US3332044A

US3332044A - Remote operator for circuit breakers

Info

Publication number: US3332044A
Application number: US477559A
Authority: US
Inventors: William W Camp; William L Pitts
Original assignee: Heinemann Electric Co
Current assignee: Heinemann Electric Co
Priority date: 1965-08-05
Filing date: 1965-08-05
Publication date: 1967-07-18
Anticipated expiration: 1984-07-18

Description

juy m, H96? W. W. CAMP ET AL REMOTE OPERATOR FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed Aug.

m m E V m P M m w uy E8, w67 W. w. CAMP ET AL 3,332,044

REMOTE OPERATOR FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS Filed Aug. 5, 1965 INVENTORS. l///LL/M l/V. C/V/P United States Patent O 3,332,044 REMOTE OPERATR FOR CIRCUIT BREAKERS William W. Camp, Lawrenceville, NJ., and William L. Pitts, Levittown, Pa., assignors to Heinemann Electric Company, Trenton, NJ., a corporation of New Jersey Filed Aug. 5, 1965, Ser. No. 477,559 1t) Claims. (Cl. 335-73) ABSTRACT F THE DISCLOSURE A remote operator is provided which includes an electrical motor connected to a cam-linkage means, the camlinkage means being constructed so that even though the motor rotates always in the same direction, the connector between the remote operator and the circuit breaker handle is pivoted first in one direction, and then back to its neutral position, and then in an opposite direction, and back to its neutral position, to thereby pivot the circuit breaker handle back and forth between its on and oifpositions, upon sequential energization of the motor, as desired.

Brief summary 0f invention It is an object of this invention to provide an improved remote operator constructed so that manual operation of the circuit breaker handle is also permitted, if desired, in addition to actuating the handle of the circuit breaker from a remote location.

The remote operator, in this invention, is associated with a circuit breaker having contacts which are opened and closed by a mechanism which is actuatable manually by a pivotal handle, the handle being pivotally connected to one end of a connector, the other end of the connector being pivotally connected to a pivotal link forming part of the cam-linkage means. The cam of. the cam-linkage means is rotated in one direction by an electrical motor the link being pivotally connected to the cam and the connector. As the cam is rotated, it oscillates the link back and forth, from and to a neutral or initial position. While so moving, the connector engages a pin carried by the circuit breaker handle `and turns the handle to the contacts on or off positions.

The link is oscillated back and forth initially in a first direction and then in a second (opposite) direction to first bring the connector into driving engagement with the pin for moving the lconnector in one direction, from a iirst position to a second position, in which another part of the connector is then in driving relation with the handle pin, at which time movement of the link' and connect-or ends. Upon a subsequent initiation of oscillation of the link, the link is oscillated initially in the second drection, and then in the first (opposite) direction, to initially move the connector into driving engagement with the handle pin for pivoting the handle in a second direction (opposite to the first direction) from its second position to its first position, and then to return the link to its neutral position, at which time motion of the link again ends.

A control switch is provided to initiate energization of the motor and another switch is provided, controlled by the cam, to deenergize the motor when the operator has been pivoted to the contacts on or oli positions.

In this invention, the driving connection between the link and the circuit breaker handle is formed by a Vconnector having a slot through which extends a pin connecting the circuit breaker handle to the connector. The slot is defined -by driving end walls and in the initial or neutral position of the link both end walls are spaced from the handle pin and the slot is long enough that the handle may be pivoted, when the link is in the neutral position, between the two positions corresponding to the contacts on and otf positions, without the handle pin engaging either end wall.

The foregoing yand other objects of the invention, the principles of the invention, and the best modes in which we have contemplated applying such principles will more fully appear from the following description and accompanying drawings in illustration thereof.

In the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a top view of a circuit breaker unit, shown diagrammatically and in the off contacts position, and of a remote operator incorporating this invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevation, partly in section, the sectional view showing the internal parts of the remote operator in elevation, the sectional portion being taken along the line 2 -2 in FIG. l, and the circuit breaker unit being shown diagrammatically;

FIG. 3 is a view similar to FIG. 2 position of the circuit breaker unit;

FIG. 4 is a sectional View taken along the line 4 4 in FIG. 2 showing the internal parts of the remote operator in elevation;

FIG. 5 is a Wiring diagram showing the on position of the circuit breaker handle;

FIG. 6 is a sectional view of the connector taken along the line 6-6 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the camlinkage means and of the connector, the latter being shown partially;

FIGS. 8 and 9 are partial side and front, respectively, elevation views showing a modified cam-linkage means; and

FIGS. 10 and 1l show modified forms of the connector in front elevation, the remainder of the remote operators and the circuit breaker units being shown diagrammatically.

