Portable actuator

• US 8,456,259 B2
• Filed: 07/14/2011
• Issued: 06/04/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/02/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CBS ArcSafe, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Martek Limited
• Inventors: Safreed, Russell R. III, McClung, Charles Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): BARRERA, RAMON M
• Application Number:
  US13/182,692
• Publication Number:
  US 20120024677A1
• Time in Patent Office: 691 Days
• Field of Search: 335/6, 335/68, 335/172, 335/174, 335/175, 200/330, 200/331
• US Class Current: 335/6
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 71/2472 with rotatable armatures
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/20 Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms

Abstract

Disclosed are various embodiments for a portable actuator for actuating a trip button and a close button of a circuit breaker. In one embodiment, the trip button is actuated by a linear actuator that transmits rotation forces produced by a motor to the trip button in response to a trip signal. The close button is actuated by a rotating arm that uses an anti-friction roller to apply a rotating motion to the close button in response to a close signal. The portable actuator is configured to receive the input signals from a remote location with a remote controller that is in electronic communication with the portable actuator.

Claims

1. A portable actuator for remote operation of a circuit breaker, the portable actuator comprising:

an actuator frame for supporting and positioning the portable actuator in relationship to a plurality of circuit breaker operating controls without obscuring a breaker status window and a spring status window;

a plurality of magnets for holding the actuator frame in a proper position relative to a pull handle and a faceplate associated with the circuit breaker, wherein the holding occurs by magnetic attraction;

at least one electric motor and an associated gearbox mounted to the actuator frame;

a linear actuator that transmits a rotational force produced by the at least one electric motor and the associated gearbox to a trip button, wherein the trip button is one of the plurality of circuit breaker operating controls;

a rotating arm having an anti-friction roller on one end of the rotating arm for applying a rotating motion to a close button, wherein the close button is a second one of the plurality of circuit breaker operating controls;

a safety interlock device that prohibits installation of the portable actuator to the circuit breaker when the portable actuator is not in a neutral position;

an angular sensor that senses an angular position of the associated gearbox;

a controller for operating the at least one electric motor; and

a control station for controlling the portable actuator, wherein the control station is configured to be operated remotely by a human operator.

2. The portable actuator of claim 1 further comprising an encoder associated with the associated gearbox for tracking a position of an output shaft of the motor and communicating with the controller.

3. The portable actuator of claim 2, wherein the encoder is at least one of a digital absolute position indicating encoder and a variable resistance potentiometer.

4. The portable actuator of claim 1, wherein the magnets are at least one of a plurality of permanent magnets and a plurality of electromagnets.

5. The portable actuator of claim 1, wherein the actuator frame is configured to engage a pull handle associated with the circuit breaker for aligning the portable actuator with the circuit breaker.

6. The portable actuator of claim 1, wherein a vibration sensor detects operation of the circuit breaker.

7. The portable actuator of claim 1, wherein the controller communicates with the control station by at least one of a multi-conductor cable, a radio communicative device, and an infrared communicative device.

8. The portable actuator of claim 1, wherein the controller operates the electric motor based on determining at least one of a linear force and a rotational force of the electric motor as a function of at least one of a current and a wattage associated with the electric motor.

9. A system, comprising:

a portable actuator, the portable actuator comprising;

an actuator frame configured to engage a front cover of a circuit breaker and align with the circuit breaker; and

a plurality of actuating mechanisms powered by an electric motor comprising at least one rotating arm, wherein the actuating mechanisms are configured to actuate a plurality of control buttons of the circuit breaker; and

a remote controller configured to provide a plurality of signals to the portable actuator from a remote location.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the actuator frame is configured to engage a pull handle associated with the circuit breaker.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the actuating mechanisms comprises a linear actuator configured to transfer a rotation force produced by the electric motor to a trip button associated with the circuit breaker.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the at least one rotating arm is configured to apply a rotating motion to a close button associated with the circuit breaker.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the rotating arm includes an anti-friction roller attached to one end of the rotating arm.

14. The system of claim 9, further comprising a safety interlock device configured to prevent the portable actuator from inadvertently actuating the circuit breaker.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the safety interlock device allows for the portable actuator to be affixed to the circuit breaker when the portable actuator is a neutral state.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the remote controller transmits signals indicative of at least one of a neutral state, a trip state, and a close state.

17. A system, comprising:

a portable actuator, the portable actuator comprising;

an actuator frame configured to engage a circuit breaker and align with the circuit breaker; and

a plurality of actuating mechanisms powered by an electric motor comprising at least one rotating arm, wherein the actuating mechanisms are configured to actuate a plurality of control buttons of the circuit breaker;

a remote controller configured to provide a plurality of signals to the portable actuator from a remote location; and

wherein the actuator frame comprises a plurality of magnets for magnetically affixing the portable actuator with a faceplate associated with circuit breaker.

18. A system, comprising:

a portable actuator, the portable actuator comprising;

an actuator frame configured to engage a circuit breaker and align with the circuit breaker; and

a plurality of actuating mechanisms powered by an electric motor comprising at least one rotating arm, wherein the actuating mechanisms are configured to actuate a plurality of control buttons of the circuit breaker;

a remote controller configured to provide a plurality of signals to the portable actuator from a remote location; and

wherein the electric motor is controlled based on determining at least one of a linear force and a rotational force of the electric motor as a function of at least one of a current and a wattage associated with the electric motor.

19. A system for remotely controlling a portable actuator, comprising:

means for receiving an input signal from a remote location;

means for electronically actuating a trip button of a circuit breaker based on the received input signal comprising at least one rotating arm; and

means for electronically actuating a close button of a circuit breaker based on the received input signal.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising means for preventing inadvertent operation of the circuit breaker.

21. The system of claim 19, wherein the means for electronically actuating the trip button comprises a linear actuator configured to transfer a rotation force produced by an electric motor to the trip button.

22. The system of claim 19, wherein the rotating arm is configured to apply a rotating motion to the close button.

23. The system of claim 19, wherein the portable actuator further comprises an actuator frame configured to engage a pull handle associated with the circuit breaker to properly align with a plurality of control buttons of the circuit breaker.