Mechanical interlock structure for switchgear
An interlock structure is coupled between actuating structure and a travel adjuster of a circuit breaker. The interlock structure includes a body having a bore therein. An engaging member has a portion sized to be received by the bore and the engaging member is coupled with the travel adjuster for movement therewith. A slide member is movable with respect to the body between operative and inoperative positions. Linkage structure is coupled to the slide member for moving the slide member and is also coupled to the actuating structure such that upon movement of the actuating structure, the linkage structure moves the slide member to the operative position so that the slide member blocks at least a portion of the bore to prevent the engaging member from entering the bore and thus prevents the travel adjuster from moving in a certain direction to allow the closure of the circuit breaker contacts.
1. A circuit breaker comprising:
a circuit breaker module including contacts and a travel adjuster associated with the contacts such that when the circuit breaker module effects a closing position, the travel adjuster moves in a certain direction to permit the contacts to close,
interlock structure coupled with the travel adjuster and having an engaging member that moves with the travel adjuster, the interlock structure further including a slide member and linkage structure, the linkage structure being constructed and arranged to move the slide member between operative and inoperative positions, and
actuating structure coupled with the linkage structure and constructed and arranged to move the linkage structure and thus the slide member 1) to the operative position to prevent the engaging member and thus the travel adjuster from moving in the certain direction to prevent closure of the contacts, and 2) to the inoperative position to permit the engaging member and thus the travel adjuster to move in the certain direction to enable closure of the contacts,
wherein the linkage structure is constructed and arranged such that when the slide member moves between the operative and inoperative positions, the slide member moves generally transversely with respect to the engaging member and thus the travel adjuster.
2. The circuit breaker of claim 1 , wherein the interlock structure includes a body having a bore therein that is sized to receive a portion of the engaging member such that when the slide member is in the operative position, a portion of the slide member blocks at least a portion of the bore to prevent the portion of the engaging member from entering the bore, and in the inoperative position of the slide member, the portion of the slide member is in a position to permit the portion of the engaging member to enter the bore so that the travel adjuster can move in the certain direction.
3. The circuit breaker of claim 2 , wherein the interlock structure and the actuating structure are part of a wheeled truck frame.
4. The circuit breaker of claim 3 , wherein the interlock structure further includes a flange coupled to the travel adjuster and an adjustment screw coupled between the flange and the engaging member so that a position of the flange with respect to the travel adjuster can be adjusted.
5. The circuit breaker of claim 2 , wherein the linkage structure comprises:
a coupling link pivotally coupled to the actuating structure,
a lever arm pivotally coupled to the coupling link,
a crank arm coupled to the lever arm,
a connection rod coupled to the crank arm, and
a close arm pivotally coupled between the connection rod and the slide member, such that movement of the actuating structure causes rotation of the coupling link, which causes rotation of the lever arm, with the crank arm transferring this rotational motion to linear motion of the connection rod, which causes rotation of the close arm, causing linear movement of the slide member between the operative and inoperative positions thereof.
6. The circuit breaker of claim 4 , wherein the flange is of generally U-shape having a pair of opposing arms coupled to a base, the base being coupled to the adjustment screw, the arms being coupled to the travel adjuster by a pin connection.
7. The circuit breaker of claim 2 , wherein the slide member is an elongated plate and the interlock structure includes a body having an elongated recess, the recess being in communication with bore, the plate being movable in the recess so that in the operative position, an end of the plate blocks at least a portion of the bore.
8. A mechanical interlock structure for a circuit breaker, the interlock structure being constructed and arranged to be coupled between actuating structure and a travel adjuster of the circuit breaker, the interlock structure comprising:
a body having a bore therein,
an engaging member having a portion sized to be received by the bore, the engaging member being constructed and arranged to be coupled with the travel adjuster for movement therewith,
a slide member movable with respect to the body between operative and inoperative positions, and
linkage structure coupled to the slide member for moving the slide member, the linkage structure being constructed and arranged to be coupled to the actuating structure such that upon movement of the actuating structure, the linkage structure moves the slide member to the operative position so that a portion of the slide member blocks at least a portion of the bore to prevent the portion of the engaging member from entering the bore and thus prevents the travel adjuster from moving in a certain direction, and upon different movement of the actuating structure, the linkage structure moves the slide member to the inoperative position so that the portion of the slide member is in a position to permit the portion of the engaging member to enter the bore so that the travel adjuster can move in the certain direction.
