Actuation system for an electrical switching device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9679733-B2
Application number	US-201414505085-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 2, 2014
Priority date	Oct 2, 2014
Publication date	Jun 13, 2017
Grant date	Jun 13, 2017

Abstract

An actuation system for a switch assembly having at least one switch includes a linear actuator drivable for actuating the switch, and a handle configured for selectively driving the linear actuator. The handle is operable in a first state in which the handle is coupled to the linear actuator such that turning the handle does not drive the linear actuator, and a second state in which the handle is coupled to the linear actuator such that turning the handle drives the linear actuator.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An actuation system for a switch assembly having at least one switch, the actuation system comprising:
a linear actuator drivable for actuating the at least one switch;
a handle for selectively driving the linear actuator, wherein the handle is operable in a first state in which the handle is coupled to the linear actuator such that turning the handle does not drive the linear actuator, and a second state in which the handle is coupled to the linear actuator such that turning the handle drives the linear actuator;
a shaft coupled between the linear actuator and the handle, wherein the handle turns relative to the shaft in the first state and rotates the shaft when turned in the second state;
wherein the handle is coupled to the shaft for keyed interaction with the shaft;
wherein the handle comprises a spring and a housing displaceable along the shaft against a bias of the spring to enable the keyed interaction of the handle with the shaft; and
a lug coupled to the shaft, wherein the lug defines a key and the housing defines a keyhole such that the key of the lug is insertable into the keyhole of the housing to enable the keyed interaction of the handle with the shaft;
wherein the housing receives a locking device in a manner that inhibits the housing from being displaced along the shaft to prevent the keyed interaction.

2. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the linear actuator comprises a rack-and-pinion gear assembly.

3. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch comprises a plurality of switches each comprising a lever, the actuation system coupled to the plurality of switches for collectively displacing the lever of each of the plurality of switches.

4. The actuation system of claim 3 , wherein the actuation system further comprises an elongate sleeve that receives the lever of each of the plurality of switches, the linear actuator collectively displacing the lever of each of the plurality of switches by displacing the sleeve.

5. The actuation system of claim 1 , in combination with an enclosure comprising a door,
and wherein the handle is disposed within the enclosure when the door is closed.

6. The of actuation system of claim 5 , further comprising a gearbox, wherein the shaft has an intermediate segment and a distal end, and wherein the shaft projects from the gearbox to the distal end with the handle fixed to the intermediate segment of the shaft.

7. The actuation system of claim 6 , in combination with the at least one switch, wherein the gearbox is mounted on the at least one switch.

8. The actuation system of claim 6 , wherein the handle is an internal handle, and wherein the actuation system also has an external handle mounted on the door such that the external handle engages the distal end of the shaft when the door is closed and disengages the distal end of the shaft when the door is opened.

9. The actuation system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one switch is a fusible disconnect switch.

10. The actuation system of claim 9 , wherein the fusible disconnect switch has a seat that receives a detachable, overcurrent protection fuse module in a plug-in connection of the fuse module to the seat.

11. The actuation system of claim 9 , wherein the at least one switch comprises a plurality of the fusible disconnect switches arranged side-by-side.

12. The actuation system of claim 7 , wherein the handle is irremovably fixed to the shaft such that only upon rotating and pushing the handle does the handle engage the shaft in the second state.

13. A switch assembly comprising:
at least one switch; and
an actuation system for actuating the at least one switch, wherein the actuation system comprises:
a gearbox mounted on the at least one switch, wherein the gearbox comprises a linear actuator for actuating the at least one switch;
a shaft coupled to the linear actuator and projecting from the gearbox such that rotation of the shaft drives the linear actuator; and
a handle irremovably fixed to the shaft such that the handle is selectively engageable with the shaft for rotating the shaft to drive the linear actuator;
wherein the at least one switch comprises a plurality of switches each comprising a lever, the actuation system coupled to the plurality of switches for collectively displacing the lever of each of the plurality of switches;
wherein the actuation system further comprises an elongate sleeve that receives the lever of each of the plurality of switches, the linear actuator collectively displacing the lever of each of the plurality of switches by displacing the elongate sleeve;
wherein the linear actuator comprises a rack-and-pinion gear assembly; and
wherein the actuation system further comprises a yoke that straddles the elongate sleeve for displacing the elongate sleeve.

14. The switch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the rack-and-pinion gear assembly comprises a rack integrally formed with the yoke.

15. The switch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the handle turns relative to the shaft in a first state and rotates the shaft when turned in a second state.

16. The switch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the handle is coupled to the shaft for keyed interaction with the shaft.

17. The switch assembly of claim 16 , wherein the handle comprises a spring and a housing displaceable along the shaft against a bias of the spring to enable the keyed interaction of the handle with the shaft.

18. The switch assembly of claim 17 , further comprising a lug coupled to the shaft, wherein the lug defines a key and the housing defines a keyhole such that the key of the lug is insertable into the keyhole of the housing to enable the keyed interaction of the handle with the shaft.

19. The switch assembly of claim 13 , further comprising an enclosure having a door, and the handle being housed within the enclosure.

20. The switch assembly of claim 19 , wherein the handle is an internal handle, and wherein the switch assembly further comprises an external handle mounted on the door of the enclosure, the external handle engaging the shaft when the door is closed.

21. The switch assembly of claim 20 , wherein the external handle removably receives the shaft when the door is closed.

22. The switch assembly of claim 13 , wherein the gearbox comprises a cover sized to surround the linear actuator and the sleeve.

Assignees

• Cooper Technologies Co

Inventors

• Dunker Jessica Ann

Classifications

• H01H85/54

  Protective devices wherein the fuse is carried, held, or retained by an intermediate or auxiliary part removable from the base, or used as sectionalisers · CPC title

• H01H3/40

  using friction, toothed, or screw-and-nut gearing · CPC title

• H01H71/52 Primary

  actuated by lever · CPC title

• H01H9/223

  Defeatable locking means · CPC title