Self-aligning portable actuator for remotely operating a power circuit breaker

A system comprising,

• a circuit breaker assembly comprising a circuit breaker surrounded by a metal enclosure, the circuit breaker assembly including a control component positioned within a recessed area of the circuit breaker;
• and
• a portable actuator assembly attached to the circuit breaker assembly, the portable actuator assembly comprising:
• a portable actuator having a linear actuator for engaging with the control component of the circuit breaker and one or more moveable guide shafts, the linear actuator and the one or more moveable guide shafts extending from a face of the portable actuator;
• and
• an alignment fixture mounted to the portable actuator via the one or more moveable guide shafts, the alignment fixture comprising an aperture in alignment with the linear actuator and being approximately sized and shaped to be substantially aligned with the recessed area of the circuit breaker.

A method for aligning a portable actuator assembly to a circuit breaker, the method comprising:

• positioning an alignment fixture of the portable actuator assembly on the circuit breaker such that an aperture of the alignment fixture is aligned with a control component of the circuit breaker, the alignment fixture being mounted to a portable actuator via one or more moveable guide shafts extending from a face of the portable actuator;
• moving the alignment fixture to compress compression springs extending the one or more moveable guide shafts;
• and
• securing the portable actuator assembly to a metal enclosure surrounding the circuit breaker to maintain a constant force between the alignment fixture and the circuit breaker.