Referring to the drawings, a circuit breaker unit 10 is diagrammatcially illustrated housed within a case i12 of suitable material, such as a molded insulation material. The circuit breaker unit 10 is provided with suitable terminals (not illustrated) for connecting it to the desired circuit and with a handle 19 for manually Inoving the circuit breaker contacts (not illustrated) between the on and ol contacts positions. The circuit breaker unit 10 is not described in detail herein, as it may be of usual construction, and one known construction is shown by Hollyday Patents No. 3,193,643, but it will be seen that this invention is equally applicable to other types of circuit breakers both single pole and multipole.

Associated with the circuit breaker unit 10 is a remote operator 25 comprising a case 26 formed from suitable sheet metal. The case 26 comprises a U-shaped (in cross-section, as shown in FIG. 4) part 27 having

front flanges

28 and 29, to which is secured a front plate 30, and side ilanges 31 and 32, to which are secured side plates 33, all being secured by suitable screws 34. The lower, front flange 29 is shown broken away in FIG. 2 to illustrate the internal mechanism.

The remote operator 25 comprises an operator, connector or arm 40 connected to a pivotal link 42, the link 42 extending from within the case 26 through an elongated slot or opening 44 in the top plate 45, the connector 40 being movable between two positions corresponding to the on (or circuit breaker contacts closed) and ofi (or circuit breaker contacts open) positions of the circuit breaker handle 19. As illustrated, the remote operator 25 and the circuit breaker unit 10 are physically spaced from one another, but the link 42 and the handle but showing the on 19 pivot in planes that are parallel to` one another about substantially parallel, spaced axes.

The link 42 and, hence, the connector 40, is oscillated by an electrical motor 50, housed within the case 26, through a gear train 51 and a linkage and cam means 52, hereinafter referred to as a cam-linkage means 52. The gear train housing is secured by suitable screws 54 to the rear plate 60, and the motor 50 is secured by suitable screws 55 to the front plate 57 of the housing for the gear train 51, the motor 50 and the gear train 51 being shown diagrammatically only as the details thereof are not part of this invention.

The cam-linkage means 52 includes the aforementioned link 42 which is pivotal about a pin 62, the block 64 being secured by a screw 66 to a vertical plate 70 secured to the front plate 57 of the housing for the gear train by suitable screws 71. The pin 62 extends through a suitable hole in the lower end 59 of the link 42 to pivotally mount the latter, a spring C-washer 58 being received in a groove on the part of the pin 62 extending beyond the link 42 to retain the latter thereon. The pin 62 may be secured to the block 64 by a screw 63 (FIG. 7) or may be pressed into the block 64.

The gear train 51 includes an output shaft 72 which extends through the vertical plate 70 and on which is mounted an eccentric cam 74. Mounted on the shaft 72 is a spacer 76, the spacer 76 being secured to the shaft 72 by a screw 78 (FIG. 7) for joint movement with the shaft 72. Extending through the cam 74 and the spacer 76, through suitable holes, is a stud 80 having an enlarged head 82, FIG. 4, an unthreaded or pin intermediate part 84, FIG. 7, and a threaded end 86. The pin 84 is received in an elongated slot 90' in the link 42 and a washer 92 and nut 94 is secured to the threaded end 86 to complete the assembly.

The connector 40 comprises two long and relatively thin, but rigid, bars 100 and 1.01, the left hand end of the bar 100 being pivotally connected to the upper end of the link 42 by a pintle 104 and the right hand end of the bar 101 being pivotally connected to the circuit breaker handle 19 by a pin 106, the pin 106 extending through a long slot 108 in the right hand end of the bar 101. The pin 106 is provided with C-

washers

109 and 110 received in suitable grooves at opposite ends to secure the pin against axial movement, as shown in FIG. l, and to prevent the bar 101 from escaping from the pin 106.

