Information
-
Patent Grant
-
6633210
-
Patent Number
6,633,210
-
Date Filed
Friday, September 15, 200024 years ago
-
Date Issued
Tuesday, October 14, 200321 years ago
-
Inventors
-
Original Assignees
-
Examiners
Agents
-
CPC
-
US Classifications
Field of Search
US
- 335 11
- 335 13
- 335 17
- 335 21
- 335 36
- 335 38
-
International Classifications
-
Abstract
A securing member for use in a switch assembly of a circuit breaker includes a support post and a fastener. The securing member assists in mounting an alarm switch onto a bracket of the switch assembly and further resists movement of the actuation levers of a pair of auxiliary switches from moving beyond a first given position and from potentially becoming caught in an operating mechanism that pivots a crossbar. The dual functionality of the securing member is cost effective and occupies only a minimal amount of additional space within the crowded confines of the circuit breaker.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to circuit breakers and, more particularly, to circuit breakers employing one or more alarm switches and/or auxiliary switches that are operated by the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. Specifically, the invention relates to a securing member that resists movement of a switch actuation lever toward a crossbar of an operating mechanism to avoid the actuation lever from becoming entangled with the operating mechanism.
2. Description of the Related Art
As is understood in the relevant art, circuit breakers are used for numerous purposes in power distribution systems. Among such purposes is the interruption of current in a protected system during certain specified overcurrent and under-voltage conditions, as well as other conditions. In multi-pole circuit breakers, each pole includes a stationary contact and a movable contact, the movable contact being pivotable into and out of electrical engagement with the stationary contact.
The movable contacts typically are commonly operatively mounted on an operating mechanism that simultaneously moves all of the movable contacts out of electrical engagement with the stationary contacts in the event of a specified overcurrent or under-voltage condition or other condition. The operating mechanism typically includes a rotatable crossbar extending between the poles to which the movable contacts are operatively mounted. Rotation of the crossbar causes the movable contacts of all of the poles to be simultaneously pivoted into and out of electrical engagement with the stationary contacts as needed.
Inasmuch as the electrical disengagement of the movable contacts from the stationary contacts results in an interruption of current through the circuit breaker, it is known in the art to provide one or more switches that are mechanically operated by the crossbar or other components of the operating mechanism or other mechanisms and that are operatively connected with alarm bells, warning lights, and other devices that are calculated to inform a technician that the circuit breaker is in an interrupted or off condition. Such switches are components in a switch assembly that is mountable within the circuit breaker and often include an alarm switch that is operatively connected with the cradle or handle of the operating mechanism to detect a tripped state of the circuit breaker and one or more auxiliary switches that are operatively connected with the crossbar and indicate the open or closed state of the separable contacts. In such applications, the switches usually each include an actuation lever in the form of a tang of spring steel or other material that is connected at an attachment end thereof with the switch housing and that protrudes outwardly therefrom. The crossbar includes one or more eccentric camming surfaces which, upon rotation of the crossbar, depress the actuation levers of the switches. Depression of the actuation levers by the camming surfaces causes the actuation levers to each depress a plunger that actuates the electrical contacts within the switch that operate the alarm devices connected therewith.
