US5227952A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Interlock device for circuit breakers
Assignee: Westinghouse Electric Corp
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Filing: 1991-03-08
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Granted: 1993-07-13
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Expires: 2011-03-08
Abstract
Abstract A mechanical interlock device for preventing simultaneous operation of two 3-phase vacuum interrupter-type circuit breakers is provided. The device operates with the floor tripper and the Mechanism Operated Control ("MOC") driver of each vacuum circuit breaker. The device includes a retainer member mounted at the base of each circuit breaker. Each retainer member includes two levers. The first lever is a trip lever which engages the floor tripper of the associated circuit breaker. The second lever is driven by the MOC driver of the associated circuit breakers. The two levers are preferably mounted on a common pivot bar located at one end the retainer member. Cabling is provided between the trip lever on the first circuit breaker and the MOC driver lever on the second circuit breaker. Similarly, a cable is provided between the MOC driver lever of the first circuit breaker and the trip lever of the second circuit breaker. When either circuit breaker is in normal operation, its MOC driver is in a downward position. This forces the MOC driver lever downward which in turn rotates the trip lever in the opposite breaker upwards. The trip lever thereby acts to engage the floor tripper of the opposite circuit breaker which in turn forces the circuit breaker open and prevents it from operating while the other circuit breaker is on.
Inventors
- 👤 Joseph V. Romano
- 👤 William Q. Aglietti
- 👤 Nagar J. Patel
- 👤 Robert N. Krevokuch
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-31 07:56
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01H; H01H9/00; H01H9/20; H01H9/26; H01H9/262; H02; H02B; H02B11/00; H02B11/12; H02B11/127; H02B11/133; H01H33/00; H01H33/60; H01H33/66; H01H33/666
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
219 words
A circuit breaker assembly for protecting an electrical system, comprising: a cell housing; a first circuit breaker mountable in said cell housing having a pair of separable electrical contacts operable between a closed position and an opened position, said first circuit breaker further having a MOC driver for indicating the positioning of said pair of separable electrical contacts of said first circuit breaker and a floor tripper for opening said pair of separable electrical contacts of said first circuit breaker; a second circuit breaker mountable in said cell housing having a pair of separable electrical contacts operable between a closed position and an opened position, said second circuit breaker further having a MOC driver for indicating the positioning of said pair of separable electrical contacts of said second circuit breaker and a floor tripper for opening said pair of separable electrical contacts of said second circuit breaker; first interlock means mountable in said cell housing substantially adjacent said first circuit breaker for cooperating with said MOC driver and said floor tripper of said first circuit breaker; second interlock means mountable in said cell housing substantially adjacent said second circuit breaker for cooperating with said MOC driver and said floor tripper of said second circuit breaker; flexible interconnecting means for interconnecting said first interlock means and said second interlock means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
219 words
A circuit breaker assembly for protecting an electrical system, comprising: a cell housing; a first circuit breaker mountable in said cell housing having a pair of separable electrical contacts operable between a closed position and an opened position, said first circuit breaker further having a MOC driver for indicating the positioning of said pair of separable electrical contacts of said first circuit breaker and a floor tripper for opening said pair of separable electrical contacts of said first circuit breaker; a second circuit breaker mountable in said cell housing having a pair of separable electrical contacts operable between a closed position and an opened position, said second circuit breaker further having a MOC driver for indicating the positioning of said pair of separable electrical contacts of said second circuit breaker and a floor tripper for opening said pair of separable electrical contacts of said second circuit breaker; first interlock means mountable in said cell housing substantially adjacent said first circuit breaker for cooperating with said MOC driver and said floor tripper of said first circuit breaker; second interlock means mountable in said cell housing substantially adjacent said second circuit breaker for cooperating with said MOC driver and said floor tripper of said second circuit breaker; flexible interconnecting means for interconnecting said first interlock means and said second interlock means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
20 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 1, wherein said flexible interconnecting means comprises a first cable and a second cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
30 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 2, wherein said first cable comprises a push-pull type mechanical flexible cable and wherein said second cable comprises a push-pull type mechanical flexible cable.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
76 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 3 wherein said first interlock means comprises a MOC responsive lever engagable with said MOC driver of said first circuit breaker and a trip lever engagable with said floor tripper of said first circuit breaker, and wherein said second interlock means comprises a MOC responsive lever engagable with said MOC driver of said second circuit breaker and a trip lever engagable with said floor tripper of said second circuit breaker.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
76 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 2, wherein said first interlock means comprises a MOC responsive lever engagable with said MOC driver of said first circuit breaker and a trip lever engagable with said floor tripper of said first circuit breaker, and wherein said second interlock means comprises a MOC responsive lever engagable with said MOC driver of said second circuit breaker and a trip lever engagable with said floor tripper of said second circuit breaker.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
58 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 5, wherein said first cable is interconnected between said MOC responsive lever of said first interlock means and said trip lever of said second interlock means, and wherein said second cable is interconnected between said MOC responsive lever of said second interlock means and said trip lever of said first interlock means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
70 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 6, wherein said first interlock means further comprises a retainer member having a pivot bar on which said MOC responsive lever and said trip lever of said first interlock means are mounted, and wherein said second interlock means further comprises a retainer member having a pivot bar on which said MOC responsive lever and said trip lever of said second interlock means are mounted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
