Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
~.z~
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the invention
_
The invention relates generally to operating
mechanisms of high voltage switchgear, and, more particularly,
to operating mechanisms for circuit interrupter and disconnect
switch combinations.
Prior art
U.S. Patent 4,105,878, issued August 8, 1978 to Date
et al, discloses a combination vacuum interrupter and visible
break disconnect switch in which the interruper is
electrically connected in series with the disconnect. The
interrupter is closed manually, and is tripped either manually
or automatically on overcurrent or undervoltage line
conditions by a quick make, quick break, trip free operating
mechanism. The disconnect is manually opened or closed by a
separate operating mechanism, which is mechanically
interlocked with the interrupter operating mechanism so that
the disconnect cannot be opened when the interrupter is
closed, or the interrupter cannot be closed when the
disconnect is open. The interrupter is open or closed by
rotating a manual interrupter operating handle affixed to a
manual operating shaft extending from one side of the
interrupter and disconnect combination. The disconnect switch
is manually opened or closed by rotating a disconnect
operating handle affixed to the disconnect operating shaft,
which also extends from one side of the interrupter and
disconnect combination.
3~
Since the circuit interrupter of an interrupter and
disconnect series combination must generally be operated each
time the disconnect switch of the combination is operated to
prevent the disconnect switch from opening or closing an
energized line, a single handle operator for manually
operating both the circuit interrupter and the disconnect
switch of an interrupter and disconnect series combination, is
advantageous.
Also, where a circuit interrupter and disconnect
switch combination is mounted in a switchgear enclosure having
a window in the front panel thereof through which the position
of the disconnect switch can be observed, a manual operator
which is mounted on the front panel of the switchgear
enclosure is very desirable. Such a front mounted operator
assembly permits an operator to observe the position of the
disconnect switch while it is being manually opened or closed.
Also, the use of a front mounted manual operator permits the
circuit interrupter and disconnect switch combination to be
mounted within one section of a metalclad switchgear assembly
in which other sections of the switchgear assembly are
disposed on either or both sides of theJsection containing the
interrupter and disconnect combination.
SUMMARY OF THE INVE~TIO~
Therefore, it is an object of the invention to
provide a manual operator, mounted on a front exterior surface
of a metal clad switchgear enclosure, for a high voltage
circuit interrupter or disconnect switch contained within the
switchgear enclosure.
2~2
PO3-7584
It is another object of the invention to provide a
single handle manual operator for a circuit interrupter and
disconnect switch combination, in which the circuit
interrupter is always opened before the disconnect switch is
opened, and-the disconnect switch is always closed before the
circuit interrupter is closed.
It is still another object of the invention to
provide a circuit interrupter and disconnect switch
combination having a mechanical interlock for preventing the
disconnect switch from being opened until the interrupting
contacts of the circuit interrupter have been fully opened.
A circuit interrupter and disconnect combination,
similar to that disclosed in the above referenced U.S. Patent
4,105,878, is mounted within a metalclad switchgear enclosure.
The operating mechanism for the circuit interrupter of the
interrupter and disconnect switch combination includes an
interrupter manual operating shaft which extends parallel to
the front panel of the switchgear enclosure. The interrupter
manual operating shaft is rotatable through an arc of
approximately 100 degrees between an open position and a
closed position, to manually open or close the circuit
interrupter. The manual operator assembly for the interrupter
and disconnect switch combination includes an operator handle
assembly mounted to the front panel of the switchgear
enclosure. The operating handle assembly includes a second
operating shaft, having a longitudinal axis, which is
rotatably mounted to the switchgear enclosure in spaced
parallel arrangement with the interrupter manual operating
z~
shaft. An interrupter manual operating handle is affixed to
the second operating shaft to allow an operator to rotate the
second shaft about its longitudinal axis through an arc of
approximately 180 degrees in one direction from an open
position to a closed position, and to rotate the second shaft
about its longitudinal axis in an opposite direction from its
closed position to its open position. The closed position of
the second shaft is determined by a handle stop affixed to the
switchgear enclosure, against which the manual operating
handle abuts when it is rotated to its closed position,
similarly, the open position of the second operating shaft is
determined by another handle stop, against which the manual
operating handle abuts when it is moved to its open position.
The second operating shaft is mechanically connected
to operate the interrupter manual operating shaft by a first
lever affixed to the interrupter manual operating shaft, a
second lever affixed to the second operating shaft, and an
operating rod connected between the first and second levers.
The operating rod has a first end pivotally connected to the
first lever for rotation about a first pivot axis of the
operating rod, and a second end pivotally connected to the
second lever for rotation about a second pivot axis of the
operating rod. When the second operating shaft is disposed in
its open position, the interruper manual operating shaft is
disposed in its open position and the operating rod is
disposed in a retracted toggle position at which the
longitudinal axis of the second operating shaft falls on a
straight line between the first and second pivot axes of the
operating rod. When the second operating shaft is rotated
-- 5 --
.?.~
from its open position to its closed position, the interrupter
manual operating shaft is rotated from its open position to
its closed position, and the operating rod is moved from its
retracted toggle position to an extended toggle position, at
which the second pivot axis of the operating rod falls on a
straight line between the longitudinal axes of the second
operating shaft and the first pivot axis of the operating rod.
The manual operator assembly also includes a tension
spring, having an upper end connected to the second end of the
operating rod and a lower end connected to the switchgear
enclosure support structure, for exerting a force on the
operating rod to maintain the operating rod at either its
extended toggle position or its retracted toggle position, and
thus maintain the second operating shaft in either its open
position or its closed position. When the second operating
shaft is rotated from either its open position or its closed
position, the second end of the operating rod will be moved
upward. Consequently, the force exerted by the tension spring
on the operating rod will increase, as the second shaft is
rotated between its open and closed positions, to a maximum
value of which the second operating shaft is approximately
halfway between its opened and closed positions.
The interrupter and disconnect switch combination
also includes a disconnect switch operating mechanism having a
disconnect operating shaft which is rotatably mounted to the
support structure for rotation about its longitudinal axis
between a closed position and an open position, in spaced
parallel arrangement with the interrupter manual operating
shaft. In one embodiment of the invention, the operating
-- 6
handle assembly includes a third operating shaft, similar to
the second operating shaft, which is rotatably mounted to the
switchgear support structure in spaced parallel arrangement
with the second operating shaft for rotation in one direction
from an open position to a closed position, and for rotation
in an opposite direction from its closed position to its open
position. A disconnect manual operating handle, which is
affixed to the third operating shaft, abuts against a
stationary handle stop when the third operating shaft is
disposed in its closed position, and abuts against another
stationary handle stop when the third operating shaft is
disposed in its open position. The operator assembly includes
a third lever affixed to the disconnect operating shaft, a
fourth lever affixed to the third operating shaft, and a
second operating rod, which has a first end pivotally
connected to the third lever and a second end pivotally
connected to the second lever. The second operating rod and
the third and fourth levers operate in the same manner as the
first operating rod and the second and third levers described
above. When the third operating shaft is disposed in its open
position, the disconnect operating shaft is disposed in its
open position and the second operating rod is disposed at a
retracted toggle position. When the third operating shaft is
rotated from its open position to its closed position, the
disconnect operating shaft is rotated from its open position
to its closed position, and the second operating rod is moved
from its retracted toggle position to its extended toggle
position.
