GROUND FAULT CIRCUIT BREAKER WITH REMOTE TESTING CAPABILITY

• Main Authors: SIMON CORDNER, MICHAEL FASANO, RICHARD W SORENSON
• Format: Patent
• Language: English; Japanese
• Published: 03.06.2021
• Subjects: BASIC ELECTRIC ELEMENTS; ELECTRIC SWITCHES; ELECTRICITY; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES; RELAYS; SELECTORS

To provide a circuit interrupting device.SOLUTION: A circuit interrupting device includes a line terminal, a load terminal, and an interrupter electrically coupled therebetween, the interrupter having open and closed conditions. The device also includes a fault detector configured to detect a fault in an electrical signal in a load circuit. When such a fault is detected, the fault detector causes actuation of the interrupter in the open condition. A communication interface is adapted to receive a remote test command signal, and a processor generates a simulated fault in the load circuit in response to the receipt of the remote test command signal so that the fault detector attempts to cause actuation of the interrupter in the open condition. The processor determines whether the fault detector has successfully caused the actuation of the interrupter in the open condition in response to the receipt of the remote test command signal, and if not, generates an alarm signal indicative of a malfunction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5 【課題】本発明は、回路遮断装置を提供する。【解決手段】回路遮断装置は、ライン端子と、負荷端子と、それらの間に電気的に接続された遮断部とを備え、この遮断部は開状態と閉状態を有する。装置は、負荷回路内の電気信号の故障を検出するように構成された故障検出部をさらに備える。このような故障が検出されると、故障検出部は遮断部を開状態に作動させる。通信インタフェースは、遠隔試験指令信号を受信し、プロセッサは、故障検出部が遮断部を開状態に作動させようとするように、遠隔試験指令信号の受信に応答して、負荷回路内のシミュレーション故障を生成する。プロセッサは、遠隔試験指令信号の受信に応答して故障検出部が遮断部を開状態に作動させることに成功したか否かを判定し、否であれば、故障を示すアラーム信号を生成する。【選択図】図５