Patent Application
20160055995
The present invention relates generally to protective hardware for electrical systems and more particularly to a safety device for tagging and preventing closure of a knife switch in a terminal block.
Lockout and tagout (LOTO) procedures are used in industry and other operational settings to ensure that machinery and electrical circuits are shut off or isolated to facilitate safe maintenance, grooming, testing troubleshooting and other servicing work. It requires that power sources to a system or machine be isolated or rendered inoperative before any procedure is conducted on the system or machine. Ideally, a LOTO procedure includes measures for (1) assuring that the system or machine cannot be accidentally or inadvertently reconnected to its power source(s) (the “lock-out” function) and (2) providing readily apparent visual or other evidence of the unpowered status of the system or machine and/or the device used to accomplish this status (the “tag-out” function).
Some systems, however may not lend themselves to a lock-out function because the switches used to isolate circuitry cannot be easily locked in their unpowered positions. This leads to the undesirable situation where safety would have to depend entirely on tag-out procedures.
In most operational settings, LOTO procedures are required to meet government safety standards. In the civilian arena these are typically established by OSHA. In the military setting, the standards and procedures may be set by the service branches. See, e.g., the U.S. Navy's Tag-Out Users Manual, NAVSEA 50400-AD-URM-010/TUM Rev. 6 (“Navy TUM”), which sets forth Navy requirements and is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. Such requirements will often discourage or prohibit tag-out-only safety procedures as in the following Navy requirements:
An illustrative aspect of the invention provides a safety device for use in conjunction with a knife switch at least partially disposed in a switch well. The knife switch has a conductive blade and is rotatable between a closed configuration in which the blade engages an electrical contact in the switch well and an open configuration in which the blade is spaced apart from the electrical contact. The safety device comprises an elongate base member having a head end and an insertion portion extending distally away therefrom. The insertion portion is configured for at least partial insertion into the switch well between the knife switch and an internal wall of the switch well when the knife switch is in its open configuration. The device further comprises a slot formed in at least a portion of the insertion portion of the base member. The slot is sized and positioned to receive at least a portion of the blade when the knife switch is in its open configuration and the insertion portion is inserted into the switch well between the knife switch and the internal wall. The device also comprises a head attached to the base member at its head end.
Another illustrative aspect of the invention provides a method of using a safety device in conjunction with a knife switch at least partially disposed in a switch well having internal walls and a floor. The knife switch has a conductive blade and is rotatable between a closed configuration in which the blade engages an electrical contact in the switch well and an open configuration in which the blade is spaced apart from the electrical contact. The method comprises providing a safety device having an elongate base member having a head end and an insertion portion extending distally away therefrom. A slot is formed in at least a portion of the insertion portion of the base member and a head is attached to the base member at its head end. The method further comprises rotating the knife switch from the closed position to the open position and inserting the base member insertion portion of the safety device into the switch well. The insertion portion is inserted so that it is between the knife switch and an internal wall of the switch well so that the knife switch is prevented from rotating back to the closed configuration.
The invention can be more fully understood by reading the following detailed description together with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference indicators are used to designate like elements, and in which:
a and 4b are front and side views, respectively, of a knife switch safety device according to an embodiment of the invention;
a and 7b are front and side views, respectively, of a knife switch safety device according to an embodiment of the invention; and
The present invention provides a safety device for use in conjunction with a terminal block configured with a knife switch for making or breaking a circuit. The safety device of the invention provides a simple mechanism for preventing closure of an open switch (lock-out function) and for providing a readily visible indicator that the switch is open (Tag-out function).
While the invention will be described in connection with particular embodiments, it will be understood that the invention is not limited to these embodiments. On the contrary, it is contemplated that various alternatives, modifications and equivalents are included within the spirit and scope of the invention as described.
As noted above, some system configurations can make it very difficult to provide both lock-out and tag-out functions in a simple manner.
While the bodies 22 of the knife switches 20 in
There is accordingly a need for a device that allows for positive lock-out of individual switches in a large block of multiple switches. Ideally, this device would also facilitate and enhance the tag-out functionality of such individual switches.
The present invention provides knife switch safety devices that provide a positive interference that prevents rotation of a knife switch from an open position to a closed position, thereby assuring isolation of field devices from a power source. The devices are easy to use and inexpensively constructed from readily available non-conductive materials. The following paragraphs describe two illustrative embodiments.
With reference to
A slot or channel 112 formed in the insertion portion 111 is sized and configured for receiving the free edge of the switch blade 24. The depth of the slot 112 is established so that the blade 24 contacts the bottom of the slot. When positioned in this manner, the device 100 electrically isolates the blade 24 and prevents the knife switch 20 from rotating to its closed position. With the knife edge captured in the channel, the knife blade is prevented from moving diagonally to bypass the safety device 100 and close the circuit.
The head portion 120 may be configured to assist in the grasping and manipulation of the safety device 100. It may also be configured and/or sized to enhance the visibility of the device when installed, thereby enhancing its tag-out functionality. In the illustrated device 100, the head portion 120 is simply a rectangular block that has a larger, and thus more visible, lateral cross-section than the rest of the device 100. Any suitable size or shape may be used. In some embodiments, the head portion 120 may have a through hole configured for receiving a thread, cable, tether, clip or other form of connector for use in attaching a tag.
The safety device 100 may be any length that provides the required switch isolation and rotation blockage. In particular embodiments, the length may be established so that the free end of the insertion portion 111 “bottoms out” against the bottom of the well or against another internal structure while the head end 120 extends away from the top of the well by a desired distance. The length may also be established so that the device 100 may be used in switch wells having different depths.
In some embodiments of the safety device 100, the width W of the device (or at least the insertion portion 111) may be established so as to provide an interference fit with the lateral walls that define the switch well 14. This reduces the likelihood of inadvertent removal of the device 100 from the well 14.
With reference to
The safety device 200, however, has a head portion 220 formed as a ring with an opening 222. The ring allows for easy attachment of tags or other identification or warning indicia.
The safety devices of the invention may be formed as monolithic structures from any suitable non-conductive material that possesses dimensional stability. In some embodiments, the devices may be formed from injection molded polymer materials. Such materials, may include nylon, plastics, resins, fiber-reinforced composites, non-pliable natural or synthetic rubber, etc. The particular materials may be selected so as to provide sufficient rigidity to resist compression when a predetermined force is applied but pliable enough that it will not damage the knife switch if a high degree of closure force is applied to the switch.
Some or all of the safety device may be provided with a desired color (e.g., red) that enhances its visibility.
The procedure for using the safety devices of the invention is straightforward and requires no additional tools:
The device can be readily removed by applying enough force to overcome the resistance due to any interference fit. Once the safety device is removed, the knife switch can be closed. The safety device can then be reused.
It will be readily understood by those persons skilled in the art that the present invention is susceptible to broad utility and application. Many embodiments and adaptations of the present invention other than those herein described, as well as many variations, modifications and equivalent arrangements, will be apparent from or reasonably suggested by the present invention and foregoing description thereof, without departing from the substance or scope of the invention.
This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/070,268, filed Aug. 19, 2014, the complete disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62070268 | Aug 2014 | US |
