US3636482A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Modular circuit breakers and panelboards with ground-fault protection
Assignee: PROVIDENT INDUSTRIES Inc
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Filing: 1970-05-25
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Granted: 1972-01-18
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Expires: 1990-05-25
Abstract
Abstract Modular circuit breaker units and modular ground-fault tripping units can be stacked separately and assembled to each other by the user as required. When the units are assembled, there is a mechanical coupling from the ground fault tripper to the release mechanism of the circuit breaker, and one terminal of the circuit breaker unit is connected to a terminal of the ground-fault tripping unit. That connection completes a series circuit that extends through both units from a line terminal on one of the units to a load terminal on the other unit. The ground-fault tripping unit also has ''''neutral'''' terminal and a second ''''load'''' terminal. The electrical connection and the tripmechanism coupling between the units are established incidental to assembling the units, and the ground-fault tripping unit has a part that prevents use of one of the circuit breaker terminals from being used an an external circuit connection.
Inventors
- 👤 William Harold Edmunds
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-22 19:53
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H83/00; H01H83/20; H01H83/02; H01H71/00; H01H71/02; H01H71/0264; H01H71/0271; H01H2071/0278
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 7
Claim 1
Independent Claim
143 words
A ground-fault interrupter, including a molded-case circuit breaker forming a first individually complete modular unit having an enclosure and having, in assembly with said enclosure, line and load terminals, a separable pair of contacts, manual contact closing and opening mechanism including a current-responsive release for effecting automatic opening of the contacts in response to an overcurrent, a ground-fault responsive device forming a second individually complete modular unit having a second enclosure and having, in assembly with said second enclosure, ground-fault sensing means, a tripping electromagnet and energizing means for said electromagnet responsive to said ground-fault sensing means, said first and second modular units being assembled and having a mechanical coupling between said tripping electromagnet and the current-responsive release of said circuit breaker, said second modular unit including load-currentcarrying means linked to said ground-fault sensing means and connected in series with said circuit breaker.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
143 words
A ground-fault interrupter, including a molded-case circuit breaker forming a first individually complete modular unit having an enclosure and having, in assembly with said enclosure, line and load terminals, a separable pair of contacts, manual contact closing and opening mechanism including a current-responsive release for effecting automatic opening of the contacts in response to an overcurrent, a ground-fault responsive device forming a second individually complete modular unit having a second enclosure and having, in assembly with said second enclosure, ground-fault sensing means, a tripping electromagnet and energizing means for said electromagnet responsive to said ground-fault sensing means, said first and second modular units being assembled and having a mechanical coupling between said tripping electromagnet and the current-responsive release of said circuit breaker, said second modular unit including load-currentcarrying means linked to said ground-fault sensing means and connected in series with said circuit breaker.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
56 words
A ground-fault interrupter in accordance with claim 1, wherein said second modular unit includes a pair of terminals for said load-current-carrying means, one of said terminals of said circuit breaker and one of said terminals of said ground-fault responsive device being juxtaposed and connected to each other when said first and second modular units are assembled.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
31 words
A ground-fault current interrupter in accordance with claim 2, wherein said juxtaposed terminals are of the plug-in type disposed for plug-in assembly incidental to bringing said modular units into mutual assembly.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ground-fault current interrupter in accordance with claim 2, wherein at least part of said one of said terminals of the circuit breaker is disabled from normal service as an external circuit connector.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
A ground-fault interrupter in accordance with claim 1, wherein a part of said second modular unit extends into proximity to one of said circuit-breaker terminals to obstruct making an external circuit connection thereto.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
65 words
A ground-fault interrupter in accordance with claim 5 wherein said second modular unit includes a pair of terminals for said load-current-carrying means, one of said terminals of said circuit breaker and one of said terminals of said ground-fault responsive means being of the plug-in type located on the respective modular units so as to become interconnected incidental to bringing said modular units into mutual assembly.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-01-17 | 1975-07-19 | 1976-01-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-01-17 | 1979-07-19 | 1980-01-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-01-17 | 1983-07-19 | 1984-01-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |