Resettable circuit closing device
AssigneeTechnology Research Corporation
InventorRaymond H. Legatti
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A resettable contact closing device opens a load circuit connected to a power line protected by a ground fault interrupter circuit, if the neutral conductor is broken. The contacts are closed by a mechanical reset actuator only if a solenoid is energized by a potential proportional to the line-to-neutral voltage to hold the actuator in a contact closing position. If the neutral conductor is broken, the solenoid will not be energized and the contacts, and hence the power line to the load circuit, will be opened.
Claims16
A resettable circuit closing device that is opened in the event of an undervoltage condition comprising:
- contact means biased to a normally open position;
- mechanical actuating means for mechanically forcing said contact means to a closed position when in a flexed position;
- adjusting cam means flexing said actuating means to said flexed position;
- and
- electrically energized holding means engaging said actuating means to permit closing of said contact means, by keeping said actuating means in the flexed position after flexing by said adjusting means only when a voltage applied across said holding means exceeds a predetermined level.
A resettable circuit closing device that is opened in the event of an undervoltage condition comprising:
- contact means biased to a normally open position, said contact means comprising a reciprocable contact carrier;
- mechanical actuating means comprising a reciprocable elongated member for mechanically forcing said contact means to a closed position;
- electrically energized holding means to enable said actuating means to close said contact means only when a voltage applied across said holding means exceeds a predetermined level;
- and
- latching means comprising a shoulder extending from said elongated member, said shoulder passing said contact carrier without engaging it upon reciprocation of said elongated member unless a voltage in excess of said predetermined level is applied across said holding means, said elongated member being biased to an actuating position by said holding means to cause said shoulder to engage said contact carrier when the voltage applied to said holding means exceeds said predetermined level, and a biasing force exerted causing said shoulder to disengage said contact carrier if the voltage applied to said holding means is below said predetermined level.
A resettable circuit closing device for opening a line protected by a ground fault current interrupter circuit in the event of a broken neutral conductor comprising:
- contact means biased to a normally open position, said contact means comprising a reciprocable contact carrier;
- mechanical actuating means for closing said contact means;
- adjusting means to condition said actuating means for closing said contact means;
- and
- electrically energized holding means to keep said actuating means conditioned for closing said contact means after conditioning by said adjusting means, said actuating means comprising latching means to engage said contact carrier to close said contact means upon energization of said actuating means and maintain said contact means closed, when said holding means is energized, and to not engage said contact carrier to permit said contact means to return to, or remain in, the normally open position when said holding means is not energized.
A resettable circuit closing device, for use in connection with a power line having a ground fault current interrupter circuit, to open a load circuit in the event of a broken neutral conductor comprising:
- contact means to complete the load circuit when closed;
- mechanical contact bias means to urge said contact means to an open position;
- manually energizable mechanical reset actuating means to close said contact means;
- latching means associated with said reset actuating means;
- electrically energized holding means to provide a magnetic bias when energized by a potential proportional to the line-to-neutral voltage to maintain said reset actuating means with said latching means positioned to close said contact means when said holding means is energized;
- and
- latching release means associated with said reset actuating means to reposition said latching means to permit said contact bias means to open said contact means when said holding means discontinues providing the magnetic bias.
A resettable circuit closing device for use in connection with a ground fault current interrupter circuit to open a power line to a load in the event of a broken neutral conductor comprising:
- a reciprocable contact-carrying bar mechanically biased to have the contacts normally open;
- a manually energizable elongated actuating member mounted for reciprocation past said contact-carrying bar, said actuating member having at least some flexibility;
- mechanical actuating bias means forcing said actuating member to return to its rest position;
- a latching shoulder mounted on said actuating member adjacent said contact-carrying bar;
- cam means to flex said actuating member to place said shoulder in position to engage said contact-carrying bar;
- a solenoid having a coil across which a potential proportional to the power line-to-neutral voltage is applied and a reciprocable armature;
- and
- a securing frame mounted on said armature to engage and hold said actuating member in the flexed position when said coil of said solenoid is energized, after said actuating member has been flexed by said cam means to mechanically force said armature to the energized position,
- whereby said latching shoulder is brought into, and held in, engagement with said contact-carrying bar to close said contacts and maintain said contacts closed so long as said coil of said solenoid is energized, the force exerted by the flexed actuating member removing said latching shoulder from said contact-carrying bar when said coil is de-energized, to thereby open the contacts.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.