Actuating shaft structure for an electrical switch

A electrical pole unit includes an actuator shaft that is rotatable about a switch axis to switch the pole unit between open and closed conditions. The actuator shaft is configured to mate coaxially with another actuator shaft in another pole unit to transmit rotation from one actuator shaft to another without a fastener to interconnect the shafts.

TECHNICAL FIELD

This technology relates to an electrical switching mechanism including pole units having electrical contacts.

BACKGROUND

An electrical switch, such as a safety switch or disconnect, may be housed in a cabinet. 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

A electrical pole unit includes an actuator shaft that is rotatable about a switch axis to switch the pole unit between open and closed conditions. The actuator shaft is configured to mate coaxially with another actuator shaft in another pole unit to transmit rotation from one actuator shaft to another without a fastener to interconnect the shafts.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The apparatus illustrated in the drawings includes parts that are examples of the elements recited in the claims. The illustrated apparatus thus includes examples of how a person of ordinary skill in the art can make and use the claimed invention. They are described here to provide enablement and best mode 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 a cabinet12for electrical equipment. The cabinet12has a door14. A manually operated handle18at the front side of the door14is connected with a switching assembly20(FIG. 2) inside the enclosure12. The switching assembly20is switched between open and closed conditions by moving the handle18pivotally between open and closed positions.

The switching assembly20in the illustrated example includes a row of pole units22. The pole units22are alike, and each individual pole unit22includes an assembly of electrical contacts that are switchable between open and closed conditions. Each pole unit22further includes an actuating shaft26. Each actuating shaft26is linked with the electrical contacts in the respective pole unit22to shift the contacts between their open and closed conditions upon rotation of the shaft26between open and closed positions. The actuating shafts26are centered on a common switch axis27reaching horizontally across the inside of the cabinet12, and are interconnected end-to-end throughout the row of pole units22so as to rotate together about the axis27. The pole units22are thereby engaged with one another to be switched together such that all of the pole units22in the switching assembly20have the same condition, either open or closed, at any given time.

A linkage30is provided for rotating the actuator shafts26in response to movement of the handle18. The linkage30includes a panel40that is supported for sliding movement vertically beside one end of the row of pole units22. The linkage30also includes links42,44,46, and48. The links42-48are pivotally coupled in series between the handle18and the panel40to slide the panel40in response to pivotal movement of the handle18.

As shown inFIG. 2, guide pins50project through slots51in the panel40to support the panel40for sliding movement on a stationary frame52. As shown inFIG. 3a lever54interconnects the panel40with an actuator56supported for rotation about the switch axis27. The actuator56is coupled with the actuator shafts26in the pole units22. When the panel40moves vertically between the raised and lowered positions shown inFIG. 3, it pivots the lever54so as to rotate the actuator56and the shafts26between their open and closed positions.

A hub60(FIG. 4) is mounted for rotation on another stationary frame62inside the cabinet12. The hub60defines an axis of rotation63for the handle18. The axis63at the hub60is horizontal, but is orthogonal to the switch axis27. Although the hub60is rotatable about the axis63relative to the frame62, the axis63is fixed relative to the frame62.

In the embodiment ofFIG. 4, the handle18has an extension66configured to project inward through an aperture67in the door14for coupling in a socket portion68of the hub60. In the alternative embodiment ofFIG. 5, a hub70is configured to project outward through the aperture67in the door14for coupling with the handle18in a similar manner. In each case, a user standing at the front of the cabinet12can couple the handle18with the hub60or70through the aperture67, and can move the handle18pivotally about the axis63to operate the linkage60for switching the pole units22between their open closed conditions, without the need to reach to stand or reach at the side of the cabinet10.

The first link42is fixed to the hub60so as to move pivotally about the hub axis63upon rotation of the hub60. The second link44is coupled to the first link42and the third link46for movement pivotally about respective axes71and73. Those axes71and73are both movable with the second link44relative to the frame62. The third link46is mounted on the frame62for movement pivotally about another axis75that is fixed relative to the frame62. The fourth link48is coupled to the third link46and the panel40for movement pivotally about respective77and79axes that are both movable relative to the frame62.

When the handle18is in the position ofFIG. 2, the switching assembly20has an open condition. As the handle18is moved from the position ofFIG. 2toward the position ofFIG. 6, such movement of the handle18drives the hub60to rotate in the counterclockwise direction as viewed in the drawings. This drives the first link42to push the second link44from right to left relative to the frame62. The second link44then drives the third link46to pivot in a counterclockwise direction about the fixed axis75on the frame62. Such movement of the third link46pushes the fourth link48upward, which lifts the panel40upward toward the raised position. As the panel40moves into the raised positon, it pivots the lever46to rotate the actuator shafts26fully to the positons in which they close the contacts in the pole units22. The reverse process of moving the handle18back to the position ofFIG. 2drives the linkage30to switch the pole units22back to the open conditions.

As shown inFIG. 7, each actuating shaft26has opposite end portions90and92. The first end portion90of each shaft26defines a cavity95. The second end portion92of each shaft26defines a hub98configured to fit closely within the cavity95in an adjacent shaft26. In the illustrated example, the cavities95are rectangular sockets and the hubs98have corresponding rectangular shapes. The actuator shaft26in each pole unit22is thus configured to mate coaxially in end-end engagement with another actuator shaft26in an adjacent pole unit22to transmit rotation from each shaft26to the adjacent shaft26. The hub and cavity arrangement couples the shafts26to rotate together without the use of fasteners to interconnect the shafts26. Additionally, the individual shafts26enable the number of pole units22installed in the cabinet12to be varied without constraint by the length of a single common shaft throughout the row of pole units22.

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.