (at insulator 2074 places) and move to the right side, restoring knob 2020 can continue to move downward, IDCI enters operating state like this, when it is back to the left side under the biasing of spring 2072, restoring knob will be locked in backstop 2060 by locking 2070.

As Figure 90,90a, shown in 90b and the 90c, IDCI is in running order.Shown in Figure 90 a, restore knob 2020 downwards with in running order, and be locked in the knob groove 2026 by locking 2070.Shown in Figure 90 and 90b, moveable arm 2066 is connected to the arm 2064 that links to each other with inserted sheet 2035.Good is, promptly finishes circuit by circuit phase inserted sheet 2035 to load phase conductor 2003.Only be connected to the phase time in line side, can occur and above-mentioned different situation, shown in Figure 90 c when the IDCI circuit.Close the center line side to finish from the line side by the contact 2063 and the moveable arm 2062 that use inserted sheet 2030 to the circuit of load conductor 2004.

Shown in Figure 91, the independent trip device has been described.In this embodiment, independent trip mechanism is a mechanical trip.On directions X, push trip arm 2040 by the user, can make its startup.Trip arm 2040 is connected to the pivot 2029 that restores knob 2020 rotationally.As shown in the figure, move on the Y direction in trip(ping) bar bottom 49, and drive locking 2070 on the Y direction, and restoring knob 2040 like this will be released under the biasing of spring 2068, device will be under the situation that solenoid 2080 does not excite independent trip.

Be pointed out that, though the parts that use in circuit breaker and device recovery operation process are essentially dynamo-electric, but the application also estimates to use electric component, as solid-state switch and support circuit, and can connect and turn-off the parts of the other types of the circuit in the conductive path.

Discuss now and have ALCI and the IDCI that restores locking and independent trip.Figure 92 b and 92d show traditional ALCI.Figure 92 a and 92c show ALCI according to an embodiment of the invention.If device is not worked (if or device do not have power supply), restore locking and forbids the ALCI recovery.If survey fault is arranged, then it utilizes identical Mechatronic Systems to restore with the device that allows to have tripped by design.Mechanical trip allows defective or does not have the device of power supply to trip.Tripgear is positive indicating device, and to indicate this device defectiveness to the people when device can not be restored, even device still at work, it also is unsafe.

Present embodiment and traditional unit have following difference.Locking no longer has " inlet wire " finger, makes fin identical with the fixed latch end.(this make be latched under the method for release control identical) with mode of operation in the tripping operation mode.When realizing restoring for switch contact by detection movable extension zone, " test " switch moves to internal point from the outside.The motion of this arm is owing to be formed on trimmer in the locking to movably applying force to the moving contact assembly.In last Test Switchboard, also be added with the mechanical trip bar.

This embodiment operates as follows.For the carrying out guaranteeing to test with guarantee that device is set to tripped condition, the tripping operation of operating machine.If device has not been worked like this, mechanical trip can not move yet.To the unit power supply, push the recovery knob, further promote moving contact, test contact is closed, begin test.If can normally test, the solenoid that excites discharges locking from latched position, and by same mode locking is discharged from home position.If test crash, locking can not discharge from latched position, and device will be in a safe condition always.By manually exerting pressure, jaw closing movement is to the side of moving contact, and is same because moving contact is no longer made its power of separating, and Test Switchboard disconnects and finishes test.When restoring that knob is closed moving contact and during to the device power supply, test is finished.

Figure 93 a-93f shows a traditional IDCI, and Figure 93 g-93h shows the embodiment that is combined with the IDCI that restores locking and mechanical test method according to of the present invention.

Figure 93 a shows the complete traditional IDCI that is used for hair-dryer.

Figure 93 b is the exploded view of locking mechanism.When apparatus for assembling, the piston neck is loaded between two arms of movable locking.Movable locking slides in the contact brackets (when it all is positioned at left direction in working order the time, when tripped condition, temporarily being pushed to the right side).Mobile locking guarantees that contact brackets makes the recovery knob in running order.Shown locking is with reference to size.

Figure 93 c is the end view of Figure 93 b.Red arrow illustrate structure when the unit is in running order (mobile locking is by by contact brackets, and projecting end is locked in and restores on the knob, among this this figure for restoring the stage portion of knob.Shown locking is with reference to size.

Figure 93 d is for restoring the exploded view directly perceived of knob (left side) and contact brackets (right side).Blue arrow illustrates and how in working order these two parts to be linked together by mobile locking.

Figure 93 e is an audio-visual picture, is the view of contact brackets.Red line has increased the weight of to represent the symmetry of contact brackets among the figure.

Figure 93 f is the traditional design that IDCI restores knob, and Figure 93 g is one embodiment of the present of invention (the mechanical test method is not shown).In this embodiment, restore knob mobile locking is positioned at its downside, will be positioned at its upside then.If device is in tripped condition, promotes to restore knob downwards with hand and close the test circuit contact, and piston is drawn to the right side.If solenoid work, piston will make test contact open (preventing that solenoid from repeating to excite).Continue to restore knob with hand then and push downwards, mobile locking is positioned on the downside of mobile locking, and it and contact holder are upwards drawn together, make device online up to backstop.Effect by spring is pushed into left side among the figure with mobile locking, in case it shifts out the stage portion of restoring on the knob, promptly allows it parallel with the left side, slightly regulates contact brackets, to place new test contact.The mechanical test method has been shown among Figure 93 h, need in mobile locking, have added a vertical fin.In order to simplify, this additional fin is not shown at this.

Figure 93 h is the IDCI of one embodiment of the invention.Push downwards and restore the mobile locking that the knob collision has been adjusted by additional vertical fin, and with locking by moving to the right side with the same mode of piston.

Figure 94 a-94f shows the current design of conventional I DCI, and Figure 94 g-94h shows the IDCI according to the embodiment of the invention, is combined with to restore lock function and mechanical test method.

Figure 94 a is complete IDCI view.Please noting in the trip operation process that solenoid plunger is pushed outwards goes out.

Figure 94 b is the front view of conventional I DCI.Note restoring knob and contact brackets.

Figure 94 c is the view directly perceived that restores knob (on-illustrate down).

Figure 94 d is the front view at the IDCI that removes the recovery knob.(upside-illustrate down).

Figure 94 e is the end view at the IDCI that removes the recovery knob.

Figure 94 f is the 3-D view of contact brackets.

Figure 94 g is contact brackets and the expectation adjustment of restoring knob.

Figure 94 h is for restoring the view of knob and mechanical test method.Method of operation: if device is in tripped condition, and press the recovery knob, contact adjust restoring the test contact that knob tops bar on the upper horizontal face that is added in the contact brackets shown in Figure 94 g on the downside of portion.When closing two test contacts, solenoid can excite, and the bottom of restoring knob is pushed into left side among the figure, the stage portion of restoring knob is separated with contact holder, and make the test contact disconnection, excites once more to prevent solenoid.This makes that can will restore knob with hand further presses, up to the lower horizontal plane engagement of upper surface that restores knob and contact holder.When the terminal use discharged the recovery knob, by the action of return spring, contact brackets was by upwards (among this figure) traction, and device is drawn as online.If solenoid does not excite, promote to restore knob and will only promote moving contact further from fixed contact.When pushing the mechanical test knob, inclined-plane on the knob makes the mechanical test arm by counter rotation among the figure, and the bottom of knob is restored in collision, and will restore knob deflection in the mode identical with piston, piston will restore knob and contact brackets disconnection then, and the device for opening contact.

Figure 95 a-95b shows a conventional I DCI, in Figure 95 c, shows IDCI according to an embodiment of the invention.Another embodiment (not shown) has been cancelled " auxiliary contact ", and has simplified the conventional apparatus adjustment owing to this contact does not need to adjust.

