Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.

Bernard J Gershen

Saul Rosenbaum

Benjamin B Neiger

James N Pearse

Alfred J Lombardi

Edward J Krajci

James E Meehan

Steve Campolo

Yevgeny Shafir

Roger M Bradley

Lester Rivera

David Y Chan

James Richter

Howard S Leopold

Stanley S Brenner

David Herzfeld

A resettable circuit interrupting device such as a GFCI that, when reverse wired during installation, will trip and prevent power being applied to the load side of the GFCI when powered up. A current limiting circuit is connected between the phase and a ground terminal on the line side of the differential transformer of the GFCI. When the GFCI is connected correctly, the current through the current limiting circuit will have no significant effect on the GFCI, and it will operate normally. When, however, the line conductors are connected to the load terminals of the GFCI and the load conductors are connected to the line terminals of the GFCI, the current through the current limiting circuit will appear as a ground fault and cause the GFCI to trip.

Circuit interrupting device line load reversal sensing system

In the present invention the basic detection and interruption components of an Immersion Detection Circuit Interrupter (IDCI), in combination with the line, neutral and shield conductors of an extension or appliance cord provides a new improved type of detector, a Leakage Current Detector Interrupter (LCDI) which interrupts current to a load when current leakage is detected between the line or neutral conductors of the cord and the shield conductor. The new improved LCDI detector provides, either singularly or in combination, the following advantages: Prevents the LCDI from being reset should the device become inoperative (reset lockout); Provides an indication of the integrity of the shield in the extension or appliance cord; Tests the integrity of the shield within the extension or appliance cord, in addition to testing the functionality of the LCDI; Interrupts current to the load if an electrical connection is detected between the shield and neutral, or the shield and ground, in addition to the existing detection of leakage current from the phase conductor; Allows the LCDI to trip during an open neutral condition by utilizing the ground connection as a return wire for the trip coil; and/or Provides immersion detection at the receptacle end of the extension cord in addition to protection from leakage faults.

Leakage current detection interrupter extension cord with cord diagnostics

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) with built in intelligence is described that includes circuitry to automatically indicate a device miswiring condition. When a GFCI is wired with its AC and LOAD terminals reversed, downstream devices are still protected in the event of a ground fault but the duplex receptacle on the GFCI itself is not. The invention incorporates miswiring sense circuitry that automatically triggers the generation of visual and audible alarms in the event a miswiring condition is sensed. The invention employs an alarm inhibiting technique that incorporates sense circuitry connected to the AC terminals on one side of the internal GFCI switches or relays and alarm generation circuitry connected to the LOAD terminals on the opposite side.

Ground fault circuit interrupter incorporating miswiring prevention circuitry

A system protects people and property against electrical shock, using immersion detecting circuits, broken wire test circuits, electromechanical circuit breaking devices including coil/plunger arrangements, and relay circuit breaking mechanisms cooperative with associated circuitry, all of which are able to be incorporated as a system wholly within the load or appliance, and its associated cord set, including a plug.

Shock hazard protection system

A novel apparatus for preventing miswiring of GFCI devices is disclosed. The invention is insertable into the receptacle portion of either a single or duplex GFCI device is operative to provide visual and/or audible indication to an installer or user that a miswiring condition is present. The invention comprises an elongated strip constructed of a nonconducting material such as plastic. The strip includes prongs attached to it either on one or both ends for retaining the strip within the receptacle of the GFCI device. A protruding button is positioned on the inner surface of the strip such that when the device is inserted into the GFCI, the button maintains the test button in a depressed state. This insures that the GFCI will be tested upon initial application of electrical power after installation. If the GFCI is not wired properly, visual and/or audible alarm indicators signal a miswiring condition to the installer.

Ground fault circuit interrupter miswiring prevention device

An extension cord having a male plug at one end and a receptacle at the other has a mechanism for opening the phase and neutral conductors in the event the receptacle is subjected to a conductive media. A recess in the face of the receptacle receives a first immersion detection electrode and a spaced, parallel, second immersion detection electrode. A conducting media bridging the two immersion detection electrodes sends a signal to an operating device which causes the opening of the phase and neutral conductors until the conducting media is removed.

