The subject matter disclosed herein relates to circuit breakers, and more particularly to a retaining insert for electrical circuit breaker panelboard assemblies.
Electrical circuit breaker panelboard assemblies often include a primary circuit breaker and a secondary circuit breaker for selectively switching an electrical supply to the panelboard between a primary source, such as a utility, and an auxiliary source, such as a generator. It is necessary that the primary circuit breaker and the secondary circuit breaker are prohibited from being simultaneously in a powered condition. A mechanical interlock assembly may be employed to interconnect a primary handle operated switch and a secondary handle operated switch to prevent both handles from being simultaneously disposed in a position that results in a powered condition for the primary circuit breaker and the secondary circuit breaker. The mechanical interlock is typically mounted to a cover for the front side electrical circuit breaker panelboard assembly, such that removal of the cover results in removal of the mechanical interlock, thereby leaving the primary handle and the secondary handle exposed to potential simultaneous positioning in a powered condition.
Another issue associated with existing electrical circuit breaker panelboard assemblies relates to adequate retaining of the secondary circuit breaker, which is typically merely a plug-in type. For such plug-in types, inadvertent removal of the secondary circuit breaker is undesirable. Additionally, a recess is often present between the secondary circuit breaker and a branch circuit breaker, thereby exposing live circuitry. Such exposure may pose various hazards to nearby individuals and environments.
According to one aspect of the invention, provided is a retaining insert coupleable to an enclosure for a primary circuit breaker and a pair of opposing circuit breakers arranged to define a recess. The retaining insert includes a base portion configured to be disposed between the primary circuit breaker and the pair of opposing circuit breakers, the base portion configured to be operatively coupled to the enclosure. Also included is a tab portion extending from the base portion and configured to retain the pair of opposing circuit breakers.
According to another aspect of the invention, an electrical protection system includes an enclosure comprising a base wall, a first sidewall and a second sidewall, the first sidewall and the second sidewall extending relatively perpendicularly from the base wall, wherein the enclosure is configured to at least partially surround a primary circuit breaker and a pair of opposing circuit breakers that define a recess. Also included is a bracket. The bracket includes a base portion extending from proximate the first sidewall to the second sidewall and mechanically fastened to the first sidewall and the second sidewall. The bracket also includes a tab portion extending from the base portion and disposed proximate the recess, the tab portion configured to retain the pair of opposing circuit breakers.
According to yet another aspect of the invention, provided is a support plate coupleable to an enclosure having a base assembly for operatively supporting a primary circuit breaker and a pair of opposing circuit breakers that define a recess. The support plate includes a main portion having a cutout region. Also included is a tab portion extending from the main portion and configured to retain the pair of opposing circuit breakers. Further included is a support plate brace operatively coupled to the main portion and extending to a location proximate the base wall and operatively coupled to the base assembly.
These and other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings.
The subject matter, which is regarded as the invention, is particularly pointed out and distinctly claimed in the claims at the conclusion of the specification. The foregoing and other features, and advantages of the invention are apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
The detailed description explains embodiments of the invention, together with advantages and features, by way of example with reference to the drawings.
Referring to
A base assembly 30 is operatively coupled to the base wall 20 and provides a mount interface for the primary circuit breaker 12. A plurality of studs and various other mechanical fasteners directly or indirectly secure the primary circuit breaker 12 to the base assembly 30 in a fixed manner. The base assembly 30 includes a plurality of socket arrangements 32 configured to receive the secondary circuit breaker 14 and the branch circuit breaker 16, as well as a plurality of other branch circuit breakers. The secondary circuit breaker 14 and the branch circuit breaker 16 include mating socket receptacles (not shown) corresponding to the plurality of socket arrangements 32 to achieve a plug-in connection for the secondary circuit breaker 14 and the branch circuit breaker 16.
The primary circuit breaker 12 includes a primary breaker handle 34 in operable communication with a primary circuit breaker switch for switching between a primary breaker powered position, also referred to herein as a primary breaker first position or as an ON position, and a primary breaker unpowered position, also referred to herein as a primary breaker second position or as an OFF position.
A bracket 40, also referred to herein as a retaining insert, extends along a plane proximate a first side 41 of the primary circuit breaker 12, as well as the secondary circuit breaker 14 and the branch circuit breaker 16. The bracket 40 includes a base portion 42 and a tab portion 44, with the base portion 42 including a first end 46 and a second end 48, the first end 46 and the second end 48 located proximate the first sidewall 22 and the second sidewall 24, respectively. At least one end aperture 50 is disposed proximate the first end 46 and the second end 48, the at least one end aperture 50 corresponding to at least one sidewall aperture 52 extending through the first sidewall 22 and the second sidewall 24. The at least one end aperture 50 and the at least one sidewall aperture 52 are configured to receive mechanical fasteners for fixedly securing the bracket 40 to the enclosure 18, and more specifically the first sidewall 22 and the second sidewall 24. The base portion 42 extends across the enclosure 18 at a location proximate a lower end 54 of the primary circuit breaker 12 and an upper end 56 of the secondary circuit breaker 14.
The tab portion 44 is integrally formed with the base portion 42 and extends at least partially within a recess 60 located between the secondary circuit breaker 14 and the branch circuit breaker 16. Based on the “plug-in” nature of the secondary circuit breaker 14, the tab portion 44 reduces the likelihood of inadvertent removal of the secondary circuit breaker 14. Additionally, the tab portion 44 is a structural element that reduces the exposure of live electrical circuitry that may be accessed proximate the recess 60.
