Manual opening device and electrical switching apparatus employing the same

• US 20070252667A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Eaton Corp. (Wisconsin) (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Zhou, Xin, Leccia, Brad, Rollmann, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 7,545,245 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 335/16
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/227 Interlocked hand- and power-operating mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/46 using rod or lever linkage, e.g. toggle
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/666 Operating arrangements

Abstract

A manual opening device is for an electrical switching apparatus, such as a synchronous circuit breaker, including a housing having an opening, a plurality of pole mechanisms each comprising separable contacts, and at least one operating mechanism including a number of actuators adapted to open and close the separable contacts. The operating mechanism is supported by the housing and includes a corresponding pole shaft. The manual opening device comprises an operating handle, a cam assembly, and a drive assembly. A first end of the operating handle protrudes through the opening of the housing and the second end is coupled to the cam assembly. The drive assembly couples the cam assembly to the corresponding pole shaft of the operating mechanism and cooperates with the corresponding pole shaft and actuators to simultaneously open the separable contacts when the operating handle is moved from a first position to a second position.

Claims

1. A manual opening device for an electrical switching apparatus, said electrical switching apparatus including a housing having an opening, a plurality of pole mechanisms each comprising separable contacts, at least one operating mechanism including a number of actuators, said actuators being adapted to open and close said separable contacts of said pole mechanisms, said at least one operating mechanism being supported by said housing and including a corresponding pole shaft, said manual opening device comprising:

an operating handle including a first end and a second end, the first end of said operating handle being structured to protrude through the opening of said housing;

a cam assembly including a pivot and at least one cam coupled to said pivot, the second end of said operating handle being coupled to said pivot; and

a drive assembly structured to couple said cam assembly to said corresponding pole shaft of said at least one operating mechanism, and to cooperate with said corresponding pole shaft and said actuators in order to open said separable contacts of said pole mechanisms when said operating handle is moved from a first position to a second position.

2. The manual opening device of claim 1 wherein said drive assembly comprises a first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, and at least one linking member;

wherein said first protrusion, said second protrusion, and said third protrusion are structured to extend from said corresponding pole shaft of said at least one operating mechanism;

wherein, when said operating handle is disposed in said first position, said first protrusion generally extends from said corresponding pole shaft toward said pivot and said at least one cam of said cam assembly;

wherein said second protrusion is structured to couple said corresponding pole shaft to a corresponding one of said actuators; and

wherein said at least one linking member is structured to interconnect said third protrusion of said corresponding pole shaft with a corresponding one of said pole mechanisms in order to open and close said separable contacts of said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms when said corresponding pole shaft pivots.

3. The manual opening device of claim 2 wherein said corresponding one of said actuators comprises a magnetic actuator including a magnet, a movable armature coupled to said second protrusion of said corresponding pole shaft, and a corresponding opening spring coupled to said first protrusion of said corresponding pole shaft;

wherein said corresponding opening spring biases said first protrusion and said corresponding pole shaft with a first force adapted to open said separable contacts of said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms;

wherein said magnet biases said movable armature with a second force adapted to close said separable contacts of said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms; and

wherein the second force of said magnet is greater than the first force of said corresponding opening spring until said operating handle of said manual opening device is disposed at or about said second position.

4. The manual opening device of claim 3 wherein, in response to partial movement of said operating handle from said first position toward said second position, said pivot of said cam assembly and said at least one cam coupled to said pivot rotate, thereby causing said at least one cam to move said first protrusion and said corresponding opening spring coupled to said first protrusion;

wherein, in response to partial movement of said corresponding opening spring, the first force of said corresponding opening spring overcomes the second force of said magnet, causing said movable armature of said magnetic actuator to move, thereby moving said second protrusion and pivoting said corresponding pole shaft; and

wherein, in response to partial pivoting of said corresponding pole shaft, said third protrusion which extends from said corresponding pole shaft and said at least one linking member coupled to said third protrusion move, thereby opening said separable contacts of said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms.

5. The manual opening device of claim 2 wherein said at least one drive assembly further comprises at least one biasing element having a first end and a second end;

wherein the first end of said biasing element is coupled to said pivot of said cam assembly;

wherein the second end of said biasing element is structured to be coupled to said housing of said electrical switching apparatus; and

wherein said biasing element is structured to bias said operating handle toward said first position.

6. The manual opening device of claim 2 wherein said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms comprises a vacuum interrupter;

wherein said vacuum interrupter includes an electrically insulative pod coupled to said housing of said electrical switching apparatus;

wherein said corresponding separable contacts of said vacuum interrupter comprise a stationary contact and a movable contact;

wherein said at least one linking member comprises an electrically insulative link having a first end and a second end;

wherein the first end of said electrically insulative link is coupled to said third protrusion of said corresponding pole shaft; and

wherein the second end of said electrically insulative link is coupled to said movable contact of said vacuum interrupter.

7. The manual opening device of claim 2 wherein said first protrusion, said second protrusion, and said third protrusion comprise first, second, and third lever arms, respectively;

and wherein said first, second, and third lever arms each extend generally perpendicularly from said corresponding pole shaft of said at least one operating mechanism.