Electrical extension cord with immersion detection circuit interrupter safety protection

An intelligent circuit interrupt system is electrically connected between an AC source and a load for interrupting a flow of AC from the source to the load upon detection of an interrupt condition. A circuit interrupter electrically connected to phase and neutral terminals of the AC source defines the interrupt condition. A relay switch with a relay coil and phase and neutral contacts is included such that line and load ends of the phase contact are electrically connected, respectively, between the interrupt means load side phase port and a phase terminal of the load. Line and load ends of the neutral contact are electrically connected, respectively, between the interrupt neutral port and a neutral terminal of the load. The relay coil is electrically coupled between load sides of said phase and neutral contacts for controlling the contacts in response to the interrupt signal. An open-contact miswiring detector (OCMD) is electrically connected to one of the phase and neutral contacts for detecting a miswiring condition when the contacts are in an open state, and a closed-contact miswiring detector (CCMD) is electrically connected to the OCMD and to one of the neutral and phase contacts for detecting a miswiring condition when the contacts are in a closed state. A timing signal generator generates system timing signals. A test circuit electrically coupled to the interrupt means and the timing signal generator tests the interrupt means operability. An alarm circuit is electrically responsive to the test circuit, the timing signal generator, the OCMD and the CCMD for communicating an open-contact miswiring condition, a closed-contact miswiring condition, an operational failure condition, and a need for external testing condition. A power supply is electrically connected between the load ends of the phase and neutral contacts, and to the timing signal generator.

Intelligent ground fault circuit interrupter

The present invention teaches a new and novel system for protecting people and property against electrical shock. The invention includes a number of preferred and other embodiments which have this as their goal, but which represent a number of distinctive and novel approaches to solving prior art problems. By way of example only, and without limiting the scope of this invention, these approaches include novel immersion detecting circuits, broken wire test circuits, electromechanical circuit breaking devices including coil/plunger arrangements, and relay circuit breaking mechanisms cooperative with associated circuitry, all of which are able to be incorporated as a system wholly within the load (appliance) and its associated cord set (including a 'plug').

A dual lighting control device with a single illuminator includes a line terminal for electrical connection to a source of AC electrical power, first and second electrical switching devices including line and load ends and setable to either an open or closed state and are electrically connected at line ends to the lien terminal. The illuminator, which may comprise a neon lamp, includes first and second terminals and is electrically connected at its first terminal to the line terminal. First and second electrical loads are electrically connectable, respectively, to the load side of the first and second switching devices. First and second diodes are electrically connected between the second terminal of the neon lamp and load ends of the first and second switching devices, respectively. The illuminator is activated when both switching devices are set to the open state or when one of the switching devices is open and the other is closed. The illuminator is off when both switching devices are set to the open state. Dimmer controls can be inserted in series with the switching devices to permit varying the brightness level of the electrical loads and the illuminator itself.

Dual switch and/or dimmer system illuminated with single neon lamp

Ground fault circuit interrupter incorporating miswiring prevention

An electric series circuit with plural loads such as light bulbs connected in series and plural solid state switching devices, with each switching device connected in parallel with one of the loads. Each switching device conducts current when the load that it is connected in parallel with does not conduct current because the load is burned out. The solid state switching means may be any device with a breakthrough voltage which is high enough that it does not conduct when all of the loads conduct current normally. When one of the loads is burned out, that load does not conduct current and the entire line voltage appears across the switching means in parallel with the burned out load. The switching means breaks down. Accordingly, the switching means conducts current and current flows to the remaining loads. Accordingly, the remaining light bulbs in a string of light bulbs continue to light. The burned out load may be immediately detected and replaced. The switching means may be a sidac. Alternatively, a combination of an SCR and a zener diode controlling the gate of the SCR are also disclosed as the switching means. A diac may replace the zener diode.

Electric series circuit

The present invention teaches a dimmer which incorporates an alternating current (AC) trigger which exhibits asymmetrical electrical characteristics. This eliminates the undesirable snap on hysteresis effect associated with conventional dimmers utilizing symmetrical AC triggers such as diacs and silicon bilateral switches (SBS). One embodiment of the present invention utilizes a zener diode to create the asymmetry. During one polarity of the AC source, the breakover voltage of the trigger is increased, forcing the trigger to breakover at a time later in the AC cycle than it would otherwise have with a symmetric trigger. This compensates for charge dumping of the phase control capacitor into the gate of the triac which would otherwise cause the snap on hysteresis effect.

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Centerport, NY, United States of America

Bernard J Gershen