US 6,388,868 B1Granted

Automatically operating interlock assembly requiring an electrical cabinet to be closed before connection of the equipment therein

AssigneeEaton Corporation

InventorsBrad R. Leccia, Mary Beth Hill

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Abstract

An automatically operating interlock prevents connection of an electrical device within a cabinet unless the cabinet door is closed. The interlock is particularly useful for circuit breakers contained within arc-resistant cabinets. The interlock includes a spring-biased locking plate reciprocating between a locked position wherein the locking plate resists movement of the levering-in locking plate, and an unlocked position wherein the locking plate permits movement of the levering-in locking plate. The locking plate is spring-biased towards its locked position, and is pushed from its locked position to its unlocked position when the cabinet door is closed. Access to the hex drive of the levering-in rod is thereby resisted when the cabinet door is open.

Claims14

Dependent claims

An interlock for a cabinet for electrical equipment, the electrical equipment having a plurality of rollers, the cabinet having a door moving between an open position and a closed position, and a levering in mechanism for moving the electrical equipment forward and backward within the cabinet, the levering in mechanism including a threaded rod having a tip, and a tip guard plate surrounding said tip, the tip guard plate being spring-biased towards a position wherein access to the tip is blocked, said interlock comprising:

a mounting plate secured within the cabinet, adjacent to the levering in mechanism;
a locking plate slidably mounted to said mounting plate, reciprocating between a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking plate being dimensioned and configured to restrain movement of the rod tip guard plate when said locking plate is in said locked position, and to permit movement of the rod tip guard plate when said locking plate is in said unlocked position;
means for biasing said locking plate towards said locked position;
and
means for moving said locking plate from said locked position to said unlocked position when the door is moved into its closed position.

2 more elements

A cabinet for housing electrical equipment, the electrical equipment having a plurality of rollers, said cabinet comprising:

a door moving between an open position and a closed position;
a levering in mechanism for moving the electrical equipment forward and backward within the cabinet, said levering in mechanism including a threaded rod having a tip, and a tip guard plate surrounding said tip, said tip guard plate being spring-biased towards a position wherein access to said tip is blocked;
and
an interlock, comprising:
a mounting plate secured within the cabinet, adjacent to the levering in mechanism;
a locking plate reciprocating between a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking plate being dimensioned and configured to resist movement of said rod tip guard plate when said locking plate is in said locked position, and to permit movement of said rod tip guard plate when said locking plate is in said unlocked position:
means for biasing said locking plate towards said locked position;
and
means for moving said locking plate from said locked position to said unlocked position when the door is moved into its closed position.

6 more elements

A switchgear assembly, comprising:

a circuit breaker, comprising means:
means for electrical connection with a circuit;
and
said circuit breaker moving between a connected position and a disconnected position;
and
a cabinet, comprising:
a door moving between an open position and a closed position;
a levering in mechanism for moving said circuit breaker forward and backward within said cabinet, said levering in mechanism including a threaded rod having a tip, and a tip guard plate surrounding said tip, said tip guard plate being spring-biased towards a position wherein access to said tip is blocked;
and
an interlock, comprising:
a mounting plate secured within the cabinet, adjacent to the levering in mechanism;
a locking plate reciprocating between a locked position and an unlocked position, said locking plate being dimensioned and configured to resist movement of a rod tip guard plate when said locking plate is in said locked position, and to permit movement of said rod tip guard plate when said locking plate is in said unlocked position;
means for biasing said locking plate towards said locked position;
and
means for moving said locking plate from said locked position to said unlocked position when the door is moved into its closed position.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.