Patent Grant
7687733
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to an electrical switching apparatus operating mechanism and, more specifically to an interlock assembly that prevents the actuation of the latch assembly in configurations wherein the closing assembly should not be actuated.
2. Background Information
An electrical switching apparatus, typically, includes a housing, at least one bus assembly having a pair of contacts, a trip device, and an operating mechanism. The housing assembly is structured to insulate and enclose the other components. The at least one pair of contacts include a fixed contact and a movable contact and typically include multiple pairs of fixed and movable contacts. Each contact is coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a conductive bus that is further coupled to, and in electrical communication with, a line or a load. A trip device is structured to detect an over current condition and to actuate the operating mechanism. An operating mechanism is structured to both open the contacts, either manually or following actuation by the trip device, and close the contacts.
That is, the operating mechanism includes both a closing assembly and an opening assembly, which may have common elements, that are structured to move the movable contact between a first, open position, wherein the contacts are separated, and a second, closed position, wherein the contacts are coupled and in electrical communication. The operating mechanism includes a rotatable pole shaft that is coupled to the movable contact and structured to move each movable contact between the closed position and the open position. Elements of both the closing assembly and the opening assembly are coupled to the pole shaft so as to effect the closing and opening of the contacts. The closing assembly may be actuated manually by a user input or in response to an input from a remote actuator.
The trip device included an over-current sensor, a latch assembly and may have included one or more additional links that were coupled to the toggle assembly. Alternately, the latch assembly was directly coupled to the toggle assembly. When an over-current situation occurred, the latch assembly was released allowing the opening spring to cause the toggle assembly to collapse. When the toggle assembly collapsed, a closing spring coupled to the pole shaft caused the pole shaft to rotate and thereby move the movable contacts into the open position.
Low and medium voltage electrical switching apparatus typically had stored energy devices, such as a closing spring and an opening spring, and at least one link coupled to the pole shaft. The at least one link, typically, included two links that acted cooperatively as a toggle assembly and which were coupled to each other at a toggle joint. When the contacts were open, the toggle assembly was in a first, collapsed configuration and, conversely, when the contacts were closed, the toggle assembly was, typically, in a second, toggle position, that is, an in-line configuration, or in a slightly over-toggle position. The closing spring was usually compressed, or “charged,” by a motor or a user utilizing a lever arm. The closing spring, typically, holds more stored energy than the opening springs and during the closing operation wherein the contacts are moved to the second, closed position, the opening spring was charged. The opening spring biased the pole shaft, and therefore the toggle assembly, to the collapsed position. The opening spring and toggle assembly were maintained in the second, toggle position by the trip device.
Typically, the closing spring is recharged immediately after a closing procedure was completed. Thus, the closing assembly was set to be actuated in the event the contacts were opened, e.g. upon a trip. The closing assembly was typically actuated by a remote device or by an “on” button disposed on the face of the electrical switching apparatus. The remote device and/or the on button is coupled to a closing assembly latch, which typically included a D-shaft against which a latch member was biased by force from the closing springs. Actuation of the closing assembly caused the D-shaft to rotate and allowed the latch member to rotate thereby releasing the closing springs.
However, having the closing spring in a charged state could also result in damage to the operating mechanism if the closing spring was released too often while the contacts were closed. That is, if the closing spring was released by a user pressing the on button when the contacts were closed, energy from the spring would cause the various components of the closing assembly to, possibly, impact upon each other without the benefit of the energy being dissipated to the opening springs or contact springs or other such components. Furthermore, if the closing spring was inappropriately released when the contacts were closed, then electrical switching apparatus tripped and then called on to immediately re-close, a non-charged closing spring could result in a delay of service. There are other circumstances wherein the closing assembly should not be activated. For example, immediately after a closing procedure the closing spring should be fully recharged and latched prior to releasing the closing spring again. However, if a user were to hold the on button during the recharging procedure, the closing spring could not be latched and, as soon as the charging operation was completed, the closing spring would discharge. That is, there should be only one attempt to release the closing springs per application of the on button and that attempt should only occur when the closing springs are charged and permitted to close. For example, the closing spring should not be permitted to close when the trip device is used to keep the contacts in the open state. For example, when an electrical switching apparatus is being worked upon, a safety interlock typically holds the trip device in a tripped configuration, thereby ensuring the contacts are in the first open position. Generally, in such a situation, the contacts should not be closed by the closing assembly and the closing springs should not be allowed to discharged. Thus, generally, any time the contacts are closed, or when the contacts should be kept open, a close command by the closing assembly should not be allowed to close the contacts.
