The present application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. 119 and 35 U.S.C. 365 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2010-0096507 (filed on Oct. 4, 2010), which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to a trip button mechanism of an external handle for a circuit breaker.
A circuit breaker may be disposed in a cabinet such as a switchboard cabinet. In this case, an externally operable handle may be attached to the outside of the cabinet to open or close the circuit breaker.
Hereinafter, a related-art trip button mechanism of an externally operable handle for a circuit breaker will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, referring to
A manipulation handle 12 is disposed on the cover 10b for opening or closing a circuit. The manipulation handle 12 can be manually manipulated. A circuit breaker trip button 11 is disposed on a side of the cover 10b. The circuit breaker trip button 11 is provided for forcibly tripping the circuit breaker 10. A pair of coupling screw holes 10b-1 is provided at each longitudinal end side of the cover 10b for coupling an externally operable handle assembly 20 (described later) to the cover 10b.
The externally operable handle assembly 20 includes an outer casing 23, an externally operable handle 22, and an externally operable trip button 30. The outer casing 23 forms the exterior of the externally operable handle assembly 20. The externally operable handle 22 is rotatably attached to a side of the outer casing 23. The externally operable trip button 30 is disposed in a side of the outer casing 23 in a manner such that the externally operable handle assembly 20 can be pushed. For example, the externally operable handle 22 may be connected to the manipulation handle 12 (refer to
Referring to
A pair of screw connection extensions 24 is provided on each longitudinal end surface of the outer casing 23. The screw connection extensions 24 protrude from both end surfaces of the outer casing 23 for coupling the outer casing 23 to the circuit breaker 10.
Referring to
Hereinafter, a structure, an assembling method, and functions of the trip button mechanism of the externally operable handle 22 for the circuit breaker 10 will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
The button support 25 extends downward from the top surface of the outer casing 23. The pushing plate 40, the elastic member 50, and the externally operable trip button 30 are disposed in the button support 25. For this, the button support 25 includes: a cylindrical hole extension portion 26 having a circular cross section and extending downward from the top surface of the outer casing 23; and a slit extension portion 27 extending downward from the cylindrical hole extension portion 26. The slit extension portion 27 is narrower than the cylindrical hole extension portion 26 so that the externally operable trip button 30 cannot pass through the slit extension portion 27 but the pushing plate 40 can pass through the slit extension portion 27.
Referring to
Referring again to
The upper vertical plate portion 41 is inserted through the slit extension portion 27. A fitting protrusion 44 is provided on the upper end of the upper vertical plate portion 41. The fitting protrusion 44 is insertable in the connection groove 31 of the externally operable trip button 30. The middle oblique plate portion 42 extends from the lower end of the upper vertical plate portion 41 at a predetermined angle. The lower hook portion 43 extends downward from the lower end of the middle oblique plate portion 42. The circuit breaker trip button 11 is substantially manipulated by the lower hook portion 43. The elastic member 50 is disposed in the cylindrical hole extension portion 26. For example, the elastic member 50 may be a coil spring.
A method for assembling the trip button mechanism of the externally operable handle 22 for the circuit breaker 10 will now be described according to the related art.
First, the elastic member 50 is inserted in the cylindrical hole extension portion 26 extending downward from the top surface of the outer casing 23. Next, the externally operable trip button 30 is inserted down to the cylindrical hole extension portion 26. Next, the pushing plate 40 is moved upward to the slit extension portion 27 to insert the upper vertical plate portion 41 in the slit extension portion 27.
Then, the upper vertical plate portion 41 is inserted in the connection groove 31. In this way, the pushing plate 40, the elastic member 50, and the externally operable trip button 30 are assembled.
An operation of the trip button mechanism of the externally operable handle 22 for the circuit breaker 10 will now be described according to the related art.
In the related art, a user may push the externally operable trip button 30 to forcibly trip the circuit breaker 10 disposed in the switch cabinet by using the trip button mechanism of the externally operable handle 22. Then, the externally operable trip button 30 is moved downward against the resilience of the elastic member 50. As the externally operable trip button 30 is moved downward, the pushing plate 40 connected to the externally operable trip button 30 is also moved downward. Therefore, the lower hook portion 43 presses the circuit breaker trip button 11. Then, an internal opening/closing mechanism (not shown) of the circuit breaker 10 is switched to a trip position for interrupting a circuit.
