2051results about "Protective switch details" patented technology

The subject matter of the present invention is a load breaker arrangement (1) for switching on and off a DC current of a DC current circuit in a photovoltaic plant with a semiconductor switching element (4) to avoid a switching arc, there being provided an electronic control unit (5) configured such that one or more signals are received by the control unit, and the load breaker arrangement (1) being configured such that in at least one current-carrying line of the DC current circuit there is galvanic separation by a switching contact that is automatically controllable by the control unit (5) in the switched-off condition and one or more control signals being transmitted to the load breaker arrangement (1) and a semiconductor switching element (4) interrupting the DC current so that the switching contact is de-energized, wherebythe signals are flaw signals that are received in case of a flaw in the PV generator, inverter or on the AC side, the DC current circuit being automatically switched on or off by the control signals in case of at least one flaw,said arrangement being configured such that, during switch off,said semiconductor switching element (4) is at first closed in a first step,the switching contacts (K1, K2) of a first switching means are opened in a second step for the DC current to flow through said semiconductor switching element (4),said semiconductor switching element (4) being again opened in a third step andswitching contacts (K1, K2) of a second switching means being opened in order to cause galvanic separation to occurand that an additional manually operable load breaker (8) is connected, said manually operable load breaker (8) being a manually breakable DC current connecting system with plug contacts for photovoltaic plants that is provided with an electronic arc quenching system.

The present invention is directed to a circuit and method for self-testing a protection device for use in an AC power distribution system. The device is configured to be coupled between an AC power distribution system and at least one load. The method includes the step of introducing a simulated ground neutral fault during a first predetermined half cycle half cycle of the AC power. An attempt is made to detect the introduced simulated grounded neutral fault during the first predetermined half cycle half cycle. A fault condition is signaled if the introduced simulated grounded neutral fault is not detected within a predetermined period of time.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device including a housing assembly including at least one receptacle, the at least one receptacle being configured to receive plug contact blades inserted therein. The housing assembly includes a hot line terminal, a neutral line terminal, a hot load terminal, a neutral load terminal, a hot user-accessible receptacle contact, and a neutral user accessible receptacle contact. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the hot line terminal and the neutral line terminal. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault condition and provide a fault detect signal in response thereto. An interrupting contact assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit. A weld breaker mechanism is coupled to the interrupting contact assembly. The weld breaker mechanism is configured to strike the first pair of contacts and / or the second pair of contacts in response to the tripping stimulus.

The present invention provides a GFCI that not only has ground fault protection, but also is capable of providing reverse wiring protection as well as detection of end of the service life of the GFCI by way of utilizing an end of life detection control circuit in connection with the reset button. In addition, the GFCI of the present invention provides a forcible mechanical tripping assembly by way of utilizing the test button. Finally, the present invention provides method for detecting whether the service life of the GFCI has ended.

A self test (ST) ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) provides a half wave rectifier for powering circuitry for determining and annunciating end of life (EOL) of the GFCI regardless of a shorted diode bridge or opening of a printed circuit board (PCB) trace. A fuse resistor is provided to open before an open PCB trace can occur. A microprocessor-controlled heat-conducting circuit is provided adjacent to a thermal fuse to controllably open the thermal fuse and remove power from face receptacle contacts and load terminals when EOL occurs.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having at least one receptacle. The receptacle is configured to receive plug contact blades inserted therein. The housing assembly includes a hot line terminal, a neutral line terminal, a hot load terminal, and a neutral load terminal. A set of receptacle contacts is disposed in the housing assembly and in communication with the receptacle. The receptacle contacts includes a hot user-accessible load contact and a neutral user accessible load contact. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the test assembly. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect at least one fault condition and provide a fault detect signal in response thereto. A four-pole interrupting contact assembly is coupled to the fault detection circuit and includes a set of four-pole interrupting contacts. A reset mechanism is coupled to the four-pole interrupting contact assembly. The reset mechanism includes a reset button and a reset actuator configured to reestablish electrical continuity between the first pair of hot contacts, the second pair of hot contacts, the first pair of neutral contacts, and the second pair of neutral contacts in response to a reset stimulus.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of load terminals, and a set of receptacle load terminals. The device includes a fixed contact and a first cantilever member including a first contact disposed thereon. A second cantilever member is disposed between the fixed contact and the first cantilever. The second cantilever member includes a dual contact disposed thereon. The dual contact is disposed between the fixed contact and the first contact. An actuator is configured to move between a closed position and a tripped position. The actuator is configured to urge the first cantilever toward the second cantilever to close the fixed contact, the first contact, and the dual contact such that the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the set of receptacle load terminals are electrically continuous in the closed position. The actuator is also configured to release the first cantilever from the second cantilever to open the fixed contact, the first contact, and the dual contact. The plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals, and the set of receptacle load terminals are decoupled in the tripped position.