To prevent accidental closure of the contacts in these situations, electrical switching apparatuses included an interlock. The interlock was structured to decouple the on button, or a remote actuator, from the latch assembly D-shaft. Once the actuation device was decoupled from the latch assembly D-shaft, pressing the on button or actuating the remote actuator had no effect on the latch assembly D-shaft. The interlock typically relied upon a link structured to pivot and to slide. That is, the link included an elongated slot through which a pivot pin extended. This allowed the link to move with two degrees of freedom, i.e., (1) pivoting and (2) sliding.
Such an interlock would operate, generally, in the following manner. With the pivot pin at one end of the slot, the link was disposed adjacent to the D-shaft. When the actuator, that is the on button or the remote actuator, was actuated, the link would pivot to operatively engage the D-shaft and cause the D-shaft to rotate thereby releasing the latch and the closing spring. When the closing assembly should not have been allowed to close the contacts, the interlock moved the link so that the pivot pin was disposed at the other end of the slot. This motion spaced the link from the D-shaft and/or the actuator. Thus, when the on button or the remote actuator was actuated, the subsequent pivoting motion of the link did not cause the link to engage the D-shaft/actuator as the link was now spaced from the D-shaft/actuator. As such, the interlock prevented the contact from being closed as a result of actuating the on button or the remote actuator. It is noted that the interlock could also be structured so that the sliding motion actuated the D-shaft and the pivoting motion separated the link from the D-shaft.
The stored energy device interlock assembly provided herein is structured to prevent the closing assembly and/or the latch assembly from being actuated in selected configurations. The interlock assembly includes a latch D-shaft link assembly, an on-command paddle assembly, and an on-command paddle actuator. The latch D-shaft link assembly is pivotally coupled to, and structured to rotate, the latch assembly D-shaft. The on-command paddle assembly is structured to move the D-shaft link assembly. The on-command paddle actuator is structured to move the on-command paddle assembly. The interlock assembly is structured to disengage the latch assembly D-shaft from the on-command paddle assembly in selected configurations of the electrical switching apparatus. Unlike the prior art interlock assembly, however, the interlock assembly provided herein has two pivotal degrees of freedom as opposed to a pivotal degree of freedom and a sliding degree of freedom. As such, the interlock assembly provided herein is more robust and easier to control.
That is, because the latch D-shaft link assembly is pivotally coupled to the latch assembly D-shaft, the latch D-shaft link assembly may pivot about the axis of the latch assembly D-shaft, which is the first pivotal degree of freedom, and the latch D-shaft link assembly may pivot about the coupling point with the latch assembly D-shaft, which is the second pivotal degree of freedom. The latch D-shaft link assembly includes a “nose” disposed generally opposite of the pivotal coupling with the latch assembly D-shaft.
The on-command paddle assembly includes a body defining a pocket with two sides. When the interlock assembly should allow the latch assembly D-shaft to rotate and release the closing springs, the latch D-shaft link assembly nose is disposed in the pocket. Thus, when the on-command paddle actuator moves the on-command paddle assembly, the latch D-shaft link assembly moves which in turn rotates the latch assembly D-shaft. When the interlock assembly should not allow the latch assembly D-shaft to rotate and release the closing springs, the interlock assembly causes the latch D-shaft link assembly to rotate about the coupling point with the latch assembly D-shaft until the latch D-shaft link assembly nose is no longer disposed in the pocket. Thus, while actuation of the on-command paddle actuator still moves the on-command paddle assembly, the on-command paddle assembly no longer engages the latch D-shaft link assembly. Thus, the latch D-shaft link assembly does not move and the latch assembly D-shaft is not rotated.
A full understanding of the invention can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
As used herein, “coupled” means a link between two or more elements, whether direct or indirect, so long as a link occurs.
As used herein, “directly coupled” means that two elements are directly in contact with each other.
