# US 2018/0323600 A1 · Circuit breaker lockout subassemblies, and circuit breakers and methods including same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2018/0323600 A1 - Document ID: US20180323600A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 15/589,297 - Filed: 2017-05-08 - Published: 2018-11-08 - Earliest claimed: 2017-05-08 - Assignees: Siemens Industry, Inc. - Applicants: Siemens Industry, Inc. - Inventors: Russell Thomas Watford - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20180323600A1 ## CPC - G01R 31/3333: {Apparatus, systems or circuits therefor} - H01H 71/082: {Connections between juxtaposed circuit breakers} - H01H 71/1027: {comprising a bidirectional connecting member actuated by the opening movement of one pole to trip a neighbour pole} - H01H 71/52: actuated by lever - G01R: MEASURING ELECTRIC VARIABLES; MEASURING MAGNETIC VARIABLES (indicating correct tuning of resonant circuits H03J3/12) - 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 A lockout subassembly of an electronic circuit breaker. The lockout subassembly includes a rotatable latch bar having an engagement portion configured to engage with and prevent movement of an operating handle to an ON position, the rotatable latch bar including a lock portion, and a latch device configured to be receivable in the lock portion, wherein rotation of the rotatable latch bar is limited between a first and second rotational position in response to the latch device being received in the lock portion. The lockout of the operating handle can be removed upon passing at least one test so that the operating handle can be moved to the ON position. Circuit breakers including the lockout subassembly and methods of operating the circuit breaker are provided, as are other aspects. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A lockout subassembly, comprising: a rotatable latch bar having an engagement portion configured to engage with and prevent movement of an operating handle to an ON position, the rotatable latch bar including a lock portion; and a latch device configured to be receivable in the lock portion, wherein rotation of the rotatable latch bar is limited between a first rotational position and a second rotational position in response to the latch device being received in the lock portion. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The lockout subassembly of claim 1, further comprising a magnetic device configured to generate a magnetic field to attract a portion of the latch device so that the latch device is not engaged with the lock portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The lockout subassembly of claim 2, further comprising an electromagnetic device configured to generate the magnetic field to attract the latch device. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The lockout subassembly of claim 1, further comprising electronic circuitry operable to perform at least one test in response to the rotatable latch bar rotating to the second rotational position. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The lockout subassembly of claim 4, further comprising an electromagnet electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry and configured to attract the latch device from the lock portion when activated, the electronic circuitry further configured to activate the electromagnet in response to a pass of the at least one test. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The lockout subassembly of claim 4, wherein the lockout subassembly is configured to operate in conjunction with electrical contacts configured to be coupled to a circuit, and wherein the at least one test is operable to determine at least one of: a fault present in the circuit; resistance of the circuit; a voltage of the circuit; and a fault present in the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 7 (depends on 4) The lockout subassembly of claim 4, wherein the rotatable latch bar is configured to contact a switch in response to the rotatable latch bar rotating to the second rotational position, wherein at least one test is operable to be performed in response to the rotatable latch bar contacting the switch, and wherein the latch device is configured to be removed from the lock portion in response to the at least one test indicating a pass. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The lockout subassembly of claim 1, wherein the rotatable latch bar includes a cam configured to contact a switch in response to the rotatable latch bar rotating between the first rotational position and the second rotational position. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The lockout subassembly of claim 1, wherein the lock portion includes a gap configured to receive at least a portion of the latch device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The lockout subassembly of claim 1, wherein the rotatable latch bar includes a feature having a surface configured to contact a spring, the spring configured to bias the rotational latch bar toward the first rotational position. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The lockout subassembly of claim 10, wherein the feature is configured to at least partially retain the rotatable latch bar within a circuit breaker. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The lockout subassembly of claim 1, wherein the operating handle includes a lock member, wherein the rotatable latch bar includes an engagement portion, wherein the engagement portion contacts the lock member in response to the latch device being received in the lock portion, and wherein contact between the engagement portion and the lock member prevents the operating handle from moving to at least one position. ### Claim 13 A circuit breaker, comprising: An operating handle movable to a RESET position and to an ON position; electrical contacts being in a closed state in response to the operating handle being in the ON position and being in an open state in response to the operating handle being in the RESET position; electronic circuitry configured to perform at least one test in response to the operating handle moving to the RESET position and indicating a pass or fail of the at least one test; and a lockout subassembly having a locked state configured to prevent the operating handle from moving to the ON position in response to the at least one test indicating a fail and having an unlocked state configured to enable the operating handle to move to the ON position in response to the at least one test indicating a pass. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The circuit breaker of claim 13, wherein the lockout subassembly includes: a rotatable latch bar having an engagement portion configured to prevent movement of the operating handle when the rotatable latch bar is positioned between a first rotational position and a second rotational position, the rotatable latch bar further including a lock portion; and a latch device configured to be receivable in the lock portion, wherein rotation of the rotatable latch bar is limited between the first rotational position and the second rotational position in response to the latch device being received in the lock portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, further comprising an electromagnet electrically coupled to the electronic circuitry, wherein the latch device is moveable between the locked state and the unlocked state in response to the electromagnet being activated by a signal generated by the electronic circuitry. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein the operating handle includes a lock member, wherein the rotatable latch bar includes an engagement portion, wherein the engagement portion contacts the lock member in response to the lockout subassembly being in the locked state, and wherein the contact prevents the operating handle from moving to the ON position. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, further comprising a switch, wherein rotational movement of the rotatable latch bar to the second rotational position transitions the state of the switch, and wherein the electronic circuitry is operable to perform the at least one test in response to the transition of the state of the switch. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein the rotatable latch bar includes a cam configured to contact a switch in response to the rotatable latch bar rotating to the second rotational position. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein the lock portion includes a gap configured to receive at least a portion of the latch device. ### Claim 20 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, wherein the rotatable latch bar includes a feature having a surface configured to contact a spring, the spring configured to bias the rotational latch bar toward the first rotational position. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The circuit breaker of claim 20, wherein the feature is configured to at least partially retain the rotatable latch bar within a circuit breaker. ### Claim 22 (depends on 14) The circuit breaker of claim 14, further comprising a ledge, wherein the latch device is biased to contact the ledge in when the latch device is received in the lock portion. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The circuit breaker of claim 13, further comprising a switch, wherein movement of the operating handle to the RESET position transitions the state of the switch, and wherein the electronic circuitry is operable to perform the at least one test in response to the transition of the state of the switch. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The circuit breaker of claim 13, wherein the electrical contacts are configured to be coupled to a circuit, and wherein the at least one test is operable to determine at least one of the following: a fault in the circuit; resistance of the circuit; and at least one voltage of the circuit. ### Claim 25 A method of operating a circuit breaker, comprising: detecting movement of an operating handle toward a RESET position; performing at least one test in response to the operating handle moving toward the RESET position; preventing the operating handle from moving to an ON position in response to the at least one test indicating a fail; and enabling the operating handle to move to the ON position in response to the at least one test indicating a pass.