Ground fault circuit interrupter
AssigneeSlater Electric Inc.
InventorsPaul D. Gernhardt, Ferdinand E. Orbeta
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
In a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), a pair of flexure arms having moveable contacts disposed thereon are deflected in response to the activation of a solenoid having a moveable core. The core of the solenoid causes a pair of cam actuators which are preferably coupled together by a catcher to rotate. The rotation of the cam actuators causes the deflection of the flexure arms, thereby separating the moveable contacts from the stationary contacts and interrupting the flow of current. The activation of the solenoid is controlled by an electronic module. The electromechanical current interrupter and the electronic module are disposed within a housing that can be mounted within a standard electrical receptacle box.
Claims19
A ground fault circuit interrupter in a power distribution system comprising:
- an electromagnetic coil means having a moveable core;
- at least two pivot arms that rotate in response to the linear movement of the moveable core of said electromagnetic coil means;
- at least two pairs of contacts, one contact of each pair stationary and the other contact of each pair being disposed on a deflectable flexure arm, each of said deflectable flexure arms being responsive to the rotation of one of said pivot arms, said deflectable flexure arms normally biasing said contacts in a closed position;
- means for detecting the occurrence of a fault in said power distribution system in order to actuate said electromagnetic coil means, such that said pivot arms rotate, thereby causing said deflectable flexure arms to separate said contacts and interrupt the flow of current.
A ground fault circuit interrupter in a power distribution system comprising:
- an electromagnetic coil means having a moveable core;
- at least two pairs of contacts, one contact of each pair being stationary and the other contact of each pair being disposed on a deflectable member, said deflectable members normally biasing said contacts in a closed position;
- means for applying the operating force of said electromagnetic coil means to directly open said contacts by moving said deflectable members;
- and
- means for detecting the occurrence of a ground fault in said power distribution system in order to actuate said electromagnetic coil means.
A ground fault circuit interrupter in a power distribution system comprising:
- an electromagnetic coil means having a moveable core;
- at least two pivot arms that rotate in response to the linear movement of the moveable core of said electromagnetic coil means, said pivot arms being coupled together by a catcher that cooperates with the moveable core of said electromagnetic coil means;
- at least two pairs of contacts, one contact of each pair being stationary and the other contact of each pair being disposed on a deflectable flexure arm, each of said deflectable flexure arms being responsive to the rotation of one of said pivot arms, said flexure arms including torsion elements that increase the effective length of said flexure arms, each of said flexure arms having a relatively narrow section and a relatively wide section and said torsion elements being formed by an aperture in said relatively wide section of said flexure arm;
- and
- means for detecting the occurrence of a fault in said power distrubution system in order to actuate said electromagnetic coil means, such that said pivot arms rotate, thereby causing said deflectable flexure arms to separate said contacts and interrupt the flow of current.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.