As used herein, “fixedly coupled” or “fixed” means that two components are coupled so as to move as one.
As used herein, “operatively engage” when used in relation to a component that is directly coupled to a cam means that a force is being applied by that component to the cam sufficient to cause the cam to rotate. “Operatively engage” is also synonymous with the phrase “engage and move.” That is, “operatively engage” when used in relation to a first component that is structured to move a movable or rotatable second component means that the first component applies a force sufficient to cause the second component to move. For example, a screwdriver may be placed into contact with a screw. When no force is applied to the screwdriver, the screwdriver merely engages the screw. However, when a rotational force is applied to the screwdriver, the screwdriver operatively engages the screw and causes the screw to rotate.
As used herein, a “pivot coupling” is a structure that allows two, or more, components to be pivotally or rotatably coupled together. A pivot coupling that pivotally or rotatably coupled together a first element and second element includes two coupling components, a first coupling component disposed on the first element and a second coupling component disposed on the second element. The coupling components are typically an opening and a pivot rod, however other components, such as, but not limited to a collar trapped in a race, are contemplated. It is noted that the coupling components are typically reversible. That is, a pivot coupling may have an opening on the first element and a pivot rod on the second element, or, the same pivot coupling may have a pivot rod on the first element and an opening on the second element. When two elements are coupled at a pivot coupling a pivot point is created.
As shown in
The electrical switching apparatus 10 also includes at least two, and typically a plurality, of side plates 27. The side plates 27 are disposed within the housing assembly 12 in a generally parallel orientation. The side plates 27 include a plurality of openings 29 to which other components may be attached or through which other components may extend. As discussed below, the openings 29 on two adjacent side plates 27 are typically aligned. While side plates 27 are the preferred embodiment, it is understood that the housing assembly 12 may also be adapted to include the required openings and/or attachment points thereby, effectively, incorporating the side plates 27 into the housing assembly 12 (not shown).
An electrical switching apparatus 10 may have one or more poles, that is, one or more pairs of separable contacts 26 each having associated conductors and terminals. As shown in the Figures, the housing assembly 12 includes three chambers 13A, 13B, 13C each enclosing a pair of separable contacts 26 with each being a pole for the electrical switching apparatus 10. A three-pole configuration, or a four-pole configuration having a neutral pole, is well known in the art. The operating mechanism 50 is structured to control all the pairs of separable contacts 26 within the electrical switching apparatus 10. Thus, it is understood selected elements of the operating mechanism 50, such as, but not limited to, the pole shaft 56 (discussed below) span all three chambers 13A, 13B, 13C and engage each pair of separable contacts 26. The following discussion, however, shall not specifically address each specific pair of separable contacts 26.
As shown in
As shown in
It is noted that, as shown in
As shown in
It is noted that an axis extending through the pivot points for each link 70, 72 defines a line of force acting through the toggle assembly 58. The toggle assembly 58 is structured to move between a first, collapsed configuration (
In the first, collapsed configuration, the first and second link outer ends 74, 76 are generally closer together than when the toggle assembly 58 is in the second, over-toggle configuration. Thus, because the first link outer end 74 is a fixed pivot point, as the toggle assembly 58 moves between the first, collapsed configuration and the second, over-toggle configuration, the second link outer end 76 is drawn toward, or pushed away from, the first link outer end 74. This motion causes the pole shaft 56 to move between its first and second positions. That is, when the toggle assembly 58 is in the first, collapsed configuration, the pole shaft 56 is in its first position, and, as noted above, the movable contact 34 is in its first, open position. Further, when the toggle assembly 58 is in the second, over-toggle configuration, the pole shaft 56 is in its second position, and, as noted above, the movable contact 34 is in its second, closed position.
