Circuit breaker having a single pull-rod operating system with a selective trip-free control

In a mechanism for mechanically actuating the separable contacts and associated blast valves of one or more gas insulated circuit breakers each having a gas insulated sealed enclosure in which the contacts and blast valves are operatively disposed, said circuit breaker including mechanical operating means within the sealed enclosure for mechanically operating the associated contacts and blast valves;

• an external pull-rod mechanism supported externally of each of the enclosures of each circuit breaker, said external pull-rod mechanism including mechanical means for imparting a force;
• mechanical drive means including a rotatable shaft extending from said external pull-rod mechanisms into an associated circuit breaker enclosure in gas sealed relationship and operably connected to receive and transmit the force of said external pull-rod mechanism mechanical means;
• springs operably connected to effect movement of an associated drive means for effecting a contact and blast valve opening operation;
• lever means operably connected to said springs and to said rotatable shaft for transmitting the force of said springs to said rotatable shaft for effecting an opening operation of said contacts and said associated blast valves;
• and,
• mechanical control means remote from said external pull-rod mechanisms and operably connected to control the operation of each of said external pull-rod mechanisms for simultaneous operation.

In a pull-rod system for controlling the movement of the separable contacts and associated blast valves of the individual phase units of a three-phase gas insulated circuit breaker installation;

• an external pull-rod mechanism operatively associated with each phase unit, each of said external pull-rod mechanisms having drive means operatively connected to actuate the contacts and blast valves within each phase unit to open and closed positions;
• an operating mechanism located externally of said circuit breaker installation at one end thereof;
• an actuating rod extending across the top of said circuit breaker installation and through each phase unit external pull-rod mechanism, said actuating rod being operably connected to effect the simultaneous movement of the contacts and blast valves of the individual phase units of said circuit breaker installation;
• lever means operatively connected to said actuating rod and to said drive means of said individual external pull-rod mechanisms in a manner that movement of said actuating rod in one direction will effect an opening movement of the contacts and blast valves of all of said phase units simultaneously;
• and,
• connecting means operatively interconnecting said operating mechanism and said actuating rod and operable in response to the operation of said operating mechanism to restrain said actuating rod to thereby maintain said circuit breaker contacts in circuit closed position, said connecting means being responsive to the release operation of said operating mechanism to release the restraint imposed on said actuating rod to thereby permit the operation of said actuating rod in a circuit breaker contact and blast valve opening movement.

In a gas insulated circuit breaker having a pair of relatively movable arcing contacts normally urged to open position and an associated displaceable blast valve normally biased to a closed position and operable when displaced to direct a blast of gas to said arcing contacts;

• a control means operably connected to maintain said relatively movable arcing contacts in closed position, said control means being operable when tripped to release said contacts so that the relatively movable arcing contacts move to the open position;
• means releasably coupling said blast valve to said relatively movable arcing contacts in a manner that the movement of said contacts to open position operates to displace said blast valve to open position;
• means operable in response to the opening of said contacts to decouple said releasable coupling means to permit said blast valve to return to its normally closed position;
• means responsive to a signal to trip said control means;
• and,
• means responsive to the tripped condition of said control means to render said signal responsive means ineffective until such time as said blast valve releasable coupling means is recoupled to said relatively movable arcing contacts.

In a gas insulated circuit breaker having a pair of relatively movable arcing contacts and an associated displaceable blast valve for directing a blast of gas to the separable contacts;

• first operating means connected to actuate said arcing contacts to open and closed circuit positions;
• second operating means connected to displace said blast valve from its normally closed position, said second operating means being releasably coupled to said first operating means, said releasable coupling means being operative upon the opening of said blast valve to release said second operating means from said first operating means;
• means to return said second operating means to its initial position for recoupling to said first operating means when said first operating means has been operated to move said relatively movable arcing contacts to closed position;
• a latch mechanism operably connected to prevent said first and second operating means from operating, said latch mechanism being operable when tripped to release said first and second operating means so that said first operating means operates to open said relatively movable arcing contacts and said second operating means operates to displace said blast valve;
• a signal responsive actuator operable in response to a signal to trip said latch mechanism;
• and,
• means operable when actuated to render said signal responsive actuator ineffective for tripping said latch mechanism until such time as said first operating means has operated to move said relatively movable arcing contact to closed circuit position and has recoupled with said second operating means.

