Self-test GFCI device with dual solenoid coil electronic control

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10236151-B2
Application number	US-201816114807-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 28, 2018
Priority date	Jan 15, 2014
Publication date	Mar 19, 2019
Grant date	Mar 19, 2019

Abstract

A wiring device including a fault detection circuit, an actuating device, a first switching device, a second switching device, and a third switching device. The fault detection circuit is configured to detect one or more fault conditions and generate a trigger signal. The first switching device is activated to turn on when said trigger signal is received from said fault detection circuit. The second switching device includes a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, said second switching device is electrically connected to a first conductive winding of the actuating device and said first switching device. The third switching device includes a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, said third switching device is electrically connected to a second conductive winding of the actuating device and said first switching device.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A wiring device comprising:
a fault detection circuit configured to detect one or more fault conditions in said wiring device and generate a trigger signal when said fault condition meets predetermined criteria;
an actuating device with coaxial first and second conductive windings, wherein said second conductive winding is wound over said first conductive winding; and
a first switching device activated to turn on when said trigger signal is received from said fault detection circuit;
a second switching device including a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, said second switching device electrically connected to said first conductive winding and said first switching device; and
a third switching device including a first pin, a second pin, and a third pin, said third switching device electrically connected to said second conductive winding and said first switching device;
wherein current flows through said first and second conductive windings in response to said first switching device being turned on.

2. The wiring device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
said second switching device electrically connected to said first conductive winding and activated to draw current through said first conductive winding when said first switching device is turned on; and
said third switching device electrically connected to said second conductive winding and activated to draw current through said second conductive winding when said first switching device is turned on.

3. The wiring device as recited in claim 2 , wherein said actuating device includes a plunger coaxial with the respective axes of said first and second conductive windings and a respective magnetic force is imparted on said plunger when each of said first and second conductive windings conducts current.

4. The wiring device as recited in claim 3 , wherein a third magnetic force is imparted on said plunger when both of said first and second conductive windings conducts current simultaneously, said third magnetic force being greater than the sum of said first and second respective magnetic forces.

5. The wiring device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said third switching device blocks one or more feedback signals generated by one or more of said first and second switching devices.

6. The wiring device as recited in claim 1 , further comprising:
wherein said fault detection signal is provided to cause said current flow; and
an auto-monitoring circuit monitoring said current flow to determine an operating state of said actuating device.

7. The wiring device as recited in claim 6 , wherein said auto-monitoring circuit monitors a first auto-monitoring input signal the value of which is at least partially determined by a value of a pre-trigger signal generated by said fault detection circuit, wherein said pre-trigger signal does not activate said interrupting device to place said circuit interrupting device in said tripped condition.

8. The wiring device as recited in claim 7 , wherein said fault detection circuit includes a GFCI device that detects a net current flowing from one or more line conductors to one or more load conductors and generates said pre-trigger signal when said net current exceeds a predetermined threshold.

9. The wiring device as recited in claim 8 , wherein said GFCI device generates a trigger signal to cause said current flow when said net current exceeds the predetermined threshold for a predetermined amount of time.

10. The wiring device as recited in claim 7 , wherein said pre-trigger signal is delivered via a pre-trigger conductor.

11. The wiring device as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a filter capacitor electrically connected between said pre-trigger conductor and electrical ground.

12. The wiring device as recited in claim 11 , wherein the value of said filter capacitor is selected to eliminate noise from causing false trigger signals.

13. The wiring device as recited in claim 1 , wherein said fault detection circuit includes a 4141 GFCI chip.

14. The wiring device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least one selected from a group consisting of the first switching device, the second switching device, and the third switching device is a silicon controlled rectifier device.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Simonin Stephen Paul

Classifications

• H01H71/2481

  characterised by the coil design · CPC title

• H02H3/05

  with means for increasing reliability, e.g. redundancy arrangements {(for logic circuits H03K19/003)} · CPC title

• H01H2071/044

  Monitoring, detection or measuring systems to establish the end of life of the switching device, can also contain other on-line monitoring systems, e.g. for detecting mechanical failures · CPC title

• H01H83/04 Primary

  with testing means for indicating the ability of the switch or relay to function properly · CPC title

• H01H83/02

  operated by earth fault currents (H01H83/14 takes precedence) · CPC title