This method embodiment prevents that defective IDCI (GFCI) from being restored, and power supply is applied in the device of protection failure.

This device can be realized above-mentioned purpose by changing contact (shift out power supply the contact from protective circuit), restores the end of travel of turning round like this and open this contact when device is in tripping operation.This design can allow that (being designed to use the arm on the main contacts carrier to open this contact at present) is applied to protective circuit with power supply in the time will beginning to attempt install recovery.

This embodiment can be connected to the line midline terminal with locking spring (this part is by solenoid-activated).(this operation is used to start test circuit).

This embodiment can have the recovery knob different with conventional elements, distinguishes to a) cancelling the rake on the bottom.B) on the end relative and the bottom is additional that the contact arranged with notch.(when being pressed, this contact is connected to the locking spring) c) adjusts the resistance side of test contact so that restore the spring of knob and contact with the recovery knob

This embodiment can be adjusted into the mechanical trip function by electric device with the function of test knob.This can extend to by solenoid operated bar from knob and realize by contact pilotage being passed circuit card.This embodiment operates according to the following procedure:

1 pushes the tripping operation knob.Because it is a mechanism, even protective circuit is not worked, device is still tripped.

2 push the recovery knob to protective circuit supply power (if being connected) and by locking spring retardance contacted with it.

If 3 protective circuit work, solenoid starts, and makes the probe that restores knob pass locking, cuts off the test contact of having set up.

4 with test circuit deexcitation (by the disconnection of contact) and return solenoid and locking spring.It is locked at the home position place to restore knob.

5 discharge the recovery knob makes the power contact contact, finishes final step.

Recovery knob among the embodiment can become the mode shown in Figure 95 c by mode shown in Figure 95 b.Main variation is that the inlet wire inclined plane is become 90 degree stage portion, so that under starting relay/solenoid situation notch is not meshed with locking.

Be pointed out that, though the parts that use during circuit breaker and device recovery operation are dynamo-electric in essence, but the application also estimates to use electric component, as solid-state switch and support circuit, and the parts that can connect and cut off other type of the circuit in the conductive path.

Next embodiment of the application estimates to be breaking at the circuit interruption device of the line side and the other types of at least one conductive path of device load-side.Particularly, if test is passed through, then the pad of RCD action only is allowed to move to operating position.

Figure 96 has described the relevant portion of RCD, shows the action of mechanism, as by closed condition by middle test mode to operating state.The invention provides a kind of residual current device (RCD contact maker) non-engagement (locking) mechanism that is used for.

RCD unit 3100 is in tripped condition when beginning, and user's handle 3100 is positioned at scram position 1.The user operates and restores handle or shuttle 3100, on the A direction by off status 1 to test mode 2.Handle 3110 moves pressure arm 3120, is connected with contact 3134 and with switch 3130 closures by contact 3132 like this.Use test circuit (not shown) is tested device then.If test crash, solenoid 3150 will can not drive the magnet 3160 by spring 3152 biasings, and pad keeps original position.Like this, switch 3175 can not close closed contact 3170 and 3180, and device can not remain on off state by electric current.When pad 3140 kept motionless, magnet 3160 did not allow operational relay 3100.Relay 3195 is biased closure usually, but magnet makes it keep disconnecting.

Figure 97 illustrates the residing state of device by test.Good is, if Test Switchboard 3130 excites solenoid 3150, magnet 3160 will be pulled to spring 3152, and pad 3140 will move downward on the B direction, pad will arrive between solenoid magnet 3160 and the magnet 3190 like this, relay is with operate as normal, and handle can enter operating state.Normally closed relay 3195 closures then.

Be pointed out that, though employed parts are essentially electromechanics during circuit breaker and device recovery operation, but the application also estimates to use electric component, as solid-state switch and support circuit, and the parts that can connect and disconnect other type of the circuit in the conductive path.

But the feature of next embodiment of the present invention can be incorporated in any ReSet Circuit interrupting device with center line error protection, but only describes the GFCI socket in order to be reduced at this.

In one embodiment, the GFCI socket has the circuit interruption part, restores part and restores locking device, as total patent application serial numbers TBD, shown in agent's number of accepting 0267-1415CIP9 (41912.015600).

In one embodiment, use a mechanical independent trip test knob, the present invention uses the center line fault simulation switch that can cancel R4.Novel switched shown in Figure 101 a and 101b will be cancelled the center line fin, when needs are tested, by pushing the recovery knob, utilize simulation center line fault can finish test like this.

Figure 98 shows and has according to the application's the electric test and the GFCI of bridge circuit.Good is, closes test circuit by current-limiting resistance R4 and makes the analogue ground fault of device tripping operation with generation by pushing knob 4026, finishing the tripping operation test.

Figure 99 be have according to the application as the independent trip part of the mechanical trip that is used to test knob and have the schematic diagram of the GFCI of the electric earth fault test of simulation that is used to restore locking.Good is to use the analogue ground fault test to restore the locking test by current-limiting resistance R4.

Figure 100 have according to the application as the mechanical trip that is used to test knob and have the schematic diagram of GFCI of the mechanical switch of the simulation center line fault test that is used to restore locking.Good is that shown schematic diagram has the separate machine tripping operation that is used to test, and has carried out the test of electrical grounding fault simulation.Same, the test knob can start simulation center line fault mould.As shown in the figure, close by switch S 1 or connect from line midline 4038 to load neutral 4040 circuit and finish and restore the locking test.If this circuit operate as normal, but then this circuit generates the feedback path of a trigger equipment, allows device to restore.Good is, uses the solenoid K2 of continuous firing can protect the neutral point open failure, disconnects as neutral point if power supply drops, and solenoid coil K2 is with the striping trackside.

Simulation neutral point fault normally provides low induction path by two GFCI instrument transformers.Good is that the switch identical with S1 can be finished simulated failure from circuit phase 4034 to the circuit of load phase 4036 by switch.

Some circuit interruption device does not allow public path to the line side.In this case, can use other big current devices, the 3rd sense line.Privates simulated failure by the sensing instrument transformer.

Specific center line fault simulation switch shown in Figure 101 can use the above GFCI device that illustrates.

Be pointed out that, though employed parts are essentially electromechanics during circuit breaker and device recovery operation, but the application also estimates to use electric component, and as solid-state switch and support circuit, and other can connect and cut off the parts of the circuit in the conductive path.

In next embodiment of the present invention, include the independent trip part, by open circuit circuit in one or more conductive paths that part can independent trip of function circuit.Like this, the ifs circuit part cisco unity malfunction that opens circuit, device still can be tripped.

But the feature of next embodiment also is incorporated in any ReSet Circuit interrupting device, but for simplifying, only the GFCI socket is made description at this.Might obtain having one or more recovery locking mechanisms, independently the circuit interruption device of tripping mechanism or isolated user side cut-out point.

Figure 102 a, 102b, 103a, 103b and 104 show the part of the GFCI mechanism of prior art.

The operating process of the GFCI relevant portion of prior art is summarized as follows.When pressing recovery knob 5080, piston is depressed into right positions among Figure 103 with locking 5060.Locking 5060 arrives a position, and hole and piston 5078 in this position locking 5060 align, and the cone point 5078b of piston 5078a will pass this hole like this.When piston during all by this hole, the slip locking is biased and turns back to left side among Figure 103 b, and the shoulder of piston cone point forms with locking 5060 and contacts like this.When discharge restoring knob, piston 5078 is by to upper offset, and locking 5060 is upwards pushed restores device, makes contact 5030 contact with contact 5070 among Figure 104.If device tripping operation, solenoid 5050 makes piston 5054 that locking 5060 is urged to the right side, and piston 5078 will be upwards by locking 5060, and allows the locking shutoff contact of biased downward.