~ 2 ~Z ~ ~
A second tension spring, connected between the second
operating rod and the switchgear support structure, exerts a
force on the second operating rod to maintain the second
operating rod at either its retracted or extended toggle
positions, in the same manner as described above for the first
operating rod. Two interlocking disks, carried by the second
and third operating shafts, interact to allow the rotation of
the third operating shaft only when the second operating shaft
is in its open position, and to allow the rotation of the second
operating shaft only when the third operating shaft is in its
closed position, as described in detail in the above referenced
U.S. Patent 4,0]05,878, for two similar interlocking disks.
In another embodiment of the invention, the
interrupter manual operating shaft is connected to operate the
disconnect operating shaft by a mechanical linkage which
incl~des a third lever affixed to the interrupter manual
operating shaEt, a fourth lever affixed to the disconnect
operating shaft, and a driving link connected between the third
and fourth lever. The driving link has a first end which is
pivotably connected to the fourth lever, and an opposite side
end which has an elongated opening, or slot, formed
therethrough. A pivot pin, which is carried by the third lever
and extends through the slot, is positioned against the outer
end of the slot when the interrupter operating shaft and the
disconnect operating shaft are disposed in their open
positions, and against the inner end of the slot when the
~.2~
interrupter manual operating and the disconnect operating shaft
are disposed in their closed position. Also, the linkage is
designed so that, when the interrupter manual operating shaft
is rotated to its closed position, the driving link is moved to
an overtoggled position. The disconnect switch is fully closed
before the driving link reaches its toggled position, and
remains closed as the driving link is moved over its toggle
position into its closed position.
When the interrupter manual operating shaft is
rotated from its open position towards its closed position, the
vacuum interrupter is not closed until the interrupter manual
operating shaft has been rotated to a position near its closed
position at which the closing spring is fully charged. Also,
when the interrupter manual operating handle is moved from its
closed position towards its open position, the vacuum
interrupter is tripped after the interrupter manual operating
shaft has been rotated only a few degrees away from its closed
position, as described in detail in the aboved referenced U. S.
Patent 4,105,878.
When the interrupter manual operating shaft is
rotated from its open position towards its closed position, the
pivot pin carried by the third lever tranverses the length of
the slot and abuts against the inner end of the slot to initiate
the rotation of the disconnect operating shaft from its open
position towards its closed position. The pivot pin remains in
abutment with the inner end of the slot until the driving link
has been moved to its toggle position. As the interrupter
manual operating shaft is rotated towards its closed
position,first the disconnect switch is closed, and then the
vacuum interrupter is closed as the driving link is moved over
its toggle position to its closed position. When the
S interrupter manual operating shaft is rotated from its closed
position towards its open position, the vacuum interrupter is
tripped before the driving link is moved over its toggle
position and the pivot pin tranverses the link to the slot and
abuts against the outer end of the slot to initiate rotation of
the disconnect operating shaft from its closed position towards
its open position. Thus, when the interrupter operating shaft
is rotated from its closed to its closed position, the series
circuit through the vacuum interrupter and the disconnect
switch is opened by the vacuum interrupter before the
disconnect switch which opens, and, when the interrupter manual
operating shaft is rotated from its open position to its closed
position, the disconnect switch closes before the vacuum
interrupter closes to energize the electric circuit. This
assures that the disconnect switch can never be operated to
energize or deenergize the electric circuit.
Another embodiment of the invention includes a
mechanical interlock assembly to prevent opening of the
disconnect switch unless the vacuum interrupter is fully and
completely open. The mechanical interlock assembly includes an
interlock lever affixed to the disconnect operation shaft and a
cam latch pivotably mounted to the switchgear support frame for
rotation in the same plane as the interlock lever.
--10--
01 The cam latch is mechanically linked to the interrupter
02 operating shaft, so that it extends into the path of travel of the
03 interlock lever when the interrupter operating shaft is in its
04 closed position, and is rotated out of the path of travel of the
05 interlock lever only when the interrupter operating shaft has been
06 rotated to its fully open position. The cam latch is spaced from
07 the interlock lever to allow the vacuum interrupter to be tripped
08 when the interrupter manual operating shaft is rotated from its
09 closed position towards its open position before the interlock
lever abuts against the cam latch. During a normal manual opening
11 in an operation of the vacuum interrupter and disconnect switch
12 combination, as the interrupter manual operating shaft is rotated
13 from its closed position towards its open position, the vacuum
14 interrupter is first tripped, the cam latch is rotated out of the
path of the interlock lever to allow the interlock lever to rotate
16 past the cam latch to the position of the disconnect operating
17 shaft at which the disconnect switch starts to open. If for any
18 reason the vacuum interrupter is tripped, the interlock lever will
19 abut against the cam latch to prevent further rotation of the
disconnect operating shaft before the disconnect operating shaft
21 has been rotated sufficiently to open the disconnect switch.
22 More generally, the invention is a circuit interrupter
23 and disconnect switch combination, which comprises: a support
24 structure; a first operating shaft, having a longitudinal axis,
which is rotatably mounted to the support structure of rotation
26 about its longitudinal axis between an open and a closed position;
27 a circuit interrupter mounted to the support structure and
28 including a first electrically conductive interrupting contact
29 member and a second electrically conductive interrupting contact
which is movable relative to the first interrupting contact member
31 between a closed position at which the second interrupter contact
32
33
34 B -11-
01 member engages the first interrupter contact member, and an open
02 position at which the second interrupter contact member is
03 disengaged and spaced from the first interrupting contact member;
04 an interrupter operating shaft, having a longitudinal axis, which
05 is rotatably mounted to the support structure in spaced parallel
06 arrangement with the first shaft for rotation about its
07 longitudinal axis between a closed position and an open position;
08 interrupter connecting means, disposed between the second contact
09 member of the circuit interrupter and the interrupter operating
shaft, for moving the second contact member to its closed position
11 when the interrupter operating shaft is rotated to its closed
12 position, and for moving the second contact member to its open
13 position when the interrupter operating shaft is rotated to its
14 open position; an interrupter operating means, connected between
the first shaft and the interrupter operating shaft, for quickly
16 rotating the interrupter operating shaft between its open and
17 closed positions, wherein, as the first shaft is rotated from its
18 open position toward its closed position, the interrupter
19 operating means quickly rotates the interrupter operating shaft
from its open position to its closed position at a first
21 intermediate position of the first shaft near the closed position
22 of the first shaft, and wherein, as the first shaft is rotated
23 from its closed position toward its open position, the interrupter
24 operating means quickly rotates the interrupter operating shaft
from its closed position to its open position at a second
26 intermediate position of the first shaft near the closed position
27 of the first shaft; a disconnect switch which is mounted to the
28 support structure, and which includes a first electrically
29 conductive disconnect contact member, and a second electrically
conductive disconnect contact member which is movable relative to
31 the first disconnect contact member between a closed
32
33 ~ - lla -
01 position at which the second disconnect contact member engages the
02 first disconnect contact member between a closed position at which
03 the second disconnect contact member engages the first disconnect
04 contact member and an open position at which the second disconnect
05 contact member is disengaged and spaced from the first disconnect
06 contact member, one of the disconnect contact members being
07 electrically connected to one of the interrupting contact members
08 of the circuit interrupter, a disconnect operating shaft, having a
09 longitudinal axis, which is rotatably mounted to the support
structure for rotation about its longitudinal axis between a
11 closed position and an open position, in spaced parallel
12 arrangement with the interrupter operating shaft; connecting
13 means, disposed between the second disconnect contact member and
14 the disconnect operating shaft, for moving the second disconnect
contact member to its closed position, and moving the second
16 disconnect contact member to its open position when the disconnect
17 operating shaft is rotated to its open position.
