Abstract:
A portable actuator assembly for remotely operating the control components on a circuit breaker which self-aligns by engaging a recessed area of the circuit breaker. The portable actuator assembly is easily and accurately aligned with the control components on the circuit breaker by an alignment fixture that engages the recessed area of the circuit breaker. The alignment fixture is moveable along one axis that lies perpendicular to the face of the circuit breaker in order to compensate for variations between the plane of the face of the circuit breaker and the plane of the sheet metal enclosure surrounding the circuit breaker. The alignment fixture is forced toward the face of the breaker by spring action to ensure it remains in constant contact with the circuit breaker. Strong magnets may hold the portable actuator assembly against the circuit breaker by attaching to the sheet metal enclosure surrounding the circuit breaker.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to copending U.S. Provisional Patent Application titled “Self-Aligning Portable Actuator for Remotely Operating a Power Circuit Breaker,” filed on Jan. 25, 2013 and assigned application No. 61/756,636, which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND 
       [0002]    Anyone versed in the operation of large power circuit breakers will understand the hazards and risks associated with operating power circuit breakers. Many types of power circuit breakers require a human operator to depress one or more pushbuttons located on the face of the circuit breaker to effect opening or closing of the breaker. Some portable actuators for remotely operating power circuit breakers are not easily installed. Some portable actuators must be manually adjusted and visually aligned with the pushbuttons on the circuit breaker. The process of installing the portable actuator is time-consuming and subject to misalignment. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0003]    The present disclosure satisfies the need of a portable remote circuit breaker actuator that can be easily and accurately aligned with a circuit breaker&#39;s pushbuttons and/or other control components. One embodiment of an apparatus, among others, includes an apparatus for remotely operating circuit breakers, the apparatus comprising: a portable actuator comprising one or more linear actuators that are designed to operably extend from a housing of the portable actuator and engage with one or more control components positioned within a recessed area of a circuit breaker; and an alignment fixture comprising one or more apertures, the alignment fixture being mounted to one or more moveable guide shafts extending from a face of the portable actuator such that the one or more apertures are substantially aligned with the one or more linear actuators, and the alignment fixture being designed to engage and substantially align with the recessed area of the circuit breaker thereby providing access for the one or more linear actuators to engage with the one or more control components. 
         [0004]    Also included is at least one embodiment of a method for aligning a portable actuator assembly to a circuit breaker. The method may be summarized by the following steps: positioning an alignment fixture of the portable actuator assembly on the circuit breaker such that an aperture of the alignment fixture is aligned with a control component of the circuit breaker, the alignment fixture being mounted to a portable actuator via one or more moveable guide shafts extending from a face of the portable actuator; moving the alignment fixture to compress compression springs extending the one or more moveable guide shafts; and securing the portable actuator assembly to a metal enclosure surrounding the circuit breaker to maintain a constant force between the alignment fixture and the circuit breaker. 
         [0005]    These and other aspects, objects, features, and embodiments will become apparent to a person of ordinary skill in the art upon consideration of the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments exemplifying the best mode as presently perceived. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  depicts a drawing of an example of a typical power circuit breaker. 
           [0008]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict a variation that may exist between the plane of the face of the circuit breaker and the plane of the sheet metal enclosure, among circuit breakers of a similar style as the circuit breaker of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 3  is a drawing of an example of an outline of an alignment fixture that may engage with the circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0010]      FIG. 4  is a drawing of an example of a mounting configuration of the alignment fixture of  FIG. 3 , relative to a portable actuator according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0011]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of an example of a side sectional view of the circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  and an actuator with an alignment fixture of  FIG. 3  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  is drawing of an example of a top view of a portable actuator with the alignment fixture of  FIG. 3  positioned relative to the circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  is a drawing of an example of a top view of a portable actuator with the alignment fixture engaging the recessed feature of the circuit breaker face. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  is a drawing of an example of a top view of a portable actuator with the alignment fixture of  FIG. 3  fully engaging the circuit breaker of  FIG. 1 , with an attachment component of the portable actuator being attached to an enclosure of the circuit breaker according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a drawing of an example of a perspective view of the portable actuator with the alignment fixture of  FIG. 3  being installed on the circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0016]      FIG. 10  is a drawing of an example of a perspective view of the portable actuator with alignment fixture of  FIG. 3  attached to the circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  is a flowchart illustrating a method of aligning the portable actuator with the alignment fixture of  FIG. 3  to the circuit breaker of  FIG. 1  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0018]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , shown is a drawing of a non-limiting example of a circuit breaker assembly  10  comprising a power circuit breaker  12  within a sheet metal enclosure  14 . The circuit breaker  12  depicted may comprise control components  16  and status components  18  that are situated within a recessed area  19  on the face of the circuit breaker  12 . The control components  16  may correspond to the controls (e.g., ON/OFF controls) used to operate the circuit breaker  12 . While the control components  16  are illustrated as pushbuttons, it should be noted that any other appropriate switch may be used to operate the circuit breaker  12 . The status components  18  may correspond to status indicators corresponding to various statuses of the circuit breaker  12 , such as, for example, a breaker status flag, an operating status flag, and/or other status components that would be appropriate for the circuit breaker  12 . In various embodiments, the circuit breaker  12  may contain more or less control components  16  and/or status components  18  than those illustrated in  FIG. 1 . 
