Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02577167 2007-02-06
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CA 02577167 2007-02-06
M r
SWITCH LOCKOUT DEVICE
Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to protective devices for providing switch
safety lockout
capability.
BackLyround of the Invention
Many switches, such as, for example, circuit breaker switches, are designed to
be
switched between an "on" position and an "off ' position with minimal force.
Additionally, a
circuit breaker switch may be configured to reset certain functions of the
circuit breaker when
the switch is toggled to the "on" position. Switches are commonly designed to
offer little
resistance to position change. In application, this feature makes switches
easy to use and
operate. However, in some conditions, the low resistance of switches to
position change can
create several concerns. Accidental, innocent or unauthorized switch position
changes can
cause safety hazards, damage equipment or cause lost production time and/or in-
process
material losses.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Further features and advantages of this invention will become apparent from
the
following detailed description made with reference to the accompanying
drawings.
Figure 1 is a perspective view of a lockout device made in accordance with an
embodiment of the invention, shown in a closed position;
Figure 2 is a front elevation view of the lockout device of Figure 1;
Figure 3 is a rear view of the lockout device of Figure 1;
Figure 4 is a left side view of the lockout device of Figure 1;
Figure 5 is a right side view of the lockout device of Figure 1;
Figure 6 is a top view of the lockout device of Figure 1;
Figure 7 is a bottom view of the lockout device of Figure 1;
Figure 8 is an exploded view of the lockout device of Figure 1;
Figure 9 is a perspective view of the lockout device of Figure 1, shown from a
{WAJ1896.DOC;1 } 1
CA 02577167 2007-02-06
different perspective;
Figure 10 is a front view of the lockout device of Figure 1, shown in an open
position;
Figure 11 is a perspective view of a lockout device made in accordance with
another
embodiment of the invention, shown in a closed position;
Figure 12 is a front elevation view of the lockout device of Figure 11;
Figure 13 is a rear view of the lockout device of Figure 11;
Figure 14 is a left side view of the lockout device of Figure 11;
Figure 15 is a right side view of the lockout device of Figure 11;
Figure 16 is a top view of the lockout device of Figure 11;
Figure 17 is a bottom view of the lockout device of Figure 11;
Figure 18 is an exploded view of the lockout device of Figure 11;
Figure 19 is a perspective view of the lockout device of Figure 11, shown from
a
different perspective;
Figure 20 is a front view of the lockout device of Figure 11, shown in an open
position; and
Figure 21 is a perspective view of the lockout device of Figure 11, shown in
an open
position.
Detailed Descrintion of the Invention
The Detailed Description of the Invention merely describes preferred
embodiments of
the invention and is not intended to limit the scope of the disclosure in any
way. Indeed, the
invention as described by the specification is broader than and unlimited by
the preferred
embodiments, and the terms in the specification have their full ordinary
meaning.
Referring now to the drawings, Figures 1-7 illustrate a lockout device 100
made in
accordance with an embodiment of the invention. Figure 8 illustrates an
exploded view of
exemplary components of the locking device 100. A main body 1 is connected to
a cam 7 by
an elongated rivet 6. The cam can rotate about the rivet. Within the main
body, a clamp 5
having a clamping surface and an opposing screw clamp 4 are positioned. The
screw clamp is
movable toward the clamp 5 by rotation of a screw cap 3. The screw cap
interfaces with an
adjustment screw 2. In operation, the device begins in the open position shown
in Figure 10.
The switch to be secured is placed between the clam 5 and the screw clamp 4.
The screw
{ WAJ 1896.DOC;1 } 2
CA 02577167 2007-02-06
clamp is adjusted by rotation of the screw cap 3 to adequately tighten the
clamps 4, 5 against
the switch. Subsequently, the cam 7 is rotated to a closed position to further
tighten the
lockout device 100. At this point, the shackle of a padlock, or other similar
device, can be
inserted through the aligned hasps in the body 1 and cam 7 to lock the device
in place.
Further detail regarding the operation of this device 100 can be found in the
attached
Appendix.
Figures 11-17 illustrate a lockout device 200 made in accordance with another
embodiment of the invention. Figure 8 illustrates an exploded view of
exemplary components
of the locking device 100. A main body 11 is connected to a cam 16 by an
elongated rivet 17.
The cam can rotate about the rivet. Within the main body, a clamp 15 having a
clamping
surface and an opposing screw clamp 14 are positioned. The screw clamp is
movable toward
the clamp 15 by rotation of a screw cap 13. The screw cap interfaces with an
adjustment
screw 12. In operation, the device begins in the open position shown in
Figures 20 and 21.