With reference to Figure 105-107, another embodiment of the present invention comprises restores piston 5078, and this recovery piston comprises opening cone point 5078b, and opening cone point 5078b impels locking 5060 actions with Closing Switch S1 when pushing recovery piston 5078.When push switch S1, by current-limiting resistance R will be from load to line midline closing of circuit.

With reference to Figure 106, one embodiment of the invention comprise restores piston 5078, and this recovery piston 5078 comprises opening cone point 5078b.

With reference to Figure 107 a-107c, the recovery locking mechanism of present embodiment has been described.When restoring piston 5078 beginnings when A is directed downwards motion, locking 5060 is positioned at its left-most position place.Opening piston tip 5078b will collide the top of locking 5060, and impel it downward, and switch S 1 is closed to test like this.Shown in Figure 107 b, in this embodiment, connect to carry to the circuit of line midline by current-limiting resistance R and can finish test.If work of circuit interruption device and wiring are correct after tested, the short piston 5054 of solenoid skids off the notch downside in the locking 5060 from 5078 on the B direction, finish its stroke on the A direction allow to restore plug 5078, on the left of locking 5060 will move to like this and be parked on the piston shoulder 5078c shown in Figure 107 c.After this, discharge and restore piston, the bias force that overcomes of locking is upwards drawn to finish the recovery of this device.

Good is, if test crash, locking 5060 will can not moved on the B direction, and restores the cone point 5078b of piston 5078, make piston by the hole in the locking 5060 with keeping, and device is restored locking.

Good is, can in conjunction with bridge circuit with provide as above-mentioned in order to the application of reference in total reverse-connection protection.For example, with reference to Figure 102 a that describes prior art, use single contact 5068,5070 so that circuit is connected to load phase terminal 5064c and two user load phase terminal 5064a and 5064b by conductor 5064.Good is to use second contact to provide circuit that terminal 5064c is separated with arm 5024 with lead 5064 to 5064c independently.Similarly, can adjust two conductive paths of device.In addition, can use as the indicating device of neon glim lamp and so on indication reversal connection wire condition.

Good is, device can be fabricated to or form tripped condition, and distribute under tripped condition, and the user needs will install recovery earlier before operative installations like this.

Figure 108 a, shown in the 108b is the part body of another prior art GFCI, identical on some degree with aforementioned prior art on some details.

The operating process of prior art GFCI relevant portion is summarized as follows.When pressing when restoring knob 5128, the inferior pyramidal end of piston impels the sliding spring jaw closing movement to side, can pass through up to piston, and locking can bounce back into the shoulder of sliding spring locking, then device is returned to the home position place.

With reference to Figure 109-111f, show another embodiment of the present invention, comprise having the GFCI201 that restores knob 5210 and tripping operation knob 5212.

With reference to Figure 110, restore knob 5210 and have bias spring 5210a, bar 5210b has the cone point of step 5210d, and cone point has shoulder 5210c.Tripping operation knob 5212 has bias spring 5212a, and is formed with bobbin 5212b.Slide plate 5214 and sliding spring 5216 are fit to pack in the groove with the housing 5220 of solenoid 5218 and solenoid plunger 5218a coupling.Switch 5222 is installed in the housing under the sliding spring 5216.

With reference to Figure 111 a-f, description has been made in the operation of device relevant portion.Figure 111 a shows by allowing the device that is in normal operating conditions of electric current.

Operation when Figure 111 b shows tripping operation.Solenoid 5218 draws piston 5218a and sliding spring 5216 and slide plate 5214 is pushed into the right side, no longer will to restore piston shoulder 5210c fixing downwards for sliding spring 5216 like this, and the spring force of spring 5210a impels piston 5210b upwards, and circuit is cut off (not shown).

Figure 111 c shows the recovery locking mechanism of use.When pushing recovery knob 5210 after the tripping operation, the rank portion in the cone point 5210d is pressed on the sliding spring 5216, and impels switch 5222 to close.This process starts prior to solenoid.

Test shown in Figure 111 d for completing successfully.Switch 5222 cuts out test circuit, and solenoid 5218 is excited, and piston impels sliding spring 5216 and slide plate 5214 to the right side, in case come out the hole of the 5218d of portion in movable spring 5216b, piston tip rank, promptly allows piston to continue to move downward.

Figure 111 e shows the device after test is finished.Piston tip 5210d comes out from hole 5216b, and sliding spring upwards discharges, and Test Switchboard 5222 is opened to finish test.Solenoid 5218 release plunger 5218, sliding spring 5216 and slide plate 5214 are back to the left side.Sliding spring 216 rests in the top of piston tip shoulder 210d then, and spring 5210a makes progress stiff spring will install recovery.

Figure 111 f shows the independent trip mechanism of device 5201.This independent trip will make device tripping operation not using under sensing mechanism or the solenoidal situation.It is preferably a mechanical device, but also can dispose electronics or electromechanical component.Because tripping operation knob 5212 is pushed downwards, bobbin 5212b moves downward, and its skewed partial action is in the hole of slide plate 5214 5214a, to impel slide plate slides spring spring to the right side, hole 5216b fully moves to allow to make progress to discharge and restores piston 5210b like this, and makes the device tripping operation.Like this, use slide plate 5214 that sliding spring 5216 is moved aligning.Slide plate 5214 can be by middle part and bobbin casing location.Bobbin 5212b produces cam, and moving slide board 5214 makes the device tripping operation.

Good is, even solenoid or other parts are not worked, described mechanical trip mechanism still can realize trip avoidance function.

During the benefit of said apparatus, can in addition, can use as the indicating device of neon glim lamp and so on and indicate reversal connection wire condition in conjunction with bridge circuit to be provided at the reverse-connection protection described in the above application reference.Good is, device can be made or form tripped condition and use under tripped condition, and the user needs device is restored so in use.

Figure 112 shows the GFCI of the representational prior art of not restoring locking mechanism or independent trip mechanism.

Figure 113 and 114a-f show the part adjustment of corresponding GFCI according to another embodiment of the present invention, are provided with to restore locking and separate machine tripping mechanism.

Restoring the original of locking and mechanical trip mechanism is the recovery of locking GFCI type device, unless test proof device is normal when restoring.Even mechanical trip for the part in this test process to guarantee the device dead electricity or not work that device still is in can tripped condition.Method and electronic unit that this device is tripped when earth fault takes place do not change.Adopt identical method and electronic unit in recuperation.Be combined with test function in return function, therefore do not need independent test, the test knob is used for mechanical resilience.

Shown in Figure 114 a-f, restore piston 5328 and become back taper by half-cone (generation shuttle).The size constancy at top (closed region is closed in the locking contact), identical with initial design, protection power supply and release.The taper of cancellation lower end also reduces size, unless make shuttle be positioned at the off-position by solenoidal action like this, it will can not pass through shuttle.Shaft relief 5328a is insulated, and bottom 5328b is what conduct electricity.

In addition, contact carrier 5380 has supplementary contact 5382, and when piston was positioned at trip position, after it passed the sensing instrument transformer, piston was connected to the circuit phase like this.In addition, shuttle 5378 is at original test contact place and circuit board line mutually.

In another embodiment, can use another Test Switchboard.Push test knob 5326 by with the solenoid equidirectional on mobile shuttle machinery release plunger.This is the functional of the independence of power supply or unit.

