David W Chan

US Patent:

6556395, Apr 29, 2003

Filed:

Jul 6, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/610765

Inventors:

David Y. Chan - Bellerose NY
Roger M. Bradley - North Bellmore NY
Frantz Germain - Rosedale NY

Assignee:

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Little Neck NY

International Classification:

H02H 300

US Classification:

361 42, 361 50, 361 45, 361 931

Abstract:

A device for providing ground fault protection for one or more loads in an electrical wiring system. The device includes a pickup for sensing electrical characteristics associated with conductors supplying power to the one or more loads and generating a pick up signal when predefined electrical characteristics are sensed; a ground fault detector powered using conductors that are independent of the conductors supplying power to the one or more loads, said ground fault detector being configured to receive said pickup signal, detect ground faults from said pickup signal, and generate a trigger signal when a ground fault is detected, and a power disconnect responsive to said trigger signal such that when said trigger signal is generated power to the one or more loads is disconnected. A corresponding method is also provided.

US Patent:

6671145, Dec 30, 2003

Filed:

Mar 20, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/812624

Inventors:

Frantz Germain - Rosedale NY
Stephen Stewart - Uniondale NY
Roger M. Bradley - North Bellmore NY
David Y. Chan - Bellerose NY
Nichalas L. Disalvo - Levittown NY
William R. Ziegler - East Northport NY

Assignee:

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Little Neck NY

International Classification:

H02H 316

US Classification:

361 45, 335 24

Abstract:

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include a reset lockout mechanism, an independent trip mechanism and reverse wiring protection. A conical reset plunger is notched to force a successful test before reset.

US Patent:

6828886, Dec 7, 2004

Filed:

Dec 29, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/747484

Inventors:

Frantz Germain - Rosedale NY
Stephen Stewart - Uniondale NY
Roger M. Bradley - North Bellmore NY
David Y. Chan - Bellerose NY
Nichalas L. Disalvo - Levittown NY
William R. Ziegler - East Northport NY

Assignee:

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Little Neck NY

International Classification:

H01H 7300

US Classification:

335 18, 361 42

Abstract:

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include a reset lockout mechanism, an independent trip mechanism and reverse wiring protection. A conical reset plunger is notched to force a successful test before reset.

US Patent:

6900972, May 31, 2005

Filed:

Apr 9, 2001

Appl. No.:

09/829339

Inventors:

David Y. Chan - Bellerose NY, US
Eugene Shafir - Jamaica Estates NY, US

Assignee:

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Little Neck NY

International Classification:

H02H003/26

US Classification:

361111, 361 936

Abstract:

A suppression and protection circuit is used in conjunction with a circuit interrupter. In one configuration, a voltage clamping device such as a metal oxide varistor is utilized in a ground fault circuit interrupter product for handling transient surges and overvoltage conditions and is placed in series with a solenoid coil. The suppression and protection circuit includes a crowbar device across the line such as a header spark gap to prevent overvoltages, and a low pass filter such as an LC filter for suppressing transient surges.

US Patent:

6937452, Aug 30, 2005

Filed:

Jan 23, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/762377

Inventors:

David Chan - Bellerose NY, US
Steve Campolo - Malverne NY, US

Assignee:

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Little Neck NY

International Classification:

H02H003/00
H02H009/08

US Classification:

361 42, 361 45

Abstract:

A resettable circuit interrupting device having a switch and timer circuit connected to the line side of the interrupting device to cause a leakage current to flow for a defined interval of time when power is applied. The timer and switch circuit comprises a timer powered by current from the phase leg of the device which is designed to operate for a defined interval of time. The timer starts operating when power is applied to the circuit interrupting device and normally continues to operate for the defined interval to time. Upon completion of the timed interval, the timer turns itself off and stays off until power is again applied to the device after an interruption. When power is first applied to the interrupting device, the timer is energized from the phase leg and causes the switch to close which connects the neutral leg on the line side of the interrupting device to a ground terminal. If the device is not reverse wired, the timer continues to operate and the switch remains closed until the timer completes its cycle, at which time the switch opens and the neutral leg of the device is no longer connected to the ground terminal. If the device is reverse wired, then at some instant after the switch is closed the device will sense a reverse wired fault, the switches SWand SWwill open, and line power will be disconnected from the interrupting device.

US Patent:

7012500, Mar 14, 2006

Filed:

Mar 19, 2004

Appl. No.:

10/804510

Inventors:

David Y. Chan - Bellerose NY, US
Roger M. Bradley - North Bellmore NY, US
John J. Power - Westbury NY, US

Assignee:

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Little Neck NY

International Classification:

H01C 7/10

US Classification:

338 20, 338 21, 361127

Abstract:

An MOV element is physically and electrically connected to a heat sensitive material which changes from a low impedance path to a high impedance path, such as a spark gap, when the temperature of the MOV element rises to a temperature below that at which the MOV will enter into its thermal runaway state. More specifically, the heat sensitive material is located on a surface of the MOV and is electrically connected in series with the MOV. In operation, as the MOV gets hot, it heats the heat sensitive material. As the heat sensitive material gets hot, it starts to separate from the surface of the MOV to form a spark gap which is electrically connected in series with the MOV element to help dissipate excessive voltage. The heat sensitive material on the surface of the MOV element can be a coating of epoxy which cracks and/or breaks away, at least partially from the surface of the MOV element during the occurrence of a high voltage transient surge, or it can be a solder that sputters to form an arc path during the occurrence of a high voltage transient surge. In operation, when a GFCI is subjected to a high voltage transient surge above a certain magnitude, the heat sensitive material forms a spark gap which is in series with the MOV and prevents the GFCI from going into its destructive thermal runaway condition.

US Patent:

7042688, May 9, 2006

Filed:

Jul 3, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/613667

Inventors:

David Y. Chan - Bellerose NY, US
James Richter - Bayside NY, US
Gerald N. King - Deer Park NY, US

Assignee:

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Little Neck NY

International Classification:

H02H 3/00

US Classification:

361 42, 361 44, 361 45, 361115

Abstract:

Resettable circuit interrupting devices, such as GFCI devices, that include neutral fault test simulation.

US Patent:

7049911, May 23, 2006

Filed:

Oct 22, 2003

Appl. No.:

10/692056

Inventors:

Frantz Germain - Rosedale NY, US
James Richter - Bayside NY, US
David Herzfeld - Huntingtin NY, US
Armando Calixto - Floral Park NY, US
David Chan - Bellerose NY, US
Stephen Stewart - Berrien Springs MI, US

Assignee:

Leviton Manufacturing Co., Inc. - Little Neck NY

International Classification:

H01H 73/00

US Classification:

335 18, 361 42

Abstract:

A GFCI device which has reverse wiring protection is provided where no power is present at the face terminals even when the device is reverse wired. The device has a pair of movable bridges connected to its terminals. The terminal bridge pair makes contact with the load and face terminals providing power to these terminals when the device is reset. The device also has a reset lockout feature that prevents it from being reset after having been tripped if the circuit interrupting portion of the device is non-operational.