Drawout-type Switchgear Patents (Class 200/50.21)
  • Publication number: 20030116413
    Abstract: A medium voltage controller for electrical equipment, having cast fuse holders, a disconnect switch, a switch illuminator, low power current transformers, and an optical temperature measuring system. The fuse holder includes a cast housing with smooth rounded surfaces that reduce corona. The disconnect switch has cast components that provide terminal points, mounting surfaces, and contact surfaces. The switch illuminator provides illumination of the disconnect switch internals. The contactor assembly is mounted in a truck and moves on a rail system that includes a pull-down handle with rails. The truck rolls out of the cabinet on the extended rails for easy removal from the cabinet. The truck, and contactor assembly, is racked in by pushing the truck into the cabinet and then raising the handle, which forces the draw-out fingers to engage the contact stabs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2001
    Publication date: June 26, 2003
    Inventors: Antanas V. Narusevicius, Eldridge R. Byron, Eugenio Alvarez
  • Patent number: 6545859
    Abstract: An automatically operating interlock device prevents access to the interior of an electrical cabinet when the device within the cabinet is electrically connected with a power supply. The interlock device is particularly suited for arc resistant circuit breaker cabinets. The circuit breakers within such cabinets typically move from a rearward position within the cabinet, wherein a pair of stabs on the back of the circuit breaker are electrically connected to a corresponding pair of quick disconnects, and a forward position within the stabs are disconnected from the quick disconnects. A levering in assembly including a levering in block controlled by a threaded rod is typically used to move the circuit breaker from one position to the other. The interlock device includes a cam pivotally secured near the forwardmost position of the levering in block, and a locking bar pivotally secured to the cam. The cam is biased so that the locking bar engages the cabinet door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Brad R. Leccia
  • Patent number: 6545234
    Abstract: A presently-preferred embodiment of a circuit breaker comprises a contact mechanism adapted to be electrically coupled to an electrical circuit. The contact mechanism comprises a first contact member and a second contact member being movable in relation to the first contact member. The circuit breaker also comprises an actuator mechanism comprising an armature mechanically coupled to the second contact member. The armature is selectively positionable between a closed position in which the armature urges the second contact member into electrical contact with the first contact member thereby permitting energization of the electrical circuit, and an open position in which the armature urges the second contact member away from the first contact member thereby inhibiting energization of the electrical circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2003
    Assignee: ABB Technology
    Inventors: Marty L. Trivette, Murray K. Jones
  • Publication number: 20030011968
    Abstract: A PC switchgear cabinet with electronic components, a work shelf and a visual display unit. A versatile embodiment with a considerably enlarged work and storage area is created because of a lower element designed as switchgear cabinet, of a center element, which can be used as a work shelf and/or a storage shelf, and of the visual display unit arranged on the center element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2001
    Publication date: January 16, 2003
    Inventor: Norbert Muller
  • Patent number: 6490149
    Abstract: A drawing apparatus constructed such that a screw rod 17 having an axis center along a drawing direction of an electrical machinery 1 is rotatably supported by a floor portion 11a of a drawing type electrical machinery accommodating portion 11 of a switch gear, a nut 19 engaged with a lower portion of the electrical machinery 1 is screwed with the screw rod 17, the nut 19 is moved by rotating the screw rod 17, and the electrical machinery 1 is driven in a direction of inserting or drawing out, whereby the drawing apparatus is commonly used for various drawing-type electrical machineries regardless of sizes of the electrical machineries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2002
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Coichi Shichida, Tomotaka Yano, Yuichi Yamaji, Takashi Sekiya
  • Patent number: 6486420
    Abstract: Disconnector contact drive devices for switchgear for power supply and distribution are described, in particular for air-insulated medium-voltage switchgear, having movable pole units. In where in a first movement sequence, the disconnector contacts are separated from fixed mating contacts of the switchgear. In a second movement sequence, the pole units are displaceable to achieve the isolating distance, and the disconnect contacts are moved to disconnect them by force components acting in the x/y directions. The disconnector contact drive devices are equipped with linear guide shafts. The pole units contain pole box frames which are linearly movable along the guide shafts from an ON position stop to an OFF position stop due to the forces acting on the toggles. The toggles each have four pivot bearings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Boettcher, Marcus Kampf
  • Patent number: 6479770
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a switching contact arrangement, an interchangeable release block and a locking element. A first operating surface is formed on the locking element, which can be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position. The first operating surface allows the release block to be secured from being removed from the switch, when the locking element is in its locked position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Joerg-Uwe Dahl, Marc Liebetruth
  • Patent number: 6462296
