US2260073A - Enclosed circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

Oct. 21, '1941. D. ELLIS 2,260,073

ENCLOSED CIRCUIT BREAKER Filed June 17, 1938 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 D. ELLIS y2,260,073

ENCLOSED CIRCUIT BREAKE Filed June 17, 1958 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 4Zf1f 117 5 INVENTOR @MUM w 9 wnNEssEs: F @070m /f 10M/a1,

position when the cover is open.

- Patented 21, 1941 ENCLOSED cracm'r Bananen Delbert Ellis, Forest mns. ra., assigner tu westinghousc Electric & Manufact urlng Company,

`East Pittsburgh, Pa., a corporation of lennsyl Application June 11, 193s, serial No. 214,206

2s claims. (ci. zoo-5o) cover ofthe cabinet-is slammed shut'.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an operating device for operating a circuit breaker enclosed in a cabinet, which will prevent breakage of the breaker handle when the cover of the cabinet is slammedshut even though the operating handle on the cover and the breaker handle in the cabinet are widely displaced relative to one another when the cover is slammed shut.

' Another object of the invention is the provision of a cabinet having an openable .cover and an operating handle thereon for operating a circuit breaker disposed within the cabinet, in which means is provided for automatically establishing an operative connection between the operating handle and the breaker handle when the cover isnclosed even though the operating handie andthe breaker handle are displaced relative to one-another during closing of the cover.

Another object of the invention is the provision of means for preventing accidental movement of the handle of a circuit breaker to closed position when the cover of the cabinetwhich encloses the breaker unit is open.

Another object of the'invention is the provi-- sion of means for locking the cover of the cabinet closed inV all positions of the operating handle except when the handle is moved to an open cover position beyond the "011 position, which means also prevents accidental movement of the handle of the circuitbreaker to the on posivtion when the cover of the cabinet enclosing the breaker is open..

Y Another-object of the invention is the provisionlof an interlocking mechanism for the cover ons circuitbreaker cabinet which may be released by movement of an operating handle on the handle of the circuit breaker to the on acteristic of the invention are set forth in particular in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to structure and operation, together with additional objects and advantages thereof will behest understood from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a cabinet and operating device for a circuit breaker, constructed in accordance with the invention, the breaker and operating handle being shown in the on" position;

Fig. 2 is a pian view of the cabinet with the cover removed to show a portion of the operating means for operating the breaker handle;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the cabinet similar to Fig. l, but showing the operating handle in the reset-open cover position; Y

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal sectional view of the cabinet showing the breaker unit and the operating device in elevation, the operating handle locking element for locking the cover in closed Y position; f

Fig. 8 is another perspective view of the movable locking element taken from the opposite direction from that of Fig. 7;

' Fig. 9 is a perspective view of the operatingk or door I1. The cover l1 is provided witha rim' I9 which seats against the edges of the side and end walls of the casing, and has a downwardly extending' edge 2| which overlaps the edges of the casing l5. The cover l1 is secured to one ofthe walls of the casing l5 by means of a pair The novel Afeatures that are considered char- 55 of hinges 23 which permit the cover to be swung to open and to closed positions.- A'felt pad 25 (Figs. 4 and 5) is interposed between the rim I9 and the edges of the 'casing Ii to exclude dust and dirt from the interior of the cabinet, which is designed to house and protect electrical in the above-mentioned patent, has at least one pair of separable contacts 35 and 31 4(Fig. 4) and an operating mechanism (not shown) for opening and closing the contacts by movement of the handle 25 to oil and on positions. The

breaker mechanism has areleasable trigger or cradle member 59 which when released causes the mechanism to effect opening of the contacts and also causes movement of the breaker handle 28 to a tripped position intermediate the on and oi positions. Alatch M normally restrains the cradle member '39 in .operative or set position; as shown in Fig. a. A current responsive trip device indicated generally at 53 is operable v in response to predetermined overload conditions to effect-release of the latch il and the cradle member 39 to elect opening of the contacts of the breaker.