While such switch assemblies have been effective for many of their intended purposes, such switch assemblies have not, however, been without limitation. It is known that the actuation levers of the auxiliary switches are slidably disposed against and are depressed by the camming surfaces of the crossbar during rotation of the crossbar. Moreover, it is known that rotation of the crossbar preferably occurs rapidly under the specified conditions to quickly separate the movable contacts. Some circuit breakers are configured such that during the aforementioned rotation, movement of the camming surfaces is in a direction from the free ends of the actuation levers toward the attachment ends thereof. In such configurations, it has occasionally been observed that during rapid movement of the camming surfaces, one or more of the actuation levers can undesirably be frictionally carried with the camming surfaces instead sliding thereon. Under such circumstances, the affected actuation levers are pulled from one side of the crossbar to an opposed side of the crossbar, in which case the actuation levers are pulled away from operative contact with the plungers. Such a condition renders the switches become inoperable despite the tripped condition of the circuit breaker. Such a situation is undesirable inasmuch as the alarm devices with which the switches are connected will not operate when the circuit breaker is in the interrupted or off condition, which can, in turn, prolong the time during which the interrupted condition of the circuit breaker goes undetected by a technician. Moreover, the available space within a circuit breaker is extremely limited, and thus any device that is intended to resist such mis-actuation of the actuation levers must be tailored to fit within such a confined space. It is thus desired to provide a device that is compact and that resists entanglement of the actuation levers of auxiliary switches with the operating mechanism of a circuit breaker.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In view of the foregoing, a securing member is provided for use in conjunction with a switch assembly of a circuit breaker. The securing member includes a fastener and a support post mounted on and extending outwardly from the fastener. The switch assembly includes a bracket, an alarm switch, and at least a first auxiliary switch, with the securing member being mounted on the bracket. The securing member both mounts the alarm switch on the bracket and underlies the actuation levers of the auxiliary switches to resist movement of the actuation levers beyond a given position, which thus resists the actuation levers from becoming entangled in the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. The fastener includes a flange and an attachment structure, with the flange being disposed against one side of the bracket, and with the attachment structure extending through a mounting hole formed in the bracket. The attachment structure is configured to mount the alarm switch on the bracket. The support post extends outwardly from the side of the flange opposite the attachment structure in a direction generally away from the alarm switch.
An aspect of the present invention is to provide an improvement to a circuit breaker of the type including an operating mechanism and a switch assembly, the switch assembly including a bracket, a first switch, and a second switch, the second switch including a housing and an actuation lever, the actuation lever extending at least partially alongside and being movable with respect to the housing, the first switch being mounted on the bracket with a fastener, in which the general nature of the improvement can be stated as including a support post mounted on the fastener, the support post being disposed adjacent the actuation lever and being structured to resist movement of the actuation lever farther away from the housing than a given position.
Another objective of the present invention is to provide a securing member for mounting a first switch to a bracket, the bracket being formed with at least a first mounting hole and carrying a second switch, the general nature of which can be stated as including a fastener structured to be at least partially received in the at least first mounting hole and a support post mounted on and extending outwardly from the fastener, the support post being structured to be disposed adjacent the second switch.
Still another aspect of the present invention is to provide a method of resisting movement of a first actuation lever of a first switch farther away from a first housing of the first switch than a first given position, the general nature of which can be stated as including the steps of mounting a second switch to a bracket with a fastener, providing a support post extending from the fastener, the support post being disposed alongside the first actuation lever, and abutting the first actuation lever against the support post when the first actuation lever is in the first given position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1
is an isometric view of a securing member in accordance with the present invention;
FIG. 2
is a front elevational view of the securing member;
FIG. 3
is an exploded isometric view of a switch assembly incorporating the securing member; and
FIG. 4
is a left side view of the switch assembly shown in relation to a schematic representation of a circuit breaker.
Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the specification.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A securing member
4
in accordance with the present invention is indicated generally in
FIGS. 1-4
. The securing member
4
is a component in a switch assembly
8
that is mounted within a circuit breaker
12
. As is understood in the relevant art, the circuit breaker
12
includes an operating mechanism
16
that includes a crossbar
20
, the crossbar
20
being rotatable during specified overcurrent and under-voltage conditions, as well as during other conditions such as routine opening and closing of the circuit protected by the circuit breaker
12
.
As is best depicted in
FIGS. 1 and 2
, the securing member
4
includes a fastener
24
that is connected with a support post
28
. The fastener
24
includes a flange
32
and an attachment structure
36
that is formed with an opening
40
.
The support post
28
is a substantially cylindrical member having an arcuate outer surface. The flange
32
is annular member interposed between the support post
28
and the attachment structure
36
. The flange
32
forms an annular shoulder, the importance of which will be set forth more fully below. The attachment structure
36
is a substantially cylindrical member, and the opening
40
formed therein is substantially cylindrical and is coaxially aligned with the attachment structure.
