Disconnect operating handles suitable for circuit breakers and related bucket assemblies

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9484163-B2
Application number	US-201414174481-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 6, 2014
Priority date	Feb 6, 2014
Publication date	Nov 1, 2016
Grant date	Nov 1, 2016

Abstract

Disconnect operating handles for circuit breakers are configured with a rotary handle attached to an inwardly oriented shaft that connects to a gear assembly that translates rotational input to linear input. The disconnect operating handles include pivoting lockout levers that automatically “pop” out to expose the lockout space for a padlock when a user touches the lever in an appropriate location.

First claim

That which is claimed is:

1. A disconnect operator handle, comprising:
an outer cover having a channel;
a lockout lever having opposing spaced apart first and second end portions held in the channel, the second end portion of the elongate lockout lever configured to pivot outward from the channel and expose a lockout passage residing under an outer surface of the lever;
a lever pivot pin attached to the lever to pivotably hold the lever in the channel; and
at least one resilient member extending axially inward under the lever into an aligned resilient member retention feature or member to be in communication with the lever that presses outward against the lever to force the lever to pivot outward, wherein the resilient member pushes the second end portion of the lever outward to expose the lockout passage in response to when a user depresses the lever.

2. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , wherein the lever is an elongate lever that has a transverse channel residing in a medial portion of the lever between the first and second end portions and the lever pivot pin resides in the transverse channel.

3. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one lockout pin held by the first end portion of the lever, the at least one lockout pin extending inwardly.

4. The disconnect operator handle of claim 3 , further comprising a base that holds the cover with the lever to a housing panel of a circuit breaker and allows the cover and lever to rotate through defined operational positions, wherein the base holds a drive shaft holder and comprises an aperture that slidably receives the at least one lockout pin to inhibit or prevent handle rotation out of a defined operating position when the lever is extended to expose the lockout passage.

5. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , further comprising a handle core with outwardly extending spaced apart walls, each with a respective pivot pin holder, wherein the lever resides between the handle core walls with the lever pivot pin extending into the pivot pin holders.

6. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , further comprising at least one light illuminating surface proximate the lever or in the lever that is externally visible and configured to be illuminated from a light path extending within the operator handle.

7. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , wherein the resilient member comprises a coil spring with axially opposing first and second ends held under the lever at so that the first and second ends are spaced apart from the lever pivot pin.

8. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a handle core residing under the cover with outwardly extending spaced apart walls, each with a respective pivot pin holder, wherein the lever resides between the handle core walls with the lever pivot pin extending into the pivot pin holders, wherein the handle core comprises the resilient member retention feature or member;
a base that resides under and is attached to the handle core, the base adapted to hold the handle core, the cover with the lever to a housing panel of a circuit breaker and allows the handle core, the cover and the lever to rotate as a unit through defined operational positions; and
at least one lockout pin held by the first end portion of the lever, the at least one lockout pin extending inwardly a length sufficient to extend through an aperture in the base to lock the handle core, cover and lever in a defined operational position when the second end portion of the lever is pivoted outward to expose the lockout passage and the first end portion of the elongate lever is pivoted inward.

9. The disconnect operator of claim 8 , wherein the at least one lockout pin is a single lockout pin and includes an aperture in a top end portion thereof, the disconnect operator further comprising a retainer pin extending through the single lockout pin and extending through a cooperating front end portion of the elongate lever.

10. The disconnect operator of claim 1 , further comprising:
at least one inwardly extending lockout pin held by the front end portion of the lever; and
a circular handle core residing under the cover, the handle core with an outer surface comprising a pair of outwardly extending spaced apart walls, each with a respective pivot pin holder, wherein the lever resides between the handle core walls with the lever pivot pin extending into the pivot pin holders.

11. A disconnect operator handle, comprising:
an outer cover having a channel;
a lockout lever having opposing spaced apart first and second end portions held in the channel, the second end portion of the elongate lockout lever configured to pivot outward from the channel and expose a lockout passage residing under an outer surface of the lever;
a lever pivot pin attached to the lever to pivotably hold the lever in the channel; and
at least one resilient member residing under and in communication with the lever that presses outward against the lever to force the lever to pivot outward, wherein the resilient member automatically pushes the second end portion of the lever outward to expose the lockout passage in response to when a user depresses the lever,
wherein the disconnect operator handle comprises a handle core attached to a base and the cover, wherein the base has an aperture that has a configuration adapted to allow a limited defined circumferential movement of the cover, lever and core unit in an OFF position, and wherein the base comprises a cantilevered locator feature on an inner perimeter thereof that cooperates with underlying surface features at defined positions associated with OFF/RESET and ON, respectively, to provide a detent for the handle.

12. A disconnect operator handle, comprising:
an outer cover having a channel;
a lockout lever having opposing spaced apart first and second end portions held in the channel, the second end portion of the elongate lockout lever configured to pivot outward from the channel and expose a lockout passage residing under an outer surface of the lever;
a lever pivot pin attached to the lever to pivotably hold the lever in the channel;
at least one resilient member residing under and in communication with the lever, wherein, the resilient member automatically pushes the second end portion of the lever outward to expose the lockout passage in response to when a user depresses the lever;
at least one inwardly extending lockout pin held by the front end portion of the lever; and
a circular handle core residing under the cover, the handle core with an outer surface comprising a pair of outwardly extending spaced apart walls, each with a respective pivot pin holder, wherein the lever resides between the handle core walls with the lever pivot pin extending into the pivot pin holders, and
wherein the handle core further comprises an aperture residing on an outer perimeter portion that is aligned with the first end portion of the lever to allow the at least one lockout pin to extend therethrough, and also comprises a resilient member retention feature or member residing between the walls under the lever.

13. A disconnect operator handle, comprising:
an outer cover having a channel;
a lockout lever having opposing spaced apart first and second end portions held in the channel, the second end portion of the elongate lockout lever configured to pivot outward from the channel and expose a lockout passage residing under an outer surface of the lever;
a lever pivot pin attached to the lever to pivotably hold the lever in the channel;
at least one resilient member residing under and in communication with the lever that presses out

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Oneufer Stephen William
• Yee Edgar
• Morris Robert Allan
• Kroushl Daniel Boyd

Classifications

• H01H9/18

  Distinguishing marks on switches, e.g. for indicating switch location in the dark; Adaptation of switches to receive distinguishing marks · CPC title

• H01H9/161

  comprising light emitting elements · CPC title

• H01H71/56

  actuated by rotatable knob or wheel · CPC title

• H01H9/223 Primary

  Defeatable locking means · 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