# US 2014/0151207 A1 · Electrical switching apparatus and levering assembly therefor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151207 A1 - Document ID: US20140151207A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/693,292 - Filed: 2012-12-04 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-04 - Assignees: Eaton Corporation - Applicants: Eaton Corporation - Inventors: Craig Allen Rodgers; Nathan James Weister; Erik Russell Bogdon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151207A1 ## CPC - H01H 3/06: Means for securing to shaft of driving mechanism - H02B 11/127: Withdrawal mechanism - H01H: ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES (contact cables H01B7/10; electrolytic self-interrupters H01G9/18; emergency protective circuit arrangements H02H; switching by electronic means without contact-making H03K17/00) - H02B: BOARDS, SUBSTATIONS OR SWITCHING ARRANGEMENTS FOR THE SUPPLY OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER ## Abstract A drive shaft extension assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus which is removably disposed in a cassette. The electrical switching apparatus includes a levering assembly with a drive shaft. The drive shaft extension assembly includes a housing assembly, a shaft extension including an elongated body, and a racking gear. The shaft extension is structured to be coupled to the drive shaft in a fixed orientation, thereby increasing the width of the levering assembly. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive shaft extension assembly for a electrical switching assembly said electrical switching assembly including an electrical switching apparatus, a cassette, and a base levering assembly, said base levering assembly including a drive shaft having an end including a first shaft coupling component, said drive shaft extension assembly comprising: a housing assembly; a shaft extension including an elongated body; a racking gear; said shaft extension body having a first end and a second end; said shaft extension body first end including a second shaft coupling component; said racking gear coupled to said shaft extension body second end; said shaft extension body rotatably disposed in said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly; and wherein said shaft extension second shaft coupling component is structured to be coupled to said first shaft coupling component with said drive shaft and said shaft extension being aligned. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive shaft extension assembly of claim 1 wherein said second shaft coupling component is a fixed orientation coupling component. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The drive shaft extension assembly of claim 2 wherein said second shaft coupling component is a D-shaft coupling component. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The drive shaft extension assembly of claim 1 wherein said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly includes a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly structured to rotatably support said shaft extension body. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The drive shaft extension assembly of claim 1 wherein said base levering assembly includes a frame with lateral sides and a first housing coupling component disposed on a frame lateral side, and wherein: said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly includes a second housing coupling component; and said second housing coupling component structured to be coupled to said first housing coupling component and to fix said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly to said electrical switching apparatus housing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The drive shaft extension assembly of claim 1 wherein said shaft extension body second end includes a secondary coupling component, said secondary coupling component being substantially similar to said first shaft coupling component. ### Claim 7 A levering assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus structured to be removably disposed in a cassette, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, said cassette including two generally parallel lateral sidewalls and a first racking member and a second racking member, wherein one racking member is rotatably coupled to each lateral sidewall, said levering assembly comprising: a mounting member structured to be coupled to the electrical switching apparatus housing; a drive assembly including an elongated laterally extending drive shaft, said drive assembly coupled to said mounting member and being structured to cooperate with said cassette first and second racking members; said drive shaft having a first end and a second end; a drive shaft end including a first shaft coupling component; a drive shaft extension assembly including a housing assembly, an elongated shaft extension and a racking gear; said shaft extension body having a first end and a second end; said shaft extension body first end including a second shaft coupling component; said racking gear coupled to said shaft extension body second end; said shaft extension body rotatably disposed in said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly; wherein said second shaft coupling component is coupled to said first shaft coupling component with said drive shaft and said shaft extension being aligned; and an actuator coupled to said mounting member and being structured to actuate said drive assembly to move said electrical switching apparatus with respect to said cassette. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The levering assembly of claim 7 wherein said second shaft coupling component is a fixed orientation coupling component. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The levering assembly of claim 8 wherein said second shaft coupling component is a D-shaft coupling component. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The levering assembly of claim 7 wherein said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly includes a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly structured to rotatably support said shaft extension body. ### Claim 11 (depends on 7) The levering assembly of claim 7 wherein said electrical switching apparatus housing includes first housing coupling component and wherein: said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly includes a second housing coupling component; and said second housing coupling component structured to be coupled to said first housing coupling component and to fix said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly to said electrical switching apparatus housing. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The levering assembly of claim 7 wherein said shaft extension body second end includes a secondary coupling component, said secondary coupling component being substantially similar to said first shaft coupling component. ### Claim 13 An electrical switching apparatus comprising: a housing; and a levering assembly structured to move said electrical switching apparatus into and out of a cassette, said levering assembly comprising: a mounting member structured to be coupled to the electrical switching apparatus housing; a drive assembly including an elongated laterally extending drive shaft, said drive assembly coupled to said mounting member and being structured to cooperate with said cassette first and second racking members; said drive shaft having a first end and a second end; a drive shaft end including a first shaft coupling component; a drive shaft extension assembly including a housing assembly, an elongated shaft extension and a racking gear; said shaft extension body having a first end and a second end; said shaft extension body first end including a second shaft coupling component; said racking gear coupled to said shaft extension body second end; said shaft extension body rotatably disposed in said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly; wherein said second shaft coupling component is coupled to said first shaft coupling component with said drive shaft and said shaft extension being aligned; and an actuator coupled to said mounting member and being structured to actuate said drive assembly to move said electrical switching apparatus with respect to said cassette. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said second shaft coupling component is a fixed orientation coupling component. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The electrical switching apparatus of claim 14 wherein said second shaft coupling component is a D-shaft coupling component. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly includes a mounting assembly, said mounting assembly structured to rotatably support said shaft extension body. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said electrical switching apparatus housing includes first housing coupling component and wherein: said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly includes a second housing coupling component; and said second housing coupling component structured to be coupled to said first housing coupling component and to fix said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly to said electrical switching apparatus housing. ### Claim 18 (depends on 13) The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said shaft extension body second end includes a secondary coupling component, said secondary coupling component being substantially similar to said first shall coupling component. ### Claim 19 A drive shaft extension assembly for an electrical switching assembly said electrical switching assembly including an electrical switching apparatus, a cassette, and a base levering assembly, said electrical switching apparatus structured to be removably disposed in said cassette, said cassette including two generally parallel lateral sidewalls and a first racking member and a second racking member, wherein one racking member is rotatably coupled to each lateral sidewall, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing and a levering assembly, said base levering assembly including a mounting member, a drive assembly and an actuator, said mounting member coupled to the electrical switching apparatus housing, said drive assembly including an elongated laterally extending drive shaft, said drive assembly coupled to said mounting member and being structured to cooperate with said cassette first and second racking members, said drive shaft having a first end and a second end, a drive shaft end including a first shaft coupling component, said actuator coupled to said mounting member and being structured to actuate said drive assembly to move said electrical switching apparatus with respect to said cassette, said drive shaft extension assembly comprising: a housing assembly; a shaft extension including an elongated body; a racking gear; said shaft extension body having a first end and a second end; said shaft extension body first end including a second shaft coupling component; said racking gear coupled to said shaft extension body second end; said shaft extension body rotatably disposed in said drive shaft extension assembly housing assembly; and wherein said second shaft coupling component is structured to be coupled to said first shaft coupling component with said drive shaft and said shaft extension being aligned.