Detecting and sensing actuation in a circuit interrupting device
US7986501B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 5, 2009 |
| Grant date | Jul 26, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Nov 7, 2029 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH01R2103/00
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A circuit interrupting device configured to cause electrical discontinuity along a conductive path upon the occurrence of a predetermined condition is disclosed. The device includes a fault sensing circuit detecting the predetermined condition and generating a circuit interrupting actuation signal, and a coil and plunger assembly actuatable by the circuit interrupting actuation signal so that, upon detecting the predetermined condition, the plunger will move in a fault direction from a non-actuated to an actuated configuration a distance sufficient to cause disengagement of at least one set of contacts from each other to cause electrical discontinuity along the conductive path; and a test assembly causing the plunger to move in a test direction, from a pre-test configuration to a post-test configuration, a distance insufficient to disengage the at least one set of contacts from each other. Analogous methods of testing the circuit interrupting device are also disclosed.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.