摘要:
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.
摘要:
A ground fault circuit interrupt system with auxiliary surge suppression ability is provided which includes line-side system, phase, neutral and ground terminals electrically connectable to phase, neutral and ground terminals of an AC source and load-side system, phase, neutral and ground terminals electrically connectable, respectively, to phase, neutral and ground terminals of an electrical load. The system includes a ground fault circuit interrupter including line- and load-side phase and neutral ports for electrical connection to the line-side system, phase and neutral terminals for controlling a state of conduction of AC between the source and electrical load in accordance with a detection of an interrupt condition. A relay switch is also included which has a relay coil and phase and neutral contacts such that line and load ends of the phase contact are electrically connected, respectively, to a GFCI load-side phase port and load-side system, phase terminal, line and load ends of the neutral contact are electrically connected, respectively, to a GFCI load-side neutral port and load-side system, neutral terminal; and the relay coil is electrically coupled between the load ends of the phase and neutral contacts for controlling said contacts in response to the interrupt condition. First second and third transient voltage surge suppressors electrically connected between the line-side system, phase and neutral terminals, phase and ground terminals and neutral and ground terminals for transient voltage surge suppression protection.
摘要:
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").
摘要:
A differential transformer includes a magnetic core within which difference signal detection inaccuracies resulting from non-homogeneity within the core are corrected by compensation. A phase wire extends proximate the magnetic core for transporting a first current in a first direction. A neutral wire extends proximate the magnetic core center for transporting a second current in a second direction which is substantially opposite the first direction. A shunt wire is electrically connected to one of: the phase wire and the neutral wire depending on whether the transformer is undersensitive or oversensitive. The shunt wire shunts a portion of the current flowing in one of the phase and neutral wires such that first and second signals are generated in the transformer as a result of said first and second currents that are substantially equal.
摘要:
A circuit analyzing system includes a current transformer for extracting current from a phase or neutral conductor of a three phase line, a filter connected to the output of the current transformer and functioning to substantially trap current at the fundamental frequency while substantially passing currents at various harmonic frequencies thereof, and signal processing circuitry connected to the output of the filter to perform various functions with the harmonic frequency current input thereto. Among these functions, as shown in various preferred embodiments, are measurement of the harmonic signal in RMS and conveyance of the output to a display instrument for a user or utility's convenience in monitoring harmonic frequency circuits, which have become more common with the advent of electronic equipment having internal power supplies such as personal computers, work stations, printers, and the like. Other functions include a user or utility's connecting a demand circuit mechanism to the measured currents (preferably RMS/harmonic frequency currents), and/or using comparator circuitry to sense the measured harmonic frequency currents and, if they exceed a desired level set by the user or utility, to output a signal to a tripping device such as a power contactor or relay which will in turn institute load shedding.
摘要:
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.
摘要:
A device for and method of testing toroidal magnetic cores for magnetic anomalies which prevent uniform performance of the cores. The core is positioned on a drive device which can rotate the core through 360.degree.. The core passes through an input winding which receives the test signal and an output winding coupled to a display device which shows the presence or absence of such magnetic anomalies.
摘要:
A circuit analyzing system includes a current transformer for extracting current from a phase or neutral conductor of a three phase line, a filter connected to the output of the current transformer and functioning to substantially trap current at the fundamental frequency while substantially passing currents at various harmonic frequencies thereof, and signal processing circuitry connected to the output of the filter to perform various functions with the harmonic frequency current input thereto. Among these functions, as shown in various preferred embodiments, are measurement of the harmonic signal in RMS and conveyance of the output to a display instrument for a user or utility's convenience in monitoring harmonic frequency circuits, which have become more common with the advent of electronic equipment having internal power supplies such as personal computers, work stations, printers, and the like. Other functions include a user or utility's connecting a demand circuit mechanism to the measured currents (preferably RMS/harmonic frequency currents), and/or using comparator circuitry to sense the measured harmonic frequency currents and, if they exceed a desired level set by the user or utility, to output a signal to a tripping device such as a power contactor or relay which will in turn institute load shedding.
摘要:
A variable voltage power supply includes a switching device through which line AC current is passed in response to the time during which a level setting voltage is applied to a control circuit for the switching device. During the duration of the level setting signal, periodic electrical signals are applied to a counter which is cyclicly incremented and decremented between predetermined lower and upper count limits until the level setting signal is terminated. The count is used as a measure of time into each half cycle of the line AC voltage at which the switch device is closed, the switch device being opened in response to the zero voltage crossing at the end of each half cycle of the AC voltage.
摘要:
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.