With Position Indicating Means (i.e., Connect, Disconnect, Or Test) Patents (Class 200/50.26)
  • Patent number: 7310221
    Abstract: A switching installation (5) having a circuit breaker (12), which is connected to a cable connection (33), and optionally a disconnector (14) for making or breaking a conductive connection between the cable connection (33) and a rail system (15), and an electrically insulating barrier (10). The electrically insulating barrier (10) surrounds at least the parts which are under electric voltage in operation from the circuit breaker (12) to the rail system (15), including a branch (18) leading to a rail (15) of the rail system, separately for each phase of the switching installation (5). Furthermore, inside the electrically insulating barrier (10) the switching installation may be provided with field-control means and/or voltage-sealing means (22, 25, 37).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Electric N.V.
    Inventor: Arend Jan Willem Lammers
  • Patent number: 7186933
    Abstract: An assist mechanism is for a handle attachment of a circuit breaker having a housing with an operating member operable among a plurality of positions. The handle attachment includes a casing coupled to the circuit breaker housing and enclosing an actuating assembly which interconnects the circuit breaker operating member with a handle that is operable from the exterior of the casing. The assist mechanism is a wave spring having a first end coupled to the casing, and a second end having a wave bend that divides the second end into three sections having three corresponding tangential vector forces. The tangential vector forces provide a bias to the actuating assembly of the handle attachment that differs depending on the position of the circuit breaker operating member. In this manner, the assist mechanism augments energy generated by movement of the operating member and translates it into a corresponding handle attachment movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2007
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: David C. Turner
  • Patent number: 7078634
    Abstract: The aim of the invention is to achieve, in the simplest possible manner, a movement of an electric switch (3) of a medium-high voltage switch panel on a mounting structure (1) between an interrupt position, a test position and an operating position. To this end, a single mechanical control module (9) is integrated in the mounting structure (1). This control module (9) controls the individual movement sequences while simultaneously transferring the drive forces required therefor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Nils Anger, Matthias Biener, Stefan Rautmann, Andreas Stelzer
  • Patent number: 7022923
    Abstract: A locking device is for low-voltage circuit-breakers. It can travel into a frame including a lock and a control member to be activated through the lock. The control member interacts with an internal locking slide when a circuit-breaker is moved into the frame, the locking slide being displaceably guided in the circuit-breaker. If the locking device is activated (“locked”), the control member acts on the internal locking slide of the circuit-breaker and ensures that the circuit breaker cannot be switched on. If circuit-breakers with locking slides that can be displaced vertically are used, the control member is situated underneath the circuit-breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2001
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2006
    Assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventor: Marc Liebetruth
  • Patent number: 6992256
    Abstract: A disconnect mechanism for an electrical system that is integrated with the enclosure of the system, yet includes an external handle for closing and opening the electrical circuit. The invention utilizes the system's circuit breaker to switch the current on or off, eliminating the need for a separate external disconnect. Moving parts are limited to an external actuating handle connected by a shaft to an actuating arm, which has an opening whose inner edges press against a pin connected to the circuit breaker to trigger its movement between the on and off positions. Automatic tripping of the circuit breaker during a system overload moves the external handle to the off position, furnishing visual evidence of the systems working status. A watertight seal maintains the integrity of the electrical system's enclosure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: Wiley Electronics LLC
    Inventors: Brian Thomas Wiley, Palvin Chee Leong Chan
  • Patent number: 6961005
    Abstract: An electrical apparatus including electrical components, wherein at least one of the electric components is a monitoring device including electromagnetic radiation receiving means connected to at least one sensor, the electromagnetic radiation receiving means for receiving electromagnetic radiation from electromagnetic emitting means, wherein the electromagnetic radiation receiving means are located on a side of the electrical apparatus and are for being directed towards a support including means for emitting an electromagnetic radiation, and the electromagnetic radiation receiving means is for supplying electrical power upon receipt of electromagnetic radiation from such means for emitting electromagnetic radiation located on such support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Schneider Electric Industries SA
    Inventors: Philippe Clement, Leonard Didier, Vernay Marc
  • Patent number: 6884949
    Abstract: Disclosed is a main switch conveying apparatus for a vacuum circuit breaker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: LG Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seok-Jung Yoon
  • Patent number: 6689968
    Abstract: A presently-preferred capacitor discharge system for a circuit breaker adapted for use in a switchgear enclosure comprises a capacitor discharge circuit adapted to be electrically coupled to the capacitor, and a contact switch electrically coupled to the capacitor discharge circuit and adapted to be mechanically coupled to a support truck of the circuit breaker. The contact switch is movable between a first and a second position. The system also comprises a resistor electrically coupled to the capacitor discharge circuit, and a lever arm adapted to be rigidly coupled to a racking mechanism of the circuit breaker and adapted to urge the contact switch into the closed position when a locking arm of the racking mechanism disengages from the switchgear enclosure. The capacitor discharge system is adapted to electrically couple the capacitor and the resistor when the contact switch is in the second position thereby discharging the capacitor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2004