130 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 7, wherein said pivot bar of said first interlock means has a cylindrical spacer disposed thereon, said cylindrical spacer of said pivot bar of said first interlock means positioned adjacent said MOC responsive lever and said trip lever of said first interlock means for maintaining said MOC responsive lever and said trip lever of said first interlock means in substantially parallel disposition; and wherein said pivot bar of said second interlock means has a cylindrical spacer disposed thereon, said cylindrical spacer of said pivot bar of said second interlock means positioned adjacent said MOC responsive lever and said trip lever of said second interlock means for maintaining said MOC responsive lever and said trip lever of said second interlock means in substantially parallel disposition.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
102 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 7, wherein said first interlock means further comprises a spring biasing means connected to said MOC responsive lever of said first interlock means and said retainer member of said first interlock means for biasing said MOC responsive lever of said first interlock means in a substantially upward position; and wherein said second interlock means further comprises a spring biasing means connected to said MOC responsive lever of said second interlock means and said retainer member of said second interlock means for biasing said MOC responsive lever of said second interlock means in a substantially upward position.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
38 words
The circuit breaker assembly of claim 4, wherein said MOC driver of said first circuit breaker has disposed thereon an extension pin, and wherein said MOC driver of said second circuit breaker has disposed thereon an extension pin.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
38 words
The circuit breaker assemble of claim 4, wherein said floor tripper of said first circuit breaker has disposed thereon an extension pin, and wherein said floor tripper of said second circuit breaker has disposed thereon an extension pin.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
102 words
A mechanically operated interlock for use with a set of circuit breakers defined by a first circuit breaker and a second circuit breaker for preventing the simultaneous operation of the circuit breakers, said interlock comprising: first interlock means for preventing the operation of the first circuit breaker; second interlock means for preventing the operation of the second circuit breaker; and first and second cables for interconnecting said first interlock means and said second interlock means, wherein said first interlock means comprises a first lever and a second lever and wherein said second interlock means comprises a first lever and a second lever.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
102 words
A mechanically operated interlock for use with a set of circuit breakers defined by a first circuit breaker and a second circuit breaker for preventing the simultaneous operation of the circuit breakers, said interlock comprising: first interlock means for preventing the operation of the first circuit breaker; second interlock means for preventing the operation of the second circuit breaker; and first and second cables for interconnecting said first interlock means and said second interlock means, wherein said first interlock means comprises a first lever and a second lever and wherein said second interlock means comprises a first lever and a second lever.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
53 words
The mechanically operated interlock of claim 12, wherein said first cable interconnects said first lever of said first interlock means and said second lever of said second interlock means, and wherein said second cable interconnects between said first lever of said second interlock means and said second lever of said first interlock means.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
68 words
The mechanically operated interlock of claim 13, wherein said first interlock means further comprises a retainer member having a pivot bar on which said first lever and said second lever of said first interlock means are mounted, and wherein said second interlock means further comprises a retainer member having a pivot bar on which said first lever and said second lever of said second interlock means are mounted.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
126 words
The mechanically operated interlock of claim 14, wherein said pivot bar of said first interlock means has a cylindrical spacer disposed thereon, said cylindrical spacer of said pivot bar of said first interlock means positioned adjacent said first lever and said second lever of said first interlock means for maintaining said first lever and said second lever of said first interlock means in substantially parallel disposition; and wherein said pivot bar of said second interlock means has a cylindrical spacer disposed thereon, said cylindrical spacer of said pivot bar of said second interlock means positioned adjacent said first lever and said second lever of said second interlock means for maintaining said first lever and said second lever of said second interlock means in substantially parallel disposition.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
98 words
The mechanically operated interlock of claim 14, wherein said first interlock means further comprises a spring biasing means connected to said first lever of said first interlock means and said retainer member of said first interlock means for biasing said first lever of said first interlock means in a substantially upward position; and wherein said second interlock means further comprises a spring biasing means connected to said first lever of said second interlock means and said retainer member of said second interlock means for biasing said first lever of said second interlock means in a substantially upward position.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
125 words
A mechanically operated interlock for use with a set of circuit breakers defined by a first circuit breaker and a second circuit breaker for preventing the simultaneous operation of the circuit breakers, said interlock comprising: first interlock means for preventing the operation of the first circuit breaker; second interlock means for preventing the operation of the second circuit breaker; and first and second cables for interconnecting said first interlock means and said second interlock means, wherein said first cable comprises a push-pull type mechanical flexible cable and wherein said second cable comprises a push-pull type mechanical flexible cable, wherein said first interlock means comprises a first lever and a second lever and wherein said second interlock means comprises a first lever and a second lever.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
125 words
A mechanically operated interlock for use with a set of circuit breakers defined by a first circuit breaker and a second circuit breaker for preventing the simultaneous operation of the circuit breakers, said interlock comprising: first interlock means for preventing the operation of the first circuit breaker; second interlock means for preventing the operation of the second circuit breaker; and first and second cables for interconnecting said first interlock means and said second interlock means, wherein said first cable comprises a push-pull type mechanical flexible cable and wherein said second cable comprises a push-pull type mechanical flexible cable, wherein said first interlock means comprises a first lever and a second lever and wherein said second interlock means comprises a first lever and a second lever.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1996-07-12 | 1997-01-11 | 1997-07-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2000-07-12 | 2001-01-11 | 2001-07-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2004-07-12 | 2005-01-11 | 2005-07-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |