AP593A - Enclosure for a circuit breaker. - Google Patents
Enclosure for a circuit breaker. Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- AP593A AP593A APAP/P/1995/000763A AP9500763A AP593A AP 593 A AP593 A AP 593A AP 9500763 A AP9500763 A AP 9500763A AP 593 A AP593 A AP 593A
- Authority
- AP
- ARIPO
- Prior art keywords
- operating lever
- bar
- switch
- cover
- circuit breaker
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/20—Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms
- H01H9/22—Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms for interlocking between casing, cover, or protective shutter and mechanism for operating contacts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
- H01H—ELECTRIC SWITCHES; RELAYS; SELECTORS; EMERGENCY PROTECTIVE DEVICES
- H01H9/00—Details of switching devices, not covered by groups H01H1/00 - H01H7/00
- H01H9/20—Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms
- H01H9/28—Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms for locking switch parts by a key or equivalent removable member
- H01H9/281—Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms for locking switch parts by a key or equivalent removable member making use of a padlock
- H01H9/282—Interlocking, locking, or latching mechanisms for locking switch parts by a key or equivalent removable member making use of a padlock and a separate part mounted or mountable on the switch assembly and movable between an unlocking position and a locking position where it can be secured by the padlock
Abstract
An enclosure for a circuit breaker includes a housing sized to support at least one circuit breaker and to permit electrical connections to be made to the circuit breaker. A housing cover or lid is movalbe between an open position in which the circuit breaker is accessible and a closed position in which access to the electrical connections of the circuit breaker is prevented. An actuating bar is mounted slidably to the lid, and includes a switch-engaging formation for engaging the operating lever of gthe circuit breaker. The actuating bar includes a switch-engaging formation for engaging the operating lever of the circuit breaker and is operable to move the operating lever between the first, active position and a second, inactive position. An interlocking formation in the form of a waisted portion defined in the bar is adapted to prevent opening of the cover when the switch operating lever is in the first position and to allow opening of the cover when the operating lever is in gthe second position. The interlocking formation in the form of a slot defined engage a corresponding interlocking formation in the form of a slot defined in the housing. The waisted portion is dimensioned and positioned to allow the bar to be freed from the slot when the bar is slid to move the operating lever to the second inactive position.
Description
BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION
THIS invention relates to an enclosure for a switch such as a circuit breaker.
AP/P/ 9 5 / 0 0 76 3
In the underground mining environment, all the electrical equipment and machinery, such as winch starters and the like, is fitted with individual circuit breakers. The circuit breakers are enclosed in a rugged housing which protects all but the operating levers of the circuit breakers. As a result, the operating levers can be tampered with or vandalised, especially when not manually locked in position. Apart from the associated safety hazards, this may also lead to considerable down time while mine electricians repair the damaged levers.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the invention an enclosure for an electrical switch comprises:
a housing sized to support at least one switch and to permit electrical connections to be made thereto;
a housing cover moveable between an open position in which the switch is accessible and a closed position in which access to the electrical connections of the switch is prevented; and an actuating member associated with one of the cover and the housing and adapted to engage an operating lever of the switch when the cover is in its closed position, the actuating member being operable to move the switch operating lever between a first active position and a second inactive position, and having an interlocking formation thereon adapted to prevent opening of the cover when the switch operating lever is in the first position and to allow opening of the cover when the operating lever is in the second position.
Preferably, the actuating member comprises an actuating bar which is mounted slidably to the cover, the bar including a switch-engaging formation for engaging the operating lever of the switch, the interlocking formation being slidable to engage a corresponding interlocking formation on the housing.
Conveniently, the interlocking formation includes a waisted portion defined in the bar and the corresponding interlocking formation comprise a slot
AP/P/ 9 5 / 0 0 7 6 3
AP . Ο Ο 5 9 3 defined in the housing within which the bar is held captive when the housing cover is in the closed position and the operating lever is in the first active position, the waisted portion being dimensioned and positioned to allow the bar to be freed from the slot when the bar is slid to move the operating lever to the second inactive position.
