Circuit breakers incorporating reset lockout mechanisms

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11545327-B2
Application number	US-202217714291-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 6, 2022
Priority date	Aug 5, 2016
Publication date	Jan 3, 2023
Grant date	Jan 3, 2023

Abstract

Multi-pole and single-pole circuit breakers include a housing and a reset lockout mechanism disposed within the housing. The reset lockout mechanism disables electrical communication between line and load terminals of the circuit breaker if a predefined condition exists. Some circuit breakers include a single actuator, transition between ON and OFF states, and are capable of performing test functions. The test functions may involve testing AFCI and/or GFCI functions of the circuit breakers. The test functions may be performed when the circuit breaker transitions from an OFF state to an ON state. Some circuit breakers including a reset lockout mechanism may be powered only on its line side. Some circuit breakers provide an electrical indication when they are in the OFF state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A circuit breaker comprising:
a housing;
a line terminal and a load terminal;
an indicator;
a single actuator coupled to the housing and configured to move between an ON position and an OFF position;
a linkage member operably coupled to the single actuator and movable between a first position and a second position;
wherein movement of the single actuator to the ON position moves the linkage member to the first position, wherein when the linkage member is in the first position, electrical communication is established between the line terminal and the load terminal; and
a control circuit configured to selectively establish electrical communication between the line terminal and the load terminal in response to movement of the single actuator, the control circuit is configured to:
initiate a test in response to detecting movement of the linkage member from the second position toward the first position;
determine a result of the test; and
generate a signal to cause the indicator to show a state of the circuit breaker in response to determining the result of the test.

2. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the result of the test includes a determination that a fault associated with the circuit breaker does not exist.

3. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the result of the test includes a determination that a fault associated with the circuit breaker exists.

4. The circuit breaker of claim 3 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit a control signal to cause the control circuit to move the linkage member to the second position.

5. The circuit breaker of claim 4 , wherein movement of the linkage member to the second position interrupts electrical communication between the line terminal and the load terminal.

6. The circuit breaker of claim 5 , further comprising a solenoid configured to selectively engage the linkage member.

7. The circuit breaker of claim 6 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit a control signal to the solenoid to engage the linkage member based on determining the fault does not exist.

8. The circuit breaker of claim 7 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to:
sense a second current;
analyze the second current; and
determine whether the fault exists based on the analysis of the second current.

9. The circuit breaker of claim 8 , wherein the control circuit is further configured to transmit a control signal to the solenoid to engage the linkage member based on determining the fault does not exist after analyzing the second current.

10. A circuit breaker comprising:
a housing;
a line terminal and a load terminal;
an electrical indicator;
an OFF state;
a single actuator coupled to the housing and configured to move between an ON position and an OFF position;
a latch arm having a proximal portion and a distal latch portion, the distal latch portion operably coupling the latch arm to the single actuator;
a linkage operably coupled to the single actuator and electrically coupled to the line terminal such that movement of the linkage selectively establishes electrical communication between the line terminal and the load terminal; and
a circuit configured to generate a signal to activate the electrical indicator while the circuit breaker is in the OFF state,
wherein the signal is indicative of detection by the circuit breaker of a predetermined condition.

11. The circuit breaker of claim 10 , wherein the predetermined condition is one or more of a miswiring condition, a shared-neutral condition, a ground fault, a grounded-neutral fault, an arc fault, an overcurrent, or an end or life condition.

12. The circuit breaker of claim 10 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
sense a current;
analyze the sensed current; and
determine whether the predetermined condition exists based on the analysis of the sensed current.

13. The circuit breaker of claim 12 , wherein the predetermined condition is selected from the group consisting of ground faults, arc faults, shared-neutral conditions, and overcurrent conditions.

14. The circuit breaker of claim 13 , further comprising a solenoid configured to engage the linkage.

15. The circuit breaker of claim 14 , wherein the circuit is further configured to transmit a control signal to the solenoid to engage the linkage in response to determining that the predetermined condition exists.

16. The circuit breaker of claim 15 , wherein the circuit is further configured to transmit a control signal to the solenoid to engage the linkage based on determining that the predetermined condition does not exist and the single actuator has been actuated.

17. The circuit breaker of claim 16 , wherein the circuit is further configured to:
analyze a second current; and
determine whether a second predetermined condition exists based on the analysis of the second current.

18. The circuit breaker of claim 17 , wherein the circuit is further configured to transmit a control signal to the solenoid to engage the linkage based on determining that the second predetermined condition does not exist and the single actuator has been actuated.

19. A circuit breaker comprising:
a line terminal and a load terminal;
an indicator;
a single actuator coupled to a housing and movable between an ON position and an OFF position;
a latch arm having a proximal portion and a distal latch portion, the distal latch portion operably coupling the latch arm to the single actuator;
a linkage operably coupled to the distal latch portion such that movement of the linkage to a first position selectively establishes electrical communication between the line terminal and the load terminal; and
a circuit configured to:
detect a shared neutral condition; and
generate a signal to activate the indicator in response to detecting the shared neutral condition.

20. The circuit breaker of claim 19 , wherein the circuit is further configured to detect a fault.

21. The circuit breaker of claim 20 , wherein the fault is a simulated fault.

22. The circuit breaker of claim 21 , wherein:
the circuit is a control circuit; and
wherein the circuit breaker is configured to be in electrical communication with a branch circuit and the control circuit is configured to detect a fault on the branch circuit.

23. The circuit breaker of claim 19 further comprising:
an ON state, an OFF state, and a MID-TRIP state, wherein the first position of the linkage corresponds with the ON state of the circuit breaker, wherein the circuit is further configured to cause the linkage to move from the first position to a second position, wherein the second position corresponds with the OFF state or the MID-TRIP state of the circuit breaker.

24. The circuit breaker of claim 23 , further comprising a solenoid in electrical communication with the circuit, wherein the solenoid is configured to operably engage the linkage.

25. The circuit breaker of claim 24 , wherein the circuit is further configured to transmit a control signal to the solenoid in response to detecting the shared neutral condition.

26. The circuit breaker of claim 24 , wherein the solenoid is configured to move the linkage from the first position to the second position in response to receiving the signal from the circuit.

Assignees

• Leviton Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Ostrovsky Michael
• Kamor Michael
• Lombardi Alfred J
• Kevelos Adam
• Bugryn James

Classifications

• H01H71/52

  actuated by lever · CPC title

• H01H1/00

  Contacts (liquid contacts H01H29/04) · CPC title

• H01H71/62 Primary

  with means for preventing resetting while abnormal condition persists, e.g. loose handle arrangement · CPC title

• H01H71/02

  Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings · CPC title

• H01H71/54 Primary

  actuated by tumbler · CPC title