Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Contact moved by sudden release of stored energy
Reexamination Certificate
1997-12-19
2001-01-30
Friedhofer, Michael A. (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Contact moved by sudden release of stored energy,
C218S007000, C218S012000, C218S154000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06180902
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a fault interrupter including a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter and more particularly to an arrangement wherein after the interrupter is tripped open, the interrupter mechanism is recharged and the interrupter is closed during a slow opening operation of the disconnect.
2. Description of Related Art
Various operating mechanisms for electrical switches and circuit interrupters provide multiple operational states at an output corresponding to the desired operational states of the switch controlled by the mechanism. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,504,293 and copending application Serial No. 08/713,938 filed in the names of E. W. Rogers et al. on Sep. 13, 1996 (now U.S. Pat. No. 5,772,009) disclose a useful compact operating mechanism that utilizes latch members that cooperate with an output lever to define three operating positions, the latch members functioning to stop and hold the output lever to define the operating positions. These arrangements operate a disconnect in series with an interrupter, the interrupter being tripped open before the disconnect is opened, and the interrupter mechanism being recharged during the closing operation as the disconnect mechanism is recharged and before the disconnect is closed.
An interrupter with disconnect is shown in U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,030,481 and 3,116,391. Upon opening operation, the interrupter is initially tripped open, then the disconnect is opened either by motor mechanism or manual drive, and the interrupter mechanism is charged during the blade opening.
A manual switch operator for operating a vacuum interrupter and a series connected disconnect between two operating positions is disclosed in U.S. Pat. 4,484,046. The arrangement on closing, closes the disconnect switch before the vacuum interrupter, and on opening, opens the vacuum interrupter before the disconnect. An additional solenoid switch operator is coupled to the interconnection provisions between the manual switch operator and the vacuum interrupter for opening the vacuum interrupter through solenoid action. While this arrangement may be useful, it does not provide a compact operating mechanism for sequencing the operation of an interrupter with a disconnect in three operating positions. Further, the arrangement includes expansive linkages and toggle joints which are not desirable, not only from a mechanical design standpoint but also from the perspective of minimizing the size of switchgear modules that house the operator and the electrical components.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,563,102 discloses a quick-make quick-break mechanism for operating a switch between open and closed positions. Other operating mechanisms are shown in the following U.S. Pat. Nos.: 3,845,433; 4,293,834; 5,140,117; and 5,224,590.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is a principal object of the present invention to provide a fault interrupter having a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter and having a disconnect operating mechanism that is charged to close the disconnect but is not fully charged to open the disconnect thereby reducing the required operating forces while charging the interrupter mechanism and closing the interrupter during a slow opening of the disconnect.
It is another object of the present invention to provide an operating mechanism for a fault interrupter that includes a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter wherein during opening, the interrupter is tripped open, the disconnect is slowly opened and the interrupter mechanism is charged and the interrupter is closed during the opening of the disconnect, the operating mechanism operating the disconnect between ground, open and closed positions.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a fault interrupter having a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter and having a stored energy disconnect operating mechanism that operates the disconnect between ground, open and closed positions and charges the interrupter mechanism and closes the interrupter during a slow opening of the disconnect without fully charging the disconnect operating mechanism, the interrupter mechanism remaining charged during operation of the disconnect between the open and ground positions by the disconnect operating mechanism.
These and other objects of the present invention are achieved by a fault interrupter having a high-speed disconnect in series with an interrupter wherein the circuit opening is via the interrupter and the circuit making is via the disconnect. A stored energy disconnect operating mechanism operates the disconnect between ground, open and closed positions and also charges the interrupter mechanism during a slow opening of the disconnect without fully charging the disconnect operating mechanism. Thus, the required operating forces to open the disconnect and charge the interrupter mechanism are reduced. During a manual opening, the disconnect operating mechanism trips open the interrupter, then only partially charges to begin opening the disconnect before releasing the stored energy. Continued operation of the disconnect operating mechanism slowly drives the disconnect open while charging the interrupter mechanism and closing the interrupter. The interrupter mechanism remains charged during operation of the disconnect between the open and ground positions by the disconnect operating mechanism.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3030481 (1962-04-01), Gussow et al.
patent: 4283610 (1981-08-01), Date et al.
patent: 4484046 (1984-11-01), Neuhouser
patent: 5075521 (1991-12-01), Rogers et al.
patent: 5504293 (1996-04-01), Rogers et al.
patent: 5772009 (1998-06-01), Rogers et al.
Kowalyshen Henry W.
Lin Chester H.
Opfer John C.
Friedhofer Michael A.
Lapacek James V.
S&C Electric Company
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