Ground fault circuit interrupter plug
US5661623A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | May 22, 1995 |
| Grant date | Aug 26, 1997 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | May 22, 2015 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/331
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) line cord plug utilizes an electronically latched relay, rather than a circuit breaker or other type of mechanical latching device, to interrupt the AC load power when a ground fault condition occurs. In order to reduce the size of the relay and minimize the cost and complexity of the GFCI plug, the fixed and movable relay contact structures are mounted directly to the circuit board which carries the remaining components of the GFCI circuit. In a preferred embodiment, the fixed relay contact structures are integral with the plug blades of the GFCI plug. The movable relay contact structures preferably comprise deflectable spring arms which are preloaded when the relay contacts are in the open position in order to control the contact gap, and which are deflected past the point of contact closure when the relay contacts are in the closed position in order to increase the closing force. The principal electrical components of the GFCI plug, including the relay contacts, relay coil and sensing transformer, are mounted on the circuit board in a generally tandem or in-line arrangement in order to minimize the dimensions of the plug.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.