Though the big end of piston is positioned at contact carrier, it is connected to the circuit phase.When pushing the recovery knob, piston is pushed to not pass through shuttle.Shuttle is the another terminal of test contact, and by it being contacted with moving piston to begin test.If test successfully, solenoid burning, (with on the tripping operation process identical) opened and made piston pass through port to ready position.This makes the big end of piston to pass through contact carrier fully, and circuit phase contact is separated with the piston place, finishes test.Restore knob by discharging, return spring is mentioned shuttle, identical output before making the contact carrier generation and adjusting.

For above-mentioned design is worked, must carry out instantaneous operation to latching solenoid.If start this operation by test circuit, then Zhuan Zhi recovery operation also can carry out other tests to device, and does not need to be used for carrying out the test knob of electric tripping.This makes and the test knob can be diverted to mechanical trip mechanism.

Restoring mechanism can have additional electrical contact, and the base portion of piston (locking) forms with the sidewall of pilot hole on being positioned at the device contact carrier and contacts like this.Can use the small size elastic conductor that this sidewall contact is connected to existing test contact (being welded in the solenoid shell or on the PC plate).After it arrives locking mechanism by sensor coil (this part is moved by solenoid), need be from second jockey of load phase conductor.

Push the recovery knob.At the piston and its electric contact of pilot hole that links to each other with the electric test circuit that restore on the lower end of knob.When the bottom of piston and locking (being connected with circuit) when contacting, if device is powered and test circuit work, then solenoid moves to open position and piston by to opposite side with locking.Because piston no longer contacts with the sidewall of pilot hole is electric, solenoid discharges locking and makes it be back to test position.Discharge and restore knob, as in the preliminary examination design, upwards draw locking.

Can improve mechanical test mechanism by the electric contact chip (switch) of removing or remove Figure 112.

Shown in Figure 114 g, the fin that has the hole can be added to by on the latch portion that solenoid drove in the spring end 5378a.Can on the test knob, add corresponding hole and mechanism, push the test knob like this bar is pushed in the hole in the locking, make it by starting the motion of same way as, and cause the locking piston to discharge by normal tripping operation mode with solenoid.

Adjust locking (shuttle) and forbid that when locking is not positioned at trip position piston is pushed over so that the size in piston operation hole is reduced into.

With reference to Figure 115-117 another embodiment has been described.Figure 115 a-c has gone out the prior art GFCI5400 that is in the different phase in the described operating process.

With reference to Figure 115 a, when pressing recovery knob 5430 on the B direction, the end of raising 5440 on the righting arm 5438 is slided to the bight 5451 of the armature 5450 shown in Figure 115 c (but being depicted as the tripping operation process).Shown in Figure 115 b and c, the spring 5434 on the righting arm 5438 allows it to move on the D direction, because it is by the notch 5451 in the armature 5450.When armature 5450 is shifted out in the end of raising 5440 on the righting arm 438, righting arm under the bias force of spring 5434 on the C direction motion be back to the upright position.To upper offset, the shoulder of raising end 5440 begins to mesh with the bottom of armature 5450 because righting arm is subjected to the power of spring 5436 then.By contact 5458 engagements 5470, contact 5456 engagements 5472, device is restored by mode shown in Figure 115.Armature 5450 is positioned at spring 5452 biased downward on pivot 5454 right sides, restoring mechanism by spring 5436 to upper offset.Like this, shown in Figure 115 c, when solenoid 5462 because tripping operation or test when being excited, restoring bar 5438 is moved on the D direction by piston 5460, shift out armature notch 5451 up to raising end 5440, and bias spring 5452 disconnects circuit by the right side that armature 5450 is pushed into pivot 5454 downwards.

With reference to Figure 116-117b, and contact Figure 115 a-c shows another embodiment of GFCI5500 of the present invention.As represent to remove the angle part of armature 451 as shown in Figure 117 a of prior art, form the armature end 5551 shown in Figure 117.Therefore, shown in Figure 116, must excite solenoid 5562 and make it drive righting arm 5538 by armature 5550 and end 5551.If solenoid does not excite, then owing to there has not been angled armature notch 5451, righting arm can not pass through armature like that to one type of prior art syringe.

Another arm 5582 is connected to the recovery knob, when pushing recovery knob 5530 on the B direction, restores knob and contacts with contact 5548.Use current-limiting resistance R to finish the test circuit (not shown) then.This will make solenoid 5562 excite and make righting arm 5538 to allow device to restore by armature 5550.If for some reason, solenoid 5562 does not excite, and device will be locked and can not be restored.

In another embodiment, be provided with as the mechanical trip feature based on the test knob 5510 independent trip mechanism.When pushing test knob 5510 on the B direction, the reference test bar 5516 with angle pins the trip(ping) bar 5580 with angle on the D direction.This will promote to restore bar 5538 and discharge and restore knob will install the (not shown) tripping operation.Good is that Figure 116 shows the device that has tripped.Because hand trip(ping) is set to be invalid, the rib (not shown) is set to guarantee restoring knob and device when being energized when pressing, testing knob can only be pressed.

Therefore, even solenoid 5562 can not be excited, device 5500 also can trip.

Be pointed out that at this, though be essentially dynamo-electric at circuit breaker and device recovery period employed parts, but the application also estimates to use electronic unit, as solid-state switch and support circuit, and the parts that can connect and cut off other type of the circuit in the conductive path.

Next embodiment is the circuit interruption device that has the surge inhibition ability of enhancing.See Figure 118; show and suppress and protective circuit 6010; be used for input power supply 6012 and ground fault circuit open circuit (GFCI) circuit 6014 and/or with relevant output that load 6016 links to each other between work, have the inhibition and the protective circuit 10 of instantaneous surge of the inhibition that enhancing is provided and overvoltage protection.Circuit 6010 comprises filter circuit 6018 and prevented pressure part 6020, with reference to Figure 119 these parts made more detailed description.

Figure 119 shows the representative embodiment of circuit 6010 and GFCI6014.GFCI6014 comprises as the power supply metal oxide resistor (MOV) 6022 between the input power cord of input power supply 6012 for example, having alternating current (AC) the circuit jockey of circuit phase 6024 and center line 6026. Circuit 6024,6026 by preventing that overvoltage circuit 20 links to each other, prevent that in one embodiment overvoltage circuit 20 from can be the known spark gap device of prior art, and be connected to the load 6016 that can comprise phase load connector 6032 and center line coad connector 6034 by earthed neutral conductor instrument transformer 6028 and differential or sensing instrument transformer 6030, shown in Figure 119.Can test circuit 6036 be set by technical approach well known in the art, for example can comprise the resistance R 4 of Test Switchboard 6038 and 15 kilo-ohms.What can select is, relay 6040 well known in the art and/or circuit interrupter is set differential instrument transformer 6030 is connected to loaded line 6032-6034, will be further described at this.

The processor 6042 of GFCI6014 is connected to instrument transformer 6028,6030 in a known manner in the art by a plurality of pins or connector, for example uses capacitor C 3, C6-C9, resistance R 4 and diode D2.In the embodiment shown in Figure 119, the resistance of resistance R 3 is 100 Europe, capacitor C 3, be respectively 0.01uF with the capacitance of C6-C9,100pF, 0.0033uF, 10uF and 100pF, except that capacitor C 8 had the electric pressure of 6.3V, the electric pressure of all the other each electric capacity all was 50V.

Processor 6042 can be, and for example, can provide earth fault protection for the outlet of the AC power in user and the industrial environment by available ground fault open circuit controller model LM1851 from " national semiconductor ".Processor 6042 also is connected to MOV6022 by its terminal/connector with mode well known in the art, for example, uses capacitor C 2 and C4-C5, and it has at voltage respectively is 0.01uF during for 50V, 1uF, the capacitance of 0.018uF; Capacitance is the capacitor C 10 of 680pF under 500V; Have resistance value and be respectively the resistance R 1 and the R2 of 15 kilo-ohms and 2 kilo-ohms; Diode D1; Can be the rectifier Q1 of silicon controlled rectifier (SCR); One group of diode D3-D6 is to form bridge circuit or structure, shown in Figure 119.

