Motorized loadbreak switch control system and method

A loadbreak switch, comprising:

• at least one stationary contact;
• a rotatable switching mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a handle extending axially from the rotatable shaft, and at least one rotor comprising at least one contact blade, the contact blade being selectively positionable relative to the at least one stationary contact via rotation of the rotatable shaft;
• a stored energy mechanism coupled to the shaft and configured to assist movement of the rotatable switching mechanism relative to the at least one stationary contact;
• a motor mechanically linked to the handle;
• at least one sensor configured to monitor a position of the rotatable switching mechanism relative to the at least one stationary contact;
• and
• a controller coupled to the motor and configured to:
• energize the motor to rotate the handle;
• determine, based upon a signal from the at least one sensor, whether the rotatable switching mechanism has rotated from a first operating position to a second operating position,
• determine at least one of an overload condition of the stored energy mechanism, an underload condition of the stored energy mechanism, and a no load condition of the stored energy mechanism, and
• adjust a load of the stored energy mechanism in response to determining one of the overload condition and the underload condition.

A loadbreak switch, comprising:

• at least one stationary contact;
• a rotatable switching mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a handle extending axially from the rotatable shaft, and at least one rotor comprising at least one contact blade, the contact blade being selectively positionable relative to the at least one stationary contact via rotation of the rotatable shaft;
• a stored energy mechanism coupled to the shaft and configured to assist movement of the rotatable switching mechanism relative to the at least one stationary contact;
• a motor mechanically linked to the handle;
• at least one sensor configured to monitor a position of the rotatable switching mechanism relative to the at least one stationary contact;
• a controller coupled to the motor and configured to:
• energize the motor to rotate the handle,
• determine, based upon a signal from the at least one sensor, whether the rotatable switching mechanism has rotated from a first operating position to a second operating position,
• determine at least one of an overload condition of the stored energy mechanism, an underload condition of the stored energy mechanism, and a no load condition of the stored energy mechanism, and
• adjust a load of the stored energy mechanism in response to determining one of the overload condition and the underload condition;
• and
• a control interface,
• wherein the controller is further configured to indicate, via the control interface, whether the rotatable switching mechanism has rotated from the first operating position to the second operating position.

A loadbreak switch, comprising:

• a casing;
• a plurality of stationary contacts located within the casing, each of the stationary contacts corresponding to a respective phase of a three phase electrical power source;
• a rotatable switching mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a handle extending axially from the rotatable shaft, and a plurality of rotors coupled to the rotatable shaft, each of the rotors corresponding to a respective one of the stationary contacts and comprising at least one movable contact blade being selectively positionable relative to the respective one of the stationary contacts via rotation of the rotatable shaft;
• a stored energy mechanism coupled to the rotatable shaft and configured to assist movement of the rotatable switching mechanism relative to the stationary contacts;
• a motor mechanically linked to the handle of the rotatable switching mechanism;
• at least one sensor configured to monitor a position of the rotatable switching mechanism relative to the stationary contacts;
• and
• a controller coupled to the motor and configured to:
• energize the motor to rotate the handle,
• determine, based upon a signal from the at least one sensor, whether the rotatable switching mechanism has rotated from a first operating position to a second operating position, and
• determine at least one of an overload condition of the stored energy mechanism, an underload condition of the stored energy mechanism, and a no load condition of the stored energy mechanism.

A method of actuating a loadbreak switch comprising at least one stationary contact, a rotatable switching mechanism comprising a handle and at least one contact blade and being selectively positionable to position the contact blade relative to the at least one stationary contact, and a stored energy mechanism configured to assist movement of the rotatable switching mechanism relative to the at least one stationary contact, the method comprising the steps of:

• coupling a motor to the handle;
• and
• controlling the motor to:
• energize the motor to rotate the handle, and
• adjust a load of the stored energy mechanism to correct one of an overload condition of the stored energy mechanism and an underload condition of the stored energy mechanism, the one of the overload condition and the underload condition being caused by the rotation of the handle.

A loadbreak switch, comprising:

• a casing;
• at least one stationary contact located within the casing,
• a rotatable switching mechanism comprising a rotatable shaft, a handle extending axially from the rotating shaft, and at least one rotor coupled to the rotatable shaft, the at least one rotor being selectively positionable relative to the at least one stationary contact via rotation of the rotatable shaft;
• means for storing energy as the handle is rotated, the means for storing energy assisting movement of the rotatable switching mechanism relative to the at least one stationary contact;
• means for rotating the handle;
• means for controlling the means for rotating to adjust a load of the means for storing energy to correct one of an overload condition of the means for storing energy and an underload condition of the means for storing energy, the one of the overload condition and the underload condition being caused by the rotation of the handle.