IP Library Granted Patent US 8,576,546
Granted Patent B2
US 8,576,546 · App. 13/225,974 · Granted Nov 5, 2013

Fuse isolation switch

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,576,546
App. No.
13/225,974
Granted
Nov 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An apparatus includes a housing portion comprising a back panel, side panels, and a front panel, the back panel and side panels partially defining a cavity having an access orifice, the side panels partially defining an entry area to the access orifice, the front panel arranged to at least partially obscure the entry area to the access orifice and pivot about an axis of rotation, and a first switch disposed in the cavity including a first contact portion secured to the housing portion, and a removable contact portion connected to the front panel.

Claims (30)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing portion comprising a back panel, side panels, and a front panel, the back panel and side panels partially defining a cavity having an access orifice, the side panels partially defining an entry area to the access orifice, the front panel arranged to at least partially obscure the entry area to the access orifice and pivot about an axis of rotation; and

a first switch disposed in the cavity including:

a first contact portion secured to the housing portion; and

a removable contact portion connected to the front panel.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a fuse holder member disposed in the cavity.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the first contact portion is connected to the back panel.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus includes a retaining portion connected to the front panel.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the removable contact portion is slidably engaged with the retaining portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a planar surface of the front panel is arranged substantially parallel to a planar surface of the back panel.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 , further comprising a second switch disposed in the cavity, the second switch electrically connected to a portion of the fuse holder member.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , further comprising an actuation lever linked to the second switch.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising an interlock assembly linked to the actuation lever and the front panel such that the interlock assembly is operative to retain the front panel when the actuation lever is positioned in a closed position.

10. A system comprising:

a power source; and

an apparatus comprising:

a housing portion comprising a back panel, side panels, and a front panel, the back panel and side panels partially defining a cavity having an access orifice, the side panels partially defining an entry area to the access orifice, the front panel arranged to at least partially obscure the entry area to the access orifice and pivot about an axis of rotation; and

a first switch disposed in the cavity including:

a first contact portion secured to the housing portion; and

a removable contact portion connected to the front panel, the first switch is electrically connected to the power source.

11. The system of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus comprises a fuse holder member disposed in the cavity.

12. The system of claim 10 , wherein the first contact portion is connected to the back panel.

13. The system of claim 10 , wherein the apparatus comprises a retaining portion connected to the front panel.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the removable contact portion is slidably engaged with the retaining portion.

15. The system of claim 10 , wherein a planar surface of the front panel is arranged substantially parallel to a planar surface of the back panel.

16. The system of claim 11 , wherein the apparatus comprises a second switch disposed in the cavity, the second switch electrically connected to a portion of the fuse holder member.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein the apparatus comprises an actuation lever linked to the second switch.

18. The system of claim 17 , wherein the apparatus comprises an interlock assembly linked to the actuation lever and the front panel such that the interlock assembly is operative to retain the front panel when the actuation lever is positioned in a closed position.

19. The system of claim 10 , wherein the power source comprises a direct current power source.

20. The system of claim 10 , wherein the system further comprises an inverter electrically connected to the first switch.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 17, 2020
From: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
To: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 052431/0538 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2011
From: CUTLER, SETH ADAM; MICHAELIS, GARY PAUL
To: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
Reel/Frame 026860/0387 →