The support post
28
, the flange
32
, and the attachment structure
36
are all axially aligned with one another. While the securing member
4
is preferably an intregally formed one-piece member manufactured out of a single piece of material, it is understood that the securing member
4
may be a conjoined multi-part member, depending upon the specific needs of the particular application, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The switch assembly
8
may be of numerous configurations, and in the embodiment depicted herein includes a bracket
44
, an alarm switch
48
, a first auxiliary switch
52
, and a second auxiliary switch
54
. The bracket
44
is an approximately T-shaped member having a substantially planar plate
42
and a substantially planar leg
43
, the alarm switch
48
and the first and second auxiliary switches
52
and
54
being mounted on the plate
42
, with the leg
43
being mounted on structures within the circuit breaker
12
. The plate
42
includes a first side
46
and a second side
50
opposite one another.
The first auxiliary switch
52
is preferably a conventional microswitch that includes a first housing
56
and a first actuation lever
58
. The first housing
56
is an approximately rectangular member including a set of switch contacts that are operable by a first plunger mounted on the first housing
56
. The first actuation lever
58
extends outwardly from the lower surface of the first housing
56
and extends substantially parallel with the lower surface of the first housing
56
. The first actuation lever
58
includes a looped free end that is configured to operatively engage the crossbar
20
under appropriate circumstances.
The second auxiliary switch
54
is substantially similar to the first auxiliary switch
52
and includes a second housing
60
and a second actuation lever
62
. The second housing
60
includes a set of switch contacts that are operable by a second plunger
61
(
FIG. 4
) mounted on the second housing
60
. The second actuation lever
62
extends outwardly from the lower surface of the second housing
60
and extends substantially parallel therewith and terminates at a looped end that can operatively engage the crossbar
20
under appropriate circumstances.
The first and second auxiliary switches
52
and
54
are each formed with a pair of holes whereby a pair of auxiliary switch plugs
64
and a pair of auxiliary switch pins
68
extend through the holes and mount the first and second auxiliary switches
52
and
54
onto the first side
46
of the plate
42
. It is understood, however, that alternate mounting structures may be employed for mounting the first and second auxiliary switches
52
and
54
onto the bracket
44
without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
The alarm switch
48
is mounted on the second side
50
of the plate
42
, as will be set forth more fully below. The alarm switch
48
includes an alarm switch housing
72
and an alarm switch actuation lever
74
protruding from and extending at least partially parallel with the alarm switch housing
72
. The alarm switch housing
72
includes a set of switch contacts that are operated upon depression of a plunger mounted on the alarm switch housing
72
by the alarm switch actuation lever
74
. The alarm switch actuation lever
74
is itself depressed by rotation of a toggle bar
66
in conjunction with movement of a cradle of the operating mechanism
16
from a latched condition to an unlatched condition.
The toggle bar
66
is pivotably mounted on the second side
50
and includes a toggle body
76
and a tapered nose
70
, with the tapered nose
70
extending from the toggle body
76
. The tapered nose
70
is operatably engaged with the cradle of the operating mechanism
16
. Movement of the operating mechanism
16
from the latched condition to the unlatched condition pivots the tapered nose
70
therewith and thus causes the toggle body
76
to operatively engage the alarm switch actuation lever
74
and operate the switch contacts operated by the plunger mounted on the alarm switch housing
72
. When the operating mechanism is in the latched condition, a spring
80
biases the toggle bar
66
to a position away from the alarm switch actuation lever
74
such that the contacts of the alarm switch
48
, if normally open, remain open. As is understood in the relevant art, the alarm switch
48
is typically electrically connected with an alarm bell, warning light, or other apparatus that is triggered whenever the operating mechanism
16
is in the unlatched condition.
As is best shown in
FIG. 3
, the plate
42
is formed with a first mounting hole
78
extending therethrough and a second mounting hole
84
extending therethrough. The alarm switch
48
is formed with a substantially cylindrical first bore
86
extending therethrough and a substantially cylindrical second bore
88
extending therethrough, the spacing of the first and second bores
86
and
88
being configured to correspond with the first and second mounting holes
78
and
84
formed in the plate
42
.
