Patent Application
20210159030
Design U.S. Pat. No. D834,534 S. Nov. 27, 2018
None
The following is a tabulation of some prior art that presently appears relevant:
The invention relates to circuit breaker interlocking devices mounted “side by side”, which control two different power sources feeding the same circuit breaker loading panel, for preventing the simultaneous energization of its bus bar. More particularly for aftermarket interlock which can be utilized for variety of brands and configurations.
The invention relates to interlocking devices which are designed to protect auxiliary power means connected to a circuit breaker panel performing cooperatively with utilitarian power source, to prevent the actuation of one circuit breaker when an adjacent main circuit breaker is actuated or vise verse to prevent damages to the generator or auxiliary power means and to the utilitarian employee corporation working in the assigned transformer lines.
My invention is suitable for using in multiple poles circuit breakers, including the types residential, bolt-on, Square D type “QO”, Federal Pacific, Simsco, etc.
Many interlocking devices have being utilized to prevent from feed the same panel simultaneously, but each brand manufacturer has have created its own configuration which only feeds successfully in its circuit breaker handle distance-configuration.
Circuit breaker manufacturer has made changes to the circuit breaker handle distance-configuration through time, and as result the electrical contractors have difficulties choosing the right interlock for the same brand of a circuit breaker board in question.
No manufacturer of circuit breaker interlocks has created an economical and versatile interlock which can be successfully utilized to accommodates with the needs of the market, allowing the electrical contractors to get one interlock which can be utilized in almost all of the popular brands.
I presently prefer to illustrate my invention as a exemplary embodiment which comprises a cast body like one full size single pole circuit breaker without the internal electrical components and the toggle-type handle switching section, which are replaced for an adjustable distance interlock lever mechanism having a centralized housing bushing in which an eccentric bushing secure the lever pivotable mounts by a fastener means. It mounts in the circuit breaker panel like a common full size single circuit breaker between two main circuit breakers, but commercial and industrial circuit breakers including the type Din rails, bolt-on, Federal Pacific, Square D type QO, etc can receive the benefits of my invention even when are not fully disclosure in details in this application.
Its main function is for preventing the actuation of an adjacent laterally spaced pair of toggle-type circuit breaker mains getting the same “on” position at once, to avoid connect two power sources in a panel which might produce damages to the auxiliary power source, or its overload protection means, also reversing a transformer terminal's energy, which might provoke injuries or fatality to an utilitarian worker.
Further, I'll disclose in details one of the multiple ways of its build and use.
My preferred embodiment provides an adjustable toggle handle interlocking between two main circuit breakers, which works in most of all the same type/size of circuit breakers panels, designed to be installed “side by side”. I presently prefer to disclose my invention as an adjustable center panel distance to the handle lever which is pivotally mounted in a cast like circuit breaker, made of a type dielectric composite, resin or plastic, which have at least one threaded hole in its front surface to secure a bushing shaft screw. The bushing can rotate 360 degrees to secure the lever wings in the appropriate distance to the main circuit breakers toggle handles, but also can be flip to reach an additional range of the distance, and moved to the adjacent bushing screw housing.
The lever interlocker member has two wings which presently are illustrated symmetrically extended from the center to both opposite ends, a centralized bearing housing, an eccentric shouldered bearing mounted into the bearing housing, secures by means of the shaft screw to the front cast surface hole, allowing the lever to freely pivot in the shouldered bushing.
It has at the rear left side a pair of columns which works as a busbar terminal female slot coupling, which is designed to firmly engage in almost all of the circuit breakers, including General Electric twin terminals, having a male plunger terminal, which section measures approximately 0.800 wide×0.060 high, But for the Square D type “QO” corporation which have the same engagement and dimensions.
Once my interlock is mounted between the two main circuit breakers the eccentric bushing is rotated to get the correct one interlocking position with one breaker in “on” position and the other one in “off” position, and the shaft screw secure the bushing against the cast, at this point none of the main circuit breakers can get to the “on” position at the same time.
To complete the installation, a notice like “do not remove” should be visible set in the interlocker.
