WO2005039010A1 - An electrical fixture - Google Patents

An electrical fixture Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2005039010A1
WO2005039010A1 PCT/NO2004/000320 NO2004000320W WO2005039010A1 WO 2005039010 A1 WO2005039010 A1 WO 2005039010A1 NO 2004000320 W NO2004000320 W NO 2004000320W WO 2005039010 A1 WO2005039010 A1 WO 2005039010A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
thermal
electrical
interrupter
electrical fixture
safety device
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/NO2004/000320
Other languages
French (fr)
Other versions
WO2005039010A8 (en
Inventor
Paul Middelhuis
Roger Middelhuis
Bjørn HØIBRÅTEN
Original Assignee
Paul Middelhuis
Roger Middelhuis
Hoeibraaten Bjoern
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
Application filed by Paul Middelhuis, Roger Middelhuis, Hoeibraaten Bjoern filed Critical Paul Middelhuis
Priority to EP04793697A priority Critical patent/EP1683249A1/en
Publication of WO2005039010A1 publication Critical patent/WO2005039010A1/en
Publication of WO2005039010A8 publication Critical patent/WO2005039010A8/en

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H37/00—Thermally-actuated switches
    • H01H37/02—Details
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R13/00—Details of coupling devices of the kinds covered by groups H01R12/70 or H01R24/00 - H01R33/00
    • H01R13/66—Structural association with built-in electrical component
    • H01R13/70—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch
    • H01R13/713—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch the switch being a safety switch
    • H01R13/7137—Structural association with built-in electrical component with built-in switch the switch being a safety switch with thermal interrupter
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
    • H01H37/00—Thermally-actuated switches
    • H01H37/02—Details
    • H01H37/64—Contacts
    • H01H37/70—Resetting means
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R2103/00—Two poles
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
    • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
    • H01R24/00—Two-part coupling devices, or either of their cooperating parts, characterised by their overall structure
    • H01R24/76—Two-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
    • H01R24/78—Two-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

