Abstract:
A fault interrupter is provided that includes a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter wherein the circuit opening is via the interrupter and the circuit making is via the disconnect. A stored energy disconnect operating mechanism operates the disconnect between ground, open and closed positions and also charges the interrupter mechanism during a slow opening of the disconnect without fully charging the disconnect operating mechanism. Thus, the required operating forces to open the disconnect and charge the interrupter mechanism are reduced. During a manual opening, the disconnect operating mechanism trips open the interrupter, then only partially charges to begin opening the disconnect before releasing the stored energy. Continued operation of the disconnect operating mechanism slowly drives the disconnect open while charging the interrupter mechanism and closing the interrupter. The interrupter mechanism remains charged during operation of the disconnect between the open and ground positions by the disconnect operating mechanism.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to a fault interrupter including a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter and more particularly to an arrangement wherein after the interrupter is tripped open, the interrupter mechanism is recharged and the interrupter is closed during a slow opening operation of the disconnect. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Various operating mechanisms for electrical switches and circuit interrupters provide multiple operational states at an output corresponding to the desired operational states of the switch controlled by the mechanism. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,293 and copending application Serial No. 08/713,938 filed in the names of E. W. Rogers et al. on Sep. 13, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,009) disclose a useful compact operating mechanism that utilizes latch members that cooperate with an output lever to define three operating positions, the latch members functioning to stop and hold the output lever to define the operating positions. These arrangements operate a disconnect in series with an interrupter, the interrupter being tripped open before the disconnect is opened, and the interrupter mechanism being recharged during the closing operation as the disconnect mechanism is recharged and before the disconnect is closed. 
     An interrupter with disconnect is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,030,481 and 3,116,391. Upon opening operation, the interrupter is initially tripped open, then the disconnect is opened either by motor mechanism or manual drive, and the interrupter mechanism is charged during the blade opening. 
     A manual switch operator for operating a vacuum interrupter and a series connected disconnect between two operating positions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,484,046. The arrangement on closing, closes the disconnect switch before the vacuum interrupter, and on opening, opens the vacuum interrupter before the disconnect. An additional solenoid switch operator is coupled to the interconnection provisions between the manual switch operator and the vacuum interrupter for opening the vacuum interrupter through solenoid action. While this arrangement may be useful, it does not provide a compact operating mechanism for sequencing the operation of an interrupter with a disconnect in three operating positions. Further, the arrangement includes expansive linkages and toggle joints which are not desirable, not only from a mechanical design standpoint but also from the perspective of minimizing the size of switchgear modules that house the operator and the electrical components. 
     U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,102 discloses a quick-make quick-break mechanism for operating a switch between open and closed positions. Other operating mechanisms are shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,845,433; 4,293,834; 5,140,117; and 5,224,590. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fault interrupter having a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter and having a disconnect operating mechanism that is charged to close the disconnect but is not fully charged to open the disconnect thereby reducing the required operating forces while charging the interrupter mechanism and closing the interrupter during a slow opening of the disconnect. 
     It is another object of the present invention to provide an operating mechanism for a fault interrupter that includes a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter wherein during opening, the interrupter is tripped open, the disconnect is slowly opened and the interrupter mechanism is charged and the interrupter is closed during the opening of the disconnect, the operating mechanism operating the disconnect between ground, open and closed positions. 
     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fault interrupter having a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter and having a stored energy disconnect operating mechanism that operates the disconnect between ground, open and closed positions and charges the interrupter mechanism and closes the interrupter during a slow opening of the disconnect without fully charging the disconnect operating mechanism, the interrupter mechanism remaining charged during operation of the disconnect between the open and ground positions by the disconnect operating mechanism. 
