Mechanical rack position indicator

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10320161-B2
Application number	US-201815872509-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 16, 2018
Priority date	Jul 13, 2015
Publication date	Jun 11, 2019
Grant date	Jun 11, 2019

Abstract

A positional indicator system that includes a mounting bracket having a slot that extends along a linear slot axis. A drum may be rotably coupled to the mounting bracket so as to rotate about an axis that is offset from, and non-intersecting with, the slot axis. A pin body of a pin assembly may extend into a chamber of an electrical housing so as to be coupled to a displaceable electrical component, and thereby be linearly displaced along the slot as the displaceable electrical component is linearly displaced within the chamber. The pin assembly may be coupled to a biasing element that is coupled to the drum. A plurality of indicia may be positioned or mounted on the biasing element, such as via a windable indicator plate, and may provide a visual indication through a window of the electrical housing of the relative position of the displaceable electrical component.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A positional indicator system for a displaceable electrical component positioned within a chamber of a housing, the positional indicator system comprising:
a mounting bracket having a slot that extends between a first end and a second end of the slot along a slot axis;
a drum rotatably coupled to the mounting bracket, the drum positioned to rotate about an axis of rotation that is offset from, and non-intersecting with, the slot axis;
a pin assembly including a pin body extending into the chamber by a length that facilitates the pin body being operably coupled to the displaceable electrical component such that linear displacement of the displaceable electrical component within the chamber is translated into linear displacement of the pin body along at least a portion the slot;
a biasing element having a first end and a second end, the first end coupled to the drum, the second end coupled to the pin body, at least a portion of the biasing element being both unwound from the drum and linearly displaced as the pin body is linearly displaced along the slot toward the second end; and
a plurality of indicia positioned about at least a portion of the biasing element, at least a portion of the plurality of indicia that is wound about the drum providing a visual indication of a relative position of the displaceable electrical component.

2. The positional indicator system of claim 1 , further including a windable indicator plate mounted to an arm portion of the biasing element, and wherein the plurality of indicia is positioned about the windable indicator plate.

3. The positional indicator system of claim 2 , wherein the biasing element biases the pin body toward the first end of the slot.

4. The positional indicator system of claim 3 , further including a window in a front wall of the chamber of the housing, the window providing visual access to the portion of the plurality of indicia that is wound about the drum that provides a visual indication of the relative position of the displaceable electrical component.

5. The positional indicator system of claim 4 , wherein the plurality of indicia includes at least three position indicators.

6. The positional indicator system of claim 4 , wherein the mounting bracket includes at least a first mounting plate, the first mounting plate securing at least a portion of the mounting bracket at a position within the chamber.

7. The positional indicator system of claim 6 , wherein the mounting bracket includes a second mounting plate, the second mounting plate mounted against a second wall, the first mounting bracket mounted against a first wall, the first wall being generally perpendicular to the second wall.

8. The positional indicator system of claim 1 , wherein the pin body extends into the chamber at a location at which the pin body engages a moveable device that is coupled to the displaceable electrical component as the displaceable electrical component is linearly displaced within the chamber.

9. A positional indicator system for a displaceable electrical component that is positioned within a chamber of a housing, the positional indicator system comprising:
a bracket having a slot;
a rotatable drum coupled to the bracket;
a pin assembly including a pin body sized for linear displacement along the slot and coupled to the displaceable electrical component when the displaceable electrical component is linearly displaced within the chamber;
a biasing element coupled to both the pin body and the rotatable drum, the biasing element including an arm portion, at least a portion of the arm portion of the biasing element being wound along the rotatable drum when the pin body is displaced along the slot in a first direction and to be unwound from the rotatable drum and linearly displaced as the pin body is displaced along the slot in a second direction; and
a window providing visual access to a portion of a plurality of indicia that is positioned on a segment of the arm portion that is wound about the rotatable drum, the portion of the plurality of indicia visually accessible through the window providing a real-time indication of the relative position of the displaceable electrical component.

10. The positional indicator system of claim 9 , wherein the plurality of indicia are positioned on a windable indicator plate that is coupled to at least the arm portion of the biasing element.

11. The positional indicator system of claim 10 , wherein the slot extends along a slot axis that is perpendicular to, and offset from, a rotational axis about which the drum rotates.

12. The positional indicator system of claim 11 , wherein the biasing element transmits a biasing force against the pin body that biases the pin body in the first direction.

13. The positional indicator system of claim 12 , wherein the bracket includes at least one mounting plate securing at least a portion of the bracket in the chamber.

14. The positional indicator system of claim 13 , wherein the window is positioned in a front wall of the housing.

15. The positional indicator system of claim 14 , wherein the pin body extends into the chamber at a location at which the pin body engages a moveable device that is coupled to the displaceable electrical component as the displaceable electrical component is linearly displaced within the chamber.

16. A system comprising:
a switchgear housing having a front wall and at least one chamber, the front wall including an opening positioned to provide access to the chamber;
a displaceable electrical component mounted to a moveable device, the moveable device configured to at least linearly displace the displaceable electrical component within the chamber;
a positional indicator system including a pin assembly having a pin body coupled to the displaceable electrical component, the positional indicator system further including a rotatable drum, a slot, and a biasing element, the pin body being linearly displaced within the slot as the moveable device linearly displaces the displaceable electrical component, the pin body coupled to a second end of the biasing element, a first end of the biasing element coupled to the rotatable drum, a segment of the biasing element having a plurality of indicia, at least a portion of the segment of the biasing element being wound about the rotatable drum as the moveable device linearly displaces the displaceable electrical component in a first direction, at least a portion of the segment of the biasing element being unwound from the rotatable drum and linearly displaced as the moveable device linearly displaces the displaceable electrical component in a second direction; and
a window in the switchgear housing providing visual access to a portion of a plurality of indicia that is positioned on at least a portion of the segment that is wound about the rotatable drum, the portion of the plurality of indicia visually accessible through the window providing a real-time indication of the relative position of the displaceable electrical component.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the window is positioned in the front wall of the switchgear housing.

18. The system of claim 16 , wherein the window is positioned in a door that selectively covers the opening of the front wall of the switchgear housing.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the plurality of indicia are positioned on a windable indicator plate that is coupled to a portion of the biasing element.

20. The system of claim 17 , wherein the displaceable electrical component is at le

Assignees

• Abb Schweiz Ag

Inventors

• Kini Amar
• Bonfanti Alessandro

Classifications

• H02B11/127

  Withdrawal mechanism · CPC title

• H02B15/02

  with mimic diagrams · CPC title

• H02B11/12

  with isolation by horizontal withdrawal · CPC title

• H02B11/02 Primary

  Details · CPC title

• H01H9/16

  Indicators for switching condition, e.g. "on" or "off" · CPC title