U.S. patents available from 1976 to present.
U.S. patent applications available from 2005 to present.

Intelligent ground fault circuit interrupter

Patent 5600524 Issued on February 4, 1997. Estimated Expiration Date: Icon_subject May 4, 2015. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Patent References

Ground fault circuit interrupter incorporating miswiring prevention circuitry Patent #: 5477412
Issued on: 12/19/1995
Inventor: Neiger, et al.

Inventors

Application

No. 435021 filed on 05/04/1995

US Classes:

361/42, Ground fault protection361/45, With differential sensing in a single phase system361/115With specific circuit breaker or control structure

Examiners

Primary: Gaffin, Jeffrey
Assistant: Jackson, Stephen W.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

International Class

H02H 003/28

Abstract

An intelligent circuit interrupt system is electrically connected between an AC source and a load for interrupting a flow of AC from the source to the load upon detection of an interrupt condition. A circuit interrupter electrically connected to phase and neutral terminals of the AC source defines the interrupt condition. A relay switch with a relay coil and phase and neutral contacts is included such that line and load ends of the phase contact are electrically connected, respectively, between the interrupt means load side phase port and a phase terminal of the load. Line and load ends of the neutral contact are electrically connected, respectively, between the interrupt neutral port and a neutral terminal of the load. The relay coil is electrically coupled between load sides of said phase and neutral contacts for controlling the contacts in response to the interrupt signal. An open-contact miswiring detector (OCMD) is electrically connected to one of the phase and neutral contacts for detecting a miswiring condition when the contacts are in an open state, and a closed-contact miswiring detector (CCMD) is electrically connected to the OCMD and to one of the neutral and phase contacts for detecting a miswiring condition when the contacts are in a closed state. A timing signal generator generates system timing signals. A test circuit electrically coupled to the interrupt means and the timing signal generator tests the interrupt means operability. An alarm circuit is electrically responsive to the test circuit, the timing signal generator, the OCMD and the CCMD for, communicating an open-contact miswiring condition, a closed-contact miswiring condition, an operational failure condition, and a need for external testing condition. A power supply is electrically connected between the load ends of the phase and neutral contacts, and to the timing signal generator.

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