Circuit breaker status indicating system for switchgear auxiliary switch

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11735390-B2
Application number	US-202117562258-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 27, 2021
Priority date	Dec 29, 2020
Publication date	Aug 22, 2023
Grant date	Aug 22, 2023

Abstract

Systems and methods for indicating an operational status of a circuit breaker within a switchgear comprise providing a mechanism-operated control (MOC) assembly arranged within a housing of the circuit breaker. A drive plate is slidably mounted on a wall of the switchgear adjacent to the MOC assembly. A drive arm is pivotably mounted at one end on the wall of the switchgear, the drive arm engaged at an opposite end thereof with the drive plate. A status indicator is disposed on the wall of the switchgear, wherein changing an operational state of the circuit breaker mechanically operates the MOC assembly to slide the drive plate in a direction that pivots the drive arm from a first position to a second position, the first and second positions of the drive arm being visible externally of the switchgear through the status indicator.

First claim

We claim:

1. A mechanism-operated assembly for a circuit breaker, comprising:
a drive assembly arranged within the circuit breaker and fixedly attached to an output shaft of the circuit breaker;
a drive pin hingedly attached to the drive assembly within the circuit breaker, the drive pin extending through a guide slot formed in a housing of the circuit breaker;
a drive plate slidably mounted adjacent to the circuit breaker and in contact with the drive pin; and
a drive arm pivotably mounted at one end and engaged at an opposite end with the drive plate;
wherein changing an operational state of the circuit breaker rotates the output shaft, causing the drive assembly to rotate, thereby moving the drive pin within the guide slot and sliding the drive plate in a direction that pivots the drive arm from a first position to a second position.

2. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly comprises a drive arm fixedly attached at one end thereof to the output shaft of the circuit breaker.

3. The assembly of claim 2 , wherein the drive assembly further comprises a connecting arm hingedly attached at one end thereof to the drive arm at an opposite end thereof, the connecting arm hingedly attached at an opposite end thereof to the drive pin.

4. A system for indicating an operational status of a circuit breaker within a switchgear, comprising:
a mechanism-operated control (MOC) assembly arranged within a housing of the circuit breaker;
a drive plate slidably mounted on an interior surface of a wall of the switchgear adjacent to the MOC assembly;
a drive arm pivotably mounted at one end and secured to the wall of the switchgear, the drive arm engaged at an opposite end thereof with the drive plate; and
a status indicator disposed on the wall of the switchgear;
wherein changing an operational state of the circuit breaker mechanically operates the MOC assembly to slide the drive plate in a direction that pivots the drive arm from a first position to a second position, the first and second positions of the drive arm being visible externally of the switchgear through the status indicator.

5. The system of claim 4 , wherein the MOC assembly comprises a drive assembly arranged within the circuit breaker and fixedly attached to an output shaft of the circuit breaker, and a drive pin hingedly attached to the drive assembly within the circuit breaker, the drive pin extending through a guide slot formed in a housing of the circuit breaker, wherein changing an operational state of the circuit breaker rotates the output shaft, causing the drive assembly to rotate, thereby moving the drive pin within the guide slot.

6. The system of claim 4 , wherein the drive plate comprises a main body, a work portion extending in one direction from the main body, and a test portion extending in an opposing direction from the main body, wherein the MOC assembly is located adjacent the work portion when the circuit breaker is in a working position within the switchgear, and wherein the MOC assembly is located adjacent the test portion when the circuit breaker is in a test position within the switchgear.

7. The system of claim 4 , further comprising a return spring attached to the drive plate, the return spring anchored to the wall of the switchgear to thereby bias the drive plate in a predefined direction.

8. A method of providing an indication of an operational status of a circuit breaker within a switchgear, comprising:
arranging a mechanism-operated control (MOC) assembly within a housing of the circuit breaker;
mounting a drive plate slidably on an interior surface of a wall of the switchgear adjacent to the MOC assembly;
securing a drive arm pivotably mounted at one end to the wall of the switchgear, the drive arm engaged at an opposite end thereof with the drive plate; and
providing a status indicator on the wall of the switchgear;
wherein changing an operational state of the circuit breaker mechanically operates the MOC assembly to slide the drive plate in a direction that pivots the drive arm from a first position to a second position, the first and second positions of the drive arm being visible externally of the switchgear through the status indicator.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the MOC assembly comprises a drive assembly arranged within the circuit breaker and fixedly attached to an output shaft of the circuit breaker, and a drive pin hingedly attached to the drive assembly within the circuit breaker, the drive pin extending through a guide slot formed in a housing of the circuit breaker, wherein changing an operational state of the circuit breaker rotates the output shaft, causing the drive assembly to rotate, thereby moving the drive pin within the guide slot.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the drive plate comprises a main body, a work portion extending in one direction from the main body, and a test portion extending in an opposing direction from the main body, wherein the MOC assembly is located adjacent the work portion when the circuit breaker is in a working position within the switchgear, and wherein the MOC assembly is located adjacent the test portion when the circuit breaker is in a test position within the switchgear.

11. The method of claim 8 , further comprising biasing the drive plate in a predefined direction using a return spring attached to the drive plate and anchored to the wall of the switchgear.

12. The assembly of claim 1 , wherein the drive plate comprises a main body, a work portion extending in one direction from the main body, and a test portion extending in an opposing direction from the main body, wherein the drive pin contacts the work portion when the circuit breaker is in a working position, and wherein the drive pin contacts the test portion when the circuit breaker is in a test position.

13. The assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a return spring attached to the drive plate and biasing the drive plate in a predefined direction.

Assignees

• Schneider Electric Usa Inc

Inventors

• Berardengo Florent
• Chaboud Nicolas
• Chen Mingmin
• Yang Junming

Classifications

• H01H71/04 Primary

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

• H01H2071/046

  exclusively by position of operating part, e.g. with additional labels or marks but no other movable indicators · CPC title

• H02B11/10 Primary

  Indicating electrical condition of gear; Arrangement of test sockets · CPC title

• H01H71/46

  having means for operating auxiliary contacts additional to the main contacts · CPC title

• H01H71/10

  Operating or release mechanisms · CPC title