Rockwell Automation Technologies Incorporated

Paul Van Heeswyk

John Albert Kay

Navinchandra Bhatt

Ashwin Baliga B

A motor control center includes an enclosure comprising an isolation switch, a main contactor device, and a ground switch device. The isolation switch is selectively manually operable between a connected state and a disconnected state. In the connected state the isolation switch is adapted to conduct electrical power from an associated power source to the main contactor device and wherein the isolation switch in the disconnected state interrupts conduction of electrical power from the associated power source to the main contactor device. The main contactor device is selectively operable between a conductive state and a non-conductive state, wherein the main contactor device is adapted to electrically connect the isolation switch to the ground switch device and to an associated electrical load when the main contactor device is in its conductive state and wherein the main contactor device disconnects said isolation switch from the ground switch device and the associated electrical load when the main contactor device is in its non-conductive state. The ground switch device is manually operable from an open, ungrounded state in which the main contactor device is electrically disconnected from a ground path to a closed, grounded state in which the main contactor device is electrically connected to the ground path. The motor control center further includes an interlock device operably connected between the isolation switch and the ground switch device, wherein the interlock device prevents movement of the isolation switch from the disconnected state to the connected state when the ground switch device is in the grounded state.

Maintenance grounding device in motor control center with integrated interlock system

A motor control center includes an enclosure comprising an isolation switch, a main contactor device, and a ground switch device. The isolation switch is selectively manually operable between a connected state and a disconnected state. In the connected state the isolation switch is adapted to conduct electrical power from an associated power source to the main contactor device and wherein the isolation switch in the disconnected state interrupts conduction of electrical power from the associated power source to the main contactor device. The main contactor device is selectively operable between a conductive state and a non-conductive state, wherein the main contactor device is adapted to electrically connect the isolation switch to the ground switch device and to an associated electrical load when the main contactor device is in its conductive state and wherein the main contactor device disconnects said isolation switch from the ground switch device and the associated electrical load when the main contactor device is in its non-conductive state. The ground switch device is manually operable from an open, ungrounded state in which the main contactor device is electrically disconnected from a ground path to a closed, grounded state in which the main contactor device is electrically connected to the ground path. The motor control center further includes a first interlock device operably connected between the isolation switch and the ground switch device, wherein the first interlock device prevents movement of the isolation switch from the disconnected state to the connected state when the ground switch device is in the grounded state.

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Cambridge, Canada

Paul Van Heeswyk