Panel transfer switch

1. A transfer switch for transferring a supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started, the load interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker, each of the circuit breakers movable between an on position and an off position, the transfer switch comprising:

a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a second arm movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a control structure for urging the first and second arms to the second positions;

a bar extending between the first and second circuit breakers, the bar moving the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moving the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position;

wherein:

the control structure includes a rotatable arm selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position; and

the rotatable arm is axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position and wherein the control structure includes a biasing structure for urging the rotatable arm towards the extended position.

2. The transfer switch of claim 1 wherein the rotatable arm includes a terminal end and a bearing rotatably mounted to the terminal end of the rotatable arm, the bearing engageable with the first and second arms.

3. The transfer switch of claim 1 wherein the control structure includes a motor operatively connected to the rotatable arm for rotating the arm.

4. The transfer switch of claim 3 wherein the control structure includes a controller operatively connected to the generator, the controller actuating the motor in response to a command from the generator.

5. The transfer switch of claim 4 wherein the controller includes first and second switches movable between off positions and on positions, the positions of the switches controlling actuation of the motor.

6. The transfer switch of claim 5 wherein the control structure includes a cam disk disposed between the rotatable arm and the first and second switches, the cam disk including a first camming surface engageable with the first switch for actuating the first switch.

7. The transfer switch of claim 6 wherein the cam disk includes a second camming surface engageable with the second switch for actuating the second switch.

8. A transfer switch for transferring a supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started, the load interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker, each of the circuit breakers movable between an on position and an off position, the transfer switch comprising:

a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a second arm movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a bar extending between the first and second circuit breakers, the bar moving the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moving the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position; and

a rotatable arm selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position;

the rotatable arm being axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position;

wherein the transfer switch includes a biasing structure for urging the rotatable arm towards the extended position.

9. The transfer switch of claim 8 further comprising a motor operatively connected to the rotatable arm for rotating the arm.

10. The transfer switch of claim 9 further comprising a controller operatively connected to the generator, the controller actuating the motor in response to a command from the generator.

11. The transfer switch of claim 10 wherein the controller includes first and second switches movable between off positions and on positions, the positions of the switches controlling actuation of the motor.

12. The transfer switch of claim 11 further comprising a cam disk disposed between the rotatable arm and the first and second switches, the cam disk including a first camming surface engageable with the first switch for actuating the first switch.

13. The transfer switch of claim 12 wherein the cam disk includes a second camming surface engageable with the second switch for actuating the second switch.

14. A transfer switch for transferring a supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started, the load interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker, each of the circuit breakers movable between an on position and an off position, the transfer switch comprising:

a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a second arm movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a rotatable arm selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position;

a motor operatively connected to the rotatable arm for rotating the arm;

a motor control operatively connected to the motor for actuating the motor; and

an actuation element operatively connected to the rotatable arm, the actuation element communicating with the motor control for controlling actuation of the motor;

wherein the rotatable arm is axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position and wherein the control structure includes a biasing structure for urging the rotatable arm towards the extended position.

15. The transfer switch of claim 14 further comprising a bar extending between the first and second circuit breakers, the bar moving the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moving the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position.

16. The transfer switch of claim 14 further comprising first and second switches operatively connected to the motor controller and being movable between off positions and on positions, the positions of the switches controlling actuation of the motor.

17. The transfer switch of claim 16 wherein the actuation element includes at least one camming surface engageable with at least one switch for moving the at least one switch between the off position and the on position.

18. A transfer switch for transferring a supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started, the load interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker, each of the circuit breakers movable between an on position and an off position, the transfer switch comprising:

a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a second arm movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a control structure for urging the first and second arms to the second positions; and

a bar extending between the first and second circuit breakers, the bar moving the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moving the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position;

wherein:

the control structure includes a rotatable arm selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position; and

the rotating arm includes a terminal end and a bearing rotatably mounted to the terminal end of the rotatable arm, the bearing engageable with the first and second arms.

19. A transfer switch for transferring a supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started, the load interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker, each of the circuit breakers movable between an on position and an off position, the transfer switch comprising:

a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a second arm movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a bar extending between the first and second circuit breakers, the bar moving the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moving the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position; and

a rotatable arm selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position, the rotatable arm including a terminal end and a bearing rotatably mounted to the terminal end of the rotatable arm, the bearing engageable with the first and second arms.

20. A transfer switch for transferring the supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started, the load interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker, each of the circuit breakers movable between an on position and an off position, the transfer switch comprising:

a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a second arm movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a rotatable arm selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position;

a motor operatively connected to rotatable arm for rotating the arm; and

a motor control operatively connected to the motor for actuating the motor;

an actuation element operatively connected to the rotatable arm, the actuation element communicating with the motor control for controlling actuation of the motor;

wherein:

the rotatable arm is axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position;

the control structure includes a biasing structure for urging the rotatable arm towards the extended position; and

the rotatable arm includes a terminal end and a bearing rotatably mounted to the terminal end of the rotatable arm, the bearing engageable with the first and second arms.

21. A transfer switch for transferring a supply of electrical power to a load between a utility source and a generator that generates electrical power when started, the load interconnected to the utility source through a first circuit breaker and to the generator through a second circuit breaker, each of the circuit breakers movable between an on position and an off position, the transfer switch comprising:

a first arm movable between a first position and a second position wherein the first arm is engageable with the first circuit breaker for moving the first circuit breaker from the off position to the on position;

a second arm movable between a first position and a second position engageable with the second circuit breaker for moving the second circuit breaker from the off position to the on position; and

a control structure for urging the first and second arms to the second position, the control structure including a rotatable arm selectively engageable with one of the first and second arms to move the one of the first and second arms to the second position;

a motor operatively connected to the rotatable arm for rotating the arm;

first and second switches movable between off positions and on positions, the positions of the switches controlling actuation of the motor;

a cam disk operatively connected to the rotating arm for rotational movement therewith, the cam disk including a first camming surface engageable with the first switch for actuating the first switch and a second camming surface engageable with the second switch for actuating the second switch.

22. The transfer switch of claim 21 further comprising a bar extending between the first and second circuit breakers, the bar moving the second circuit breaker to the off position when the first circuit breaker moves to the on position and moving the first circuit breaker to the off position when the second circuit breaker moves to the on position.

23. The transfer switch of claim 21 wherein the rotatable arm is axially movable between a retracted position and an extended position and wherein the control structure includes a biasing structure for urging the rotatable arm towards the extended position.

24. The transfer switch of claim 21 wherein the rotating arm includes a terminal end and a bearing rotatably mounted to the terminal end of the rotatable arm, the bearing engageable with the first and second arms.