Ground fault protective system requiring reduced current-interrupting capability
US4370692A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 13, 1981 |
| Grant date | Jan 25, 1983 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 13, 2001 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H7/222
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A ground fault interrupter type device for protecting an electrical load device such as a range which has conductors supplied from a power source including overcurrent interruption means for interrupting the power source when a predetermined current threshold is exceeded. The electrical load device is subject to a first class of failure characterized by excessive current flow between at least one of the conductors and a ground reference point, with circuit current remaining at or below the predetermined current threshold; and to a second class of failure characterized by current through at least one of the conductors being above the predetermined current threshold. Failures of the second class include ground fault failures. In order to reduce the current interruption capability requirement for the ground fault interrupter device, there is included a means for preventing conductor interruption thereby in the event a failure of the second class occurs. Accordingly, the current-interrupting capability is at least as high as the predetermined current threshold but less than the maximum current which may flow during a failure of the second class. In the illustrated embodiments, the mean…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.