     These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a fault interrupter having a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter wherein the circuit opening is via the interrupter and the circuit making is via the disconnect. A stored energy disconnect operating mechanism operates the disconnect between ground, open and closed positions and also charges the interrupter mechanism during a slow opening of the disconnect without fully charging the disconnect operating mechanism. Thus, the required operating forces to open the disconnect and charge the interrupter mechanism are reduced. During a manual opening, the disconnect operating mechanism trips open the interrupter, then only partially charges to begin opening the disconnect before releasing the stored energy. Continued operation of the disconnect operating mechanism slowly drives the disconnect open while charging the interrupter mechanism and closing the interrupter. The interrupter mechanism remains charged during operation of the disconnect between the open and ground positions by the disconnect operating mechanism. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING 
     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: 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a disconnect operating mechanism in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
     FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the disconnect operating mechanism of FIG. 1 with parts cut away and removed for clarity; 
     FIG. 3 is a right-side elevational view of FIG. 1, partly in section and with parts cut away for clarity; 
     FIG. 4 is an elevational view of a drive lever of the disconnect operating mechanism of FIGS. 1-3; 
     FIG. 5 is an elevational view of an output lever of the disconnect operating mechanism of FIGS. 1-3; 
     FIGS. 6-8 are respective front elevational, bottom plan, and left-side elevational views of a latch member of the disconnect operating mechanism of FIGS. 1-3; 
     FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along the line  9 — 9  of FIG. 7; 
     FIGS. 10-12 are diagrammatic representations of the drive lever, output lever, and latch members of the disconnect operating mechanism of FIGS. 1-9 illustrating three respective operating positions; 
     FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a multi-phase fault interrupter utilizing the disconnect operating mechanism of FIGS. 1-12; 
     FIG. 14 is left perspective view of the multi-phase fault interrupter of FIG. 13 with parts removed for clarity; 
     FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the multi-phase fault interrupter of FIG. 13 with parts removed to illustrate a middle phase; 
     FIG. 16 is a perspective view of a charging lever of an interrupting mechanism of the multi-phase fault interrupter of FIGS. 13-15; 
     FIGS. 17 and 18 are respective perspective and front elevational views of a latch arrangement of the interrupting mechanism of the multi-phase fault interrupter of FIG. 13 shown in a latched position; and 
     FIG. 19 is a perspective view of the drive lever of FIG. 4 additionally illustrating a pryout feature. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to FIGS.  1  and  13 - 15 , a multi-phase fault interrupter  10  in accordance with the present invention utilizes a disconnect  12  in series with an interrupter  14  for each phase, e.g. three as shown in FIG.  13 . Circuit interruption occurs in the interrupter  14  followed by opening of the disconnect  12 . Circuit making occurs via the high-speed closing of the disconnect  12 , i.e. the interrupter  14  previously being closed. During opening, the interrupter  14  is tripped open and then the disconnect  12  is opened while also charging an interrupter mechanism  16  and closing the interrupter  14 . During closing, a disconnect operating mechanism  40  is charged and then released to close the disconnect  12  at high speed, the interrupter  14  being capable of being tripped open at any point during the high-speed closing of the disconnect  12 . The disconnect operating mechanism  40  is arranged to charge the interrupter mechanism  16  and close the interrupter  14  during an opening operation as will be explained in more detail hereinafter. 
     With specific reference now to FIG.  1  and with additional reference to FIGS. 2-12, the disconnect operating mechanism  40  is of the general type shown in U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,293 and copending application Ser. No. 08/713,938 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,009) and is suitable for use to operate electrical components as disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,521,567 and copending application Ser. Nos. 08/653,176 filed in the names of B. B. McGlone et al. on May 24, 1996 and 08/705,460 filed in the names of T. G. French et al. on Aug. 29, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,864,107). In a specific illustrative embodiment, the disconnect operating mechanism  40  is operable between ground, open and closed operational positions, the disconnect operating mechanism  40  being shown in the ground position in FIGS. 1-3, and in the closed position in FIGS. 13-15. 
     The disconnect operating mechanism  40  includes a drive lever  50  and an output lever  52  which may also be referred to as a driven lever. The drive lever  50 , which may also be referred to as a charging lever, is pivoted (rotated) via a gear drive arrangement  54  (best seen in FIG. 3) including a first bevel gear  56  that is rotatable by a charging/drive input  49  and a second bevel gear sector  58  fixed on the drive lever  50  and driven by the first bevel gear  56 . The drive lever  50  also includes cam surfaces  60 ,  61  which are arranged to selectively contact and lift three latch levers  62 ,  64  and  66  during operation. The latch levers  62 ,  64  and  66  are pivotally mounted and circumferentially arranged around the mechanism  40  at the appropriate points in the pivotal movement of the drive lever  50  to achieve the desired operation of the mechanism  40 , i.e. to release the output lever  52  to pivot (rotate) in response to the stored energy in a spring arrangement generally referred to at  70 . 
