Circuit breaker handle operator apparatus and system

Circuit breaker operator handle apparatus for use in operating a linearly movable actuator of a circuit breaker assembly, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing;
• an operator handle pivotally mounted on the housing for pivoting about an operator handle pivot axis;
• an actuating mechanism adapted to translate pivoting motion of the operator handle into linear motion of the linearly movable actuator of the circuit breaker, and vice versa;
• and
• a latching lever pivoted on, and carried by, the operator handle for selective pivoting to a non-interference position with the housing and to an interference position with the housing to allow pivoting of the operator handle about the operator handle pivot axis between a first position and a second position when the latching lever is in non-interference position and to disallow pivoting of the operator handle about the operator handle pivot axis from the first position to the second position when the latching lever is in the interference position.

A circuit breaker operator handle system comprising:

• a circuit breaker assembly having a linearly movable actuator;
• a housing mounted in association with the circuit breaker assembly;
• an operator handle pivotally mounted on the housing for pivoting about an operator handle pivot axis;
• a cam lever pivotally mounted on the housing for pivoting about a cam lever pivot axis that is parallel to and spaced from the operator handle pivot axis;
• and
• a member operatively coupling the operator handle and the cam lever for translating pivoting of the operator handle into pivoting of the cam lever, and vice versa;
• the cam lever comprising a thermoplastic body having an aperture adapted to receive a linearly movable actuator of a circuit breaker assembly, and the aperture comprising an edge surface that is shaped to provide a cam profile that directly contacts the actuator for translating pivoting of the cam lever into linear motion of the actuator, and vice versa.

A circuit breaker operator handle system comprising:

• a circuit breaker assembly having a linearly movable actuator;
• a housing mounted in association with the circuit breaker assembly;
• an operator handle pivotally mounted on the housing for pivoting about an operator handle pivot axis;
• an actuating mechanism adapted to translate pivoting motion of the operator handle into linear motion of the linearly movable actuator of the circuit breaker, and vice versa;
• and
• a latching lever pivoted on, and carried by, the operator handle for selective pivoting to a non-interference position with the housing and to an interference position with the housing to allow pivoting of the operator handle about the operator handle pivot axis between a first position and a second position when the latching lever is in non-interference position and to disallow pivoting of the operator handle about the operator handle pivot axis from the first position to the second position when the latching lever is in the interference position.

Circuit breaker operator handle apparatus for use in operating a linearly movable actuator of a circuit breaker assembly, the apparatus comprising:

• a housing comprising a face that contains a through-hole and that frontally bounds an interior of the housing;
• a boss disposed on the face exterior of the housing and circumscribing the through-hole;
• an operator handle disposed exterior of the housing and pivotally mounted on the housing face for pivoting about an operator handle pivot axis, the operator handle having a socket fitting onto and over the boss to make the pivot axis coincident with the through-hole and boss;
• a cam lever disposed within the interior of the housing and pivotally mounted on the housing for pivoting about a cam lever pivot axis that is parallel to and spaced from the operator handle pivot axis;
• and
• a driver operatively disposed within the interior of the housing and coupling the operator handle and the cam lever for translating pivoting of the operator handle into pivoting of the cam lever, and vice versa, the driver comprising a pivot post received in the through-hole and boss to pivotally mount the driver on the housing face;
• and
• a fastener fastening the operator handle to the driver pivot post so that the handle and driver turn together about the pivot axis.