18 According to one embodiment, a first lever is affixed to
19 the first shaft and a second lever is affixed to the disconnect
operating shaft. A driving link connects the disconnect operating
21 shaft which is to be rotated between its open and closed positions
22 as the first shaft is rotated between its corresponding open and
23 closed positions. The driving link has a first end which is
24 pivotally connected to one of the first and second levers, and an
opposite second end which defines an elongated opening, or slot,
26 through the driving link having an outer end and inner end which
27 define the length of the slot.
28 A pivot pin, carried by the other of the first and
29 second levers, extends through the slot of the driving link, the
pin being disposed against one of the outer and inner ends of the
31
32 - llb -
~ ~ ~ ?~2~P~
01 slot when the first shaft is disposed in its open position, and
02 when the driving link is moved over and beyond a toggle position
03 when the first shaft is rotated to its closed position.
04 As the first shaft is rotated from its open position
05 towards its closed position, the pivot pin traverses the length of
06 the slot and abuts against the other of the outer and inner ends
07 of the slot to initiate the rotation of the disconnect operating
08 shaft from its open position towards its closed position, the
09 pivot pin remaining in abutment with the other end of the slot
until the driving link has been moved to its toggle position, the
11 second disconnect contact member engaging the first disconnect
12 contact member at a third intermediate position of the first shaft
13 before the driving link has been moved to its toggle position, and
14 before the interrupter operating shaft has been rotated from its
open position to its closed position by the interrupter operating
16 means at the first intermediate position of the first shaft which
17 is disposed between the third intermediate position and the closed
18 position of the first shaft.
19 As the first shaft is rotated from its closed position
towards its open position, the driving link is moved over its
21 toggle position and the pivot pin is moved the length of the slot
22 and abuts against the one side of the slot to initiate rotation of
23 the disconnect operating shaft from its closed position towards
24 its open position at a fourth intermediate position of the first
shaft, the interrupter operating shaft being rotated from its
26 closed position to its open position at the second intermediate
27 position of the first shaft at which the first shaft is disposed
28 between its closed position and its fourth intermediate position.
29 When the second operating shaft is rotated from its
closed position to its open position, the series circuit through
31
32 - llc -
/3
01 the circuit interrupter and the disconnect switch is opened by the
02 circuit interrupter before the disconnect switch opens, and, when
03 the second shaft is rotated from its open position to its closed
04 position, the disconnect switch closes before the circuit
05 interrupter closes.
06 According to a further embodiment, a first lever is
07 affixed to the disconnect operating shaft. A cam latch, disposed
08 adjacent the first lever, is pivotally mounted to the support
09 structure for rotation about an axis parallel to the axis of the
disconnect operating shaft in the same plane as the first lever.
11 A second lever is affixed to the interrupter operating shaft. A
12 connecting link has one end pivotally connected to the second
13 lever and an opposite end pivotally connected to the cam latch.
14 When the interrupter operating shaft is disposed in its open
position, the first lever is freely rotatable from its open
16 position past the cam latch to its closed position, and when the
17 interrupter operating shaft is disposed in its closed position or
18 a position intermediate its closed and open positions, the cam
19 latch extends into the path of travel of the first lever, so that
when the first shaft is rotated from its closed position towards
21 its open position, the first lever will abut against the cam latch
22 at a position of the first shaft intermediate the second
23 intermediate position of the first shaft at which the interrupter
24 operator shaft is rotated to its open position and the position of
the first shaft at which the second disconnect contact member
26 starts to disengage from the first disconnect contact member.
27 These and other objects of the present invention will
28 become more apparent from the following detailed description and
29 from study of the appended drawing herein.
31
32 - lld -
~!
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
-
Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a three phase vacuum
interrupter and disconnect switch combination.
Fig. 2 is a perspective simplified view of the vacuum
interrupter and disconnect switch combination of Fig. 1,
showing a single vacuum interrupter and disconnect switch
combination assembly, and the main operating members of the
interrupter and disconnect operating mechanisms.
Fig. 3 is a partial cross-sectional view of the
interrupter operating mechanisms, taken along the line 3-3 of
Fig. 1, showing the detent members holding the interrupter
mechanism latch lever in its opened position.
Fig. 4 is another partial cross-sectional view of the
interrupter operating mechanism similar to Fig. 3 except
showing the detent members holding the latch lever in its
closed position.
Fig. 5 is a side view of a vacuum interrupter and
disconnect switch combination, which is mounted horizontally
with the disconnect opening downward, and which includes a
single handle, side mounted manual operator assembly, according
to the invention.
Fig. 6 is a side view of the single handle manual
operator assembly, shown in its open position.
Fig. 7 is a side view of the single handle manua]
o~era.or assembly, shown in its closed position.
-12-
~.2~2~
Fig. 8 and ~ are simplified side views of the single
handle manual operator assembly and a mechanical interlock
between the disconnect and interrupter operating shafts,
wherein the interrupter operating shaft is shown in its open
position in Fig. 8 and in its closed position in Fig.9 .
Fig. 10 is a perspective view of a metalclad
switchgear enclosure, having a three phase vacuum interrupter
and disconnect switch combination mounted therein, and showing
the front housing of a front operated, single handle manual
operator assembly for the vacuum interrupter and disconnect
switch combination, according to the in~ention.
Fig. 11 is a cross-sectional view of the front
operated single handle manual operator assembly-, taken along
the line 11-11 of Fig. 10, showing the operator assembly in its
open position.
Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view of the front
operated single handle manual operator assembly, similar to
Fig. 11 except showing the operator assembly in its closed
position.
Fig. 13 is a cross-sectional side view of a two
handle, front operated manual operator assembly, according to
the invention.