     In accordance with important aspects of the present invention, the output lever  52  is stopped when moving between adjacent positions by cooperation between the output lever  52  and a respective one of the latch arms  62 ,  64 , or  66 , after the desired drive output rotation is obtained at an output shaft  43 . The output shaft  43  is fixed to and rotates with the output lever  52 . In this manner, the multiple operating positions are achieved. Further, in an illustrative arrangement, the output lever  52  includes an output pin at  68  for driving an output link  69  for actuating a disconnect  12 , while the output shaft  43  is connected to drive additional disconnects  12  of the multi-phase interrupter  10  of FIG. 13 via a drive linkage referred to generally at  22 . 
     The mechanism  40  includes a housing  72  and a cover portion  74 . The output shaft  43  is pivotally mounted via a first bearing  75  on the housing  72  and a second bearing  76  on the cover portion  74  (removed for clarity in FIG.  1 ). The drive lever  50  is pivotally mounted with respect to the housing  72 , e.g. as shown in FIG. 3, about the cylindrical outer surface  77  of the first bearing  75 , the outer surface  77  functioning as a bearing surface. 
     Referring now additionally to FIG. 4, the drive lever  50  includes a central hub portion  80  with central aperture  84  and a radially extending arm  81 . The two eccentric cam surfaces  60 ,  61  for operating the latch levers  62 ,  64  and  66  includes three latch kick-out portions  83 ,  85  and  86 , the functioning of which will be explained in more detail hereinafter. The radially extending arm  81  includes a pin  88  (FIGS. 1,  3 ) which is arranged to drive a charging link  90  of the spring arrangement  70 , e.g. via an aperture  92  in the charging link  90 . The charging link  90  is arranged to drive a cylinder  94  of the spring arrangement  70 . The spring arrangement  70  includes a spring  96  (referred to diagrammatically in FIG. 1) which is arranged between the cylinder  94  and an output rod  98 . The cylinder  94  is slidably supported within a guide bracket  100  extending from the housing  72 . The end of the output rod  98  is pivotally affixed to the output lever  52 . When the charging link  90  is driven downwardly in FIGS. 1-3 via rotation of the drive lever  50  so as to drive the cylinder  94  downward, the spring  96  of the spring arrangement  70  is charged. 
     Referring now additionally to FIG. 5, the output lever  52  includes a drive pin  102  pivotally affixed to the output rod  98 , e.g. the pin  102  extending through an aperture  111  of the output rod  98 . As best seen in FIG. 5, the output lever  52  has a generally circular periphery  108  and includes a central aperture  109  for receiving the output shaft  43 . The pins  68  and  102  are provided on a radially extending portion  117  of the output lever  52 . Circumferentially arranged at predetermined locations along the periphery  108  of the output lever  52  are three shoulders  104 ,  106  and  107  which function as latch impact stops and also function separately as anti-reverse motion holding stops. The three shoulders  104 ,  106  and  107  divide the output lever  52  into areas of higher and lower radii. 
     The latch arms  62 ,  64  and  66  are pivotally mounted with respect to the housing  72  and are biased radially inward toward the output lever  52  by springs, e.g. as shown in FIG. 2, latch member  62  is pivotally mounted at  116  and biased by a spring  118 . Referring now additionally to FIGS. 6-9, the latch members  62 ,  64  and  66  include latch surfaces  120  and  121 , each of the latch surfaces  120 ,  121  being utilized for different directions of relative movement of the output lever  52  with respect to the latch members  62 ,  64  and  66 . Further, the latch members  62 ,  64  and  66  include passages  122  for receiving the biasing springs, e.g.  118 , and apertures  124  for the pivotal mounting at  116 . 
     During operation, when the drive lever  50  is pivoted counterclockwise in FIGS. 1 and 2 via the charging/driving input at  49  (i.e. from the ground position to the open position), the arm  81  of the drive lever  50  drives the charging link  94  to charge the spring arrangement  70  while the output lever  52  is held by the latch member  62  in the ground position. When the drive lever  50  is pivoted far enough such that the cam surface  85  lifts the latch member  62 , the output lever  52  is released to pivot counterclockwise in response to the release of stored energy in the compressed spring  96  of the arrangement  70 . When driven into the open position, the output lever  50  impacts on and is stopped from further pivoting by means of the latch member  64  acting against the shoulder  106  of the output lever  52 . 
