Door interlock assembly and draw-out circuit breaker assembly employing the same

Abstract

A door interlock assembly is for a draw-out circuit breaker assembly. A draw-out circuit breaker is housed within an enclosure including a door and includes a poleshaft operable between first and second positions corresponding to separable contacts being opened and closed, respectively. The door interlock assembly includes a pivot member coupled to the poleshaft and a door latch interconnected to the pivot member by a linkage, such as a threaded drive rod. The door latch pivots such that a first end thereof engages and locks the door of the enclosure when the poleshaft moves to the second position. An optional mechanical sensor assembly adapted to trip the circuit breaker when the door is positioned in any position other than closed, is also disclosed.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0001] 1. Field of the Invention [0002] The present invention relates generally to electrical switching apparatus and, more particularly, to a draw-out circuit breaker assembly including a door interlock assembly for controlling access to a draw-out circuit breaker housed within an enclosure having a door. The invention also relates to a door interlock assembly. [0003] 2. Background Information[0004] Electrical switching apparatus used in power distribution systems are often mounted within a housing assembly either individually or in combination with other switchgear (e.g., without limitation, circuit switching devices and circuit interrupters such as circuit breakers, contactors, motor starters, motor controllers and other load controllers). [0005] Some electrical switching apparatus, for example, low voltage circuit breakers, can be quite large. In order to facilitate movement (e.g., installation; removal; maintenance), a sizeable circuit breaker is com...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0015] These needs and others are satisfied by the present invention, which is directed to a door interlock assembly for locking the door of an enclosed draw-out circuit breaker when the circuit breaker separable contacts are closed and the circuit breaker is turned ON. The door interlock assembly is coupled to the poleshaft of t...

Problems solved by technology

Improper maintenance procedures (e.g., failure to first de-energize or turn the circuit breaker OFF) could cause serious injury to maintenance personnel and damage to the electrical equipment.

However, the circuit interrupter does not include a mechanism for locking the door of the enclosure.

However, the interlock mechanism requires numerous complex, separate parts and modification to the enclosure front cover in order to provide the disclosed access door.

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