Electrical switching apparatus and pole shaft catch assembly therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9536694-B2
Application number	US-201414560191-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 4, 2014
Priority date	Dec 4, 2014
Publication date	Jan 3, 2017
Grant date	Jan 3, 2017

Abstract

A pole shaft catch assembly is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker. The circuit breaker includes a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing the separable contacts. The operating mechanism includes a pole shaft pivotably coupled to the housing and a yoke assembly coupled to the pole shaft. The pole shaft catch assembly includes a catch arm. The catch arm moves between an engaged position in which the catch arm engages the yoke assembly to restrict movement of the yoke assembly and the pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which the catch arm disengages the yoke assembly. A biasing element biases the catch arm toward the disengaged position. A trigger translates movement of the yoke assembly into movement of the catch arm.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A pole shaft catch assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical apparatus comprising a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft pivotably coupled to the housing and a yoke assembly coupled to said pole shaft, said pole shaft catch assembly comprising:
a catch arm structured to cooperate with said yoke assembly, said catch arm moving between an engaged position in which said catch arm engages said yoke assembly to restrict movement of said yoke assembly and said pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which said catch arm disengages said yoke assembly;
a biasing element biasing said catch arm toward said disengaged position; and
a trigger cooperating with said catch arm, said trigger being structured to translate movement of said yoke assembly into movement of said catch arm,
wherein said catch arm comprises a mounting portion and a catch portion disposed opposite and distal from said mounting portion; wherein said catch arm is structured to pivot about said mounting portion with respect to said yoke assembly; and wherein said trigger engages said catch portion to move said catch arm toward said engaged position,
wherein said catch arm further comprises a first planar member, a second planar member, and a across member; wherein said second planar member is disposed opposite and spaced apart from said first planar member; and wherein said cross member extends between said first planar member and said second planar member at or about said catch portion, and
wherein said trigger comprises an actuation portion and a trigger portion; wherein said actuation portion is structured to cooperate with said yoke assembly to pivot said trigger; wherein said trigger portion extends between said first planar member and said second planar member; and wherein, responsive to said yoke assembly pivoting said trigger, said trigger portion engages said cross member and pivots said catch arm toward said engaged position.

2. The pole shaft catch assembly of claim 1 wherein said trigger further comprises a pivot member structured to pivotably couple said trigger to the housing.

3. The pole shaft catch assembly of claim 1 wherein said yoke assembly comprises a first end coupled to said pole shaft, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, and a protrusion protruding from the first side; where said protrusion has a first edge and a second edge; and wherein the first edge of said protrusion is structured to engage said actuation portion of said trigger to pivot said trigger.

4. The pole shaft catch assembly of claim 3 wherein said cross member is a catch pin; wherein a portion of said protrusion is structured to extend between said first planar member and said second planar member; and wherein, when said catch arm is disposed in said engaged position, said catch pin is structured to engage the second edge of said protrusion to prevent said yoke assembly and said pole shaft from rebounding.

5. The pole shaft catch assembly of claim 4 wherein said yoke assembly further comprises a spring seat; wherein said spring seat includes a pivot portion; wherein said biasing element is a torsion spring having a number of coils, a first leg, and a second leg; wherein said first planar member of said catch arm includes a spring aperture; wherein said pivot portion of said spring seat extends through said number of coils; wherein said first leg engages said first planar member at or about said spring aperture; and wherein said second leg is structured to engage a portion of the housing.

6. The pole shaft catch assembly of claim 5 wherein said first planar member and said second planar member each include a thru hole; and wherein said pivot portion of said spring seat extends through said thru hole of said first planar member and said thru hole of said second planar member.

7. The pole shaft catch assembly of claim 5 wherein said catch arm further comprises a fastener assembly structured to fasten said torsion spring to said first planar member.

8. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:
a housing;
separable contacts enclosed by the housing;
an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft pivotably coupled to the housing and a yoke assembly coupled to said pole shaft; and
a pole shaft catch assembly comprising:
a catch arm cooperating with said yoke assembly, said catch arm moving between an engaged position in which said catch arm engages said yoke assembly to restrict movement of said yoke assembly and said pole shaft, and a disengaged position in which said catch arm disengages said yoke assembly,
a biasing element biasing said catch arm toward said disengaged position, and
a trigger cooperating with said catch arm, said trigger being structured to translate movement of said yoke assembly into movement of said catch arm,

wherein said catch arm comprises a mounting portion and a catch portion disposed opposite and distal from said mounting portion; wherein said mounting portion is pivotably coupled to said yoke assembly; and wherein said trigger engages said catch portion to move said catch arm toward said engaged position,
wherein said catch arm further comprises a first planar member, a second planar member, and a cross member; wherein said second planar member is disposed opposite and space apart from said first planar member; and wherein said cross member extends between said first planar member and said second planar member at or about said catch portion, and
wherein said trigger comprises an actuation portion and a trigger portion; wherein said actuation portion cooperates with said yoke assembly to pivot said trigger; wherein said trigger portion extends between said first planar member and said second planar member; and wherein, responsive to said yoke assembly pivoting said trigger, said trigger portion engages said cross member and pivots said catch arm toward said engaged position.

9. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 8 wherein said trigger further comprises a pivot member pivotably coupling said trigger to the housing.

10. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 8 wherein said yoke assembly comprises a first end coupled to said pole shaft, a second end disposed opposite and distal from the first end, a first side, a second side disposed opposite the first side, and a protrusion protruding from the first side; where said protrusion has a first edge and a second edge; and wherein the first edge of said protrusion engages said actuation portion of said trigger to pivot said trigger.

11. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 10 wherein said cross member is a catch pin; wherein a portion of said protrusion extends between said first planar member and said second planar member; and wherein, when said catch arm is disposed in said engaged position, said catch pin engages the second edge of said protrusion to prevent said yoke assembly and said pole shaft from rebounding.

12. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 11 wherein said yoke assembly further comprises a spring seat; wherein said spring seat includes a pivot portion; wherein said biasing element is a torsion spring having a number of coils, a first leg, and a second leg; wherein said first planar member of said catch arm includes a spring aperture; wherein said pivot portion of said spring seat extends through said number of coils; wherein said first leg engages said first planar member

Assignees

• Eaton Corp

Inventors

• Gottschalk Andrew L
• Rakus Paul R
• Bogdon Erik R

Classifications

• H01H71/505 Primary

  Latching devices between operating and release mechanism · CPC title

• H01H71/504

  provided with anti-rebound means · CPC title

• H01H3/32

  Driving mechanisms, i.e. for transmitting driving force to the contacts (snap-action arrangements H01H5/00; introducing a predetermined time delay H01H7/00) · CPC title

• H01H71/02 Primary

  Housings; Casings; Bases; Mountings · CPC title

• H01H71/10 Primary

  Operating or release mechanisms · CPC title