    Assignee: ABB Technology AG
    Inventors: Marty L. Trivette, Richard E. Tyner, Murray K. Jones
  • Patent number: 6590170
    Abstract: A latch kit comprising a member with at least one hook end, a tension member, and a hook plate. The hook plate is connected to the member by a tension member. The kit is intended to be used in conjunction with an industrial circuit breaker which is secured in a cell by a catch plate. When the hook plate is attached to the circuit breaker, the hook end can be used to support the circuit breaker's catch plate handle in the open position so that the circuit breaker can be extracted from the cell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 1999
    Date of Patent: July 8, 2003
    Assignee: Eaton Corporation
    Inventor: Walter O. Jenkins
  • Patent number: 6563062
    Abstract: A circuit interrupter insertion/withdrawal mechanism including an interrupter moving device including a drive shaft operable by an external operating handle from outside of the interrupter compartment, a lever connected between the drive shaft and the interrupter for driving the interrupter between the disconnected and connected positions, and a motion translating device connected between the drive shaft and the interrupter for translating a rotary motion of the drive shaft into a linear motion of the interrupter between the disconnected and connected positions. The lever is rotatable between a disconnecting position corresponding to the disconnected position of the interrupter and a connecting position corresponding to the connected position of the interrupter, the disconnected and connected positions being at substantially diametrically opposed positions about a center of rotation of the lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2003
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kouiti Kurano, Hidenobu Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 6559394
    Abstract: In an air circuit breaker, in order to provide a position indicating apparatus of a draw out type air circuit breaker which is capable of distinguishing a position of a breaker body accurately even a user can not distinguish colors by improving a structure for indicating a position of the breaker body, in a position indicating apparatus of an draw out type air circuit breaker comprising a lead bar rotatably placed at a base frame and moving in a direction opposite to a moving direction of a lead screw by abutting to one wall surface of a cradle and a cam connected to the lead bar and rotating by the linear movement of the lead bar, the position indicating apparatus includes a movable plate connected to the cam and converting the rotation of the cam into the vertical linear motion, an indicating cam connected to the movable plate, converting the vertical linear motion of the movable plate into the rotation motion and having a portion indicating a position of the breaker body according to the rotation, and a fr
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: LG Industrial Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Ki Soo Yang
  • Publication number: 20030057067
    Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a switching contact arrangement and a drive apparatus which operates it, with the connection between the switching contact arrangement and the drive apparatus being designed such that it is detachable. For this purpose, a contact support of the switching contact arrangement contains a coupling bolt, which produces a hinged connection to a lever arrangement for the drive apparatus. A holding piece allows a actuating shaft of the drive apparatus to be rotated to a position, and to be fixed in this position. This allows the switching contact arrangement to be removed without any problem, and subsequently to be replaced by another switching contact arrangement. Once the control panel for the circuit breaker has been removed, the holding piece can be placed on the actuating shaft and can be attached to a front housing body of the circuit breaker where the control panel would otherwise be located.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 19, 2002
    Publication date: March 27, 2003
    Inventors: Michael Bach, Detlev Schmidt, Guenter Seidler-Stahl, Ingo Thiede, Sezai Tuerkmen, Artur Wajnberg
  • 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: 6476335
    Abstract: The draw out mechanism includes a crank, screw, collar and cam, which operate such that as the crank rotates, the collar translates along the screw. The movement of the pin disposed in the slot, rotates the cam as viewed about a axis of rotation. As the cam rotates about the axis of rotation, the pin moves within slot causing mobile side plates to move toward the front or back of the draw-out unit. A circuit breaker is connected to side plate and is positioned in CONNECT, DISCONNECT, and TEST positions by motion of the side plate. An indicator provides visual indication of the breaker's position. A locking system locks the draw-out mechanism in the DISCONNECT position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2002
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Patrick Letient
  • Patent number: 6472620
    Abstract: A locking arrangement for use on a draw-out mechanism mounted on a circuit breaker within a switchgear cabinet includes a fixed side plate arranged for mounting within switchgear cabinet, a mobile side plate includes a pin extending threrefrom, the mobile side plate arranged to move the circuit breaker in cooperation therewith and an obstructor plate pivotally mounted to the fixed sideplate, the obstructor plate having a slot and a notch extending from the slot, the pin traversing the slot to allow the mobile side plate to move relative to the fixed side plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2002
    Assignee: GE Power Controls France SAS
    Inventors: Mahesh Jaywant Rane, Pavan Ramachandra Vitthal Kashyap, Anilkumar Dinker Pandit, Janakiraman Narayanan, Patrick Letient
  • Publication number: 20020079201