Typically, the slot is T-shaped in form, having a narrowed opening portion for permitting passage of the waisted portion of the bar.
Advantageously, locking formations are provided on both the bar and the housing, for allowing the cover to be manually locked to the housing when the operating lever is in the second inactive position.
The actuating bar may be slidably mounted to an inner surface of the cover by means of at least one locating pin extending from the cover and passing through a corresponding slot formed in the bar, the locating pin having an
2) expanded head for holding the bar captive.
©
Conveniently, the switch-engaging formation comprises an aperture through which the operating lever is arranged to pass, with opposite edges of the aperture being arranged to act on the operating lever of the switch on movement of the actuating bar.
Typically, the switch is a circuit breaker having a circuit breaker operating lever, and the enclosure is a circuit breaker housing, with the first, active position of the circuit breaker operating lever corresponding to an on condition of the circuit breaker, and the second, inactive position of the lever corresponding to an off' condition thereof.
AP/P/ 95/00763
The invention extends to a plurality of enclosures for electrical switches of the type described above, the enclosures being arranged side-by-side, with the respective actuating bars of each enclosure being interlocked so that none of the enclosures can be opened if any one of the switches is on.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 is a pictorial view of an enclosure for a circuit breaker according to the invention with its cover open; and
Figures 2 & 3 are plan views of the enclosure, showing an operating lever thereof in two different positions.
DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT c
θ The illustrated enclosure 10 for a circuit breaker is generally rectangular in plan and comprises a housing 11 which can be fabricated from sheet metal or moulded from a suitable plastics material. The interior of the housing is sufficiently large to accommodate a three-phase circuit breaker 12 with sufficient room to permit electrical connections to be made to the line and load sides of the circuit breaker. Apertures 14 on the bottom edge of the housing allow the fitting of cable glands through which shielded conductors are fed into and out of the housing.
Hinged to the housing is a cover 16 which can be secured by means of a catch 18. A pair of headed locating pins 20 and 22 are mounted to the
AP/P/ 95/00763
AP . Ο Ο 5 9 3 cover 16, and pass through respective slots 24 and 26 in an actuating bar 30 so as to support it slidably against the inner surface of the cover 16. An Lshaped tab 32 extends from the actuating bar beyond the lower edge of the cover 16 through a complemental rectangular slot 33 in a lower flange 33A of the cover. An aperture 34 located between the slots 24 and 26 in the bar is sized to receive the end of the operating lever 36 of the circuit breaker 12, so that longitudinal movement of the bar 30 moves the circuit breaker operating lever between its on and off positions.
The tab 32 of the actuating bar 30 has an aperture 38 formed therein, which is aligned with an aperture 40 in a corresponding tab 42 on the housing 10 when the circuit breaker operating lever is in its off position. This condition is shown in Figure 2. With the actuating bar in this position, a padlock 44 can be passed through the aligned apertures 38 and 40, for locking the circuit breaker in its off position. For increased safety, additional apertures may be provided for allowing the passage of additional padlocks. In the illustrated embodiment, the actuating bar is in the form of a uniplanar strip. In order to increase its rigidity, it may be formed with upstanding edges so as to define a U-shaped profile.
When the actuating bar 30 is moved upwardly (see Figure 3) to move the circuit breaker operating lever to its on position, the actuating bar 30 is captive in a T-shaped slot 46 formed in the upstanding inner edge 48 of the housing 10, which prevents opening of the cover 16 while the circuit breaker is on. However, when the circuit breaker is off, a waisted portion 50 of the actuating bar is aligned with the inner edges of the slot 46 (see Figure 2) thus allowing the enclosure to be opened only when the circuit breaker is off.
AP/P/ 95/00763
The invention can be applied to a plurality of circuit breaker enclosures arranged side-by-side, with the respective actuating bars of each enclosure being interlocked so that none of the enclosures can be opened if any one of the circuit breakers is on.
