US3422238A - Circuit breaker enclosure with external operating handle and combination thereof with circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

1969 T. J. RYS ETAL CIRCUIT BREAKER ENCLOSURE WITH EXTERNAL OPERATING HANDLE AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH CIRCUIT BREAKER Sheet of Filed May 17, 1967 INVENTOR.

Jan. 14, 1969 Ys A 3,422,238

CIRCUIT BREAKER ENCLOSURE WITH EXTERNAL OPERATING HANDLE AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 17, 1967 Sheet 2 of 3 I 264 35' 23 .4 Fz; j I 52% Z0 10 2/ 14 I 14; 1} -12 17 n I J 22 INVENTOR. w BY 1314 A 770/?NE'K Jan. 14, 1969 RYS T 3,422,238

CIRCUIT BREAKER ENCLOSURE WITH EXTERNAL OPERATING HANDLE AND COMBINATION THEREOF WITH CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed May 17, 1967 Sheet 3 of 3 INVENTOR.

( 5 f -ArmeAle-x United States Patent 7 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE The present improvement resides principally in a driving lost motion connecting means between a manually operable external operating handle which is movable to On and Off positions, selectively, and a settable circuit breaker handle which is moved by mechanism in the breaker to On and Off positions, respectively, with a snap action when the breaker handle is moved a predetermined distance toward a selected one of said positions, and which is moved from On position to an intermediate position upon tripping of the breaker.

The lost motion connecting means comprises a rocking bar connected to the breaker handle and rockable about a predetermined axis; a driving cam surface on the bar in eccentric relation to the axis of the bar; and a driving pin swingable by the manually operable external operating handle about an axis parallel to and offset from the rocking axis of the bar. The pin and cam surfaces are spaced from their respective rocking axes so that the pin remains in driving engagement with the cam surface, and thereby moves the bar toward On position during predetermined movement of the external operating handle toward On position, so that the breaker handle snaps to On position and rocks the bar with it, whereupon the pin passes out of driving engagement with, and in spaced trailing relation to, the cam surface when the bar is moved by the breaker handle as the handle move to On position, and leaves the breaker handle and bar free to be moved from On position to an intermediate position by the breaker upon the tripping of the circuit breaker.

This invention relates to a protective enclosure for a circuit breaker and an enclosure and circuit breaker combination wherein the circuit breaker can be sealed in the protective enclosure and its operating handle operated in its intended manner by a manual operating handle disposed at the exterior of the enclosure and so connected to the circuit breaker handle as to operate it in the usual manner while releasing the circuit breaker handle for movement out of its On position by the breaker, upon tripping of the breaker due to overloads and the like, while the external operating handle remains in the On position.

More specifically the combination includes a circuit breaker having a breaker operating handle movable to Off and On positions, selectively, and which, when moved partway toward the selected position, is moved with a snap action by a snap acting mechanism within the breaker fully to the selected position. The breaker handle, when in the On position, can be moved by the breaker to an intermediate position upon tripping of the breaker. An external operating handle is carried by the enclosure and is drivingly connected to the breaker handle by a lost motion connection such that the operating handle can move the breaker handle in the normal manner sufficiently toward the On and Off positions, selectively, to cause the snap acting mechanism of the breaker to move the breaker handle fully to the selected position. The lost motion connection is such that, upon movement of the breaker handle fully to On position, the lost motion connection releases the breaker handle from the operating handle and permits free movement of the breaker handle to the intermediate postiion by the breaker upon tripping of the breaker.

Various specific advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the following description wherein reference is made to the drawing in which:

FIG. 1 is a front end elevation of an enclosure and circuit breaker and their combination embodying the principles of the present invention, part of the door of the enclosure being broken away for clearness in illustration;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in section, of the enclosure and the operating connection between the external handle of the enclosure and the operating handle of the circuit breaker within the enclosure;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on line 33 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view showing the the external operating handle and connections between it and the circuit breaker handle, and the rocking axes of the handles and connections, other parts of the structure being omitted for clearness in illustration;

FIG. 5 is a diagrammatic side elevation showing the relative position of the circuit breaker handle and the driving mechanism therefor in the Off position of the breaker handle;

FIG. 6 is a view similar to FIG. 5 showing the same elements in a dead center position in moving from Off to On position of the breaker handle; and

FIG. 7 is a view similar to FIGS. 5 and 6, but showing the relative position of the parts in the On position of the breaker handle.

For purposes of illustration, the present invention is shown as incorporated in a switch enclosure of the type disclosed in Patent 3,378,666 and connected to a circuit breaker of the type disclosed in Patent 3,345,591.