The ram assembly 60 has at least one biasing device 89, preferably a compression spring 90, a guide assembly 92, and a ram body 94. The ram body 94, preferably, includes a generally flat forward surface 96 that is structured to engage the toggle joint 82, and more preferably the toggle roller 86. The ram body 94 may be solid but, in a preferred embodiment, the ram body 94 is substantially hollow having a loop-like side wall 95 (
The guide assembly 92 further includes a base plate 110 and a stop plate 112. Each pin 104, 106 has a base end 114 and a tip end 116. Each pin base end 114 is coupled to the base plate 110 and each pin tip end 116 is coupled to the stop plate 112 (
The at least one spring 90 is structured to bias the ram body 94 from the first, retracted position toward the second, extended position. When the ram body 94 is in the first, retracted position, the at least one spring 90 is charged or compressed. When the ram body 94 is in the second, extended position, the at least one spring 90 is discharged. Preferably, the at least one spring 90 is disposed between the base plate 110 and a ram body back surface 97 (
As shown in
The rocker arm assembly 136 includes an elongated body 160 having a pivot point 162, a cam follower 164, and a ram body contact point 166. The rocker arm assembly body 160 is pivotally coupled to housing assembly 12 and/or side plates 27 at the rocker arm body pivot point 162. The rocker arm assembly body 160 may rotate about the rocker arm body pivot point 162 and is structured to move between a first position, wherein the rocker arm body ram body contact point 166 is disposed adjacent to the base plate 110, and a second position, wherein the rocker arm body ram body contact point 166 is adjacent to the stop plate 112. As used immediately above, “adjacent” is a comparative adjective relating to the positions of the rocker arm assembly body 160. The rocker arm body ram body contact point 166 is structured to engage and move the ram body 94. As shown, the rocker arm body ram body contact point 166 engages a bearing 101 (
The closing assembly 54 is assembled in the housing assembly 12 as follows. The toggle assembly 58 is disposed with the first link outer end 74 being rotatably coupled to the housing assembly 12 and/or side plates 27. The second link outer end 76 is rotatably coupled to the pole shaft 56 and, more specifically, rotatably coupled to a mounting point 66. The ram assembly 60 is disposed adjacent to the toggle assembly 58 with the ram body forward surface 96 adjacent to the toggle joint 82. That is, the toggle assembly 58 and the ram assembly 60 are positioned relative to each other so that the toggle joint 82 is disposed within the ram body 94 path of travel. More specifically, the toggle joint 82 also moves through a path as the toggle assembly 58 moves between the first, collapsed configuration and the second, over-toggle configuration. The path of the toggle joint 82 is disposed, generally, within the ram body 94 path of travel. Thus, the ram body 94 is structured to engage the toggle joint 82. In a preferred embodiment, the ram body 94 path of travel does not extend to the position of the toggle joint 82 when the toggle assembly 58 is in the second, over-toggle configuration.
The rocker arm assembly 136 is disposed within the housing assembly 12 adjacent to the ram assembly 60. More specifically, the rocker arm body ram body contact point 166 is disposed so as to contact the forward side, that is the side opposite the at least one spring 90, of a ram body roller 100. In this configuration, rotation of the cam 134 causes the ram body 94 to move between the second, extended position and the first, retracted position. That is, assuming the ram body 94 is in the second, extended position and the cam follower 164 is disposed on the outer cam surface 150 at a point adjacent to the outer cam surface point of minimal radius 152, then the rocker arm assembly body 160 is in the second position. Upon actuation of the charging operator 130, the cam shaft 132 and the cam 134 rotate causing the cam follower 164 to move over the outer cam surface 150. At the point where the cam follower 164 engages the outer cam surface 150, the relative radius of the outer cam surface 150 increases with the continued rotation. As the relative radius of the outer cam surface 150 is increasing the rocker arm assembly body 160 is moved to the first position. As the rocker arm assembly body 160 is moved to the first position, the rocker arm body ram body contact point 166 engages the ram body bearing 101 and moves the ram body 94 to the first position, thereby compressing the at least one spring 90. When the ram body 94 is moved to the first position, the rocker arm body cam follower 164 is disposed at the stop radius 155. When the rocker arm body cam follower 164 is disposed on the stop radius 155, the force from the at least one spring 90 is transferred via the ram body 94 and the rocker arm assembly body 160 to the cam 134. That is, the force is being applied in a generally radially inward direction. Because the cam radius at the stop radius 155 is less than at the cam point of greatest radius 154, the cam 134 is encouraged to rotate away from the cam point of greatest radius 154, i.e. toward the step 156. The rotation of the cam shaft 132 is controlled by the latch assembly 180, discussed below.
In this position, any further rotation of the cam 134 will allow the rocker arm body cam follower 164 to fall over the step 156. After the rocker arm body cam follower 164 falls over the step 156, the rocker arm body cam follower 164 does not operatively engage the cam 134. That is, while there may be some minor force applied to the cam 134 by the rocker arm body cam follower 164, this force is not significant, does not cause the cam 134 to rotate, and does not cause significant wear and tear on the cam 134. It is noted that the cam 134 may rotate due to momentum imparted by the rocker arm body cam follower 164 prior to the rocker arm body cam follower 164 to falling over the step 156. Further, as the rocker arm body cam follower 164 falls over the step 156, the rocker arm assembly body 160 is free to move to the second position as the rocker arm body cam follower 164 is now disposed adjacent to the outer cam surface point of minimal radius 152. It is observed that, when the rocker arm body cam follower 164 is disposed at the outer cam surface stop radius 155, the cam 134 engaging the rocker arm assembly 136, which further engages the ram assembly 60, maintains the at least one spring 90 in the charged state.
The cam 134 and the rocker arm assembly 136 are maintained in the charged configuration by a latch assembly 180. The latch assembly 180 includes a latch lobe 182, a latch roller 184, latch prop 186 and a latch D-shaft 188. The latch lobe 182 is fixed to the cam shaft 132 and maintains a specific orientation relative to the cam 134. The latch roller 184 is rotatably coupled to the latch prop 186 and is structured to roll over the surface of the latch lobe 182. The latch prop 186 has an elongated, generally flat body 190 having a latch roller 184 mounting 192, a pivot point 194 and a latch edge 196. The latch prop body 190 is pivotally coupled to a side plate 27 and is structured to pivot, or rock, between a first position (
In this configuration, the closing assembly 54 operates as follows. For the sake of this discussion the electrical switching apparatus 10 will be initially described in the typical condition following an over current condition. That is, the at least one pair of separable contacts 26 are in the first, open position, the pole shaft 56 is in the first position, the toggle assembly 58 is in the first configuration, the ram body 94 is in the first position and the at least one spring 90 is charged, and the rocker arm assembly body 160 is in the first position. To close the at least one pair of separable contacts 26, an operator actuates the latch assembly 180 to cause the latch D-shaft 188 to rotate as set forth above. When the cam shaft 132 is no longer retained by the latch assembly 180, the cam 134 rotates slightly so as to allow the rocker arm body cam follower 164 to fall over the step 156. When the rocker arm body cam follower 164 falls over the step 156, the rocker arm assembly body 160 is free to move to the second position as the rocker arm body cam follower 164. The rocker arm assembly body 160 preferably engages a stop (not shown) that positions the rocker arm assembly body 160 adjacent the outer cam surface 150 at a point adjacent to the outer cam surface point of minimal radius 152. At this point the at least one spring 90 is no longer restrained and the at least one spring 90 moves the ram body 94 from the first, retracted position toward the second, extended position. It is noted that the rocker arm assembly body 160 stop is positioned so as to allow the ram body 94 to travel over its full path of travel.
As the ram body 94 moves from the first, retracted position toward the second, extended position, the ram body forward surface 96 engages the toggle joint 82 and causes the toggle assembly 58 to move from the first, collapsed configuration to the second, over-toggle configuration. As noted above, the ram body 94 path of travel does not extend to the position of the toggle joint 82 when the toggle assembly 58 is in the second, over-toggle configuration. Preferably, the ram body 94 moves with sufficient speed and energy so that, when the ram body 94 reaches the end of the path of travel, the toggle assembly 58 is over toggle but not at its final over toggle resting point. Once the toggle assembly 58 is over the final over toggle point, the forces of the at least one spring 90 and whatever the remaining momentum created by the ram body 94 continue the motion of the toggle assembly 58 towards the second, over-toggle configuration, thereby creating a space between the ram body forward surface 96 and the toggle joint 82.
