Abstract:
A control arrangement is provided for an array of circuit interrupters that includes mounting and handling features to transport the array of circuit interrupters between various operating positions within the enclosure. In a specific arrangement, the control arrangement also provides for transporting of the array of circuit interrupters to a position to the exterior of the enclosure. In a specific arrangement, the circuit interrupters are modular and removable from the array. In a preferred arrangement, viewing facilities are provided to observe the array of circuit interrupters to verify the operating positions of the circuit interrupters, specifically, the disconnected and grounded positions. Additionally, a grounded position internal to the enclosure avoids the necessity of manually attaching grounds. In a preferred arrangement, detection of the operational states of the circuit interrupters is also provided in the various positions.

Description:
[0001]     This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/645,829filed on Jan. 24, 2005. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to a control arrangement for an array of articles to transport the articles between various operating positions and detect the operational state of the articles; e.g. an array of circuit interrupters is movable between circuit connected, circuit disconnected and a grounded position within a switchgear enclosure and movable out of the enclosure to an inspection and servicing position.  
         [0004]     2. Description of the Related Art  
         [0005]     Various switchgear arrangements are known in the prior art for containing and handling electrical articles such as fuses and other circuit interrupters. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 4,777,559 is directed to an arrangement for transporting an array of fuses or the like between a position outside the enclosure to a position internal to the enclosure, and between circuit-connected and disconnected positions within the enclosure. The arrangements of U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,521,567 and 6,040,538include provisions for viewing the connected, disconnected and grounded positions of a switch inside an enclosure.  
         [0006]     Additional switchgear operating and handling arrangements are shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,463,227; 4,250,357; 4,190,755; 3,991,348; 3,790,861; 3,748,261; 3,576,509; 3,573,560; and 3,339,118. The arrangement in U.S. Pat. No. 4,463,227is directed to a mounting for an article affixed to one surface of a panel with the panel being simultaneously moved and translated or pivoted end-for-end or side-for-side relative to an opening to selectively move the article between the two locations. The panel covers or blocks the opening in both the locations of the article.  
         [0007]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,250,357 discloses a fuse mounting on a back side of a panel with the panel being hinged at the bottom of the enclosure wall to gain access to each fuse. The panel is unlatched and rotated outwardly and downwardly on its hinge until the fuse is accessibly located in a horizontal position immediately in front of the opening normally covered by the panel.  
         [0008]     U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,790,861, 3,576,509 and 3,573,560 are directed to horizontally slidable fuse drawers or carriers. U.S. Pat. No. 3,991,348 is directed to a tool and cooperating enclosure arrangement with insertion of the tool opening an access port, isolating the fuse and engaging the fuse so it can be removed.  
         [0009]     U.S. Pat. No. 4,190,755 discloses a slidably mounted, switch-operating mechanism mounted on rollers which roll on tracks on upper and lower mounting brackets extending from the enclosure. The arrangement provides certain uncoupling, drawout and interlocking features.  
         [0010]     While the above-described arrangements of the prior art are generally suitable for their intended purpose, it would be desirable to provide for the viewing of a planar array of articles between various operating position within an enclosure and the capability to withdraw the planar array from the enclosure for servicing and the like.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0011]     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a control arrangement for use with an enclosure to provide movement and viewing of a planar array of articles between various operating positions within an enclosure and the capability to withdraw the planar array from the enclosure for servicing and the like.  
         [0012]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a handling and mounting arrangement for transporting an array of circuit interrupters between various operating positions within an enclosure and a position outside the enclosure, the circuit interrupters being modular and removable from the array.  
         [0013]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide an arrangement to detect the operational state of an array of circuit interrupters in a number of different operating positions of the array.  