The invention relates to a plastic case material for a breaker and a preparation method thereof. The material comprises the following components in parts by weight: 22-80 parts of nylon, 5-25 parts of glass fiber, 5-25 parts of needle-like filling material, 8-20 parts of fire retardant, 2-6 parts of auxiliary fire retardant and 0.1-2 parts of other auxiliaries. The preparation method comprises the following steps: evenly mixing the raw materials with a high-speed mixer at a high speed; and then bracing and pelleting the mixed materials with a screw extruder at the temperature of 220 DEG C-290DEG C to obtain the plastic case material. Compared with the prior art, the plastic case material has high breaking strength and elastic modulus, the strength of a compound material is barely influenced by a proper addition of the raw materials, and the obtained product has the advantages of no glass fiber rich surface, no buckling deformation, high strength and good heat resistance.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring protection device that includes a housing assembly having at least one line terminal and at least one load terminal partially disposed therein. A first conductive path is electrically coupled to the at least one line terminal. A second conductive path is electrically coupled to the at least one load terminal, the second conductive path being connected to the first conductive path in a reset state. A fault detection circuit is coupled to the first conductive path. The fault detection circuit is configured to generate a fault detection signal in response to detecting at least one fault condition. A wiring state detection circuit is coupled to the first conductive path. The wiring state detection circuit selectively provides a wiring state detection signal when the at least one line terminal is coupled to a source of AC power, and not providing the wiring state detection signal otherwise. An actuator assembly is configured to provide an actuation stimulus in response to the fault detection signal or the wiring state detection signal. A circuit interrupter is coupled to the actuator assembly. The circuit interrupter is configured to disconnect the first conductive path and the second conductive path in response to the actuation stimulus.

A hybrid air-gap / solid-state device protection device (PD) for use in an electrical power distribution system includes an air-gap disconnect unit connected in series with a solid-state device, a sense and drive circuit, and a microcontroller. Upon the sense and drive circuit detecting an impending fault or exceedingly high and unacceptable overvoltage condition in the PD's load circuit, the sense and drive circuit generates a gating signal that quickly switches the solid-state device OFF. Meanwhile, the microcontroller generates a disconnect pulse for the air-gap disconnect unit, which responds by forming an air gap in the load circuit. Together, the switched-OFF solid-state device and air gap protect the load and associated load circuit from being damaged. They also serve to electrically and physically isolate the source of the fault or overload condition from the remainder of the electrical power distribution system.

The present invention provides a set of circuits which is capable of performing an automatic check on main components of a circuit interrupting device when the circuit interrupting device is properly powered and the device is at a tripped state to determine whether these main components function normally. The results of the automatic check can be detected by depressing a reset button in the circuit interrupting device. If the reset button can be depressed, the main components function normally. Alternatively, the results can be automatically displayed by a showing on the face lid of the circuit interrupting device of either a green light, which means that the main components function normally, or a red or yellow light or no light, which means that at least one of the main components in the circuit interrupting device does not function properly. The present invention also provides an end-of-service-life detection integrated circuit chip capable of receiving and transmitting an automatic check signal and determining whether or not the circuit interrupting device can be reset. The preferred circuit interrupting device is a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI).

