# US 2014/0190800 A1 · Variable Depth Circuit Interrupter Assembly With Interlock > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0190800 A1 - Document ID: US20140190800A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/736,188 - Filed: 2013-01-08 - Published: 2014-07-10 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-08 - Assignees: Eaton Corporation - Applicants: Eaton Corporation - Inventors: Kenneth Martin Fischer - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140190800A1 ## CPC - H01H 9/22: for interlocking between casing, cover, or protective shutter and mechanism for operating contacts {(explosion-proof cases H01H9/045; built-in fuses and interlocking mechanisms H01H9/104; by automatic release of circuit breakers H01H71/126)} - H01H 3/36: using belt, chain, or cord - H01H 33/48: for interlocking between casing or cover and mechanism for operating contacts - H01H 3/38: using spring or other flexible shaft coupling - 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) ## Abstract An improved circuit interrupter assembly provides enablement of an interlock feature for a circuit interrupter situated within a cabinet having an external handle for switching the circuit interrupter between ON and OFF conditions when the cabinet door is closed. The improved circuit interrupter assembly includes a motion transfer apparatus that provides such enablement of the interlock feature for cabinets of any of a variety of depths. The motion transfer apparatus includes a Bowden cable that extends between a first retention assembly situated at the door of the cabinet and a second retention assembly situated at the interlock feature of the circuit interrupter. The Bowden cable has a biased drive cable that extends between a pair of elements and which thus transfers the motion of the cabinet door in its closed position to enable cooperation with the interlock. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A circuit interrupter assembly structured to be connected with an electrical circuit and comprising: a cabinet having a cabinet body and a door apparatus, the cabinet body having at least first wall, the door apparatus being situated on the at least first wall and being movable between a closed position and an open position, the cabinet further having an interior region situated adjacent the at least first wall and adjacent the door apparatus in the closed position; a circuit interrupter situated substantially entirely within the interior region, the circuit interrupter being structured to be electrically connected with the electrical circuit and being further structured to control the flow of current through at least a portion of the electrical circuit, the circuit interrupter comprising a mechanism that is structured to be movable to switch the circuit interrupter between an OFF condition and an ON condition; a motion transfer apparatus structured to be cooperable with the door apparatus, the motion transfer apparatus comprising a transmission device that extends flexibly between the door apparatus in the closed position and the circuit interrupter, the transmission device being movable between a first position and a second position, the transmission device being in the first position when the door apparatus is in its open position, the transmission device being in the second position when the door apparatus is in its closed position; the mechanism comprising an interlock that is cooperable with the transmission device and which, in the first position of the transmission device, is structured to resist at least one of: movement of the circuit interrupter from the ON condition to the OFF condition, and movement of the circuit interrupter from the OFF condition to the ON condition; and the interlock in the second position of the transmission device being structured to permit movement of the circuit interrupter between the ON and OFF conditions. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 1 wherein: the door apparatus comprises a door and a handle, the door having a first side and a second side, the first side being situated adjacent the interior region in the closed position of the door apparatus, the second side being disposed opposite the first side, the handle being situated adjacent the second side; the circuit interrupter further comprising a housing on which the mechanism is situated and a connection element that is structured to extend between the handle and the mechanism in the closed position of the door apparatus; and the handle in the closed position of the door apparatus being structured to operate the connection element and the mechanism to move the circuit interrupter between the ON and OFF conditions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 2 wherein the motion transfer apparatus further comprises a first retention assembly that is structured to retain a first end of the transmission device in a position wherein it is engaged by the door apparatus in its closed position. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 3 wherein the connection element and the handle are structured to be operatively connected in the closed position of the door apparatus and are structured to be disconnected in the open position of the door apparatus, and wherein the first retention assembly is mounted to the connection element. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 3 wherein the motion transfer apparatus further comprises a second retention assembly that is structured to retain a second end of the transmission device in another position whereby in the second position it is cooperable with the interlock. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 5 wherein the first retention assembly is mounted to the connection element, and wherein the second retention assembly is mounted to the circuit interrupter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 1 wherein the motion transfer apparatus further comprises a first retention assembly and a second retention assembly, and wherein the transmission device comprises a Bowden cable that extends between the first retention assembly and the second retention assembly, the Bowden cable comprising a sheath and a drive cable, the first retention assembly comprising a first mount to which a first end of the sheath is connected, the first mount being situated adjacent the door apparatus in its closed position, the second retention assembly comprising a second mount to which a second end of the sheath is connected, the second mount being situated adjacent the interlock. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 7 wherein the first retention assembly further comprises an engagement element that is movably disposed on the first mount and is connected with a first end of the drive cable, the engagement element being structured to be engageable by the door apparatus moving toward its closed position to move the transmission device toward its second position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 8 wherein the transmission device is biased in a direction generally toward its first position. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 9 wherein the first retention assembly further comprises a biasing element that is interposed between the mount and the engagement element and that biases the engagement element in a direction generally toward the door apparatus in its closed position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The circuit interrupter assembly of claim 8 wherein the second retention assembly further comprises an operation element situated at a second end of the drive cable and which, in the second position, is structured to be cooperable with the interlock. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) A motion transfer apparatus as set forth in claim 1 and structured to cooperate with the cabinet and circuit interrupter as set forth in claim 1.