MOV6022 and filter circuit 6018 are connected to diode D3-D6.In one embodiment, filter circuit comprises that an inductor 6044 and is designated as the electric capacity 46 of C1 in Figure 120, and it has the capacitance of 0.01uF when 400V voltage.In this embodiment, the effect of filter circuit 6018 is input power supply LC low pass filters of supplying with MOV6022.

Inductor 6044 can be the solenoid bobbin as breaking coil, and inductor 6044 can have the effect of trigger like this, so that relay mechanism 6040 tripping operations on the load-side.Capacitor C 16046 can appear at usually in the GFCI finished product 6014 and be equivalent to shunt capacitance.In disclosed circuit 6010, capacitor C 16046 is as the electric capacity in the LC filter of bypass electric capacity and filter circuit 6018.

In the embodiment shown in Figure 119, MOV6022 with the voltage clamp at capacitor C 16046 places to the electric pressure of electric capacity 6046, for example, 400V.In an example, 3KV or higher instantaneous voltage surge are hanged down to 400V or lower by pincers like this.As in the prior art, this MOV6022 in GFCI finished product 6014 can handle instantaneous surge and overpressure situation, and for example, voltage is less than 3KV, as the 100A surge when electric current is 3KA.The LC low pass filter 6018 of use in disclosed inhibition and protective circuit 6010, the instantaneous voltage of rising, for example under 3KA 3KV and even under 3KA, can be inhibited for the voltage of 6KV.Therefore, the MOV6022 in finished product GFCI6014 can handle the voltage of root mean square (RMS) electric pressure that surpasses MOV6022, makes MOV6022 to preserve and provides protection to other instantaneous surge and overvoltage, and is as the described herein.Often rising pulse of employing standard and waveform duration are carried out instantaneous test.

In another embodiment of overvoltage protection is provided; prevent that overvoltage circuit 6020 from comprising spark gap 6048, spark gap 6048 by its terminal to generate electric arc with surpassing predetermined voltage, as the moment conducting of 3KV; in addition, also provide multipole surge protection and transient state to suppress.When conducting took place, the final voltage that is added on the instrument transformer 6028 was near 200V.In addition, filter 6018 has the effect of the electric current of restricted passage MOV6022 during the overvoltage surge takes place.Like this, when the electric current in the MOV6022 was limited like this, the voltage at MOV6022 place that surpasses the RMS electric pressure of MOV6022 just can not damage MOV6022, and can not damage the other parts of GFCI circuit 6014 yet.

In the method, existing parts link to each other with other known parts that are used as low pass filter 6018, with together and act on spark gap device 6048, in order to significantly improve surge inhibition and over-voltage protecting function.

See Figure 120 and 121, embodiments of the invention are made description.In Figure 120, as the foregoing description, the LC low pass filter is marked with 44.MOV6022 is can be with the variable resistor of change in voltage.Equally also use short-circuiting device device 6048 is arranged.

In Figure 121, same as the previously described embodiments, the LC low pass filter is denoted as 44.MOV6022 is the variable resistor with change in voltage.Equally also use flue short-circuiting device device 6048 is arranged.

Good is can weaken instantaneous high frequency by a series of low pass filters.In addition, by this transients being absorbed in the device it is disperseed, this device can absorb energy maybe can be with energy from sensor circuit punishment stream.

The voltage clamp device comprises unrestricted selenic photoelectric cell, voltage stabilizing didoe, controllable silicon rheostat and metal oxide varistor MOVS.MOV has fast response time usually, therefore is usually used in suppressing instance variable.When by out-of-proportion high electric current, MOV makes line drop low.Source impedance depends on clamper.

Whether can long-term work and whether exist aging phenomenon also uncertain for the MOV that stands to repeat instantaneous surge; along with MOV meets with transient voltage; MOV can or can not reduce continuously, will increase the inhibition of transient volume and the possibility that low-level device is protected the minimizing of MOV energy level.

In theory can be with the parallel connection of MOV device to absorb excess energy.Though these devices must closely cooperate, each in them can be opened with the time much at one by transient volume like this.Certainly, if at first open a MOV, then it can absorb whole transient currents.In addition, using two devices can take bigger space and need places.Such structure also can be expensive more.

Therefore GFCI will reduce the energy that sends to MOV according to an embodiment of the invention.

Crowbar (crowbar) device short-circuiting device can be used as the transient state inhibitor to suppress transients, carries out overvoltage protection.Such device is short-circuited to the loop with transient volume.The short-circuiting device device can comprise without restriction, spark gap, flue and carbon dioxide retardance protector.Usually gas (air of spark gap head) must snowslide before short-circuiting device is had an effect.Therefore, the gap of the head of 0.10 spacing is too big, provides airborne snowslide and can not provide as the surge suppressor on the ac power cable under acceptable electric pressure.Therefore, need to select narrower spark gap.

For example, the instantaneous overvoltage that surpasses 3000V can be lowered by spark gap, and the final voltage arrival MOV of other parts of circuit can be suppressed be the voltage of about 200V by safety.Identical is under the situation of 240V in overvoltage, low pass filter with the electric current of restricted passage MOV so that MOV more than by its voltage level, still can be used.

122a-122c with the aid of pictures shows the structure of the various spark gaps with different spark gap sizes.Good is, device 6110,6111 can have different inhibit features with 6112 different gap.Header pin 6114 and 6116 is under the sufficiently high voltage, and air between header pin or gas will ionization, and development forms the ion district and energy is disperseed and is one than low value with the instantaneous voltage short circuit.Good is that substrate 6118 should be able to withstand discharge energy.Electric arc or descend in advance at interdischarge interval does not have in device under the situation of big relatively energy dispersion like this, and device can be delivered to electric current a return path.

122d-122e with the aid of pictures, the structure description of discharging gap that utilizes the device be called the Jacob ladder and correlated phenomena is in 6140 and 6141.Good is, the spark gap that reduces in vertical direction of one or two generation in the header pin on the angle 6144,6146,6147, and by on the path in gap, the different piece in this gap has different inhibitory action at spark.Good is that substrate 148 should be able to sustain discharge energy.

Good is that moisture may have influence on the effect of spark gap.Therefore, should take to avoid the measure of moisture as compression spark gap and so on.

123a-123b with the aid of pictures shows the various flue structures that have different discharge gap width and can be used as device 6048.Good is, operative installations 6150 can obtain different inhibit features with 6151 different gap.Be in sufficiently high voltage place in header pin 6154 and 6156, air or gas between in header pin begin ionization, will develop to form an ionized region energy is disperseed and be one than low value with the instantaneous voltage short circuit.Good is that substrate 6158 should be able to sustain discharge energy.

Good is that pipe 6153 can hold gas 6152.Connector 6155 and 6157 provides and is connected.Can in spark gap, use other suitable materials 6152.

124a with the aid of pictures and 124b, the hybrid protection circuit can be protected MOV.Voltage clamp device MOV6180 can be in parallel as a voltage stabilizing didoe 6182 and a resistance 6148 or inductor 6186 with a low pass filter or another voltage clamp device.

One visible signal indicating device is set in device, is equipped with the device of surge voltage suppressor still can possess the effect that suppresses surge voltage, this is known in the field.In one embodiment of the invention, be provided with the vision signal indicating device and be used in reference to the ability that showing device has enough inhibition surge voltages.Identical, the alarm as audio indicator can be used to provide indicating device no longer to have the ability of enough inhibition surge voltages.

