Pass + Seymour, Inc.

Pass & Seymore, Inc.

Kent R Morgan

Richard Weeks

Jeffrey C Richards

David Alan Finlay, Sr

Gerald R Savicki, Jr

Bruce F Macbeth

Thomas N Packard

Patrick John Murphy

Dejan Radosavljevic

Michael F McMahon

Joshua P Haines

Brian Mueller

Kenneth D Vought

Gary O Wilson

Michael R Bryndzia

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes an automatic test circuit configured to commence an automatic test at a predetermined time such that a test current propagates on a test conductor. The sensor assembly provides a sensor test output responsive to the test current only if both the differential transformer and the grounded neutral transformer are operative. A fault detector circuit is configured to generate a test detection signal in response to the sensor test output only if the fault detector circuit is operable and the at least one power supply is substantially charged. A device integrity evaluation circuit includes a timer that effects a tripped state when a time measurement exceeds a threshold, the test detection signal resetting the time measurement when properly wired before the time measurement exceeds the predetermined threshold but does not reset the time measurement when miswired.

Electrical wiring device with protective features

An electrical wiring device including: a housing, a plurality of terminals electrically connected to a contact structure including a conductive member having at least one contact, wherein in response to a make-force each contact structure is configured to perform a first movement to electrically connect each of the contacts on each contact structure to one of the contacts on a different one of the fixed contact structures in the reset state, thereby electrically connecting the terminals in the reset state; a circuit interrupting assembly being configured to perform a first linear movement in response to a break-force in order to cause each contact structure to perform a second movement in a direction opposite the first movement to decouple each of the contacts on each contact structure from one of the contacts on a different one of the fixed contact structures thereby decoupling the terminals to effect a tripped state; a protective electrical assembly, and a latching element configured to restrain the circuit interrupting assembly in a reset state and to disengage the circuit interrupting assembly in a tripped state, the latching element positioned to impart and angular force on a catch pin.

Protective device having a thin construction

The present invention is directed to a protective device configured to be coupled between an AC power source and an electrical load. A ground continuity monitor is coupled to the ground conductor, the ground continuity monitor being configured to detect a ground discontinuity condition in the ground conductor. A circuit interrupter mechanism is configured to interrupt electrical continuity in a tripped state and establish electrical continuity in a reset state. A self-test circuit is coupled to the ground continuity monitor and configured to perform a simulated ground continuity test that simulates the ground discontinuity condition. The self-test circuit provides a test failure signal when the ground continuity monitor fails to provide an output signal in response to the simulated ground continuity test. The test failure signal is configured to trip the circuit interrupter mechanism.

Protective device for an electrical supply facility

An electrical wiring device including: a housing, a plurality of line terminals, feed-through load terminals and receptacle load terminals electrically connected to a pivotable contact structure or to a fixed contact structure comprising a conductive member having at least one contact positioned thereon, wherein in response to a make-force each pivotable contact structure is configured to perform a first pivotable movement to electrically connect each of the contacts on each pivotable contact structure to one of the contacts on a different one of the fixed contact structures in the reset state, thereby electrically connecting the terminals in the reset state; a circuit interrupting assembly including at least one breaking element being configured to perform a first linear movement in a first direction in response to a break-force in order to cause each pivotable contact structure to perform a second pivotable movement in a direction opposite the first pivotable movement to decouple each of the contacts on each pivotable contact structure from one of the contacts on a different one of the fixed contact structures thereby decoupling the terminals to effect a tripped state; and a protective electrical assembly.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a circuit interrupter assembly coupled to a solenoid actuator and configured to move along an assembly axis in a direction normal to a major surface of the electrical isolation member to provide electrical continuity between the plurality of line terminals, the plurality of load terminals and the plurality of receptacle contact structures in a reset state and to interrupt the electrical continuity to effect a tripped state. The circuit interrupter assembly including at least one portion configured to pivot relative to the assembly axis to effect the reset state or the tripped state.

