Transportable remotely actuated racking device for use with high voltage industrial circuit breakers

A transportable, remotely actuated racking device is provided for use in connection the insertion and removal of very high voltage industrial circuit breakers. The device includes a motor activated rod assembly which is moved between first and second positions for grasping of the circuit breaker during insertion and removal from the circuit breaker housing. The racking device is remotely operated from a point of safety relative to the circuit breaker whereby direct exposure to possible fire and explosions which might occur during racking is greatly reduced.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
1. Field of the Invention 
The invention relates to a transportable remotely actuated racking device 
for use in connection with insertion and removal of very high voltage 
industrial electric circuit breakers relative to housings therefor. 
2. Brief Description of the Part 
In many industrial applications, such as generator or transmission stations 
and points for the generation and transmission of electrical energy, very 
high amperes, high voltage circuit breakers are used in establishing and 
breaking high voltage circuits. Such circuit breakers also are utilized in 
electronic components within and to large electric motors for aircraft 
carrier components, large field operation stations, and the like wherein 
the electric power is in a range of approximately two thousand to twelve 
thousand amperes at six hundred to six thousand volts. Such circuit 
breakers often are provided within housings in rows or banks, or stocks, 
as shown in FIG. 1. 
Often times, it is necessary to insert or remove a circuit breaker within 
one or more of the housings forming the bank of circuit breaker housings. 
Such requirement is necessitated by, for example, an increase or decrease 
of load requirement in the particular facility, or for repair or 
replacement of a particular circuit breaker, or line component or the 
power line extending to the circuit breaker, so that the circuit breaker 
components will accept a lower or higher voltage and amperes conducting 
circuit breaker, or for various other reasons known to those skilled in 
the art. 
In the past, the prior art sometimes has provided circuit breaker 
assemblies that are affixed within the circuit breaker housing, but are 
not designed to be transportable from one housing to another housing in 
the bank of circuit breakers. Some of these devices require opening of the 
circuit breaker housing door for activation, while others may be operated 
either manually, mechanically or electrically with the door remaining 
shut. 
The procedure for inserting and removing a circuit breaker from such 
housing is referred to as "racking-in and/or racking-out" When the circuit 
breaker is "racked-in", it is in the "on" position relative to the circuit 
therefor, and when it is in the "racked-out", it is in the "off" or 
"closed" position relative to said circuit. Thus, the device utilized in 
such a procedure is commonly referred to by those skilled in the art of 
inserting and removing such circuit breakers as a "racking device". 
In the past, many such circuit breakers have been "racked" by insertion 
within the housing, as the occasion requires, into a cog system along the 
floor of the circuit breaker housing which is manually affixed to one end 
of a circuit breaker, and thereafter, operable to engage or disengage the 
circuit breaker by means of application by an operator of an elongate 
shaft held in the hands of the operator at one end and having cog 
receptacle members at the other end and inserted within the cog on the 
floor of the circuit breaker for moving the circuit breaker into and out 
of the housing. The shaft is moved from one cog grooveway to another cog 
grooveway to continue the movement either into or out of circuit 
engagement of the circuit breaker, until such time as the circuit breaker 
is either completely affixed within the circuit breaker housing or is 
completely removed from circuit transmission and engagement. 
Recently, certain federal and/or state governmental safety requirements 
have discouraged the use of such type of a racking system because of 
possible exposure to fire and explosions which could, although 
infrequently, result because of some defect or the like within the circuit 
breaker system. Even though working personnel operating the rack are 
required to, and do, wear safety shields, helmets, and fire resistant or 
retardant clothing, including gloves, shoes, pants and vests, such fires 
and explosions may be so intensive that injury, oftentimes critical, has 
occurred to the human operators. 
While some racking devices are remotely actuatable, in a sense, that is, by 
closing the door to the circuit breaker housing and activating such 
racking assembly, such devices are somewhat unsatisfactory because such 
racking still requires the operator to be immediate the housing for the 
circuit breaker and not at a "point of safety". These racking devices also 
are somewhat inefficient in activation because the housings for the 
circuit breaker also include the racking device, itself, thus rendering 
such racking devices fixed as opposed to transportable, and thereby 
enhancing the cost of the entire circuit breaker assembly within each of 
the housings in the various rows and stacks of circuit breakers at the 
particular facility. 
The present invention addresses the deficiencies as described above with 
respect to the prior art racking devices. 
