Interlock for circuit interrupting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016141122-A1
Application number	US-201615003188-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 21, 2016
Priority date	Feb 9, 2012
Publication date	May 19, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A circuit-interrupting device includes a load-breaker operable between an open state and a closed state and a first interlock member operatively associated with the load-breaker. The first interlock member moves between a first position and a second position when the load-breaker moves between the closed state and the open state. The circuit-interrupting device further includes a disconnect switch that moves between an open state and a closed state. When the load-breaker is in the closed state, the first interlock member is in the first position and contacts the disconnect switch to prevent the disconnect switch from moving from the closed state to the open state.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A circuit-interrupting device comprising:
a load-breaker operable between an open state and a closed state; a first interlock member operatively associated with the load-breaker, wherein the first interlock member moves between a first position and a second position when the load-breaker moves between the closed state and the open state; and a disconnect switch that moves between an open state and a closed state, wherein when the load-breaker is in the closed state, the first interlock member is in the first position and contacts the disconnect switch to prevent the disconnect switch from moving from the closed state to the open state.

2 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 1 , further comprising a second interlock member coupled to the disconnect switch and configured such that when the first interlock member is in the first position, the first interlock member contacts the second interlock member to prevent the disconnect switch from moving from the closed state to the open state.

3 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 1 , wherein the disconnect switch is configured to rotate about a pivot point to move between the open state and the closed state.

4 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 3 , further comprising a second interlock member coupled to the disconnect switch and configured to rotate about the pivot point when the disconnect switch moves between the open state and the closed state.

5 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 1 , wherein the disconnect switch is movable by an operating mechanism and, when the first interlock member is in the first position, the first interlock member prevents the disconnect switch from moving from the closed state to the open state independent of the operating mechanism.

6 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 1 , wherein the disconnect switch is enclosed within the circuit-interrupting device and is visible from an exterior of the circuit-interrupting device when the disconnect switch is in the open state.

7 . The circuit-interrupting system of claim 1 , wherein when the load-breaker is in the open state and the disconnect switch is in the open state, the disconnect switch prevents the load-breaker from moving from the open state to the closed state.

8 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 1 , further comprising a second interlock member coupled to the disconnect switch and configured such that when the load-breaker is in the open state and the disconnect switch is in the open state, the second interlock member contacts the first interlock member to prevent the load-breaker from moving from the open state to the closed state.

9 . The circuit-interrupting system of claim 1 , wherein when the load-breaker is in the open state and the disconnect switch is in the open state, the disconnect switch is positioned to contact the first interlock member to prevent the load-breaker from moving from the open state to the closed state.

10 . The interlock system of claim 1 , wherein when the first interlock member is in the second position the disconnect switch is movable from the closed state to the open state.

11 . An interlock system for a circuit-interrupting device, the circuit interrupting device including a load-breaker operable between an open state and a closed state and a disconnect switch in series with the load-breaker and having a blade movable between an open state and a closed state, the interlock system comprising:
a first interlock member operably associated with the load-breaker, the first interlock member having a first interlock state when the load-breaker is in the closed position and a second interlock state when the load-breaker is in the open position, wherein the first interlock member moves from the first interlock state to the second interlock state when the load-breaker moves to the open position, wherein the first interlock member is in contact with a portion of the disconnect switch when the first interlock member is in the first interlock state to prevent the disconnect switch blade from moving from the closed state to the open state.

12 . The interlock system of claim 11 , wherein when the first interlock member is in the second interlock state, the disconnect switch blade is movable from the closed state to the open state.

13 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 11 , wherein the portion of the disconnect switch comprises a second interlock member coupled to the disconnect switch blade for movement with the blade.

14 . The circuit-interrupting system of claim 11 , wherein when the load-breaker is in the open state and the disconnect switch blade is in the open state, the disconnect switch prevents the load-breaker from moving from the open state to the closed state.

15 . A circuit-interrupting device comprising:
a load-breaker including a first contact and a second contact, wherein the second contact is movable relative to the first contact between a closed state and an open state; a first operating mechanism for moving the second contact between the closed state and the open state; a first actuating assembly for controlling movement of the first operating mechanism; a disconnect switch having a blade pivotable between a closed state and an open state; a second operating mechanism for moving the disconnect switch blade between the closed state and the open state; a second actuating assembly for controlling movement of the second operating mechanism; and a first interlock member coupled to the load-breaker for concurrent travel therewith to prevent, independently of the second actuating assembly, the disconnect switch blade from pivoting from the closed state to the open state when the second contact is in the closed state.

16 . The interlock system of claim 15 , wherein when the second contact is in the open state, the disconnect switch blade is pivotable from the closed state to the open state.

17 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 15 , wherein when the second contact is in the closed state, the interlock member contacts a portion of the disconnect switch to prevent the disconnect switch blade from pivoting from the closed state to the open state.

18 . The circuit-interrupting device of claim 17 , wherein the portion of the disconnect switch comprises a second interlock member coupled to the disconnect switch blade for pivoting with the blade.

19 . The circuit-interrupting system of claim 15 , wherein when the second contact is in the open state and the disconnect switch blade is in the open state, the disconnect switch prevents the second contact from moving from the open state to the closed state.

20 . The circuit-interrupting system of claim 19 , wherein the disconnect switch prevents the second contact from moving from the open state to the closed state independently of the first actuating assembly.

Assignees

• G & W Electric

Inventors

• Darko Kennedy Amoako
• Martin Donald Richard

Classifications

• H01H9/24 Primary

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

• H01H2221/052

  interlocked · CPC title

• H01H2009/0292

  Transparent window or opening, e.g. for allowing visual inspection of contact position or contact condition · CPC title

• H01H33/6661

  Combination with other type of switch, e.g. for load break switches (H01H33/143, H01H33/6662 take precedence) · CPC title

• H01H33/121

  Load break switches · CPC title