Electrical fire risks and consumer safety are major concerns driving regulators worldwide to implement more stringent electrical code and enforcement. While there are many commercially available protective devices available, none affords total protection, and they are made and classified only to protect circuits from specific or limited number of faults.This invention is about an apparatus, system and method for protection of electrical circuits and consumers from literally all known electrical faults in Direct Current (DC) and Alternating Current (AC) single and multi-phase systems such as and including Arc Faults, Ground and Leakage Faults, Surge, Overload, Short Circuit, Glowing Connections, Miswired Connections, overvoltage, undervoltage and Phase-Loss. Said apparatus, system and method come in the form of or in a housing as a Circuit Breaker, Receptacle, Convenience Outlet, Attachment Plug, Equipment Controller, a circuit, or a system integrated with another system, device or apparatus.

A self testing fault detector having a line side and a load side and a conductive path there between. The apparatus includes a solenoid, which is adapted to move a plurality of contacts disposed in the conductive path from a first position to a second position when the self testing device is powered from the line side; and a processor, which is adapted to energize the solenoid using a first switch and maintain said solenoid in the energized state using a second switch.

A self testing fault detector having a line side and a load side and a conductive path there between, said apparatus is provided. The self testing fault detector includes a controller, adapted to perform periodic status tests on a protection circuit of the self testing fault detector without interrupting power to the load.

The present invention provides to a circuit interrupting device, particularly a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), with a test circuit which is capable of automatically generating a simulated leakage current to detect whether the service life of the circuit interrupting device has ended, i.e., whether the main components of the device are working properly, when the device is properly connected to power input terminals and in a tripped state. The test circuit contains an end-of-service-life integrated circuit chip, which is connected to a switch that interacts with the reset button, thereby, by observing whether the device is capable of resetting, a user can determine whether the service life of the device has ended, i.e., if the device can be reset, the device is working properly; if the device cannot be reset, the service life of the device has ended. Optionally, the circuit interrupting device contains an indicating light on the face of the device, thereby, by observing whether a normal status indicating light or a problem status indicating light is turned on and displayed on the face of the device, the user can determine whether the service life of the device has ended. The circuit interrupting device also possesses a forcible tripping mechanism through the operation of the test button to interrupt the power output to the device. The present invention also provides methods for detecting the end of service life of the circuit interrupting device.

A ground fault circuit interrupting device detects an end-of-life condition. A ground fault detecting circuit detects a fault condition and controllably operates a switching device to energize a circuit interrupting device. An end-of-life detecting circuit detects a failure of the circuit interrupting device to open after detection of the fault condition, and activates a secondary circuit to energize the circuit interrupting device.

A self test (ST) ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) provides improved end of life (EOL) detection by rejecting false EOL information. A processing device receives fault detection signals indicating when faults are detected, and input signals indicating when contacts used to interrupt power to a load are closed. The processing device rejects the fault detection signals when they fail to meet a selected condition and the contacts are closed, and declares end of life (EOL) when the selected condition is met. The fault detection signals can correspond to pulses at an output of a gated device between the processing device and a GFCI chip, and the selected condition can be a selected integer number of pulses.

A self test (ST) ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) provides a half wave rectifier for powering circuitry for determining and annunciating end of life (EOL) of the GFCI regardless of a shorted diode bridge or opening of a printed circuit board (PCB) trace. A fuse resistor is provided to open before an open PCB trace can occur. A microprocessor-controlled heat-conducting circuit is provided adjacent to a thermal fuse to controllably open the thermal fuse and remove power from face receptacle contacts and load terminals when EOL occurs.

