US 8,203,088 B2Granted

Electrical switching apparatus and close latch interlock assembly therefor

AssigneeEaton Corporation

InventorsAndrew L. Gottschalk, Perry R. Gibson, Robert M. Slepian

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Abstract

A close latch interlock assembly is provided for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a circuit breaker, which includes a stored energy mechanism, such as a closing spring. The close latch interlock assembly includes a close D-shaft pivotable between a latched and unlatched positions corresponding to the closing spring being chargeable and discharged, respectively. An actuator is movable between an unactuated position corresponding to the close D-shaft being disposed in the latched position, and an actuated position corresponding to the close D-shaft being movable toward the unlatched position. A release member cooperates with the actuator and is pivotably coupled to the first end of a transfer link. The second end of the transfer link extends toward the close D-shaft. When the actuator is moved toward the actuated position, it moves the release member, thereby moving the transfer link and pivoting the close D-shaft toward the unlatched position.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A close latch interlock assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing, separable contacts enclosed by the housing, and an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism including a stored energy mechanism, said close latch interlock assembly comprising:

a close D-shaft structured to be pivotably coupled to the housing, said close D-shaft being structured to pivot between a latched position corresponding to said stored energy mechanism being chargeable, and an unlatched position corresponding to said stored energy mechanism being discharged;
an actuator structured to be movably coupled to the housing, said actuator being movable between an unactuated position corresponding to said close D-shaft being disposed in said latched position, and an actuated position corresponding to said close D-shaft being movable toward said unlatched position;
a release member structured to cooperate with said actuator;
and
a transfer link including a first end pivotably coupled to said release member, and a second end extending outwardly from said release member toward said close D-shaft,
wherein, when said actuator is moved toward said actuated position, said actuator moves said release member, thereby moving the second end of said transfer link and pivoting said close D-shaft toward said unlatched position.

3 more elements

An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

a housing;
separable contacts enclosed by the housing;
an operating mechanism for opening and closing said separable contacts, said operating mechanism comprising a stored energy mechanism and a close D-shaft, said close D-shaft pivoting between a latched position corresponding to said stored energy mechanism being chargeable, and an unlatched position corresponding to said stored energy mechanism being discharged;
and
a close latch interlock assembly comprising:
an actuator movably coupled to the housing of said electrical switching apparatus, said actuator being movable between an unactuated position corresponding to said close D-shaft being disposed in said latched position, and an actuated position corresponding to said close D-shaft being movable toward said unlatched position,
a release member cooperating with said actuator, and
a transfer link including a first end pivotably coupled to said release member, and a second end extending outwardly from said release member toward said close D-shaft,
wherein, when said actuator is moved toward said actuated position, said actuator moves said release member, thereby moving the second end of said transfer link and pivoting said close D-shaft toward said unlatched position.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.