Fig. 14 is a perspective view of the front housing of
the two handle, front operated, manual operator assembly of
Fig. 13, with the interruper manual operating handle and the
disconnect manual operating handle both shown in their closed
positionsO
Fig. 15 is a side view of the front housing shown in
Fig. 14, with the interrupter manual operating handle shown in0
its open position and the disconnect manual operating handle
shown in its closed position.
z~
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Fig. 1, shows a three pole, vacuum interrupter and
disconnect switch combination 10, similar to that disclosed in
in the above-referenced U. S. Patent 4,105,878 which is
included herein by reference. The interrupter and disconnect
switch combination 10 includes three single pole, vacuum
interrupter and disconnect switch assemblies 12, mounted on a
common support frame 14, which are gangoperated by interrupter
and disconnect operating mechanisms 16, 18, carried by spaced-
apart support plates 20, 22 of the frame 14. Insulatin~
barrier plates 24, also mounted to the support frame 14, are
disposed between adjacent assemblies 12 and at both ends of
the ganged assemblies 12. Four mounting brackets 25, two of
which are shown in Fig. 1, are affixed to the support frame 14
for mounting the vacuum interrupter and disconnect switchcombination 10 either vertically as shown in Fig. 1, or
horizontal.ly as shown in Fig. 5.
As best shown in Fi~. 2, each vacuum interrupter and
disconnect switch assembly 12 includes two, spaced apart,
electrical insulator support members 26, 28, each mounted at
one end to the support frame 14. A disconnect switch
stationary contact assembly 30, is mounted on the opposite end
of the insulator 26. An electrically conductive terminal
bracket 32, is mounted on the opposite end of the insulator
28. The disconnect switch stationary contact assembly 30 and
the bracket 32 are connected by suitable conductors (not
shown) to respective source and load sections of an electric
power distribution line.
- 14 -
~.~ 2~
A pivotable disconnect switch assembly 34 of the
interrupter and disconnect switch assembly 12 includes two
elongated insulating support members, 36 and 38, which are
spaced apart for mounting therebetween a vacuum interrupter 40
and a disconnect switch movable contact 42. The disconnect
switch movable contact 42 is affixed between the upper ends of
the insulating s~pport members 36 and 38. The lower ends of
the insulating support members 36 and 38 are pivotably
connected by axially aligned pins 44 and 46 respectively to
the bracket 32 for pivotal movement of the disconnect switch
assembly 34 about the pins 44 and 46 between a closed position
wherein the disconnect switch movable contact 42 engages the
disconnect switch stationary contact 30, and an open position
wherein the contacts 42 and 30 are disengaged and suitably
separated
The vacuum interrupter 40 includes a stationary
contact rod 48 which is affixed to the disconnect switch
movable contact 42, and a movable contact rod 50 which is
movable along the axis of the vacuum interrupter 40 between a
closed position where it engages a stationary contact rod 48,
and an open, or tripped, position where it is disengaged and
separated by a suitable distance from the stationary contact
rod 48. The free end of the interrupter movable contact rod 50
is pivotably connected to one end of an electrically
conductive bell crank 52. The bell crank 52 is pivotably
mounted to the bracket 32 by a fulcrum pin 54. The vacuum
interrupter 40 and the bell crank 52 are disposed so that when
the vacuum interrupter 40 is in its tripped position, the
pivotable axis of the movable contact rod 50 about the bell
crank 52 coincides with the pivotable axis of the support
plates 36 and 38 about the bracket 32.
- 15 -
'2~
The other arm of the bell crank 52 is pivotably
connected to one end of an insulating connecting link 56 by a
pin 58. The opposite end of the connecting link 56 is
pivotably connected to a crank arm 60 of an interrupter
operating shaft 62 by a pin 64. An opening torsion spring 66,
connected between the interrupter operating shaft 62 and the
frame 14, exerts a force on the interrupter operating shaft 62
to maintain the vacuum interrupter 40 in its open position.
A lever arm 68 of the interrupter operating shaft 62
is pivotably connected by a pin 70 to one end of a conventional
toggle latch mechanism 72, shown in its latched, fully
extended position in Fig. 2. The opposite end of this toggle
latch mechanism 72 is pivotably connected by a pin 74 to a
latchable end of an L-shaped latch lever 76, which is
pivotably mounted on an interrupter manual operating shaft 78,
and which is latchable in either a closed or tripped position
as explained hereinafter.
The toggle latch mechanism 72 is similar to the
toggle latch mechanism described in the above-referenced U. S.
Patent 4,105,878, and includes a latching assembly 80 of two
spaced apart plates 82 and 84 pivotably connected at one end
to the lever arm 68 by the pin 70. At an opposite end of the
latching assembly 80, a latch member 86 is pivotably connected
at a medial portion thereof between the two plates 82, 84 by a
pin 88. One end of the latch member 86 is pivotably connected
to the lever 76 by the pin 74 so that when the lever 76 is
rotated upward in a clockwise direction as seen from the right
side in Fig. 2, the toggle latch assembly 72 is extended until
the opposite end o the latch member86 strikes against a
spacing pin 90 connected between the plates 82, 84. The
- 16 -
'Z ~ r~
spacing pin 90 prevents the toggle mechanism 72 from being
completely extended to its toggle point position, that is, the
position at which the pivot pins 70, 74 and 88 are positioned
along a straight line. The latchinq assembly 80 also includes
5 a spring-loaded latch pin 92 pivotably held by the plates 82,
84. The medial portion of this latch pin 92 between the plates
82 84 is shaped as a half-cylinder, and is spring-held in sucn
a position that the end of the latch member 86 will press
against and rotate the flat surface of the half cylinder as it
is moved toward its extended position.
After the end of the latch member 86 has traversed
the latch pin 92, the latch pin 92 is spring-returned to its
normal position, and the latch member 86 is held in its
extended position by the cylindrical surface of the latch pin
92 until an unlatching lever 94 affixed to one end of the latch
pin 92 is rotated to free the latch member 86. Then, if the
latch lever 76 is latched in its closed position, the toggle
mechanism 72 will be quickly collapsed and the vacuum
interrupter 40 will be tripped by the force exerted on it by
the opening spring 66.
When the disconnect switch assembly 34 and the
vacuum interrupter 40 are closed, the unlatching lever 94 of
the toggle mechanism 72 is positioned adjacent a pin 96 of a
trip lever 98, which is pivotably mounted to the support frame
22 by a pin 100. The trip lever 98 can be rotated to unlatch
the toggle mechanism 72 by rotating the interrupter manual
operating shaft 78 in a clockwise direction, as explained
hereinafter. Also, the trip lever 98 can be rotated to
unlatch the toggle mechanism 72 by the operation of
overcurrent or undervoltage relays (not shown), as described
in the above-referenced U. S. Patent 4,105,878.
- 17 -
z~
An opposite end of the L-shaped latch lever 76
extends longitudinally along the interr~pter manual operating
shaft 78 between the two ends of a closing torsion spring 102
disposed about the interrupter manual operating shaft 78. An
L-shaped driving member 104, affixed at one end to the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78, has an opposite end
which also extends longitudinally along the interrupter manual
operating shaft 78 between the two ends of the closing spring
102. Thus, when the latch lever 76 is not latched in a fixed
position, rotational movement of the interrupter manual
operating shaft 78 is transmitted to the latch lever 76 by the
driving 104 through the closing spring 102. A trip cam 106 is
pivotably connected to the driving member 104 by a pin 108.