As the toggle assembly 58 is moved into the second, over-toggle configuration, the pole shaft 56 is also moved into its second position. As the pole shaft 56 is moved into its second position, the at least one pair of separable contacts 26 are moved from the first, open position to the second closed position. At this point the closing operation is complete, however, it is preferred that the operator again engages the charging operator 130 to cause the cam 134 to rotate so that the outer cam surface point of greatest radius 154 again engages the cam follower 164. As described above, the rotation of the cam 134 to this position acts to charge the at least one spring 90. Thus, the at least one spring 90 is charged and ready to close the at least one pair of separable contacts 26 following another over current condition.
The at least one spring 90 is a stored energy mechanism. To prevent the release of the stored energy within the at least one spring 90 the electrical switching apparatus 10 preferably includes a stored energy device interlock assembly 200 as shown in
Initially, it is noted that the latch D-shaft 188 includes a radially offset pivot coupling 202. Further, at least one of the pole shaft mounting points 66 is also a radially offset pivot coupling 204. The interlock assembly 200 includes a latch D-shaft link assembly 210, an on-command paddle assembly 212, and an on-command paddle actuator 214. The latch D-shaft link assembly 210 includes an elongated body 220 with a first end 222 and a second end 224. The latch D-shaft link assembly body first end 222 has a pivot coupling 226. The latch D-shaft link assembly body second end 224 is, preferably, shaped as a nose 228 having a rounded distal tip 230 and a lifting surface 232 extending from the nose tip 230 toward the latch D-shaft link assembly body first end 222. The latch D-shaft link assembly body 220 may also include a trip device extension 240 having a proximal end 242 and a distal end 244. The latch D-shaft link assembly body trip device extension proximal end 242 is coupled to the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220. The latch D-shaft link assembly body trip device extension distal end 244 is structured to engage the trip shaft paddle 44. Preferably, the latch D-shaft link assembly body trip device extension distal end 244 extends generally parallel to, but spaced from, the latch D-shaft link assembly body nose 228. The latch D-shaft link assembly 210 may also include a biasing device 231 which is preferably a tension spring 233. The latch D-shaft link assembly 210 may also include a yoke assembly 241 having a body 243 with a first end 245 and a second end 247. The yoke assembly body first end 245 has a pivot coupling 249. The yoke assembly body second end has a lifter 251. The yoke assembly body pivot coupling 249 is structured to be pivotally coupled to the pole shaft pivot coupling 204 with the yoke assembly body lifter 251 extending toward, and adjacent to, the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220, as described below. It is further noted that the body lifter 251 may be an independent element structured to be coupled to the cam shaft 132, however, this is not the preferred embodiment.
As seen best in
The on-command paddle actuator 214 is structured to move the on-command paddle assembly body 250 as described below. The on-command paddle actuator 214 may be a remotely operated device, such as but not limited to, a solenoid (not shown) coupled to the on-command paddle assembly body 250. The on-command paddle actuator 214 may also include a manually operated actuator such as a button assembly 270. The button assembly 270 has a body 272 movably coupled to the housing assembly 12 and structured to move between a deactivated position and an activated position. The button assembly 270 is disposed adjacent to the on-command paddle body first end 252. More preferably, the button assembly body 272 is an elongated body having a first end 274 and a second end 276. The button assembly body first end 274 has a pivot coupling 278 structured to be pivotally coupled to the housing assembly 12. The button assembly body second end 276 is structured to engage the on-command paddle assembly actuator tab 266.
The interlock assembly 200 is assembled as follows. It is noted that the interlock assembly 200 is initially described with the latch D-shaft 188 in the latched position and the on-command paddle assembly body 250 in a deactivated position. Other configurations that the interlock assembly 200 may be moved into are described below. As shown in
The latch D-shaft link assembly body first end pivot coupling 226 is coupled to the latch D-shaft pivot coupling 202 defining a latch D-shaft link pivot point 300. The latch D-shaft link assembly body second end 224, that is, the latch D-shaft link assembly body nose 228 extends into the on-command paddle assembly body pocket 258 with the latch D-shaft link assembly body lifting surface 232 extending over the on-command paddle assembly body lifting surface 262. In this configuration, the latch D-shaft link assembly body second end 224 is removably disposed within the on-command paddle assembly body pocket 258. The latch D-shaft link assembly body nose 228 is disposed immediately adjacent to, or in engagement with, the on-command paddle assembly body pushing surface 260. Preferably, the latch D-shaft link assembly biasing device 231, that is, tension spring 233, extends between the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220 and the button assembly body 272. In this configuration, the latch D-shaft link assembly biasing device 231 biases the button assembly body 272 away from the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220 and into the deactivated position. Further, the latch D-shaft link assembly biasing device 231 biases the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220 away from the button assembly body 272 and, preferably, toward the on-command paddle assembly body pocket vertex 264. Also, the latch D-shaft link assembly biasing device 231, acting through the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220 further biases the D-shaft 188 to the latched position. Further, the latch D-shaft link assembly body trip device extension distal end 244 is disposed adjacent to the trip shaft paddle 44.