A pre-filing novelty search conducted with respect to the present invention 
has developed the following patents: 
______________________________________ 
U.S. Pat. No. PATENTEE 
______________________________________ 
2,861,699 Youmans 
3,171,920 Klein, et al 
3,198,907 Archer, et a 
3,296,565 Kiessel, et al 
4,652,202 Arnett 
4,912,380 Zylstra, et al 
4,990,873 Grunet, et al 
5,160,908 Mullins, et al 
______________________________________ 
As used herein, "transportable" means the ability of the racking device of 
the present invention to be moved from one circuit breaker housing to 
another circuit breaker housing, either in the same row and/or within 
other rows or series of circuit breaker stacks, by one or more human 
operators. The term "point of safety", as used herein, means a relative 
distance and/or location away from the circuit breaker housing to another 
position whereby human operators of the racking device of the present 
invention may operate said racking device for racking the circuit breaker 
without having to activate the same by manually pushing or moving a device 
on or within the housing for the circuit breaker, said relative distance 
being on the order of from about ten feet to about sixty feet. 
Additionally, as used herein, the term "high-voltage" shall mean an 
electric power line range of between about two thousand to about twelve 
thousand amperes at from between about one thousand volts to about six 
thousand volts, or more. Finally, as used herein, the term 
"closed-circuit" refers to a television and a screen therefrom which 
receive and project video signals transmitted only from the camera during 
racking, as opposed to reception of a commercial television signal through 
commercial channels or cables having multi-channel signals received to the 
television and screen, and projecting thereon. 
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
A transportable remotely actuated racking device is provided for use in 
connection with insertion and removal of very high voltage industrial 
electric circuit breakers to and from housings therefor. The device 
comprises a base and means extending from the base for transporting the 
device from approximate one of the circuit breakers to a position 
approximate another of the circuit breakers, and for lining the device 
relative to the circuit breaker housings during racking. 
The device further includes a rod assembly having a fixed length which 
communicates with the base and is selectively movable from a first 
position wherein the rod assembly is not in grasping relationship with the 
circuit breaker to a second position wherein the rod assembly is in 
position for establishing a grasping relationship with the circuit 
breaker. Motor means are provided on the base for manipulating the rod 
assembly between first and second positions. 
At least one fixed stabilizing arm element extends from the base toward the 
circuit breaker housing, the arm element having a length less than that of 
the rod assembly. Means are provided on the arm element arranged for 
grasping engagement with the circuit breaker housing during racking. 
Grasping means are secured to one end of the rod assembly for grasping and 
holding a circuit breaker during racking. Finally, an 
activation/deactivation means is provided for the motor means and is 
manually manipulatable at a remote point of safety relative to the circuit 
breaker housing. The device may also include camera and television means 
for directly and remotely monitoring the racking procedure. In a preferred 
form, the device has a plurality of arm elements, one being fixed, and 
another being rotated or otherwise manipulatable from a point somewhat 
lateral of the fixed arm to another position in approximate lateral 
alignment with the fixed arm and secured in place for such position to 
thereby securely engage the device to the housing of the circuit breaker.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
Now with particular reference to FIG. 1, stacks A and B note a circuit 
breaker housings in series upon a floor C of a power generating station. 
The stacks A and B are utilized for a number of purposes, and generally 
serve to activate high voltage circuits between on and off positions for 
actuation of motors, or the like, used in generation and transmission of 
electric power. 
Now, with particular reference to FIG. 2, there is shown a plurality of 
circuit breaker housings D, E, and F, each such housing having a frontal 
door D', E' and F'. Also shown on such exterior doors are respective 
gauges G, H and I and respective lock handles J, K and L. The handles J, K 
and L, are, of course, manipulated between locked and unlocked positions 
as well as between closed and open positions, by application of the human 
hand thereto. 
Now with reference to FIG. 3, a circuit breaker housing E has its door E' 
in open position for exposure of a circuit breaker housing portion E" and 
the circuit breaker M. As better illustrated in FIG. 4 the circuit breaker 
M is received through an opening at the out-board end of a circuit breaker 
housing element N, the circuit breaker M having a passageway O 
therethrough for receipt of a locking pin 105 (FIG. 11) of the present 
invention during racking. 
