AU2007216643B2 - An Electrical Socket - Google Patents

An Electrical Socket Download PDF

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Publication number
AU2007216643B2
AU2007216643B2 AU2007216643A AU2007216643A AU2007216643B2 AU 2007216643 B2 AU2007216643 B2 AU 2007216643B2 AU 2007216643 A AU2007216643 A AU 2007216643A AU 2007216643 A AU2007216643 A AU 2007216643A AU 2007216643 B2 AU2007216643 B2 AU 2007216643B2
Authority
AU
Australia
Prior art keywords
wall socket
socket fitting
electric wall
fitting according
fitting
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Active
Application number
AU2007216643A
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AU2007216643A1 (en
Inventor
John Gills
Rajinder Singh
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Schneider Electric NZ Ltd
Original Assignee
Schneider Electric New Zealand Holdings Ltd
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Priority claimed from AU2007902687A external-priority patent/AU2007902687A0/en
Application filed by Schneider Electric New Zealand Holdings Ltd filed Critical Schneider Electric New Zealand Holdings Ltd
Priority to AU2007216643A priority Critical patent/AU2007216643B2/en
Publication of AU2007216643A1 publication Critical patent/AU2007216643A1/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of AU2007216643B2 publication Critical patent/AU2007216643B2/en
Active legal-status Critical Current
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical

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Classifications

    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
    • H01R13/713Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch the switch being a safety switch
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00Two poles
    • HELECTRICITY
    • H01ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01RELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/76Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall
    • H01R24/78Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure with sockets, clips or analogous contacts and secured to apparatus or structure, e.g. to a wall with additional earth or shield contacts

Landscapes

  • Details Of Connecting Devices For Male And Female Coupling (AREA)