In order to reclose the contacts following an automatic tripping operation by the current re sponsive trip device, it is necessary to rst reset the mechanism by moving the handle 2B "to a reset position beyond the oii." position. This movement of the handle 25 to the resetg position returns the cradle member 39 to latched position where it is reengaged and held by the latch 4H. The breaker mechanism and trip device are fully described in the above-mentioned patent,

to which reference may be made for details ofv construction and operation of the circuit breaker. While a particular type of circuit breaker has i been briefly-described and referred to, any suit-` able circuit breaker or` switch unit havingan oscillatable operating handle-.may be mounted in the casing l5. y

An operating handle #t54 'is rotatably mounted on the exterior .surface of the cover l1 and is secured to a stub shaft l1 which extends through a bushing i9 provided in the cover l1. An actuating member comprising a cross-pin 5i is secured. to the inner end of the stub shaft l1 by being tightly iltted in a transverse opening provided therefor in the lower end of the stub shaft 51. The cross-pin 5l and the stub shaft l1 form a part of a means for operatively connecting the operating handle 45 to the breaker handle 25 hereinafter appear.

An operating member 53 is rotatably mounted on a shouldered pivot stud 55 (Fig. 2) which is secured to a rigid supporting plate 51 in the casing l5. The operating member 55 (Fig. 9) comprises a U-shaped metal plate having longitucliy when the cover l1 of the cabinet is closed, as will nally extending legs or side walls 59 joined by;

an integral baseor bight portion 8l. The base portion 6l 'of the operating' member 53 is pro vided with a centrally disposed opening whichengages the pivot stud 55. A cap screw 63 (Fig.

2) is threaded in the endof the pivot stud 55 to retain the operating member 53 in mounted position onthe stud.

' switches and circuit breakers for industrial als- Y The supporting plate 51 is mounted on the top of the circuit breaker unit 21 and is rigidly secured thereto and to the brackets 29 by means ol. a plurality of bolts 65, which extend through the casing of the breaker unit and engage the brackets 29. A plurality of screws 66 are also provided for securing the supporting plate 51 to the cover of the circuit breaker unit 21. The pivot stud 55, which is rigidly secured to the supporting plate 51, is disposed .in alignment with the axis of the stub shaft 61 so that the operating handle 45 and the operating member 53 are both rotatable. about the same common axis when the cover i1 is in closed position.

A clevis spring 31 is mounted on the operating member 53 by'having its arms 69 clinched in openings provided therefor in vthe lower edges of the longitudinally extending legs 59 of the operating member 53 on opposite sides of the pivot axis of the operating member, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 4. VThe arms 69 of the clevis spring -5l extend laterally from the operating member 53 and are bent inwardly toward one another to engage the vopposite sides of the breaker handle. The arms 69 of the clevis spring have sulcient stiiness to move the breaker handle 25 when the operating member 53 is rotated in either direction, and yet are suiciently resilient to deflect and prevent breakage of the breaker handle 28 when abnormally large forces are applied to the operating handle l5 and operating member 53. Rotation of the operating member 53 in either direction is` limited by the engagement of the left-hand ends 'l0 of the two side walls 59 of the member with a projection 12 on the supportingplate 51'. I

In order to automatically effect an operative. connection between the operating handle 55 and the operating member 53 when the cover Il is closed, the side walls or legs 59 of the operating member 53 are provided with a pair of aligned V-shaped notches 1l disposed on opposite sides of the pivot axis of the operating member for receiving the ends of the cross-pin 5i, which is connected to the operating handle. The lower portions of the notches 1l are of slightly greater width than the diameter of the cross-pin 5l, and the edges of each notch slope away from each other, as indicated at 13, and terminate in the upper edge of the sidewall 59. The sloping edges 13 of the notches serve to guide or cam the cross'- pin 5l into the lower ends of th'e notches 1l and cause the operating handle l5 to assume a posi-L tion corresponding to that of the operating member 53 and breaker handle 28 when the cover is closed, irrespective of the position which the op@ erating member 53 and breaker handle 23 'may occupy during closing of the cover. The crosspin 5I"is thus caused to move into the lower portions of the V-shaped notches 1l of the operating member 53 .to establish an operative connection between the operating handle l5 and the breaker handle 23 when the cover is closed.