         [0014]     These and other objects of the present invention are efficiently achieved by a control arrangement for an array of circuit interrupters that includes mounting and handling features to transport the array of circuit interrupters between various operating positions within the enclosure. In a specific arrangement, the control arrangement also provides for transporting of the array of circuit interrupters to a position to the exterior of the enclosure. In a specific arrangement, the circuit interrupters are modular and removable from the array. In a preferred arrangement, viewing facilities are provided to observe the array of circuit interrupters to verify the operating positions of the circuit interrupters, specifically, the disconnected and grounded positions. Additionally, a grounded position internal to the enclosure avoids the necessity of manually attaching grounds. In a preferred arrangement, detection of the operational states of the circuit interrupters is also provided in the various positions. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING  
       [0015]     The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the specification taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:  
         [0016]      FIG. 1-3  are perspective views of a switchgear enclosure incorporating the control arrangement of the present invention with illustrative circuit interrupters;  
         [0017]      FIGS. 4-6  are left-side elevational views, with parts removed for clarity, of circuit-connected, disconnected, and grounded operating positions of the control arrangement of  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0018]      FIGS. 7-9  are perspective views of portions of the control arrangement of  FIGS. 1-6  illustrating the sensing of the operational state of the circuit interrupters;  
         [0019]      FIG. 10  is a diagrammatic representation of portions of the control arrangement of  FIG. 1-9  illustrating the sensing of the operational state of the circuit interrupters; and  
         [0020]      FIG. 11  is a block diagram of portions of the control arrangement of  FIGS. 1-10 . 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0021]     Referring now to  FIGS. 1, 2  and  3 , the control arrangement  10  of the present invention controls the operating positions of an array  15  ( FIGS. 2 and 3 ) of circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  within an enclosure  18 . The enclosure  18  includes viewing facilities, e.g. a window  20 , through which the positions of the array  15  may be viewed and verified, e.g. as required by operating practice in the electrical power distribution industry to perform certain operations.  
         [0022]     In a preferred embodiment, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the control arrangement  10  includes facilities for transporting the array  15  to a position external to the enclosure  18  e.g. for servicing etc. whereat the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  may be removed from the array  15 , e.g. via release with respect to article retention clamps  17  ( FIG. 3 ). Also in a preferred embodiment, the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  include an actuator and an interrupter (not shown), e.g. vacuum interrupters.  
         [0023]     In the preferred embodiment and with additional reference now to  FIGS. 4-6 , the array  15  is transported between circuit connected ( FIG. 4 ), circuit disconnected ( FIG. 5 ) and grounded positions ( FIG. 6 ) of the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16 , e.g. the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  having electrical contacts  12   u,l ,  14   u,l , and  16   u,l  being respectively connected to electrical contacts  22   a,b,c , and  24   a,b,c  in the circuit connected position, totally isolated in the disconnected position, and the contacts  12   u,l ,  14   u,l ,  16   u,l  being respectively connected to contacts  24   a,b,c  and ground contacts  26   a,b,c  in the grounded position.  
         [0024]     It should be noted that in the disconnected position of  FIG. 5 , a “visible air gap” is provided to satisfy operating practices that is observable from the outside of the enclosure  18 . Additionally, the grounded position of the circuit interrupters in  FIG. 6  is also observable from the outside of the enclosure, again necessary to satisfy operating practices before performing operations on circuit connected thereto. Further, operating controls  25  are provided to operate the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  between open and closed circuit positions or states. The circuit interrupters are also operable in response to detected overcurrent conditions to automatically operate. The circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  are closed in the circuit-connected position of the array  15  to provide circuit continuity and opened to provide disconnection or interruption of the circuit. Further, the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  when in the grounded position are closed to provide the grounding of the circuit. Thus, it should be understood that the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  are arranged to be opened before moving the array  15  between positions and closed when in a particular position to achieve circuit connection in the connected position and circuit grounding in the grounded position such that the grounding or connecting is effected through the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  that include such capabilities and ratings. It should also be noted that in the circuit-disconnected position of the array  15 , when the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  are in the open position or state, two open gaps are provided between any of the electrical contacts, a first open gap between the contacts  22 , 24  and the array of circuit interrupters and a second within each of the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16 .  
         [0025]     In the illustrative embodiment, the control arrangement  10  includes a cradle  30  for supporting the array  15  of the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16 . The cradle  30  and circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  are also shown in  FIG. 7  removed from the other portions of the control arrangement  10 . The cradle  30  also may be characterized as a mounting array. Specifically, the cradle  30  is supported with respect to a mounting frame  32  and movable with respect to the mounting frame  32  between the circuit connected, circuit disconnected and grounded positions. In the preferred embodiment, in addition to the circuit connected position of  FIG. 4  and the grounded position of  FIG. 6 , the cradle  30  is also movable between the disconnected position of  FIG. 5  within the enclosure  18  to a position outside the enclosure  18  as shown in  FIG. 2  and  3 , e.g. via translation of the mounting frame  32  along an axis  34 . For example, in an illustrative embodiment, the mounting frame  32  includes rails  36 ,  38  that support or suspend the mounting frame  32  with respect to the enclosure  18  for translation of the mounting frame  32 , the cradle  30  and the array  15  along the axis  34  with respect to the enclosure  18 . For example, the rails  36 ,  38  move with respect to rollers as shown at  40 .  
