Fusible switching disconnect modules and devices with multi-functional trip mechanism

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016372290-A1
Application number	US-201615251446-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 30, 2016
Priority date	Jan 19, 2011
Publication date	Dec 22, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A fusible switch disconnect device includes a housing adapted to receive at least one fuse therein, and a switchable contact for connecting the fuse to circuitry. A tripping mechanism and control circuitry are provided to move the switchable contact to an open position in response to a predetermined electrical condition.

First claim

1 - 57 . (canceled)

58 . A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
a disconnect housing adapted to receive and engage at least a portion of a removable overcurrent protection fuse, the fuse including first and second terminal elements and a fusible element electrically connected therebetween, the fusible element defining a circuit path and being configured to permanently open the circuit path in response to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path; line side and load side terminals in the disconnect housing and electrically connecting to the respective first and second terminal elements of the fuse when the fuse is received and engaged with the disconnect housing; at least one switchable contact in the disconnect housing, the at least one switchable contact provided between one of the line side terminal and load side terminal and a corresponding one of the first and second terminal elements of the fuse, the at least one switchable contact selectively positionable in an open position and a closed position to respectively connect or disconnect an electrical connection between the line side terminal and the load side terminal and through the circuit path of the fusible element; a switch actuator manually operable by a user to selectively position the at least one switchable contact; and a trip mechanism operable to automatically displace the switch actuator and cause the at least one switchable contact to move to the open position when a predetermined electrical condition occurs, wherein the trip mechanism includes a trip actuator, and a pivot arm positioned proximate the trip actuator and being displaced by the trip actuator in response to the predetermined electrical condition, wherein the trip mechanism further comprises a first mechanical link interconnecting the pivot arm and the switch actuator, wherein the switch actuator and the pivot arm may be simultaneously moved by the trip actuator.

59 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , wherein the switch actuator is rotatably mounted.

60 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , further comprising a movable interlock element in the disconnect housing, the interlock element independently provided from the pivot arm, and a second mechanical link interconnecting the pivot arm and the terminal interlock element, wherein the interlock element and the pivot arm may be simultaneously displaced by the trip actuator.

61 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , wherein the switch actuator is rotatably mounted in the disconnect housing at a location spaced from the pivot arm, and the device further comprises:
a movable interlock element in the disconnect housing at a location spaced from each of the switch actuator and the pivot arm; a sliding bar carrying the at least one switchable contact; and a second mechanical link interconnecting the rotatable arm, the switch actuator, the terminal interlock element and the sliding bar; and a third mechanical link interconnecting the pivot arm and the interlock element; whereby the pivot arm, the switch actuator, the terminal interlock element and the sliding bar may be simultaneously displaced by the trip actuator.

62 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , wherein the device further comprises a sliding bar carrying the at least one switchable contact, and an interlock element;
wherein displacement of the pivot arm simultaneously displaces the switch actuator and at least one of the sliding bar carrying the at least one switchable contact and the interlock element.

63 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , wherein the trip actuator comprises an electromagnetic coil and a cylinder extendable and retractable along a linear axis.

64 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , further comprising an interlock element and a second link coupled to the pivot arm and extending between the pivot arm and the interlock element, wherein a rotation of the pivot arm produces a linear motion of the interlock cover element.

65 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , further comprising a sliding bar carrying the at least one switchable contact, and a second link extending between the switch actuator and the sliding bar, wherein a rotational motion of the switch actuator produces a linear motion of the sliding bar.

66 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 65 , wherein an end of the first link and an end of the second link attach to the switch actuator at a common location.

67 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , further comprising a controller, a memory, and time-current curve data loaded in the memory, the trip mechanism operable by the controller as directed by the time-current curve data.

68 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 , further comprising:
an interlock element configured to lock and unlock the removable overcurrent protection fuse, wherein the switch actuator and the interlock element are mechanically linked such that the interlock element and the switch actuator are simultaneously movable.

69 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 58 further comprising:
a detecting element configured to sense the electrical condition in the circuit path; and
a processor-based control element configured to undertake a time-based and magnitude-based comparison of the sensed electrical condition in the current path and a predetermined time-based and magnitude-based electrical condition baseline.

70 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 69 , wherein the electrical condition baseline comprises a set of current magnitude values and time values for each current magnitude level.

71 . The fusible switch disconnect device of claim 70 , wherein the set of current magnitude values and time values is derived from a time-current curve for the overcurrent protection fuse.

72 . A fusible switch disconnect device comprising:
a disconnect housing adapted to receive and engage a removable overcurrent protection fuse, the fuse including first and second terminal blades and a fusible element electrically connected therebetween, the fusible element defining a circuit path and being configured to permanently open the circuit path in response to predetermined electrical current conditions experienced in the circuit path; line side and load side terminals in the disconnect housing and electrically connecting to the respective first and second terminal blades of the fuse when the fuse is received and engaged with the disconnect housing; a pair of switchable contacts in the disconnect housing, the pair of switchable contacts provided between one of the line side terminal and load side terminal and a corresponding one of the first and second terminal blades of the fuse, the pair of switchable contacts selectively positionable in an open position and a closed position to respectively connect or disconnect an electrical connection between the line side terminal and the load side terminal and through the circuit path of the fusible element; a switch actuator manually operable by a user to selectively position the pair of switchable contacts; and a trip mechanism operable to automatically displace the switch actuator and cause the pair of switchable contacts to move to the open position when a predetermined electrical condition occurs, wherein the trip mechanism includes a trip actuator, and a pivot arm positioned proximate the trip actuator and being displaced by the trip actuator in response to the predetermined electrical condition, wherein the trip me

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Darr Matthew Rain
• Kamath Hundi Panduranga

Classifications

• H01H71/08

  Terminals; Connections · CPC title

• H01H85/0241

  Structural association of a fuse and another component or apparatus (switches with built-in fuses H01H9/10, spark-gap arresters H01H85/44, transformers and inductances H01F27/402, capacitors H01G2/14, lamps H01K1/66, semiconductors H10W20/493 or H10W42/80) · CPC title

• H01H9/282

  and a separate part mounted or mountable on the switch assembly and movable between an unlocking position and a locking position where it can be secured by the padlock · CPC title

• H01H71/20 Primary

  with fusible mass · CPC title

• H01H71/125

  characterised by sensing elements, e.g. current transformers (for differential protection H01H83/144) · CPC title