Remote drive for disconnector/isolator used in switchgear

A motorized drive system for a disconnector used in electrical switchgear comprising:

• a fixed busbar contact fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled within the switchgear to a line supply busbar that is electrically coupled to a line supply external to the switchgear;
• a fixed breaker contact fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to a circuit breaker fixedly mounted within the switchgear;
• a movable contact that is electrically conductive and movable to a first position to electrically connect the fixed busbar contact with the fixed breaker contact in a service configuration and to a second position to electrically disconnect the fixed busbar contact from the fixed breaker contact and thereby disconnect the circuit breaker from the line supply in an isolated configuration;
• and
• a motor fixed within the switchgear and coupled to the movable contact such that rotation of the motor causes the movable contact to move between the first and the second positions;
• wherein the first fixed busbar contact includes three fixed busbar contacts each fixed within the switchgear and each electrically coupled to respective ones of three line supply busbars each electrically coupled to a distinct phase of the line supply,
• wherein the fixed breaker contact includes three fixed breaker contacts each fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to a corresponding connector of the circuit breaker for supplying a respective one of the distinct phases to the circuit breaker,
• wherein the movable contact includes three movable contacts that are electrically conductive, and
• wherein the motor is coupled to the three movable contacts such that rotation of the motor causes the three movable contacts to move together between the first and second positions;
• three fixed ground contacts each fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to the main ground busbar, the motor causing the three movable contacts to move into and out of a third position;
• a ground shorting bar removably connected to a fixed main ground bar that is electrically coupled to the main ground busbar, the ground shorting bar being movable among a ground-engaged position and a ground-isolated position, the ground shorting bar electrically shorting the three fixed ground contacts together and being electrically connected to the fixed main ground bar in the ground-engaged position, the ground shorting bar being electrically isolated from the three fixed ground contacts and from the fixed main ground bar in the ground-isolated position;
• and
• a ground-bar engage motor mechanically coupled to the ground shorting bar such that rotation of the ground-bar engage motor causes the ground shorting bar to move among the ground-engaged position and the ground-isolated position.

A motorized drive system for a disconnector used in electrical switchgear, comprising:

• a fixed busbar contact fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to a line supply busbar within the switchgear that is electrically coupled to a line supply external to the switchgear;
• a fixed breaker contact fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to a circuit breaker fixedly mounted within the switchgear;
• a fixed ground contact fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to a main ground busbar that is electrically coupled to ground;
• a movable contact that is electrically conductive and movable to a first position to electrically connect the fixed busbar contact with the fixed breaker contact in a service configuration and movable to a second position to electrically disconnect the fixed busbar contact from the fixed breaker contact and thereby disconnect a load protected by the circuit breaker from the line supply in an isolated configuration and movable to a third position in which the movable contact electrically connects the fixed ground contact to the fixed breaker contact;
• a motor fixed within the switchgear and coupled to the movable contact such that rotation of the motor causes the movable contact to move among the first, second, and third positions;
• a ground shorting bar removably connected to a fixed main ground bar that is electrically coupled to the main ground busbar, the ground shorting bar being movable among a ground-engaged position and a ground-isolated position, the ground shorting bar being electrically connected to the fixed main ground bar in the ground-engaged position, the ground shorting bar being electrically isolated from the fixed ground contact and from the fixed main ground bar in the ground-isolated position;
• and
• a ground-bar engage motor mechanically coupled to the ground shorting bar such that rotation of the ground-bar engage motor causes the ground shorting bar to move among the ground-engaged position and the ground-isolated position.

A motorized drive system for a disconnector used in electrical switchgear, comprising:

• fixed busbar contacts each fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to respective ones of line supply busbars within the switchgear that is electrically coupled to a distinct phase of a line supply external to the switchgear;
• fixed breaker contacts each fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to a corresponding connector of a circuit breaker fixedly mounted within the switchgear, each of the corresponding connectors supplying a respective one of the distinct phases to the circuit breaker;
• fixed ground contacts each fixed within the switchgear and electrically coupled to a main ground busbar that is electrically coupled to ground;
• electrically conductive movable contacts movable to a first position to electrically connect the fixed busbar contacts with the fixed breaker contacts in a service configuration and movable to a second position to electrically disconnect the fixed busbar contacts from the fixed breaker contacts and thereby disconnect a load protected by the circuit breaker from the line supply in an isolated configuration and movable to a third position in which the movable contacts electrically connect the fixed ground contacts to the fixed breaker contacts;
• a motor fixed within the switchgear and coupled to the movable contacts such that rotation of the motor causes the movable contacts to move among the first, second, and third positions;
• a ground shorting bar removably connected to a fixed main ground bar that is electrically coupled to the main ground busbar, the ground shorting bar being movable among a ground-engaged position and a ground-isolated position, the ground shorting bar electrically shorting the fixed ground contacts together and being electrically connected to the fixed main ground bar in the ground-engaged position, the ground shorting bar being electrically isolated from the fixed ground contacts and from the fixed main ground bar in the ground-isolated position;
• a ground-bar engage motor mechanically coupled to the ground shorting bar such that rotation of the ground-bar engage motor causes the ground shorting bar to move among the ground-engaged position and the ground-isolated position;
• a light indicator assembly that includes a service light indicator for indicating that the motorized drive system is in a service configuration in which the movable contacts are connected across the fixed busbar contacts and the fixed breaker contacts, an isolated light indicator for indicating that the motorized drive system is in an isolated configuration in which the movable contacts are disconnected from the fixed busbar contacts and from the fixed ground contacts, and a grounded light indicator for indicating that the motorized drive system is in a grounded configuration in which the movable contacts are connected across the fixed breaker contacts and the fixed ground contacts, wherein the service, isolated, and grounded light indicators are visible from a front panel of the switchgear;
• and
• a receiver circuit that receives a signal instruction that is generated external to and remote from the electrical switchgear, the receiver circuit being operable to cause the motor to turn in response to receiving the signal instruction.