Door sensing fuse block with side extending rotary disconnect
AssigneeRockwell Automation Technologies, Inc.
InventorsEdward Byaliy, John Henry Schmidt, Jr., Thomas A Slamka
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fuse block for cabinet mounting provides a shaft that may exit a side of the cabinet to be received by a handle mounted on that side. A finger attached to the inner cabinet door provides for an interlock by engaging with a bolt communicating with the shaft preventing inadvertent opening of the cabinet when the fuse block is connected to power and/or connecting the fuse block to power when the cabinet door is open.
Claims21
A disconnect mechanism for a fuse block receiving power connections, the fuse block having a support face for fitting inside of a cabinet and holding one or more fuses accessible on a front face of the fuse block opposite the support face, the disconnect mechanism comprising:
- a rotary shaft communicating with the fuse block and extending outward parallel to the rear panel when the support face of the fuse block is mounted parallel to the rear panel, an outer end of the rotary shaft adapted to receive a portion of a handle mounted on a side of the cabinet, the rotary shaft rotating to disconnect the fuses from the power connections;
- a bolt operator extending radially from the rotary shaft to rotate therewith and providing a stop surface;
- a bolt movable between a lock position where the bolt may engage the stop surface preventing free rotation of the rotary shaft to connect the fuses to the power connections, and an unlock position where the bolt is disengaged from the stop surface allowing free rotation of the rotary shaft to connect the fuses to the power connections;
- and
- a finger mountable on a door of the cabinet to engage the bolt when the door is closed to move the bolt to the unlocked position;
- whereby inadvertent rotation of the rotary shaft may be prevented when the cabinet door is open.
A kit for a fuse block receiving power connections and of a type having a support face for mounting against a rear panel of a cabinet with one or more fuse sockets accessible on a front face of the fuse block opposite the support face and with a fuse block shaft extending outward along a side face of the fuse block to be substantially perpendicular to the support face and rotating to disconnect the fuses from the power connections, the kit comprising:
- a rotary shaft;
- a support plate having a first portion receiving the support face of the fuse block and a second portion holding the rotary shaft extending parallel to the support face;
- a bolt operator extending radially from the rotary shaft to rotate therewith and providing a stop surface;
- a gear fitting on the fuse block shaft to engage the bolt operator to turn therewith;
- a bolt movable between a lock position where the bolt may engage the stop surface preventing free rotation of the rotary shaft to connect the fuses to the power connections, and an unlock position where the bolt is disengaged from the stop surface allowing free rotation of the rotary shaft to connect the fuse sockets, the bolt further having an actuator surface;
- and
- a finger mountable on a door of the cabinet to engage the bolt when the door is closed to move the bolt to the unlocked position;
- whereby a fuse block with a front facing shaft may be converted to use with a side-facing shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.