The switch to be secured is placed between the clamp 15 and the screw clamp
14. The screw
clamp is adjusted by rotation of the screw cap 13 to adequately tighten the
clamps 14, 15
against the switch. Subsequently, the cam 16 is rotated to a closed position
to further tighten
the lockout device 200. At this point, the shackle of a padlock, or other
similar device, can be
inserted through the aligned hasps in the body 11 and cam 16 to lock the
device in place.
Further detail regarding the operation of the device can be found in the
attached Appendix.
While various inventive aspects, concepts and features of the inventions may
be
described and illustrated herein as embodied in combination in the exemplary
embodiments,
these various aspects, concepts and features may be used in many alternative
embodiments,
either individually or in various combinations and sub-combinations thereof.
Unless
expressly excluded herein all such combinations and sub-combinations are
intended to be
within the scope of the present inventions. Still further, while various
alternative
embodiments as to the various aspects, concepts and features of the inventions-
-such as
alternative materials, structures, configurations, methods, circuits, devices
and components,
software, hardware, control logic, alternatives as to form, fit and function,
and so on--may be
described herein, such descriptions are not intended to be a complete or
exhaustive list of
available alternative embodiments, whether presently known or later developed.
Those
skilled in the art may readily adopt one or more of the inventive aspects,
concepts or features
{ WAJ1896.DOC;1 } 3
CA 02577167 2007-02-06
into additional embodiments and uses within the scope of the present
inventions even if such
embodiments are not expressly disclosed herein. Additionally, even though some
features,
concepts or aspects of the inventions may be described herein as being a
preferred
arrangement or method, such description is not intended to suggest that such
feature is
required or necessary unless expressly so stated. Still further, exemplary or
representative
values and ranges may be included to assist in understanding the present
disclosure; however,
such values and ranges are not to be construed in a limiting sense and are
intended to be
critical values or ranges only if so expressly stated. Moreover, while various
aspects, features
and concepts may be expressly identified herein as being inventive or forming
part of an
invention, such identification is not intended to be exclusive, but rather
there may be
inventive aspects, concepts and features that are fully described herein
without being
expressly identified as such or as part of a specific invention. Descriptions
of exemplary
methods or processes are not limited to inclusion of all steps as being
required in all cases, nor
is the order that the steps are presented to be construed as required or
necessary unless
expressly so stated.
Appendix
Additional disclosure of the invention is included in the Appendix.
{WAJ1896.DOC;1 } 4
CA 02577167 2007-02-06
APPENDIX
Titie of Invention:
Circuit Breaker Lockout Device
Ob ect of Invention:
Design a better performing product that also has a more universal fit and
higher removal force than current
products.
Description of Invention:
Backaround OSHA Standard 29CFR1910.147 requires energy lockout/tag out
procedures for the servicing and
maintenance of machines and equipment in which the unexpected energization or
start up of the machines or
equipment could cause injury to employees. One of the aspects of standard
lockout procedure is to open the circuit
feeding power to the equipment to be serviced and then lock it in the "ofP"
position. A few circuit breaker and panel
manufacturers incorporate a provision for this into their designs but it is
not common. It is typically achieved by the
use of a circuit breaker lockout (CBL) device. Many of these devices attach to
the lever of the breaker in such a
way that prevents the lever from being closed (turned "on"). Examples:
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There are no estabiished standards for the circuit breaker levers in the
United States. They vary greatly in
width, thickness and height even along one manufacturer's product line. Some
have holes in the side, but even
they vary in size and location. Due to the electrical and heat resistance
needed the levers are primarily a thermoset
material although there are some thermoplastic materials that are now being
used. Whether either class of material
that is used, they all possess an almost glass-like hardness. The lever
profiles also tend to be tapered or curved
which makes gripping them very difficult. Most devices currently on the market
do not work well or only work on a
very select type of breaker. Many can be removed with the lock still attached
and others allow the breaker to be
closed (turned "on") even with the device attached.
Function: This invention design basically functions like a clamp utilizing a
cam to provide short displacement, high
clamping force action somewhat similar to a Vise-GripTM tool. The cam action
allows a clamping force
significantly higher than what is possible using only a screw. The invention
also uses two clamp pieces that
have relatively large flat contact areas compared to other designs which have
point or line contact on the lever.
This helps control the angle of the lever preventing it from being moved with
the device attached. The clamp
contact areas also have a series of sharp points, edges, or textured features
which along with the large contact
area will spread the clamping force over a larger section of the lever. Due to
the hardness of the typical lever
material it is very difficult to grip the levers without a sharp and hard
point or edge. High force on a single point
or line can crack the levers. The invention is also designed to accept at
least one padlock or safety hasp to
allow the device to only be removed by authorized personnel.