         [0026]     Considering now further aspects of the control arrangement  10  regarding the movement of the cradle  30  for the array  15  between the circuit connected, circuit disconnected and grounded positions, in a specific implementation, the cradle  30  is suspended from the mounting frame  32  via upper links  42 ,  44  ( FIG. 5 ) at either end of the cradle  30 . An operating handle  46  is attached to the cradle at a drive input point  50  and is coupled to drive the cradle  30  via lower drive links  52 ,  54  arranged at either end of the cradle  30 . With the cradle within the enclosure  18  and in the circuit-connected position of  FIG. 4 , the operating handle  46  is inserted and rotated clockwise approximately 90 degrees to move the cradle  30  to the disconnected position of  FIG. 5 . The operating handle  46  may be removed without further operation, or the operating handle  46  may be reinserted in the position as shown in  FIG. 5  and rotated 90 degrees to move the cradle  30  to the grounded position of  FIG. 6 . Of course, in the disconnected position, the operating handle  46  could also be rotated counterclockwise 90 degrees to move the cradle  30  back to the circuit-connected position. In the grounded position of  FIG. 6 , again, the operating handle  46  may be removed or the handle rotate 90 degrees counterclockwise to move the cradle  30  to the disconnected position.  
         [0027]     Considering other aspects of the present invention and with reference to  FIGS. 7-9 , the control arrangement  10  includes facilities to detect the operational state of the array  15  of the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  in the various operating positions thereof. To this end, in a specific implementation, optical sensor arrangements are provided corresponding to each of the operating positions of the array  15 , i.e. circuit connected, disconnected and grounded. However, it should be realized that in other specific implementations, various other signal media could be utilized for the sensing function. A pair of optical transmitters and receptors is provided, namely upper and lower transmitters  60 ,  62  at one side of the cradle  30  and upper and lower receptors  64 ,  66  at the other side of the cradle  30  being aligned with holes or windows on each side of each of the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16 , e.g. upper and lower windows  68 , 70  when the array  15  is in the circuit-connected position, such that the beam from the optical transmitters can pass through the upper windows  68  when the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  are opened and pass through the lower windows  70  when the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  are closed.  
         [0028]     Similarly, upper and lower transmitters  72 ,  74  and upper and lower receptors  76 ,  78  are provided to detect the operational state of the interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  when the array  15  is in the disconnected position, and upper and lower transmitters  80 ,  82  and upper and lower receptors  84 ,  86  are provided to detect the operational state of the interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  when the array  15  is in the grounded position. Referring now additionally to  FIG. 10 , an operating plunger  90  of each of the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  includes a shutter portion  92  (shown in the closed position in  FIG. 10 ) that is effective in the closed position to block light from upper transmitter  60 . In the open position, the plunger  90  moves to the position  90 ′ whereupon the shutter  92  blocks the light from the lower transmitter  62 . Thus, if light is blocked for both receptors of a pair, one or more of the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16  is out of synchronization with respect to the others as to operational state.  
         [0029]     With reference now additionally to  FIG. 11 , the control arrangement includes control facilities referred to at  100 . The control  100  includes outputs  112 ,  114 ,  116  to control the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14   16 , e.g. for opening and closing operations and also receives inputs at  122 ,  124 ,  126  from the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16 , e.g. sensed circuit parameters. The control  100  also includes outputs at  130  to operate the optical transmitters  60 ,  62 ,  72 ,  74 ,  80 ,  82 . Additionally, the control at inputs  132  receives the outputs of the optical receptors  64 ,  66 ,  76 ,  78 ,  84 ,  86  to detect the operational status of the circuit interrupters  12 ,  14 ,  16 . For example, the control  100  utilizes the signals from each receptor pair at each operating position, i.e. a signal from the upper receptor of the pair and no signal from the lower receptor representing an open state of the respective circuit interrupter. Conversely, a signal from the lower receptor of the pair and no signal from the upper receptor representing a closed state of the respective circuit interrupter. In accordance with additional features of the control arrangement  10 , the control  100  is arranged to operate the optical transmitters only when desired or needed, i.e. operate the transmitters and poll the receptors after specific events occur or based on initiated queries, e.g. responsive to an input  140 .  
         [0030]     While there has been illustrated and described a preferred embodiment of the present invention, it will be apparent that various changes and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art. Accordingly, it is intended in the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of the present invention.