ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS AND TRIP ASSEMBLY THEREFOR
A trip assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus has a base, a pair of separable contacts, and a trip bar structured to cooperate with the separable contacts in order to trip open the separable contacts. The trip assembly includes a housing member structured to be coupled to the base, and an lockout assembly having an actuation member and a locking member each coupled to the housing member. The actuation member is configured to engage the trip bar in order to trip open the separable contacts. The lockout assembly is structured to move between a FIRST position corresponding to the separable contacts being closed, and a SECOND position corresponding to the separable contacts being open. When the lockout assembly is in the SECOND position, the locking member engages the actuation member in order to maintain the separable contacts in the open position.
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The disclosed concept relates generally to electrical switching apparatus and, more particularly, to electric switching apparatus, such as for example, circuit breakers. The disclosed concept also relates to trip assemblies for circuit breakers.
Background InformationElectrical switching apparatus, such as molded case circuit breakers, generally include at least one pair of separable contacts which are operated either manually, by way of a handle disposed on the outside of the circuit breaker housing, or automatically by way of a trip mechanism in response to a trip condition (e.g., without limitation, an overcurrent condition; a relatively high level short circuit or fault condition; a ground fault or arc fault condition).
Numerous types of trip mechanisms exist and are often tailored to meet specific needs of particular applications. For example, it is common to have electrically actuated devices actuating or tripping the operating mechanism. A shunt trip actuator is a type of electronic trip mechanism, which can be actuated from a remote location. Shunt trip actuators typically include a spring to bias a plunger to an actuated position. Permanent magnets generate sufficient magnetic force to override the actuating force generated by this spring and hold the plunger in an unactuated, typically retracted, position. The actuating signal is applied to a coil to generate an electromagnetic force which overcomes the force generated by the permanent magnets. With the magnetic field at least partially attenuated, the spring actuates the plunger. Such shunt trip actuators must be reset.
Agency code requirements may include, for example, means for deenergizing electrical service to the residence under emergency circumstances (e.g., without limitation, fire) in order to eliminate dangerous exposure by responders to live voltages.
There is room for improvement in electrical switching apparatus and in trip assemblies therefor.
SUMMARYThese needs and others are met by embodiments of the invention, which are directed to an improved electrical switching apparatus and trip assembly therefor.
As one aspect of the disclosed concept, a trip assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus. The electrical switching apparatus has a base, a pair of separable contacts coupled to the base, and a trip bar coupled to the base and being structured to cooperate with the pair of separable contacts in order to trip open the pair of separable contacts. The trip assembly includes a housing member structured to be coupled to the base, and an lockout assembly comprising an actuation member and a locking member each coupled to the housing member. The actuation member is configured to engage the trip bar in order to trip open the pair of separable contacts. The lockout assembly is structured to move between a FIRST position corresponding to the separable contacts being in a closed position, and a SECOND position corresponding to the separable contacts being in an open position. When the lockout assembly is in the SECOND position, the locking member engages the actuation member in order to maintain the separable contacts in the open position.
As another aspect of the disclosed concept, an electrical switching apparatus is provided. The electrical switching apparatus includes a base, a pair of separable contacts coupled to the base, a trip bar coupled to the base and being structured to cooperate with the pair of separable contacts in order to trip open the pair of separable contacts, and the aforementioned trip assembly.
A full understanding of the disclosed concept can be gained from the following description of the preferred embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
For purposes of the description hereinafter, directional phrases used herein such as, for example “left”, “right”, “up”, “down”, “top”, “bottom”, “clockwise”, “counterclockwise”, and derivatives thereof shall relate to the disclosed concept, as it is oriented in the drawings. It is to be understood that the specific elements illustrated in the drawings and described in the following specification are simply exemplary embodiments of the disclosed concept. Therefore, specific orientations and other physical characteristics related to the embodiments disclosed herein are not to be considered limiting with respect to the scope of the disclosed concept.
As employed herein, the singular form of “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. Still further, as used herein, the term “number” shall mean one or an integer greater than one (e.g., a plurality).
As employed herein, the term “coupled” shall mean that two or more parts are joined together directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts. Furthermore, as employed herein, the phrase “directly connected” shall mean that two or more parts are joined together directly, without any intermediate parts being disposed therebetween at the point or location of the connection.
As employed herein, the phrase “electrically connected” shall mean that two or more parts or components are joined together either directly or joined through one or more intermediate parts such that electricity, current, voltage, and/or energy is operable to flow from one part or component to the other part or component, and vice versa.