Similarly, at the other end of the connector 40, the pin 104 is provided with suitable grooves at its opposite ends to receive C-

washers

112 and 114 to pivotally secure the connector 40 to the link 42.

The

bars

100 and 101 are disposed in side by side relation so that sliding motion between the two may take place. The

bars

100 and 101 are keyed to each other by a tongue and groove arrangement, the bar 100 being provided with a struck out tongue 118, bent as shown in FIG. 6, a prtion of the tongue 11.8 being received in a groove 119 formed between two legs 120 at the left hand end of the bar 101. A

Midway between the ends of the connector 40, a compression spring is carried by `the

bars

100 and 101 in elongated holes 123 formed in each bar. The

bars

100 and 101 have tabs 126 extending into the

holes

123 and 124 on which are mounted the ends of the compression spring 122.

The eccentric cam 74 comprises a low surface 130 and high surface 132, the two surfaces each covering approximately 180 of the periphery of the cam 74. Associated with the cam 74 is a switch 134, preferably secured to the plate 70,the switch 134 having a reciprocable plunger 135 spring biased outwardly to an initial position in the path of movement of the cam 74 and depressablev by the high surface 132 of the cam 74 but returnable to its initial position when the cam rotates sufficiently to disengage the high surface 74 from the plunger 135, i.e., when the low surface is opposite the plunger 135.

Referring to the wiring diagram of FIG. 5, which shows the circuit arrangement when the circuit breaker handle 19 is in the on position and the link 42 is in the neutral position, FIG. 3, the motor 50 is usually controlled by a single pole double throw maintained contact switch which is usually located at a distance from the remote operator 25 and the circuit breaker unit 10, if desired a safety switch may also be provided in the circuit, the switch 145 being mounted on the top plate 147 of the case 26.

Specifically, a wire connects one side of a suitable power source to the center contact of control switch 140, and

wires

151 and 152 extend from the end contacts of the switch 140 to -the end contacts of the switch 134. From the switch 134 a wire 154 extends from the center contact to the motor 50 and a wire 156 extends from the motor 50 to the switch 145. Also, from the switch 145 a further wire 158 extends to the source, all as dia-grammatically shown in FIG. 5.

The

switches

134 and 140 are arranged so that when the circuit breaker handle 19 and the connector 40 are in the on position, FIGS. 3 and 5, the contacts between wires 150 and 151 (of switch 140) are in engagement and the contacts between the wires 151 and 154 (of switch 134) are open, whereupon the motor circuit is open. If it is desired to move the handle 19 to the off position, assuming the safety switch 145 to be closed, the switch 140V is turned, closing the circuit between

wires

150 and 152 which simultaneously opens the circuit between

wires

150 and 151, but energizes the motor 50 to rotate the cam 74 clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 3. During rotation of the cam 74 through about 180 the stud 80 is rotated and moves from its lowest position within the slot 90 (FIG. 3) to its highest position therein (FIG. 2), pivoting the link 42 from its neutral centerline position A, as viewed in FIG. 3, first to the left to the centerline position C and then back to the right to the neutral center-v line position A, the cam 74 stopping in the position shown in FIG. 2.

The connector 40 is constructed and arranged so that when in the on position (FIG. 3) a right hand end wall 160, defining -the right hand end of the slot 108, is in Idriving relation with, but slightly spaced from the pin 106, |and upon energization of the motor 50, the cam 74 first pivots the link 42 to the left bringing the wall 160 into driving engagement with the pin 106 to rotate the handle 19 about its pintle (not shown) to the olf position whereupon continued rotation of the cam 74 oscillates the link 42 back to the right, returning the link 42 to its initial or neutral position, placing the left hand end wall 164 in driving relation with the pin 106, the position shown in FIG. 2. Just prior to Athe return of the link 42 to its initial position, the cam 7-4, whose low surface 132 has till this time permitted the plunger 135 to be fully out in its initial position in which the circuit between

wires

152 and 154 is closed now rotates sufliciently to bring the high surface 132 opposite the plunger whereupon the plunger is depressed, opening the circuit to the motor 50, by opening the circuit between

wires

152 and 154, thus ending rotation of the cam 74, but simultaneously closing the circuit between

wires

151 and 154.