An interlock assembly 70 includes an interlock bracket 72 and a locking member 74. The interlock bracket 72 is fixedly mounted to the base portion 42 of the bracket 40 via one or more mechanical fasteners extending through at least one interlock bracket aperture 76 that corresponds to at least one base portion aperture 78. The locking member 74 includes at least one slot 80 extending in a longitudinal direction corresponding to the first sidewall 22 and the second sidewall 24 longitudinal directions. The at least one slot 80 is configured to receive a retaining member (not illustrated), such as a pin, that extends through the at least one slot 80 and retaining member apertures 82 disposed in the interlock bracket 72. The retaining member may include a head portion that extends partially over a first surface 84 of the locking member 74, thereby retaining the locking member 74, while providing a moveable engagement of the locking member 74 to the interlock bracket 72. Specifically, the locking member 74 is free to slide between a first position 86 and a second position 88 (shown in
Referring now to
Referring now to
A blocking member 100 is disposed in operable communication with at least one of the primary circuit breaker 12 and the primary breaker handle 34. The blocking member 100 is configured to slide from side-to-side between a first blocking position and a second blocking position as a result of movement of the primary breaker handle 34 between the ON and OFF positions. The blocking member 100 is driven by movement of the primary breaker handle 34. The blocking member 100 may be driven by the primary breaker handle 34 in a variety of manners. In one embodiment, the blocking member 100 is directly coupled to the primary breaker handle 34, such that as the primary breaker handle 34 is moved toward the ON or OFF positions, the blocking member 100 is pushed or pulled, respectively, by the primary breaker handle 34. In an alternative embodiment, the blocking member 100 may be biased, such as by a spring, toward the OFF position of the primary breaker handle 34. Upon movement of the primary breaker handle 34 toward the ON position, the blocking member 100 is driven by the primary breaker handle 34.
Irrespective of the precise manner of driving the blocking member 100 by the primary breaker handle 34, when the primary breaker handle 34 is disposed in the ON position, the blocking member 100 is moved toward the second sidewall 24 and extends at least partially over a surface 102 of the cover 90, thereby reducing the likelihood of removal of the cover 90 during an ON condition of the primary breaker handle 34. A similar function is achieved with the interlock assembly 70 when the secondary breaker handle 36 is in the ON position. As described in detail above, the locking member 74 must be in the first position 86 to allow the secondary breaker handle 36 to be in the ON position. In the first position 86, at least a portion of the locking member 74 extends over the surface 102 of the cover 90, thereby reducing the likelihood of removal of the cover 90 during an ON condition of the secondary breaker handle 36. In conjunction, the blocking member 100 and the interlock assembly 70 reduce the ability of the cover 90 to be removed when either the primary breaker handle 34 or the secondary breaker handle 36 is disposed in the ON position.
Referring now to
In the exemplary embodiment, a support plate 202 is disposed along the first side 41 of the primary circuit breaker 12. The support plate 202 includes a main portion 204, a tab portion 206 and a support plate brace 208. The main portion 204 includes a cutout region 210 corresponding to a primary circuit breaker perimeter 212, thereby exposing a portion of the primary circuit breaker 12, including the primary breaker handle 34. The tab portion 206 is integrally formed with the main portion 204 and extends at least partially within the recess 60 located between the secondary circuit breaker 14 and the branch circuit breaker 16. Similar to the tab portion 44 of the first embodiment, based on the “plug-in” nature of the secondary circuit breaker 14, the tab portion 206 reduces the likelihood of inadvertent removal of the secondary circuit breaker 14. Additionally, the tab portion 206 is a structural element that reduces the exposure of live electrical circuitry that may be accessed proximate the recess 60.
The support plate brace 208 is operatively coupled to the main portion 204 and may be integrally formed with the main portion 204 such as by welding. The support plate brace 208 extends toward the base wall 20 and includes an end portion 214 that is operatively coupled to the base assembly 30. In the exemplary embodiment, an aperture 216 extending through the end portion 214 corresponds to a base assembly aperture 218 for mechanically fastening the support plate brace 208, and therefore the support plate 202 to the base assembly 30. Although illustrated and described as having a single support plate brace, typically a plurality of braces are employed to fixedly secure the support plate 202, with at least one brace on each side of the support plate 202. Additionally, it is contemplated that the support plate brace 208 is mechanically fastened to the base wall 20 of the enclosure 18.
The interlock assembly 70, described above in detail, is mounted to the support plate 202 in a similar manner as that of mounting to the bracket 40 of the first embodiment. Mounting of the interlock assembly 70 to the support plate 202 reduces the disturbance or interruption of operation of the interlock assembly 70 during opening or removal of the cover 90 from the enclosure 18.
Referring to
While the invention has been described in detail in connection with only a limited number of embodiments, it should be readily understood that the invention is not limited to such disclosed embodiments. Rather, the invention can be modified to incorporate any number of variations, alterations, substitutions or equivalent arrangements not heretofore described, but which are commensurate with the spirit and scope of the invention. Additionally, while various embodiments of the invention have been described, it is to be understood that aspects of the invention may include only some of the described embodiments. Accordingly, the invention is not to be seen as limited by the foregoing description, but is only limited by the scope of the appended claims.