Turning now to FIG. 15, the apparatus of the present invention 100 is shown 
as comprising of a base 101 together with a plurality of 
bearing-containing wheels 102 (the fourth wheel in the series not being 
shown in FIG. 15). The wheels 102 serve to enable transporting of the 
device from one circuit breaker to another circuit breaker, and are 
further helpful in aligning the device relative to the circuit breaker 
housings during racking. As shown, each of the wheel elements 102 are 
rotatable 360 degrees. 
A rod assembly 103 is provided and has one end 103a extending through a 
passageway 104 in the base 101. At the distil end 103b of the rod assembly 
is affixed a U-shaped grasping means 103c having frontally extending sides 
103c', 103c". Windows 103d and 103e are respectively defined within the 
elements 103c and 103c', and are always open for receipt of a locking pin 
105 (FIG. 11). One or more locking pins 105 are disposed on one of the 
arms, as shown in FIG. 11, and may be shaped or otherwise sized to fit 
varying circuit breakers M (FIG. 4). 
Motor means 106, such as an electric motor, is positioned on and carried by 
the base and is activated between on and off positions by means of 
circuitry of known construction housed in Box 107 on the base 101. The 
motor 106 is always in electric communication with the circuitry in Box 
107, as well as electric lines (FIG. 5) extending from the Box 107. A 
gearing mechanism 108 extends between the rod assembly 103 and the motor 
means 106 by means of a gearing mechanism including a belt or a chain 109 
extending from the motor means 106 to a gear 110 for transferring rotary 
motion into linear movements of the rod assembly 103. The mechanism 110 is 
well known and commercially available to those skilled in the art. 
As particularly shown in FIG. 15 the rod assembly 103 has a series of 
circumferentially extending in engroovements 103' around the exterior 
thereof thus forming a screw-like configuration for cooperative 
interrelation with the gear 110 and the belt 109 extending from the motor 
means 106 to linearly move and manipulate the rod assembly 103 as a result 
of transfer of rotary power developed by the motor 106 and delivered 
therefrom by the belt 109 to the gear assembly 108. 
Extending from and outboard of the base 101 is a series of stabilizing arms 
111 and 112. The arm 111 is always in fixed position such that it may not 
move pivotally or laterally of any portion of the base 101. In contrast, 
the stabilizing arm 112 which is also affixed to the plate 101 is partly 
pivotable between a position substantially parallel to that of arm 11, as 
shown in FIGS. 5, 7, 8 and 15, and a position as shown in FIG. 10. The arm 
112 may have a plate 113 having a hinge 113' and bolt 114 assembly 
thereon, similar to that utilized between a home door and its frame for 
opening and closing of the door. 
As shown in FIG. 10, the arm 112 will have slightly distil of the hinge and 
bolt assembly 113 and 114, a series of outwardly extending housing members 
115, 116, for receipt within a fixed non-moving arm member 117 through 
which a passageway 118 is defined, a pin 119. By providing one fixed 
stabilizing arm 111 and one pivotal stabilizing arm 112 parallel to but 
opposite one another, the device 100 may be first manipulated into 
position relative to the circuit breaker housing E by aligning the 
passageways within the housings 115 and 116 with a passageway 118 on the 
arm member 117, and thereafter affixing a pin 119 (FIG. 10) through each 
of such passageways to thereby lock the arm 112 in position such that it 
is thereafter in lateral alignment relative to the arm 111. In this 
manner, the arm 112 is normally in a pivoted relationship relative to the 
stabilized arm 111 such that the device 100 may be manipulated into 
position with respect to the housing L for the circuit breaker and the arm 
111 being secured to the housing L at outwardly extending track or groove 
X (FIG. 12) therearound with respect to the U-shaped element 116 having 
sides 117 and 118 weldedly secured to the exterior of the arm 111 for 
selectively grasping engagement with the circuit breaker housing in track 
X. After the arm 111 is in place such that the grasper 116 is in companion 
relationship with the track X, the arm 112 may be pivoted such that its 
companion grasping means 116 with walls 117, 118 now may be securingly 
associated with the outward track X of the housing E and secured relative 
thereto by manipulating the arm 112 to the position as shown in FIG. 15 
and affixing therethrough the pin 119 into the passage 118. When the 
apparatus 100 is desired to be disengaged from the track or groove X of 
the housing E, the procedure, as above described, is, of course, reversed. 