Assuming theremote operator 25 and che circuit breaker Yunit 10` to be in the ofi position, as shown in FIG. 2,

-the circuit between

wires

150 and 152 is closed and the circuit between

wires

151 and 154 is closed, but the circuit diagram corresponding thereto is not shown in the drawings. To remotely move the handle 19 to the on position from the off position, assuming the safety switch 145 to be closed, the switch 140 is now turned to close the circuit between

wires

150 and 151, and the motor will now be energized to rotate the cam 74, as-the circuit between

wires

151 and 154 is closed at this time due to the cam holding the plunger 135 depressed. The motor 50 rotates in the same direction as before, indicated by the arrow in FIG. 2, but the link 42 is pivoted initially in the opposite direction, from the centerline position A of FIG. 2 to the centerline position B, and then back to its neutral position, the centerline position A. That is, the wall 164 moves to the right and engages the pin 106, pivots the handle 19 to the on position and then oscillates back to the left to the position illustrated in FIG. 3. However, shortly before the position of FIG. 3 is attained, the plunger 135 is released by the cam to open the circuit to the motor. y

Further, the various parts are constructed so that a compressive force is placed on the connector 40 when the link 42 is near the end of its angular movement. That is, `the cam 74 continues to pivot the link 42 slightly beyond the angular movement of the link 42 corresponding to the end or limit position of the handle 19. Such continued motion of the link 42, when the movement of the handle 19 has theoretically stopped, places a compressive force or overstress on the connector 40, sliding the

bars

100 and 101 relative to each other against the bias of the compression spring 122, insuring that the handle 19 has in fact been moved to its on end position and tending to insure that the mechanism of the circuit breaker has relatched during movement to the off position.

The slot 108 in the connector 40 is made sufficiently long so that the circut breaker handle 19 may be manually turned on or olf independently of the connector 40 no matter whether the 'handle is in the on or off position, i.e., the position of the FIG. 2 or 3. It will be noted that in going from the on position to the olf position of the handle 19, or Vice versa, the link 42 and the connector 40 always return to an initial or neutral position.

It is desirable to provide the circuit breaker unit with an auxiliary switch (not illustrated) which is sensitive to the physical relation of the circuit .breaker contacts (also not illustrated) to each other and which controls a signal light near the remote control switch 140. The auxiliary switch can be arranged, for instance, to close the circuit of the signal light when the circuit breaker contacts are closed and to open the circuit thereof when the cont-acts are open. Thus, the person oper-ating the control switch 140 will know the condition of the circuit breaker contacts from whether the signal light is energized or not in addition to the position of the switch 140. This is desirable because it is possible for the handle 19 to be moved to the olf position while the switch 140 is in the on position or vice versa. Such manual movement of the handle 19 will not change the position of the switch 140 so that a person at the switch 140, and not being `able to see the handle 19, could possibly be mistaken as to the actual position of the circuit breaker contacts, if no such signal light is provided, and if unknown to the person at the switch 140, the handle 19 had .been turned manually from that indicated by the position of the switch 140.

Preferably, the circuit breaker unit is of the kind which will trip open and whose contacts cannot be held in the contacts closed position even if one ymanually holds the lhandle in the on position at such time. Thus, if one actuates the remote operator and moves the connector to the on position to close the circuit breaker contacts while an overload persists, the handle 19 will be turned to the olf position by the circuit breaker mechanism.

Preferably, the motor 50 is an alternating current induction motor, but other types of motors, both for alternating and direct current, could be provided.

Further, while particular materials have been mentioned, it is understood that other materials could be substituted for t-he various parts without departing from the scope of this invention.

In FIGS. 2 and 3 the

wires

151, 152 and 154 are shown broken olf and no attempt has been made in FIGS. l to 4 and 6 and 7 to show the wiring arrangement for which the diagram of FIG. 5 should be consulted.

Referring to FIGS. 8 and 9, a modification is shown wherein a link 200 is provided which is pivoted back and forth by a stud 201 carried by a cam 202, the stud and cam being similar to t'hoses previously described. The link 200 is pivotally mounted on a pin 204 carried by a bracket 205 secured to the .bottom wall 206 of the case of the remote operator. The pin 204 extends through

ears

207 and 208 forming part of the link 200 and the ends of the pin 204 receive C-washers 210 and 211 to secure the link on the pin.