This invention discloses a ground fault circuit interrupter capable of detecting its end of life, and is characterized by: a pair of flexible metal sheets connected to the power output end are added on the circuit board of the interrupter, and there is a pair of moving contacts on the metal sheets; there are two pairs of fixed contacts on the power output conductors; the two pairs of fixed contacts on the power output conductors respectively correspond to the moving contacts on the power input metal sheets and the moving contacts on flexible metal sheets, thus forming two groups and four pairs of switches. There is also a tripping apparatus on the circuit board, which can release / trip the interrupter, thus cutting off the power output of the interrupter. An end of life detection circuit has also been added to the circuit board. After the interrupter is energized, various components in the interrupter are automatically detected. If it is found that the interrupter has come to the end of its life, the reset button will be prevented from resetting, so that neither the load end of the interrupter nor the power output holes on the surface of the interrupter have any power output. This invention has powerful applications, with sound safety precautions, thus effectively ensuring the personal safety of the user as well as the safety of the appliances.

The invention discloses a no-arc cut-off hybrid direct-current circuit breaker. The no-arc cut-off hybrid direct-current circuit breaker comprises a high-speed vacuum switch, an LC forced branch circuit of a turn-off device with a power electronic gate, a voltage-sharing capacitor, an over-voltage limiting circuit and a control system, wherein the high-speed vacuum switch VB, the LC forced branch circuit and the over-voltage limiting circuit are connected in parallel. The turn-off device of the LC forced branch circuit is controlled to be conducted and turned off so that the no-arc opening of the high-speed vacuum switch can be realized, and electric current in the high-speed vacuum switch limits di / dt in a smaller range within a short period of time before zero passage, thus the problem that electric arcs ablate switch contacts is eliminated in the cut-off process of the contacts, simultaneously, the recovery character of a medium between the contacts is good under the no-arc breaking condition, and the over-voltage is low, and the break-time is short in the breaking process under the low di / dt condition.

In a direct current cutoff switch1, a PTC 5, which is a non-linear resistor, is parallel connected to a contact circuit composed of a fixed contact 4-2 and a movable contact 8-2 via electrodes 5-1. When the switch is closed, no current flows in the PTC 5 with a prescribed resistance value at 25° C., since voltage between both the electrodes 5-1 is almost “0”. When the switch is opened in order to cut off current, the contacts form a closed circuit since the PTC 5 is parallel inserted between the fixed contact 4-2 and the movable contact 8-2. For this reason, it is difficult for surge voltage to occur and an arc hardly occurs between both the contacts. The PTC 5 instantaneously heats due to passing current, reduces the resistance value and passes peak current. Then, the resistance value rises and becomes stable in a high value such that weak current which is negligible at 42V, which is rated voltage. Thus, current is substantially cut off.

An overvoltage protection device includes first and second electrically conductive electrode members, a varistor member formed of a varistor material and electrically connected with each of the first and second electrode members, and an electrically conductive, meltable member. The meltable member is responsive to heat in the device to melt and form a current flow path between the first and second electrode members through the meltable member.

An arrangement for reducing pressure inside a circuit breaker caused by gas produced during an electrical interruption event, including a base, an interrupter assembly, and a trip unit base. A structure having a surface is positioned in the base at an angle relative to a vent opening of the interrupter assembly. The trip unit base includes a complementary structure opposing the structure to form a cavity. The base includes a chamber area adjacent to an opening of a vent chute that leads away from the circuit breaker. During an electrical interruption event, hot explosive gas, carbon, and molten metal debris are directed away from the vent opening of the interrupter assembly along the angled surface of the structure and toward the opening of the vent chute. In this manner, pressure in the circuit breaker is reduced during an electrical interruption event, and undesirable buildup of debris is reduced.

Disclosed is a current-limiting circuit breaker including first and second mechanical switches connected in series with each other, a first diode, and a first snubber circuit, each connected in parallel across both ends of the first mechanical switch, and a second diode, and a second snubber circuit, each connected in parallel across both ends of the second mechanical switch.

An improved exhaust baffle for a circuit protective device such as a circuit breaker utilizes material having elastomeric characteristics to provide for variable apertures where the cross-sectional opening of the apertures is dependent on the pressure gradient across the exhaust baffle, thereby effectively controlling arc pressure and arc effluent during short circuit interruption. Fabrication of the exhaust baffle with geometric symmetry about one or more axes or planes also facilitates assembly during product construction.