The heighth of the side walls 59 and the slope of the edges ofthe V-shaped notches 1 may be made such as to cause movement of the operating handle 45 to a. position corresponding to that described, is provided for biasing the operating 1 handle to a centralposition intermediate the from the supporting plate 51, The pin 95' extends through the projections 91 and through openings provided therefor in the lower ends of the legs I9 of the locking element 19.

The U-shaped locking element 19 is biased in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed 1n 5, to a handle locking position beyond the on and oit positions when the cover is open.

Since the spring means biases the operating handle to a central position when the coveris open, the heighth of the operating member 53 and the slope of the edges of the V-shaped notches 1| need only be sufficient to cause the operating handle 45 to move from its central position to either the on or olf positions, dependingv 45 in either direction is transmitted through the stub shaft 41 and the cross-pin 5l to the operating member 53 to cause corresponding movement of the operating member and consequently the breaker handle 29, The circuit breaker is clOsed by moving the' operating handle 45 in a counterclockwise direction to the "cn position, :and

opened by movement of the operating handle in` the opposite direction to the oli position. The mechanism of the circuit breaker, including the cradle member 39, may be reset following an vertical cover locking position by means of a coil spring 9| which encircles the pivot pin 9|. One of the legs 99 of the locking element 19 has a projection 93 which is adapted to engage the supporting plate 51 to limit clockwise movement of the locking element when the cover is open.

The bight portion of the locking element 19 4has a downwardly extending projection 91 which is adapted to engage the hooked end 93 of the lock- ,ing elementll when the cover I1 is closed. The projection 91 limits clockwise movement of the lookin galement' 19, as viewed Fig. 5, when the cover is closed, so as to cause the locking element to assume a substantially vertical cover iccking position.

The side walls 53 of the operating member 53 are provided with extending arms 99 and I9! whichproject longitudinally from the upper right-hand corners of the side walls. The arm IUI of the operating member 53 is adapted to engage one of the legs 99 of the locking element automatic trip operation by mor-'lng the operating handle 45 to the reset position, which is be- 19 to move the locking element to released position when the operating handle is moved to the open cover position, as shown in Figs. 3 and 5,

to permit opening of the cover l1. The locking element 19 is moved to; released position by the operating member 53 only when the operating handle 45 is moved to the open cover position, and is eiective to lock the cover l1 closed in all other operating positions of the operating handle '45.

To open the cover l1, it is necessary ,to move the operating handle'45 to the open cover position. When the operating handley is thus moved The movement of the operating handle 45 tothe' open cover" position, which is beyond the reset position, effects release'of a cover locking means to permit opening of the cover l1, as will be hereinafter described.

The provision of the operating member 53 and its mounting on the rigid supporting plate 51- to prevent opening'thereoi.V The interlockingmeans 15 is effective to lock the cover in all positions of the operating handle 45 except when the handle is moved to the "open cover position. The locking means comprises a locking element or catch 11, which is secured tothe under side of theA cover I1,` and a movable U-shaped locking element 19, which is pivotally mounted on the supporting plate 51.' The locking element 11 is secured to the cover l1 by means of a pair oi rivets 9| (Fig. 5) and has a V-shaped hook. portion 93, the end of which is adapted to hook under and engage the bight portion of the U shaped movableV locking element 19 (Figs. 7 and 8) when the movable locking .element is in a hooked end 93 of the locking element 11. The

cover l1 is now released and may be swung to open position. When the cover I1 is opened, the cross-pin 5I separates from the operating member 53, and the operating member and breaker handle 29 are returned to the "oiI position by an overcenter spring of thebreaker operating vmechanism. This movement of the operating member 53 to the jpllf position permits thelocking element;19 to be` moved in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig.A 5, to a handle locking position in which the projection 93 thereof engages the supporting plate 51. .4

