Multi-level feedback actuator assembly for a solid state circuit breaker

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11848168-B2
Application number	US-202117534826-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2021
Priority date	Jul 3, 2019
Publication date	Dec 19, 2023
Grant date	Dec 19, 2023

Abstract

A multi-level feedback actuator assembly for a circuit breaker assembly includes a rotary solenoid, an electric actuator assembly and a manual actuator assembly. The electric actuator assembly includes a switch assembly with an actuator. The manual actuator assembly includes a number of primary actuators, a linkage assembly, and a cam assembly. The number of primary actuators includes a first actuator with a body. The first actuator body is structured to move over a path having at least a first portion and a second portion. The rotary solenoid is operatively coupled to the linkage assembly. The linkage assembly is further operatively coupled to an operating mechanism crossbar. In this configuration, the linkage assembly is structured to apply at least a first bias and a second bias to the first actuator body. Further, the first bias is noticeably different from said second bias.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A multi-level feedback actuator assembly 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 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 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 multi-level feedback actuator assembly comprising:
a rotary solenoid;
an electric actuator assembly including a switch assembly;
a manual actuator assembly including a linkage assembly and a number of primary actuators including a first actuator including a first actuator body;
said switch assembly operatively coupled to said rotary solenoid, wherein said switch assembly is structured to actuate said rotary solenoid;
said rotary solenoid operatively coupled to said linkage assembly;
said linkage assembly operatively coupled to rotary solenoid and said first actuator body; and
said linkage assembly structured to be operatively coupled to said operating mechanism crossbar.

2. The multi-level feedback actuator assembly of claim 1 wherein:
said first actuator body is structured to move over a path having at least a first portion and a second portion;
said linkage assembly is structured to apply at least a first bias to said first actuator body and a second bias to said first actuator body;
said first bias is noticeably different from said second bias;
said linkage assembly is structured to apply said first bias to said first actuator body when said first actuator body is disposed in said first actuator body path first portion; and
said linkage assembly is structured to apply said second bias to said first actuator body when said first actuator body is disposed in said first actuator body path second portion.

3. The multi-level feedback actuator assembly of claim 2 wherein:
switch assembly includes an actuator;
said first actuator body is structured to operatively engage said switch assembly actuator when said first actuator body is disposed in said first actuator body path first portion; and
said first actuator body is structured to operatively engage said linkage assembly when said first actuator body is disposed in said first actuator body path second portion.

4. The multi-level feedback actuator assembly of claim 3 wherein:
said rotary solenoid includes a rotating output shaft;
said linkage assembly includes a number of links;
said manual actuator assembly including a cam assembly;
said cam assembly includes a first cam member, a second cam member and a bias device;
said first actuator body operatively coupled to said linkage assembly and structured to move at least one link;
said linkage assembly operatively coupled to said first actuator body, said rotary solenoid output shaft and said cam assembly;
said cam assembly operatively coupled to linkage assembly;
said cam assembly bias device structured to apply a bias to at least one of said first cam member or said second cam member; and
wherein said cam assembly applies bias to said linkage assembly.

5. The multi-level feedback actuator assembly of claim 4 wherein:
said first actuator body is elongated and includes a first end, a medial portion, and a second end;
said first actuator body first end structured to be rotatably coupled to said circuit breaker housing assembly;
said first actuator body medial portion defining a button;
said first actuator body second end structured to be operatively coupled to said linkage assembly;
said linkage assembly including a shaft link;
said shaft link including an elongated body with a first end, a medial portion, and a second end;
each of said shaft link body first end, shaft link body medial portion and shaft link body second end including a coupling;
said shaft link body medial portion fixed and operatively coupled to said rotary solenoid output shaft;
wherein said shaft link body rotates with said solenoid output shaft;
said cam assembly second cam member coupled to said shaft link body first end;
said cam assembly first cam member disposed adjacent said shaft link body first end path of travel and structured to engage said cam assembly second cam member;
said cam assembly bias device structured to engage said cam assembly first cam member;
wherein said cam assembly bias device creates a line of force extending from a point of contact between said cam assembly first cam member through said shaft link body first end coupling;
wherein, when said first actuator body is disposed in said first actuator body path first portion, said line of force extends to a first side of said solenoid output shaft axis of rotation, and, when said first actuator body is disposed in said first actuator body path second portion, said line of force extends to a second side of said solenoid output shaft axis of rotation.

6. The multi-level feedback actuator assembly of claim 5 wherein:
said cam assembly first cam member includes an elongated body having a generally curvilinear cam surface;
said cam assembly second cam member includes a body having a generally circular cam surface;
said cam assembly second cam member rotatably coupled to said shaft link body first end; and
wherein said cam assembly first cam member body cam surface engages said cam assembly second cam member body cam surface.

7. The multi-level feedback actuator assembly of claim 5 wherein:
said linkage assembly includes an upper link, a middle link, a lower link, and a shaft link;
said upper link including an elongated body with a first end and a second end;
said upper link body first end and said upper link body second end each including a coupling;
said middle link including an elongated body with a first end and a second end;
said middle link body first end and said middle link body second end each including a coupling;
said middle link including an elongated body with a first end and a second end;
said middle link body first end and said upper link body second end each including a coupling;
said lower link including an elongated body with a first end, a medial portion and a second end;
said lower link body first end, lower link body medial portion and said lower link body second end each including a coupling;
said cam assembly first cam member rotatably coupled to said upper link body first end;
said upper link body second end rotatably coupled to said lower link body first end;
said middle link body first end rotatably coupled to said shaft link body first end;
said middle link body second end rotatably coupled to said lower link body medial portion; and
said lower link body second end structured to be rotatably coupled to said operating mechanism crossbar.

8. The multi-level feedback actuator assembly of claim 7 wherein said first actuator body second end is structured to operatively engage

Assignees

• Eaton Intelligent Power Ltd

Inventors

• Gottschalk Andrew L
• Slepian Robert Michael

Classifications

• H01H71/10 Primary

  Operating or release mechanisms · CPC title

• H01H1/06

  characterised by the shape or structure of the contact-making surface, e.g. grooved · CPC title

• H01H71/02

  Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings · CPC title

• H01H2215/05

  electromechanical · CPC title

• H01H71/04 Primary

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