Disconnect operating handles suitable for circuit breakers and related bucket assemblies and handle interlocks

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9496101-B2
Application number	US-201414524585-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 27, 2014
Priority date	Feb 6, 2014
Publication date	Nov 15, 2016
Grant date	Nov 15, 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 can 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 a primary body with opposing spaced apart first and second end portions held in the channel, the second end portion of the 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 outer cover channel; and
at least one resilient member in communication with the lever, wherein the at least one resilient member extends inward under the primary body of the lever, spaced apart from the lever pivot pin and is held in at least a partially compressed state.

2. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , wherein the lever is an elongate lever that has a transverse channel residing between the first and second end portions and the lever pivot pin resides in the transverse channel, wherein the lockout lever comprises an inwardly extending leg positioned under and adjacent the lever pivot pin, wherein the leg extends through a center of at least one of the at least one resilient member into a cavity, and wherein, in operation, the leg pivots back and forth causing the resilient member to flex angularly to thereby provide rotational torque for a toggle-assist action of the handle between operative positions.

3. 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 handle core pivot pin holders.

4. 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.

5. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , 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 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.

6. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient member comprises a spring held under the pivot pin of the lever that presses outward against a bottom surface of the lever to force the second end portion of the lever to pivot outward in response to when a user depresses the lever at a defined end portion of the lever.

7. The disconnect operator handle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a handle core residing under the cover with outwardly extending spaced apart walls defining a cavity therebetween, each with a respective pivot pin holder, wherein the lever resides between the handle core spaced apart walls in the cavity with the lever pivot pin extending into the pivot pin holders;
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 with the first end portion of the elongate lever is pivoted inward.

8. The disconnect operator handle of claim 7 , 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 in a direction that is perpendicular to the single lockout pin and the retainer pin extends through a cooperating front end portion of the elongate lever to hold the single lockout pin to the lever.

9. 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 having 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.

10. The disconnect operator of claim 9 , wherein the outer surface of the handle core includes a flat segment between the walls that merges into an adjacent segment that angles inward or down toward the front end portion of the lever, wherein the pivot pin holders reside above and adjacent a peak that transitions the flat segment to the angled segment.

11. The disconnect operator of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient member resides under the lever pivot pin in a cavity in a handle core and is configured to be held trapped between a leg extending below the lever in the cavity in the at least partially compressed state while being able to flex angularly in the cavity to move radially inward and outward at a top portion thereof to thereby provide rotational torque for a toggle-assist action of the handle between operative positions.

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 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 outer cover channel;
at least one resilient member residing under and in communication with the lever, wherein the resilient member pushes the lever outward to expose the lockout passage;
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 handle core pivot pin holders;
at least one lockout pin held by the first end portion of the lever, the at least one lockout pin extending inwardly; and
a magnetic latch comprising at least one permanent magnet held by the handle core under a second end portion of the lever, the magnetic latch configured to latch the lever to the handle core so that the handle core, outer cover and lever can rotate as a unit when latched.

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 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 outer cover channel;
at least one resilient member residing under and in communication with the lever, wherein the resilient member pushes the lever outward to expose the lockout passage; and
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 as a unit in an OFF position, and wherein t

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

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

Classifications

• H01H2219/036

  Light emitting elements · CPC title

• H01H2219/0621

  Optical fiber light conductor · CPC title

• H01H9/281 Primary

  making use of a padlock (H01H9/287 takes precedence) · 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

• H01H71/56 Primary

  actuated by rotatable knob or wheel · CPC title