Patent ID: 7683276
Filing Date: 2010-03-23
Classification: H01H

Abstract:
1. A pole shaft assembly for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing having an exterior side, separable contacts enclosed by said housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, which are structured to create an arc that generates are gases when said separable contacts open, said pole shaft assembly comprising: a receiving portion structured to be disposed on the exterior side of said housing; a pole shaft pivotably disposed within said receiving portion and including at least one protrusion; a number of cover members overlaying said pole shaft and said receiving portion; at least one first seal being disposed between said receiving portion and a corresponding one of said at least one protrusion; at least one second seal disposed between at least one of said at least one protrusion and a corresponding one of said number of cover members; wherein said at least one first seal and said at least one second seal are structured to resist undesired entry of debris between said receiving portion and said pole shaft, and further to control the discharge of said arc gases from said electrical switching apparatus; wherein sealing activity occurs by the interaction between said receiving portion and said corresponding one of said at least one protrusion; wherein sealing activity occurs by the interaction between said at least one of said at least one protrusion and said corresponding one of said number of cover members; wherein said electrical switching apparatus further includes a number of poles; and wherein said pole shaft is structured to extend perpendicularly across said number of poles; wherein said number of poles is a first pole, a second pole, and a third pole; wherein said at least one protrusion of said pole shaft is a first lobe extending outwardly from said pole shaft at said first pole, a second lobe extending outwardly from said pole shaft at said second pole, and a third lobe extending outwardly from said pole shaft at said third pole; and wherein each of said first lobe, said second lobe, and said third lobe includes a surface; wherein said receiving portion comprises a first surface at said first pole, a second surface at said second pole, and a third surface at said third pole; wherein said number of cover members is a plurality of covers; wherein a first one of said covers overlays said first lobe of said pole shaft at or about said first pole and includes a surface; and wherein a second one of said covers overlays said third lobe of said pole shaft at or about said third pole and includes a surface; and wherein said pole shaft is structured to pivot among a first position corresponding to said separable contacts being open, and a second position corresponding to said separable contacts being closed; wherein, when said pole shaft is disposed in said first position, said first pole maintains both said primary seal of said first pole, which is disposed between said surface of said first lobe and said first surface of said receiving portion, and said secondary seal of said first pole, which is disposed between said surface of said first lobe and said first one of said covers; wherein, when said pole shaft is disposed in said second position, said first pole maintains said primary seal of said first pole but said surface of said first lobe is separated from said first one of said covers thereby unsealing said secondary seal of said first pole; wherein said second pole maintains said primary seal of said second pole, which is disposed between said surface of said second lobe and said second surface of said receiving portion, when said pole shaft is disposed in said first position and when said pole shaft is disposed in said second position; wherein, when said pole shaft is disposed in said first position, said third pole maintains both said primary seal of said third pole, which is disposed between said surface of said third lobe and said second one of said covers, and said secondary seal of said third pole, which is disposed between said surface of said third lobe and said third surface of said receiving portion; and wherein, when said pole shaft is disposed in said second position, said third pole maintains said primary seal of said third pole but said surface of said third lobe is separated from said second one of said covers thereby unsealing said secondary seal of said third pole.