         [0019]    Moving on to  FIGS. 2A and 2B , shown are drawings of non-limiting examples of two sectional side views of two circuit breaker assemblies  10   a,    10   b  (hereinafter referred to as “ 10 ”) that are similar to the circuit breaker assembly  10  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Contrast is depicted between the two sectional side views of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  to show the variation that may exist between various installations of the same style power circuit breaker  12 . In  FIG. 2A  the distance  20   a  between the plane of the face of the power circuit breaker  12   a  and the plane of the sheet metal enclosure  14   a  is less than the distance  20   b  between similar planes of the power circuit breaker  12   b  and the sheet metal enclosure  14   b  as depicted in  FIG. 2B . 
         [0020]    Turning now to  FIG. 3 , shown is a drawing of a non-limiting example of an alignment fixture  30  that approximates the size and shape of the recessed area  19  ( FIG. 1 ) of the circuit breaker  12  ( FIG. 1 ). As will be discussed in greater detail with reference to  FIG. 4 , the alignment fixture  30  may be mounted to one or more moveable guide shafts  42  ( FIG. 4 ) extending from a portable actuator  40  ( FIG. 4 ) and may be used as an intermediary component positioned between the portable actuator  40  and the circuit breaker  12 . The alignment fixture  30  may include mounting apertures  32 , control apertures  34 , and/or status apertures  36 . The mounting apertures  32  may be used to mount the alignment fixture  30  to the moveable guide shafts  42 . The control apertures  34  and status apertures  36  correspond to the control components  16  ( FIG. 1 ) and status components  18  ( FIG. 1 ) of the circuit breaker  12 . The control apertures  34  and status apertures  36  may approximate the size and shape of the corresponding control components  16  and status components  18 . The control apertures  34  are sized and positioned in the alignment fixture  30  to provide access for the portable actuator  40  to the control components  16  when the alignment fixture  30  is engaged with the recessed area  19  ( FIG. 1 ) of the circuit breaker  12 . The status apertures  36  provide viewing access to the status components  18 , as illustrated in  FIG. 1 , when the alignment fixture  30  is engaged with the recessed area  19  of the circuit breaker  12 . 
         [0021]    Referring next to  FIG. 4 , shown is a drawing of a non-limiting example of the alignment fixture  30  mounted onto two moveable guide shafts  42  extending from a portable actuator  40 . The portable actuator  40  is a device that may be used to remotely operate the control components  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of a circuit breaker  12  ( FIG. 1 ). A non-limiting example of a portable actuator  40  is discussed in greater detail in U.S. Pat. No. 7,623,011, issued Nov. 24, 2009, and entitled “Device for Remotely Operating a Circuit Breaker Apparatus and Associated Assembly and Method,” which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
         [0022]    The portable actuator  40  illustrated in  FIG. 4  comprises two moveable guide shafts  42  and two linear actuators  46  both extending from the face  48  of the portable actuator  40 . The moveable guide shafts  42  are designed to slide perpendicular to the plane of the face  48  of portable actuator  40  from which they extend. As such, the moveable guide shafts  42  slide perpendicular to the plane of the face of the power circuit breaker  12  when the alignment fixture  30  is engaged within the recessed area  19  ( FIG. 1 ) of the circuit breaker  12 . 