As shown in
Continuing to refer to
More specifically, as shown in
Referring to
However, as stated above, the lockout assembly 120 is structured to move to the SECOND position (
In accordance with the disclosed concept, while the tail portion 126 is cooperating with the trip bar 8 to trip open the separable contacts 6 (
Specifically, it will be appreciated with reference to
Additionally, it will be appreciated that while FIRST and SECOND positions have been described herein, the circuit breaker 2 has other positions. For example, while movement from the FIRST position to the SECOND position was generally described herein in association with tripping via the solenoid 172, manual opening of the separable contacts 6 (
Certain residential code proposals may require an exterior means for deenergizing electrical service to the residence under emergency situations (e.g., fire) in order to eliminate exposure of responders to live voltages. Accordingly, the circuit breaker 2 performs this function via the aforementioned tripping capabilities, and further functions to lock the circuit breaker 2 once it has tripped, thus maintaining the separable contacts 6 (
Additionally, the circuit breaker 2 provides a mechanism to indicate that the separable contacts 6 (
Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the disclosed concept provides for an improved (e.g., without limitation, safer) electrical switching apparatus 2 and trip assembly 100 therefor, in which a lockout assembly 120 of the trip assembly 100 allows separable contacts 6 of the electrical switching apparatus 2 to be maintained (e.g., locked) in an open position, thereby protecting operators who may be near the electrical switching apparatus 2.
While specific embodiments of the disclosed concept have been described in detail, it will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that various modifications and alternatives to those details could be developed in light of the overall teachings of the disclosure. Accordingly, the particular arrangements disclosed are meant to be illustrative only and not limiting as to the scope of the disclosed concept which is to be given the full breadth of the claims appended and any and all equivalents thereof.
Claims
1. A trip assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus comprising a base, a pair of separable contacts coupled to said base, and a trip bar coupled to said base and being structured to trip open said pair of separable contacts, said trip assembly comprising:
- a housing member structured to be coupled to said base; and
- a lockout assembly comprising an actuation member and a locking member each coupled to said housing member, said actuation member being configured to engage said trip bar in order to trip open said pair of separable contacts;
- wherein said lockout assembly is structured to move between a FIRST position corresponding to said separable contacts being in a closed position, and a SECOND position corresponding to said separable contacts being in an open position, and
- wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the SECOND position, said locking member engages said actuation member in order to maintain said separable contacts in the open position.
2. The trip assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuation member has a first retention feature; wherein said locking member has a second retention feature; and wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the FIRST position, said first retention feature engages said second retention feature in order to maintain said locking member in the FIRST position.
3. The trip assembly of claim 2 wherein said actuation member comprises a body portion; wherein said first retention feature is a protrusion extending outwardly from said body portion; wherein said locking member comprises a body portion; wherein said second retention feature is a grooved region in said body portion of said locking member; and wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the FIRST position, said protrusion extends into and engages said grooved region in order to maintain said locking member in the FIRST position.
4. The trip assembly of claim 3 wherein said grooved region comprises a first surface, a second surface extending from and being disposed substantially perpendicular to said first surface, and a third surface extending from and being disposed substantially perpendicular to said second surface, and spaced from said first surface; wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the FIRST position, said protrusion engages said first surface; and wherein, when said lockout assembly moves from the FIRST position toward the SECOND position, said protrusion rotates out of engagement with the first surface and into engagement with the third surface, thereby releasing said locking member and allowing said locking member to move to the SECOND position.
5. The trip assembly of claim 3 wherein said lockout assembly further comprises a biasing element coupled to said locking member; and wherein, when said lockout assembly moves from the FIRST position toward the SECOND position, said biasing element drives said locking member toward the SECOND position.
6. The trip assembly of claim 3 wherein said body portion of said actuation member has a tail portion, a latching portion, and a middle region disposed between said tail portion and said latching portion; wherein said trip assembly further comprises a plate member coupled to said housing member; wherein said plate member has a slot; wherein said tail portion is disposed on a first side of the slot and said latching portion is disposed on a second side of the slot; and wherein, when said lockout assembly moves from the FIRST position toward the SECOND position, said actuation member rotates about the slot.
7. The trip assembly of claim 1 wherein said actuation member comprises a body portion having a tail portion, a latching portion, and a middle region extending therebetween; and wherein, when said lockout assembly moves from the FIRST position toward the SECOND position, said actuation member rotates about said middle region, thereby allowing said locking member to move linearly on a longitudinal axis.
