Mechanical interlock with enhanced features

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11842863-B2
Application number	US-201916616588-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 14, 2019
Priority date	Nov 20, 2018
Publication date	Dec 12, 2023
Grant date	Dec 12, 2023

Abstract

An improved mechanical interlock including one or more features to facilitate a more robust design, easier assembly, and/or enhanced capabilities. For example, the mechanical interlock may include an interlock latch operatively associated with an external handle assembly and an internal connector. The interlock latch being directly coupled to a shaft coupled to the handle assembly, thus providing an improved and more robust latching mechanism. The mechanical interlock may also include one or more keys (e.g., a Poke-Yoke feature) to facilitate easier assembly and/or to prevent human errors caused by improper assembly. The mechanical interlock may also include an integrated magnetic switch and monitoring system to ensure that accurate location of the handle assembly is known.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A mechanical interlock comprising:
an enclosure;
a connector at least partially received within the enclosure for selectively receiving a plug;
a load switch positioned within the enclosure, the load switch arranged and configured to selectively supply power to the connector;
a handle assembly operatively associated with the enclosure, the handle assembly being selectively movable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively energize and deenergize the load switch;
a shaft for rotationally coupling the handle assembly to the load switch;
an interlock latch arranged and configured to be operatively associated with the connector and the handle assembly, the interlock latch axially translatable between a first position and a second position, wherein, when in the first position, the interlock latch engages the handle assembly to prevent rotation of the handle assembly, and when in the second position, the interlock latch is axially translated relative to the handle assembly to decouple the interlock latch from the handle assembly to enable rotation of the handle assembly so that the handle assembly can be moved from the OFF position to the ON position; and
a slider plate and a latch spring, wherein rotation of the handle assembly from the OFF position to the ON position causes the slider plate to translate longitudinally towards the connector so that a portion of the latch spring engages a ledge on the plug so that the latch spring engages the plug to prevent removal of the plug from the connector, a direction of movement of the latch spring being substantially perpendicular to the translation of the slider plate.

2. The mechanical interlock of claim 1 , wherein the interlock latch includes a first end and a second end, the first end being arranged and configured to contact the plug upon insertion of the plug into the connector, wherein upon plug insertion, the interlock latch is axially translated by the plug, without rotation of the plug, from the first position to the second position.

3. The mechanical interlock of claim 2 , wherein the shaft includes a handle portion operatively coupled to the handle assembly and a switch portion operatively coupled to the load switch, the handle portion being operatively coupled to the switch portion, the second end of the interlock latch being selectively coupled to the handle portion so that, when the interlock latch is in the first position, the second end of the interlock latch engages the handle portion so that rotation of the handle portion and the handle assembly is prevented, and, when the interlock latch is in the second position, the second end of the interlock latch is decoupled from the handle portion so that rotation of the handle portion and the handle assembly is permitted.

4. The mechanical interlock of claim 3 , wherein the interlock latch includes an opening that the handle portion passes through.

5. The mechanical interlock of claim 3 , wherein the second end of the interlock latch includes a key and the handle portion includes a slot, the key being received within the slot formed in the handle portion when the interlock latch is in the first position.

6. The mechanical interlock of claim 5 , wherein the key includes at least one of sloped sides and rounded corners for interacting with the slot formed in the handle portion.

7. The mechanical interlock of claim 1 , wherein the latch spring is coupled to the enclosure, the latch spring and the enclosure each including a key arranged and configured to secure a desired orientation of the latch spring relative to the enclosure.

8. The mechanical interlock of claim 7 , wherein the key formed on the enclosure includes one or more bosses and the key formed on the latch spring includes one or more holes, the one or more holes being arranged and configured to receive the one or more bosses, respectively, when the latch spring is properly positioned within the enclosure.

9. The mechanical interlock of claim 1 , further comprising a magnetic switch including a magnet and a sensor arranged and configured to determine a position of the handle assembly.

10. The mechanical interlock of claim 9 , wherein, when the handle assembly is in the OFF position, the magnet is arranged and configured to interact with the sensor to provide an indication that the handle assembly is in the OFF position, and when the handle assembly is in the ON position, the magnet is positioned at a distance from the sensor such that the sensor does not sense the magnet.

11. The mechanical interlock of claim 10 , further comprising a processor programmed to compare the position of the handle assembly as determined by the magnetic switch against an electrical state of the load switch to provide one or more fault indications depending upon the comparison.

12. The mechanical interlock of claim 11 , further comprising a battery power supply for supplying backup power to the magnetic switch and the processor in case of mains power lost.

13. The mechanical interlock of claim 9 , wherein movement of the handle assembly between the ON and OFF positions causes the sensor to selectively detect a presence of the magnet to determine the position of the handle assembly.

14. A mechanical interlock comprising:
an enclosure;
a connector at least partially received within the enclosure for selectively receiving a plug;
a load switch positioned within the enclosure, the load switch arranged and configured to selectively supply power to the connector;
a handle assembly operatively associated with the enclosure, the handle assembly being selectively movable between an ON position and an OFF position to selectively energize and deenergize the load switch;
a shaft for rotationally coupling the handle assembly to the load switch;
an interlock latch arranged and configured to be operatively associated with the connector and the handle assembly, the interlock latch movable between a first position and a second position, wherein, when in the first position, the interlock latch prevents rotation of the handle assembly, and when in the second position, the interlock latch axially translates relative to the handle assembly to decouple the interlock latch to enable rotation of the handle assembly so that the handle assembly can be moved from the OFF position to the ON position; and
a plug connector arranged and configured to prevent the plug from being removed from the connector when the handle assembly is in the ON position;
wherein the plug connector includes a slider plate and a latch spring, in use, rotation of the handle assembly from the OFF position to the ON position causes the slider plate to translate longitudinally towards the connector so that a portion of the latch spring engages a ledge on the plug so that the latch spring engages the plug to prevent removal of the plug from the connector, a direction of movement of the latch spring being substantially perpendicular to the translation of the slider plate;
wherein the interlock latch includes a first end and a second end, the first end being arranged and configured to contact the plug, wherein upon insertion of the plug into the connector, the interlock latch axially translates via contact with the plug, without rotation of the plug, from the first position to the second position.

15. The mechanical interlock of claim 14 , wherein:
the enclosure includes a back surface, a front surface, a top surface, a bottom surface, side surfaces, and a longitudinal axis extending between the top and bottom surfaces;
the interlock latch includes a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitu

Assignees

• Leviton Manufacturing Co

Inventors

• Hagen William
• Camarda Anthony
• Bobelis Darius
• Frid Eugene

Classifications

• H01H21/06 Primary

  interlocked with operating mechanism · CPC title

• G01R31/3277

  of low voltage devices, e.g. domestic or industrial devices, such as motor protections, relays, rotation switches · CPC title

• H01H21/22

  Operating parts, e.g. handle · CPC title

• H01R13/639

  Additional means for holding or locking coupling parts together, after engagement, {e.g. separate keylock, retainer strap} · CPC title

• H01R13/701

  the switch being actuated by an accessory, e.g. cover, locking member · CPC title