I-t-e Imperial Corporation

Peter J McGinnis

Carl E Gryctko

Anthony B Michetti

Kenneth D Ball

An electric motor for driving a circuit breaker operating handle is connected to the latter by two sets of linkages. The first set of linkages includes a drive arm and a driven arm mounted on fixed spaced centers and interconnected by a cam means. The drive arm is pivoted by connection to the drive motor through gearing and a slip clutch, and mounts a roller entered into a cam slot formed in the driven arm. The second set of linkages consists of a drive link and a main link also mounted on fixed spaced centers with the main link having means for engaging and moving a circuit breaker operating handle. The drive and main links are connected by a roller-slot arrangement, with the roller being positively guided along an arcuate path formed about a center remote from the centers of the links and arms. Positive guidance of this connecting roller causes the effective lengths of the links to change in accordance with different positions of the circuit breaker handle. The centers of the driven arm and drive link coincide so that movement of the driven arm causes corresponding movement of the drive link. The combination of cam connected drive and driven arms together with a positively guided roller to change the effective lengths of drive and main links enables a relatively small electric motor to rapidly operate a very large circuit breaker.

Electrical operator for circuit breakers

A rotary handle mechanism for operating a switch device secured to the rear wall of an enclosure is mounted separate from the enclosure cover and extends through a cover opening to be operable from outside of the enclosure when the cover is closed. The mechanism is designed so that the elements thereof may be assembled selectively for operation within an enclosure having a cover that is hinged along one or the other of its edges.

Growing community of inventors

Chester Township, PA, United States of America

Peter J McGinnis