See Figure 125 and 126, show and have a whole GFCI7030 of shape index signal function.

GFCI7030 is by top cover 7032, and mesochite 7034 and drain pan 7036 are formed, and drain pan 7036 is positioned at the crooked key that is positioned on the drain pan 7036 that is meshed with U-shaped spare 7038 on the top cover 7032 and is fixed on assembly.Assembling pad 7040 is installed between top cover 7032 and the mesochite 7034, and has two and be used for GFCI7030 is mounted to hole 7042 on the mounting ear of standard cover box (not shown).Top cover 7032 has the surface 7044 that includes two groups of grooves, and these two groups of grooves are respectively applied for and receive one three leaf ground connection ground pin (not shown).Every group of groove be by the groove 7046,7048 with first length, and the groove 7050,7052 and with length is formed in order to the U-lag 7054,7056 of the grounding pin of accepting plug.Because groove 7050,7052 is longer than groove 7046,7048, plug is setovered naturally, and meets NEMA standard 5-15R.Be placed with in the depression 7058 in top shell 7032 and restore knob 7060, a test knob 7062 and an indicating lamp device 7064.Indicating lamp device 7064 generates second color for generate first color when activating first filament when activating second filament, generate the polychromatic light of the 3rd color when first and second filaments all are activated.Drain pan 7036 has one group of four terminal screw (only illustrating wherein two among the figure).As will be described, terminal screw 7066 is connected to the load neutral terminal.Identical terminal screw 7068 is connected to the load phase terminal.As will be described, terminal screw 7070 is connected to the line midline terminal, and identical terminal screw 7072 is connected to the circuit phase terminal.Contiguous each terminal screw 7066,7068,7070 and 7072 places be two in order to receive the electric conductor (not shown).To be described as following, end conductor extends between contact terminal and the lead nut that is meshed with conductor, and along with the propelling of terminal screw is pushed it to terminal contact.But at the rear wall place of mesochite 7034 is the ground connection screw 7076 of dead earth conductor (being inserted in the groove 7078, not shown).

Figure 127 shows the GFCI7030 that removes top cover 7032 and drain pan 7036, and Figure 128 and 129 shows in detail assembling pad 7040 and load mutually and neutral terminal.Assembling pad 7040 have the hole described more than two 7042 and be used to receive restore bar be usually located at central circular hole 7080 and in order to the square opening 7082 of acceptance test bar.Be provided with two sheets folder 7084,7086 and be meshed, and pass through rivet 7088 and these two sheets are pressed from both sides link to each other with installation sheet 7040 with grounding pin with is inserted plug.Curved fin 7090 has in order to receive the screwed hole of ground connection screw 7076 down.Along with the propelling of ground connection screw 7076, grounding nut 7092 is pushed to fin 7090 and is fixed between fin 7090 and the grounding nut 7092 with the naked end with the conductor in the insertion groove 7078.

Figure 129 shows load neutral terminal 7094 and load phase terminal 96.Each terminal 7094,7096 all has center main part 7098,7100 respectively, and each end of these center main all has insertion sheet folder and refers to 7102,7104.Each refers to that to folder forming machinery between cooperation between 7102,7104 inserted sheet that can make plug and the inserted sheet that is inserted into plug contacts with electric.Embedding sheet 7106 on the load neutral terminal 7094 receives main fixedly center line contact 7106, embeds sheet 7110 and receives main immobile phase contact 7112.The outstanding slice 7114 of three sides has the groove 7116 of the whole threaded portion that receives terminal screw 7066.The outstanding slice 7118 of three identical sides has the groove 7120 in order to the whole threaded portion that receives terminal screw 7068.

The installation sheet 7040 of the Figure 129 that is assembled into mesochite 7034 and the terminal 7094,7096 of Figure 130 have been shown in Figure 127.What be fit into mesochite 7034 equally is to include the color that can determine indicating lamp device, the printed circuit board (PCB) of the various circuit of flicker rate and signal tone (after this being called PCB) 7122.PCB7122 also includes fault-finding as described below, instrument transformer and solenoidal various parts.Terminal screw 7070 is connected to the fin 7124 with groove 7126, and groove 7126 is in order to receive the threaded portion of terminal screw 7070.Terminal screw 7072 has identical and unshowned mechanism.

Figure 130 shows the PCB122 assembly of removing mesochite 7034 and restores assembly.Restore assembly by restoring knob 7060, the recovery pin formation of restoring bar 7128 and return spring 7130 and making description hereinafter with reference to Figure 140 to 144.Piston 7132 is positioned at the passage of solenoid coil 7134.Shown piston 7132 is in home position, and part is extended the passage of solenoid coil 7134.When by the circuit operation solenoid 7134 on the PCB7122, piston 7132 is further pulled in the solenoid coil 7134.Piston 7132 controls are made description with the position of latch plate with reference to Figure 135 to this.Latch plate in conjunction with stop pin and be willing to again spring with push rod 7136 upwards be pushed into movable contact arm 7138 with main moving contact 7140 respectively with main fixed contact 7108,7112 closures that embed on sheet 7106,7110 downsides.Movable contact arm 7138 departs from coupled embedding sheet 7106,7110, and when discharging stop pin, promotes push rod 7136 and lockplate downwards so that moving contact 7140 is removed from the fixed contact that interrelates with them.Also be installed on the PCB122 for center line instrument transformer 7142 and differential instrument transformer 7144.Only show center line instrument transformer 7142 among Figure 130.Instrument transformer and transducer bracket assembly 7146 have been shown among Figure 137.Center line instrument transformer 7124 is repeatedly put on differential instrument transformer 7144, has an optical fiber packing ring between them.Shown in Figure 136, to remove outside the groove 7150 that is placed with conductor, bracket component 7146 is whole around instrument transformer 7142,7144.The lead of instrument transformer winding is drawn four instrument transformer lead-in wires that match with circuit and load conductor.One of them instrument transformer is with the electric current of sensing from the power supply to the load, and another instrument transformer turns back to sensing the electric current of power supply from load.The variation of electric current of these instrument transformers of flowing through represents to exist in the circuit-line fault.The device that can measure the concurrent signal that is out of order of minor variations of electric current is an integrated circuit, this integrated circuit can obtain from many places, is the integrated circuit of LM1851 from the semi-conductive style number of country for example or is the integrated circuit of MC3426 from the style number of Motorola.This IC is positioned on the PCB7122.Line midline terminal 7154 and circuit phase terminal 7156 have the arm 7158,7160 (seeing Figure 133) that extends by the groove in the top of transducer bracket assembly 7146.Shown in Figure 131, terminal screw 7070 extends through the groove 7126 of the fin 7124 of a part that belongs to the line midline terminal, and enters the screwed hole in the nut interior 7162, so just line midline conductor (not shown) is connected to two instrument transformers.Arm 7158,7169 is as a rotation winding of instrument transformer 7142 and 7144.Circuit phase conductor (not shown) is connected to by the groove 7166 in the fin 7164 by terminal screw 7072 and enters in the screwed hole of nut 7168.Fin 7162 is the part of circuit phase terminal 7156.Be extended with insulator 7168 between the arm 7158,7169 to prevent short circuit between two arms.Solenoid coil 7134 is connected between two bobbin pins 7179 to allow it to link to each other with PCB7122.Figure 131 is identical with Figure 130, has just omitted PCB7122, restores knob 7060, restores bar 7128 and return spring 7130.

