Handle assembly having self-adjustable axial length for coupling with

Abstract

A handle assembly for use with a circuit breaker includes an elongated shaft mounted through a hole in a cover of an enclosure containing a circuit breaker having an actuator lever movable between a plurality of different positions. The shaft is mounted to the cover to undergo rotational movement about, but not translational movement along, a longitudinal axis of the shaft. The outer end portion of the shaft extends outwardly from an exterior side of the cover, while an inner end portion of the shaft extends inwardly from an interior side of the cover into the enclosure, terminating at a location spaced from the actuator lever of the circuit breaker in the enclosure. The handle assembly also includes a handle attached to the outer end portion of the shaft so as to undergo rotation with the shaft. The handle is adapted for gripping to rotate the handle and therewith the shaft about the longitudinal axis thereof, and a coupling mechanism for coupling with the actuator lever of the circuit breaker in the enclosure to move the actuator lever between the positions thereof upon rotation of the shaft by rotation of the handle. The coupling mechanism is mounted to the inner end portion of the shaft to undergo rotation with the shaft and translational movement relative to the shaft along the longitudinal axis thereof for adjusting the axial length of the handle assembly to reach respective actuator levers of circuit breakers when displaced at different distances from the cover of the enclosure.