8. The manual opening device of claim 2 wherein said electrical switching apparatus comprises a synchronous circuit breaker including a first pole, a second pole, and a third pole;

wherein said pole mechanisms comprise a first vacuum interrupter for the first pole of said synchronous circuit breaker, a second vacuum interrupter for the second pole of said synchronous circuit breaker, and a third vacuum interrupter for the third pole of said synchronous circuit breaker;

wherein said actuators comprise three separate magnetic actuators, each of said magnetic actuators being adapted to open and close said separable contacts of a corresponding one of said first vacuum interrupter, said second vacuum interrupter, and said third vacuum interrupter;

wherein said at least one operating mechanism comprises first, second, and third operating mechanisms including as said corresponding pole shaft, a first pole shaft for the first pole of said synchronous circuit breaker, a second pole shaft for the second pole of said synchronous circuit breaker, and a third pole shaft for the third pole of said synchronous circuit breaker;

wherein each of said first, second, and third operating mechanisms is structured to independently control one of said magnetic actuators; and

wherein said manual opening device is structured to cooperate with said cam assembly, said magnetic actuators, and said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft, in order to simultaneously open all of said separable contacts of said synchronous circuit breaker.

9. The manual opening device of claim 8 wherein said drive assembly further comprises a corresponding first protrusion, a corresponding second protrusion, and a corresponding third protrusion for each of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft;

wherein each of said magnetic actuators is associated with a corresponding opening spring coupled to said corresponding first protrusion of a corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft;

wherein said cam assembly includes as said at least one cam, three cams; and

wherein, in response to partial movement of said operating handle from said first position to said second position, each of said cams engages and moves said corresponding first protrusion of said corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft, thereby moving said corresponding opening spring and pivoting said corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft.

10. The manual opening device of claim 9 wherein each of said magnetic actuators comprises a movable armature coupled to said corresponding second protrusion of said corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft;

wherein said at least one linking member comprises three linking members; and

wherein each of said linking members is coupled at one end to said corresponding third protrusion of said corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft, and at the other end to said corresponding one of said first vacuum interrupter, said second vacuum interrupter, and said third vacuum interrupter.

11. The manual opening device of claim 1 wherein said operating handle moves from said second position back to said first position independent of said actuators.

12. An electrical switching apparatus comprising:

a plurality of poles;

a housing having an opening;

a plurality of pole mechanisms, each of said pole mechanisms comprising separable contacts;

at least one operating mechanism supported by said housing and including a corresponding pole shaft and a number of actuators, said actuators being adapted to open and close the separable contacts of said pole mechanisms; and

a manual opening device comprising;

an operating handle including a first end and a second end, the first end of said operating handle protruding through the opening of said housing,

a cam assembly including a pivot and at least one cam coupled to said pivot, the second end of said operating handle being coupled to said pivot, and

a drive assembly coupling said cam assembly to said corresponding pole shaft of said at least one operating mechanism and cooperating with said corresponding pole shaft and said actuators in order to open said separable contacts of said pole mechanisms when said operating handle is moved from a first position to a second position.

13. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 12 wherein said drive assembly comprises a first protrusion, a second protrusion, a third protrusion, and at least one linking member;

wherein said first protrusion, said second protrusion, and said third protrusion extend generally perpendicularly from said corresponding pole shaft of said at least one operating mechanism;

wherein, when said operating handle is disposed in said first position, said first protrusion generally extends from said corresponding pole shaft toward said pivot and said at least one cam of said cam assembly;

wherein said second protrusion couples said corresponding pole shaft to a corresponding one of said actuators; and

wherein said at least one linking member interconnects said third protrusion of said corresponding pole shaft with a corresponding one of said pole mechanisms in order to open and close said separable contacts of said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms when said corresponding pole shaft pivots.

14. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said corresponding one of said actuators comprises a magnetic actuator including a magnet, a movable armature coupled to said second protrusion of said corresponding pole shaft, and a corresponding opening spring coupled to said first protrusion of said corresponding pole shaft;

wherein said corresponding opening spring biases said first protrusion and said corresponding pole shaft with a first force adapted to open said separable contacts of said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms;

wherein said magnet biases said movable armature with a second force adapted to close said separable contacts of said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms; and

wherein the second force of said magnet is greater than the first force of said corresponding opening spring until said operating handle of said manual opening device is disposed at or about said second position.

15. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 14 wherein, in response to partial movement of said operating handle from said first position toward said second position, said pivot of said cam assembly and said at least one cam coupled to said pivot rotate, thereby causing said at least one cam to move said first protrusion and said corresponding opening spring coupled to said first protrusion;

wherein, in response to partial movement of said corresponding opening spring, the first force of said corresponding opening spring overcomes the second force of said magnet, causing said movable armature of said magnetic actuator to move, thereby moving said second protrusion and pivoting said corresponding pole shaft; and

wherein, in response to partial pivoting of said corresponding pole shaft, said third protrusion which extends from said corresponding pole shaft and said at least one linking member coupled to said third protrusion move, thereby opening said separable contacts of said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms.

16. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said at least one drive assembly further comprises at least one biasing element having a first end and a second end;

wherein the first end of said biasing element is coupled to said pivot of said cam assembly;

wherein the second end of said biasing element is coupled to said housing of said electrical switching apparatus; and

wherein said biasing element biases said operating handle toward said first position.

17. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said corresponding one of said pole mechanisms comprises a vacuum interrupter;

wherein said vacuum interrupter includes an electrically insulative pod coupled to said housing of said electrical switching apparatus;

wherein said corresponding separable contacts of said vacuum interrupter comprise a stationary contact and a movable contact;

wherein said at least one linking member comprises an electrically insulative link having a first end and a second end;

wherein the first end of said electrically insulative link is coupled to said third protrusion of said corresponding pole shaft; and

wherein the second end of said electrically insulative link is coupled to said movable contact of said vacuum interrupter.

18. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said first protrusion, said second protrusion, and said third protrusion comprise first, second, and third lever arms, respectively;

and wherein said first, second, and third lever arms each extend generally perpendicularly from said corresponding pole shaft of said at least one operating mechanism.

19. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 13 wherein said electrical switching apparatus includes as said poles, a first pole, a second pole, and a third pole;

wherein said pole mechanisms comprise a first vacuum interrupter for the first pole of said electrical switching apparatus, a second vacuum interrupter for the second pole of said electrical switching apparatus, and a third vacuum interrupter for the third pole of said electrical switching apparatus;

wherein said actuators comprise three separate magnetic actuators, each of said magnetic actuators being adapted to open and close said separable contacts of a corresponding one of said first vacuum interrupter, said second vacuum interrupter, and said third vacuum interrupter;

wherein said at least one operating mechanism comprises first, second, and third operating mechanisms including as said corresponding pole shaft, a first pole shaft for said first pole, a second pole shaft for said second pole, and a third pole shaft for said third pole;

wherein each of said first, second, and third operating mechanisms independently controls one of said magnetic actuators; and

wherein said manual opening device cooperates with said cam assembly, said magnetic actuators, and said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft, in order to simultaneously open all of said separable contacts of said electrical switching apparatus.

20. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 19 wherein said drive assembly further comprises a corresponding first protrusion, a corresponding second protrusion, and a corresponding third protrusion for each of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft;

wherein each of said magnetic actuators is associated with a corresponding opening spring coupled to said corresponding first protrusion of a corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft;

wherein said cam assembly includes as said at least one cam, three cams; and

wherein, in response to partial movement of said operating handle from said first position to said second position, each of said cams engages and moves said corresponding first protrusion of said corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft, thereby moving said corresponding opening spring and pivoting said corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft.

21. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 20 wherein each of said magnetic actuators comprises a movable armature coupled to said corresponding second protrusion of said corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft;

wherein said at least one linking member comprises three linking members; and

wherein each of said linking members is coupled at one end to said corresponding third protrusion of said corresponding one of said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft, and at the other end to said corresponding one of said first vacuum interrupter, said second vacuum interrupter, and said third vacuum interrupter.

22. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 19 wherein said housing of said electrical switching apparatus comprises a first side, a second side, and a number of dividers;

wherein said dividers comprise a first divider disposed between said first pole of said electrical switching apparatus and said second pole of said electrical switching apparatus, and a second divider disposed between said second pole of said electrical switching apparatus and said third pole of said electrical switching apparatus;

wherein said first pole shaft, said second pole shaft, and said third pole shaft each include a corresponding first end and a corresponding second end;

wherein said first pole shaft is disposed between said first side of said housing and said first divider;

wherein the corresponding first end of said first pole shaft pivotally engages said first side of said housing and the corresponding second end of said first pole shaft pivotally engages said first divider;

wherein said second pole shaft is disposed between said first divider and said second divider;

wherein the corresponding first end of said second pole shaft pivotally engages said first divider and the corresponding second end of said second pole shaft pivotally engages the second divider;

wherein said third pole shaft is disposed between said second divider and said second side of said housing; and

wherein the corresponding first end of said third pole shaft pivotally engages said second divider and the corresponding second end of said third pole shaft pivotally engages said second side of said housing.

23. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 19 wherein said electrical switching apparatus is an independent pole operated circuit breaker;

and wherein said first pole, said second pole, and said third pole of said independent pole operated circuit breaker are independently operated by said first, second, and third operating mechanisms, respectively.

24. The electrical switching apparatus of claim 23 wherein, under normal operation, said first, second, and third operating mechanisms of said independent pole operated circuit breaker synchronously open and close said separable contacts of said first pole, said separable contacts of said second pole, and said separable contacts of said third pole;

and wherein said manual opening device cooperates with said first, second, and third operating mechanisms in order to simultaneously open all of said separable contacts of said independent pole operated circuit breaker.