Methods and apparatus for automatically transferring electrical power

• US 20020130023A1
• Filed: 03/13/2001
• Published: 09/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: General Electric Company
• Original Assignee: General Electric Company
• Inventors: Milman, Sheldon, Serrano, Mark A.
• Granted Patent: US 6,815,622 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 200/293
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2300/018 Application transfer; between utility and emergency power supply circuits in H02J9/04
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/0066 Auxiliary contact devices for arc transfer H01H9/38; for electromagnetic relays H01H50/541

Abstract

An automatic transfer switch includes a main body having a solenoid side and an auxiliary side. A solenoid side limit switch assembly is mounted to the solenoid side and an auxiliary side limit switch assembly is mounted on the auxiliary side. The solenoid side limit switch assembly includes a plurality of limit switches and a solenoid side mounting plate. The auxiliary side limit switch assembly includes a plurality of limit switches and an auxiliary side mounting plate.

Claims

1. A method for mounting an automatic transfer switch to an enclosure including at least one embossed tab, said method comprising the steps of:

attaching a tabbed mounting plate including at least one attachment tab to the automatic transfer switch; and

mounting the tabbed mounting plate to the enclosure.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate further comprises the step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate including a plurality of attachment tabs and a line of symmetry with respect to the attachment tabs to the transfer plate.

3. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate further comprises the step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate including a plurality of attachment tabs and at least two orthogonal lines of symmetry with respect to the attachment tabs to the transfer plate.

4. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate further comprises the step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate including a plurality of unitary attachment tabs to the automatic transfer switch.

5. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate further comprises the step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate including a plurality of unitary attachment tabs each including at least one mounting opening thereon to the automatic transfer switch.

6. A method according to claim 1 wherein said step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate further comprises the step of attaching a tabbed mounting plate including a plurality of unitary attachment tabs each including at least one mounting opening substantially centered thereon to the automatic transfer switch.

7. A method for fabricating an automatic transfer switch, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a main body including a solenoid side; and

attaching a solenoid side limit switch assembly including a plurality of limit switches and a solenoid side mounting plate to the solenoid side of the main body.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said step of attaching a solenoid side switch assembly further comprises the step of attaching a solenoid side limit switch assembly including a plurality of limit switches and a solenoid side mounting plate to the solenoid side of the main body wherein the limit switches arranged fixedly in coplanar pairs external to the main body.

9. A method according to claim 7 further comprising the step of attaching a mounting plate to the main body such that the mounting late is substantially perpendicular to the limit switches.

10. A method according to claim 7 further comprising attaching an auxiliary side limit switch assembly including an auxiliary side mounting plate and a plurality of limit switches to an auxiliary side of the main body utilizing the auxiliary side mounting plate.

11. A method according to claim 10 further comprising attaching the main body to a mounting plate such that the limit switches are substantially perpendicular to the mounting plate.

12. A method according to claim 7 further comprising attaching an auxiliary side limit switch assembly including an auxiliary side mounting plate and a plurality of limit switches to an auxiliary side of the main body utilizing the auxiliary side mounting plate wherein the limit switches are in fixed relationship with the auxiliary mounting plate.

13. A method according to claim 7 further comprising attaching an auxiliary side limit switch assembly including an auxiliary side mounting plate and a plurality of pairs of coplanar limit switches to an auxiliary side of the main body utilizing the auxiliary side mounting plate wherein at least two pairs of coplanar switches are external the main body and at least three pairs of coplanar switches are interior the main body.

15. A method according to claim 14 wherein said step of attaching a cover further comprises the step of attaching a unitary cover to the main body wherein the cover sized to cover all phase plates.

17. A method according to claim 16 wherein said step of attaching an auxiliary side limit switch assembly further comprises the step of attaching an auxiliary side limit switch assembly including an auxiliary side mounting plate and a plurality of limit switches to an auxiliary side of the main body utilizing the auxiliary side mounting plate wherein the limit switches are in fixed relationship with the auxiliary mounting plate.