The upper part of the ear 207 is formed with a lot 215 through which the stud 201 extends. The

ears

207 and 208 are integral with an elongated leaf 220, the upper part of which has

arms

222 and 223 through which a pin 225 extends to pivotally connect the link 200 to a one piece connector 230. The right hand end of the connector 230 long slot 232 similar to slot 108 of the previous embodiment and by means of which it is connected by a pin 233 to a handle 234 of a circuit breaker 235.

The leaf 220 is rigid enough to transfer the oscillating motion imparted to the link 200 by the cam 202 to the connector 230 but flexible enough to bend when the cam oscillates the link beyond the limiting end position of the handle 234, this performing a similar function as that of the two piece connector 40 and spring 122 previously described.

In the moditications shown by FIGS. 10 .and l1, the Various parts can be constructed as shown and described in connection with FIGS. l to 7 or FIGS. 8 and 9, with the following exceptions. In regard to the embodiment shown by FIG. l0, the long slot 300 which permits manual operation of the circuit breaker handle 302 is disposed at the left hand end of the connector 304, i.e., at the connection of the connector 304 with the oscillating link 306 of the remote operator 307. It will be understood that in the operation of .the embodiment of FIG. l0, during manual movement of the handle 302 of the circuit breaker unit 310, the connector 304, the connector 304 is also :moved back and forth, as it is pivotally connected to the handle 302 by a hole which is only large enough to pivotally receive a connecting pin.

FIG. 10 corresponds `to FIG. 2 in showing the off position of the circuit breaker contacts. When movement to to turn the handle remotely from the on to the olf position, the circuit is energized to oscillate the link 306 from the centerline position A1 to `the centerline position C1 and back to the centerline positon A, to return to the position illustrated in FIG. l0.

In regard to the embodiment shown by FIG. ll, the slot which permits manual operation of the circuit breaker handle 402 is divided to be mostly at the right hand end (the circuit breaker end) of the connector 404 with a small part being at the left hand end (the remote operator end), although `the division could be of opposite proportion. A short slot 405 is formed at the left hand end of the connector 404, i.e., at the connection of the connector 404 with the oscillating link 406 of the remote operator 407, through which a pin 412 extends to pivotally connect the two. A long slot 415 is formed at the right hand end of the connector 404, i.e., at the connection of the connector 404 with the hand 402 of the circuit breaker unit 410 through which a pin 420 extends to pivotally connect the two.

It will be understood that the sum of the lengths of the two slots 405 and 415 is sufficient to permit the handle 402 to be manually turned on or off when the handle 402 is in its on or off position, but during manual movement of the handle 402, the connector 404 is also moved back and forth, as in the embodiment of FIG. l0, although the extent of its movement depends on the relative lengths lof the two slots 405 and 415.

FIG. 1l corresponds .to FIG. 2 in showing the off position of the circuit breaker contacts and when movement to the on position is initiated the link 406 is oscillated from the centerline position A2 to the centerline position B2 of FIG. ll which brings .the pin 412 (connecting the link 406 to the connector 404) in engagement with the end wall 414 of the slot 405 and the end wall 421 forming part of the slot `415 into driving engagement with the pin 420 carried by the handle 402, whereby the connector 404 is driven to the right sufficiently to turn the handle 402 to the on position and thereafter the link 4406` returns to the centerline position C2 at which time, due to the movement of the connector 404 to `the left, the pin 412 is in driving relation with, but slightly spaced from, the end wall 422 of the slot 405. If subsequently it is desired to turn the hand-le remotely from the on to the off position, the remote operator 407 is energized which oscillates the link 406 from the centerline position C2 to the centerline position D2 and back to the centerline position A2, returning to the position illustrated by FIG. ll.

