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US 4,049,936 AGranted
Quick-acting movable operating-column tripping device
AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsRussell E. Frink, Stanislaw A. Milianowicz
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AssigneeWestinghouse Electric Corp.
InventorsRussell E. Frink, Stanislaw A. Milianowicz
Estimating the term…
A quick-acting movable-column tripping device is provided as an optional feature of either circuit-interrupters, supported by upstanding insulating column structures, or, alternatively, in connection with circuit-interrupters having a serially-related disconnecting switchblade, providing a visible open-circuit gap, so that a minimum of time is utilized in a tripping operation of the circuit-interrupter. Otherwise, there would be a considerably-delayed action caused by the normal, or inherent lost-motion provided in the loose linkages, which normally are used to effect operative movement of the movable relatively massive supporting column structure. The quick-acting, accelerating tripping device of the present invention provides relative fast motion between the upstanding rotatable supporting column structure and a base-spindle device, the latter of which is operatively mechanically linked to the motor-operated mechanism, for example, of the switch structure, which may be relatively slow in operation. Relative fast rotation, for example, between the upstanding rotatable supporting column structure and the lower base-spindle structure is provided by a suitable bearing support provided therebetween, together with a latched biasing structure, which when unlatched, or released, will permit a slight relative degree of rotation, say, for example, 8 degrees of rotation, between the upstanding, operating, supporting column structure and the driving base-spindle structure, preferably release occurring by means of a suitable electrically-actuated solenoid device for each pole-unit, which, through suitable energization in synchronism with the motor for operating the driving linkage, will effect unlatching or release of the spring-assembly, and thereby permitting a slight resulting relative motion, say of the order of 8 degrees, for example, to occur between the upstanding, rotatable operating support column and the more relatively slowly moving rotatable base-spindle structure, the latter being mechanically linked to the motor-operator of the interrupter. Relatching may occur, thereby effecting a resetting of the latch structure at the end of the tripping opening operation of the breaker, so that the spring assembly will be recharged and the latches reset to result in a unitary structure, operable to effect the closing operation of the associated circuit-interrupter as a unit, or if a serially-related disconnecting switchblade structure is used, closing motion of the latter.
In combination, an electrical device including a circuit-interrupter and a serially-related disconnecting switch having a movable switchblade all at high voltage spaced away from ground potential, said circuit-interrupter having one or more separable contacts, operating means at high voltage for operating both the separable contacts and the switchblade contacts in synchronism, whereby the separable contacts open the electrical circuit passing through the device prior to the subsequent separation of the disconnecting switch contacts, only single rotatable insulating column means for supporting said device up in the air above ground potential, a relatively slow-acting operating mechanism disposed at ground potential, said single rotatable insulating column means rotatively transmitting during opening and closing rotative motions from said relatively slow-acting operating mechanism at ground potential to said high-voltage operating means, said separable contacts remaining open in the fully open-circuit position of the electrical device, the operating mechanism at high voltage functioning to close the disconnecting contacts during the closing operation prior in point of time to the subsequent closing of the separable contacts in the high-voltage circuit interrupter, said sole single rotatable insulating column means including two relatively-movable component parts disposed adjacent the base thereof, biasing means for urging relative motion between said two component parts, means latching said two component parts to remove together as a unit while under bias during rotation of the sole rotatable insulator, and tripping means at ground potential for releasing said latching means to permit the biasing means to effect relative motion of said two relatively-movable parts, whereby fact-acting rotation of said single sole insulator column occurs and trip-operation of the circuit-interrupter contacts occurs independently of the relative slow motion of the grounded operating mechanism.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.