Lockout device for high voltage circuit breaker

A lockout assembly for locking a circuit breaker in a selected off or on position, the circuit breaker having a switch handle with a free end, the circuit breaker having an upper housing wall having an aperture through which the free end of the switch handle projects, the aperture in the upper housing wall having a width and a length sufficient to permit the free end of the switch handle to move from an on to an off position and vice versa, the aperture including along its length a non-grooved portion and a number of grooves which, in effect, widen the width of the aperture at the grooves by the width of the grooves, there being a clearance space under the upper housing wall adjacent to the aperture, said lockout assembly comprising:

• first means for engaging a first portion of the upper housing wall, including groove entering first foot means for entering the grooves of the aperture, for sliding under a first portion of the upper housing wall in a portion of the clearance space under the upper housing wall adjacent to the aperture, and for engaging the first portion of the upper housing wall, said first housing wall engaging means also including means for blocking switch handle motion, said switch handle motion blocking means connected to said groove entering first foot means, said first housing wall engaging means including two opposing walls connected to said switch handle motion blocking means, each of said two opposing walls including guide channel means for receiving motion guiding means for guiding motion of said second housing wall engaging means, said motion guiding means comprised of pin means projecting from opposite sides of said main body portion of said second housing wall engaging means, said two first engaging means walls connected to said switch handle motion blocking means and each of said walls including a respective first hole aligned with the hole of the other wall, said two opposing walls including flat upper surfaces, and
• second means for engaging a second portion of the upper housing wall, said second housing wall engaging means including second foot means for entering the non-grooved portion of the aperture and sliding under the second portion of the upper housing wall in a portion of the clearance space under the upper housing wall adjacent to the aperture, said second housing wall engaging means also including a main body portion connected to said second foot means, said main body portion including a second hole, said main body portion of said second housing wall engaging means including means for guiding motion of said second housing wall engaging means, said main body portion including guide flange means for sliding upon said flat upper surfaces of said two opposing walls, whereby said main body portion is supported by said two opposing walls, and said second housing wall engaging means also including a handle means connected to said main body portion, said handle means for moving said second hole into registration with said first aligned holes and for moving said second foot means away from said groove-entering first foot means and into engagement with the second portion of the upper housing wall,
• wherein, when said first aligned holes and said second hole are in registration, they are capable of receiving a shank or jaws of a locking device which prevents said groove entering first foot means and said second foot means from disengaging from engagement with the first portion and the second portion of the upper housing wall, respectively, whereby a switch-throwing motion of the circuit breaker switch handle is prevented.

A lockout assembly for locking a circuit breaker in a selected off or on position, the circuit breaker having a switch handle with a free end, the circuit breaker having an upper housing wall having an aperture through which the free end of the switch handle projects, the aperture in the upper housing wall having a width and a length sufficient to permit the free end of the switch handle to move from an on to an off position and vice versa, the aperture including along its length a non-grooved portion and a number of grooves which, in effect, widen the width of the aperture at the grooves by the width of the grooves, there being a clearance space under the upper housing wall adjacent to the aperture, said lockout assembly comprising:

• first means for engaging a first portion of the upper housing wall, including groove entering first foot means for entering the grooves of the aperture, for sliding under a first portion of the upper housing wall in a portion of the clearance space under the upper housing wall adjacent to the aperture, and for engaging the first portion of the upper housing wall, said first housing wall engaging means also including means for blocking switch handle motion, said switch handle motion blocking means connected to said groove entering first foot means, said first housing wall engaging means including two opposing walls connected to said switch handle motion blocking means, each of said two opposing walls including guide channel means for receiving motion guiding means for guiding motion of said second housing wall engaging means, said two first engaging means walls connected to said switch handle motion blocking means and each of said walls including a respective first hole aligned with the hole of the other wall, each of said two opposing walls including a bottom portion and a top portion, said bottom portion being located near the upper housing wall when the lockout assembly is installed on the circuit breaker, and
• second means for engaging a second portion of the upper housing wall, said second housing wall engaging means including second foot means for entering the non-grooved portion of the aperture and sliding under the second portion of the upper housing wall in a portion of the clearance space under the upper housing wall adjacent to the aperture, said second housing wall engaging means also including a main body portion connected to said second foot means, said main body portion including a second hole, said main body portion of said second housing wall engaging means including means for guiding motion of said second housing wall engaging means, said main body portion including guide flange means for sliding upon said flat upper surfaces of said two opposing walls, whereby said main body portion is supported by said two opposing walls, and said second housing wall engaging means also including a handle means connected to said main body portion, said handle means for moving said second hole into registration with said first aligned holes and for moving said second foot means away from said groove entering first foot means and into engagement with the second portion of the upper housing wall,
• said guide channel means including first vertical portions located at said respective bottom portion of said opposing walls, said first vertical guide channel portions for guiding said second housing wall engaging means into engagement with the second portion of the upper housing wall,
• said guide channel means including first horizontal portions connected to respective ends of the respective first vertical guide channel portions and projecting horizontally therefrom, said first horizontal guide channel portions for guiding said second housing wall engaging means away from the circuit breaker subsequent to disengagement from the circuit breaker housing wall, and for guiding said second housing wall engaging means toward the circuit breaker prior to engagement with the circuit breaker housing wall,
• said guide channel means including second vertical portions connected to respective upper ends of said respective first horizontal guide channel portions, and
• said guide channel means including second horizontal portions connected to respective ends of said respective second vertical guide channel portions, said second horizontal guide channel portions for receiving said motion guiding means and retaining said second housing wall engaging means above the upper housing wall when said first means for engaging a first portion of the upper housing wall is being engaged with or disengaged from the first portion of the upper housing wall.
• wherein, when said first aligned holes and said second hole are in registration, they are capable of receiving a shank or jaws of a locking device which prevents said groove entering first foot means and said second foot means from disengaging from engagement with the first portion and the second portion of the upper housing wall, respectively, whereby a switch-throwing motion of the circuit breaker switch handle is prevented.