Patent Document

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 60/741,035 filed Nov. 29, 2005. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The present invention relates generally to the field of electrical power systems and, more particularly, to an arrangement for the overall handling of removable controls for an electrical device including the installation and removal of controls from a base or other housing portion of the overall device. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Various arrangements are known for handling and/or operating components and devices. For example, the operating arrangements shown in U.S. Pat. No. 6,674,027 is directed to the attachment and retention of a charging tool in an operating mechanism. 
     While the prior art arrangements may be generally useful, they do not provide a handling arrangement for removable control elements for the secure removal and installation of the removable control elements. 
    
    
     
       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 an electrical device utilizing the handling arrangement and removable control elements of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a detailed view of portions of the handling arrangement and removable control elements of  FIG. 1 ; and 
         FIGS. 3-5  are examples of illustrative keying components useful in the practice of the present invention of  FIGS. 1-2 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to  FIG. 1 , the arrangement  20  of the present invention for handling removable controls is provided for use with an electrical device  30 , e.g. an illustrative switch or circuit interrupter as shown that includes an automatic testing and closing feature in a specific implementation. In an illustrative example, the device  30  includes a base  32  that houses operating components such as actuators and communication and control facilities of the device  30  including one or more removable controls, e.g.  34 ,  36  and  38 , which may be characterized as units or modules. While the terms “unit” or “module” may be used for reference purposes, the physical configuration of the removable controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  are most conveniently in the general shape of removable drawers, although other shapes are also suitable to practice the invention. Further, while the removable controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  are illustrated as being spaced in a line along the expanse or length of the base  32 , it should be realized that the removable controls are arranged in various other configurations in other specific embodiments of the present invention, e.g. across the width of the base  32  or other, irregular patterns. 
     In accordance with important aspects of the present invention, the separately removable controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  provide for a segregation of the overall functions of the device  30  and therefore replacement of selected functions according to this segregation, i.e. without requiring the removal of the total functions of the device  30  which would render the device  30  totally inoperative. In one embodiment, which should be interpreted in an illustrative sense and not in any limiting sense, the removable controls include a system control  34 , a communication control or radio  36 , and an energy storage or battery  38 . Thus, in that embodiment, an operator could remove and change out the radio  36  or the battery  38  while permitting the device  30  to continue to function during this process. Further, this permits troubleshooting by function, i.e. change out of one function at a time. In one embodiment, the system control  34  is selectively connected to a connector  41  and electrical connections  45  connect the system control  34  to the device  30 . 
     While the removability of the removable controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  is extremely useful to provide servicing, replacement, updating etc., the process of removal and insertion of the controls must be secure and reliable, especially where the device  30  and controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  are remotely located such as atop a utility pole or the like. For example, if a handling tool or stick is required to access or reach the controls  34 ,  36 ,  38 , the process of attachment to and removal of the controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  must be positive and secure so as not to drop the controls and to ensure accurate insertion of the controls. In addition to the handling of the controls being positive and secure, for remote handling, the base  32  and the controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  also include arrangements for guiding the controls into the base  32  and secure attachment thereto upon manipulation of the handling tool or stick. In this regard, it is important that an operator receive both visual and tactile feedback to indicate secure attachment of the controls with respect to the base  30  upon installing as well as secure attachment of the controls to the handling tool during the removal process. Further, the controls are electrically connected to connector facilities in the base  30  upon insertion for appropriate connection to other controls and portions of the device. 
     Considering now the details of one embodiment of the arrangement  20  of the present invention and with additional reference now to  FIG. 2 , the arrangement  20  includes an operating arrangement  50 . The operating arrangement  50  includes a first operating member  52  that cooperates with facilities carried by the controls  34 ,  36 ,  38 . In an illustrative embodiment, the first operating member  52  is provided as a keyed end adapter that is affixed to a universal hotstick of the type commonly utilized by electrical utilities. The controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  include a movable drive plunger  58  that is engaged by the first operating member  52 . The first operating member  52  at its leading edge includes elongated wings or the like illustrated at  55  that are shaped to cooperate with a latch slot  56  provided within a cover plate  51  of the controls  34 ,  36 ,  38 , i.e. the shape of the wings  55  and the latch slot  56  are arranged so that the first operating member  52  can enter the cover plate  51  thus permitting operation of the operating arrangement  50 . The leading end of the first operating member  52  also includes a receptacle or socket  57  into which the drive plunger  58  is received. 
