US3908154A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Two pole ground fault circuit protector
Assignee: ITE Imperial Corp
•
Filing: 1974-09-13
•
Granted: 1975-09-23
•
Expires: 1994-09-13
Abstract
Abstract A two pole ground fault protector is constructed of a detectorcontrol module sandwiched between a pair of circuit breaker modules having their manual operating handles tied together. The combined width of the pair of circuit breakers equals the width of the detector module. The latter is provided with both line terminals for the protector and these terminals are spaced by the width of the detector module which is the same as the spacing between panelboard line terminal stabs. Load terminals of the circuit breaker modules constitute the load terminals for the protector. A tie bar connecting the automatic tripping mechanisms of the circuit breaker modules together and extending through the detector module is actuated by an electromagnet in the detector module to simultaneously open both circuit breaker modules upon the occurrence of a ground fault.
Inventors
- 👤 Carl E Gryctko
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 05:22
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H83/00; H01H83/02; H01H83/04; H01H83/20; H01H83/22; H01H71/00; H01H71/10; H01H71/1009; H01H71/1018
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
130 words
A ground fault circuit protector including first and second switch modules having respective first and second housings, and a detector control module having a third housing sandwiched between the first and second housings; each of said switch modules including separable cooperating contacts and a load terminal in circuit with said contacts; said detector-control module including first and second line terminals, a balanced transformer including first and second primary windings connected in circuit with the respective first and second line terminals, conductor means extending through the sides of the third housing and the sides of the first and second housings to connect the first primary winding in series with the contacts of said first module and to connect the second primary winding in series with the contacts of the second module.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
130 words
A ground fault circuit protector including first and second switch modules having respective first and second housings, and a detector control module having a third housing sandwiched between the first and second housings; each of said switch modules including separable cooperating contacts and a load terminal in circuit with said contacts; said detector-control module including first and second line terminals, a balanced transformer including first and second primary windings connected in circuit with the respective first and second line terminals, conductor means extending through the sides of the third housing and the sides of the first and second housings to connect the first primary winding in series with the contacts of said first module and to connect the second primary winding in series with the contacts of the second module.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
53 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 1 in which the width of the third housing is approximately twice the width of the second housing which is approximately the width of the first housing; said line terminals being located on centers spaced by approximately the width of the third housing.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
86 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 1 in which the transformer also includes a secondary winding wherein error signals are generated responsive to unbalanced currents in the primary windings; said detector-control module also including amplifier means and actuator means controlled by said amplifier means responsive to said error signals; additional conductor means extending through the sides of the third housing and the sides of the other housings to connect the amplifier to the load terminals of the first and second switch modules.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
38 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 3 in which the conductor means and the additional conductor means each includes plug-in type contacts at the sidewall boundaries between the third housing and the other housings.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
53 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 4 in which the width of the third housing is approximately twice the width of the second housing which is approximately the width of the first housing; said line terminals being located on centers spaced by approximately the width of the third housing.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
34 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 4 in which the additional conductor means is connected to each of said switch modules on the load terminal side of the cooperating contacts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 6 in which, for each of the switch modules, the cooperating contacts are connected in series circuit between the load terminal and one of the line terminals.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 7; said third housing being substantially as wide as the combined widths of the other housings; said line terminals being positioned on centers spaced by approximately the width of the third housing.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 1 in which the load terminals are accessible at one end of the protector for the making of external circuit connections to the protector, and the line terminals are at the other end of the protector.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
53 words
A groUnd fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 9 in which the width of the third housing is approximately twice the width of the second housing which is approximately the width of the first housing; said line terminals being positioned on centers spaced by approximately the width of the third housing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
84 words
A ground fault protector as set forth in claim 3 in which each of the switch modules includes trip means for automatically opening the contacts upon the occurrence of predetermined overload conditions; a tie element extending transversely through said third housing into said first and second housings, said tie element being operatively positioned to be moved by said actuator means upon operation of the latter and when so moved operating said trip means in both of said switch modules to open the contacts thereof.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
38 words
A ground fault circuit protector as set forth in claim 11 in which the conductor means and the additional conductor means each includes plug-in type contacts at the sidewall boundaries between the third housing and the other housings.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
35 words
A ground fault protector as set forth in claim 12 in which operative engagement between the tie element and the trip means is achieved by plug-in type connections at opposite ends of the tie element.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3256407A
Cited
US3636482A
Cited
US3745414A
Cited
US3745415A
Cited
US3812400A
Cited
US3869649A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-09-22 | 1979-03-24 | 1979-09-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-09-22 | 1983-03-24 | 1983-09-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-09-22 | 1987-03-24 | 1987-09-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |