Electrical switching mechanism control apparatus

An electrical switching apparatus includes a first pole unit, a second pole unit, and a busbar assembly interconnecting the first pole unit with the second pole unit in series or in parallel. A first mechanism is configured to switch the first pole unit between its open and closed conditions. A second mechanism is configured to switch the second pole unit between its open and closed conditions. An actuating assembly is configured to actuate the first and second mechanisms to switch the first and second pole units from their open conditions to their closed conditions simultaneously, and to switch the first and second pole units from their closed conditions to their open conditions simultaneously.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This technology relates to an electrical switching mechanism that opens and closes pole units having electrical contacts.

BACKGROUND

An electrical switch, such as a safety switch or disconnect, may be housed in an enclosure. The switch may include pole units having electrical contacts. A switching mechanism may be connected with the pole units to switch the pole units between open and closed conditions manually by the use of a handle at the exterior of the enclosure.

SUMMARY

An apparatus includes a first pole unit, a second pole unit, and a busbar assembly interconnecting the first pole unit with the second pole unit in series or in parallel. A first mechanism is configured to switch the first pole unit between its open and closed conditions. A second mechanism is configured to switch the second pole unit between its open and closed conditions. An actuating assembly is configured to actuate the first and second mechanisms to switch the first and second pole units from their open conditions to their closed conditions simultaneously, and to switch the first and second pole units from their closed conditions to their open conditions simultaneously.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The embodiments illustrated in the drawings have parts that are examples of the elements recited in the claims. The illustrated embodiments thus include examples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and use the claimed invention. They are described here to meet the enablement and best mode requirements of the patent statute without imposing limitations that are not recited in the claims. One or more of the elements of one embodiment may be used in combination with, or as a substitute for, one or more elements of another as needed for any particular implementation of the claimed invention.

As shown inFIG. 1, an apparatus10includes an enclosure12for electrical safety switches. The enclosure12has a door14at the front side, and has a side panel16beside the door14. A manually operated handle18at the exterior of the enclosure12projects forward from the side panel16past the door14. The handle18is connected with switches inside the enclosure12to open and close the switches upon movement of the handle18pivotally between open and closed positions.

The enclosure12contains multiple switching assemblies which, in the illustrated example, include a pair of switching assemblies30and32as shown inFIG. 2. The first switching assembly30includes a row of first pole units36. The second switching assembly32includes a row of second pole units38. As known in the art, each individual pole unit36and38includes an assembly of electrical contacts that are switchable between open and closed conditions.

The first switching assembly30further includes an actuating shaft (not shown) that reaches along and through the row of first pole units36. As further known in the art, such an actuating shaft is linked with the electrical contacts in the first pole units36to shift them between their open and closed conditions upon rotation of the shaft between open and closed positions. The second switching assembly32similarly includes an actuating shaft reaching along and through the row of second pole units38. The actuating shaft in the second switching assembly32is linked with the electrical contacts in the second pole units38to shift them between their open and closed conditions upon rotation of that shaft between open and closed positions. The pole units36and38in the illustrated embodiment are arranged with their actuating shafts parallel to one another. Additionally, the switching assemblies30and32are configured and engaged with the pole units36and38such that all of the pole units36and38have the same condition, either open or closed, at any given time.

Each of the first pole units36is electrically connected with a corresponding one of the second pole units38. These connections are made by busbar assemblies50. Each busbar assembly50connects one of the first pole units36with a corresponding one of the second pole units38. In the embodiment ofFIGS. 2 and 3, each busbar assembly50connects the first pole unit36with the second pole unit38in series.

Also shown inFIGS. 2 and 3are lugs for connection with electrical power lines. These include line side lugs60and load side lugs62, some of which are omitted for clarity of illustration. Each line side lug60is mounted on a busbar assembly50at the line side of the pole units36and38that are connected by that busbar assembly50. Each load side lug62is mounted on a busbar assembly50at the load side of the pole units36and38that are connected by that busbar assembly50. In this arrangement, the lugs60and62at each busbar assembly50are also connected in series with one another.

A first switching mechanism70is associated with the row of first pole units66. The first switching mechanism70includes a rotatable shaft that is splined or otherwise connected to the actuating shaft for switching the electrical contact assemblies in the first pole units36, as described above. In a similar manner, a second switching mechanism72is associated with the row of second pole units68. The second switching mechanism72likewise includes a rotatable shaft that is splined or otherwise connected to the actuating shaft at the second pole units38.

The handle18is supported on the second switching mechanism72for movement pivotally about a horizontal axis75. The axis75is aligned with the actuating shaft reaching through the second pole units68, and the second switching mechanism72is configured to rotate the actuating shaft between open and closed positions upon movement of the handle18pivotally between its open and closed positions.

An actuating assembly80reaches from the second switching mechanism72to the first switching mechanism70to connect the handle18with the first switching mechanism70. This includes a link82that is mounted on the second switching mechanism72to rotate about the axis75together with both the handle18and the shaft in the second switching mechanism72. The handle is connected to the link82through an aperture in the side panel16of the enclosure12, as shown inFIG. 1. Another link84is mounted on the first switching mechanism70to rotate the shaft in the first switching mechanism70upon rotation of that link84. An additional link86is pivotally coupled to the other two links82and84to rotate those two links82and84together under the influence of the pivoting handle18.