The driving member 104 also includes a stop pin 110 which
limits the rotation of the trip cam 106. The trip cam 106
operates to trip the vacuum interrupter 40 when the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78 is rotated from its
closed position toward its open position, as explained
hereinafter.
A cam stop plate 112, affixed to the interrupter
manual operating shaft 78, includes a slot 114. A positioning
pin 116, affixed to the support plate 20, extends into the
slot 114 to limit the rotation of the interrupter manual
operating sha-ft 78 and define its open and closed positions,
as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 respectively.
Referring now to Fig. 3, the latchable end of the
latch lever 76 is shown latched in its open position by a
detent mem~er 118 which is pivotable about a pin 120 of the
support plate 20 and includes a spring 122 for normally
positioning the detent member 118 in its latching position.
- 18 -
~L~.2~
However, the detent member 118 is shaped so that as the latch
lever 76 is rotated counterclockwise, as seen in Fig. 3, from
its closed position to its open position, it will ride over
the latching portion of the detent member 118 by rotating the
detent member 118 clockwise against its positioning spring
122. When the end of the latch lever 76 has cleared the
latching portion of the detent member 118, the detent member
118 will be spring-returned to its latching position, and will
hold the latch lever 76 in its open position until the detent
member 118 is rotated clockwise to release it.
A detent release lever 124, pivotable about a pin
126 affixed to the free end of the detent member 118, is
spring-loaded to position a raised portion, or spur 128, of
the lever 124 in the path of the driving member 104 of the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78 as the interrupter
manual operating shaft 78 is rotated from its open position to
its closed position. When the driving member 104 contacts the
spur 128 of the release lever 124 near the end of its path of
travel from its open position to its closed position, the
release lever 124 is pushed against the end of the detent
member 118 to rotate the detent member 118 clockwise about its
pivot pin 126 and release the latch lever 76, as shown by
dashed lines in Fig. 3.
As the interrupter manual operating shaft 78 is
moved from its open position to its closed position, the
closing spring 102 is charged, since one end of the closing
spring 102 is rotated with the driving member 104 of the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78 and the other end of the
closing spring 102 is held stationary by the-latch lever 76.
~hen the driving member 104 strikes the release lever 124 and
-- 19 _ .
unlatches the latch lever 76, the fully-charged closing spring
102 quickly rotates the latch lever 76 to its closed position.
Referring again to Fig. 2, the toggle mechanism 72, which had
been previously fully extended and latched by the interrupter
manual operating shaft 78 in its open position, is acted upon
by the latch lever 76 to quickly close the vacuum interrupter
40, and at the same time, to charge the opening spring 66 for
the next interrupter opening operation.
When the latch lever 76 is released from its open
position as the interrupter manual operating shaft 78 is
rotated to its closed position, it is quickly rotated
clockwise, as seen in Fig. 4, and its end slides over another
detent member 128, similar to the detent member 118, which is
pivotable about a pin 130 of the support plate 20, and
1~ includes a spring 131 for normally positioning the detent
member 128 in its latching position. After the latch lever 76
reaches its closed position, it is held in this position until
the detent member 128 is rotated counterclockwise about its
A detent releasing link 132 is pivotable at one end
about a pin 134 which is disposed at the free end of the detent
member 128. The opposite end of the detent releasing link 132
defines a slot 136. into which a pin 138 extends. This pin 138
is affixed to the lever arm 68 of the interrupter operating
shaft 62, so that, when the vacuum interrupter 40 is tripped
by unlatching the toggle mechanism 72, the detent ~ember 128
will be rotated counterclockwise by the link 132 to release
the latch lever 76 so that it can be subsequently reset for a
reclosing operation.
Both the pin 126 of the detent member 118 and the
pin 134 of the detent member 128 extend into adjacent openings
- 20 -
~ Z4~
in the support plate 20, to thereby limit the travel of the
detent members 118, 128. Consequently, the end of the detent
releasing link 132 is slotted rather than directly pivoted
about the pin 132 to limit the travel of tbe detent releasing
link 132 to that of the pin 134 within the opening of the
support plate 20.
Referring again to Fig. 2, a pin 140, affixed to an
opposite end of the trip lever 98, is disposed within a slot
142 at one -end of a link 144. A pin 146, affixed to the
opposite end of the link 144, extends into an opening in the
support plate 22 which serves to limit the travel of the link
144. A spring 144 connected between the pin 146 and the
support plate 22 normally positions the link 144 in its non-
tripping position. When the driving member 104 of the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78 is rotated from its trip
position to its closed position, the trip cam 106 will be
rotated about its pivot pin 108 and traverse the pin 14S
without moving the pin 146. ~owever, when the driving member
104 is rotated in the reverse direction from its closed
postion to its trip position, the pin 110 prevents the trip
cam 106 from rolling around and over the pin 146, and the trip
cam 106 exerts a force against the pin 146 to move the link 144
against the pin 140 of the trip lever 98, and rotate the trip
lever 98 in a clockwise direction to trip the vacuum
interrupter 40.
A medial portion of the disconnect switch assembly
34 is pivotably connected to one end of an electrically
insulating, connecting link lS0 of the disconnect switch
operating mechanism 18 by a pivot pin 152. An opposite end of
- 21 -
~.2~Z~
the connecting link 150 is pivotably connected to a crank arm
154 of a manual disconnect operating shaft 156 by a pivot pin
158. The manual disconnect operating shaft 156 is rotatable
about its axis between an open position and a closed position.
A cam stop plate 160, affixed to the manual
disconnect operation shaft 156, includes a slot 162. A
positioning pin 164, affixed to the support plate 20, extends
into the slot 162, to limit the rotation of the manual
disconnect operating shaft 156 and define its open and closed
positions, as shown in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 respectively.
When the vacuum interrupter 40 and the disconnect
switch assembly 34 are both in the open position, rotation of
the manual disconnect operating shaft 156 and the crank arm
154 in a counterclockwise direction causes the connecting link
150 to rotate over its toggle point to its closed position.
The toggle point position of the connecting link 150 is that
position of the connecting link 150 at which the pivot pins
152, 158, and the manual disconnect operating shaft 156 are
aligned. As the manual disconnect operating shaft 156 is
rotated counterclockwise from its open position to its closed
position, the disconnect switch assembly 34 is rotated
clockwise from its open position to its closed position.
When the vacuum interrupter 40 is open and the
disconnect switch assembly 34 closed, the manual disconnect
operating shaft 156 must be rotated clockwise for at least
twice the angular displacement between the closed position of
the ~anual disconnect operating shaft 156 and the position of
the shaft 156 at which the connecting link 150 is disposed in
its toggle position before the disconnect switch moving
contact 42 starts to disengage from the disconnect switch
stationary contact 30.