    Abstract: In an air circuit breaker, in order to provide a position indicating apparatus of a draw out type air circuit breaker which is capable of distinguishing a position of a breaker body accurately even a user can not distinguish colors by improving a structure for indicating a position of the breaker body, in a position indicating apparatus of an draw out type air circuit breaker comprising a lead bar rotatably placed at a base frame and moving in a direction opposite to a moving direction of a lead screw by abutting to one wall surface of a cradle and a cam connected to the lead bar and rotating by the linear movement of the lead bar, the position indicating apparatus includes a movable plate connected to the cam and converting the rotation of the cam into the vertical linear motion, an indicating cam connected to the movable plate, converting the vertical linear motion of the movable plate into the rotation motion and having a portion indicating a position of the breaker body according to the rotation, and a fr
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2001
    Publication date: June 27, 2002
    Inventor: Ki Soo Yang
  • Patent number: 6304919
    Abstract: The fixed frame comprises, on a side wall, a communication module. The communication module acts as interface between an external communication bus and indicating contacts whose state is representative of the connected or disconnected positions of a switchgear apparatus on the frame. The communication module is preferably fixed onto the external face of the wall, by the same fixing means as the indicating contacts. The wiring is thus reduced to the minimum when the apparatus is installed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Patrice Louis, Jocelyn Lemoine
  • Publication number: 20010022262
    Abstract: In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, a locking arrangement for use on a draw-out mechanism mounted on a circuit breaker within a switchgear cabinet includes a fixed side plate arranged for mounting within switchgear cabinet, a mobile side plate includes a pin extending therefrom, the mobile side plate arranged to move the circuit breaker in cooperation therewith and an obstructor plate pivotally mounted to the fixed sideplate, the obstructor plate having a slot and a notch extending from the slot, the pin traversing the slot to allow the mobile side plate to move relative to the fixed side plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventors: Mahesh Jaywant Rane, Pavan Ramachandra Vitthal Kashyap, Anilkumar Dinker Pandit, Janakiraman Narayanan, Patrick Letient
  • Publication number: 20010022263
    Abstract: The draw out mechanism includes a crank, screw, collar and cam, which operate such that as the crank rotates, the collar translates along the screw. The movement of the pin disposed in the slot, rotates the cam as viewed about a axis of rotation. As the cam rotates about the axis of rotation, the pin moves within slot causing mobile side plates to move toward the front or back of the draw-out unit. A circuit breaker is connected to side plate and is positioned in CONNECT, DISCONNECT, and TEST positions by motion of the side plate. An indicator provides visual indication of the breaker's position. A locking system locks the draw-out mechanism in the DISCONNECT position.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2000
    Publication date: September 20, 2001
    Inventor: Patrick Letient
  • Patent number: 6291783
    Abstract: An electrical switchgear apparatus comprises a fixed frame, a circuit breaker movable in the fixed frame between a plugged-out position and a plugged-in position, a reversible plug-in and plug-out mechanism of the circuit breaker, a movable means for detecting an indexed position of the mechanism or of the circuit breaker, linked to a first electrical switch, and a movable means for detecting an indexed position (open or closed) of the main contact means of the circuit breaker linked to a second electrical switch. Each of the two switches comprises an input, a first output and a switching means able to take a first position in which it connects the input of the switch electrically to the first output of the switch, the switching means being kinematically linked to the corresponding detecting means, in such a way that the switching means is in its first position if and only if the corresponding detecting means is in its active position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: Square D. Company
    Inventors: Jean-Pierre Nebon, Claude Grelier, Jean-Pierre Nereau, Jacques Joubert
  • Patent number: 6284989
    Abstract: A two-part motor control center interlock arrangement has a handle support plate and interlock slide positioned on an interior of the control center door operating by insertion of a tapered pin on the door interior within a key-hole slot on the interlock slide. The elongated slot of the key-hole slot automatically compensates for any tolerance accumulation between a circuit breaker handle, an interlock operating handle and the control center access door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2001
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Richard Emery Bernier, Gilbert Anthony Soares, Edgar Yee
  • 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: 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
  • Patent number: 6177641
    Abstract: The invention relates to a plug-in circuit breaker and has the object of preventing no-load discharges of the closing mechanism when extraction of the circuit breaker is performed. The drive mechanism of the circuit breaker loading and closing mechanism comprises a trip mechanism which is able to move from a closed state wherein actuation of an oscillating lever is designed to move the closing spring to its loaded state, to a tripped state wherein actuation of the oscillating lever is designed to prevent movement of the closing spring to its loaded state. This trip mechanism causes either disengagement of the oscillating lever or neutralization of a free-wheel coupling of the drive mechanism. The circuit breaker is moreover equipped with opening and closing controls causing an opening, closing, opening cycle when extraction is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 31, 1999
    Date of Patent: January 23, 2001
    Assignee: Schneider Electric SA
    Inventors: Robert Morel, Claude Grelier, Eric Pinero