The interlocking means 15, in addition to preventing openi'ng oftthe cover, also serves to prevent accdental movement of the breaker handle 29 to the on position when the cover l1 is'open. For this purpose, one of th'elegs 99 of the locking element 19 is provided with an oifset lateral projection |93, which projects into the path of n1ove,

mentof the leg 99 of the operating member 59 when the cover. is opened, and the locking ele- Ament is in its handle locking position beyond its vertical ,cover locking position. The U-shaped locking element is pivotally mounted on the sup- I porting plate 51 by means of a pivot pin 95 which vertical position, with its projection 93 engaging the plate 51; `Since the projection |93 extends into the path-of movementof the arm 99 when thecover is open, the handle 2'9 of the breaker cannot be moved in a closing'direction toward the is carried by a pair of projections 91 struck up 76 fon position a sumcient distance to cause the breaker mechanism to close the contacts of the breaker. However, an authorized person having knowledge of the operation of the interlocking means may move the breaker handle 28 to the on position when the cover is open by manually moving the locking element i9 in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, either to the vertical position or released position. This movement of the locking element i9 causes the lateral projection |03 thereof to be'moved downwardly out of the path of movement of the arm 99 of the operating member 53, so that the operating member 53 and breaker handle 28 may be moved to the "on position. The oiset projection |113 is maintained below and out of the path of the arm 99 of the-operating member 53 when the cover is closed by reason of the fact that the hooked end 83 of the locking element l'i engages the Adepending projection 9i oi the locking element 79 to maintain the locking element in the vertical cover locking position.

When the cover is moved to closed position, the hooked end 83 of the locking element il forces the movable locking element 79 backV to clear the same, and when the cover reaches closed position,

, the biasing spring 9| returns the locking element 19 to the vertical cover locking position. i

The offset projection |03 of the locking element 'i9 is provided with a recess |85 for receiving a lpadlock to positively prevent movement of the breaker to the on position when the cover is formed in the hub of the operating handle 45 so that a plurality of padlocks may be inserted or hung in the apertures. The insertion of even a single padlock in a pair of the apertures and I'| is eiective to lock the operating handle in the oi position, so as to prevent movement thereof in either direction away from the oi position. When the operating handle is thus open. The bovm of the padlock is inserted in the recess |05 between the edge of the recess and the plate 5l, and whenin this position the padlock prevents movement of the locking element i9 away from its handle locking position.

The operating handle G5 is channel-shaped in section and is provided with a hub portion lill. The central portion of the hub is depressed, as shown inFig. 6, to provide a rim |09 of inverted U-section which forms a downwardly facing circular channel. The hub lili and its rim |09 form a part of a locking means for locking the operating handle in the loir position. The handle locking means has been fully described and is claimed in the copending application of Gilbert Currie, Serial No. 212,874, filed June 10, 1938, and assigned to the assignee of this invention. lThis meanshfor locking the operating handle in theoli position comprises a plurality of spaced apertures which are formed in the rim |99 of the handle d5 for' receiving a plurality of padlocks. A cup-shaped locking element H3 is rotatably mountedon the stub shaft il beneath the hub portion lili of the operating handle 55,

and this element has a circular flange I l5' which f projects into the circular channel formed by the rim |09 of the operating handle d5. The circular flange ||5 of the cup-shaped locking element ||3 is provided with a plurality of spaced apertures which are adapted'to align with the apertures I in the handle 95 when the handle is moved to the o position.

A lever ||9 is pivotally mounted on a pin |2| i lockedl in the oil position, it cannot be .moved away from that position until all of the padlocks have been removed.