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to an electrical fixture for permanent installation in an electric installation, which will increase the safety of the electric installation.
  • Fig. 2 shows how thermalo fuses 20 and 25 are installed in an electrical wall outlet.
  • the thermal fuses are in the form of melting fuses .
  • the arrangement is somewhat unpractical; if the fuses are interrupted, an electrician must be called for, who in practice must replace the wall outlet.
  • 5 Norwegian patent publication 307,727 shows a similar arrangement.
  • a melting fuse is used which, when activated, is adapted to short one or both power cords to ground. Then, a ground fault current switch is tripped cutting the power of installation.
  • this arrangemento has the drawback that components must be replaced in order to reactivate it, meaning that skilled help must be called in.
  • Another drawback is that the whole installation will be powerless when the ground fault current switch is activated, including refrigerators and freezers. In other words, with such an arrangement installed, the house can not be left unattended for any extended period of time.
  • the object of the present invention is to prevent fires caused by the development of excessive temperatures in electrical fixtures such as wall outlets, switches and circuit interrupter equipment .
  • an electrical fixture for permanent installation in electric installations including a safety device in the form of a thermal interrupter which is electrically and thermally connected to the electrical fixture, in which the thermal interrupter is adapted to interrupt the current when the temperature exceeds a certain limiting value, as stated in the introductory part of the appended claims 1-4.
  • the electrical fixture is characterized in that the thermal interrupter may be reset, and includes a reset button for manually resetting the thermal interrupter.
  • thermal interrupters/fuses into electrical articles such as hair dryers, patch cable drums etc . , breaking the current when the temperature rises above a certain temperature limit .
  • the object is to protect the electrical articles against excessive temperatures .
  • the present invention relates to installation of a safety device in the form of a thermal interrupter in electrical fixtures such as switches, wall outlets, junction boxes, distribution boxes, contactors, fuses, etc.
  • a safety device will cut the current when the temperature exceeds a predefined limit. Thus, excessive temperatures and possible fires are prevented from developing.
  • Thermal interrupters are inexpensive, which means that the production cost of a switch or wall outlet with an integrated security device will not increase so much compared with current electrical fixtures. Insurance companies will probably reduce the premium of customers installing switches, safety wall outlets and other electrical fixtures with thermal interrupters.
  • Fig. 1 is a sketch of a wall outlet in which the cover has been removed and a safety device is installed.
  • Fig. 2 shows a wall outlet with cover and reset button.
  • Fig. 3 shows the inner components of a switch in which a safety device is installed.
  • Fig. 4 shows a reset button on a switch.
  • Fig. 5 shows a circuit breaker with safety device installed.
  • Fig. 6 shows a circuit breaker with reset button.
  • Fig. 1 shows a typical example of a wall outlet 1 according to the invention, with the cover removed and where a safety device 2 is installed.
  • the safety device 2 is typically a thermal interrupter/fuse.
  • the contact points of the wall outlet are designated as 3.
  • LI and L2 relates to electric conductors. If excessive temperatures develop in the wall outlet, e.g. caused by a poor connection or material defects, the thermal interrupter will trip preventing current through L2 and stopping further development of excessive temperatures .
  • the safety device can just as well be connected to LI or both LI and L2. In electric installations with phase voltage to ground, the safety device is installed in the conductor to ground.
  • Fig. 2 shows a typical wall outlet according to the invention, with the cover on.
  • the wall outlet 1 is provided with a reset button . If the wall outlet trips repetitively, excessive temperatures are developing in the outlet, with a possible danger of fire. Then, an electrician must be called in order to check the cause of the fault . It is not possible to conduct current through this outlet when the thermal interrupter has tripped.
  • Fig. 3 is illustrated a typical example of a single-pole switch 10 with a safety device 2 installed.
  • L refers to electrical conductors. If excessive temperatures develop in the switch, e.g. caused by a bad connection or material defects, the thermal interrupter will trip preventing current through L.
  • the safety device 2 may as well be connected in the one or the other conductor, or possibly in both.
  • An advantageous embodiment includes a reset button located inside the switch-cover, as shown in Fig. 4. The user can then easily flip up the cover and reset the thermal interrupter. If this switch is "reset” and trips several times, this means that the switch is developing excessive temperatures and there is a possible danger of fire. The user must then call an electrician to check the switch.
  • the safety device 2 may be installed in junction boxes and distribution boxes in the same way.
  • a safety device may be installed in a circuit breaker 15. This is illustrated in Fig. 5.
  • Fig. 6 shows a circuit breaker with reset button 4.
  • These electrical fixtures with integrated safety devices are in particular adapted for 230/400 V power installations. They may be applied in three-phase installations as well .

Abstract

An electrical fixture, such as a wall outlet, switch, junction box, distribution box, or current breaker, with a thermal interrupter. The thermal interrupter is thermally connected to the fixture and includes a reset button.