     During operation, to either remove the controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  from their inserted, operative position or to simply attach the first operating member  52  to controls  34 ,  36 ,  38 , the first operating member  52  is inserted through the latch slot  56  and an axial force along  59  is applied to depress the drive plunger  58  against the resilient force of a compression spring  60 . After the first operating member  52  and the drive plunger  58  are moved to approximately the position shown in  FIG. 2  below the inner surface of the cover plate  51 , the first operating member  52  is rotatable to a position approximately 90 degrees from that shown in  FIG. 2  whereat the spring  60  moves the wings  55  and the remainder of the first operating member  52  into a detent slot  54  formed in the cover plate  51  whereat the first operating member  52  moves with a “snap-action” along the axis  59  such that the operator receives tactile feedback that the first operating member  52  is in an operable position locked to the control  34 ,  36  or  38  with the cooperation of the wings  55  within the detent slot  54  now preventing relative rotation of the first operating member  52  with respect to the control  34 ,  36  or  38 . 
     The operating arrangement  50  also includes latch tangs  53  extending from the drive plunger  58  and extending therefrom and rotatable therewith. The controls  34 ,  36 ,  38  include windows  61  within a face plate  31  such that the windows  61  are aligned with and allow visibility of the latch tangs  53  with the operating member and drive plunger in the unlocked position as shown in  FIG. 2  while visibility of the latch tangs  53  are prevented (i.e. not visible through or aligned with the windows  61 ) when the operating member  52  is in the locked operating position with the wings  55  aligned along the axis  64  and the latch tangs  53  aligned along the axis  66 . Thus, the operator receives visual feedback that the operating member  52  is not locked to the control  34 ,  36  or  38  if the latch tangs  53  are visible in the windows  62 . 
     If the control  34 ,  36  or  38  is being inserted into the base  32 , the control is moved via the attached operating member  42  into the base  32  via guiding structure  39  cooperating with the base  32 . When the control, e.g.  34 , is moved into operating position so as to engage and make suitable secure contact with the connector  41  carried by the base  32 , additional force is applied along the axial direction of axis  59  to permit rotation and removal of the operating member  52  with respect to the control  34  and also ensuring that the control  34  is fully inserted into the operative position. Specifically, the additional axial force is required to move the wings  55  free of the detent slot  54  below the inner surface of the cover plate  51  which action provides tactile feedback to the operator that the control  34  is locked into its inserted, operative position. Additionally, with the drive plunger  58  and the latch tangs  53  again now in the position of  FIG. 2 , the latch tangs  53  are visible in the windows  62 . The base  32  includes latch engagement structure at  43  that cooperates to receive the latch tangs  53  and lock the control  34  in place within and with respect to the base  32 . With the wings  55  aligned with the latch slot  56 , the operating member  52  is then disengaged from the drive plunger  58  and removable along the axial axis  59 . 
     In accordance with additional important aspects of the present invention and with additional reference now to  FIGS. 3-5 , the cross section of the end of the operating member  52 , i.e. the wings  55 , are provided with different shapes and patterns of notches that match as inverse images the shape of the openings of the latch slots  56 . For example, in an illustrative embodiment, the controls  34 ,  36  include the respective shapes  70 ,  80  of  FIGS. 3-4 . In this way, the operating member  52  is configured with one of the shapes  70  or  80  in accordance with the function of the control  34 ,  36 . For example, in one illustrative embodiment, the different patterns are accomplished via different patterns and arrangements of notches, notch  72  for pattern  70 , notch  82  for pattern  80  and notch  92  for pattern  90 . The pattern  90  provided via notches  92  functions as a master operating member for an operator with authorization to work on controls of all types, i.e. arranged to operate with controls  34  or  35  and interfitting with the latch slots  56  for both types. Conversely, if an operator is authorized only to change the radio control  36  or the battery control  38 , that category of operator is prevented from changing the other controls, e.g. system control  34 . 
     While the present disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, certain embodiments are shown by way of example in the drawings and the herein described embodiments. It will be understood, however, that this disclosure is not intended to limit the invention to the particular forms described, but to the contrary, the invention is intended to cover all modifications, alternatives, and equivalents defined by the appended claims. 
     It should also be understood that, unless a term is expressly defined in this patent using the sentence “As used herein, the term ‘ —————— ’ is hereby defined to mean . . . ” or a similar sentence, there is no intent to limit the meaning of that term, either expressly or by implication, beyond its plain or ordinary meaning, and such term should not be interpreted to be limited in scope based on any statement made in any section of this patent (other than the language of the claims). To the extent that any term recited in the claims at the end of this patent is referred to in this patent in a manner consistent with a single meaning, that is done for sake of clarity only so as to not confuse the reader, and it is not intended that such claim term by limited, by implication or otherwise, to that single meaning. Unless a claim element is defined by reciting the word “means” and a function without the recital of any structure, it is not intended that the scope of any claim element be interpreted based on the application of 35 U.S.C. §112, sixth paragraph.

Technology Category: h