Charging ram assembly, and pin assembly and securing method therefor

1. A pin assembly for a charging ram assembly of an electrical switching apparatus, said charging ram assembly comprising a biasing element, a ram member structured to bias said biasing element, and a plate member, said pin assembly comprising:

a pin member structured to extend through said biasing element and said plate member, said pin member having a first end portion and a second end portion disposed opposite and distal from said first end portion;

a plurality of collar members comprising a first collar member and a second collar member each being coupled to said first end portion, each of said first collar member and said second collar member comprising a first disc-shaped portion, a second disc-shaped portion disposed opposite the first portion, and a third disc-shaped portion extending between the first portion and the second portion; and

a securing apparatus comprising a retaining member coupled to said first collar member and said second collar member in order to prevent said pin member from moving with respect to said first collar member and said second collar member,

wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion each have a width; and

wherein the width of the third portion is less than the width of the first portion and the width of the second portion.

2. The pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said retaining member further has a number of thru holes; wherein said securing apparatus further comprises a number of rivet members each extending through a corresponding one of the number of thru holes; and wherein each of said number of rivet members engages a respective third portion of a respective one of said first collar member and said second collar member.

3. The pin assembly of claim 2 wherein each of said number of rivet members is spaced from said pin member.

4. The pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said first end portion has an annular-shaped grooved region; and wherein each of said first collar member and said second collar member is disposed in said grooved region.

5. The pin assembly of claim 4 wherein each of said first collar member and said second collar member is semi annular-shaped.

6. The pin assembly of claim 5 wherein said first collar member is concave facing said second collar member; and wherein said second collar member is concave facing said first collar member.

7. The pin assembly of claim 5 wherein each of said first collar member and said second collar member is concentric with said grooved region.

8. The pin assembly of claim 4 wherein said grooved region comprises a first disc-shaped-surface, a second disc-shaped surface disposed opposite said first surface, and a third cylindrical-shaped surface extending between and being perpendicular to the first surface and the second surface; wherein each of said first collar member and said second collar member is flush with the third surface; and wherein each of said first collar member and said second collar member is structured to engage the first surface in order to prevent said pin member from moving with respect to said first collar member and said second collar member.

9. The pin assembly of claim 4 wherein said securing apparatus further comprises a washer; wherein said grooved region has a first region and a second region extending from the first region; wherein the first region and the second region each have a diameter; wherein the diameter of the second region is greater than the diameter of the first region; wherein said washer is concentric with the second region; and wherein each of said first collar member and said second collar member is concentric with the first region.

10. The pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said plurality of collar members further comprises a third collar member and a fourth collar member each coupled to said second end portion; and wherein said securing apparatus further comprises a second retaining member coupled to said third collar member and said fourth collar member in order to prevent said pin member from moving with respect to said third collar member and said fourth collar member.

11. The pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said first collar member does not engage said second collar member.

12. The pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said first collar member, said second collar member, and said retaining member are not threadably connected to said pin member.

13. The pin assembly of claim 1 wherein said pin member has a Rockwell Hardness greater than RC 45.

14. A charging ram assembly for an electrical switching apparatus, said charging ram assembly comprising:

a biasing element;

a ram member structured to bias said biasing element;

a plate member; and

a pin assembly comprising:

a pin member extending through said biasing element and said plate member, said pin member having a first end portion and a second end portion disposed opposite and distal from said first end portion,

a plurality of collar members comprising a first collar member and a second collar member each being coupled to said first end portion, each of said first collar member and said second collar member comprising a first disc-shaped portion, a second disc-shaped portion disposed opposite the first portion, and a third disc-shaped portion extending between the first portion and the second portion, and

a securing apparatus comprising a retaining member coupled to said first collar member and said second collar member in order to prevent said pin member from moving with respect to said first collar member and said second collar member,

wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion each have a width; and

wherein the width of the third portion is less than the width of the first portion and the width of the second portion.

15. The charging ram assembly of claim 14 wherein said plate member comprises a first surface and a second surface parallel to the first surface; wherein the first surface and the second surface face away from one another; wherein the first surface faces said biasing element and said ram member; and wherein the second surface faces each of said first collar member, said second collar member, and said retaining member.

16. A method of securing a pin member within a charging ram assembly of an electrical switching apparatus, said charging ram assembly comprising a biasing element, a ram member structured to bias said biasing element, and a plate member, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a pin assembly comprising said pin member, a first collar member, a second collar member, and a retaining member, said pin member having a first end portion and a second end portion disposed opposite and distal from said first end portion, each of said first collar member and said second collar member comprising a first disc-shaped portion, a second disc-shaped portion disposed opposite the first portion, and a third disc-shaped portion extending between the first portion and the second portion;

extending said pin member through said biasing element and said plate member;

disposing said first collar member and said second collar member on said first end portion; and

coupling said retaining member to said first collar member and said second collar member in order to prevent said pin member from moving with respect to said first collar member and said second collar member,

wherein the first portion, the second portion, and the third portion each have a width; and

wherein the width of the third portion is less than the width of the first portion and the width of the second portion.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the coupling step comprises:

inserting a number of rivet members through said retaining member; and

engaging each of said number of rivet members with one of said first collar member and said second collar member.

18. The method of claim 17 wherein each of said number of rivet members is spaced from said pin member.