Description

AN ELECTRICAL FIXTURE
The present invention relates to an electrical fixture for permanent installation in an electric installation, which will increase the safety of the electric installation.
5 Each year fires cause the loss of large values and many lives. In 2002 insurance companies in Norway paid 1.6 billion NOK for fires in private homes, and. 1.3 billion for fires in commercial buildings. According to statistics from the Directorate of Fire and Electric Safety, 65 personso died in fires in Norway in 2001.
9% of these fires were caused by excessive temperatures developed in wall outlets, switches and circuit interrupter equipment . A normal fuse located in a fuse box in an electric installation of today will not prevent thiss problem. A fuse will only trip when the maximum load on a power circuit exceeds a certain limit of current .
From US patent 4,581,674 is known an arrangement for safeguarding against excessive temperatures in the fixed electric installation in a house. Fig. 2 shows how thermalo fuses 20 and 25 are installed in an electrical wall outlet. The thermal fuses are in the form of melting fuses . However, the arrangement is somewhat unpractical; if the fuses are interrupted, an electrician must be called for, who in practice must replace the wall outlet. 5 Norwegian patent publication 307,727 shows a similar arrangement. Here a melting fuse is used which, when activated, is adapted to short one or both power cords to ground. Then, a ground fault current switch is tripped cutting the power of installation. Again, this arrangemento has the drawback that components must be replaced in order to reactivate it, meaning that skilled help must be called in. Another drawback is that the whole installation will be powerless when the ground fault current switch is activated, including refrigerators and freezers. In other words, with such an arrangement installed, the house can not be left unattended for any extended period of time.
The object of the present invention is to prevent fires caused by the development of excessive temperatures in electrical fixtures such as wall outlets, switches and circuit interrupter equipment .
Thus, according to the invention, it is provided an electrical fixture for permanent installation in electric installations including a safety device in the form of a thermal interrupter which is electrically and thermally connected to the electrical fixture, in which the thermal interrupter is adapted to interrupt the current when the temperature exceeds a certain limiting value, as stated in the introductory part of the appended claims 1-4. The electrical fixture is characterized in that the thermal interrupter may be reset, and includes a reset button for manually resetting the thermal interrupter.
From prior art is known to include thermal interrupters/fuses into electrical articles such as hair dryers, patch cable drums etc . , breaking the current when the temperature rises above a certain temperature limit . The object is to protect the electrical articles against excessive temperatures .
The present invention relates to installation of a safety device in the form of a thermal interrupter in electrical fixtures such as switches, wall outlets, junction boxes, distribution boxes, contactors, fuses, etc. Such a safety device will cut the current when the temperature exceeds a predefined limit. Thus, excessive temperatures and possible fires are prevented from developing.
Thermal interrupters are inexpensive, which means that the production cost of a switch or wall outlet with an integrated security device will not increase so much compared with current electrical fixtures. Insurance companies will probably reduce the premium of customers installing switches, safety wall outlets and other electrical fixtures with thermal interrupters.
The invention will now be described in detail in reference to the appended drawings. Observe that the drawings only show exemplary embodiments not to be construed to limit the scope of the invention. In the drawings, the relevant parts are shown with reference numerals, which also will be used in the following text .
Fig. 1 is a sketch of a wall outlet in which the cover has been removed and a safety device is installed.
Fig. 2 shows a wall outlet with cover and reset button.
Fig. 3 shows the inner components of a switch in which a safety device is installed.
Fig. 4 shows a reset button on a switch.
Fig. 5 shows a circuit breaker with safety device installed.
Fig. 6 shows a circuit breaker with reset button.
Reference is made to Fig. 1, which shows a typical example of a wall outlet 1 according to the invention, with the cover removed and where a safety device 2 is installed. The safety device 2 is typically a thermal interrupter/fuse. The contact points of the wall outlet are designated as 3. LI and L2 relates to electric conductors. If excessive temperatures develop in the wall outlet, e.g. caused by a poor connection or material defects, the thermal interrupter will trip preventing current through L2 and stopping further development of excessive temperatures . Of course, the safety device can just as well be connected to LI or both LI and L2. In electric installations with phase voltage to ground, the safety device is installed in the conductor to ground.
Fig. 2 shows a typical wall outlet according to the invention, with the cover on. In this advantageous embodiment, the wall outlet 1 is provided with a reset button . If the wall outlet trips repetitively, excessive temperatures are developing in the outlet, with a possible danger of fire. Then, an electrician must be called in order to check the cause of the fault . It is not possible to conduct current through this outlet when the thermal interrupter has tripped.
In Fig. 3 is illustrated a typical example of a single-pole switch 10 with a safety device 2 installed. L refers to electrical conductors. If excessive temperatures develop in the switch, e.g. caused by a bad connection or material defects, the thermal interrupter will trip preventing current through L.
For a two-pole switch the safety device 2 may as well be connected in the one or the other conductor, or possibly in both.
An advantageous embodiment includes a reset button located inside the switch-cover, as shown in Fig. 4. The user can then easily flip up the cover and reset the thermal interrupter. If this switch is "reset" and trips several times, this means that the switch is developing excessive temperatures and there is a possible danger of fire. The user must then call an electrician to check the switch.
The safety device 2 may be installed in junction boxes and distribution boxes in the same way. A safety device may be installed in a circuit breaker 15. This is illustrated in Fig. 5. Fig. 6 shows a circuit breaker with reset button 4.
When installing these electrical fixtures, information may be put up in the fuse box, describing how these fixtures are working.
These electrical fixtures with integrated safety devices are in particular adapted for 230/400 V power installations. They may be applied in three-phase installations as well .