- 22 -
~.24~
The vacuum interrupter and disconnect switch
combination 10, shown in Fig. 5, is mounted horizonally with
the disconnect switch assembly 34 opening downward. A manual
operator assembly 166, described in detail hereinafterl is
connected to the interrupter and disconnect operating
mechanisms 16, 18, to open or close the disconnect switch
assemblies 34 and the vacuum interrupters 40. A manual
operating handle 168, which is affixed to the interrupter
manual operating shaft 78, is pivotable through an arc of
approximately 100 degrees determined by the cam stop plate
112, between an open position shown in Fig. 5, and a closed
position, also shown in Fig. 5 by dashed lines.
The manual operator assembly 166 can also be used
with the vertically mounted vacuum interrupter and disconnect
switch combination 10 of Fig. 1. As shown in Figs. 6 and 7,
the manual operator assembly 166 includes a driving link 170
which is pivotably attached to the cam stop plate 160 by a pin
172. The opposite end of the driving link 170 includes a slot
174 formed therethrough. The cam stop plate 112 is pivotably
and slidably attached to the driving link 170 by a pin 176,
which is affixed to the cam stop plate 112 and which extends
through the slot 174 of the driving link 170. The manual
operating assembly 166 also includes two latch members 178 and
180. The latch member 178 has one end which is affixed to the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78 and an OppoSite end
which extends orthogonally outward from the interrupter manual
operating shaft 78. The latch member 180 has one end which is
affixed to the manual disconnect operating shaft 156 and an
opposite end which extends orthogonally outward from the
manual disconnect operating shaft 156 in the same plane as the
- 23 -
~z~
latch member 178. When the interrupter manual operating shaft
78 is in its open position, the free end of the latch member
178 extends in the path of rotation of the latch member 180 in
close proximity to one side of the latch member 80, to thus
lock the manual disconnect operating shaft 156 in the open
position, as shown in Fig. 6. Also, when the interrupter
manual operating shaft 7~ is in its open position, the pin 176
is disposed at the outer end of the slot 174. When the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78 is rotated from its open
position towards its closed position, the pin 176 does not
exert any force on the driving link 170 until it has been
rotated so that it presses against the inner side of the slot
174. Be~ore the pin 176 has been rotated to the inner side of
the slot 174, the free end of the latch member 178 has been
rotated counterclockwise out of the path of travel of.the
latch member 180 to thus unlock the manual disconnect
operating shaft 156 so that the shaft 156 can be rotated by the
driving link 170 as the interrupter manual operating shaft 78
is further rotated counterclockwise towards its closed
position, shown in Fig. 7.
As the interrupter manual operating shaft 78 is
rotated counterclockwise towards its closed position, the
closing spring 66 is charged, as explained above, and the
manual disconnect operating shaft 156 is rotated
counterclockw,.se until each disconnect switch moving contact
42 is fully engaged with its associated disconnect switch
stationary contact 30. As the interrupter manual operating
shaft 78 is further rotated counterclockwise, the connecting
link 150 will be moved over its toggle position to its closed
~.2~2~
position before the driving link 170 has been moved to its
toggle position at which the pivot pins 172 and 17~ are
aligned with the interrupter manual operating shaft 78.
During still further counterclockwise rotation of the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78 into its closed
position, the driving link 170 is moved over and beyond its
toggle point to its closed position. At the same time, the
latch lever 76 is unlatched to allow the fully charged closing
spring 102 to quickly close the vacuum interrupters 40 and
charge the opening spring 66 for the next interrupter opening
operation, as explained in detail above. Thus, overtoggling
of both the driving link 170 and the connecting link 150
assures tbat the disconnect switch assemblies 34 will always
be fully closed before the vacuum interrupters 40 are closed.
When the interrupter manual operating shaft 78 is
rotated clockwise from its closed position, shown in Fig. 7,
towards its open position, shown in Fig. 6, the vacuum
interrupters 40 will be tripped after the interrupter manual
operating shaft 78 has been rotated only a few degrees from
its closed position. However, the disconnect switch
assemblies 34 will not begin to move from the closed position
until the interrupter manual operating shaft 78 has been
rotated through approximately half of its angular rotation
between its closed and open positions. When the interrupter
manual operating shaft 78 is rotated from its closed position,
the driving link 170 is moved through its toggle position and
the pin 176 is moved within the slot 174 until it is adjacent
the outer end of the slot 174, as shown in Fig. 8. ~urther
rotation of the interrupter manual operating shaft 78 towards
~L~ 2~
its open position will cause the cam stop plate 160 and the
manual disconnect operating shaft 156 to rotate in a clockwise
direction. ~owever, the disconnect switch assemblies 34 will
not start to move until the connecting links 150 has been
moved over their toggle points. Then, during the last half of
the angular rotation of the interrupter manual operating shaft
78 between its closed and open positions, the disconnect
assemblies 34 will be rotated about their associated pivot
pins 44, 46 to the open position. Thus, the overtoggle
10operation of the connecting link 150 and the driving link 170
and the lost motion produced by the sliding action of the pin
176 within the slot 174, assures that the vacuum interrupters
40 will always trip and open the circuit before the disconnect
assemblies 34 start to open.
15During a manual opening operation of the vacuum
interrupter and disconnect switch combination 10, if the welds
between the arcing contacts of one or more vacuum interrupters
40 are not broken, or if there is a malfunction of the manual
~tripping mechanism, it is possible for the vacuum interrupters
to remain closed even though the interrupter manual
operatin~ shaft 78 has been rotated to its open position.
When such a malfunction occurrs, it is possible to
inadvertently open-the disconnect switch assemblies 34 when
the vacuum interrup~ers 40 are closed. Figs. 8 and 9 show a
mechanical interlock assembly 182 which can be added to the
manual operator assembly 166 to prevent opening of the
disconnect switch assemblies 34 unless the vacuum interrupters
40 are fully and completely open. The mechanical interlock
assembly 182 includes a lever 184 affixed to the manual
- 26 -
2~'~
disconnect operating shaft 156 and to the cam stop plate 160,
and a cam latch 186 which is disposed adjacent the lever 184
and is pivotable about the positioning pin 164 in the same
plane as the lever 184. The mechanical interlock assembly 182
also includes a lever 188 which is affixed to the interrupter
operating shaft 62. The cam latch 186 is connected to the
lever 188 by a link 190 having one end pivotably connected to
the cam latch 186 by a pivot pin 192, and an opposite end
pivotably connected to the lever 188 by another pivot pin 194.
As explained above, when the manual operating handle
168 and the interrupter manual operating shaft 78 are rotated
from the closed position towards the open position, the vacuum
interrupters 40 are tripped before the manual disconnect
operating shaft 156 starts to rotate from its closed position.
This is illustrated in Fig. 8, which shows the interrupter
manual operating shaft 78 in an intermediate position at which
the vacuum interrupters 40 have been tripped and the
interrupter operating shaft 62 is in its open position, but
the manual disconnect operating shaft 156 and the lever 182
affixed to it are still in their closed position. It can be
seen from Fig. 8 that as the interrupter operating shaft 78 is
further rotated clockwise to its closed position, lever 184
will be freely rotated clockwise past the cam latch 186 to its
closed position.