Description

Regulation 3.2 AUSTRALIA PATENTS ACT, 1990 COMPLETE SPECIFICATION FOR A STANDARD PATENT ORIGINAL Name of Applicant: SC-IN EIDER ELECT IC N EW ZEALAND HOLDINGS LIMITED, a company duly incorporated under the laws of New Zealand of 11 Moncur Place, Middleton, Christchurch, New Zealand Actual Inventors: JOHN GI.LLS, a citizen of the United Kingdom and New Zealand of 323 Coldstream Road, Rangiora, North Canterbury, New Zealand and RAJINDER SINGH, a New Zealand citizen of 55 Westgrove Avenue, Avonhead, Christchurch, New Zealand Address for service in A J PA RK, Level 11, 60 Marcus Clarke Street, Canberra \CT Australia: 2601, Australia Invention Title: A N ELFC'lRI CA L SOCKU'T Details of Associated Provisional Application: 2007902687 The following statement is a full description of this invention, including Ithe best method of performing it known to us.
-2 FIELD OF INVENTION The invention relates to improvements in electrical socket fittings of the type adapted to be fitted over an aperture in the lining of a wall in a domestic or light commercial or industrial application (sometimes referred to as hot points), which will herein be referred to as wall socket fittings for convemence. BACKGROUND Single or double electrical socket fittings for use in providing power outlets in domestic or light commercial or industrial applications comprise a body or plate-likc part which when the fitting is installed typically fits over an aperture in the lining of a wall of a house or office or similar. The installed fitting then provides an exposed front face which presents phase, neutral, and earth socket apertures in a standard format, into which the plug connector of any appliance may be inserted. The metallic pins of the plug insert through the socket apertures and make contact with metallic connector parts of the outlets behind the front face of the fitting, when a plug is plugged into the socket. Such socket fittings also have terminators at the rear of the fitting which are exposed into the wall cavity and to which fixed wiring is terminated to connect power to the socket. Commonly such fittings also have mounting apertures through which screws pass, into a box fixed for example to a structural member within the wall cavity, to fix the fitting in place. Such socket fitings may also comprise a cover plate which is installed to finish the front face of the fitting, or alternatively the main fitting part which is screwed to the wall may form the finished front face of the fitting, with plugs optionally being provided over the mountmg apertures for use after fixing the fitting in place. SUMMARY OF INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide an improved or at least alternative form of such a wall socket fitting. In a first aspect, the invention broadly consists in an electric wall socket fitting adapted to be fitted over an aperture in the lining of a wall, and comprising; a front face which presents at least one outlet comprising phase, neutral, and earth apertures; phase, neutral, and earth connectors accessible through said phase, neutral and earth apertures in the front face; phase, neutral, and earth terminators exposed at a rear of the fitting; 12?432 zro, -3 a current sensor; internal switching means arranged to interrupt the power flow through the outlet; and a control circuit connected to the current sensor and the internal switching means and arranged to operate the internal switching means to interrupt the power flow through the outlet in the event of a sensed current increase above a predetermined current threshold, the control circuit also arranged to detect the voltage difference between the phase and at least one of earth and neutral and to operate the internal switching means to interrupt the power flow through the outlet in the event of either a voltage difference increase above a predetermined voltage surge threshold, or a voltage difference decrease below a predetermined voltage sag threshold. In a second aspect, the invention broadly consists in an electric wall socket fitting adapted to be fitted over an aperture in the lining of a wall, and comprising: a front face which presents at least one outlet comprising phase, neutral, and earth apertures; phase, neutral, and earth connectors accessible through said phase, neutral and earth apertures in the front face; phase, neutral, and earth terminators exposed at a rear of the fitting; a current sensor; a thermal sensor sensitive to temperature changes due to current flow through the outlet; internal switching means arranged to interrupt the power flow through the outlet; and a control circuit connected to the thermal sensor and the internal switching means and arranged to operate the internal switching means to interrupt the power flow through the outlet in the event of a sensed temperature increase above a predetermined temperature threshold or a sensed current increase above a predetermined current threshold, the control circuit also arranged to detect the voltage difference between phase and at least one of earth and neutral and to operate the internal switching means to interrupt the power flow through the outlet in the event of either a voltage difference increase above a predetermined voltage surge threshold, or a voltage difference decrease below a predetermined voltage sag threshold. In this second form the wall fitting comprises both an over temperature thermal sensor and a current sensor, so that power flow through the outlet or outlets of the fitting, to an appliance or appliances connected to the outlet(s), will be disconnected on the sensing of either an over temperature and/or over current condition, above a threshold. In another the form however as also referred to above only a current sensor may be satisfactory and may be provided in the electrical socket fitting. 1022637 2D0C -4 Preferably, the control circuit is arranged to operate the internal switching means to interrupt the power flow through the outlet in the event of a voltage difference increase above a predetermined voltage surge threshold, and the event of a voltage difference decrease below a predetenrined voltage sag threshold. Preferably the current sensor comprises a current sensing device positioned in proximity to the electric or magnetic field of current flowing through the outlet. In a preferred forn the current sensing device comprises a current sensing coil positioned to encircle a current carrying part of the fitting. In the form of the socket fitting also comprising a thermal sensor, the thermal sensor may comprise a thermistor or other heat sensitive electrical sensing device. The sensor may be positioned in close physical proximity to or fixed to a metal part of the fitting behind the front face, through which current flows when an appliance is connected to the outlet. Preferably the thermal sensor is in a position effective to sense heat generated due to a poor (high resistance) connection between a plug pin or pins and a receiving connector or connectors of the socket. The electrical fitting preferably also comprises a LED or neon or other visible indicator, visible from the front face of the fitting, which in one form may indicate when the socket outlet is live and in another form may indicate when an over temperature and/or over current and/or voltage sag or surge condition has been sensed and power flow through the socket has been automatically disconnected. In another form the LED or neon or other visible indicator may flash periodically on and off when die current or temperature is above a predetermined threshold, or voltage is below a predetermined threshold, nearing the cut-off threshold in each case. The electrical socket may also comprise a small reset switch or other mechanical or contact switch or pressure pad also exposed at the front face of the fitting, which may be manually operated to re-energise the socket, once the cause of an over temperature and/or over current condition has been removed, or after a voltage sag or surge condition. Electrical socket fittings of the invention provide integral protection against an over current conditions and optionally an over temperature condition caused by powering an excessive number of appliances through the one socket for example, or by a fault in the socket itself such as a poor connection between a socket connector and a pin of a plug inserted into the socket (the likelihood of which may in turn be increased by high current flow because an excessive number of appliances is being powered through the socket). The term "comprising" as used in this specification means "consisting at least in part of'. When interpreting each statement in this specification that includes the term "comprising", features I n22o3o 2./0C other than that or those prefaced by the term may also be present. Related terms such as "comprise" and "comprises" are to be interpreted in the same manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES A preferred embodiment of the invention is described with reference to die accompanying drawings, by way of example in which Figure 1 is a view of the preferred form socket fitting from the front (showing the front face thereof, Figure 2 is a view from the front, of the preferred form socket fitting with a front part removed so that the internal components of the fitting are visible, and Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with the metallic socket connector pins and other metallic parts of the preferred form socket also removed. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED FORM Referring first to Figure 1, the preferred form socket fitting comprises a body part 1 having a front face which is exposed and presents two outlets each comprising phase, neutral, and earth socket apertures in a standard format, when the fitting is connected and installed in place over an aperture in the lining of a wall. In the particular embodiment shown the socket fitting is a switched double outlet fitting but alternatively the socket fitting may be a switched or unswitched single or triple or quad socket fitting. The front face of the fitting shown in Figure 1 may comprise a cover plate over a main body part of the fitting which is fixed over the wall aperture, or alternatively the front face of the main body part may be the finished front face of the fitting (without any separate cover plate). An LED 2 is exposed through an aperture in the front face of the fitting, which is normally illuminated, and is not illuminated in the event of an over current or over temperature (or voltage sag or surge) condition as will be further described, to indicate to persons that the integral over current and/or over temperature (or voltage sag or surge) protection has operated to disconnect power from the outlets. Alternatively the LED may be illuminated only when power is disconnected from the outlets in the event of an over current or temperature (or voltage sag or surge) condition. The preferred form fitting also comprises a small reset button-operated switch 3 exposed through the front face of the fitting, which a person may push to re-energise the outlets, after for example disconnecting excess appliances. Alternatively this switch may be actuated by a contact or pressure pad at the front face of the fitting. Referring to Figures 2 and 3, which show the fitting of Figure 1 behind die front face thereof, each outlet behind the front face comprises metallic phase, neutral and earth connectors 4, 5 and 6, into 1022137_2DCC -6 which the pins of a plug inserted into the socket engage. The connectors 4, 5 and 6 on either side comprise integral parts which connect to a switch mechanism on either side partly and generally indicated at 7 in Figure 2, which may otherwise be of conventional form. The fitting also comprises terminators 8 exposed at the rear of the fitting and which in die preferred form are screw terminators, which when the wall fitting has been installed are exposed at the rear of the fitting for connecting mains wiring within the wall cavity to the fitting (the wire ends are connected to the screw terminators 8 before the electrical fitting is in turn screwed to the wall). The terminators 8 may be of conventional form. In accordance with the invention the fitting comprises a small electrical switch mechanism which may be of any form, and which is in the preferred form housed within a casing 12, and through which the phase line is connected from the phase terminator 8 at the rear of the fitting, to the phase outlet connectors 4. Preferably the switch mechanism 9 switches both the phase and neutral lines between the phase and neutral terminators 8 and the phase and neutral socket connectors 4 and 5. Tn a preferred form the switch mechanism 9 comprises mechanical contacts (not shown) which under normal (no fault) and no power conditions are latched closed, and in over current or over temperature (fault) conditions are opened by a small solenoid actuator (not shown). In turn a control circuit provides power to this solenoid, and is connected to thermistors 10 and an over current sensing coil 11, so that if either an over temperature and/or over current condition at either outlet is sensed, then the solenoid is energised by the control circuit causing the switch mechanism 9 to open to disconnect power to all socket connector pins (at least the phase connectors 4 and preferably both the phase connectors 4 and neutral connectors 5). In the preferred form, the over current sensing coil II encircles a conductor between the phase connector 4 of each socket outlet, and the switch module 9. A separate thermistor 10 is positioned in close physical proximity to or preferably in contact with a metal part which is integral with one of the phase connectors 4 of each outlet (see in particular Figure 3). The arrangement is such that an over temperature condition within the socket fitting for example from a poor connection between the phase pin of a plug and a phase connector 4 causing heat build up, or over current through the circuit, will trigger the control circuit and cause release of the switch mechanism 9 to disconnect power from the outlets of the fitting. In a preferred form, the control circuit comprises a microprocessor or microcontroller or other analogue or digital hardware. Optionally, control software is provided. The control circuit is arranged to receive the output signals from the thermal sensors and from the current sensor. In the preferred form the control circuit is also arranged to sense or measure the difference in voltage between the 10226 3_2.DOC -7 phase and the neutral connections. With the temperature, current and voltage information, the control circuit uses an algorithm executed in hardware or software or both to determine when the temperature exceeds a predetermined temperature threshold, if the current drawn exceeds a predetermined current threshold or if the voltage sags below a predetermined voltage threshold. In any such condition the control circuit energises the solenoid to open the internal switch mechanism 9, and also de-illuminates the visible indicator 2. Additionally, the control circuit may be arranged so that if either the temperature or current or both is within a predetermined range from the cut-out point, or if there is voltage sag approaching a lower limit, so that cut-out is imminent, the control circuit actuates the visible indicator 2 to flash periodically on and offE This warns users that the socket is near tipping point. When the control circuit causes the switch mechanism 9 to disconnect power from the outlets of the fitting, subsequently a person may reset the fitting by pressing the reset switch 3, which wil re latch the switch mechanism 9 closed to re-energise the outlets of the socket fitting, provided that the condition which led to initial triggering has been removed. The preferred form socket fitting described above comprises integral over temperature and over current protection, and may also comprise voltage sag protection. In an alternative form the socket fitting may provide only over current protection, optionally combined with voltage sag and/or surge protection. A socket fitting with over current protection would require the current sensing coil 11 or equivalent, but would not require the thermistors 10. The foregoing describes the invention including a preferred form thereof Alterations and modifications as would be obvious to those skilled in the art are intended to be incorporated within the scope hereof, as defined in the accompanying claims. 1622637_2. DOC

