Eaton Corporation

Robert Walker Mitchell

William Michael Crooks

David K Haag

An apparatus for interlocking horizontally adjacent first and second circuit breakers and preventing the circuit breakers from simultaneously being in a closed operating position. The circuit breakers each have a pivotable actuating handle movable between a closed position which is proximal to the other circuit breaker, and a open position which is distal to the other circuit breaker. A housing lies between the first and second circuit breakers and an interlock bar is slidably retained in the housing. In operation, the interlock bar is slidable between a first position where the interlock bar prevents the first circuit breaker handle from pivoting into the closed position and a second position where the interlock bar prevents the second circuit breaker handle from pivoting into the closed position. If the interlock bar is in the first position and the handle of the second circuit breaker is in the closed position, the handle of the second circuit breaker prevents the interlock bar from being moved into the second position. To move the interlock bar into the second position, the user must move the handle of the second circuit breaker into the open position. Once the handle of the second circuit breaker is in the open position, the interlock bar can be moved into the second position and the handle of the first circuit breaker may be closed. While the interlock bar is in the second position and the handle of the first circuit breaker is in the closed position, the handle of the first circuit breaker prevents the interlock bar from being moved into the first position.

Growing community of inventors

Flower Mound, TX, United States of America

Robert Walker Mitchell