US 7,459,650 B2Granted

Electrical switching apparatus, and latch assembly and latch engagement control mechanism therefor

AssigneeEaton Corporation

InventorsNathan J. Weister, Paul R. Rakus, Douglas C. Marks

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Abstract

A latch engagement control mechanism is provided for a latch assembly of a circuit breaker including a housing, separable contacts, and an operating mechanism having a pole shaft, and at least one link coupled to the pole shaft. The latch assembly includes a pivot member cooperable with such link. The latch engagement control mechanism includes a latch pin having a cut-out portion and pivoting among a first position in which the latch pin prevents the pivot member from pivoting, and a second position in which the cut-out portion provides a clearance for the pivot member to pivot. A latch member coupled to the latch pin at or about the cut-out portion, includes at least a first protrusion engageable by the pivot member to establish the first position of the latch pin.

Claims22

Dependent claims

A latch engagement control mechanism for a latch assembly of an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by said housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft and at least one link coupled to said pole shaft, said latch assembly including a pivot member being cooperable with said at least one link, said latch engagement control mechanism comprising:

a latch pin including a cut-out portion, said latch pin being pivotable among a first position corresponding to said latch pin preventing said pivot member from pivoting, and a second position corresponding to said cut-out portion providing a clearance for said pivot member to pivot;
and
a latch member coupled to said latch pin at or about said cut-out portion, said latch member comprising a plurality of protrusions,
wherein a first one of said protrusions engages said pivot member, in order to establish said first position of said latch pin with respect to said pivot member, and
wherein, when said latch pin is disposed in said second position, said pivot member pivots, thereby releasing said at least one link to pivot said pole shaft and open said separable contacts.

2 more elements

A latch assembly for an electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by said housing, and an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft and at least one link coupled to said pole shaft, said latch assembly comprising:

a pivot member structured to be pivotably coupled to said housing and cooperable with said at least one link;
and
a latch engagement control mechanism comprising:
a latch pin including a cut-out portion, said latch pin being pivotable among a first position corresponding to said latch pin preventing said pivot member from pivoting, and a second position corresponding to said cut-out portion providing a clearance for said pivot member to pivot, and
a latch member coupled to said latch pin at or about said cut-out portion, said latch member comprising a plurality of protrusions,
wherein a first one of said protrusions engages said pivot member, thereby establishing said first position of said latch pin with respect to said pivot member, and
wherein, when said latch pin is disposed in said second position, said pivot member pivots, thereby releasing said at least one link to pivot said pole shaft and open said separable contacts.

4 more elements

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

a housing;
separable contacts enclosed by said housing;
an operating mechanism structured to open and close said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a pole shaft and at least one link coupled to said pole shaft;
and
a latch assembly comprising:
a pivot member pivotably coupled to said housing and cooperable with said at least one link, and
a latch engagement control mechanism comprising:
a latch pin including a cut-out portion, said latch pin being pivotable among a first position corresponding to said latch pin preventing said pivot member from pivoting, and a second position corresponding to said cut-out portion providing a clearance for said pivot member to pivot, and
a latch member coupled to said latch pin at or about said cut-out portion, said latch member comprising a plurality of protrusions,
wherein a first one of said protrusions engages said pivot member, thereby establishing said first position of said latch pin with respect to said pivot member, and
wherein, when said latch pin is disposed in said second position, said pivot member pivots, thereby releasing said at least one link to pivot said pole shaft and open said separable contacts.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.