Device and method for switching electrical energy
View Patent ↗A shutter device is provided for a bypass isolation automatic transfer switch. The shutter device comprises a frame and a shutter that is movably supported by the frame and that is configured to selectively cover and uncover conductors. At least one cam is movably supported by the frame and at least one shutter lever is interposed between the shutter and the at least one cam. The shutter lever is configured to move the shutter in response to movement of the cam.
1. A shutter device for a bypass isolation automatic transfer switch, comprising:
a frame;
a shutter movably supported by the frame and being configured to selectively cover and uncover conductors; and
at least one shutter lever interposed between the shutter and at least one cam, the shutter lever comprising:
a pivot portion;
a lever arm extending from the pivot portion and coupled to the shutter; and
a roller arm extending from the lever arm, the roller arm further comprising a roller, the roller configured to engage a cam surface of the cam such that linear movement of the cam causes movement of the roller along the cam surface and rotation of the lever arm to pivot about the pivot portion and reciprocably move the shutter side-to-side to selectively cover and uncover the conductors.
2. The device of claim 1 ,
wherein the cam surface is disposed at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the cam.
3. The device of claim 2 , wherein the acute angle is within the range of between about 38° to about 42°.
4. The device of claim 3 , wherein the acute angle is about 40°.
5. The device of claim 1 , wherein the roller arm comprises a support bracket that extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the roller arm and generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lever arm and wherein the support bracket comprises a pair of bearings supporting opposing ends of the roller.
6. The device of claim 1 , wherein the lever arm comprises:
a shutter mount portion that is interconnected with the shutter and is biased against movement in one direction;
wherein the roller arm extends from a position interposed between the shutter mount portion and the pivot portion.
7. The device of claim 6 , wherein the shutter is mounted to a shutter shield having a plurality of first apertures and wherein the shutter comprises:
a plurality of second apertures that correspond to the first apertures;
a plurality of slots interspersed with the second apertures; and
a plurality of fasteners being dimensioned and configured to be mounted through the slots and to the shutter shield to support the shutter while providing for reciprocal movement of the shutter over a dimension equal to a longitudinal axis of the slots.
8. The device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one cam comprises a second cam and the at least one shutter lever comprises a second shutter lever and wherein one of the shutter lever and interconnected cam are opposingly disposed with respect to the other shutter lever and interconnected cam.
9. A method of connecting an automatic transfer switch to a shuttered bypass panel, comprising:
providing a movable automatic transfer switch;
fixing a bypass panel to a frame;
linearly biasing a pusher cam, the cam having a cam surface that engages with a roller and provides for the movement of the roller in a direction that imparts a rotation force to a roller arm, which imparts rotational force to a lever arm, such that the linear movement of the cam causes movement of the roller along the cam surface and rotation of the lever arm to pivot about a pivot portion;
coupling the lever arm to a slidable shutter;
shuttering the slidable shutter side-to-side to uncover receptacles of the bypass panel using the rotation force of the lever arm in response to movement of the automatic transfer switch; and
moving the automatic transfer switch to connect the automatic transfer switch to the bypass panel.
10. The method of claim 9 , wherein shuttering receptacles of the bypass panel, comprises:
mounting the slidable shutter to the frame;
extending the pusher cam through apertures in the frame, the pusher cam being slidable; and
connecting at least one shutter lever between the slidable shutter and the pusher cam;
wherein the at least one pusher cam is configured to engage and rotate the at least one shutter lever which, in turn, is configured to slide the shutter side-to-side to selectively cover and uncover the receptacles of the bypass panel.
11. The method of claim 9 , wherein moving the automatic transfer switch comprises mounting a racking mechanism to the frame and wherein the racking mechanism is configured to move the switch to connect the automatic transfer switch to the bypass panel.
12. A bypass isolation automatic transfer switch, comprising:
a frame;
a bypass panel supported by the frame;
a movable automatic transfer switch; and
a shutter device supported by the frame, comprising:
a shutter movably supported by the frame and being configured to selectively cover and uncover conductors; and
at least one shutter lever is interposed between the shutter and the at least one cam, the shutter lever comprising:
a pivot portion;
a lever arm extending from the pivot portion and coupled to the shutter; and
a roller arm extending from the lever arm, the roller arm further comprising a roller, the roller configured to engage a cam surface of the cam such that linear movement of the cam causes movement of the roller along the cam surface and rotation of the lever arm to pivot about the pivot portion and reciprocably move the shutter side-to-side to selectively cover and uncover the conductors.
13. The device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one cam comprises:
a cam surface disposed at an acute angle to a longitudinal axis of the cam.
14. The device of claim 12 , further comprising a racking mechanism mounted to the frame and wherein the racking mechanism is configured to move the switch to connect the automatic transfer switch to the bypass panel.
15. The device of claim 12 , wherein the roller arm comprises a support bracket that extends in a direction perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the roller arm and generally parallel to a longitudinal axis of the lever arm and wherein the support bracket comprises a pair of bearings supporting opposing ends of the roller.
16. The device of claim 12 , wherein the lever arm comprises:
a shutter mount portion that is interconnected with the shutter and is biased against movement in one direction;
wherein the roller arm extends from a position interposed between the shutter mount portion and the pivot portion.
17. The device of claim 16 , wherein the shutter comprises:
a plurality of apertures;
a plurality of slots interspersed with the apertures; and
a plurality of fasteners being dimensioned and configured to be mounted through the slots and to support the shutter while providing for reciprocal movement of the shutter, a dimension equal to a longitudinal axis of the slots.
18. The device of claim 12 , wherein the at least one cam comprises a second cam and the at least one shutter lever comprises a second shutter lever and wherein one of the shutter lever and interconnected cam are opposingly disposed with respect to the other shutter lever and interconnected cam.