Patent ID: 8072718
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: H01H,H02H

Abstract:
1. An electrical wiring device comprising: a plurality of line terminals and a plurality of load terminals; a sensor coupled to the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals, the at least one sensor providing a sensor output signal corresponding to electrical perturbations propagating on the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals; a fault detection circuit coupled to the sensor, the fault detection circuit being configured to generate a fault detection signal if the sensor output signal substantially corresponds to at least one predetermined fault criterion; an actuator assembly responsive to the fault detection signal, the actuator assembly including a breaker coil configured to generate an actuation force in response to being energized; a circuit interrupter coupled to the actuator assembly, the circuit interrupter including four sets of movable contacts configured to be driven into a reset state in response to a reset stimulus, the four sets of movable contacts being configured to be driven into a tripped state in response to the actuation force; a reset mechanism including a reset button configured to provide the reset stimulus; and a test assembly coupled to the reset mechanism, the test assembly including a test circuit coupled to a reset lockout mechanism, the test circuit including a circuit portion coupled to at least one of the plurality of line terminals or the plurality of load terminals by a switch element, the switch element being closed in the reset state by operation of the reset mechanism and opened in the tripped state, the circuit portion being substantially isolated from the plurality of line terminals and the plurality of load terminals in the tripped state, the test circuit being configured to generate a simulated fault condition in response to a user input, the reset lockout mechanism being configured to trip the circuit interrupter and disable the reset mechanism if any one of the sensor, fault detection circuit, actuator assembly, or circuit interrupter assembly fail before a predetermined time elapses.