As more fully disclosed in the above applications, the switch enclosure comprises a box with a hinged door which can be drawn into tight sealing position when closed. The sealing mechanism for the door is operated by an external sealing lever, being fully disclosed in the above application and it is omitted from the present disclosure for brevity. It forms no part of the present improvement.

Referring to the drawings, the enclosure comprises a box 1 which is open at the front and has a peripheral edge 2 defining the access opening which is closed by a hinged door 3. The door is provided with suitable peripheral seal 4 which seats against the edge 2 of the box when the door is closed. The door may be drawn fixedly and firmly into sealing relation by suitable mechanism, not shown, operated by sealing lever 5, and suitable interlocks may be provided for preventing the opening of the door under certain conditions, all as described in the above identified applications.

The present invention is directed to the adaptation of the enclosure for cooperation with a circuit breaker instead of the conventional switch. The circuit breaker 10-, as fully described in the above copending application of James H. Leonard et al. insofar as is pertinent to the present invention, is characterized by having a settable breaker operating handle 11 which, in the form illustrated, is movable upwardly in FIG. 1, to an On position and downwardly to an Off position. Snap acting means, not shown, in the breaker 10 drive the handle 11, see FIG. 3, with a snap action to On and Off positions, selectively, when the handle is moved manually a predetermined distance partway toward the selected positions, respectively. The handle 11 is moved from On to intermediate position by the breaker mechanism when the breaker is tripped by overload and the like.

The breaker mechanism is mounted in a suitable molded housing 12 which is secured in fixed position within the box 1 on the back wall thereof by suitable bolts or the like.

The specific type of circuit breaker, and the means in the breaker by which the snap action of the handle 11 is effected forms no part of the present invention.

As heretofore mentioned, the principal feature of the present invention resides in the connection of an external operating handle on the enclosure and the operating handle 11 of the breaker.

An external operating handle 13 is mounted on, and for rotation With, a rock shaft 14 which is supported in a suitable external bearing 15 secured by bolts 16 to a boss 17 on one side wall of the box 1. The sealing lever 5 is mounted between the handle 13 and the side wall, and is rockable independently of the handle 13 for driving sealing mechanism in the box which draws the door into sealing position under certain conditions.

The shaft 14 is provided with an out-of-round portion 19 which is preferably hexagonal and fits a suitable aperture in the handle 13 so that the shaft and handle 13 are rotatable as a unit. The shaft 14 extends through a suitable aperture 20 in the side wall of the box and its inner end has a cylindrical bearing portion 21.

Mounted on the hexagonal portion of the shaft 14 within the box is a driver 22 which is secured in fixed position on a cam 23 so as to be rockable with the rock shaft 14 as the rock shaft is rocked by the operating handle 13. The driver 22 and cam 23 provide a rockable operator.

As best illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 5, the cam 23 is provided with a slot 24 in which a cross pin 25 is disposed. The pin 25 is operatively connected to a dead center spring 26 arranged so that, when the cam is moved clockwise toward the On position by the handle 13 past a dead center position, the spring is operative to drive the cam 23 and handle 13 to the full On position of the handle 13, and, when the cam is moved by the handle 13 counterclockwise in FIG. 2 past dead center position, the spring is operative to drive the cam and handle 13 to the fully Off position. The above structure is disclosed in the above prior copending applications.

In order to drive the circuit breaker handle 11 by the cam 23 in response to movement of the handle 13, and yet permit the circuit breaker handle 11 to move to an inter mediate position upon tripping of the breaker caused by overload and the like, a suitable breaker operator 27 is provided.

The breaker operator 27 comprises a rocking bar 30 having at its lower end an aperture 31 by which it is pivotally secured by a pivot 32 to a suitable bracket 33 secured on the interior of the box so that the bar 30 can swing freely about the axis of the pivot 32. The cylindrical portion of the shaft 14 at the inner end of the rock shaft 14 is rotatably supported in the bracket 33.

The bar 30 has a lateral extension 35 which provides an actuating member for the breaker operating handle 11. The extension 35 extends inwardly transversely of the enclosure in a direction generally endwise of the rock shaft 14. At its inner end, the extension is provided with a spring clip connection 36 which is preferably of U-shape construction opening toward the breaker handle 11 and having arms 36a which engage opposite faces of the handle 11 for moving the handle toward On and Off positions upon rocking of the bar 30 about the axis of the pivot 32.