In use, movement of the handle18pivotally back and forth between the open and closed positions causes the actuating assembly80to rotate the interconnected shafts in the switching mechanisms70and72simultaneously, and thereby to shift the electrical contact assemblies in the pole units66and68back and forth between the open and closed conditions simultaneously.

The handle18is shown in the open position inFIGS. 1 and 3. When the handle18is moved pivotally upward to the closed position, the links82and84at the switching mechanisms70and72are rotated clockwise as viewed in the drawings. The interconnected shafts are then rotated equally in the same direction so that the two rows of pole units36and38are switched from their open conditions to their closed conditions simultaneously. When the handle18is moved pivotally back downward from the closed position to the open position, the links80and82are rotated counterclockwise back to the positions ofFIGS. 1 and 3, and the interconnected shafts are rotated equally in the same direction so that the two rows of pole units36and38are switched back from their closed conditions to their open conditions simultaneously.

As noted above, the pole units36and38have the same condition such that all of the pole units36and38are in the open condition, or all of them are in the closed condition, at any given time. By connecting the common-condition pole units36and38in series with one another, each busbar assembly50enables the corresponding series of contact assemblies to break greater voltages across the greater sum of opened gaps when the contact assemblies are all shifted to their open conditions.

An alternative embodiment is illustrated inFIG. 4. This embodiment includes parts that are the same or substantially the same as corresponding parts of the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-3. Such corresponding parts have the same reference numbers inFIGS. 1-3 and 4. The embodiment ofFIG. 4thus includes a manual actuating assembly80interconnecting a handle18with a pair of switching mechanisms70and72for simultaneously opening and closing electrical contact assembles in two rows of pole units66and68. These pole units66and68also have a common condition such that all of the pole units66and68are in the open condition, or all of them are in the closed condition, at any given time. However, the busbar assemblies100ofFIG. 4differ from the busbar assemblies50ofFIGS. 2 and 3. In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, each busbar assembly100interconnects the corresponding pair of pole units66and68in parallel rather than in series. By connecting common-condition pole units66and68in parallel with one another, each busbar assembly100enables the corresponding series of contact assemblies to carry currents across the greater sum of closed contacts when the contact assemblies are all in their closed conditions.

Another embodiment has an alternative manual actuating assembly120in place of the assembly80described above. As shown inFIGS. 5-6, the alternative linkage120in this example includes a stationary panel122that is fixed to the side panel16(FIG. 1) inside the enclosure12. A sliding panel124is supported on the stationary panel122. A pair of pivotal links130and132are fixed to rotatable shafts134and136. These shafts134and136are parts of switching mechanisms like the switching mechanisms70and72ofFIGS. 2-3.

Pins and slots are provided on the handle18, the sliding panel124, and the links130and132. The pins and slots are configured to slide the panel124back and forth upon movement of the handle18between the open and closed positions. Such sliding movement of the panel124moves the links130and132pivotally to rotate the shafts134and136in the switching mechanisms. This switches the associated pole units between open and closed conditions as described above.

In the illustrated example, the pins and slots include a pair of pins140on the handle18. One of those pins140is received in a slot143in the sliding panel124. An array of pins146on the stationary panel122are received in corresponding slots149in the sliding panel124. A pin150on the sliding panel124is received in a slot153in the first link130. When the handle18is moved from the position ofFIG. 5to the position ofFIG. 6, the pin140on the handle18moves within the slot143on the sliding panel124to slide the panel124to the right as viewed in the drawings. The pin150on the sliding panel124then moves against the first link130within the slot153to move the link130pivotally as shown inFIG. 6. The shaft134at the associated switching mechanism is rotated accordingly. Movement of the handle18from the position ofFIG. 6back to the position ofFIG. 5similarly causes oppositely directed movements to rotate the shaft134in the opposite direction.

Another pin170on the sliding panel124is received in a slot173in the second link132. When the handle18is moved from the position ofFIG. 5to the position ofFIG. 6so as to move the sliding panel124to the right, the pin170moves against the second link132within the slot173to move that link132pivotally as shown inFIG. 6. The shaft136at the second link132is thus rotated simultaneously and in the same direction equally with the shaft134at the first link130, and the associated pole units are switched accordingly.

Movement of the handle18back and forth between the positions ofFIGS. 5 and 6thus rotates the shafts134and136at the two links130and132back and forth equally in the same direction. In this manner, the shafts134and136at the switching mechanisms are rotated to switch the associated pole units from their open conditions to their closed conditions simultaneously, and to switch the associated pole units from their closed conditions to their open conditions simultaneously.

This written description sets for the best mode of carrying out the invention, and describes the invention so as to enable a person of ordinary skill in the art to make and use the invention, by presenting examples of the elements recited in the claims. The detailed descriptions of those elements do not impose limitations that are not recited in the claims, either literally or under the doctrine of equivalents.