The alarm switch
48
is mounted on the second side
50
of the plate
42
by a first pin
90
that is received in a plug
92
and a second pin
94
that is received in the opening
40
of the attachment structure
36
(
FIGS. 1 and 2
) of the fastener
24
. The plug
92
is received in the first bore
86
. The first pin
90
includes a flange and a shank, the flange being disposed against the first side
46
, and the shank extending through the first mounting hole
78
and being received in a substantially cylindrical hole (not shown) formed in the plug
92
. The shank of the first pin
90
is retained in the hole formed in the plug
92
by known structures and/or methods.
The attachment structure
36
(
FIGS. 1 and 2
) of the securing member
4
extends through the second mounting hole
84
and is received in the second bore
88
of the alarm switch
48
. In such position, the flange
32
is disposed against the first side
46
of the plate
42
, and the support post
28
extends in a direction generally away from the plate
42
.
The second pin
94
includes an elongated shaft
93
and a head
95
extending radially outwardly from one end of the shaft
93
. The shaft
93
is received in the opening
40
of the attachment structure
36
that has been received in the second bore
88
, and the head
95
of the second pin
94
is disposed against the alarm switch housing
72
. The shaft
93
of the second pin
94
is fixedly retained in the opening
40
by known attachment structures and/or methods.
When the switch assembly
8
is assembled as set forth above, the securing member
4
is disposed on the bracket
44
whereby the attachment structure
36
extends through the second mounting hole
84
and into the second bore
88
and cooperates with the second pin
94
to assist in mounting the alarm switch
48
on the plate
42
. In such position, the shoulder formed by the flange
32
is disposed against the first side
46
of the plate
42
, and the support post
28
extends outwardly and in a direction generally away from the first side
46
.
As can be seen in
FIG. 4
, the support post
28
advantageously extends below the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
of the first and second auxiliary switches
52
and
54
. As can also be seen in
FIG. 4
, the looped ends of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
are disposed closely adjacent or against an upper surface
96
of the crossbar
20
. As is understood in the relevant art, rotation of the crossbar
20
about an imaginary axis extending out of
FIG. 4
results in the looped ends of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
sliding on the camming surface defined on the eccentric portion of the upper surface
96
of the crossbar
20
. Such action has the result of compressing the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
upwardly toward the first and second housing
56
and
60
, respectively, and of operatively engaging the plungers of the first and second auxiliary switches
52
and
54
and operating the contacts thereof. As such, rotation of the crossbar
20
results in activation of any alarm bells, warning lights, or other indicator systems that are operatively connected with the first or second auxiliary switches
52
and
54
.
When the circuit breaker
12
is returned to the latched condition and the crossbar
20
is returned to the orientation indicated generally in
FIG. 4
, the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
similarly return to the position depicted in FIG.
4
. As is understood in the relevant art, the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
are biased to the position depicted generally in
FIG. 4
by the natural elastic properties of the spring material out of which they are manufactured or by external biasing structures such as springs or other such structures. As is shown in
FIG. 4
, the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
are in a first given position when the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker
12
is in the latched condition, whereby the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
both rest against the arcuate outer surface of the support post
28
, and the looped ends of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
rest against the upper surface
96
of the crossbar
20
. It is understood that the rest positions of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
, meaning the positions to which they are naturally biased, may nevertheless be at a point closer to the first and second housings
56
and
60
, respectively, than the first given position, and that in such position the looped ends may be out of contact with the upper surface
96
, without departing from the spirit of the present invention.
When the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
are in the first given position disposed against the support post
28
of the securing member
4
, the support post
28
retains the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
in the first given position and advantageously resists any movement of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
to positions farther away from the first and second housings
56
and
60
, respectively, then the first given position. In this regard, it can be seen that when the crossbar
20
(as depicted in
FIG. 4
) rapidly rotates in the counter-clockwise direction in conjunction with movement of the cradle of the operating mechanism
16
from the latched condition to the unlatched condition, the support post
28
resists movement of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
away from the first given position that might otherwise occur due to friction between the crossbar
20
and the looped ends of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
. The support post
28
thus advantageously resists mis-actuation of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
that might otherwise interfere with proper functioning of the first and second auxiliary switches
52
and
54
.