An advantage of the invention is that the operating lever cannot be directly accessed when in the on position, and can only be accessed in the off position when the padlock is removed. As a result, the potential for vandalism is reduced, and overall operating safety is considerably enhanced.
Claims (9)
1. An enclosure for an electrical switch comprising:
a housing sized to support at least one switch and to permit electrical connections to be made thereto;
a housing cover moveable between an open position in which the switch is accessible and a closed position in which access to the electrical connections of the switch is prevented; and an actuating member associated with one of the cover and the housing and adapted to engage an operating lever of the switch when the cover is in its closed position, the actuating member being operable to move the switch operating lever between a first active position and a second inactive position, and having an interlocking formation thereon adapted to prevent opening of the cover when the switch operating lever is in the first position and to allow opening of the cover when the operating lever is in the second position.
2. An enclosure according to claim 1 in which the actuating member comprises an actuating bar which is mounted slidably to the cover, the bar including a switch-engaging formation for engaging the operating lever of the switch, the interlocking formation being slidable to engage a corresponding interlocking formation on the housing.
3. An enclosure according to claim 2 in which the interlocking formation includes a waisted portion defined in the bar and the corresponding
AP/P/ 95/00763 interlocking formation comprises a slot defined in the housing within which the bar is held captive when the housing cover is in the closed position and the operating lever is in the first active position, the waisted portion being dimensioned and positioned to allow the bar to be freed from the slot when the bar is slid to move the operating lever to the second inactive position.
4. An enclosure according to claim 3 in which the slot is T-shaped in form, having a narrowed opening position for permitting passage of the waisted portion of the bar.
5. An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 4 wherein locking formations are provided on both the bar and the housing, for allowing the cover to be manually locked to the housing when the operating lever is in the second inactive position.
6. An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims 2 to 5 wherein the actuating bar is slidably mounted to an inner surface of -the cover by means of at least one locating pin extending fiom the cover and passing through a corresponding slot formed in the bar, the locating pin having an expanded head for holding the bar captive.
7. An enclosure according to claim 2 in which the switch-engaging formation comprises an aperture through which the operating lever is arranged to pass, with opposite edges of the aperture being arranged to act on the operating lever of the switch on movement of the actuating bar.
8. An enclosure according to any one of the preceding claims in which the switch is a circuit breaker having a circuit breaker operating lever, and the
AP/P/ 9 5 / 0 0 7 6 3
AP.00593 enclosure is a circuit breaker housing, with the first, active position of the circuit breaker operating lever corresponding to an on condition of the circuit breaker, and the second, inactive position of the lever corresponding to an off condition thereof.
9. A plurality of enclosures for electrical switches as claimed in any of the - preceding claims, the enclosures being arranged side-by-side, with the respective actuating bars of each enclosure being interlocked so that none of the enclosures can be opened if any one of the switches is on.