         [0023]    The alignment fixture  30  is mounted to the portable actuator  40  via the moveable guide shafts  42  such that the control apertures  34  of the alignment fixture  30  are substantially parallel to and aligned with the linear actuators  46  of the portable actuator  40 . When positioned about the face of the circuit breaker  12 , the alignment fixture  30  is forced toward the face of the circuit breaker  12  by means of compression springs  44  extending the moveable guide shafts  42 . As such, the position of the alignment fixture  30  may be adjusted along the plain of movement of the moveable guide shafts  42  to compensate for variations between the plane of the face of the circuit breaker  12  and the plane of the sheet metal enclosure  14  ( FIG. 1 ) surrounding the circuit breaker as illustrated by example in  FIGS. 2A and 2B . In some embodiments, the control components  16  may extend through the control apertures  34  in the alignment fixture  30 . It should be noted that although the compression springs  44  are shown to surround the moveable guide shafts  42  in  FIG. 4 , the compression springs  44  may be positioned relative to the moveable guide shafts  42  in alternative configurations so long as the compression springs  44  extend the moveable guide shafts  42 . For example, the ends of the moveable guide shafts  42  may be affixed to the compression springs  44  such that the compression springs  44  push on the ends of the moveable guide shafts  42 , thereby extending the moveable guide shafts  42 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 5  is a drawing of a non-limiting example of a side view showing the portable actuator  40  having the alignment fixture  30  mounted thereon in relation to the circuit breaker assembly  10  comprising the circuit breaker  12  within the sheet metal enclosure  14 . The alignment fixture  30  is mounted to the portable actuator  40  via the moveable guide shafts  42  extended by the compression springs  44 . As illustrated, when the alignment fixture  30  is aligned with the recessed area  19  of the circuit breaker  12 , a linear actuator  46  is aligned with a corresponding control component  16 . Accordingly, while the alignment fixture  30  is an intermediary component between the portable actuator  40  and the circuit breaker  12 , the alignment fixture  30  is used to properly align the control component  16  with the linear actuator  46  so that the linear actuator  46  may extend from the portable actuator  40  and engage with the corresponding control component  16  when triggered by the portable actuator  40 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 6-8  depict drawings of non-limiting examples of the progression of installing a portable actuator assembly  60  onto a circuit breaker assembly  10  as viewed from above according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The portable actuator assembly  60  comprises a portable actuator  40 , an alignment fixture  30 , a frame  62 , a handle,  64 , frame angles  66   a,    66   b,  and attachment components  68   a,    68   b.  The alignment fixture  30  is mounted to the portable actuator  40  via the moveable guide shafts  42  extended by compression springs  44 . The attachment components  68   a,    68   b  are used to secure the portable actuator assembly  60  to the circuit breaker assembly  10 . For example, assuming the attachment components comprise strong magnets as illustrated, the magnetic force from the attachment components  68   a,    68   b,  and the sheet metal enclosure  14  hold the alignment fixture in constant force against the face of the circuit breaker  12 . It should be noted that while the attaching components  68   a,    68   b  are shown to be magnets, the attaching components  68   a,    68   b  may comprise suction cups and/or other appropriate mechanism for temporarily detachably securing the portable actuator assembly  60  to the circuit breaker assembly  10 . 
         [0026]    Referring to  FIG. 6 , shown is a drawing of a non-limiting example of a top view of the portable actuator assembly  60  approaching the circuit breaker assembly  10  according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The alignment fixture  30  is fully extended as a result of the compression springs  44  forcing the alignment fixture  30  to the extreme travel of the moveable guide shafts  42 . This ensures that the alignment fixture  30  contacts the recessed area  19  on the face of the circuit breaker  12  before the portable actuator frame angles  66   a,    66   b  contact the sheet metal enclosure  14 . 
         [0027]    Moving on to  FIG. 7 , shown is a drawing of a non-limiting example of the alignment fixture  30  in full contact with recessed area  19  of the circuit breaker  12  according to various embodiments of the disclosure. The attachment components  68   a,    68   b  are retracted and the frame angles  66   a,    66   b  have not yet contacted the circuit breaker sheet metal enclosure  14 . 
         [0028]    Turning now to  FIG. 8 , shown is a drawing of a non-limiting example of the portable actuator assembly  60  fully attached to the power circuit breaker assembly  10 . The moveable guide shafts  42  have moved into the housing of the portable actuator  40 , compressing the compression springs  44 , holding the alignment fixture  30  tightly into the recess area  19  of the circuit breaker  12 , ensuring the linear actuators  46  are accurately aligned with the corresponding control components  16  (e.g., an ON linear actuator with an ON pushbutton and an OFF linear actuator with an OFF pushbutton). 
