Circuit recloser with actuator for trip, close and lock out operation

In a circuit interrupter device including movable circuit contact means for interrupting current flow between said movable contact means and further contact means, a frame, operating mechanism on said frame for moving said movable contact means between a closed position and an open position, said operating mechanism including a latch for latching said movable contact means in a closed position, means for moving said operating mechanism to effect movement of said movable contact means to a contact open position upon tripping of said latch, and motor means operably connected to said operating mechanism for moving said movable contact means to a closed position, a control actuator for effecting tripping of said latch to move said movable contact means to an open position, said control actuator comprising:

• an actuator member disposed in a first position and responsive to a control signal to move to a second position;
• control linkage responsive to movement of said actuator member from said first position to said second position to effect tripping of said latch;
• means for resetting said actuator member from said second position to said first position upon movement of said movable contact toward said open position;
• and
• a switch for energizing said motor means, and catch means associated with said control actuator and operable to prevent closure of said switch when said actuator member is in said first position.

In a circuit interrupter device including movable circuit contact means for interrupting current flow between said movable contact means and further contact means, a frame, operating mechanism on said frame for moving said movable contact means between a closed position and an open position, said operating mechanism including a latch for latching said movable contact means in a closed position, means for moving said operating mechanism to effect movement of said movable contact means to a contact open position upon tripping of said latch, and motor means operably connected to said operating mechanism for moving said movable contact means to a closed position, a control actuator for effecting tripping of said latch to move said movable contact means to an open position, said control actuator comprising:

• an actuator member disposed in a first position and responsive to a control signal to move to a second position;
• control linkage responsive to movement of said actuator member from said first position to said second position to effect tripping of said latch;
• means for resetting said actuator member from said second position to said first position upon movement of said movable contact toward said open position;
• and
• a switch for energizing said motor means and lockout mechanism including a cam member operably connected to said actuator member and responsive to movement of said actuator member to said second position to move said cam member to a position to prevent operation of said switch.

In a high voltage electrical circuit recloser device, operating mechanism for effecting actuation of at least one movable contact to interrupt current flow through conductor means connected to said device, said operating mechanism including a latch member for latching said operating mechanism in a closed position of said movable contact, and a solenoid actuator engaged with said operating mechanism for moving said operating mechanism to a closed position of said movable contact, switch means for energizing said solenoid actuator and an operating member for moving said switch means between operative open and closed positions, a trip member operable to engage said latch member for tripping said latch member to effect movement of said operating mechanism to move said movable contact to an open position, and control actuator operably connected to said trip member for moving said trip member to trip said latch member, said control actuator comprising a bi-stable solenoid actuator including a plunger, said plunger being operable to be held in a first position and in response to receiving a control signal to move to a second position, a reset mechanism including a pivotal crank member and spring means for moving said crank member to effect movement of said plunger from said second position to said first position, a lockout mechanism operably connected to said control actuator and to said operating member for preventing closure of said switch means, said control acutator being operable upon receiving a first control signal to effect movement of said trip member to move said operating mechanism to open said movable contact followed by resetting of said control actuator to said first position by said reset mechanism said control actuator being responsive to a second control signal within a predetermined time of receipt of said first control signal to move from said first position to said second position to actuate said lockout mechanism to prevent closure of said switch means.

An electrical circuit interrupter switch device including at least one contact assembly having a movable contact and means for moving said movable contact between circuit closed and circuit open positions, said means comprising contact operating mechanism including a trippable latch member for causing said operating mechanism to open said contact, a trip member for tripping said latch member, motor means for resetting said latch member and said operating mechanism to a position for holding said movable contact in a closed circuit position, switch means for energizing said motor means to effect reclosing of said movable contact, and an operating member for moving said switch means between open and closed positions, a lockout linkage for holding said operating member in a switch open position to prevent reclosing of said movable contact, and a single control actuator operably connected to said trip member and said lockout linkage, said control actuator including an actuator member responsive to receiving a control signal to move from a first position to a second position and means for resetting said actuator member from said second position to said first position, catch means operably associated with said control actuator to prevent movement of said operating member to close said switch means when said actuator member is in said first position, said control actuator being operable in response to said actuator member moving to said second position to move said catch means to provide for said operating member to close said switch means to effect reclosing of said movable contact, said control actuator being operable when moving from said first position to said second position in a first operating cycle to effect tripping of said latch means to open said movable contact, and said control actuator being operable in a second operating cycle when moving from said first position to said second position with said movable contact in a circuit open position to effect operation of said operating member to close said switch means.