Solid state circuit breaker button interlocking system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11158473-B2
Application number	US-202016914841-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 29, 2020
Priority date	Jul 3, 2019
Publication date	Oct 26, 2021
Grant date	Oct 26, 2021

Abstract

A multi-level feedback actuator assembly for a circuit breaker assembly including an interlock system. The interlock system for the multi-level feedback actuator assembly is structured to maintain the multi-level feedback actuator assembly, and elements thereof, in a safe configuration. The interlock system for the multi-level feedback actuator assembly includes an interlock assembly structured to configure the rotary solenoid and at least one of the first actuator or the second actuator in a safe configuration.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An interlock system for a circuit breaker assembly, said circuit breaker assembly structured to have a use current selectively passed therethrough, said circuit breaker assembly including a housing assembly, a separable contact assembly, a trip assembly and an operating mechanism, said housing assembly defining a substantially enclosed space, said separable contact assembly including a number of fixed contacts and a number of movable contacts, each said movable contact movable between an open, first position, wherein each said movable contact is spaced from, and is not in electrical communication with, an associated fixed contact, and, a second position, wherein each said movable contact is coupled to, and is in electrical communication with, the associated fixed contact, said trip assembly structured to detect an overcurrent condition and to provide an overcurrent signal when an overcurrent condition is detected, said operating mechanism structured to move said number of movable contacts between said first and second positions, said operating mechanism including an elongated crossbar, said operating mechanism crossbar rotatably coupled to said housing assembly, said operating mechanism crossbar structured to move between a first position and a second position corresponding to said movable contacts first position and said movable contacts second position, said interlock system comprising:
a rotary solenoid including a rotating output shaft;
said rotary solenoid output shaft structured to move between a first position and a second position;
an actuator assembly including a primary first actuator, a primary second actuator and a linkage assembly;
said primary first actuator including a first actuator;
said first actuator including a body;
said primary second actuator including a second actuator;
said second actuator including a body;
said rotary solenoid operatively coupled to said linkage assembly;
said linkage assembly operatively coupled to each of said rotary solenoid, said first actuator body and said second actuator body; and
an interlock assembly structured to configure said rotary solenoid and at least one of said first actuator or said second actuator in a safe configuration.

2. The interlock system of claim 1 wherein:
said interlock assembly includes a rotating extension assembly, a shaft link and said rotary solenoid;
said rotary solenoid is structured to be in one of an energized state or a de-energized state;
wherein, when said rotary solenoid is in said energized state, said rotary solenoid output shaft is structured to operatively engage elements to which the rotary solenoid output shaft is operatively coupled;
wherein, when said rotary solenoid is in said de-energized state, said rotary solenoid output shaft is structured to be operatively engaged by elements operatively coupled to said rotary solenoid output shaft;
said rotary solenoid structured to receive said overcurrent signal from said trip assembly;
wherein, when said rotary solenoid receives said overcurrent signal, said rotary solenoid is structured to be energized and to move to said rotary solenoid output shaft to said first position;
said first actuator body including a first end and a second end;
said first actuator body second end including a rotational coupling and said interlock assembly rotating extension assembly;
said first actuator body structured to move over a path of travel;
said rotating extension assembly rotatably coupled to said first actuator body second end;
said rotating extension assembly structured to move between a first position, wherein said rotating extension assembly is structured to operatively engage said shaft link, and a second position, wherein said rotating extension assembly is structured to not operatively engage said shaft link;
said shaft link including a body with a first end, a middle portion and a second end;
said shaft link body middle portion fixed to said rotary solenoid output shaft wherein said shaft link is operatively coupled to said rotary solenoid output shaft and said rotary solenoid output shaft is operatively coupled to said shaft link;
said shaft link body second end disposed in the first actuator body second end path of travel;
wherein, when said rotary solenoid is in said de-energized state, when said rotating extension assembly is in said first position, and, when said first actuator body moves over said path of travel, said rotating extension assembly operatively engages said shaft link body; and
wherein, when said when said rotary solenoid is in said energized state and moving toward said first position, said shaft link body operatively engages said rotating extension assembly and moves said rotating extension assembly to said second position.

3. The interlock system of claim 1 wherein:
said interlock assembly includes a rotating extension assembly, a shaft link, an interlock unit and said rotary solenoid;
said first actuator body structured to be rotatably coupled to said circuit breaker assembly housing assembly and to move between a first position and a second position;
said second actuator body structured to be rotatably coupled to said circuit breaker assembly housing assembly and to move between a first position and a second position;
said second actuator body structured to be operatively coupled to said interlock unit;
said interlock unit structured to move between a first configuration, wherein said interlock unit does not block movement of said first actuator body, and, a second configuration, wherein said interlock unit blocks movement of said first actuator body; and
wherein, when said second actuator body is in said second position, said interlock unit is in said second configuration.

4. The interlock system of claim 3 wherein:
said interlock unit includes a spring lever mounting, an interlock unit spring lever, a reversing lever, a blocking member and a blocking member spring;
said first actuator including a body defining a blocking member cavity;
said second actuator body includes a first end;
said spring lever mounting including a body;
said spring lever mounting body fixed to said second actuator body first end;
said interlock unit spring lever including a body having a first end and a second end;
said interlock unit spring lever body first end fixed to said spring lever mounting body;
said interlock unit spring lever body second end operatively coupled to said interlock unit reversing lever;
said interlock unit reversing lever including a body defining a rotational coupling, a first radial extension and a second radial extension;
said interlock unit reversing lever body structured to be rotatably coupled to said circuit breaker housing assembly;
said interlock unit reversing lever body first radial extension structured to be operatively engaged by said interlock unit spring lever body second end;
said interlock unit reversing lever body second radial extension structured to be operatively coupled to said interlock unit blocking member;
said interlock unit blocking member including a body structured to be rotatably coupled to said circuit breaker housing assembly;
said interlock unit blocking member body including a first radial extension and a blocking lug;
said interlock unit blocking member body first radial extension structured to be operatively engaged by said interlock unit reversing lever body second radial extension;
said interlock unit reversing lever body second radial extension operatively coupled to said interlock unit blocking member first radial extension;
said interlock unit blocking member body blocking lug structured to be selectively disposed in the path of said first actuator body;
wherein, when said second actuator body is in said first position, said interlock unit is in said firs

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Gottschalk Andrew L
• Slepian Robert Michael

Classifications

• H01H71/58

  actuated by push-button, pull-knob, or slide · CPC title

• H01H71/2472

  with rotatable armatures · CPC title

• H01H71/04 Primary

  Means for indicating condition of the switching device {(by means of an auxiliary contact H01H71/46)} · CPC title

• H01H71/02 Primary

  Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings · CPC title

• H01H9/24

  for interlocking two or more parts of the mechanism for operating contacts · CPC title