Method of actuating a test function of an electrical switching apparatus and electrical switching apparatus employing the same
AssigneeEaton Corporation
InventorsPatrick Mills, Kevin Gonyea, Richard Benshoff
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An arc fault circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts, an operating mechanism adapted to open and close the separable contacts, and an arc fault trip mechanism cooperating with the operating mechanism to trip open the separable contacts. The arc fault trip mechanism includes an arc fault test circuit adapted to simulate an arc fault trip condition to trip open the separable contacts. A proximity sensor, such as a Hall effect sensor, is adapted to sense a magnetic target to actuate the arc fault test circuit.
Claims20
A method of actuating a test function of an electrical switching apparatus, said method comprising:
- employing a proximity sensor with said electrical switching apparatus;
- sensing a target with said proximity sensor;
- and
- responsive to said sensing a target, actuating said test function of said electrical switching apparatus.
An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a housing;
- separable contacts;
- an operating mechanism adapted to open and close said separable contacts;
- and
- a trip mechanism cooperating with said operating mechanism to trip open said separable contacts, said trip mechanism comprising:
- a test circuit adapted to simulate a trip condition to trip open said separable contacts, and
- a proximity sensor adapted to sense a target to actuate said test circuit.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.