Gfci with cycle counter

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016181739-A1
Application number	US-201615054997-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 26, 2016
Priority date	Nov 12, 2012
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing end-of-life functionality in an electrical component using a count of plugging operations are shown. In some configurations, a GFCI counts plugging operations and then provides an LED end-of-life indication when a threshold of plugging operations is met.

First claim

We claim:

1 . An electrical component comprising:
a first electrical receptacle; and a first counting mechanism operatively coupled to the first electrical receptacle for counting plugging operations into the first receptacle, the first counting mechanism including a contact pin switch that is activated upon the plugging in of a plug into the electrical receptacle.

2 . The electrical component of claim 1 , wherein, the first counting mechanism includes a contact pin switch that is activated by the flexing of a first terminal of the first electrical receptacle.

3 . The electrical component of claim 1 , further comprising: memory for counting the number of plugging operations.

4 . The electrical component of claim 1 , further comprising a first end-of-life indicator for providing end-of-life functionality when a threshold of first plugging operations has been met.

5 . The electrical component of claim 4 , wherein the first end-of-life indicator includes a mechanism for shutting current flow to the first receptacle.

6 . The electrical component of claim 4 , wherein the first end-of-life indicator includes a mechanism for emitting an audible tone.

7 . The electrical component of claim 4 , further comprising a second end-of-life indicator for providing end-of-life functionality when a threshold of second plugging operations has been met.

8 . The electrical component of claim 7 , wherein the second end-of-life indicator includes a mechanism for shutting current flow to the first receptacle.

9 . The electrical component of claim 7 , wherein the second end-of-life indicator includes a mechanism for emitting an audible tone.

10 . The electrical component of claim 7 , further comprising a third end-of-life indicator for providing end-of-life functionality when a threshold of first plugging operations or second plugging operations has been met.

11 . The electrical component of claim 1 , wherein the first counting mechanism comprises a first contact pin operatively connected to the first electrical receptacle.

12 . The electrical component of claim 11 , further comprising a processor operatively connected to the first counting mechanism.

13 . The electrical component of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second electrical receptacle; a second counting mechanism operatively coupled to the second electrical receptacle for counting plugging operations into the second receptacle, the second counting mechanism including a contact pin switch that is activated upon the plugging in of a plug into the second electrical receptacle.

14 . The electrical component of claim 13 , wherein at least one of the first counting mechanism and the second counting mechanism includes a contact pin operatively connected to one of the first electrical receptacle and the second electrical receptacle, and further comprising a processor operatively connected to the first counting mechanism and the second counting mechanism.

15 . An electrical component comprising:
a first electrical receptacle; and a first counting mechanism operatively coupled to the first electrical receptacle for counting plugging operations into the first receptacle, the first counting mechanism including a contact pin switch that is activated by the flexing of a first terminal of the first electrical receptacle.

16 . The electrical component of claim 15 , wherein the first counting mechanism includes a contact pin switch that is activated upon the plugging in of a plug into the electrical receptacle.

17 . The electrical component of claim 15 , further comprising memory for counting the number of plugging operations.

18 . The electrical component of claim 15 , further comprising a first end-of-life indicator for providing end-of-life functionality when a threshold of first plugging operations has been met.

19 . The electrical component of claim 18 , wherein the first end-of-life indicator includes a mechanism for shutting current flow to the first receptacle.

20 . The electrical component of claim 18 , wherein the first end-of-life indicator includes a mechanism for emitting an audible tone.

21 . The electrical component of claim 18 , further comprising a second end-of-life indicator for providing end-of-life functionality when a threshold of second plugging operations has been met.

22 . The electrical component of claim 21 , wherein the second end-of-life indicator includes a mechanism for shutting current flow to the first receptacle.

23 . The electrical component of claim 21 , wherein the second end-of-life indicator includes a mechanism for emitting an audible tone.

24 . The electrical component of claim 21 , further comprising a third end-of-life indicator for providing end-of-life functionality when a threshold of first plugging operations or second plugging operations has been met.

25 . The electrical component of claim 15 , wherein the first counting mechanism comprises a first contact pin operatively connected to the first electrical receptacle.

26 . The electrical component of claim 25 , further comprising a processor operatively connected to the first counting mechanism.

27 . The electrical component of claim 15 , further comprising:
a second electrical receptacle; a second counting mechanism operatively coupled to the second electrical receptacle for counting plugging operations into the second receptacle, the second counting mechanism including a contact pin switch that is activated upon the plugging in of a plug into the second electrical receptacle.

28 . The electrical component of claim 27 , wherein at least one of the first counting mechanism and the second counting mechanism includes a contact pin operatively connected to one of the first electrical receptacle and the second electrical receptacle, and further comprising a processor operatively connected to the first counting mechanism and the second counting mechanism.

Assignees

• Hubbell Inc

Inventors

• Shotey Marcus J
• Baldwin Jeffrey P

Classifications

• G01R31/69

  of terminals at the end of a cable or a wire harness; of plugs; of sockets, e.g. wall sockets or power sockets in appliances · CPC title

• H01R13/6683

  with built-in sensor · CPC title

• H01H83/04 Primary

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

• H02H3/16

  responsive to fault current to earth, frame or mass (with balanced or differential arrangement H02H3/26 {; monitoring earth connection H02H5/105}) · CPC title

• G01R31/3277

  of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches · CPC title