The yoke assembly body first end pivot coupling 249 is pivotally coupled to the pole shaft pivot coupling 204. When the pole shaft 56 is in the first, open position the yoke assembly body lifter 251 extends toward, and adjacent to, the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220. When the pole shaft 56 is in the second, closed position, the rotation of the pole shaft pivot coupling 204 moves the yoke assembly body lifter 251 towards, and into operative engagement with, the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220, as described below.
In this configuration, the interlock assembly 200 allows a user to activate the closing assembly 54 and/or the latch assembly 180. That is, when a user activates the on-command paddle actuator 214 the on-command paddle assembly body 250 moves from the first, deactivated position (
As shown in
It is noted that, in this configuration, the interlock assembly 200 is structured to prevent a second attempt at a close procedure from occurring. That is, if a user maintains the on-command paddle assembly body 250 in the second, activated position, e.g., by holding the button assembly body 272 in the activated position, the latch D-shaft 188 will not be maintained in the unlatched position. As described above, the activation procedure results in the latch D-shaft link assembly body nose 228 being placed out of the on-command paddle assembly body pocket 258. In this configuration, there is no element acting on the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220 and shifting the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220 in the first direction. Thus, the latch D-shaft 188 is not rotated to the unlatched position but rather is free to return to and remain in the latched position. To reset the interlock assembly 200, the user must release the on-command paddle assembly body 250, e.g., by releasing the button assembly body 272. When the on-command paddle assembly body 250 is released, the on-command paddle assembly body 250 returns to the first, deactivated position. When the on-command paddle assembly body 250 returns to the first, deactivated position, the bias of the latch D-shaft link assembly biasing device 231 biases the latch D-shaft link assembly body 220 toward the on-command paddle assembly body pocket vertex 264, as set forth above. When the latch D-shaft link assembly body nose 228 is returned to the on-command paddle assembly body pocket 258, the interlock assembly 200 is reset.
The interlock assembly 200 is also responsive to the position of the pole shaft 56. That is, as noted above, the pole shaft 56 rotates between a first, open position and a second, closed position. When the pole shaft 56 is in the first, open position (
The interlock assembly 200 may also be controlled by the trip device 40. As is known in the art, the trip device 40 may be maintained, or moved into, a tripped configuration by various means or devices such as, but not limited to, a racking system interlock (not shown). Such a racking system interlock is part of the racking system used to move the electrical switching apparatus 10 into, or out of, an enclosure. When the racking system is engaged, the racking system interlock engages the trip device 40 and places the trip device 40 in a tripped configuration. The interlock assembly 200 also takes advantage of the trip device 40 being in a tripped configuration to prevent the activation of the closing assembly 54 and/or the latch assembly 180.
That is, as noted above, the trip device 40 includes a trip device shaft 42 structured to rotate between a first open, position and a second, closed position. The trip shaft 42 radially extending paddle 44 is structured to engage, as well as operatively engage, the latch D-shaft link assembly body trip device extension distal end 244. Typically, such as when the at least one pair of contacts 26 are closed, the trip device 40 is not in a tripped configuration and the trip shaft paddle 44 does not operatively engage the latch D-shaft link assembly body trip device extension distal end 244. As shown in
While specific embodiments of the invention 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 invention which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
| Number | Name | Date | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 5856643 | Gress et al. | Jan 1999 | A |
| 5899323 | Rakus | May 1999 | A |
| 7459650 | Weister et al. | Dec 2008 | B2 |
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 20080302640 A1 | Dec 2008 | US |
