US 2014/0153144 A1 · Industrial Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an industrial GFCI for control panels and/or industrial machines. The industrial GFCI senses when a fault condition has occurred in an associated circuit or load and quickly disconnect the circuit. In some exemplary embodiments, the industrial GFCI includes a bypass switch, which couples a load directly to a power source, bypassing fault detection. In some exemplary embodiments, the industrial GFCI also includes intelligent filtering, which discriminate between true fault events and false signals caused by environmental noise. Further, the industrial GFCI is manufactured as a part of a control panel or a piece of equipment. In certain exemplary embodiments, the industrial GFCI is manufactured as a portable kit capable of coupling to and decoupling from one or more control panels, machines, etc.

Claims20

Dependent claims

An industrial ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) comprising:

a fault detection module for detecting a fault in a circuit, the circuit comprising a load and a power source;
a power disconnect switch electrically coupled between the power source and the load, wherein the power disconnect switch electrically decouples the load from power source when the fault detection module detects a fault in the circuit;
and
a bypass switch electrically coupled between the power source and the power disconnect switch, the bypass switch being positionable in a first state and a second state,
wherein in the first state, the bypass switch electrically couples the power source directly to the load;
wherein in the second state, the bypass switch electrically couples the power source to the power disconnect switch;
and
wherein the fault detection module is communicably coupled to the power disconnect switch and detects a differential current between the power disconnect switch and the bypass switch via a current detecting device.

5 more elements

An industrial ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), comprising:

a portable industrial ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), the portable industrial ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) capable of being coupled to and decoupled from a control panel or equipment, wherein the portable industrial ground fault circuit interrupter is electrically coupled between a power source and a load when it is coupled to the control panel or equipment, the portable industrial ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) further comprising:
a fault detection module for detecting a fault in a circuit comprising the load and the power source;
a power disconnect switch electrically coupled between the power source and the load, wherein the power disconnect switch electrically decouples the load from the power source when the fault detection module detects a fault in the circuit;
wherein the fault detection module is communicably coupled to the power disconnect switch and detects a differential current between the power disconnect switch and the power source via a current detecting device;
and
a housing, the housing storing the fault detection module and the power disconnect switch as a portable unit capable of being coupled to and decoupled from the control panel or equipment.

3 more elements

An industrial ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), comprising:

a fault detection module configured to detect a fault in a circuit, the circuit comprising a load and a power source;
and
a power disconnect switch communicably coupled to the fault detection module, wherein the power disconnect switch is electrically coupled between the power source and the load, and decouples the load from power source when the fault detection module detects a fault in the circuit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Industrial Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Life of this patent

Industrial Ground Fault Circuit Interrupter

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20