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 Title: |
US6426632:
Method and apparatus for testing an AFCI/GFCI circuit breaker
[ Derwent Title ]
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| Country: |
US United States of America
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| Inventor: |
Clunn, Robert Henry; Richardson, TX
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| Assignee: |
Spencer; George A., Plano, TX
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| Published / Filed: |
2002-07-30
/ 2000-04-28
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| Application Number: |
US2000000561400
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| IPC Code: |
Advanced:
G01R 15/18;
G01R 31/327;
H02H 1/00;
H02H 3/33;
Core:
G01R 15/14;
H02H 3/32;
more...
IPC-7:
G01R 31/14;
G01R 31/327;
G06F 17/50;
H02H 3/16;
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| ECLA Code: |
G01R15/18C; G01R31/327B2B; H02H1/00C; H02H1/00D; H02H3/33E;
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| U.S. Class: |
324/509;
324/424;
361/042;
703/018;
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| Field of Search: |
324/509,424,127,158.1
361/042
703/018
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| Priority Number: |
| 2000-04-28 |
US2000000561400 |
| 1999-03-29 |
US1999000277879 |
| 1999-03-29 |
US1999000280335 |
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| Abstract: |
There is disclosed and claimed herein apparatus and a method for testing an electronic circuit breaker having separable contacts and arc fault and/or ground fault interrupting capability responsive to differential currents in the line and neutral conductors, wherein the circuit breaker under test is connected in a test circuit, comprising the steps of: supplying operating power to the source terminals of the circuit breaker wherein the test circuit provides for connecting the neutral conductor source terminal to a ground in the test circuit; coupling testing signals from a test generator in the test circuit to the neutral conductor load terminal of the circuit breaker; and monitoring the condition of the separable contacts in the circuit breaker during the supply of testing signals to the neutral conductor load terminal. In one aspect, the test generator is operated under program control to provide a testing signal sequence to the neutral conductor load terminal of the circuit breaker, which sequence may include a command signal for setting a precondition in the circuit breaker prior to applying testing signals to the circuit breaker under test.
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| Attorney, Agent or Firm: |
Howison, Thoma & Arnott, L.L.P. ;
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| Primary / Asst. Examiners: |
Gutierrez, Diego; Deb, Anjan K
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| INPADOC Legal Status: |
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Family Legal Status Report
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| Parent Case: |
CROSS REFERENCE TO THE RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/277,879, filed Mar. 29, 1999 and entitled "Test Circuit for an AFCI/GFCI Circuit Breaker" now U.S. Pat. No. 6,191,589 issued Feb. 20, 2001 which is a Continuation-in-Part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/280,335, filed Mar. 29, 1999 and entitled "Current Sensor" now abandoned and is related to U.S. Pat. No. 5,875,087 issued Feb. 23, 1999 and entitled "Circuit Breaker with Integrated Control Features.
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| Family: |
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First Claim:
Show all 30 claims |
What is claimed is:
1. A method for testing an electronically activated circuit breaker having source and load terminals and separable contacts disposed in the line and neutral conductors of the power line and further having arc fault and/or ground fault interrupting capability responsive to differential currents in the line and neutral conductors wherein the circuit breaker under test is connected in a test circuit, comprising the steps of:
- supplying operating power to the source terminals of the circuit breaker wherein the test circuit provides for connecting the neutral conductor source terminal to a ground in the test circuit;
- coupling testing signals from a test generator in the test circuit to the neutral conductor load terminal of the circuit breaker; and
- monitoring the condition of the separable contacts in the circuit breaker following the supplying of testing signals to the neutral conductor load terminal.
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| Background / Summary: |
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| Drawing Descriptions: |
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| Description: |
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| Forward References: |
Show 21 U.S. patent(s) that reference this one
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