General Electric Company

General Electric Corporation Gmbh

George W Kiesel

Paul T Rajotte

Robert Allan Morris

Ronald R Russell

LeeAnne Wambolt

Anthony L Richards

Henry G Willard

A two pole ground fault circuit breaker is provided by the attachment of a power supply module and a second single pole circuit breaker module to a completely assembled single pole ground fault circuit breaker. Electrical interconnection between the signal processor circuit within the single pole ground fault circuit breaker module and the second pole is made by a first pair of conductors. Interconnection between the power supply module and the single pole within the ground fault circuit breaker is provided by a separate pair of conductors.

Two pole ground fault circuit breaker

A sensing current transformer having a single turn primary winding for ground fault circuit interrupters and breakers utilizes a conductive post extending through the transformer metallic enclosure in combination with the conductive path across the metallic closure as the current sensing path. A four turn primary winding is provided by four metallic staples, each having one leg extending through the transformer aperture, for establishing four independent current sensing paths.

Current transformer arrangement for ground fault circuit interrupters

A ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) yoke with integral grounding screw and simple staked ground receptacle stab arrangement provides the device grounding features. The mounting screws that are attached to the yoke by means of staples provide a wall box self-grounding feature. A push-to-test arrangement is provided by a neutral strap and test contact attached to the line receptacle stab through a current limiting resistor. Depressing a test button energizes the test circuit by electrically connecting the test contact with the neutral strap. The combination of the line and neutral receptacle stabs with the line and neutral moveable contact arms and the arrangement of the receptacle stabs in alignment with the receptacle plug-in slots allows the push-to-test and interrupter contacts to be assembled within the GFCI enclosure without additional wiring.

Ground and test arrangement for a ground fault circuit interrupter

A compact operating mechanism for a ground fault circuit interrupter comprises a pair of main and reset slotted latches arranged under a crossarm and over a latch plate on a spring-loaded latch pin. The mechanism is reset by interference between a neck portion on the latch pin and a surface on the reset latch. The mechanism is latched by interference between the surfaces on a pair of upright posts on the latch plate and a surface on the main latch.

Interrupter mechanism for a ground fault circuit interrupter

A ground fault circuit interrupter interconnect arrangement provides wireless connection with line and neutral main current terminals by insertion through an aperture in the interrupter magnetic sensor module to form a magnetic sensor plug-in subassembly. The electronics components and trip solenoid are mounted to the interrupter printed wire board. The magnetic sensor subassembly is plugged into the printed wire board for interconnection with the electronics components. This allows the interrupter to be assembled in a completely automated process.

Electrical interconnect arrangement for a GFCI magnetic sensor module

A receptacle having a pocket accommodating the insertion of an insulative printed circuit card is equipped with one set of contacts disposed to one side of the pocket and individually electrically connected to a breaker static trip unit. Two additional sets of contacts, disposed to the other side of the pocket, are respectively connected to different secondary winding taps of each of a plurality of phase current transformers. Plural pairs of electrically interconnected conductive strips are printed on opposite sides of the card in positions to connect the contacts of the one set individually to the contacts of either one of the two additional sets, depending upon the orientation of the card when inserted in the pocket.

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Burlington, CT, United States of America

George W Kiesel