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a plurality of line terminals, a plurality of feed-through load terminals, and at least one set of receptacle load terminals. A circuit interrupter assembly includes a plurality of movable interconnection members. Each movable interconnection member includes a first interconnecting contact disposed on a first side thereof and a second interconnecting contact disposed on a second side thereof. The first interconnecting contact and the second interconnecting contact are offset from one another in a direction substantially orthogonal to a direction of movement. The movable interconnection members are movable in the direction of movement between a reset position wherein the line terminals, the feed-through load terminals and the receptacle load terminals are electrically connected, and a tripped position wherein the the various terminals are electrically disconnected.

Electrical device with miswire protection and automated testing

The present invention is directed to a circuit interrupting device including an actuator that provides an actuator stimulus upon the occurrence of the fault actuation signal. A circuit interrupter is positioned to electrically disconnect the first, second and third electrical conductors from each other upon the occurrence of the actuator stimulus. An automated test circuit is coupled to the circuit interrupting assembly. The automated test circuit is configured to automatically produce the simulated fault condition during a predetermined portion of an AC line cycle to determine whether the fault detection assembly is operational such that the fault detection assembly provides a fault detection signal without the circuit interrupter electrically disconnecting the first, second and third electrical conductors from each other. The automated test circuit is further configured to provide a device failure mode signal such that a plurality of the first, second or third electrical conductors are disconnected from each other if the fault detection signal is not detected within a predetermined time frame.

Protective device with automated self test

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a detection assembly coupled to a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals, the detection assembly being configured to detect a wiring state associated with the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly includes a primary wiring state detection circuit coupled to the plurality of line terminals, and a secondary wiring state detection circuit coupled to the plurality of load terminals.

Electrical wiring device

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device for use in an electrical distribution system. The device includes a plurality of line terminals configured to terminate the plurality of line conductors and a plurality of load terminals configured to terminate the plurality of load conductors. The protective circuit assembly includes at least one fault detector configured to generate a fault detection signal based on electrical perturbations propagating on at least one of the plurality of line terminals or at least one of the plurality of load terminals. A device integrity evaluation circuit includes a timing circuit coupled to the source of AC power by way of the plurality of load terminals and configured to generate a time measurement. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to reset the time measurement if the protective circuit assembly generates the fault detection signal during a predetermined test interval in the properly wired condition. The device integrity evaluation circuit is configured to generate a device integrity fault signal when the time measurement exceeds a predetermined threshold. A circuit interrupter assembly includes movable contacts configured to be latched into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus. The movable contacts are configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the fault detection signal or the device integrity fault signal.

The present invention is directed to a power control device. The device includes an interchangeable user interface assembly includes a frame member having a plurality of connector elements configured to mate with a plurality of frame connection apertures. The frame member is removable from the device heat sink without any tools. The interchangeable user interface assembly includes an interface paddle rotatably coupled to the frame member and detached relative to the device's rocker switch such that the interface paddle slidably moves relative to the rocker switch with at least one degree of freedom during a rotational movement, the user interface assembly further including an interface dimmer movably disposed within the frame member and coupled to the device's dimmer actuator.

Electrical wiring device for lighting control

The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device including a plurality of line terminals configured to be connected to a source of AC power, and a plurality of load terminals. A detection assembly is coupled to the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly is configured to detect a wiring state associated with the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals. The detection assembly includes a primary wiring state detection circuit, a secondary wiring state detection circuit, and an isolation circuit disposed therebetween, the isolation circuit being configured to electrically isolate the line terminals from the secondary wiring state detection circuit in the tripped state. The device also includes a circuit interrupting assembly that includes four sets of interrupting contacts that are configured to provide electrical continuity between the line terminals and the load terminals in a reset state and configured to interrupt the electrical continuity in a tripped state. The circuit interrupting assembly is substantially prevented from effecting the reset state absent a predetermined successful proper installation signal from the primary wiring state detection circuit.

The present invention is directed to a protective wiring device including a fault detection circuit configured to provide a fault detection signal in response to a fault condition or a simulated fault condition. A second circuit is coupled to at least one user-accessible button and is configured to conduct a second signal in response to a user actuation of the at least one user-accessible button if the plurality of line terminals are coupled to a source of AC power, the second signal not simulating the fault condition. An automatic test circuit is configured to periodically determine whether the fault detection circuit is operative and provide an electronics test failure signal if the fault detection circuit fails to provide the fault detection signal in response to the periodically effected simulated fault condition.

Growing community of inventors

Groton, NY, United States of America

Kent R Morgan