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
ZA946655 | 1994-08-31 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
AP9500763A0 AP9500763A0 (en) | 1995-10-31 |
AP593A true AP593A (en) | 1997-06-11 |
Family
ID=25584305
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
APAP/P/1995/000763A AP593A (en) | 1994-08-31 | 1995-08-24 | Enclosure for a circuit breaker. |
Country Status (3)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US5663862A (en) |
AP (1) | AP593A (en) |
ZA (1) | ZA955835B (en) |
Families Citing this family (23)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
DE29718540U1 (en) * | 1997-10-18 | 1999-02-18 | Bosch Gmbh Robert | Locking housing |
US6087602A (en) * | 1999-07-02 | 2000-07-11 | General Electric Company | Motor control center circuit breaker assembly |
US6373004B1 (en) * | 2000-06-29 | 2002-04-16 | Eaton Corporation | Retainer for circuit breaker leverage arm |
US6423913B1 (en) * | 2001-02-28 | 2002-07-23 | General Electric Company | Locking device for handle operating mechanisms |
US6504460B2 (en) * | 2001-04-17 | 2003-01-07 | Eaton Corporation | Actuator mechanism for an external circuit breaker operating device |
EP1446817A4 (en) * | 2001-11-02 | 2007-01-10 | Brady Worldwide Inc | Circuit breaker lock-out assembly |
CZ299548B6 (en) * | 2002-09-16 | 2008-08-27 | Oez S. R. O. | Device for hand operation of electric appliances, particularly circuit breakers with locking of switchgear door |
US7136278B2 (en) * | 2003-02-04 | 2006-11-14 | Lex Products Corp. | Enclosed electrical switchgear and method of manufacture |
US20070033971A1 (en) * | 2005-08-09 | 2007-02-15 | Nasin Jarrod A | Electrical panel locking assembly |
CN101573773B (en) | 2006-09-18 | 2012-07-04 | 总锁有限责任公司 | Switch lockout device |
US7907389B2 (en) * | 2008-08-06 | 2011-03-15 | Egs Electrical Group Llc | Sealed circuit breaker |
US7965493B2 (en) * | 2009-08-05 | 2011-06-21 | Eaton Corporation | Motor control center and subunit therefor |
US8420963B2 (en) * | 2009-12-23 | 2013-04-16 | General Electric Company | Electrical enclosure apparatus |
US8508917B2 (en) * | 2010-03-26 | 2013-08-13 | Egs Electrical Group, Llc | Sealed circuit breaker |
WO2012024423A2 (en) | 2010-08-18 | 2012-02-23 | Egs Electrical Group, Llc | Sealed circuit breaker |
US8902570B2 (en) * | 2010-12-23 | 2014-12-02 | Diversified Control, Inc. | Panelboard enclosure with improved external power cutoff switch |
US9224548B2 (en) * | 2011-01-19 | 2015-12-29 | Cooper Technologies Company | Disconnect switch including fusible switching disconnect modules |
US8737043B2 (en) | 2011-03-10 | 2014-05-27 | Ericson Manufacturing Co. | Electrical enclosure |
US8791362B2 (en) * | 2012-05-24 | 2014-07-29 | General Electric Company | Shutter door assembly for an electrical panel |
US9208964B2 (en) | 2012-12-14 | 2015-12-08 | Master Lock Company Llc | Lockout device |
FR3006805B1 (en) * | 2013-06-07 | 2016-10-21 | Schneider Electric Ind Sas | DEVICE FOR LOCKING THE ACCESS TO THE MEANS FOR ADJUSTING AN ELECTRICAL PROTECTION DEVICE, AND ELECTRICAL PROTECTION APPARATUS COMPRISING IT. |
US9218920B2 (en) * | 2013-11-12 | 2015-12-22 | Rockwell Automation Technologies, Inc. | Flexible cable assembly providing local lockout |
CN109727613B (en) * | 2017-10-27 | 2021-05-07 | 伊姆西Ip控股有限责任公司 | Storage system |
Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2917593A (en) * | 1958-06-24 | 1959-12-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Enclosed circuit breaker |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US1412242A (en) * | 1918-04-15 | 1922-04-11 | Horton Bryson Dexter | Electrical switch and interlocking casing |
US3591835A (en) * | 1969-02-14 | 1971-07-06 | Clifford E Sloop | Meter box cover assembly with protective cover plate |
US4006324A (en) * | 1975-10-02 | 1977-02-01 | The Dow Chemical Company | Electrical distribution panel lockout means for switch actuators |
-
1995
- 1995-07-13 ZA ZA955835A patent/ZA955835B/en unknown
- 1995-08-24 AP APAP/P/1995/000763A patent/AP593A/en active
- 1995-08-31 US US08/521,999 patent/US5663862A/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Patent Citations (1)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US2917593A (en) * | 1958-06-24 | 1959-12-15 | Westinghouse Electric Corp | Enclosed circuit breaker |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
ZA955835B (en) | 1996-02-21 |
US5663862A (en) | 1997-09-02 |
AP9500763A0 (en) | 1995-10-31 |
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