External actuator handle mechanism for enclosed circuit breakers

Claim 2

In an enclosure for an enclosed-type circuit breaker, which enclosure has an access opening and a cover therefor; interlock means normally interlocking the cover and enclosure with the cover in closed position; an exterior operating handle carried by the enclosure and movable to ON and OFF positions corresponding, respectively, to ON and OFF positions of a circuit breaker to be enclosed; interlock defeater means driven by the exterior operating handle and operative, when the exterior operating handle is in OFF position, to release the interlock means relative to the cover; handle latch means connected to the exterior operating handle to latch it in OFF position against return to ON position; means biasing the exterior operating handle to ON position; an operator drivingly connected to the exterior operating handle and adapted to be connected to said enclosed circuit breaker for driving the circuit breaker to ON and OFF positions, selectively, by the exterior operating handle; characterized in that handle latch defeater means drivingly interconnect the operator and handle latch means for releasing the handle latch means for an instant, when the operator is driven toward ON position other than by the exterior operating handle, thereby to permit return of the handle to ON position, and means are included to render the interlock defeater means inactive so that the interlock means becomes active relative to the cover, upon return of the exterior operating handle to ON position.

Claim 3

In an enclosed-type circuit breaker: an enclosure having an opening; a cover for the opening; a circuit breaker in the enclosure and having an operating handle movable contacts, and springs for opening and closing the movable contacts; latch means for latching the cover in closed position and for unlatching the cover; a circuit breaker operator in the enclosure connected to the operating handle for driving the circuit breaker handle to ON and OFF positions, and for being biased by the circuit breaker handle toward ON position of the handle should the circuit breaker contacts be welded together in closed position; an exterior operating handle mounted on the enclosure and drivingly connected to the operator for driving the circuit breaker handle, through the operator, to ON and OFF positions, selectively; interlock means normally operative to interlock the cover against opening when the exterior handle is in ON position and, when the exterior operating handle is in OFF position, to release the cover for opening, and to latch the exterior operating handle against movement to ON position; characterized in that defeater means drivingly interconnecT the interlock means and operator so that, when the operator is driven toward ON position by the circuit breaker springs due to the contacts being welded closed, and while the exterior operating handle is in OFF position, the defeater means release the exterior operating handle for an instant for return to ON position, and render the interlock means operative to latch the cover against opening, and means are included to return the operating handle to ON position when it is released by the defeater means.

Claim 4

In an enclosed-type circuit breaker: an enclosure having an opening; a cover for the opening; a circuit breaker in the enclosure and having an operating handle movable contacts, and springs for opening and closing the movable contacts; latch means for latching the cover in closed position and for unlatching the cover; a circuit breaker operator in the enclosure connected to the operating handle for driving the circuit breaker handle to ON and OFF positions, and for being biased by the circuit breaker handle toward ON position of the handle should the circuit breaker contacts be welded together in closed position; an exterior operating handle mounted on the enclosure and drivingly connected to the operator for driving the circuit breaker handle, through the operator, to ON and OFF positions, selectively; interlock means normally operative to interlock the cover against opening when the exterior handle is in ON position and, when the exterior operating handle is in OFF position, to release the cover for opening, and to latch the exterior operating handle against movement to ON position; characterized in that defeater means drivingly interconnecT the interlock means and operator so that, when the operator is driven toward ON position by the circuit breaker springs due to the contacts being welded closed, and while the exterior operating handle is in OFF position, the defeater means release the exterior operating handle for an instant for return to ON position, and render the interlock means operative to latch the cover against opening, and means are included to return the operating handle to ON position when it is released by the defeater means.

Claim 5

The structure according to claim 2 wherein the interlock means include a cover-enclosure interlock normally operative when said latch means is unlatched and the operating handle is in ON position to latch the cover against opening; defeater means operated by the latch means to defeat the cover-enclosure interlock when the latch means is latching the cover closed and also when the operating handle is in OFF position; an exterior handle interlock operative when the cover is unlatched by the latch means and the exterior operating handle is in OFF position, to prevent movement of the exterior operating handle to ON position; releasing means are provided in the enclosure and are driven by the operator when the operator is moved toward ON position of the circuit breaker by force applied by the circuit breaker while the cover is unlatched, to defeat for an instant the exterior operating handle interlock and permit the exterior operating handle to return to ON position.

Claim 6

The structure according to claim 3 wherein the cover-enclosure interlock and the exterior operating handle interlock are interconnected so that as soon as the exterior operating handle passes the defeated exterior handle interlock while moving toward ON position, the cover-enclosure interlock is rendered operative.

Claim 7

The structure according to claim 3 wherein the interlocks comprise a member mounted in the enclosure for rocking about an axis parallel to the rocking axis of the exterior operating handle; a spring biases the member to a position to latch the cover; said exterior operating handle has a latch shoulder, said member has a complementary latch shoulder for latching the exterior handle against movement to ON position when the member is moved to cover-releasing position; said member has a defeating cam; and said operator has a complementary defeating cam operative when the operator is moved to ON position by the circuit breaker, to rock the member to disengage said shoulders, and then permit the member to return to cover-enclosure interlocking position.