18. A method according to claim 16 wherein said step of attaching an auxiliary side limit switch assembly further comprises the step of attaching an auxiliary side limit switch assembly including an auxiliary side mounting plate and a plurality of pairs of coplanar limit switches to an auxiliary side of the main body utilizing the auxiliary side mounting plate wherein at least two pairs of coplanar switches are external the main body and at least three pairs of coplanar switches are interior the main body.

19. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of attaching the main body to a tabbed mounting plate including a plurality of attachment tabs.

20. A method according to claim 16 further comprising the step of attaching the main body to a tabbed mounting plate including a plurality of attachment tabs each including at least one opening substantially centered thereon.

14. A method for fabricating an automatic transfer switch, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a main body including a plurality of phase plates; and

attaching a cover to the main body wherein the cover sized to cover all phase plates.

16. A method for fabricating an automatic transfer switch, said method comprising the steps of:

providing a main body including an auxiliary side; and

attaching an auxiliary side limit switch assembly including a plurality of limit switches and an auxiliary side mounting plate to the auxiliary side of the main body.

21. An automatic transfer switch mounting plate comprising:

a body; and

a plurality of attachment tabs extending from said body.

22. A mounting plate according to claim 21 wherein said body has at least one line of symmetry with respect to said attachment tabs.

23. A mounting plate according to claim 21 wherein said body has at least two orthogonal lines of symmetry.

24. A mounting plate according to claim 21 wherein said plurality of attachment tabs comprises a plurality of unitary attachment tabs extending from said body.

25. A mounting plate according to claim 21 wherein said plurality of attachment tabs comprises a plurality of unitary attachment tabs extending from said body wherein said unitary attachment tabs comprise at least one mounting opening thereon.

26. A mounting plate according to claim 21 wherein said plurality of attachment tabs comprises a plurality of unitary attachment tabs extending from said body wherein said unitary attachment tabs comprise at least one mounting opening substantially centered thereon.

28. A switch according to claim 27 wherein said solenoid side switch assembly further comprises a plurality of limit switches arranged fixedly in coplanar pairs external to said main body.

29. A switch according to claim 28 further comprising a mounting plate substantially perpendicular to said limit switches attached to said main body.

30. A switch according to claim 27 further comprising a pre-assembled auxiliary side limit switch assembly comprising a auxiliary side mounting plate and a plurality of limit switches, said auxiliary side limit switch assembly attached to an auxiliary side of said main body at said auxiliary side mounting plate.

31. A switch according to claim 30 further comprises a mounting plate attached to said main body, said limit switches substantially perpendicular to said mounting plate.

32. A switch according to claim 31 wherein said limit switches in fixed relationship with said auxiliary side mounting plate.

33. A switch according to claim 31 wherein said limit switches arranged such that at least three pairs of coplanar switches interior said main body and at least two pairs of coplanar switches exterior said main body.

35. A switch according to claim 34 wherein said cover comprises a unitary sized to cover all phase plates.

37. A switch according to claim 36 wherein said auxiliary side limit switch assembly further comprises a plurality of pairs of coplanar limit switches wherein at least two pairs of coplanar switches are external said main body when said auxiliary side limit switch assembly attached to said main body and at least three pairs of coplanar switches are interior said main body when said auxiliary side limit switch assembly attached to said main body.

38. A switch according to claim 36 further comprising a tabbed mounting plate including a plurality of attachment tabs attached to said main body.

39. A switch according to claim 38 wherein each said attachment tab comprises at least one opening substantially centered thereon.

27. An automatic transfer switch comprising:

a main body comprising a solenoid side; and

a solenoid side limit switch assembly comprising a plurality of limit switches and a solenoid side mounting plate, said solenoid side limit switch assembly mounted to said solenoid side of said main body.

34. An automatic transfer switch comprising:

a main body including a plurality of phase plates; and

a cover sized to cover all phase plates, said cover attached to said main body.

36. An automatic transfer switch comprising:

a main body comprising an auxiliary side; and

an auxiliary side limit switch assembly comprising a plurality of limit switches and an auxiliary side mounting plate, said auxiliary side limit switch assembly attached to said auxiliary side of said main body.