9. The interlock structure of claim 8 , wherein the body includes an elongated recess in communication with the bore, the recess being disposed generally transversely with respect to an axis of the bore, the slide member being an elongated plate movable in the recess so that in the operative position, an end of the plate blocks at least a portion of the bore.
10. The interlock structure of claim 8 , wherein the linkage structure is constructed and arranged such that when the slide member moves between the operative and inoperative positions, the slide member moves generally transversely with respect to the engaging member.
11. The interlock structure of claim 8 , wherein the interlock structure further comprises a flange constructed and arranged to be coupled to the travel adjuster, and an adjustment screw coupled between the flange and the engaging member so that a position of the flange with respect to the travel adjuster can be adjusted.
12. The interlock structure of claim 11 , wherein the flange is of generally U-shape having a pair of opposing arms coupled to a base, the base being coupled to the adjustment screw, the arms being constructed and arranged to be coupled to the travel adjuster by a pin connection.
13. The interlock structure of claim 8 , wherein the linkage structure comprises:
a coupling link constructed arranged to be pivotally coupled to the actuating structure,
a lever arm pivotally coupled to the coupling link,
a crank arm coupled to the lever arm,
a connection rod coupled to the crank arm, and
a close arm pivotally coupled between the connection rod and the slide member, such that rotation of the coupling link causes rotation of the lever arm, with the crank arm transferring this rotational motion to linear motion of the connection rod, which causes rotation of the close arm, causing linear movement of the slide member between the operative and inoperative positions thereof.
14. The interlock structure of claim 8 , in combination with the travel adjuster and the actuating structure.
15. A method of controlling closure of primary contacts of a circuit breaker, the circuit breaker including a travel adjuster associated with the contacts such that when the circuit breaker effects a closing position, the travel adjuster moves in a certain direction to permit the contacts to close, the circuit breaker further including actuating structure, the method comprising:
coupling interlock structure with the travel adjuster, the interlock structure having an engaging member that moves with the travel adjuster, the interlock structure further including a slide member and linkage structure, the linkage structure being constructed and arranged to move the slide member between operative and inoperative positions,
coupling the linkage structure to the actuating structure, and
moving the actuating structure to move the linkage structure and thus the slide member to the operative position to prevent the engaging member and thus the travel adjuster from moving in a certain direction to prevent closure of the contacts,
moving the circuit breaker to a connected position, and
moving the actuating structure to move the linkage structure and thus the slide member to the inoperative position to permit the engaging member and thus the travel adjuster to move in the certain direction to enable closure of the contacts,
wherein the interlock structure includes a body having a bore therein that is sized to receive a portion of the engaging member such that when the slide member is in the operative position, a portion of the slide member blocks at least a portion of the bore to prevent the portion of the engaging member from entering the bore, and in the inoperative position of the slide member, the portion of the slide member is in a position to permit the portion of the engaging member to enter the bore so that the travel adjuster can move in the certain direction.
16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the body includes an elongated recess in communication with the bore, the recess being disposed generally transversely with respect to an axis of the bore, the slide member being an elongated plate movable in the recess so that in the operative position, an end of the plate blocks at least a portion of the bore.
17. The method of claim 15 , wherein the interlock structure further comprises a flange and an adjustment screw coupled between the flange and the engaging member, the step of coupling the interlock structure to the travel adjuster includes coupling the flange to the travel adjuster.
18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the linkage structure comprises:
a coupling link constructed arranged to be pivotally coupled to the actuating structure,
a lever arm pivotally coupled to the coupling link,
a crank arm coupled to the lever arm,
a connection rod coupled to the crank arm, and
a close arm pivotally coupled between the connection rod and the slide member, and wherein movement of the actuating structure causes rotation of the coupling link that causes rotation of the lever arm, with the crank arm transferring this rotational motion to linear motion of the connection rod, which causes rotation of the close arm, causing linear movement of the slide member between the operative and inoperative positions thereof.