Indicator for a fault interrupter and load break switch

• US 8,004,377 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 08/23/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eaton Intelligent Power Limited (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Cooper Technologies Company (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Inventors: Lindsey, Kurt Lawrence, Brusky, Nicholas
• Primary Examiner(s): Mai; Anh T
• Assistant Examiner(s): Musleh; Mohamad A
• Application Number:
  US12/117,456
• Publication Number:
  US 20090278636A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,202 Days
• Field of Search: 335/17, 335/125, 324/133, 324/524, 324/529, 340/664
• US Class Current: 335/17
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 1/2058 Rotating bridge being assembled in a cassette, which can be placed as a complete unit into a circuit breaker
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 33/121 Load break switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/142 actuated due to change of magnetic permeability
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/40 Combined electrothermal and electromagnetic mechanisms
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/56 actuated by rotatable knob or wheel
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 77/10 with electrodynamic opening combined with electromagnetic release mechanism H01H71/2418
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/34 Stationary parts for restricting or subdividing the arc, e.g. barrier plate

Abstract

A fault interrupter and load break switch includes a trip assembly configured to automatically open a transformer circuit electrically coupled to stationary contacts of the switch upon the occurrence of a fault condition. The fault condition causes a Curie metal element electrically coupled to at least one of the stationary contacts to release a magnetic latch. The release causes a trip rotor of the trip assembly to rotate a rotor assembly. This rotation causes ends of a movable contact of the rotor assembly to electrically disengage the stationary contacts, thereby opening the circuit. The switch also includes a handle for manually opening and closing the electrical circuit in fault and non-fault conditions. Actuation of the handle coupled to the rotor assembly via a spring-loaded rotor causes the movable contact ends to selectively engage or disengage the stationary contacts.

Claims

1. An indicator assembly for a transformer switch, comprising:

an elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising at least one label associated with a state of the transformer switch; and

a first magnet coupled to the second end of the elongated member, the first magnet being configured to exert a force for rotating the elongated member in response to rotation of a second magnet coupled to a rotor of the transformer switch, the rotation of the second magnet occurring in response to a change of the state of the transformer switch.

2. The indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongated member comprises a front face, and

wherein the label is disposed on the front face, substantially perpendicular to an axis of the elongated member.

3. The indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first end of the elongated member comprises a side face, and

wherein the label is disposed on the side face, substantially parallel to an axis of the elongated member.

4. The indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein the label is disposed on a front face of the elongated member, substantially perpendicular to an axis of the elongated member, and

wherein the elongated member further comprises another label disposed on a side face of the elongated member, substantially parallel to the axis of the elongated member.

5. The indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the elongated member is configured to be disposed within an annular recess of a handle of the transformer switch.

6. The indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein the second end of the elongated member is configured to extend through at least one channel of the transformer switch, substantially co-linearly with an axis of the rotor.

7. The indicator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first magnet extends at least partially through the second end of the elongated member.

15. The transformer switch of claim 1, wherein the first magnet extends at least partially through a top end of the rotor.

16. The transformer switch of claim 1, wherein the second magnet extends at least partially through the second end of the elongated member.

8. A transformer switch, comprising:

a rotor configured to be selectively positioned in a first position and a second position, the first position corresponding to a closed state of a circuit of a transformer associated with the transformer switch, the second position corresponding to an open state of the circuit;

a first magnet coupled to the rotor; and

an indicator assembly configured to indicate whether the circuit is in the open state, the indicator assembly comprising

an elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end comprising at least one label, each label being associated with one of a closed state of the transformer switch and an open state of the transformer, and

a second magnet coupled to the second end of the elongated member, the second magnet being configured to exert a force for rotating the elongated member in response to rotation of the first magnet when the rotor is actuated between the first position and the second position.

9. The transformer switch of claim 8, wherein the first end of the elongated member comprises a front face, and

wherein the label is disposed on the front face, substantially perpendicular to an axis of the elongated member.

10. The transformer switch of claim 8, wherein the first end of the elongated member comprises a side face, and

wherein the label is disposed on the side face, substantially parallel to an axis of the elongated member.

11. The transformer switch of claim 10, further comprising a handle comprising a frame having a notch through which at least a portion of the side face of the elongated member is visible,

wherein the label is visible through the notch when the rotor is in the second position.

12. The transformer switch of claim 8, wherein the label is disposed on a front face of the elongated member, substantially perpendicular to an axis of the elongated member, and

wherein the elongated member further comprises another label disposed on a side face of the elongated member, substantially perpendicular to the axis of the elongated member.

13. The transformer switch of claim 8, further comprising a handle comprising an annular recess, at least a portion of the first end of the elongated member being disposed within the annular recess.

14. The transformer switch of claim 8, wherein the second end of the elongated member extends through at least one channel of the transformer switch, substantially co-linearly with an axis of the rotor.

17. A transformer switch, comprising:

a rotor configured to be selectively positioned in a first position and a second position, the first position corresponding to a closed state of a circuit of a transformer associated with the transformer switch, the second position corresponding to an open state of the circuit;

a first magnet coupled to the rotor;

a handle coupled to the rotor and to an indicator assembly;

the indicator assembly configured to indicate whether the circuit is in the open state, the indicator assembly comprising

an elongated member having a first end and a second end, the first end having a side face comprising at least one label, each label being associated with one of a closed state of the transformer switch and an open state of the transformer, and

a second magnet coupled to the second end of the elongated member, the second magnet being configured to exert a force for rotating the elongated member in response to rotation of the first magnet when the rotor is actuated between the first position and the second position,

wherein the handle comprises a frame having a notch through which at least a portion of the side face of the elongated member is visible, the label being visible through the notch when the rotor is in the second position.

18. The transformer switch of claim 17, wherein the handle further comprises an annular recess, at least a portion of the frame being disposed around the annular recess.

19. The transformer switch of claim 18, wherein at least a portion of the first end of the elongated member is disposed within the annular recess.

20. The transformer switch of claim 17, wherein the second end of the elongated member extends through at least one channel of the transformer switch, substantially co-linearly with an axis of the rotor.

21. The transformer switch of claim 17, wherein the first magnet extends at least partially through a top end of the rotor.

22. The transformer switch of claim 17, wherein the second magnet extends at least partially through the second end of the elongated member.