The actuating extension 35 and bar 36 are driven by the cam 23 with a lost motion means. This means comprises a drive pin 38 on the cam 23 which operates against an internal cam surface 39 on the bar 315. It is to be noted that the pin 38 is rockable about the axis of the shaft 14, whereas the bar 30 is rockable about the axis of the pivot 2 which is parallel to, but offset from the axis of the shaft 14. With this eccentric relation, and the proper shape of the internal cam surface 39, when the handle 13 is rocked toward On position, the pin 38 engages the surface 39 and rocks the bar 30 toward On position. This movement continues until the handle 11 moves with a snap action to On position, rocking with it the bar 30. The lost motion connection between the pin 38 and the bar 30 permits the bar 30 to be swung freely by the handle 11 from On position to a position intermediate the Off and On positions When the circuit breaker is tripped by an overload or fault current.

As illustrated in FIGS. 5 through 7, the internal cam surface 39 has an internally projecting lobe or peak 40 with a valley 41 at one side and a valley 42 at the opposite side of the lobe. When the external operating handle 13 is in the Off position, the pin 38 is in the valley 41. In this position the cincuit breaker handle 11 is in Off position, and the breaker is fully open.

Upon rotation of the cam 23 clockwise in FIG. 6, the pin 38 climbs along the left hand side of the lobe 40 moving the 'bar 30 clockwise until the handle 11 reaches its dead center position as illustrated in FIG. 6, wherein the pin 38 is near the crest of the lobe 40. Thereupon the handle 11 drives the bar 31) clockwise as it closes the breaker. Also, the spring 26 becomes effective for moving the cam 23 and handle 13 to On position.

The rising of the pin 33 along the left hand side of the lobe 40 is due to the eccentricity of the axis of rotation of the pin 38 and the bar 30. By the time the pin 38 passes the lobe, the handle 11 has snapped to On position, as illustrated in FIG. 7. When the pin 38 has passed the lobe, it will continue to be moved by the cam 23 under the influence of the spring 26, to the fully On position illustrated in FIG. 7. Due to the eccentricity of the axes of the cam 23 and bar 30, the pin 38, after passing the lobe, trails behind the right hand side of the valley 42 and remains spaced therefrom and from the left hand wall of the valley 42. In this position, the bar 30 is free to swing counterclockwise in FIG. 7 until the right hand wall of the valley 42 engages the pin 38, as indicated in dotted lines in FIG. 7. The counterclockwise movement permitted is sufficient to permit the circuit breaker handle 11 to be moved freeTy to its intermediate position, Without hindrance by the cam 23, handle 13, and the driving connections therebetween upon tripping of the circuit breaker by an overload.

Upon tripping of the breaker the external operating handle 13 remains in On position, and it is desirable to indicate this condition. For this purpose, a suitable flag 45 is provided on the extension 35 of the bar 30 and is positioned so that, when the circuit breaker handle 11 is in the intermediate position, the flag 45 is exposed beneath a window 46 in the door 3. Thus, even though the handle 13 is in an On position, the interrupted condition of the circuit breaker is indicated.

In order to reset or close the circuit breaker, it is necessary only to move the operating handle 13, and thereby the breaker handle 11, first to the Off position, or counterclockwise in FIG. 2, then, when the handle 13 and handle 11 are in the Off position, to move the handle 13 to On position for reclosing the breaker.

Usually, however, when tripped, the handle 13 is operated to open the circuit breaker which is inspected and serviced before reclosure by the handle 13 after closing and sealing the door 3.

By this arrangement, a lost motion connection is provided between the external operating handle 13 and the operating handle 11 of the circuit breaker within the enclosure without interfering witht the normal and intended operation of the circuit breaker.

Having thus described our invention, we claim:

1. An enclosure for a circuit breaker including a breaker operating handle movable to On and Off positions, selectively, and snap acting means connected to the breaker operating handle for driving it with a snap action to the selected one of said positions when it is moved to a predetermined distance toward the selected position, and said breaker operating handle being movable by the breaker to an intermediate position upon tripping of the breaker;

said enclosure comprising a box adapted to support the breaker interiorly;

an external operating handle mounted on the box for movement to On and Off positions, selectively;

a rocking bar mounted in the box for rocking about a predetermined axis;

a rockable operator mounted in the box forrocking about a predetermined axis and connected to the bar for rocking the bar upon predetermined rocking of the operator, and means connecting the external operating handle to the operator for rocking the operator thereby;

the improvement wherein the bar is adapted for connection to the breaker operating handle for moving the breaker operating handle toward said positions of the breaker operating handle, selectively, upon rocking of the bar about its axis, and for rocking of the bar about its axis by the breaker operating handle;

the rockable operator has its predetermined rocking axis offset radially from said predetermined axis of the bar;

,lost motion connecting means connect the operator to the bar so as to rock the bar sufiiciently toward On and Off positions, selectively, upon movement of the external operating handle a predetermined distance toward On and Off positions, respectively, to cause the snap acting means to move the breaker operating handle, and thereby continue the movement of the bar, in the selected direction, fully to the selected operating position of the breaker operating handle; and

said lost motion connecting means includes means operative, upon movement of the bar by the external operating handle sufficiently toward On position of the breaker operating handle to cause the snap acting means to move the breaker operating handle to On position, to release the bar for continued movement by the breaker operating handle to the On position, and to release the bar for free return of the bar by the breaker operating handle to the intermediate position upon tripping of the breaker while the external operating handle remains in On position.