     In the open position, when the drive lever  50  is again pivoted counterclockwise, the cam surface  85  of the drive lever  50  lifts the latch member  64  and the output lever  52  is driven into the closed position whereat the latch member  66  impacts on and the output lever  52  is stopped by means of the shoulder  106  of the output lever  52 . 
     Referring now additionally to FIGS. 10-12, the positions of the drive lever  50 , the output lever  52  and the latch members  62 ,  64  and  66  are illustrated for the respective operating positions, i.e. the ground position in FIG. 10, the open position in FIG. 11, and the closed position in FIG.  12 . In accordance with important aspects of the present invention, the latch members  62 ,  64  and  66  in combination with the shoulders  107  and  104  also provide holding against anti-reversing in the ground, open and closed operational positions of FIGS. 10-12. For example, in the ground position of FIG. 10, the latch member  64  holds against the shoulder  107  of the output lever  52  which holds the output lever  52  against clockwise movement. Similarly, in the open position of FIG. 11, the latch member  66  holds against the shoulder  107  to prevent reverse (clockwise) movement. In the closed position of FIG. 12, the latch member  62  holds against the shoulder  104  to prevent reverse movement. 
     Considering now operation of the drive lever  50  in the clockwise direction in FIGS. 1 and 2, i.e. driving the output lever  52  from the closed position of FIG. 12 to the open position of FIG. 11, as the drive lever  50  initially begins to move clockwise, the interrupter mechanism  16  is tripped and the interrupters  14  are opened. With continued rotation of the drive lever  50 , the spring  70  is partially charged until the cam surface  86  of the drive lever  50  lifts the latch member  62 , which releases the output lever  52 . The partially charged spring  70  then acts to pivot the output lever  52  to begin opening the disconnects  12  which include contacts  30 ,  32  (see FIG.  15 ). With additional reference to FIG. 19, in the event the contacts  30 ,  32  of the disconnects  12  are not easily separable, e.g. being stuck or “welded”, a pryout pawl  24  is provided and includes an extending portion  26  that acts against the drive output lever  52  during this portion of the disconnect opening. The pryout pawl  24  acting against the drive output lever  52  provides a force to separate the contacts  30 ,  32  of the disconnects  12 . After a predetermined amount of rotation of the drive lever  50 , the pryout pawl  24  disengages the output lever  52  and moves out of engagement therefrom. The pryout pawl  24  is pivotally carried by the drive lever  50  and biased via an expansion spring  28 . With continued rotation of the drive lever  50  toward the open position of FIG. 11, the output lever  52  is driven through the spring  70  so as to slowly open the disconnects  12 . Additionally, during this further rotation toward the open position, as the disconnects  12  are opening, the interrupter mechanism  16  is charged and latched and the interrupters  14  are closed. In the open position of FIG. 11, the holding latch member is now latch member  62  which prevents clockwise movement of the output lever  52  and the latch member  66  is the anti-reverse movement preventing latch member. 
     In the open position of FIG. 11, with clockwise rotation of the drive member  50  to move the disconnect operating mechanism  40  into the ground position, the drive lever  50  via cam surface  83  lifts the latch member  66  whereupon the output lever  52  moves clockwise until the latch member  64  impacts against the shoulder  107 . 
     Accordingly, from the foregoing discussion, it can be seen that the disconnect operating mechanism  40  in the open position of FIG. 11 can be operated to either the closed position of FIG. 12 or the ground position of FIG. 10 dependent upon the direction of rotation of the charging/driving input  49  and thus the drive lever  50 . For operation into the closed position, the interrupters  14  can be tripped as necessary, e.g. when closing into a fault condition, in which case, the interrupter mechanism  16  is tripped to open the interrupters  14 . 
     Referring now to FIGS. 13-18, and considering now the interrupter mechanism  16  and the disconnect operating mechanism  40  of the multi-phase fault interrupter  10  in more detail, the disconnect operating mechanism  40  is arranged to charge the interrupter mechanism  16  via a connecting link (pull rod)  150  that is connected at the output pin  102  of the disconnect operating mechanism  40  and arranged to drive a first toggle link  152  of the interrupter mechanism  16  at a pin  154 . The first toggle link  152  is pivotally mounted on a shaft  156  carried by two support sheets  158 ,  160 . The pin  154  is arranged to move in an arcuate slot  155  of a support plate  157 . A second toggle link  162  is pivotally carried by the first toggle link  152  and includes a bifurcated end  164  that is arranged to drive a charging lever  166  via a pin  168  that spans the spaced apart arms  170 ,  172  of the charging lever  166 . The charging lever  166  is fixedly carried by an operating shaft  174  that is pivotally mounted with respect to support sheets  158  and  176 . The upper end  178  of the charging lever  166  carries a roller  180  (FIG. 16) which is selectively retained by a latch arrangement  182 . Two compression springs  184 ,  186  are pivotally carried at one end with respect to the operating shaft  174  by drive levers  188 . The other end of the springs  184 ,  186  are affixed to a support shaft  190  that is pivotally carried by the support sheets  158  and  176 . When the drive lever  50  rotates counterclockwise in FIG. 14, the operating shaft  174  is rotated counterclockwise via the pivoting of the charging lever  166  by the first and second toggle links  152  and  162 . The counterclockwise rotation of the operating shaft  174  charges the springs  184 ,  186  of the interrupter mechanism  16 . 
     After the interrupter mechanism  16  is charged, the latch arrangement  182  is engaged to latch the interrupter mechanism  16  after the disconnect operating mechanism  40  has latched in the open position as discussed hereinbefore. When the latch arrangement  182  is tripped, the charging lever  166  is released whereupon the operating shaft  174  rotates clockwise as the compression springs  184 ,  186  are released. As best seen in FIGS. 13 and 15, rotation of the operating shaft  174  moves the interrupters  14  between the open and closed positions. Specifically, operating levers  192  are fixedly carried by the operating shaft  174  and arranged to operate the interrupters  14  through contact springs  194  and dielectric operating rods  196 . As discussed previously, when the disconnect operating mechanism  40  is initially moved out of the closed position and toward the open position, the latch arrangement  182  is tripped to release the interrupter mechanism  16  and open the interrupters  14 . After the disconnects  12  begin to open, the interrupter mechanism  16  is charged as discussed hereinabove. When the disconnect operating mechanism  16  is moved out of the open position and toward the closed position, the interrupter mechanism  16  remains charged and the interrupters  14  remain closed ready to operate. 
     The latch arrangement  182  (the details of which are best seen in FIGS. 17-18) includes provisions to trip the interrupters  14  open in either a manual mode or in response to a detected fault condition, either in the closed position or during closing, via a trip signal that actuates a solenoid  200 . Considering first an opening operation of the interrupters  14  responsive to the detection of a fault, the solenoid  200  is operated so as to rapidly move a plunger  202  of the solenoid  200  downwardly which contacts and pivots a secondary latch member  204  clockwise which releases a primary latch member  206  to pivot clockwise. The roller  180  of the charging lever  166  is released to permit the discharge of the interrupting mechanism  16 , as explained hereinbefore, and the opening of the interrupters  14 . The secondary latch member  204  includes a cam surface at  208  that is arranged to release a roller  210  of the primary latch member  206  when the secondary latch member  204  pivots. The primary latch member  206  also includes an arcuate surface at  212  which is arranged to coact with the roller  180  (FIG. 18) of the charge lever  166 . The solenoid plunger  202  is reset to its upper position as shown in by a pivotally mounted reset lever  214  which is operated during the closing operation of the disconnect operating mechanism  40  via an extending rod portion  216  (also seen in FIG.  14 ). The extending rod portion  216  of the reset lever  214  is affixed to the second toggle link  162 . The reset lever  214  also blocks any inadvertent operation of the solenoid plunger  202  during the opening operation and in the open and ground positions of the disconnect operating mechanism  40 . 
     Considering a manual opening operation of the interrupters  14  during an opening operation of the disconnect operating mechanism  40 , as the first toggle link  154  begins to pivot, a trip lever  220  extending from the toggle link  154  contacts and pivots a movably mounted trip slide member  222  which extends upwardly and includes an operating surface at  224  which is arranged to contact and pivot the secondary latch member  204 , with operation proceeding as described hereinabove. 
     While there have been illustrated and described various embodiments 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.