Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches – Electrothermally actuated switches – Fusible element actuated
Reexamination Certificate
2002-11-18
2004-03-23
Vortman, Anatoly (Department: 2835)
Electricity: electrothermally or thermally actuated switches
Electrothermally actuated switches
Fusible element actuated
C337S189000, C337S245000, C200S331000, C200S337000, C361S115000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06710697
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to fuse blocks generally, and in particular to a switching apparatus for selectively connecting and disconnecting a fuse block from its power source.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Molded case fuse blocks are well known in the art for protecting electrical circuitry from damage due to power surges and the like. In particular, conventional fuse blocks are typically disposed within a cabinet to protect the associated electric circuitry from the external environment. In order to reduce the possibility of inadvertent contact with the live wiring inside the cabinet, it had become desirable to provide a system for automatically electrically disconnecting the fuse block from power when the cabinet door is opened.
For example, referring to
FIG. 1
, a cabinet
10
is provided having opposing upper and lower walls
12
and
14
, respectively, connecting at their left and right ends to opposing side walls
16
. The back end of the cabinet
10
is enclosed by a rear wall
18
, and at its front end by a door
20
. Door
20
is hingedly connected to one of the side walls
16
. A fuse block
22
is mounted to the inner surface of rear wall
18
such that fuses
24
are easily accessible to the user when door
20
is open. A series of electrical input leads
26
connect the fuse block
22
to a remote power source (not shown). A set of electrical output leads
28
extend through the lower wall
14
and connect the fuse block
22
to other circuitry. An operator
30
extends outwardly from fuse block
22
towards door
20
, and is rotatable about its axis of extension to electrically connect and disconnect fuses
24
from electrical input leads
26
.
Referring now also to
FIG. 2
, door
20
includes a door knob
32
that is configured to engage the rotatable operator
30
. In particular, a pair of cylindrical locking pins
34
extends horizontally outwardly from either side of the outer end
31
of rotatable operator
30
. A corresponding keyhole
36
is disposed in door knob
32
, and includes a first horizontally extending slot
38
sized to receive locking pins
34
. Key hole
36
further includes a second vertically extending slot
40
that intersects with slot
38
and is sized to receive the outer end
31
of rotational operator
30
.
During operation, when door
20
is closed, rotatable operator
30
and corresponding locking pins
34
are inserted into keyhole
36
of door knob
32
. Door knob
32
is subsequently rotated counterclockwise along the direction of arrow A, which further causes keyhole
36
to correspondingly rotate rotational operator
30
counterclockwise in the direction of arrow B to once again establish electrical connection between fuse block
22
and the power source. As door knob
32
is rotated in the direction of arrow A, a door latch (not shown) locks the door
20
in a closed position. Accordingly, in order to subsequently open the door
20
, door knob
32
is rotated clockwise to unlock the door
20
and automatically rotate operator
30
to disconnect the fuse block
22
with the power source.
A user is therefore advantageously unable to access the interior of cabinet
10
without first disconnecting the fuse block
22
from the power source via operator
30
. However, this system suffers from drawbacks related to both fabrication and use. For example, the fuse block
22
and door knob
32
must be precisely mounted in their proper location in order to ensure that keyhole
36
is in mating alignment with locking pins
34
. This is a difficult and sometimes tedious time consuming process. Additionally, when the door
20
is open, and fuse block
22
is disconnected from the power source, the user has the ability to manually rotate operator
30
in the direction of arrow B to reconnect the fuse block
22
and the power source while cabinet
10
is open.
What is therefore needed is a switching apparatus for a fuse block that avoids the manufacturing difficulties associated with conventional designs, and that limits a user's ability to inadvertently turn the fuse block on while the cabinet door is open.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a switching apparatus is provided for a fuse block that is disposed in a cabinet. The fuse block is of the type having at least one fuse operable to conduct current from a power source to a load and rotatable operator extending along an axis is operable to rotate about the axis between a closed and open position to correspondingly electrically connect and disconnect the fuse block with respect to the power source. The switching apparatus includes a handle mechanism that is mountable to a cabinet surface and movable between a first position and a second position. An actuating mechanism is provided having (A) a stationary member fixed relative to the fuse block; (B) a movable member movably connected to the stationary member; and (C) a linkage linked to the movable member and connected to the rotatable operator for rotating the rotatable operator in response to movement of the movable member. A cable assembly is attached to the handle at a first end and attached to the actuating mechanism at a second end opposite the first end. Movement of the handle mechanism from the first position to the second position causes the cable to translate the movable member with respect to the fuse block, thereby rotating the linkage and rotatable operator to electrically disconnect the fuse block from the power source.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2418006 (1947-03-01), Bangert, Jr.
patent: 3939725 (1976-02-01), Fisher
patent: 4031343 (1977-06-01), Sopko
patent: 4626638 (1986-12-01), Samples et al.
patent: 5428196 (1995-06-01), Beatty et al.
patent: 5466902 (1995-11-01), Blom et al.
patent: 5594610 (1997-01-01), Robirds et al.
patent: 5726401 (1998-03-01), Green et al.
patent: 5814777 (1998-09-01), Green et al.
patent: 5973279 (1999-10-01), Turner et al.
patent: 6504460 (2003-01-01), DeGrazia et al.
patent: 6590756 (2003-07-01), Meiners et al.
Cutler-Hammer, Flex Shaft CH Handle Mechanism for Flange Mounting, Admitted Prior Art.
Cutler-Hammer, Installation Instructions for “Type AMT Vari-Depth/Vari-Width Handle Mechanism for Below Handle Mounting on L-Frame Series . . . ”, Admitted Prior Art.
Gerasimow Alexander M.
Quarles & Brady LLP
Rockwell Automation Technologies Inc.
Vortman Anatoly
LandOfFree
Flexible cable operated fuse switch does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Flexible cable operated fuse switch, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Flexible cable operated fuse switch will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-3285727