Field
The disclosed concept relates generally to electrical systems and, more particularly, to electrical systems employing a plurality of electrical switching apparatus, such as for example, circuit breakers, housed within an enclosure. The disclosed concept also relates to operating handle interface assemblies for electrical systems.
Background Information
Electrical switching apparatus, such as circuit breakers, provide protection for electrical systems from electrical fault conditions such as, for example, current overloads, short circuits, abnormal voltage and other fault conditions. Molded case circuit breakers, for example, include at least one pair of separable contacts that are operated (e.g., opened; closed; tripped open) either manually by way of an operating handle disposed on the exterior of the circuit breaker, or automatically by way of a trip unit, in response to such a fault condition.
Circuit breakers are often mounted within the interior of an enclosure or cabinet, such as a switchboard or panel board, as part of an electrical system (e.g., without limitation, power distribution system). In certain applications, it may be desirable to actuate the operating handle of the circuit breaker from a location outside of the enclosure, for example and without limitation, without being required to open the enclosure and individually identify, and separately actuate access, the circuit breaker. Additionally, circuit breakers are often mounted within such enclosures in pairs or groups. It may be desirable under certain circumstances to operate more than one circuit breaker together, simultaneously, rather than separately manually operating the operating handles of each separate circuit breaker individually. Accurately and effectively performing such functions poses a number of unique design challenges.
There is, therefore, room for improvement in electrical systems, and in operating handle interface assemblies therefor.
These needs and others are met by embodiments of the disclosed concept, which are directed to an operating handle interface assembly for electrical systems.
As one aspect of the disclosed concept, an operating handle interface assembly is provided for an electrical system. The electrical system comprises an enclosure having an interior and an exterior, and a plurality of electrical switching apparatus disposed within the interior. Each of the electrical switching apparatus includes an operating handle. The operating handle interface assembly comprises: a linking assembly structured to interconnect the operating handles of a plurality of the electrical switching apparatus; an elongated shaft including a first end and second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, the first end being structured to cooperate with one of the operating handles of one of the electrical switching apparatus, the second end being structured to be disposed on the exterior of the enclosure; and a handle attachment structured to be coupled to the second end of the elongated shaft on the exterior of the enclosure. The handle attachment is operable among a plurality of positions to correspondingly operate the operating handles of all of the interconnected electrical switching apparatus.
The linking assembly may comprise a number of linking members and a mounting assembly structured to mount the linking members to the operating handles of the interconnected electrical switching apparatus. The mounting assembly may comprise a plurality of pivot plates, a plurality of adapters, and a plurality of fasteners. Each of the adapters may be structured to be coupled to a corresponding one of the operating handles, each of the pivot plates may be fastened to a corresponding one of the adapters by a number of the fasteners, and the linking members may be pivotably coupled to the pivot plates to interconnect the operating handles.
As another aspect of the disclosed concept, an electrical system comprises: an enclosure having an interior and an exterior; a plurality of electrical switching apparatus disposed within the interior, each of the electrical switching apparatus including an operating handle; and an operating handle interface assembly comprising: a linking assembly interconnecting the operating handles of a plurality of the electrical switching apparatus, an elongated shaft including a first end and second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, the first end cooperating with one of the operating handles of one of the electrical switching apparatus, the second end being disposed on the exterior of the enclosure, and a handle attachment coupled to the second end of the elongated shaft on the exterior of the enclosure. The handle attachment is operable among a plurality of positions to correspondingly operate the operating handles of all of the interconnected electrical switching apparatus.
A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
Solely for purposes of illustration, the disclosed concept is shown and described herein as applied to a pair of molded case circuit breakers each employing a closely-coupled trip indicator. It will be appreciated, however, that the disclosed concept could also be applied to other types of electrical switching apparatus (e.g., without limitation, circuit switching devices and other circuit interrupters such as contactors, motor starters, motor controllers and other load controllers) having any known or suitable type of operating handle or handle attachment (e.g., non-closely coupled actuating levers and indicators) coupled thereto, and being arranged together in any suitable plurality and configuration.
Directional phrases used herein, such as, for example, left, right, clockwise, counterclockwise and derivatives thereof, relate to the orientation of the elements shown in the drawings and are not limiting upon the claims unless expressly recited therein.
As employed herein, the term “fastener” refers to any suitable connecting or tightening mechanism expressly including, but not limited to, rivets, rivnuts, screws, bolts and the combinations of bolts and nuts (e.g., without limitation, lock nuts) and bolts, washers and nuts.
As employed herein, the statement that two or more parts are “coupled” together shall mean that the parts are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts.
As employed herein, the term “number” shall mean one or more than one (i.e., a plurality).
The operating handle interface assembly 100 includes a linking assembly 102, which is structured to interconnect the operating handles 30,32 of a plurality of the electrical switching apparatus 20,22. The operating handle interface assembly 100 further includes an elongated shaft 104 having opposing first and second ends 106,108. The first end 106 is structured to cooperate with one of the operating handles 30 of one of the circuit breakers 20. The second end 108 of the elongated shaft 104 is structured to be disposed on the exterior 8 of the enclosure 4. A handle attachment 200 is coupled to the second end 108, and is operable among a plurality of positions to correspondingly simultaneously operate the operating handles 30,32 of all of the interconnected electrical switching apparatus (e.g., without limitation, first and second circuit breakers 20,22).
Continuing to refer to
Accordingly, in operation, movement (e.g., without limitation, rotation clockwise in the direction of arrow 400 of
It will be appreciated that any known or suitable alternative number, type and/or configuration of electrical switching apparatus (not shown) could be suitably interconnected by a suitable variation of the operating handle interface assembly (not shown), without departing from the scope of the disclosed concept. For example and without limitation, a suitable operating handle interface assembly (not shown), in accordance with an alternative non-limiting example embodiment of the disclosed concept, could be employed to interconnect more than two circuit breakers (e.g., 20,22).
As best shown in
Referring again to
Continuing to refer to
In the example of
Accordingly, the disclosed operating handle interface assembly 100 provides a relatively simple and low cost, yet effective mechanism for operating a plurality of electrical switching apparatus (e.g., without limitation, circuit breakers 20,22) simultaneously. Further, such simultaneous operation can be advantageously achieved from a distal position, such as for example and without limitation, on the exterior 8 of the electrical system enclosure 4, without requiring the enclosure 4 to be opened.
While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
---|---|---|---|
6194983 | Bogdon et al. | Feb 2001 | B1 |
7186933 | Turner | Mar 2007 | B2 |
7462792 | Hellmers | Dec 2008 | B1 |
20080245645 | Dolinski | Oct 2008 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20160126034 A1 | May 2016 | US |