However, as described above, the related-art trip button mechanism of the externally operable handle 22 for the circuit breaker 10 has the following limitations.
In the related art, when the trip button mechanism is assembled or used, the pushing plate 40 and the externally operable trip button 30 may be separated due to the resilience of the elastic member 50 disposed between the pushing plate 40 and the externally operable trip button 30.
Moreover, the externally operable handle 22 is constituted by many components such as the button support 25, the externally operable trip button 30, the pushing plate 40, and the elastic member 50. This may increase manufacturing costs and decrease assembling efficiency.
Embodiments provide a trip button mechanism of an externally operable handle for a circuit breaker. The trip button mechanism has a simple structure so that the trip button mechanism can be easily assembled and reliably operated.
In one embodiment, there is provided a trip button mechanism of an externally operable handle for operating a circuit breaker trip button of a circuit breaker, the trip button mechanism including: a button support disposed at an outer casing of the externally operable handle, the button support being exposed through a penetration hole of the outer casing; an externally operable trip button including a handle exposed through the penetration hole and a pusher formed in one piece with the handle, the pusher being movable along the button support for selectively pushing the circuit breaker trip button; and an elastic member applying an elastic force to the externally operable trip button in a direction opposite to a direction in which the externally operable trip button pushes the circuit breaker trip button.
The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features will be apparent from the description and drawings, and from the claims.
A trip button mechanism of an externally operable handle for a circuit breaker will now be described in detail according to exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings.
Referring to
Referring to
A top surface of the button support 220 communicates with a penetration hole 212 formed in the top surface 211 of the outer casing 210. An opening 221 is formed through two opposite surfaces of the button support 220. The externally operable trip button 230 and the elastic member 240 are disposed in the opening 221.
First and second spaces 223 and 225 are formed in the button support 220. The first and second spaces 223 and 225 are vertically arranged and communicate with each other. In more detail, the first space 223 communicates with the outside of the outer casing 210 through the penetration hole 212. The first space 223 may have the same shape and size as those of the penetration hole 212. A part (handle 231) of the externally operable trip button 230 is disposed in the first space 223. The handle 231 will be described later. The upper end of the second space 225 communicates with the lower end of the first space 223. Both sides of the second space 225 communicate with the inside of the outer casing 210 through the opening 221. The other part (pusher 233) of the externally operable trip button 230 and the elastic member 240 are disposed in the second space 225. The pusher 233 will be described later. In the current embodiment, the cross-sectional area of the first space 223 is smaller than that of the second space 225.
The button support 220 further includes a first elastic member supporting part 227. The first elastic member supporting part 227 supports the lower end of the elastic member 240 disposed in the second space 225. Substantially, the first elastic member supporting part 227 is disposed in the button support 220 at the bottom of the second space 225.
The externally operable trip button 230 is vertically movable in the button support 220. Referring to
A first stopping part 232 is provided at the lower end of the handle 231. The first stopping part 232 regulates movement of the externally operable trip button 230. Substantially, the first stopping part 232 may prevent the handle 231 from being completely separated from the outer casing 210 through the penetration hole 212. For this, the first stopping part 232 has a plate shape and is greater than at least the cross sectional area of the penetration hole 212 and the cross sectional area of the first space 223.
The circuit breaker trip button 11 is substantially pushed by the pusher 233. For this, the pusher 233 is vertically movable in the second space 225 along the button support 220. The pusher 233 includes extension parts 234, a pushing part 235, a second elastic member supporting part 236, and second stopping parts 237.
The extension parts 234 extend downward from the handle 231. That is, substantially, the extension parts 234 extend downward from the lower end of the first stopping part 232. In the current embodiment, the extension parts 234 are two in number and are horizontally spaced from each other. Substantially, the extension parts 234 close the opening 221. This prevents the elastic member 240 from being separated from the second space 225.