The configuration of the support post
28
advantageously resists movement of the first and second actuation lever
58
and
62
farther away from the first and second housings
56
and
60
, respectively, than the first given position, yet permits the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
to be moved closer to the first and second housings
56
and
60
, respectively, than the first given position without obstruction. Moreover, inasmuch as the support post
28
is fixedly mounted on the fastener
24
that assists in mounting the alarm switch
48
on the bracket
44
, the support post
28
does not require additional mounting structures for achieving the benefits therefrom.
The securing member
4
thus advantageously both resists movement of the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
farther away from the first and second housing
56
and
60
, respectively, than the first given position, and thus resists the first and second actuation levers
58
and
62
from becoming caught in the operating mechanism
16
that pivots the crossbar
20
. The securing member
4
additionally assists in mounting the alarm switch
48
on the bracket
44
. Such dual functionality of the securing member
4
is highly advantageous inasmuch as it is a cost-effective solution and requires only a very minimal amount of space within the crowded confines of the circuit breaker
12
and enhances the reliability of the switch assembly
8
.
While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been described herein, it is understood that various changes, additions, modifications, and adaptations may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention, as set forth in the following claims.
Claims
- 1. In an improved circuit breaker of the type including an operating mechanism and a switch assembly, the switch assembly including a bracket, a first switch, and a second switch, the second switch including a housing and an actuation lever, the actuation lever extending at least partially alongside and being movable with respect to the housing, the first switch being mounted on the bracket with a fastener, the improvement comprising:a support post mounted on the fastener, the support post being disposed adjacent the actuation lever and being structured to resist movement of the actuation lever farther away from the housing than a given position.
- 2. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 1, in which the second switch is mounted on the bracket.
- 3. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 2, in which bracket includes a first side and a second side and is formed with at least a first mounting hole, and in which the fastener includes a shoulder, the fastener extending at least partially through the at least first mounting hole, the shoulder being disposed against the first side of the bracket, the first switch being mounted on the second side of the bracket, the second side being opposite the first side.
- 4. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 3, in which the second switch is mounted on the first side of the bracket, and in which the support post extends from the shoulder in a direction generally away from the first switch.
- 5. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 4, in which the circuit breaker further includes a third switch having a housing and an actuation lever, the actuation lever of the third switch extending at least partially alongside and being movable with respect to the housing thereof, the third switch being mounted to the first side of the bracket, the support post extending adjacent the actuation lever of the third switch and being structured to resist movement of the actuation lever of the third switch farther away from the housing of the third switch than a second given position.
- 6. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 5, in which the actuation levers of the second and third switches are substantially aligned with one another.
- 7. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 3, in which the shoulder is formed by a flange disposed on the fastener.
- 8. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 4, in which the fastener is one of a plug and a pin.
- 9. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 1, in which the actuation lever is abuttingly disposed against the support post when the actuation lever is in the given position.
- 10. The circuit breaker as set forth in claim 1, in which the operating mechanism includes a crossbar, and in which the support post is structured to resist movement of the actuation lever closer to the crossbar than the given position.
- 11. A method of resisting movement of a first actuation lever of a first switch farther away from a first housing of the first switch than a first given position, the method comprising the steps of:mounting a second switch to a bracket with a fastener; providing a support post extending from the fastener, the support post being disposed alongside the first actuation lever; and abutting the first actuation lever against the support post when the first actuation lever is in the first given position.
- 12. The method as set forth in claim 11, in which the step of providing a support post includes the step of configuring the support post to extend from the fastener in a direction generally away from the second switch.
- 13. The method as set forth in claim 11, in which the step of abutting the first actuation lever includes the step of resisting movement of the first actuation lever closer to a crossbar of an operating mechanism than the first given position.
- 14. The method as set forth in claim 11, in which the step of mounting a second switch includes the steps of at least partially receiving a portion of the fastener through a mounting hole formed in the bracket, disposing a flange of the fastener against a first side of the bracket, mounting the second switch on a second side of the bracket, and at least partially receiving a pin into a plug formed on the fastener.
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Date |
Kind |
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Sep 1996 |
A |
6227908 |
Aumeier et al. |
May 2001 |
B1 |
6471545 |
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Oct 2002 |
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