When the operating handle 45 is moved away from the oi position, it carries with it the large end |23 of the lever H9 to cause the cupshaped locking element A|,I3 to be rotated in-an opposite direction from that of the operating handle, so that a very small movement of the operating handle will eect closing of the apertures through which the padlocks are inserted, thus making it impossible to insert the padlocks in any other position of the operating handle 45 except the oi position. The end of the lever ||9 which carries the pin |25 is adapted to engage the side edges of the operating handle t5 to limit rotation of the handle in either direction tovlimits corresponding to the limits of rotation of the operating member 53, as shown in Figs. l and 3.

A coil spring |21 is provided for biasing the operating handle to a central position intermediate the on and 01T positions thereof. The spring |21 has one of its ends connected to the enlarged rounded end |23-of the lever H9 and its other en d connected to the endv of the operating handle 55. When the operating handle 55 is on either side of its central or intermediate position, the spring |21 is tensioned, and when the handle 55 is released and the cover is open,

the spring |27 automatically returns the operating handle to the central or intermediate position. The spring |27, by biasing the operating handle to the central position, insures that the cross-pin 5| will be in a position to engage the slanting edges 73 of the V-shaped notches 1| of the operating member53, irrespective of the position which the operating member and breaker handle may'occupy when the cover is being closed.

The previously described locking means for locking the operating handlell in the oi position also cooperates with the interlocking means y l5 for the cover, to lock the cover in closed position. Since the interlocking means l5 isA eiective to lock the cover when the operating handle is in the o position, locking of the operating -handle d5 in the off position also prevents opening of the cover, thus a single j When the operating handle 45 is in the o" position, the apertures inthe cup-shaped locking element ||3 register with the apertures padlock when inserted in the apertures I|| and ||l is eiective to lock the operating handle in the oi position and also the cover in the closed position.

In order to permit opening of the cover il by an authorized person without rst opening the breaker 21, a lever |29 inside the cover is rigidly secured to screw |3| which is mounted in .the cover The free end of the lever |29 is adapted to engage and move the locking element 19 to released position when the screw I3| is turned in a clockwise direction. The screw |3| is mounted on the cover Il in'a position such that it'is covered by the operating handle 45 when the handle is in the oi position. When the operating handleis in the on positio`n the screw is exposed and an authorized person may turn the screw, by means of a screwdriver or -the like, to effect release of the cover locking means, so that the cover may be swung to open position without opening the breaker.

'I'he cover I1 instead of being hinged to the casing I5 may be removably mounted thereon in any suitable manner, as for example, by provid switch enclosing cabinet having an improved operating device for operating the breaker within the cabinet. The operating device automatically causes the operating handle on the cover to assume a position corresponding to that of the breaker handle and effects an operative connection between the handles when Atlsie cover is closed, even though the handles may be in non-corresponding positions when the cover is closed. The construction'of the operating device is also such that it preventsIl breakage of 'the breakei' handle when the cover is slammed shut. The invention also provides an improved interlock for locking the cover of the cabinet closed Vin all positions of the operating'handle except when the handle is moved to open cover posimember to various Positions to actuate the interrupter by means of said operating handle.

3. In an enclosing cabinet for'a circuit interrupter unit having a movable handle of insulating material, a casing in which the unit is mounted, an openable cover for said casing, an operating member movably mounted in said casing having means for engaging and moving said interrupter handle, a movable operating handle on said cover having means releasably engaged with said operating member upon closing of said cover for moving said operating member to actuate said interrupter, the mounting of said operating member serving to prevent'breakage of said interrupter handle when the cover is slammed shut.

4. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit interrupter unit having a movable handle of insulatbreakage of vsaid interrupter handlewhen the tion beyond the o position, thus insuring that the breaker is open before the coveromay be opened. The interlock also serves to prevent accidental movement of the breaker handleto the on position when the cover oi' the cabinet is open. y

Whilethe invention has been disclosed in accordance `with the provisions of the patent statutes, it vis'to be understood that various changes in the structural details thereof may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention. Itis desired, therefore, that the appended claims be givenv the broadest reasonable construction permissible in the light of the prior I claim as my invention: v

l. In combination with a circuit interrupter unit having a'movable handle of insulating material, a casing in which the interrupter unit'is A mounted, an openable cover for said easing, an

L 2. In combination with-a circuit interrupterunit having a movable handle of insulating material, a casing Iin which the interrupter unit ismounted, an openable-cover for said casing, an operating member movably mounted on a ilxed support in said casing and having means for engaging and moving said interrupter handle, an operating handle on` said cover havingv means operating member movably mounted -in said cascover is slammed shut.

5. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit interrupter unit having a movable handle, a casing in which the interrupter -unit is mounted, an openable cover for said casing, an operating handle mounted on the exterior of said cover having a rotatable shaft extending through said cover and a member connected to the shaft inside said cover, an operating member movably having means for engaging and moving the handle of the interrupter, and means including an operating .handle rotatably mounted on said cover for movement in a plane perpendicular to the plane .of movement of `said interrupter handle, said operating handle having means for separably engaging said operating member and being operable to move said operating member to various positions to actuate the interrupter.

7. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit interrupter unit having an oillatablehandle of insulating material, a casing in which the interrupter unit is mounted, an openable cover for said casing, an operating member movably mounted in said casing and having resilient arms for engaging the opposite sides of the inwhich is disposed in the path of movement oi'v ,said operating member at all times when the cover is closed and which ,is engageable with said operating'menber for moving said operatling terrupter'handle to move said handle, an operating handle rotatably mounted on said cover having a shaft extending through said cover, and a member' secured to said shaft inside said cover for releasably engaging and rotating said operating member to various positions to operate the interrupter. i Y

8. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit intersaid handles relative to rupterunit having a movable handle oi' insulating material, a casing in which the interrupter unit Vis mounted, an openable cover for said casing, a rigid support for mounting in said casing, an operating member movably mounted on said support and havingA means for engaging and moving the handle of the interrupter, an operating handle movably mounted on the exterior of said cover having means engaged with said operating member upon closing of said cover for moving said operating member to vvarious positions to operate said interrupter, said rigid support and the mounting of said operating member thereon serving to prevent breakage of said interrupter handle when the cover is slammed shut. A

9. In combination with a circuit interrupter unit khaving a movable handle, a cabinet for enclosing said interrupter and having an openable cover, an operating handle on said cover movable to various positions for moving 'said interrupter handle to corresponding positions to operate the interrupter, and means for automatically causing said operating handle and said interrupter handle to assume corresponding positions and for automatically eiiecting an operative connection between said handles when the cover is Vclosed even though said handles are in non-corresponding positions during closing of said cover.

10. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit interrupter unit having a movable handle, a casing in which the interrupter unit is mounted, an open able cover for said casing, an operating handle on said cover movable to an .on and to an oi position for movlng said interrupter handle to corresponding positions to operate the interrupter. and means for automatically causing said operating handle to assume a-position corresponding to that of 'said interrupter handle and for automatically effecting an operative con-y nection between said handles .when the cover is closed even though said handles are in non-` corresponding positions durlng closing of said V COVel.

openable cover for said casing, an operating handie on said cover movable to an on to an "off and toa reset position i'or moving said interrupter handle to corresponding positions to operate tleinterrupter, andmeans for automaticallyV causing said operating handle to assume a position corresponding to that of said interrupter handle and for effecting an operative connection betweensaid handles when the cover is closed irrespective of difference of positions of one another during closing of said cover.

12. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit inter` rupter unit havinga movable handle, a. casing in which-the interrupter unit is mounted, an Iopenable cover for Vsaid leasing, an operating handle on said cover movable to an on and to have been moved to the opposite extremeV position before the cover is closed. I

13. In combination with a circuit interrupter ,having a movable lever, a cabinet for enclosing said interrupter having an openable cover,

. means including an operating handle on said cover for moving said interrupter lever to various positions to operate said interrupter, said means including interengaging members one of which is carried by said cover vand movable with saidoperating handle and' the other of which is mounted in said cabinet 'and movable with said breaker lever, said members when interen gaged forming an operative connection between said operating handle andsaid lever, and

means for automatically causing said members to interengage when said cover is closed irrespective of dierence of positions of said members relative to one another during closing ofl said cover.