    Abstract: A circuit breaker arrangement, in particular, an air-insulated medium-voltage switching arrangement having function features including “circuit breaking,” “disconnection” and “grounding” features, is described. The circuit breaker arrangement includes a switching module that is formed from function-oriented modular components. The module components including a base module component, a pole module component and a drive module component. The base module component is fixedly connected with the drive module component; the pole module component is arranged so as to be movable in a strait line thereon. Such a circuit breaker arrangement is used for energy supply and distribution, in particular, in medium voltage technology.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2002
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Martin Boettcher, Volker Kopke, Walter Spies, Herbert Sons
  • Publication number: 20020100667
    Abstract: An automatically operating interlock device prevents access to the interior of an electrical cabinet when the device within the cabinet is electrically connected with a power supply. The interlock device is particularly suited for arc resistant circuit breaker cabinets. The circuit breakers within such cabinets typically move from a rearward position within the cabinet, wherein a pair of stabs on the back of the circuit breaker are electrically connected to a corresponding pair of quick disconnects, and a forward position within the stabs are disconnected from the quick disconnects. A levering in assembly including a levering in block controlled by a threaded rod is typically used to move the circuit breaker from one position to the other. The interlock device includes a cam pivotally secured near the forwardmost position of the levering in block, and a locking bar pivotally secured to the cam. The cam is biased so that the locking bar engages the cabinet door.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2001
    Publication date: August 1, 2002
    Applicant: Eaton Corporation Eaton Center
    Inventor: Brad R. Leccia
  • Patent number: 6423913
    Abstract: A locking device for use on an electric disconnect switch having a handle operator assembly. The locking device includes a slide plate slidably positioned within the housing and a first lock arranged to engage said slide plate and secure the handle operator assembly in an engaged position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 28, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Pankaj Gupta, Ranjit Sunil Acharya, Amit Narang, John Joseph Struble, Jr., Edgar Yee, David Edward Thorn, Elwood Rau Combs
  • Patent number: 6424519
    Abstract: A draw out unit with improved drawout box and handle assembly is disclosed. The drawout box is designed to accommodate an improved terminal assembly of the present invention, which reduces the dimensions of the box, and further provides access to the interior of the box by providing an open side for allowing service of an electrtical device within the bucket thus permitting the motor control center to remain active during service. The drawout box of the present invention further includes an improved handle assembly with operable connection to a circuit breaker handle within the confines of the smaller drawout box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Gilbert Anthony Soares, Richard Emery Bernier, Charles Piper, Edgar Yee, John Joseph Struble, Jr., Edward Bruce Bynum, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20020056619
    Abstract: An electrical switch includes a switching contact arrangement, an interchangeable release block and a locking element. A first operating surface is formed on the locking element, which can be moved from a locked position to an unlocked position. The first operating surface allows the release block to be secured from being removed from the switch, when the locking element is in its locked position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 30, 2001
    Publication date: May 16, 2002
    Inventors: Joerg-Uwe Dahl, Marc Liebetruth
  • Patent number: 6366448
    Abstract: The disclosed HV supply device has a first housing part (1) that serves as an outside cover. In addition, a second housing part (6) forming two sides is provided. On the first side is the high-voltage supply part (8), and on the second side is the low-voltage supply part (9) which is physically or spatially separated from the high-voltage supply part (8). The first side of the second housing part (6) has a first mounting rack (14) to receive electrical or electronic low-voltage (16) and high-voltage components (17), and the second side has a second mounting rack (13) to receive electrical or electronic low-voltage components (15), whereby the two mounting racks (13, 14) are connected by an electrical connecting line (11, 12) penetrating the second housing part (6). The second (6) and the first housing part (1) are designed so that the high-voltage supply part (8) is enclosed on all sides in an area within one of the two housing parts after the two housing parts (1, 6) are joined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Manfred Berndt, Volker Brombacher
  • Publication number: 20010025773
    Abstract: A draw-out arrangement for molded case circuit breakers is disclosed. A circuit breaker plug-in system generally comprises a plug-in base to which the draw-out mechanism is secured. The base includes a right plate and a left plate. A circuit breaker is movable between the right plate and the left plate and is retractably connected to the plug-in base by the action of the draw-out mechanism. The draw-out mechanism of the present invention includes a shaft connecting the right plate to the left plate which provides rigidity to the system and balances the circuit breaker during movement. When a crank is inserted into the draw out mechanism and used to rotate a lead screw connected therein, a rider positioned about the lead screw is prevented from rotating due to being sandwiched between a pair of plates. Movement is thereby translated into linear motion which is used to move the circuit breaker into or out of engagement with the plug-in base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 2, 2001
    Publication date: October 4, 2001
    Inventors: Mahesh Jaywant Rane, Janakiraman Narayanan, Chandrakumar Shantaraju, Pavan Ramachandra Vitthal Kashyap, Anilkumar Dinker Pandit, K. V. Sridhar, Patrick Letient
  • Patent number: 6265678