As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, a video camera 119 is positioned on the base 101 
and interior of the arm 111 for visually observing movements of the device 
100 during racking. The camera 119 has a frontal lens assembly 120 of know 
construction. The camera 119 may be any one of many commercially available 
video cameras of the small variety type, which are commonly sold for use 
in conjunction with video cassette recorders. The camera 119 may be 
secured relative to the base 101 in fixed position, or alternatively, may 
be fixed thereto for lateral and/or rotary movements either by manual or 
other known means. 
A light 121 (FIG. 11) is provided frontal of a base member 101 and is 
directed toward the circuit breaker housing E and circuit breaker M 
therein to enhance visual observation of the racking procedure through the 
camera 119. 
Also as shown in FIGS. 5, 9 and 12, there is provided a visible indicator 
means 130 (FIG. 9) with a bulb 131 (FIG. 12) facing the camera 119 and 
detectable by the lens 120 thereof. The member 130 is secured in place by 
means of plate 132 extending laterally away from the interior side of one 
of the arms 111, 112, and preferably arm 111. An electric conduit 133 
extends from the member 130 to the circuitry within box 107 for 
coordinating movements of the device 100 and indicating racked-in, 
racked-out positions of the circuit breaker M such that the bulb 131 is 
electrically activated to colorize same, such as red, to indicate either 
completely racked-in or racked-out position. 
The activation of the bulb 131 is, of course, immediately detected through 
the lens 120 of the camera 119, and that video signal is transmitted by 
the camera 119 through a video signal transmitting conduit (134') to a 
television monitor 134 (FIG. 16) at a point of safety. When the racked-in 
or racked-out position is detected by the bulb 131 in either bulb 
activated or bulb deactivated mode, such a position will be indicated at 
the television monitor 134 and a human operator may immediately thereafter 
activate a signal at the point of safety for either activating or 
deactivating the motor means and stop rod assembly manipulation at or 
beyond such point. 
The indicator means 130 correlates electrically relative to the position of 
the rod assembly 103 in known fashion such that an electric signal is 
either broken or established with the circuit breaker M is at the fully 
racked-in or racked-out positions. Such a signalling means which may also 
be the use of two or more color indicator bulbs, may either be mechanical 
movements resistance activatable or based upon the length of the rod 
assembly 103 at a fixed extended length relative to the securement of the 
apparatus 100 at track X and/or the position of the rod assembly 103 
relative to the distal end of the sides 103c' and 103c". Such a 
calculation and circuitry and mechanical parts therefor may be effected in 
a variety of manners known to those skilled in the art. Thus, the 
invention is not necessarily limited to the use of any particular means of 
activation of the indicator means 130. 
As shown in FIG. 16, the television monitor 134 has an electric line 135 
and plug 136 extending therefrom. A line 137 extends from the television 
to the camera 119 for transmission of the camera signals to the television 
monitor 64. 
Additionally, also shown in FIG. 16, a control box 138 is provided having 
an electric connecting line 139 and a plurality of switches 140 through 
lines 140a, 140b, and 140c for activating the motor means, the camera, and 
the light in conjunction with the use of the present invention. 
It will be appreciated that the circuit breaker M may be either manually 
or, preferably, mechanically through the use of the device 100, 
manipulatable to further move the circuit breaker M away from the housing 
member N therefor during racking-out. 
The light 121 is preferably of the fluorescent type and is provided for 
purposes of increasing lighting in the proximate area of the racking 
procedure, thus enhancing images detected by the lens 120 of the camera 
119. The light 121 has, of course, an electric conduit extending therefrom 
and may be plugged into an AC circuit immediate the circuit breaker 
housing L or extendable to the point of safety and activated by a button 
or the like extending between the length of line therefor and another line 
portion extending from the button or the like to an AC connection in the 
wall at the point of safety. Alternatively, the light 121 may be battery 
operated with a series of one or more batteries associated therewith and 
provided on the apparatus 100, or by DC line operably established as with 
the AC line as described above. 
It will also be appreciated that the camera 119, and motor means 106 may be 
equally activated through DC power line and switch means at the point of 
safety. 
Although the invention has been described in terms of specified embodiments 
which are set forth in detail, it should be understood that this is by 
illustration only and that the invention is not necessarily limited 
thereto, since alternative embodiments and operating techniques will be 
become apparent to those skilled in the art in view of the disclosure. 
Accordingly, modifications are contemplated which can be made without 
departing from the spirit of the described invention.