Solenoid component 7172 shown in Figure 71 32 has the solenoid coil 7134 that links to each other with bobbin pin 7170, and includes piston 7132 in its passage.Chamber 7174 receives push rod 7136 and support push rod 7136 when push rod is in the lower position place.Crossware 176 supports the auxiliary switch that is made of auxiliary fixed contact arm 7178 and auxiliary movable contact arm 7180.When auxiliary fixed contact 7186 meshed with auxiliary moving contact 7188, auxiliary switch provided power supply to the various parts on the PCB7122.When auxiliary fixed contact 7186 disconnects with auxiliary moving contact 7188, the power supply of the parts on the auxiliary switch sever supply PCB7122, and avoid the damage possible to the parts on the PCB7122.For example, when locating the contact disconnection,, then may burn out solenoid coil 7134 if repeat to impose on the signal of solenoid coil 7134.The auxiliary fixed contact arm 178 of auxiliary movable contact arm 180 deflections, and under the situation that no external force disconnects the contact, assist movable contact arm and the engagement of auxiliary fixed contact arm.

Movable contact arm 7138 shown in Figure 133 contacts with push rod 7136, and is located by the lockplate of being controlled successively by piston 7132 and piston return spring 7,184 7182.Below will make description, the position of restoring bar 7128 is depended in the position of push rod 7136 and lockplate 7182.Push rod 7136 is also controlled auxiliary movable contact arm 7180.When push rod 7136 was in lower, auxiliary moving contact 7188 was from removing with auxiliary fixed contact 7188 (not shown) touching positions.Restored in case piston 7132 mode shown in reference Figure 71 34 begins, lockplate return spring (not shown) restores lockplate.

Lockplate 7182 has been shown among Figure 71 34, and piston 7132 is with the auxiliary fixed arm 7178 that has auxiliary fixed contact 7186 and have the auxiliary movable contact arm 180 of assisting moving contact 7188.Piston return spring 7184 is anchored on the rear end 7200 of lockplate 7182, and fin 7198 extends in the square opening 7196.When triggering solenoid coil 7134 piston 7132 being moved to the right side among Figure 134, piston return spring 7184 is compressed, when the time spent of doing of removing to solenoid coil 7134, the piston return spring stretches piston 7132 is back to its original position, as shown in Figure 6, partly stretch out outside the solenoid coil 7134.Lockplate return spring 7190 is connected between push rod 7136 and the fin 7198, and since piston 7132 also to the right motion locking plate return spring compressed by the lockplate 7182 of right side motion to Figure 71 34 in.When release plunger 7132, lockplate return spring 7190 stretches lockplate 7182 is back to the left side among Figure 134.Arm 7192 supports the arm of push rod 7136.Centre bore 7194 is oval, it extend than the center longitudinal axis of long axis along lockplate 182.The enough big so that stop pin (not shown) in 7194 the center in the hole, hole 7194 can and can not move with push rod 7136 by hole 7194 with being meshed.In a less end, the locked plate 7182 of stop pin is fixed, and push rod 7136 is moved by the following mode that will describe with stop pin.Auxiliary moveable arm 7180 is to upper offset, and it can drive auxiliary moving contact 7188 and contacts with auxiliary fixed contact 7186 on the auxiliary fixed arm 7178 like this.As the following mode that will make description, an arm of push rod 7135 will mesh auxiliary moveable arm 7180 and push it down movingly, shown in Figure 134, separate will assist moving contact 7188 and auxiliary fixed contact 7186, and the disconnection auxiliary circuit.

Figure 137,138 and 139 show test knob 7062, and its mode of operation has been made description.Test knob 7062 has a head part 7204, is extended with side part 7206 from this head part 7024.Also be extended with the center pole 7208 that comprises a cam from head part 7204.This bar 7208 extends through the square opening 7082 in the installation sheet 7040.When pushing test during knob 7062, cam 7210 is meshed with test arm 7212 and its free end is moved to reference test bar 7216 and contacts.The position of reference test bar 7216 has been shown among Figure 130.Reference test bar 7216 is connected with a small resistor and and extends through one of them lead of instrument transformer 7142,7144 generating the unsymmetrical current in the power circuit, and makes integrated circuit LM7144 generate the signal of an operate solenoid 7134, simulates primary fault with this.Test knob return spring (not shown) will be tested knob 7062 and be back to its home position.Figure 138 shows the home position of test knob 7064, does not depress test arm 7212 and free end 7214 separates with reference test bar 7216 at this place's cam 7210.When pressing test during knob 7062 shown in Figure 139, the free end 7214 that cam 7210 impels test arm 7212 forms with reference test bar 216 downwards and contact generating simulated failure one time, and operates GFCI7030 with definite GFCI7030 operate as normal whether.When shown in Figure 138, when d/d test knob 7062 is back to its home position.

Figure 140 shows and restores knob 7060.Restore knob 7060 and have a head part 7218, be extended with side part 7220 by this head part.Also be extended with the securing rod 7222 that its end is positioned at stop pin 7224 from head part 7218.Usually the free end 7228 of securing rod 7224 forms the tip.The size of stop pin 7224 forms locking shoulder 7226 thus greater than the size of securing rod 7222.Shown in Figure 142, return spring 230 surrounds securing rod 7222.Figure 141 and 142 shows the GFCI7030 that is positioned at home position.Figure 141 is a rearview, and Figure 142 is an end view.The investing mechanism that illustrates in the dotted line among the figure can highlight the switch block of GFCI7030.In Figure 142, piston 132 extends out from solenoid coil 7134, and lockplate is pulled to left side among the figure, like this smaller end of slotted eye and securing rod 7222 engagements.Stop pin 7224 can not pass through slotted eye 7194.The leading end of lockplate 7182 is parked on the locking shoulder 7226 and is fixed on armature 7136 times.Return spring 7230 upwards pushes away short securing rod 7222, and drives armature 7136 together and move upward.This moves upward and also makes movable contact arm 7138 move upward, and forms contact thereby drive moving contact 7140 with fixed contact 7108,7112 (seeing Figure 141).The extension 7234 of armature 7136 moves apart and its contacted auxiliary moveable arm 7234, the auxiliary movable contact arm 7180 that upwards is biased to makes its auxiliary moving contact 7188 contact with auxiliary fixed contact 7186 on the auxiliary fixed arm 7178, and provides power supply to PCB.

React on outside or internal fault, or react on the test of adopting test knob 7062 to carry out, if GFCI7030 working properly will become the tripped condition shown in Figure 143 and 144, main circuit among the figure and auxiliary circuit all can disconnect.The circuit of PCB can detect whether reach trip condition.The signal that piston 7132 further can be pulled to solenoid coil 7134 is applied to solenoid coil 7134.Piston 132 moves the right side of lockplate 182 in Figure 144, and the middle part of slotted eye 7194 is placed on the stop pin 7224.In this position, the leading end 7232 of lockplate 7182 no longer meshes with locking shoulder 7226, and securing rod 7222 can freely pass through slotted eye 7194.There is not thing to keep making the moving contact 7140 on the movable contact arm 7138 to contact respectively like this with fixed contact 7108,7112 on the fixed arm 7106,7110.Movable contact arm 7138 downward biases lean against on the armature 7136, and armature promotes movable contact arm downwards so that contact 7108,7112 is separated with 7140.Protuberance 7234 relies on auxiliary moveable arm 7180, and it is moved downward will assist moving contact 7188 to separate with auxiliary fixed contact 1788.And the circuit of disconnection on PCB provides the auxiliary circuit of power supply.Eject because knob 7060 is restored in the effect of return spring 7230, need be restored to show GFCI7030.

Restore knob 7060 except ejecting, GFCI also has multi-colour LED device 7064 and is driven to produce the piezoelectricity acoustic resonator 7236 of an audio output signal by the oscillator (not shown) on the PCB.By concussion frequency and the control concussion cycle of selecting 3.OKHZ ± 20%, can make audible signal is to ring to stop 2 seconds in 0.01 second.Figure 145 shows the light color of the various states that can show GFCI7030, lamp flash degree, and the various combinations of signal tone.Pilot signal shows that GFCI7030 just is being operated in preceding 25 days of GFCI7030 cycle.This expression will be tested and restores to guarantee the GFCI7030 operate as normal every 30 days GFCI7030.