Having described the invention, what we claim is:

1. In combination, a circuit breaker having contacts which are opened or closed by a mechanism, a circuit breaker handle pivotal between first and second positions corresponding to the open and closed contacts positions, a remote operator having a connector movable between first and second positions corresponding to the first and second positions of said -circuit breaker handle, said remote operator including an electrical motor having a rotatable output shaft, a linkage and cam means driven by said motor, said connector being pivotally connected to said lmeans at one end and to said handle at the other end, said linkage and cam means including a pivotal link, said link and said handle pivoting about substantially parallel spaced axes in planes that are substantially parallel to one another, a first switch electrically connected to said motor to energize the latter, and a second switch adjacent said linkage and cam means and actuated by said linkage and cam means to deenergize said electrical motor upon movement of said connector from one of its positions to the other.

2. In combination, a circuit breaker having a handle pivotal between first and second positions, said circuit -breaker having separable contacts controllable by said handle, a remote operator having a connector movable between first and second positions corresponding to the first and second positions of said circuit breaker handle, said circuit breaker handle and said connector being connected to each other by pivot means and jointly movable,

said remote operator including an electrical motor having a unidirectional output shaft, said pivot means including two spaced walls to alternately place one or the otherr of said walls in driving position while permitting full movement of said handle independently of said linkage and cam means, a linkage and cam means connected to said operator and driven by said remote motor, a first switch connected to said motor to energize the latter, a second switch adjacent said linkage and cam means and actuated by said linkage and cam means to deenergize said remote electrical motor upon movement of said operator from one of its positions to the other.

3. A remote operator for a circuit breaker handle comprising a case, an electrical motor within said case and rotatable only in one direction when energized, a rotatable eccentric cam driven by said motor, said eccentric cam including an eccentric pin, a linkrpivotally mounted within said case and having a slot receiving said pin, a

connector pivotally mounted by first and second pivotal connections at opposite ends thereof to said link aty one end and to a circuit breaker handle at the other end, said pivotal connections each including a pin, the pin of one pivotal connection being a driving pin and extending through an elongated slot in the connector, said slot being formed in part by end walls which alternately drive the driving pin, said eccentric pin driving said link about its pivotal mounting in a back and forth arcuate movement, said back and yforth arcuate movement alternately moving one or the other of the opposed slot end walls into engagement with said driving pin to pivot the circuit breaker handle from one to the other of its `two positions, said link being pivoted back and forth from and to a neutral position in which both of said opposed walls are spaced from said driving pin, whereby upon energization of said motor, said eccentric cam is rotated, thereby pivoting said link to bring one of said walls into engagement with said driving pin to pivot the latter from and to its positions and thereafter said pivotal motion of said link is terminated.

4. A remote operator for a circuit breaker comprising a case, a motor, an eccentric cam driven by said motor, a pivotal link connected to said eccentric cam, said motor, eccentric cam and pivotal link being all mounted within said case, a connector pivotally connected to said link for movement between two positions, said connector having two spaced walls movable into and out of driving engagement with a circuit breaker handle during movement of said link to each of its positions, said walls being spaced from each other to permit said handle, when in either of its two positions to be moved, independently of said connector, to .the other position.

5. The structure recited in claim -4 wherein said connector comprises two bars, the two spaced walls being formed on one of said two bars, said bars being slidable relative to each other, a spring between said bars, whereby upon continued rotation of said cam after the handle is moved to one or the other of its positions, the bars are moved relative to each other, stressing the spring, while a force is placed on the handle to insure its full movement.

6. The structure recited in claim 4 wherein said link includes a leaf intermediate the pivotal mounting of the link and the pivotal connection of the link to the connector, whereby upon continued rotation of said cam after the handle is moved to one or the other of its positions, the leaf being flexed while a force is placed on the handle to insure its full movement.

7. A remote operator for a circuit breaker comprising a case, a motor, an eccentric cam driven by said motor, a pivotal link connected to said eccentric cam, said` motor, eccentric cam and pivotal link -being all mounted within said case, a connector movable with said link between two positions, said connector being pivotally connected by a first connection to said link and being pivotally connected by a second connection to a circuit breaker handle, said second connection comprising a pin carried by the handle and two spaced walls carried by said connector and movable into and out of driving engagement with the pin carried by the handle during movement of said link to each of its positions, said walls being spaced from each other to permit said handle, when in either of its two positions, to be moved, independently of said link and connector, to the other position.