When the vacuum interrupters 40 are closed, the cam
latch 186 is rotated by the link 190 so that it extends into
the path of travel of the lever 184. If the vacuum
interrupters 40 do not open during a manual opening operation
due to contact welding or malfunction of the trip mechanism,
- 27 -
~.~ z~
when the lever 184 is rotated clockwise, it will strike
against the cam lever 186 which prevents any further clockwise
rotation of the manual disconnect operating shaft 156. The
clockwise rotation of the manual disconnect operating shaft
156 will be stopped by the cam latch 186 before the disconnect
switch assemblies 34 start to open. when the vacuum
interrupters 40 are closed, the link 190 is moved through its
toggle point at which the pivot pins 192 and 194 and the
interrupter operating shaft 62 are aligned to its closed
position, as shown in Fig. 9. Consequently, when the vacuum
interrupters 40 are tripped, the pivot pin 194 is rotated
clockwise for at least twice the angular displacement of the
pin 194 from the position of the pin 194 when the link 190 is
disposed in its toggle position before the cam latch 186
starts to rotate clockwise away from its fully closed
position. Thus, the cam latch 186 is only rotated from its
fully closed position toward the end of the opening stroke of
the vacuum interrupters 40. This linkage arrangement assures
that, unless the vacuum interrupters 40 are completely and
fully open, the disconnect operating mechanism 18 will be
positively locked and the disconnect assemblies 34 will be
prevented from opening.
As seen in Fig. 8, when the lever 184 is disposed in
its fully closed position, it is sufficently spaced from the
cam latch 186 to assure that, when the interrupter manual
operating shaft 78 is rotated counterclockwise from its open
position to its closed position, the lever 184 will be rotated
counterclockwise past the cam latch 186 before the vacuum
interrupters 40 are tripped.
- 28 -
~.2~
When the vacuum interrupter and disconnect switch
combination 10 is mounted in a metalclad switchgear enclosure,
the manual operating handle 168 can be replaced by a front
mounted operating handle assembly 196 shown in Figs. 10, 11
and 12. The operating handle assembly 196 includes a top
support me~ber 198 and a bottom support member 200 which are
each secured at one end to the support frame 14. A front
housing 202 has a back portion which is secured to the top and
bottom support members 198, 200, and a front portion which
extends through an opening in a front panel 204 of a
switchgear enclosure. A double-sided manual operating handle
206 is affixed to both ends of a shaft 206 which extends
through, and is pivotably supported by, two vertical side
plates 210 and 212 of the front housing 202. One end of an
operating rod 214 is pivotably connected by a pin 216 to a
lever 218 affixed to the interrupter manual operating shaft
78. An opposite end of the operating rod 214 is pivotably
connected by a pin 220 to a lever 222 affixed to the shaft 208.
The operating rod 214 includes a turnbuckle 223 for adjusting
the length of the operating rod 214. When the interrupter
manual operating shaft 78 is in its open position, the lever
222 will extend toward the front of the front housing 202 and
the operating rod 214 will be disposed at one of its toggle
positions at which the pivot pin 220 is aligned with the shaft
208 and the pivot pin 216, as shown in Fig. 11. Two tabs 224,
which extend horizontally from the bottom ends of the side
plates 210 and 212, into the path of the manual operating
handle 206, prevents the manual operating handle 206 from
being rotated counterclockwise from its open position. The
pins 216 and 220 are disposed on the levers 218 and 222
- 29
respectively so that when the manual operating handle 206
attached to the shaft 208 is rotated approximately 180 degrees
in a clockwise direction from its open position, the
interrupter manual operating shaft 78 will be rot~ted
approximately 100 degrees from its open position to its
closed position, at which the operating rod 214 will be
disposed in its other toggle position where the pivot pin 220
is again aligned with the shaft 208 and the pin 216, as shown
in Fig. 12. Two tabs 225, which extend horizontally from the
top ends of the side plates 210 and 212 into the path of the
manual operating handle 206, prevents the manual operating
handle from being rotated clockwise from its closed position.
The operating handle assembly 196 also includes an
extension spring 226 connected between the front end of the
operating rod 214 and the bottom support member 200 which
exerts a downward force on the rod 214 at right angles to the
rod 214 when the manual operating handle 206 is disposed half
way between its open and its closed position. The extension
spring 226 exerts a downward force on the operating rod 214
when the manual operating handle 206 is in its open position
to hold the manual operating handle 206 against the tab 224
and maintain the operating rod 214 in its toggle position, as
shown in Fig. 11. Similarly, the extension spring 226 exerts
a downward force on the operating rod 214 when the manual
operating handle 206 is in its closed position to hold the
manual operating handle 206 against the tab 225 and thus
main~ain the operating rod 214 in its other toggle position,
as shown in Fig. 12.
- 30 -
~ zr~2~
The operating handle assembly 196 also includes an
interrupter contact position indicator 228. A bell crank 230,
pivotably mounted to the shaft 208, has one arm which is
pi~otably connected to an operating rod 232. The opposite end
of the operating rod 232 is pivotably connect to a lever 234
affixed to the interrupter operating shaft 62. The other arm
of the bell crank 230 carries a red "CLOSED" sign and a green
"OPEN" sign, one of which can be viewed from the front through
an opening 236 of the front housing 202. When the contacts of
the vacuum interrupters 40 are closed, the red "CLOSED" sign
can be viewed by an operator through the opening 236. When the
contacts of the vacuum interrupters 40 are open, the green
"OPEN" sign can be viewed by the operator through the opening
236. Also, as shown in ~ig. 10, the switchgear enclosure
front panel 204 includes an access door 240 having a window
242 through which the op~n or closed position of the
disconnect switch assemblies 34 can be view by an operator.
The vertical side plate 210 of the front housing 202
includes a hole 244 adjacent its top end which is aligned with
a hole 246 in the manual operating handle 206 when the manual
operating handle 206 is in its closed posit;on, so that a
padlock can be inserted through the aligned holes 244, 246 to
lock the manual operating handle 206 in its closed position.
Similarly, the vertical side plate 210 includes another hole
248 adjacent its bottom end which is aligned with a hole 250 in
the manual operating handle 206 when the manual operating
handle 206 is in its open position, so that a padlock can be
inserted through the aligned holes 248 and 250 to lock the
manual operating handle 206 in its open position.
-Fig. 13 shows a two-handle, front-mounted, manual
operator assembly 252 for manually operating a vacuum
interrupter and disconnect switch combination 10 which is
vertically mounted within a switchgear enclosure. The manual
operating assembly 252 includes a top support member 254 and a
bottom support member 256 which are each mounted at one end to
the common support frame 14. A front housing 258 has a back
portion which is mounted to the top and bottom support members
254 and 256, and a front portion which extends through an
opening in the front panel 260 of a metalclad switchgear
enclosure. The front housing 258, also shown in Fig. 14,
includes two spaced apart vertical side plates 262 and 264.
