Apparatus for racking circuit breakers into and out of switchgear
View Patent ↗A motorized racking operator for racking a circuit breaker into and out of electrical switchgear is disclosed. The racking operator includes a motor, an On-Off control in signal communication with the motor, an anti-rotation bracket securely attached to the motor, and a latch. The motor has a drive shaft with an end configured to operably engage with a receiving end of a racking shaft. The latch serves to removably secure the motor and bracket to the circuit breaker such that the motor and bracket move in unison with the circuit breaker in response to the motor driving the racking shaft to rack the circuit breaker into and out of the switchgear. The anti-rotation surface of the bracket engages with a surface of the circuit breaker to prevent rotation of the motor in response to the motor applying a torque to the racking shaft.
1. A motorized racking operator for racking a circuit breaker into and out of electrical switchgear, the switchgear having a housing for supporting the circuit breaker, a racking shaft and a racking mechanism, the racking shaft having a receiving end for receiver an actuator, whereby rotation of the racking shaft via the actuator causes movement of the racking mechanism that results in the circuit breaker being racked into and out of the switchgear, the operator comprising:
a motor having a drive shaft, an end of the drive shaft configured to operably engage with the receiving end of the racking shaft;
an On-Off control in signal communication with the motor;
a bracket securely attached to the motor and having an anti-rotation surface; and
a latch for removably securing the motor and bracket to the circuit breaker such that the motor and bracket move in unison with the circuit breaker in response to the motor driving the racking shaft to rack the circuit breaker into and out of the switchgear and the anti-rotation surface of the bracket engaging with a surface of the circuit breaker to prevent rotation of the motor in response to the motor applying a torque to the racking shaft.
2. The operator of claim 1 , wherein:
the anti-rotation surface of the bracket comprises a protruding portion that engages with a recessed region of the circuit breaker.
3. The operator of claim 2 , wherein:
the latch comprises a spring-biased latch.
4. The operator of claim 1 , wherein:
the latch comprises a spring-biased latch.
5. The operator of claim 1 , wherein:
the anti-rotation surface of the bracket comprises a pin displaced from the drive shaft and oriented parallel thereto.
6. The operator of claim 5 , wherein:
the latch comprises a cross member on the pin that engages with the circuit breaker in response to the pin being rotated by about a quarter turn.
7. The operator of claim 1 , wherein:
the latch comprises a pin having a cross member that engages with the circuit breaker in response to the pin being rotated by about a quarter turn.
8. The operator of claim 1 , wherein:
in response to the motor driving the racking shaft to rack the circuit breaker into and out of the switchgear, the bracket moves with the circuit breaker absent relative motion therebetween.
9. The operator of claim 1 , wherein:
the On-Off control is hard wired to the motor.
10. The operator of claim 1 , wherein:
the bracket comprises a handle.
11. A motorized racking operator for racking a circuit breaker into and out of electrical switchgear, the switchgear having a housing for supporting the circuit breaker, a racking shaft and a racking mechanism, the racking shaft having a receiving end for receiver an actuator, whereby rotation of the racking shaft via the actuator causes movement of the racking mechanism that results in the circuit breaker being racked into and out of the switchgear, the operator comprising:
a motor having a drive shaft, an end of the drive shaft configured to operably engage with the receiving end of the racking shaft;
a bracket securely attached to the motor and having a protruding portion that engages with a recessed region of the circuit breaker; and
a spring-biased latch for removably securing the motor and bracket to the circuit breaker such that the motor and bracket move in unison with the circuit breaker in response to the motor driving the racking shaft to rack the circuit breaker into and out of the switchgear and the protruding portion of the bracket engaging with the recessed region of the circuit breaker to prevent rotation of the motor in response to the motor applying a torque to the racking shaft.
12. The operator of claim 11 , wherein:
in response to the motor driving the racking shaft to rack the circuit breaker into and out of the switchgear, the bracket moves with the circuit breaker absent relative motion therebetween.
13. A motorized racking operator for racking a circuit breaker into and out of electrical switchgear, the switchgear having a housing for supporting the circuit breaker, a racking shaft and a racking mechanism, the racking shaft having a receiving end for receiver an actuator, whereby rotation of the racking shaft via the actuator causes movement of the racking mechanism that results in the circuit breaker being racked into and out of the switchgear, the operator comprising:
a motor having a drive shaft, an end of the drive shaft configured to operably engage with the receiving end of the racking shaft;
an On-Off control in signal communication with the motor;
a bracket securely attached to the motor and having a pin displaced from the drive shaft and oriented parallel thereto; and
a latch for removably securing the motor and bracket to the circuit breaker such that the motor and bracket move in unison with the circuit breaker in response to the motor driving the racking shaft to rack the circuit breaker into and out of the switchgear and the pin of the bracket engaging with a surface of the circuit breaker to prevent rotation of the motor in response to the motor applying a torque to the racking shaft.
14. The operator of claim 13 , wherein:
the latch comprises a cross member on the pin that engages with the circuit breaker in response to the pin being rotated by about a quarter turn.
15. The operator of claim 14 , wherein:
in response to the motor driving the racking shaft to rack the circuit breaker into and out of the switchgear, the bracket moves with the circuit breaker absent relative motion therebetween.