, -14. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit interrupter unit having a movable handle, a casing in which the interrupter unit is mounted, an openable cover for said casing, means includingan operating handle on said cover for moving the interrupter handle to various posi- Y engaged, forming an operative connection between said handles, and means for automatically causing 'said members to operatively interyengage when said cover is closed even though said members are in diierent positions relative to one another during closing of said cover.-

l5; In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit in' terrupter having a movable handle, a casing in which the interrupter is mounted, an openable cover for said casing, an operating handle on said cover movable to various positions for moving said interrupter handle to corresponding positions to operate the interrupter, and means i'or automatically causing said operating handle to assume a position corresponding to that of said interrupter handle and for eii'ecting an op-lv erative -connection between said handles when the cover is closed irrespective of difference oi' positions ofsaid handles relative to, one another during closing of the cover, said means includ-'- ing a spring for biasing said operating handle to any "ofF position for moving said interrupter handle to correspondingpositions to operate the interrupter, and means for automatically caus ing said operating handle to assume a' position f corresponding to that of said interrupter handle and for effecting an operative connection beextreme position and the operating handle may an intermediate position when the cover is open.

16. In an-'enclising cabin'et fora circuit interrupter having a movable handle, a2 casing in which the ircuit interrupter is mounted, an

openable cover for said casing, an operating handie on said cover movable to various positions for 'moving saiddinterrupter handlevto lcorre-- sponding positions to operate the interrupter, a

spring for biasing said operating handle to an` intermediate position whenv the cover is open, and means for causing said operating handleto -assume a position corresponding to that of said interrupter handle and for effecting an operative connection between said handles when the cover is closed irrespective of the position said interrupter handle, occupies during closing oi said cover. e

17. In an enclosing cabinet for a cincuitjinterrupter having a movable handle, a' casin'giin' which the interrupter is mounted, an openable cover for said casing, an operating member 'mov` ably mounted on a support in said casing and having means for engaging and moving said interrupter handle, an operating handle on said cover movable to various positions for moving said operating member and interrupter handle to corresponding positions to operate the interrupter, said operating handle having means for interengaging said operating member when the cover is closed to establish an operative connection between said handles, and means for automatically causing said operating handle to assmne a position corresponding to that of said operating member and interrupter handle, and for causing said handle means to interengage said operating member when the cover is closed irrespective of diierence of positions of said operating handle and operating member relative to one another during closing oi said cover.

18. In combination with a circuit interrupter having a movable handle, a casingv in which the interrupter is mounted, an openable coverfor -said casing having an operating handle thereon movable to an n and to an ofi position for moving said interrupter handle to corresponding positions to operate the interrupter,

said operating handle also being movable to an open cover position diierent fromgthe "on and 05" positions, interlocking means enclosed by said casing and cover comprising a movable latch element for normally locking said cover to prevent opening thereof, said operating handle being operable only when moved to said "open cover position to move said latch element and c said cover to prevent opening thereof, and means i movable by said operating handle for releasing said interlocking means to permit opening oi said cover, said means being operable to release said interlocking means only when said Aoperating handle is moved to said position beyond the of position, said interlocking means being operable to prevent accidental movement of said interrupter handle to the on" position whenthe cover is open, and having provision for receiving a lock to prevent movement of said interrupter handle to the on" position when the cover isopen.

20. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit interrupter having a movable handle, a'. casing in which the interrupter is mounted, an openable cover for said casing having an operating handle for moving the interrupter handle to operate the interrupter, said operating handle beingrmovable to an "on position 'to Van foil position and to an additional "open cover position, interlocking means enclosed by said casing and cover comprising a movable latch element Ior normally locking said' cover to prevent opening thereof, said operating handle being operable only when moved to said open cover position to move said latch` element and release said interlocking means to permit opening of release said locking means to permit opening of interrupter handle to on position when said cover is open.