Claims (16)

  1. 2. An electric wall socket fitting according to claim 1 wherein the current sensor comprises a coil.
  2. 3. An electric wall socket fitting according to either of claims I or 2 wherein the current sensor encircles a conductor to the phase connector in the socket outlet.
  3. 4. An electric wall socket fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 3 wherein die internal switching means comprises a switch mechanism and an associated solenoid.
  4. 5. An electric wall socket fitting according to claim I wherein the electronic control circuit is arranged to operate the internal switching means to interrupt the power flow through the outlet in the event of a voltage difference increase above a predetermined voltage surge threshold, the control circuit being further arranged to operate the internal switching means to interrupt the power flow through the out in the event of a voltage difference decrease below a predetermined voltage sag threshold. 192263? 2.DOC -9
  5. 6. An electric wall socket fitting according to any one of claims 1 to 5 comprising an indicator visible from the front face of the fitting, the visible indicator arranged to indicate the status of the electric wall socket fitting.
  6. 7. An electric wall socket fitting according to claim 6 wherein the visible indicator is arranged to indicate when the outlet is live.
  7. 8. An electric wall socket fitting according to claim 6 wherein the visible indicator is arranged to indicate when the outlet is disconnected.
  8. 9. An electric wall socket fitting according to any one of claims 6 to 8 wherein the visible indicator is arranged to periodically change state when the over current switching means approaches said current threshold.
  9. 10. An electric wall socket fitting according to any one of claims 6 to 9 wherein the visible indicator comprises an LED indicator.
  10. 11. An electric wall socket fitting according to any one of claims 9 to 12 wherein the visible indicator comprises a neon indicator.
  11. 12. An electric wall socket fitting according to any one of claims I to 11 comprising a user operable reset switch for resetting the internal switching means after the cause of an over current condition has been removed.
  12. 13. An electric wall socket fitting according to claim 12 wherein the user operable reset switch is a button, a contact switch or a pressure pad.
  13. 14. An electric wall socket fitting according to any one of claims I to 13 also comprising a thermal sensor, and wherein the internal switching means is arranged to interrupt the power flow through the outlet in the event of a sensed temperature increase above a predetermined temperature threshold due to high current flow. 1022637_2DOC -10
  14. 15. An electric wall socket fitting according to claim 14 wherein the thermal sensor comprises a thermistor.
  15. 16. An electric wall socket fitting according to either one of claims 14 or 15 wherein the thermal sensor is positioned in close physical proximity to or is in physical contact with a metal part of the fitting behind the front face.
  16. 17. An electric wall socket fitting according to either one of claims 14 or 15 wherein the thermal sensor is positioned in close physical proximity to or is in physical contact with the phase connector of the socket fitting. 18 An electrical wall socket fitting substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying figures. 1022637 L20C
AU2007216643A 2007-05-18 2007-09-06 An Electrical Socket Active AU2007216643B2 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2007216643A AU2007216643B2 (en) 2007-05-18 2007-09-06 An Electrical Socket

Applications Claiming Priority (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
AU2007902687A AU2007902687A0 (en) 2007-05-18 An electrical socket
AU2007902687 2007-05-18
AU2007216643A AU2007216643B2 (en) 2007-05-18 2007-09-06 An Electrical Socket

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
AU2007216643A1 AU2007216643A1 (en) 2008-12-04
AU2007216643B2 true AU2007216643B2 (en) 2011-02-17

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
AU2007216643A Active AU2007216643B2 (en) 2007-05-18 2007-09-06 An Electrical Socket

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AU (1) AU2007216643B2 (en)
NZ (1) NZ561187A (en)

Families Citing this family (1)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
GB2566256A (en) * 2017-08-29 2019-03-13 Lightwaverf Tech Ltd An electrical socket device and system

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Publication number Publication date
AU2007216643A1 (en) 2008-12-04
NZ561187A (en) 2009-01-31

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