Electricity: circuit makers and breakers – Interlocking – Between switches and housing
Reexamination Certificate
1997-10-27
2001-03-27
Friedhofer, Michael (Department: 2832)
Electricity: circuit makers and breakers
Interlocking
Between switches and housing
C200S043160
Reexamination Certificate
active
06207909
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to handle mechanisms for securing a module, and in particular, to a mechanism having a lever means.
2. Description of Related Art
Electrical and electronic modules are often mounted in racks or other structure. These modules are arranged to be easily removed and replaced for maintenance and troubleshooting purposes. It is desirable to have a handle on the face of the module to make grasping and moving the module easier.
It is desirable to keep the module inactive during installation and removal, to avoid arcing that may otherwise occur should power be handled by connecting or disconnecting power with the module/rack connectors. These connectors are not normally designed to operate as main power breakers or interrupters. Instead, it is desirable to operate circuit breakers inside the module while the module is connected in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,931,907 shows a module with a handle assembly having a lever with a jaw at its lower end that is sized to engage a keeper on a rack. Thus, the module can be pushed into place and the lever swung to draw the module inwardly. As the module is drawn in, its rear connector will mate with a connector inside the rack. Also, the lever operates an enabling switch when the lever nears the up and locked position. The lever is finally swung into a secured position and held in place by a catch. This handle mechanism does not offer the capability of changing the state of the enabling switch after the handle is swung into the secured position.
U.S. Pat. No. 4,761,521 shows a drawout and interlock assembly employing a circuit breaker with an interlock button. As the circuit breaker is drawn out by a handle, the interlock button is released to trip the circuit breaker, but is then reactuated in an intermediate test position before being tripped again when the unit is completely removed. This handle mechanism lacks a manually operable member that can change the state of the circuit breaker, but only when the handle mechanism is in the operative position. See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 3,188,414 and 4,202,027.
Also, U.S. Pat. No. 4,119,818 shows an internal switch actuated when a module is pushed into position, but lacking the ability to reverse the state of the internal switch while the module is in place.
U.S. Pat. No. 3,749,862 shows a handle for rotating a tray and switch members on the tray. This handle mechanism, however, does not have the ability to change the state of the switch members after the handle is placed in the operative position.
In U.S. Pat. No. 1,632,592, a truck panel can be removed by rocking an external handle to move the panel and open an oil switch. U.S. Pat. No. 5,164,883 shows an interlock that prevents removal of a hot contactor. These two references do not include in the handle mechanism a feature for changing the state of a circuit breaker or contractor after the handle is placed in the operative position, while disabling such a feature when in the inoperative position.
In U.S. Pat. No. 5,033,972, the circuit card can be held in place by a knob. This knob can be swung to release a microswitch, and then pushed to operate a slider that ejects the card. This knob is not mounted on the removable card, and is not arranged to push the card into place.
See also U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,045,960; 1,366,504; and 4,057,716.
Accordingly, there is a need for a handle mechanism that is able to change the state of a circuit interrupter after securing a module, but disabling that feature when the handle mechanism releases the module.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the illustrative embodiments demonstrating features and advantages of the present invention, there is provided a latching handle mechanism for securing a module containing a circuit interrupter into a structure. The mechanism includes a handle frame, a lever means, and a shuttle means. The lever means is mounted at the handle frame to rotate between a secured position and a released position for securing and releasing the module at the structure. The shuttle means is mounted at the handle frame and is adapted to connect mechanically to the circuit interrupter. The shuttle means is mounted to reciprocate between an engaged and disengaged position in order to operate the circuit interrupter. Also, the shuttle means is manually reciprocatable to operate the circuit interrupter when the lever means is in the secured position. The lever means is operable in the released position to restrain and prevent manual reciprocation of the shuttle means in order to prevent manual operation of the circuit interrupter.
By employing apparatus of the foregoing type, an improved handle mechanism is achieved that can be used to safely secure or remove a module. In a preferred embodiment, a shuttle plate is slidably mounted alongside a C-shaped handle frame that is attached to the front of the module. A lever can be mounted in the handle frame to pivot in the vicinity of the shuttle plate. In this preferred embodiment, a pin on the lever can fit into a window cut in the shuttle plate to withdraw the shuttle plate when the lever is pulled out to release the module. The withdrawing of the shuttle plate will positively disable an internal circuit breaker to allow safe removal of the module.
When a module is inserted, the lever can be raised to its secured position to lock the module in place. Then the pin on the lever can move across the window in the shuttle plate but will not drive it to an engaged position to close a circuit breaker or other circuit interrupter. Instead, an operator can place the lever in the secured position and then manually operate the shuttle plate to activate the circuit breaker (and deactivate it later, if desired).
REFERENCES:
patent: 4119818 (1978-10-01), Noschese
patent: 4789919 (1988-12-01), Cox et al.
patent: 4885436 (1989-12-01), Pham et al.
patent: 4931907 (1990-06-01), Robinson et al.
patent: 5450280 (1995-09-01), Wactor
patent: 5495388 (1996-02-01), Bonetti et al.
patent: 5739488 (1998-04-01), Cassity et al.
Smolinski Robert H.
Tallman Ronald
Adams Thomas L.
Friedhofer Michael
Transistor Devices, Inc.
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