Leviton Manufacturing Company, Inc.

James N Pearse

Bernard J Gershen

Saul Rosenbaum

Roger M Bradley

Benjamin B Neiger

William J Rose

George E Johnson

Stanley S Brenner

Dennis A Oddsen

Scot J Hale

Anthony C Tufano

Steve Campolo

Albert Zaretsky

Wolfgang F Bienwald

Anthony T Tufano

An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) device functions to provide protection from potentially dangerous arc faults. The arc fault detector can be used stand alone or in combination with circuit interrupting devices such as IDCIs and ALCIs. The AFCI device detects both AC line frequencies and high frequencies associated with arcing. Both average and instantaneous values of both AC line frequency and high frequency arcing signals are processed to generate an arc fault signal. The trip mechanism of the device trips on the occurrence of either an arc fault or a ground fault. The device allows the arc detector to differentiate between destructive high level arcing and low level arcing such as generated by typical household appliances and equipment. This serves to decrease the occurrence of false tripping. The device also includes a timer circuit, which permits the user to temporarily disable the arc detector, and includes communication means to permit the device to communicate the occurrence and location of the arc fault to a centralized monitoring station.

Arc fault detector with circuit interrupter

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

An arc fault detector comprised as a stand alone unit and in combination with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) functions to provide protection from potentially dangerous arc fault conditions. When combined with a GFCI, the combination arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter (AFCI/GFCI) provides protection from both arc fault and ground fault conditions. A single transformer is used to detect faults between neutral and ground and arc faults. An impedance splits the current flow into two portions so as to generate differential current proportional to the current flowing through the conductors. An early arcing detector periodically tests the AC line for high impedance between the device and a main breaker panel. The AFCI/GFCI device detects both AC line frequencies and high frequencies associated with arcing. Both average and instantaneous values of both AC line frequency and high frequency arcing signals are processed to generate an arc fault signal. The device allows the arc detector to differentiate between destructive high level arcing and low level arcing such as generated by typical household appliances and equipment. This serves to decrease the occurrence of false tripping. The device also includes a timer circuit, which permits the user to temporarily disable the arc detector, and includes communication means to permit the device to communicate the occurrence and location of the arc fault to a centralized monitoring station.

Arc fault detector with circuit interrupter and early arc fault detection

An arc fault detector, as a stand alone device or in combination with a circuit interrupting device such as a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI), protects from potentially dangerous arc fault conditions. The device utilizes line side and load side pickup coils to distinguish between arc faults occurring on the line or load side. An arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) circuitry portion of the device shares components from the GFCI circuitry portion, and utilizes the electromechanical power carrying portion of the GFCI, including AC line disconnect circuitry and a power supply. The AFCI employs quantitative detection using variable gain control in combination with either a load disconnect or audible/visual alarm indication. The device also includes a timer circuit, which permits the user to temporarily inhibit or disable the arc detection, and selective frequency filtering permitting arc detection in the presence of power line carrier communications.

A quick wired lamp socket assembly which employs a pivoting actuator lever to cause the engagement between an electric cord inserted therein and assembly contacts and provides strain relief to such cord. The actuator lever has a partial top member, an edge of which defines an exposed edge with two conductor recesses and a tooth thereon. The recesses receive the conductors of the cord and the tooth engages the web between the two conductors. The cord is retained against the exposed edge by the circuitous path the cord follows through the lamp socket assembly.

Quick wire electrical socket with strain relief

An arc fault detector comprised as a stand alone unit and in combination with a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) functions to provide protection from potentially dangerous arc fault conditions. When combined with a GFCI, the combination arc fault/ground fault circuit interrupter (AFCI/GFCI) provides protection from both arc fault and ground fault conditions. A single transformer is used to detect faults between neutral and ground and arc faults. An impedance splits the current flow into two portions so as to generate differential current proportional to the current flowing through the conductors. An early arcing detector periodically tests the AC line for high impedance between the device and a main breaker panel. The AFCI/GFCI device detects both AC line frequencies and high frequencies associated with arcing. Both average and instantaneous values of both AC line frequency and high frequency arcing signals are processed to generate an arc fault signal. The device allows the arc detector to differentiate between destructive high level arcing and low level arcing such as generated by typical household appliances and equipment. This serves to decrease the occurrence of false tripping. The device also includes a timer circuit, which permits the user to temporarily disable the arc detector, and includes communication circuitry to permit the device to communicate the occurrence and location of the arc fault to a centralized monitoring station.

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').

An arc fault detector embodied as both a stand alone device and in combination with a circuit interrupting device such as a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) functions to provide protection from potentially dangerous arc fault conditions. The device utilizes line side and load side pickup coils to permit distinguishing between arc faults occurring on the line side and the load side of the device. The arc fault circuit interrupter (AFCI) circuitry portion of the device shares components from the GFCI circuitry portion as an integral part of its functionality. The AFCI utilizes the electromechanical power carrying, portion of the GFCI, including the AC line disconnect circuitry, the power supply and the physical housing. In addition, the AFCI employs quantitative detection using variable gain control in combination with either a load disconnect or audible/visual alarm indication. The device also includes a timer circuit, which permits the user to temporarily inhibit or disable the arc detection, and selective frequency filtering permitting arc detection in the presence of power line carrier communications. In addition, the device includes communication means to permit the device to communicate the occurrence and location of an arc fault to a centralized monitoring station.

A lamp socket assembly having insulation piercing and displacing contacts which make electrical and mechanical joints with the two conductors of an electrical lamp cord. The contacts have two pointed ends to pierce the insulation and a slot between to sever and displace the insulation from the contact which is arranged transverse to the path of the cord in the socket. An actuating lever, pivotally mounted to the socket body, is held in different ratchet controlled position ranges to hold the lever and socket in assembly and accept the cord end and then force the cord in to the insulation piercing and displacing contacts. A strain relief member is made to engage the cord when the lever is fully operated.

Quick wire electrical socket

Faceplate for combined grounded and ungrounded receptacles in a common

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 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').

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Dix Hills, NY, United States of America

James N Pearse