2. The structure of claim 1 wherein the bar and op- 3. The structure of claim 2 wherein the bar is provided with a cam surface eccentric to the rocking'axis of the bar,

the operator is provided with a pin eccentric to the rocking axis of the operator and engageable with said cam surface for driving the bar, upon rocking of the operator, in a direction for causing the bar to move the breaker operating handle said predetermined distance toward the On position; and

said cam surface and eccentricity of said axes being related to cause the pin to disengage said cam surface and assume a position spaced therefrom when the bar, operator, and external operating handle are moved to fully On position, whereby the bar can be moved to its said intermediate position unhindered by the pin.

4. The structure according to claim 3 wherein the cam surface comprises a lobe and valleys leading and trailing the lobe, respectively, in the direction of rocking the bar toward On position of the breaker operating handle;

the pin is positioned to engage the leading wall of the trailing valley initially when the operator is moved partway toward On position, and to pass the lobe and move into the leading valley in spaced relation to both walls thereof as the external operating handle and operator are moved to fully On position, and the bar is moved by the breaker operating handle to fully On position, so as to permit said movement of the bar from On to intermediate position unhindered by the pin; and

said trailing wall of the leading valley is positioned to be engaged by the pin upon movement of the operator by the external operating handle a predetermined distance from On position toward Off position andto be moved by the pin for moving the bar sufliciently toward Off position for return of the bar to fully Off position by the breaker operating handle.

5. A protective enclosure adapted to support a circuit breaker interiorly:

a ci rcpit breaker in the enclosure and including a breaker operating handle movable to On and Off positions, selectively, and snap acting means connected to the breaker operating handle for driving it with a snap action to the selected one of said positions when it is moved a predetermined distance toward the selected position, and said breaker operating handle being movable by the breaker to an intermediate position upon tripping of the breaker;

an-external operating handle mounted on the box for movement to On and Off positions, selectively;

a rocking bar mounted in the box for rocking about a predetermined axis;

a rockable operator mounted in the enclosure for rocking about a second predetermined axis offset from the first predetermined axis and connected to the bar for rocking the bar upon predetermined rocking of the operator; and means connecting the external operating handle to the operator for rocking the operator thereby;

the improvement wherein the bar is connected to the breaker operating handle for moving the breaker operating handle toward said positions of the breaker operating handle, selectively, upon rocking of the bar about its axis, and for rocking of the bar about its axis by the breaker operating handle;

lost motion connecting means connect the operator to the bar so as to rock the :bar sufficiently toward On and. Off positions, selectively, upon movement of the external operating handle a predetermined distance toward On and OE positions, respectively, to cause the snap acting means to move the breaker operating handle, and thereby continue the movement of the bar, in the selected direction, fully to the selected operating position of the breaker operating handle; and

said lost mot-ion connecting means includes means operative, upon movement of the bar by the external operating handle sufficiently toward On position of the breaker operating handle to cause the snap acting means to move the breaker operating handle to On position, to release the bar for continued movement by the breaker operating handle to the On position, and to release the bar for free return of the bar by the breaker operating handle to the intermediate position upon tripping of the breaker while the external operating handle remains in On position.

6. The structure according to claim 5 wherein the circuit breaker is enclosed in a molded case which, in turn, is enclosed in the enclosure;

the enclosure has a door;

a window is provided in the door; and

indicating means connected for movement in predetermined relation to the :breaker operating handle are provided, and are moved to position for viewing through the window when the breaker operating handle is moved to its said intermediate position.

7. The structure according to claim 6 wherein the indicating means are carried by, and are movable with, the bar.

(References on following page) References Cited 1,801,866

UNITED STATES ATE TS 2,272,730

2/1941 Jackson 200-167 XR 3,227,831 :8/1948 Adams 200-167 5/1960 Cutler et a1. 200-167 XR 7/1966 Farina et a1. 200-168 5 ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Primary Examiner.

H. O. JONES, Assistant Examiner.

Jennings 200-67 Hammerly 200-67 Smith et a1 200-67 Jacks et a1.

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