2l. In combination with a circuit interrupter having a movable handle, a casing in which the interrupter is mountedr an openable cover for said casing, an operating member movably mounted on a support in said casing and having arms for engaging and moving said interrupter handle, an operating handle on said cover movable to an on to an ofi and to an open cover position beyond the "03 position for moving said operating member and interrupter handle to corresponding position to operate the interrupter, interlocking means enclosed by said casing and cover for normally locking said'cover to Prevent opening thereof comprising a locking element,

carried by saidcover, a movable locking element mounted on said support and biased to engage said locking element on said cover, said operating handle being operable only when moved to the open cover position te cause said operating member to engage and move said movable locking element to released position to permit opening of said cover, said movable locking element being operable to prevent movement of said operating member and interrupter handle tov-the on-position vwhen said cover is open. l

22. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit interrupter, a casing in which the interrupter is n ,Y oiI position, and movable means on said cabinet separate from said interlocking 4means andoperable from outside said cabinet to release said interlocking means when said handle is in on position, said movable means being inoperable .from outside said cabinet when said handle is in oiT' position. 4

23. In an enclosing cabinet for a circuit interrupter, a casing in which the interrupter is mounted, an openable cover for said casing, an operating handle on said cabinet movable to an on and to an oi position to actuate the interrupter, interlockingmeans in said cabinetfor normally'locking said cover to prevent open ing thereof, said operating handle being operable only when moved to an "open cover position beyond the o position to effect release of said interlocking means to permit opening of said cover, and a leverroperable from outside said cabinet to eifect release of said interlocking means to permit opening of the cover when the handle is in the on position, said lever being inoperable from outside said cabinet when the handle is in the off position.

24. In combination, a casing havingan openable cover, a circuit interrupter unit having a movable handle mounted in said casing, an operating handle on said cover i'or moving said interrupter handle to operate the interrupter, a separable operative connection between said handles, said separable connection being engageable to automatically' eil'ect complete operative connection of said handles when the cover is closed irre- I said cover, said movable latch element being opl erable to prevent accidental movement' of said 75 25. In combination, a casing having an openspective of the position of said interrupter handle.

able cover, a circuit interrupterunit having a rupter handle to operate the interruptor, a, separable operative connection between said handles,

said separable connection being engageable to effect complete operative connection between .said handles upon movement of the operating handle irrespective of the position of said interrupter handle when the cover is closed. Y

26. In combination, a casing having an openable cover, a circuit interrupter unit having a movable handle mounted in said casing, an oper.- ating handle on said cover for moving said interrupter handle to operate the interrupter, a separable operative connection between said handles, said separable connectiongbeing engageable to effect complete and correct operative connection between said handles when the cover is closed irrespective of the, difference of positions of the handles at the time the cover is being closed, the operative connection between said handles being completed by the movement of said operating handle to a position corresponding to that of said interrupter handle when the cover is closed with the handles in non-corresponding positions. l

27.- In combination, a circuit interrupter unit having a movable handle, a casing forenclosing said unit having an openable cover, an operating member movably mounted on a ixed support in handle on said cover movable to onand ofi positions for actuating the interrupter, said operating handle having al projection inside said cover for engagingand moving said operating member,

, tion when the coverisopen.

28.'An, enclosed switch comprising a box, al

cover hinged thereto, circuit making and breaking mechanism in said box,` an operating handle on said cover movable to on and off positions for actuating said mechanism, said handle having Aa projection inside said cover, an operating member in said box connected to said mechanism, said member having a flange with a notch to iit said projection `when the cover is closed,

said ange having inclined edges leading to said notch for automatically moving said operating handle to the on or "off position corresponding to the position of said .circuit making and breaking mechanism when the cover is closed to connect said operating handle with said mechanism, and spring means for biasing said operating handle to a position intermediate the on and oi positions when the cover is open.

DELBERT mms.

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