In a mechanism for actuating the relatively movable arcing contacts and associated blast valves of one or more gas insulated circuit breakers each having a gas insulated sealed enclosure in which the contacts and blast valves are operatively disposed, said circuit breaker including operating means within the sealed enclosure for operating the associated contacts and blast valves;

• an external pull-rod mechanism supported externally of each of the enclosures of each circuit breaker, said external pull-rod mechanism including mechanical means for imparting a force;
• drive means extending from said external pull-rod mechanisms into an associated circuit breaker enclosure in gas sealed relationship and operable to receive and transmit the force of said external pull-rod mechanism mechanical means;
• a control device operably connected to maintain said external pull-rod mechanisms in a retracted position to maintain said relatively movable arcing contacts in closed position, said control device being operable when tripped to release said external pull-rod mechanisms so that the relatively movable arcing contacts are moved to open position;
• means releasably coupling said blast valve to said relatively movable arcing contacts in a manner that the movement of said contacts to open position operates to displace said blast valve to open position;
• means operable in response to the opening of said contacts to decouple said releasable coupling means to permit said blast valve to be returned to its normally closed position;
• means responsive to a signal to trip said control device;
• and,
• means responsive to the tripped condition of said control device to render said signal responsive device ineffective until such time as said blast valve releasable coupling means has been recoupled to said relatively movable arcing contacts.

In a mechanism for controlling the operating means of a contact and blast valve actuating mechanism of a gas insulated circuit breaker;

• a frame;
• control means supported by said frame for movement between a first position and a second position;
• first means carried by said frame and operably connected to effect the angular movement of said control means from its first position to its second position;
• second means carried by said frame and operably connected to effect the angular movement of said control means from its second position to its first position;
• actuating means for effecting the operation of said second means for moving said control means from its second angular position to its first angular position;
• and,
• immobilizing means carried by said frame and operably connected to be actuated by said control means when said control means is moved angularly from its second position to its first position, said immobilizing means operating when actuated to render said first means ineffective for operation until said control means is returned to its first angular position.

In a mechanism for controlling the operating means of the contact and blast valve actuating mechanism of a gas insulated breaker;

• a frame;
• control means supported by said frame for angular movement to a first position and a second position;
• operating means operably connected to effect the angular movement of said control means to said first and second positions;
• first means carried by said frame and operable to effect the actuation of said operating means for moving said control means angularly from its first position to its second position;
• second means carried by said frame and operably connected to actuate said operating means for moving said control means from its second position to its first position;
• and,
• immobilizing means carried by said frame and operably connected to be actuated by said control means when said control means is moved angularly from its second position to its first position, said immobilizing means operating when actuated to render said first means ineffective for operation until said control means has been returned to its first angular position.

In a mechanism for controlling the operating means of the contact and blast valve actuating mechanism of a gas insulated circuit breaker;

• a frame;
• control means supported by said frame for angular movement between a first position and a second position;
• drive means operably connected to effect the angular movement of said control means;
• a first means carried by said frame and operable to effect the operation of said drive means for moving said control means from its first position to its second position;
• a second means carried by said frame and operable to effect the operation of said drive means for moving said control means from its second position to its first position;
• and,
• immobilizing means carried by said frame and operably connected to be actuated by said control means when said control means is moved angularly from its second position to its first position, said immobilizing means operating when actuated to render said first means ineffective for operation until said control means has been returned to its first angular position.

In a mechanism for controlling the operating means of the contact and blast valve actuating mechanism of a gas insulated circuit breaker;

• a frame;
• control means supported by said frame for angular movement between a first position and a second position;
• drive means operably connected to effect the angular movement of said control means;
• a first means carried by said frame and operable to effect the operation of said drive means for moving said control means from its first position to its second position;
• a second means carried by said frame and operable to effect the operation of said drive means for moving said control means from its second position to its first position;
• a mechanical stop operatively arranged to be positively engaged with said first means to render said first means inoperative;
• a push-rod operatively connected to be moved by said control means as said control means moves angularly from its second position to its first position;
• a crank pivotally supported by said frame in position to actuate said push-rod, said crank being pivotally moved to actuate said push-rod into engagement with said first means by the angular movement of said control means as said control means moves from its second position to its first position;
• and
• a pawl pivotally connected to the end of said crank adjacent said control means, said pawl being constructed and arranged to permit said control means to move from its first position to its second position without actuating said crank, and being operable to effect the pivotal movement of said crank in a push-rod actuating movement when engaged by said control means as said control means moves from its second position to its first position.