    Abstract: A mechanism is provided for moving a circuit breaker (12) with respect to a circuit breaker connecting apparatus (14) so as to connect or disconnect the circuit breaker from the circuit breaker connecting apparatus. The mechanism includes a draw bracket assembly (29) having a draw bracket (30) constructed and arranged to be mounted to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus (14) so as to be generally adjacent to a side of the circuit breaker connecting apparatus. A guide engaging member (36) is mounted for generally vertical movement with respect to the draw bracket (30). The guide engaging member (30) has a slot structure (42) therein having surfaces constructed and arranged to receive and engage a guide (26) associated with the circuit breaker (12) for moving the circuit breaker with respect to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus (14). A drive member (55) is provided and has a movable element (56).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Dale Robbins, James H. Blessitt
  • Patent number: 6252186
    Abstract: A switching device has a closing device and a traversing mechanism for insertion and retraction relative to an insertion frame, where the said devices can be operated only in the OFF state of the switching device. A blocking bar having a cam element that cooperates with a carrier of an OFF operator is guided by elongated holes behind an operator's console of the switching device. The carrier and the cam element work together in such a way that the OFF operator can be pulled inward when the blocking bar is operated, thus signaling to the user that the switching device is locked in the OFF state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Liebetruth, Torsten Ahlert, Ludvik Godesa, Jörg-Uwe Dahl
  • Patent number: 6244891
    Abstract: A circuit breaker movement structure 10 is provided for use with a circuit breaker 12 to move the circuit breaker 12 to be connected with or be disconnected from a circuit breaker connecting apparatus 14. The circuit breaker connection apparatus 10 has slot structure 78 in a rear surface. The movement structure 10 comprises bracket assembly constructed and arranged to engage with a circuit breaker to move the circuit breaker with respect to the connecting apparatus. The bracket assembly has a pair of draw brackets 68 and 70 disposed in spaced relation. Each draw bracket includes hook structure 74 constructed and arranged to engage with associated slot structure 78 of the connecting apparatus, and a detent 80 constructed and arranged to engage a surface 82 of the connecting apparatus 14 in an interference fit when the hook structure 74 is engaged in the slot structure 78.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Dale Robbins, Pavel N. Lichman
  • Patent number: 6242702
    Abstract: A circuit breaker unit having a backmold which can withstand horizontal axial forces, which cause deflection or bowing of the backmold. The circuit breaker unit comprises an enclosure, cradle and pultruded backmold. The pultruded backmold is molded with at least one horizontal rib adjacent a top end, a bottom end or an area therebetween to provide additional strength and support of the circuit breaker and field serviceable connections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2001
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Jacob Birk Spiegel, Chad Raymond Mittelstadt, Gregory A. Cirves
  • Patent number: 6229106
    Abstract: A circuit breaker movement (10) structure is provided for use with a circuit breaker (12) to move the circuit breaker be connected with or be disconnected from a circuit breaker connecting apparatus (14). The movement structure comprises a draw bracket assembly (68) and (70) constructed and arranged to be mounted to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus. A guide assembly (16) is constructed and arranged to be mounted to the circuit breaker (12). The draw bracket assembly includes drive structure constructed and arranged to be actuated to engage the guide assembly and cause the circuit breaker to move with respect to the circuit breaker connecting apparatus. The draw bracket assembly includes a movable structure (108) coupled thereto so as to be moved in a linear manner between first, second, and third positions while maintaining the movable structure in one of the positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2001
    Assignee: Siemens Energy Automation, Inc.
    Inventors: W. Dale Robbins, James H. Blessitt, Russell B. Green
  • Patent number: 6225581
    Abstract: An installation comprises at least one electrical switchgear apparatus a movable mechanism which is interlocked with a device such as an access door by a kinematic transmission cable comprising a flexible sheath and a core designed to slide in the sheath. The ends of the sheath and of the core are respectively fixed to a fixed part of the apparatus and to the movable mechanism by fixing apparatus comprising an end-piece operating in conjunction with the corresponding part of the cable, a housing designed to receive the end-piece, and a locking device with dead point passage designed to oppose insertion of the end-piece in the housing when the force exerted on the locking device in an insertion direction remains lower than an insertion threshold and to enable insertion of the end-piece in the housing when the force exerted on the device means in an insertion direction is greater than the insertion threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Square D Company
    Inventors: Alain Gerbert-Gaillard, Frédéric Court
  • Patent number: 6184483
    Abstract: An extractable circuit breaker is equipped with an operating lever which can take at least three positions: an inoperative position, an opening control position in which operating lever operates in conjunction with an opening latch of the circuit breaker, and a closing control position in which it operates in conjunction with a closing latch of the circuit breaker. When the circuit breaker is in the plugged-in position, the operating lever is inoperative. When the circuit breaker leaves its plugged-in position, the operating lever operates in conjunction with a countergear lever supported by the fixed frame accommodating the circuit breaker and performs opening of the poles of the circuit breaker. When the circuit breaker passes beyond its plugged-out position in the extraction direction, the operating lever moves from its inoperative position to its opening control position and then to its closing control position, causing opening followed by closing of the poles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Patrick Coudert, Alain Gerbert-Gaillard, Michel Perroud