The pushing part 235 is provided on the lower end of any one of the extension parts 234. he circuit breaker trip button 11 is substantially pushed by the pushing part 235. he pushing part 235 is disposed outside the second space 225. In the current embodiment, the pushing part 235 extends downward and is reverse L-shaped. However, the shape of the pushing part 235 is not limited thereto.
Substantially, the second stopping parts 237 regulate movement of the pushing pusher 233. he second stopping parts 237 extend outward from outer surfaces of the extension parts 234. Therefore, the second stopping parts 237 are disposed outside the second space 225. If the externally operable trip button 230 is moved upward along the button support 220, the second stopping parts 237 is brought into contact with an upper end of the opening 221. In addition, the second stopping parts 237 function as reinforcement parts for the extension parts 234. Therefore, the second stopping parts 237 may also be referred to as reinforcement parts.
The second elastic member supporting part 236 supports the other end of the elastic member 240. The second elastic member supporting part 236 extends downward from a lower surface of the first stopping part 232. Therefore, when the externally operable trip button 230 is disposed in the second space 225, the first and second elastic member supporting parts 227 and 226 face each other.
The pusher 233 further includes first and second reinforcement parts 238 and 239. The first and second reinforcement parts 238 and 239 increase the strength of the pusher 233. The first and second reinforcement parts 238 and 239 may provided at relatively weak portions. For example, the first and second reinforcement parts 238 and 239 are provided at a connection portion between the pushing part 235 and one of the extension parts 234 and a bent portion of the pushing part 235.
The elastic member 240 exerts an elastic force in a direction opposite to a direction in which the externally operable trip button 230 is moved to manipulate the circuit breaker trip button 11. That is, the externally operable trip button 230 is moved upward in the button support 220 by the resilience of the elastic member 240. For example, the elastic member 240 may be a coil spring. Both ends of the elastic member 240 are supported by the button support 220 and the externally operable trip button 230. In detail, both ends of the elastic member 240 are supported by the first and second elastic member supporting parts 227 and 226.
Hereinafter, an explanation will be given of a method of assembling the trip button mechanism of the externally operable handle for the circuit breaker with reference to the accompanying drawings.
First, the externally operable trip button 230 and the elastic member 240 are coupled. In detail, the second elastic member supporting part 236 is inserted in an end of the elastic member 240.
Next, as shown in
Next, as shown in
Then, as shown in
When the externally operable trip button 230 is placed in the button support 220, the opening 221 of the button support 220 is substantially closed by the extension parts 234 of the externally operable trip button 230. Therefore, when the externally operable trip button 230 is placed in the button support 220, the elastic member 240 may not be separated from the button support 220.
An explanation will be given of an exemplary operation of the trip button mechanism of the externally operable handle for the circuit breaker according to an embodiment.
First, to forcibly trip the circuit breaker 10, the externally operable trip button 230 (that is, the handle 231) is pushed, and then the externally operable trip button 230 is moved downward along the button support 220. At this time, the externally operable trip button 230 is pushed against the resilience of the elastic member 240.
As the externally operable trip button 230 is moved downward along the button support 220, the circuit breaker trip button 11 is pushed by the externally operable trip button 230 (that is, the pusher 233). As the circuit breaker trip button 11 is pushed, the internal opening/closing mechanism (not shown) of the circuit breaker 10 is operated, and thus a movable contact (not shown) is separated from a fixed contact (not shown). In this way, a circuit is forcibly interrupted by forcible tripping.
As described above, the opening 221 of the button support 220 is closed by the extension parts 234 of the externally operable trip button 230. Therefore, when a user manipulates the externally operable trip button 230, the elastic member 240 may not be separated from the button support 220.
As described above, in the trip button mechanism of the embodiments, the handle for a user and the pusher for pushing the circuit breaker trip button are formed in one piece. Therefore, the trip button mechanism can be easily assembled and reliably operated. In addition, since the trip button mechanism has fewer components, the trip button mechanism can be manufactured with high productivity and low costs.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
In the above-described embodiments, the first and second stopping parts 232 and 237 are used to regulate movement of the externally operable trip button 230. However, only one of the first and second stopping parts 232 and 237 may be used.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10-2010-0096507 | Oct 2010 | KR | national |