A second alternative embodiment includes a body shape with the brand Square D type QO circuit breaker configuration having the same above mechanism to allow the same circuit breaker interlock performance.
A third alternative embodiment includes a body shape adapted to work with the multiple types “DIN” rail circuit breakers.
A fourth alternative embodiment includes a body shape having the same configuration of the bolt-on circuit breakers.
An additional embodiment includes a busbar bolt-on adapter which convert the bolt-on busbar into a residential terminal to allows the use of various types of bolt-on branches having different screw distances.
Another additional for bolt-on type circuit breakers includes a single case body having in the bar coupling connection a protuberance in which a slotted section has two screws housing designed to receive a screw in each one to secured a branch GE or Siemens circuit breaker mains.
Any adjustable distance mechanism installed in said cast, which allows to adjust the lever interlocker member to a substantial safety distance from the first and second main circuit breaker toggle handle switch can be utilized to successfully build and utilize the invention.
Further I'll disclose in detail one of the multiple ways to built it.
The first group is a cast body 20 preferably made of an dielectric composite, resin or plastic, having a high level of rigidness with a shape, and engagement like a circuit breaker of the brands; General Electric, Siemens, Cutler hammer, Westinghouse, Eaton or other with a similar shape.
The second group is a lever assembly 40 which includes a lever 50, an eccentric shouldered bushing 51 and a threaded screw shaft 58 preferably having a tampered head.
The third group is a circuit breaker assembly 60 which appear in a partial cutting section view and does not form part of the invention.
The cast 20 mounts between the two main circuit breakers 70 and 71 along with the eccentric bushing 51 which is rotated to reach the safety distance from the wings surface 44a and 45a or 44b and 45b (
My preferred embodiment provides an adjustable circuit breaker toggle handle interlock switch, which works in most of all the same type-size of circuit breakers panels, designed to be installed “side by side”. I presently preferred disclosing my invention as an adjustable distance from the center panel to the handle lever, which is pivotally mounted in a cast like circuit breaker, preferably made of a type dielectric composite, resin or plastic, which has at least one threaded hole in its front surface to secure a bushing shaft screw. The bushing can be rotated to set the lever wings in the appropriate distance to the mains circuit breakers toggle handles, but also can be flipped to reach an additional range of the distance also moved to the adjacent bushing screw housing, which presently illustrates only a pair of them.
The lever has two wings which symmetrically extend from the center to both opposite ends, a centralized bearing housing, an eccentric shouldered bearing mounted into the bearing housing, secured by means of the shaft screw to the front cast surface hole, allowing the lever to freely pivot in the shouldered bushing.
It has at the rear left side a pair of columns which work as a busbar terminal female slot coupling, which is designed to firmly engage in almost all of the circuit breaker of the above said circuit breakers category, including General Electric twins terminal, and having a male plunger terminal which section measuring approximately 0.800 width×0.060 high, or for other dimensions. But for the breakers of the Square D corporation and Federal Pacific I designed a cast which have the same engagement and dimensions.
Once my interlock is mounted between the two main circuit breakers the eccentric bushing is rotated to get the correct one interlocking position with one breaker in “on” position and the other one in “off” position, and the shaft screw secure the bushing against the cast front surface, at this point none of the circuit breaker mains can get the “on” position at the same time.
A second alternative embodiment includes a body shape with the brand Square D type QO circuit breaker configuration having the same above mechanism to allow the same circuit breaker interlock performance.
A third alternative embodiment includes a body shape adapted to work with the multiple types “DIN” rail circuit breakers.
A fourth alternative embodiment includes a body shape having the same configuration of the bolt-on circuit breakers.
An additional embodiment includes an busbar bolt-on adapter which converts the bolt-on busbar into a residential terminal to allows to use various types of bolt-on brands having different screw distances.
Another additional for bolt-on type circuit breakers includes a single cast body having in the bar coupling connection a protuberance in which a slotted section has two screw housings designed to receive a screw in each one to secure a brand GE or Siemens circuit breaker mains.