8. The trip assembly of claim 7 wherein said lockout assembly further comprises a driving member and a plunger extending outwardly from said driving member; wherein said driving member is disposed internal and is coupled to said housing member; wherein said plunger engages said actuation member; and wherein, when said lockout assembly moves from the FIRST position toward the SECOND position, said driving member drives said plunger, thereby pulling a portion of said actuation member toward said driving member and allowing said locking member to move linearly on the longitudinal axis.
9. The trip assembly of claim 8 wherein said driving member is a solenoid.
10. The trip assembly of claim 1 wherein said trip assembly further comprises a plate member coupled to said housing member; wherein said housing member is structured to be coupled to said base; wherein said housing member has a distal surface disposed opposite and distal said plate member; wherein said actuation member extends through said plate member; and wherein said locking member extends through said distal surface.
11. The trip assembly of claim 10 wherein said locking member comprises a body portion and an indication portion extending from said body portion; wherein said indication portion has an end portion disposed opposite and distal said body portion of said locking member; wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the FIRST position, said end portion is spaced a first distance from said distal surface; and wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the SECOND position, said end portion is spaced a second distance from said distal surface, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
12. The trip assembly of claim 10 wherein said locking member extends through said plate member.
13. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
- a base;
- a pair of separable contacts coupled to said base;
- a trip bar coupled to said base and being structured to trip open said pair of separable contacts; and
- a trip assembly comprising: a housing member coupled to said base, and a lockout assembly comprising an actuation member and a locking member each coupled to said housing member, said actuation member being configured to engage said trip bar in order to trip open said pair of separable contacts;
- wherein said lockout assembly is structured to move between a FIRST position corresponding to said separable contacts being in a closed position, and a SECOND position corresponding to said separable contacts being in an open position, and
- wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the SECOND position, said locking member engages said actuation member in order to maintain said separable contacts in the open position.
14. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said lockout assembly further comprises a driving member and a plunger extending outwardly from said driving member; wherein said driving member is coupled to said housing member; wherein said plunger engages said actuation member; and wherein, when said lockout assembly moves from the FIRST position toward the SECOND position, said driving member drives said plunger, thereby pulling a portion of said actuation member toward said driving member.
15. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 14 wherein said actuation member has a first retention feature; wherein said locking member has a second retention feature; and wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the FIRST position, said first retention feature engages said second retention feature in order to maintain said locking member in the FIRST position.
16. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 15 wherein said actuation member comprises a body portion; wherein said first retention feature is a protrusion extending outwardly from said body portion; wherein said locking member comprises a body portion; wherein said second retention feature is a grooved region in said body portion of said locking member; and wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the FIRST position, said protrusion extends into and engages said grooved region in order to maintain said locking member in the FIRST position.
17. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 16 wherein said grooved region comprises a first surface, a second surface extending from and being disposed substantially perpendicular to said first surface, and a third surface extending from and being disposed substantially perpendicular to said second surface, and spaced from said first surface; wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the FIRST position, said protrusion engages said first surface; and wherein, when said lockout assembly moves from the FIRST position toward the SECOND position, said protrusion rotates out of engagement with the first surface and into engagement with the third surface, thereby releasing said locking member and allowing said locking member to move to the SECOND position.
18. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 14 wherein said actuation member comprises a body portion having a tail portion, a latching portion, and a middle region extending therebetween; and wherein, when said lockout assembly moves from the FIRST position toward the SECOND position, said actuation member rotates about said middle region, thereby allowing said locking member to move linearly on a longitudinal axis.
19. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 14 wherein said trip assembly further comprises a plate member coupled to said housing member; wherein said housing member is coupled to said base; wherein said housing member has a distal surface disposed opposite and distal said plate member; wherein said actuation member extends through said plate member; and wherein said locking member extends through said distal surface.
20. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 19 wherein said locking member comprises a body portion and an indication portion extending from said body portion; wherein said indication portion has an end portion disposed opposite and distal said body portion of said locking member; wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the FIRST position, said end portion is spaced a first distance from said distal surface; and wherein, when said lockout assembly is in the SECOND position, said end portion is spaced a second distance from said distal surface, the second distance being greater than the first distance.
Type: Application
Filed: Jul 17, 2018
Publication Date: Jan 23, 2020
Applicant: EATON INTELLIGENT POWER LIMITED (Dublin)
Inventor: Jeffrey S. GIBSON (Hookstown, PA)
Application Number: 16/037,507