Novel circuit interrupting device with high voltage surge protection

Abstract

The present invention provides a circuit interrupting device which is capable of providing protection against electrical surge through its innovative electrical discharge design; establishing or discontinuing electrical continuity among the input power source, output load, and user accessible load through its innovative contacts connection/disconnection design; automatic or manual testing of the condition of the key components in the circuit interrupting device by way of a simulated leakage current; and testing whether the device is properly wired by way of a reset switch.

1 . A circuit interrupting device having an input end which is electrically connected to an input power source, an output end which is electrically connected to an output terminal, and a user accessible load end which is electrically connected to a user accessible output socket; wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises:
 a pair of input power connecting pieces, each being electrically connected to a hot or a neutral wire of said input power source respectively;
 wherein each of said input power connecting pieces has an end extended to a discharge metal piece having a tip; and 
 wherein said tip of said discharge metal piece of one input power connecting piece faces, but does not contact with, said tip of said discharge metal piece from the other input power connecting piece; 
   whereby during a high voltage surge said discharge metal pieces of said input power connecting pieces cause a discharge of electricity through said tips of said discharge metal pieces to protect said circuit interrupting device from being damaged due to said high voltage surge.   
     
     
         2 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said circuit interrupting device further comprises a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source; wherein each of said input flexible metal pieces comprises a discharge metal piece with a tip facing but not contacting the tip of the other discharge metal piece in opposite direction. 
     
     
         3 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said high voltage surge is a lightning. 
     
     
         4 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said circuit interrupting device is a ground fault circuit interrupter. 
     
     
         5 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 1 , wherein said hot wire of said input power source is operationally connected to said neutral wire of said input power source through a solenoid coil and a metal oxide varistor (MOV). 
     
     
         6 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a pair of output power conductors extended to said user accessible load end; wherein each of said pair of said output power conductors comprising a fixed contact and an output conductor flexible metal piece containing a movable contact;   a pair of output terminal metal pieces, each comprising a fixed contact; and   a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source; wherein each of said pair of said input flexible metal pieces contains a movable contact;
 wherein said movable contact of said output conductor flexible metal piece is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output terminal metal pieces and each of said input flexible metal pieces is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output conductors to establish or discontinue electrically continuity between said input end, said output end, and said user accessible load end. 
   
     
     
         7 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 6 , wherein said input flexible metal piece is adapted to pass through a differential transformer. 
     
     
         8 . A circuit interrupting device having an input end which is electrically connected to an input power source, an output end which is electrically connected to an output terminal, and a user accessible load end which is electrically connected to a user accessible output socket; wherein said circuit interrupting device comprises:
 a pair of output power conductors extended to said user accessible load end; wherein each of said pair of said output power conductors comprising a fixed contact and an output conductor flexible metal piece containing a movable contact;   a pair of output terminal metal pieces, each comprising a fixed contact; and   a pair of input flexible metal pieces electrically connected to said input power source; wherein each of said pair of said input flexible metal pieces contains a movable contact;
 wherein said movable contact of said output conductor flexible metal piece is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output terminal metal pieces and each of said input flexible metal pieces is capable of connecting to or disconnecting from said fixed contact on one of said output conductors to establish or discontinue electrically continuity between said input end, said output end, and said user accessible load end. 
   
     
     
         9 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 8 , wherein said input flexible metal piece is adapted to operationally pass through a differential transformer. 
     
     
         10 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 8 , wherein said circuit interrupting device further comprises a tripping mechanism located underneath a reset button comprising a reset support piece and a tripping device. 
     
     
         11 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 10 , wherein said tripping device moves with said reset button when said reset button is depressed or released. 
     
     
         12 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 10 , wherein said tripping device extended outward to form a pair of lifting arms; wherein each of said pair of lifting arms has an upper step and a lower step, each having a protrusion which is capable of passing through a through hole on said output conductor flexible metal piece or said input flexible metal piece to be connected to said reset support piece. 
     
     
         13 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 10 , wherein said reset support piece and said tripping device each contains a through hole which is aligned to allow a directional lock from underneath said reset button to pass through. 
     
     
         14 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 13 , wherein said directional lock is capable of passing through a hole in a locking member when said reset button is depressed and a solenoid coil is energized to reset said circuit interrupting device. 
     
     
         15 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 13 , wherein said directional lock has a larger diameter in an upper part than in a lower part. 
     
     
         16 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 15 , wherein a step is formed between an upper part and a lower part of said directional lock; wherein a reset spring slides onto said upper part of said directional lock and wherein a quick trip spring slides onto said lower part of said directional lock. 
     
     
         17 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 16 , wherein said reset spring is located between said reset button and an insulated middle support of said circuit interrupting device and wherein said quick trip spring is located between said step of said directional lock and said reset support piece. 
     
     
         18 . The circuit interrupting device according to  claim 12 , wherein said reset support piece has a length which is shorter than a length of said tripping device with said pair of lifting arms extended out from said tripping device.