An interrupter manual operating handle 266, adjacent the
vertical side plate 262, is fasten at one end to a shaft 268
which extends through, and is pivotably supported by, the
vertical side plates 262 and 264. A disconnect manual
operating handle 270, disposed adjacent the vertical side
plate 264, is fastened at one end to a shaft 272 which extends
through, and is pivotably supported by, the two vertical side
plates 262 and 264. Two tabs 273, which extend horizontally
from the bottom ends of the side plates 262 and 264 into the
paths of the interrupter manual operating handle 266 and the
disconnect manual operating handle 270, serve to position the
manual operating handles 266 and 270 in their open positions,
as shown in Fig. 13. Also, a horizontally extending, tubular
hand grip member 274, which is affixed to the free end of the
interrupter manual operating handle 266, carries a tab 276
which extends behind the disconnect operating handle 270 when
both of the manual operating handles 266 and 270 are disposed
in their open position. Two tabs 277, which extend
- 32 -
z~ C,~2
horizontally from the top ends of the side plates 262 and 264
into the paths of the interrupter manual operating handle 266
and the disconnect manual operating handle 270, serve to
position the manual operating handles 266 and 270 in their
closed positions, as shown in Fig. 14. Another horizontally
extending tubular hand grip member 278, affixed to the free
end of the disconnect operatin~ handle 270, carries a tab 280
which extends behind the interrupter manual operating handle
266 when both of these manual operating handles 2S6 and 270
are in their closed position.
Two interlocking disks 282 and 284, similar to the
interlocking disks described in the above-referenced patent
4,105,878, are mounted on the shafts 268 and 272 respectively,
in a plane orthogonal to the axis of the shafts 268 and 272.
lS The diameter of each interlocking disk 282, 284 is greater
than the centerline distance between the two shafts 268 and
272. The disks 282 and 284 are orientated so that when the
interrupter manual operating handle 266 is in its open
position and the disconnect manual operating handle 270 is in
its closed position, a semicircular indent 286 of the disk 282
and a similar semicircular indent 288 of the disk 284 face one
another and symmetrically intersect the plane extendiny
between the axis of the shafts 268 and 272, as shown in Fig.
15. With such an orientation of the disks 282 and 284, the
disconnect operating mechanism 18 can only be operated when
the vacuum interrupters 40 have been tripped and the
interrupter manual operating handle 266 is in its open
position, and the disconnect switch assemblies 34 must be
closed before the vacuum interrupters 40 can be closed. This
assures that the disconnect contacts 30, 42 can never
interrupt or close an energized circuit.
The manual operator assembly 252 includes an
operating rod 290, similar to the operating rod 214 of the
operating handle assembly 196. One end of the operating rod
290 is connected by a pin 292 to a lever 294, which is similar
to the lever 218 of the operating handle assembly 196 and
which is affixed to the interrupter manual operating shaft 78.
The opposite end of the operating rod 290 is pivotably
connected by a pin 296 to the disk 282, in the same manner as
the operating rod 214 is pivotably connected to the lever 222
of the operating handle assembly 196. An extension spring
298, similar to the extension spring 226, has one end attached
tv the operating rod 290 and an opposite end attached to the
front end of the bottom support member 256, to exert a
downward force on the end of the operating rod 290 adjacent
the disk 282. When the interrupter manual operating handle
266 is disposed in its open position, as shown in Fig. 13, the
operating rod 290 is held in a toggle position by the
extension spring 298. When the interrupter manual operating
handle 266 is rotated 180 degree~ clockwise to its closed
position, the operating rod 290 is again held in a toggle
position by the extension spring 298.
The-manual operator's assembly 252 includes a second
operating rod 300, similar to the operating rod 214 of the
operating handle assembly 196. One end of the operating rod
300 is pivotably connected by a pin 302 to a lever 304, which
is similar to the leYer 218 of the operating handle assembly
196 and which is affixed to the manual disconnect operating
~.2ræ~
shaft 156. An opposite end of the operating rod 300 is
pivotably connected by a pin 306 to the disk 284. Two
extension springs 308 and 310 are connected at one end to the
operating rod 300 and at an opposite end to the front end of
~he bottom support member 256 to exert a downward force on the
end of the operating rod 300 adjacent the disk 284. When the
disconnect manual operating handle 270 is in its open
position, as shown in Fig. 13, the extension spring 308 and
310 exert a force on the operating rod 300 to hold the
operating rod 300 in a toggle position at which the axis of the
pin 284 ,the shaft 272, and the pin 302 are disposed along a
straight line. When the disconnect manual operating handle
270 is rotated 180 degrees clockwise to its closed position
the extension springs 308 and 310 exert a force on the
operating rod 300 to maintain the operating rod 300 in its
other toggle position.
Nhen the interrupter manual operating handle 266 and
the disconnect manual operating handle 270 are disposed in
their open positions, a hole 312 in the disconnect manual
operating handle 270 is aligned with a hole 313 through an
extending bottom edge of the vertical side plate 264, so that
hasp of a padlock can be inserted through these two aligned
holes to lock the disconnect manual operating handle 270 in
its open position. This padlock will also ~ock the
interrupter manual operating handle 266 in its open position,
since the tab 276 of the interrupter manual operating handle
266 prevents the interrupter operating handle 266 from being
rotated from its open position when the disconnect operating
handle 270 is locked in its open position.
~.2~
Similarly, the interrupter manual operating handle
266 includes a hole therethrough (not shown) which is aligned
with a hole 314 through the extended upper end of the vertical
side plate 262 when the interrupter manual operatinq handle
266 is disposed in its closed position. When both the
interrupter manual operating handle 266 and the disconnect
manual operating handle 270 are disposed in their closed
position, the hasp of a padlock may be inserted through the
two aligned holes to lock the interrupter manual operating
handle 266 in its closed position. The disconnect manual
operating handle 270 will also be locked in its closed
position since the tab 280 of the disconnect manual operating
handle 270 prevents the disconnect manual operating handle 270
from being rotated from its closed position when the
interrupter manual operating handle 266 is locked in its
closed position.
The manual operator assembly 252 also includes the
interrupter contact position indicator 228 discussed above and
shown in Fig. 11, in which the bell crank 230 of the
interrupter contact position indicator 228 is pivotably
mounted to the shaft 268 so that the "OPEN" or "CLOSED" signs
carried on the end of one arm of the bell crank 230 can be
viewed by an operator through an opening 316 in the front side
of the housing 258. The manual operator assembly 252 may also
include the mechanical interlock assembly 182, discussed above
and shown in Figs. 8 and 9, to prevent opening of the
disconnect switch assembly 34 unless the-vacuum interrupter 40
are fully and completely open.
The present disclosure includes that contained in
the appended claims as well as that of the foregoing
- 36 -
L/~
description. Thus, it is understood that various chan~es,
modifications, or adaptations can be made to the embodiments
of the inventions described herein without departing from the
spirit and scope of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
- 37 -