         [0029]    Moving on to  FIG. 9 , shown is a drawing of a non-limiting example of a perspective view with the portable actuator assembly  60  in approximately the same position as shown in  FIG. 6 . Additionally,  FIG. 9  illustrates an operator positioning the alignment fixture relative to the circuit breaker. As discussed with reference to  FIG. 6 , the alignment fixture  30  is fully extended from the portable actuator  40  and the compression springs  44  are not compressed. 
         [0030]    Referring next to  FIG. 10 , shown is a drawing of a non-limiting example of a perspective view of the portable actuator assembly  60  fully engaged with the circuit breaker assembly  10 , similar to the engagement shown in  FIG. 8 . Accordingly, the control apertures  34  of the alignment fixture  30  are accurately aligned with the corresponding control components  16  of the circuit breaker  12 . Further, the moveable guide shafts  42  have slid into the housing of the portable actuator  40  thereby compressing the corresponding compression springs  44 . The portable actuator assembly  60  is securely attached to the sheet metal enclosure  14  surrounding the circuit breaker  12 . 
         [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 11 , shown is a flowchart that provides a non-limiting example of a method  1100  of various embodiments of the present disclosure. It is understood that the flowchart of  FIG. 11  merely provides examples of the many different types of functional arrangements that may be employed to implement the operation of the methods as described herein. 
         [0032]    At reference numeral  1102 , a portable actuator assembly  60  ( FIG. 6 ) comprising an alignment fixture  30  ( FIG. 3 ) mounted onto a portable actuator  40  ( FIG. 4 ) is positioned such that the alignment fixture  30  is accurately aligned within a recessed area  19  ( FIG. 1 ) of a circuit breaker  12  ( FIG. 1 ). As previously discussed, the alignment fixture  30  may be designed to approximate the size and shape of the recessed area  19  of the circuit breaker  12 . In addition, the alignment fixture  30  may comprise control apertures  34  that correspond to the control components  16  ( FIG. 1 ) of the circuit breaker  12 . The control apertures  34  provide access for the portable actuator  40  to the control components  16  such that the linear actuators  46  ( FIG. 4 ) may engage with the appropriate control component  16  when triggered by the portable actuator  40 . In some embodiments, the alignment fixture  30  may comprise status apertures  36  that provide a viewing access to the status components  18  of the circuit breaker  12 . Accordingly, the alignment fixture  30  may accurately align within the recessed area  19  of the circuit breaker  12  allowing access to the control components  16  and/or status components  18 . 
         [0033]    At reference numeral  1104 , to compensate for variations of distance  20   a ,  20   b  between the plane of the face of the circuit breaker  12  and the plane of the face of the sheet metal enclosure  14  ( FIG. 1 ), the alignment fixture  30  moves and is forced toward the face of the circuit breaker  12  by means of compression springs  44  extending the moveable guide shafts  42 . As the compression springs  44  are compressed the moveable guide shafts  42  are moved into the housing of the portable actuator  40 . 
         [0034]    At reference numeral  1106 , the portable actuator assembly  60  is secured to the circuit breaker assembly  10  when the alignment fixture  30  of the portable actuator assembly  60  is appropriately aligned to compensate for the distance  20   a ,  20   b  between the plane of the face of the circuit breaker  12  and the plane of the sheet metal enclosure  14 . The attachment components  68   a,    68   b  are used to secure the portable actuator assembly  60  to the circuit breaker assembly  10 . For example, if the attachment components  68   a,    68   b  comprise strong magnets, the magnets may attach to the sheet metal enclosure  14  of the circuit breaker assembly  10  and secure the portable actuator assembly  60  to the circuit breaker assembly  10  for remote use. At reference numeral  1108 , the user may remotely trigger the portable actuator  40  to operate the appropriate linear actuator  46  to engage the corresponding control component  16  of the circuit breaker  12 . 
         [0035]    Although the flowchart of  FIG. 11  shows a specific order of execution, it is understood that the order of execution may differ from that which is depicted. For example, the order of execution of two or more steps may be scrambled relative to the order shown. Also, two or more steps shown in succession in  FIG. 11  may be executed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Further, in some embodiments, one or more of the steps shown in  FIG. 11  may be skipped or omitted. 
         [0036]    It should be emphasized that the above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are merely possible examples of implementations set forth for a clear understanding of the principles of the disclosure. Many variations and modifications may be made to the above-described embodiment(s) without departing substantially from the spirit and principles of the disclosure. All such modifications and variations are intended to be included herein within the scope of this disclosure and protected by the following claims.