Claims

Claims
1. An electrical fixture (1, 10, 15) for permanent installation in an electrical installation, including a safety device such as a thermal interrupter (2) which is thermally and electrically connected to the electrical fixture, the thermal interrupter being arranged to cut the current when temperature exceeds a certain limit, characterized in that the thermal interrupter may be reset, and includes a reset button for manually resetting the thermal interrupter.
2. An electrical fixture as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the temperature limit of the thermal interrupter is in the interval 60-80 °C.
3. An electrical fixture as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the temperature limit of the thermal interrupter is 70 °C.
PCT/NO2004/000320 2003-10-20 2004-10-20 An electrical fixture WO2005039010A1 (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP04793697A EP1683249A1 (en) 2003-10-20 2004-10-20 An electrical fixture

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
NO20034680 2003-10-20
NO20034680A NO317719B1 (en) 2003-10-20 2003-10-20 Safety device for installation materials

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2005039010A1 true WO2005039010A1 (en) 2005-04-28
WO2005039010A8 WO2005039010A8 (en) 2006-02-16

Family

ID=29775099

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
PCT/NO2004/000320 WO2005039010A1 (en) 2003-10-20 2004-10-20 An electrical fixture

Country Status (3)

Country Link
EP (1) EP1683249A1 (en)
NO (1) NO317719B1 (en)
WO (1) WO2005039010A1 (en)

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006125996A1 (en) * 2005-05-25 2006-11-30 Callsmart Uk Limited Thermal protection for electrical installations and fittings
WO2010041085A1 (en) * 2008-10-09 2010-04-15 Timothy Paul Jarvis Automatic switching apparatus.

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4118683A (en) * 1976-06-30 1978-10-03 Firma Microtherm Gmbh Resettable thermal safety switch
US5270799A (en) * 1993-01-27 1993-12-14 Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated Manual reset thermostat switch
US5590010A (en) * 1994-07-12 1996-12-31 Ceola; Giacomo Heat responsive power interrupting device
US5930097A (en) * 1994-07-12 1999-07-27 Ceola; Giacomo Heat responsive power interrupting device cross-reference to related applications

Family Cites Families (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4581674A (en) * 1983-03-30 1986-04-08 General Electric Company Thermal fuse device for protecting electrical fixtures
NO307727B1 (en) * 1997-12-22 2000-05-15 Siemens As Procedure and system for serial protection

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US4118683A (en) * 1976-06-30 1978-10-03 Firma Microtherm Gmbh Resettable thermal safety switch
US5270799A (en) * 1993-01-27 1993-12-14 Therm-O-Disc, Incorporated Manual reset thermostat switch
US5590010A (en) * 1994-07-12 1996-12-31 Ceola; Giacomo Heat responsive power interrupting device
US5930097A (en) * 1994-07-12 1999-07-27 Ceola; Giacomo Heat responsive power interrupting device cross-reference to related applications

Cited By (2)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
WO2006125996A1 (en) * 2005-05-25 2006-11-30 Callsmart Uk Limited Thermal protection for electrical installations and fittings
WO2010041085A1 (en) * 2008-10-09 2010-04-15 Timothy Paul Jarvis Automatic switching apparatus.

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
NO20034680A (en) 2004-12-06
EP1683249A1 (en) 2006-07-26
NO317719B1 (en) 2004-12-06
NO20034680D0 (en) 2003-10-20
WO2005039010A8 (en) 2006-02-16

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