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US 8,854,174 B2Granted
Fused disconnect switch with terminal opening cover
AssigneeCooper Technologies Company
InventorsJiehua Su, Matthew Rain Darr
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A fusible switching disconnect device includes a switch housing and terminal cover therefore that blocks access to a line side fuse clip and prevents insertion of a rectangular fuse module when switch contacts in the device are closed. An interlock element further presents the fuse from being retracted when the switch contacts are closed.
Claims51
A fused disconnect switch for use with a retractable fuse having a terminal blade and an opening extending through the terminal blade, the fused disconnect switch comprising:
- a nonconductive switch housing defining an exterior fuse receptacle and a first terminal blade opening formed through the nonconductive switch housing, the terminal blade opening configured to accept the terminal blade of the retractable fuse;
- a line side terminal for establishing electrical connection with line side circuitry;
- a line side fuse terminal proximate the first terminal blade opening and configured to establish an electrical connection with the terminal blade of the retractable fuse;
- a switch actuator selectively positionable between a closed position completing an electrical path from the line side terminal to the line side fuse terminal and an open position disconnecting the electrical path from the line side terminal to the line side fuse terminal;
- a nonconductive terminal cover operatively coupled to the switch actuator, the nonconductive terminal cover movable by the switch actuator between a first position and a second position, the nonconductive terminal cover in the first position blocking the first terminal blade opening and preventing access to the line side fuse terminal through the first terminal blade opening when the switch actuator is in the closed position, the nonconductive terminal cover in the second position permitting access to the line side fuse terminal through the first terminal blade opening;
- and
- a switch interlock shaft coupled to the switch actuator, wherein a portion of the switch interlock shaft is passed through the opening of the terminal blade and prevents removal of the terminal blade of the retractable fuse when the switch actuator is in the closed position.
4 more elements
A fused disconnect switch for protecting an electrical circuit with at least one fuse having a terminal blade and an opening extending through the terminal blade, the fused disconnect switch, comprising:
- a nonconductive switch housing defining an exterior fuse receptacle and first and second terminal blade openings formed through the nonconductive switch housing in the exterior fuse receptacle;
- a line side terminal carrying a first stationary contact;
- a line side fuse terminal proximate the first terminal blade opening and comprising a second stationary contact;
- a load side fuse terminal proximate the second terminal blade opening;
- a switch actuator selectively positionable between a closed position and an open position;
- a sliding bar coupled to the switch actuator and carrying first and second movable switch contacts, the first and second movable switch contacts completing an electrical path from the line side terminal to the line side fuse terminal when the switch actuator is in the closed position and disconnecting the line side terminal from the line side fuse terminal when the switch actuator is in the opened position;
- a nonconductive terminal cover operatively coupled to the switch actuator and responsive thereto, whereby the nonconductive terminal cover is movable between a first position and a second position when the switch actuator is moved between the open and closed positions, the nonconductive terminal cover in the first position blocking the first terminal blade opening and preventing access to the line side fuse terminal through the first terminal blade opening;
- and
- an interlock shaft coupled to the nonconductive terminal cover, the interlock shaft configured to pass through the opening of the terminal blade and retain the terminal blade of the at least one fuse in position relative to one of the line side terminal and the load side terminal when the switch actuator is in the closed position.
6 more elements
A fused disconnect switch comprising:
- a switch housing defining an exterior fuse receptacle, the exterior fuse receptacle including first and second terminal blade openings;
- line and load side fuse terminals situated interior to the switch housing proximate the respective first and second terminal blade openings;
- a retractable fuse comprising a rectangular fuse module having first and second terminal blades passable through the first and second terminal blade openings to engage the line side and load side fuse terminals, at least one of the first and second terminal blades including an opening extending therethrough;
- an interlock shaft movable between a first position and a second position, wherein in the first position a portion of the interlock shaft is passed through the opening of the at least one terminal blade to lock the retractable fuse in place;
- and
- a terminal cover mounted internal to the switch housing and movable between first and second positions, wherein the terminal cover blocks at least one of the terminal blade openings and prevents a passage of at least one of the first and second terminal blades therethrough when the terminal cover is in the first position, and wherein the terminal cover provides access to each of the first and second terminal blade openings for passage of the respective first and second terminal blades when the terminal cover is in the second position.
3 more elements
A fused disconnect switch for protecting an electrical circuit with at least one fuse having at least one terminal blade and an opening extending through the terminal blade, the fused disconnect switch, comprising:
- a nonconductive switch housing defining an exterior fuse receptacle and first and second terminal blade openings formed through the nonconductive switch housing in the exterior fuse receptacle;
- a line side terminal carrying a first stationary contact;
- a line side fuse terminal proximate the first terminal blade opening and comprising a second stationary contact;
- a load side terminal proximate the second terminal blade opening;
- a switch actuator selectively positionable between a closed position and an open position;
- a sliding bar coupled to the switch actuator and carrying first and second movable switch contacts, the first and second movable switch contacts completing an electrical path from the line side terminal to the line side fuse terminal when the switch actuator is in the closed position and disconnecting the line side terminal from the line side fuse terminal when the switch actuator is in the opened position;
- an interlock element linked to the switch actuator and driven to respective first and second positions when the switch actuator is moved between the opened and closed positions;
- a terminal cover coupled to the interlock element and movable therewith, whereby the terminal cover is movable between a first position and a second position when the interlock element is moved between the first and second positions, the terminal cover in the first position blocking at least one of the first and second terminal blade openings and preventing access to at least one of the line side fuse terminal and the load side fuse terminal through the blocked opening;
- and
- an interlock shaft, a portion of the interlock shaft configured to pass through the opening of the at least one terminal blade and retain the at least one terminal blade of the fuse in position relative to one of the line side terminal and the load side terminal when the switch element is in the closed position.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.