Inertial short-circuit and seismic hook

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11527368-B2
Application number	US-202017065379-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 7, 2020
Priority date	Jan 16, 2019
Publication date	Dec 13, 2022
Grant date	Dec 13, 2022

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosure can include an inertial short-circuit and seismic hook for an electrical equipment disconnect switch.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A method for providing a circuit disconnect apparatus, the method comprising:
providing a movable blade plate mounted to a first conductor of the circuit, wherein the movable blade plate includes a pin mounted to a portion of the movable blade plate;
providing a pivot bar mounted in a stationary position to a second conductor of the circuit;
providing a C-shaped plate mounted to the fixed pivot bar, wherein the C-shaped plate rotates about an axis with respect to the pivot bar, the C-shaped plate having an elongated portion connected to a hook portion with an opening between the elongated portion and the hook portion;
when the apparatus is in a closed position, the movable blade plate moves adjacent the C-shaped plate, wherein the pin moves within the opening of the C-shaped plate, and the pin is in contact with the C-shaped plate;
when a disconnect operation is initiated for the apparatus, the movable blade plate is retracted away from the C-shaped plate, wherein the pin moves along the elongated portion until the pin disengages contact with the C-shaped plate and is no longer within the opening of the C-shaped plate; and
when an unexpected disconnect event occurs, and the apparatus is initially in a closed position, the movable pin is retained within the opening of the C-shaped plate and the pin remains in contact with either the elongated portion or the hook portion of the C-shaped plate.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the hook portion comprises an L-shaped body with a lip at an end portion of the L-shaped body, wherein when the pin moves along the L-shaped body and engages the lip, the pin is maintained in contact with the lip of the C-shaped plate.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the elongated portion can include an outward projection at an end portion of the hook portion wherein during the disconnect operation, the pin moves along the elongated portion and along the outward projection until the pin is no longer in contact with the elongated portion of the C-shaped plate.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein when closing the apparatus, the pin of the movable blade plate engages the C-shaped plate and the C-shaped plate rotates about the axis with respect to the pivot bar as the pin is in contact with the elongated portion or the hook portion of the C-shaped plate.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the disconnect operation is initiated for the apparatus, or when an unexpected disconnect event occurs, and the apparatus is in a closed position, the C-shaped plate rotates about the axis with respect to the pivot bar as the pin is in contact with the elongated portion or the hook portion of the C-shaped plate.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein when a disconnect operation is initiated for the apparatus, and the apparatus is in a closed position, the C-shaped plate rotates about the axis with respect to the pivot bar as the pin is in contact with the elongated portion of the hook portion until it reaches a curve in the elongated portion and then moves across the opening to the hook portion of the C-shaped plate.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disconnect operation is initiated when a velocity of the movable blade exceeds a predefined velocity.

8. The method of claim 1 , wherein when the pin moves along the L-shaped body and engages the lip, the pin is maintained in contact with the lip of the C-shaped plate.

9. The method of claim 1 , wherein the disconnect operation is initiated when the movable blade plate exceeds a predefined velocity.

10. A circuit disconnect apparatus comprising:
a movable blade plate mounted to a first conductor of a circuit, wherein the movable blade plate includes an external surface, the moveable blade plate including one or more stoppers;
a connecting device mounted to a second conductor of the circuit, the connecting device including a hook;
a mechanism operable to provide contact between the movable blade plate and the connecting device when the apparatus is in a closed position;
wherein when a disconnect operation is initiated for the apparatus, the movable blade plate is retracted away from the connecting device, wherein the mechanism permits the movable blade plate to retract away from the connecting device until there is no contact between the movable blade plate and the connecting device; and
wherein when an unexpected disconnect event occurs, and the apparatus is in a closed position, the mechanism inhibits the movable blade plate from retracting away from the connecting device and maintains contact between the movable blade plate and the connecting device.

11. A method for using a circuit disconnect apparatus, the method comprising:
manipulating a movable blade plate mounted to a first conductor of a circuit, wherein the movable blade plate includes a pin mounted to a portion of the movable blade plate, towards a pivot bar mounted in a stationary position to a second conductor of the circuit, wherein a C-shaped plate is mounted to the pivot bar;
as the movable blade moves towards the pivot bar, rotating the C-shaped plate about an axis with respect to the pivot bar, the C-shaped plate including an elongated portion connected to a hook portion with an opening between the elongated portion and the hook portion;
when the apparatus is in a closed position, maintaining contact between the movable blade plate and the C-shape plate, wherein the pin moves within the opening of the C-shaped plate, and the pin is in contact with the C-shaped plate;
when an intended disconnect operation is initiated for the apparatus, retracting the movable blade plate away from the C-shaped plate, wherein the pin moves along the elongated portion until the pin disengages contact with the C-shaped plate and is no longer within the opening of the C-shaped plate; and
when an unexpected disconnect event occurs and the apparatus is in the closed position, retaining the pin within the opening of the C-shaped plate and the pin remains in contact with either the elongated portion or the hook portion of the C-shaped plate.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the hook portion includes an L-shaped body with a lip at an end portion of the L-shaped body, wherein when the pin moves along the L-shaped body and engages the lip, the method further comprises:
maintaining the pin in contact with the lip of the C-shaped plate, wherein the elongated portion includes an outward projection at an end portion of the hook portion wherein during the disconnect operation; and
moving the pin along the elongated portion and along the outward projection until the pin is no longer in contact with the elongated portion of the C-shaped plate.

13. The method of claim 11 , wherein when closing the apparatus, engaging the pin of the movable blade plate by the C-shaped plate and rotating the C-shaped plate about the axis with respect to the pivot bar as the pin is in contact with the elongated portion or the hook portion of the C-shaped plate; and
wherein when the disconnect operation is initiated for the apparatus, or when an unexpected disconnect event occurs, and the apparatus is in a closed position, rotating the C-shaped plate about the axis with respect to the pivot bar as the pin is in contact with the elongated portion or the hook portion of the C-shaped plate.

Assignees

• General Electric Technology Gmbh

Inventors

• Kechroud Riyad
• Rollier Clement
• Babin Pascal

Classifications

• H01H31/026

  Movable parts and contacts mounted thereon · CPC title

• H01H1/36

  by sliding · CPC title

• H01H1/52

  Contacts adapted to act as latches · CPC title

• H01H3/54 Primary

  Mechanisms for coupling or uncoupling operating parts, driving mechanisms, or contacts · CPC title

• H01H31/023 Primary

  Base and stationary contacts mounted thereon · CPC title