But people have often ignored this directions for use.In order to encourage the user that GFCI7030 is tested, adopted the method for various lamps and signal tone.25 days latter stage, the green light of sudden strain of a muscle slowly of indication device operate as normal began to become quickflashing.Monitoring or dodge slowly and be " bright " 0.10 second " going out " 15 seconds.Quickflashing is to go out 0.9 second in bright 0.10 second.This quickflashing continues five days, and 7,064 two filaments of indicating lamp device all begin to generate the yellow light of fast blink during this period.If power supply begins to restore, yellow light also will fast blink, up to reaching monitoring condition.This time cycle is calculated by counter on the PCB and clock generator and produces.If survey external fault is arranged, then amber light is luminous and produce audible signal is arranged.This moment, GFCI7030 needed to be restored.If device occurs in GFCI7030 inside, for example, solenoid coil 7134 burns, and the red filament light-emitting and the generation of indicating lamp device 7064 have audible signal then.If fault occurs in the GFCI7030, then must change GFCI7030.

Use in a preferred embodiment though illustrated and described and pointed out, the basic novel features that has of the present invention, understandable under the situation that does not break away from the present invention's spirit scope, those of ordinary skill in the art can make various deleting to the part details or the form of graphic display unit, displacement or distortion.

Claims (30)

1. switching device is used for selectively interrupting being electrically connected between two input conductors and two output conductors or the analog, it is characterized in that, comprising:

A housing has a shell;

Two first fixed contacts are positioned at described housing, are respectively applied for each described output conductor;

Two first moving contacts are positioned at described housing, are respectively applied for each described input conductor, selectively move to and first relevant fixed contact contact;

An armature, selectively move described two first moving contacts both so that it contacts with relevant described first fixed contact;

A recovery bar has a carriage return button at its first end, has a stop pin at its second end;

A locking spring restores the shell of bar towards described housing around described recovery bar rotation to impel; With

A lockplate, be used for selectively meshing described stop pin, described lockplate can move between the primary importance and the second place, at described primary importance place, described lockplate contacts with described stop pin, so that described armature keeps contacting with described first moving contact, and described first moving contact contacts at described second place place successively with described first fixed contact, described stop pin freely passes through described armature under the effect of described locking spring, and allows described first moving contact to separate with described first fixed contact.

2. switching device according to claim 1 is characterized in that, when described lockplate was positioned at described second place place, described first moving contact moved described armature so that described two first moving contacts separate with the described first relevant fixed contact.

3. switching device according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises:

A piston is with described lockplate coupling connection, in order to control the position of described lockplate; With

A solenoid, have: two input terminals, be used for selectively receiving tripping current, when being applied in to described two input terminals, tripping current make described solenoid in order to as a magnet, suck described piston in the described solenoid and make described lockplate move to the described second place, when applying tripping current for described two input terminals, make described lockplate move to described primary importance.

4. switching device according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises:

A return spring is with described lockplate coupling connection mutually, so that described lockplate moves to described primary importance from the described second place.

5. switching device according to claim 3 is characterized in that, also comprises:

A return spring with described lockplate and described piston coupling connection mutually, with when described solenoidal described two input terminals do not have tripping current, moves to described primary importance with described lockplate from the described second place.

6. switching device according to claim 5 is characterized in that, described return spring is two return springs, and one of them is connected between described lockplate and the described piston, and another is connected between described armature and the described lockplate.

7. switching device according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises:

One second fixed contact;

One second moving contact;

An extension on described armature, with described second moving contact engagement, in order to when described lockplate is positioned at described primary importance, to make the engagement of described second moving contact and described second fixed contact, when being positioned at the described second place, described lockplate allow described second moving contact to separate with described second fixed contact.

8. switching device according to claim 3 is characterized in that, also comprises:

A Test Switchboard with described solenoid coupling connection mutually, is used to transmit the tripping current on it, so that described lockplate moves to the described second place from described primary importance.

9. switching device according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises:

Indicating lamp device; With

Flash unit is coupled mutually with described indicator light, with the predetermined space described indicator light that glimmers.

10. switching device according to claim 3 is characterized in that, also comprises:

Indicating lamp device; With

Flash unit is coupled mutually with described indicator light, with the predetermined space described indicator light that glimmers.

11. switching device according to claim 1 is characterized in that, also comprises:

Indicating lamp device;

Flash unit combines with described indicator light so that with the predetermined interval described indicator light that glimmers; With

The audio signal device is used to produce audio signal, utilizes the state of described indicating lamp device and audio signal can determine described switching device situation thus.

12. switching device according to claim 3 is characterized in that, also comprises:

Indicating lamp device;

Flash unit is coupled mutually with described indicator light, with the predetermined interval described indicator light that glimmers; With

The audio signal device is used to produce audio signal, can utilize the state of described indicating lamp device and audio signal to determine described switching device situation thus.

13. switching device according to claim 12 is characterized in that, described indicator light is for generating the polychromatic light of three kinds of different colours.

14. switching device according to claim 12 is characterized in that, described indicator light is for generating the polychromatic light of three kinds of different colours.

15. switching device according to claim 14 is characterized in that, described flash unit can be with two different speed flickers.

16. switching device according to claim 15 is characterized in that, described flash unit can be with two different speed flickers.

17. device according to claim 14, it is characterized in that, described flash unit can be with two different speed flickers, and whether can be determined the situation of described switching device by the appearance of the color of described indicating lamp device and flash speed and audio signal.

18. switching device according to claim 15, it is characterized in that, described flash unit can be with two different speed flickers, and whether can be determined the situation of described switching device by the appearance of the color of described indicating lamp device and flash speed and audio signal.

19. switching device according to claim 18 is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device is finished with the successful test process of representing described switching device with first color with first speed flicker and there is not described audio signal.

20. switching device according to claim 19 is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device is finished with the successful test process of representing described switching device with first color with first speed flicker and there is not described audio signal.

21. switching device according to claim 18, it is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device is with first color with than the flicker of the described first fireballing second speed and described audio signal do not occur, with expression near the time of once more described switching device being tested.

22. switching device according to claim 19, it is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device is with first color with than the flicker of the described first fireballing second speed and described audio signal do not occur, with expression near the time of once more described switching device being tested.

23. switching device according to claim 18 is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device glimmers with second color and second speed and described audio signal do not occur, to have represented the time of once more described device being tested.

24. switching device according to claim 19 is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device glimmers with second color and second speed and described audio signal do not occur, to have represented the time of once more described device being tested.

25. switching device according to claim 18 is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device is with the flicker of the second color second speed and have audio signal, to represent described switching device because external fault trips.

26. switching device according to claim 19 is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device is with the flicker of the second color second speed and have audio signal, to represent described switching device because external fault trips.

27. switching device according to claim 18 is characterized in that, described device is with the flicker of the 3rd color second speed and have audio signal, to represent that described switching device is owing to the internal fault in described switching device trips.

28. switching device according to claim 19 is characterized in that, described device is with the flicker of the 3rd color second speed and have audio signal, to represent that described switching device is owing to the internal fault in described switching device trips.

29. switching device according to claim 18 is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device is with the flicker of the second color second speed and audio signal do not occur, restores the described power connection in back with expression.

30. switching device according to claim 19 is characterized in that, described indicating lamp device is with the flicker of the second color second speed and audio signal do not occur, restores the described power connection in back with expression.

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