{ WAJ 1895.DOC;1 } Page 1 of 3
CA 02577167 2007-02-06
Desi_an: An embodiment of the invention has several components.
= A body or frame that holds the other components and has holes for the
padlocks or hasps. The body is also
slotted to allow the invention to be used on "ganged" breakers, which are two
or more breakers side by side
that have their levers connected with a steel or plastic bar.
= A thumb screw anchored to the frame or body that acts upon one of the clamp
pieces and is used for initial
large adjustments accommodating the various widths of the circuit breaker
levers. Using a non-rotating
clamp piece to contact the lever is important. A major problem with existing
designs that use the end of a
screw to clamp onto the lever is that the rotation of the screw tends to move
or walk the device off of the
lever as it is being tightened.
= A cam handle with pivot pin anchored to the frame or body that provides the
high clamping force and
prevents or blocks access to the thumb screw when closed. By changing the cam
profile the amount of
displacement the handle moves the clamp can also be changed. The displacement
of the handle clamp
cam generates the high force applied to the circuit breaker lever. Also by
allowing some over travel
(accomplished by modifying the profile of the cam surface) in the closed
position the handle can be partially
opened without releasing the clamp on the circuit breaker lever. This allows a
larger padlock/hasp hole to
be used for smaller diameter shackles or hasps . Many other devices use
specific padlock/hasp sizes to
prevent the "play" from loosening the device.
= Two clamps that press onto opposing sides of the lever. One adjusted by the
thumb screw and the other
contacts the cam handle. The clamp on the cam handle side can be guided by
several means such as slots
or with a pivot feature in the opposing sides of the body or frame. The clamps
have sharp edges, features
or texture on their faces to "bite" into the surface of the levers.
General Use: The device is placed onto the circuit breaker such that the
breaker lever is in the slot between the
clamps. The thumb screw is then tightened until it contacts the breaker lever
and is "finger tight". The handle is then
closed which finalizes the clamp onto the breaker lever. A padlock or hasp can
then be inserted through one of the
holes in the body which prevents or blocks the handle from being opened. To
remove the invention, the securing
lock or hasp must be removed first, the handle is then opened which removes
the clamping force on the breaker
lever. The thumb screw can then be adjusted if needed to remove the device.
Construction: The body or frame can be steel, high strength plastic or
suitable die cast material. The clamps can
be solid die cast or plastic with a sharp metal grate on the contacting
surface. The cam handle can be high strength
thermoplastic, theromset, die cast, or extrusion.
= A body clamp that holds an adjustment screw and presses onto the surface of
the lever. The clamp area
has sharp edges on its face to "bite" into the surface of the lever.
= An adjustment screw that is threaded into a clamp piece and used for initial
large adjustments
accommodating the various widths of the circuit breaker levers.
= A cam handle that provides the high force clamping and acts as the
adjustment screw knob. By changing
the cam profile the amount of displacement the handle moves the clamp can also
be changed. The
displacement of the handle clamp generates the high force applied to the
circuit breaker lever.
= A draw clamp that is pulled onto opposing side of the lever from the body.
It is threaded onto the
adjustment screw and forms a slot with the body clamp that allows the
invention to be used on "ganged"
breakers, which are two breakers side by side that have their levers connected
with a steel or plastic bar.
The clamping area has sharp edges on the face to "bite" into the surface of
the lever.
{ WAJ 1895.DOC;1 } Page 2 of 3
CA 02577167 2007-02-06
Summary of certain invention elements:
1) The device can be applied to single and multi-pole breakers.
2) The device can adapt to a wide range or widths, thicknesses, and heights or
breaker levers.
3) The device can adapt to a wide range of shapes and styles of breaker
levers.
4) The device pad shape and size provides the largest surface area to apply
clamp force upon the breaker
lever.
5) The textured features that can be applied to the clamp pad surface provide
the highest range of applied
clamp force upon the breaker lever.
6) The textured features provide the highest range of resistance to removal of
the device from the breaker
lever.
7) The adjustment screw provides the range of adjusted required to accommodate
the widest range of sizes
of breaker levers.
8) The cam lobe feature of the cam lever provides the highest range of
clamping force.
9) The modified design of the cam lobe allows a "designed in" variance, to
compensate for wide range of
shackle and hasp sizes.
10) The cam lever design provides a tamper-proof protection to the adjustment
screw, thus preventing a
violation to the device.
{ WAJ 1895.DOC;1 } Page 3 of 3
