Interlock assembly for a fusible switch having an operating mechanism

An interlock assembly for a fusible switch having a fuse in series with a switch and an operating mechanism for controlling the operation of the switch, the fuse is CONDUCTIVE when it allows current to flow therethrough and is BLOWN when it does not allow current to flow therethrough, said interlock assembly comprising:

• an indicator member for indicating the status of the fuse;
• an actuator member coupled to the operating mechanism for actuating the operating mechanism to open the switch when the fuse is BLOWN;
• and
• a toggle member for communicating the status of the fuse to said actuator member from said indicator member, wherein said toggle member is in one position when the fuse is CONDUCTIVE and said toggle member is in another position when the fuse is BLOWN.

A fusible switch comprising:

• a current path which includes a blade and a fuse wherein said fuse is electrically coupled in series with said blade, said fuse having an extender pin therein which extends outwardly when said fuse blows due to an overload condition or a short circuit condition;
• an operating mechanism coupled to said blade for moving said blade between an OPEN position and a CLOSED position, wherein said blade conducts current therethrough when it is in the CLOSED position and does not conduct current therethrough when it is in the OPEN position;
• and
• an interlock assembly coupled to said operating mechanism for actuating the operating mechanism into moving said blade from the CLOSED position to the OPEN position when the extender pin extends indicating that said fuse has encountered either an overload condition or a short circuit condition.