8. A remote operator for a circuit breaker comprising a case, a motor, an eccentric cam driven by said motor, a pivotal link connected to said eccentric cam, said motor, eccentric cam and pivotal link being all mounted within said case, a connector movable with said link between two positons, said connector being pivotally connected by a first connection to said link and being pivotally connected by a second connection to a circuit breaker handle, said first connection comprising a pin carried by said link and two spaced walls carried by said connector and movable into and out of driving engagement with the pin carried by the link during movement of said link to each of its positions, said walls being spaced from each other to permit said handle and connector, when in either of their two positions, to be moved, independently of said link, to the other position.

9. A remote operator for a circuit breaker comprising a case, a motor, an eccentric cam driven by said motor, a pivotal link connected to said eccentric cam, said motor, eccentric cam and pivotal link being all mounted within said case, a connector movable with said link between two positions, said connector being pivotally connected by a iirst connection to said link and being pivotally connected by a second connection to a circuit Ibreaker handle, said connections each comprising a pin and spaced wall-s carried by said connector, one of the pins being carried by the link and the other by the handle, the pin carried by the link driving an associated wall to move the connector so that one of the `walls associated with the pin carried by the handle is moved into driving relation therewith when the connector is moved by the link, said walls being spaced from each other to permit said handle and connector, when in either of its two positions, to be moved, independently of said link, to the other position.

10. In combination, a circuit breaker having contacts which are opened or closed by a mechanism, a circuit breaker handle pivotal between first and second positions corresponding to the open and closed Lcontacts positions, a remo-te operator having a connector movable between iirst and second positions corresponding to the rst and second positions of said circuit breaker handle, said remorte operator including an electrical motor having a rotatable unidirectional output shaft, a linkage and cam means pivotally secured to said connector and driven -by said motor, a first switch electrically connected to said motor to energize the latter, and a second switch adjacent said linkage and cam means and actuated by said linkage and cam means to deenergize said electrical motor upon movement of said connector from one of its positions to the other, said circuit breaker handle and said connector being pivotally connected to each other, said linkage and cam means comprising a rotatable cam, a link pivotal back and forth by said cam to drive said connector between its first and second positions, a pin pivotally connecting said handle to said connector, said connector having a slot through which said pin extends, said slot being deiined by end walls one or the other of which is engageable with said pin to drive said handle, said slot being long enough to permit said circuit breaker handle to be manually moved .from one position to the other position without moving said connector when said connector is in one or the other of its two positions.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,192,046 2/1940 Lindstrom 200`-92 3,213,235 10/1965 Soos 200-92 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Primary Examiner. H. BROOME, Assistant Examiner.

Claims

1. IN COMBINATION, A CIRCUIT BREAKER HAVING CONTACTS WHICH ARE OPENED OR CLOSED BY A MECHANISM, A CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE PIVOTAL BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE OPEN AND CLOSED CONTACTS POSITIONS, A REMOTE OPERATOR HAVING A CONNECTOR MOVABLE BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS CORRESPONDING TO THE FIRST AND SECOND POSITIONS OF SAID CIRCUIT BREAKER HANDLE, SAID REMOTE OPERATOR INCLUDING AN ELECTRICAL MOTOR HAVING A ROTATABLE OUTPUT SHAFT, A LINKAGE AND CAM MEANS DRIVEN BY SAID MOTOR, SAID CONNECTOR BEING PIVOTALLY CONNECTED TO SAID MEANS AT ONE END AND TO SAID HANDLE AT THE OTHER END, SAID LINKAGE AND CAM MEANS INCLUDING A PIVOTAL LINK, SAID LINK AND SAID HANDLE PIVOTING ABOUT SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL SPACED AXES IN PLANES THAT ARE SUBSTANTIALLY PARALLEL TO ONE ANOTHER, A FIRST SWITCH ELECTRICALLY CONNECTED TO SAID MOTOR TO ENERGIZE THE LATTER, AND A SECOND SWITCH ADJACENT SAID LINKAGE AND CAM MEANS AND ACTUATED BY SAID LINKAGE AND CAM MEANS TO DEENERGIZE SAID ELECTRICAL MOTOR UPON MOVEMENT OF SAID CONNECTOR FROM ONE OF ITS POSITIONS TO THE OTHER.