Eaton Corporation

Westinghouse Electric Corporation

Mark L Lotzmann

Thomas Kenneth Fogle

George A Smith

Stanislaw A Milianowicz

Robert N Krevokuch

Edward J Klimek

William Q Aglietti

Henry J Remic, Jr

A powered mechanism displaces the toggle, handle or similar operator of a switch such as a circuit breaker, motor contactor or transfer switch. A linear induction motor drives a motor shaft between extended and retracted positions. A pair of S-shaped cam members pivot at one end on an axis, and a sliding pin carried on the end of the motor shaft rides along slots in the cam members. A couple engages over the switch operator and is pivotally attached to links that in turn are pivotally attached to the cam members, The links attach to the cam members at a point closer to the pivot axis of the cam member than the sliding pin in the slots, thus obtaining leverage. The slots have an inclined or curved section joined to a straight section. The straight section provides an idling action in that no force is applied to the operator via the couple as the sliding pin passes through the straight section, allowing the motor to accelerate unopposed. When the sliding pin is in the inclined or curved section, displacement of the motor shaft moves the couple, and therefore the switch operator handle.

Operator of a handle or toggle of a switch

An interlock for a pair of electrical switching devices includes plungers mounted through the switch housing and engaging the operating mechanism which opens and closes the switch. The plunger of each switch is coupled to a pivotally mounted cam plate by a pin which engages a camming slot in the cam plate for mutual movement of the plunger and cam plate. The cam plates associated with the pair of switches are connected by a connecting link for coordinated rotation. When one switch is closed, the operating mechanism extends the associated plunger which through the cam plates and connecting link raises the other plunger to block closing of the other switch. When a plunger is in blocking position, the coupling pin engages an overtoggle section of the camming slot of the associated cam plate such that a force generated by any attempt to close the associated switch is directed through the pivot axis of the cam plate and generates no component tending to rotate the cam plate. Hence, no force is transmitted to the connecting link or to the cam plate and plunger associated with the switch which is already closed. Opposed springs bias the respective cam plates toward the overtoggle position and urge the interlock to an intermediate position when both switches are open so that either may be closed. A single actuator can be used to selectively block operation of a single switch without transmittal of a force generated by an attempt to close the switch back through the actuator to a manual or motor operator.

Interlock for electrical switches

A handle actuator is provided for a circuit interrupter that has a handle or toggle pivotally movable between operative positions. The handle actuator has a pair of pins that fit tightly on the handle, a pair of retainers coupling the pins in a rigidly spaced parallel relationship, and a pair of flanges fixed to the circuit interrupter via a base. The flanges are disposed on opposite sides of the handle and have arcuate slots that guide the pins coaxially with the pivot axis of the handle. The ends of the pins extend through the arcuate openings of the flanges and are received in the retainers. Connecting links pivotally couple the pins with a drive input for selectively driving the pins against the handle to move the handle between the operative positions. The relative position of the pins on both sides of the handle is constant, preventing wear on the handle due to rolling of the pins against the handle, impacts with the handle permitted by lost motion, or bending and twisting forces.

Handle actuator for a circuit interrupter handle

A transfer switch mechanism is provided for operating the handles of a pair of circuit interrupters. The transfer switch mechanism has a lever arm movable between advanced and retracted positions, the lever arm having a gripping portion permitting handhold for manual operation. The lever arm turns an axle via a ratchet assembly with pawls that permit the axle to turn in one direction but oppose movement of the axle in the direction counter to that direction. The axle turns a crank, and a pair of connecting rods have proximal ends coupled to the crank. The transfer switch mechanism further includes a pair of handle-engaging heads, each of which has opposed abutment surfaces that removably receive the handle of one or the other circuit interrupters between the opposed abutment surfaces. A base is fixed relative to the circuit interrupters and movably supports the lever arm and the handle-engaging heads. The connecting rods have distal ends respectively coupled to one of the two heads such that operation of the lever arm between the advanced and retracted positions causes the abutment surfaces to drive against the handles and thereby move the handles between operative positions.

Transfer switch

A circuit breaker having a contact movable between open and closed positions, includes a closing spring assembly having a closing spring and first and second brackets. The closing spring assembly is chargeable when in a reset position in which the first bracket is hooked by a first hook. The closing spring is charged, manually or electrically, with support of the second bracket being transferred to a second hook. The closing spring is discharged to close the circuit breaker, with the closing spring assembly moving from the reset position to a discharged position in the process. The closing spring assembly is then moved as an integral unit, back to the reset position, with the closing spring again being charged, enabling the circuit breaker to immediately reclose in the event of a trip due to a transient condition. An improved breaker operating mechanism and power operated charging mechanism, are also disclosed.

Growing community of inventors

Irwin, PA, United States of America

Mark L Lotzmann