Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The embodiments of the present disclosure generally relate to a rotary operating mechanism (ROM). More particularly, the present disclosure relates to the rotary operating mechanism on a molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) when circuit breaker is in OFF condition.

BACKGROUND
[0002] Background description includes information that may be useful in understanding the present invention. It is not an admission that any of the information provided herein is prior art or relevant to the presently claimed invention, or that any publication specifically or implicitly referenced is prior art.
[0003] Over-current protection devices provide electrical protection and/or isolation to electrical systems. Examples of over-current protection/isolation devices include but are not limited to circuit breakers, interrupters, switches, contactors and the like. Although there are slight differences in the operation and/or application of these devices, they perform substantially the same basic function of protecting and/or isolating an electrical system whenever an electrical abnormality or normal load switching occurs in any part of the system. The above-described terms are used interchangeably in the present disclosure to refer broadly to over-current protection devices and/or assemblies. Accordingly, it is intended that any part of this disclosure that makes specific reference to one type of over-current protection device and/or assembly applies equally to other types.
[0004] As a motor circuit breaker, circuit breakers are known whose tripping behavior (up to several times the starting current) is adapted to the electric motor to be protected, or which serve as line circuit breakers to protect electric lines or systems against thermal overloads or short-circuit damage. The tripping behavior and thus the use of such circuit breakers are determined by the thermal and short-circuit tripping values.
[0005] The use of switching devices, conventionally known as Switchgear, is well known for making, breaking, regulating and to provide safety in a typical electrical distribution system. These devices are generally mounted inside a panel board for added safety of operator. Most often these switching devices are operated from outside of the panel through rotary operated mechanism.
[0006] Resetting of a circuit breaker (e.g., through the operating handle and operating mechanism thereof) is accomplished in a manner well known in the art and is described and shown US5594220 and US7964809B2. US5594220 the invention relates to Rotary switch with cam operated sliding contact engaging noble metal stationary contact bar surface. US7964809B2, the invention relates to Cam operated spring discharge interlock mechanism. A method of moving and altering movement of a breaker mounted spring discharge interlock lever during racking and untracking of a breaker with an enclosure. The method includes, rotating a racking screw to rack the breaker into or out of the enclosure, rotating a shaft in operable communication with the racking screw, translationally moving a cam with a link having one end disconnect ably connected to the cam and an opposing end disconnect ably connected to a crank, that is fixedly attached to the shaft, translationally moving a cam follower that is in operable communication with the cam, moving the breaker mounted spring discharge interlock lever that is in operable communication with the cam follower, and enabling removal and replacement of the cam by disconnecting the cam from the link, thereby enabling the movement of the breaker mounted spring discharge interlock lever to be altered. In pre-existing circuit breaker, there is no mechanism/ assembly which allow the user to assemble ROM in MCCB switch off state only. In the prior-art, manual intervention is required during installation of ROM.
[0007] Rotary operated mechanism (ROM) is installed in almost 90% molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) panels. It works on the philosophy of rack and pinion arrangement. It consists of an enclosure with a rotary handle and gear train arrangement to drive a MCCB knob. The rotary handle is coupled with driving gear which applies torque to an inside gear train arrangement and a gear train arrangement drives the pinion and rack. The MCCB knob goes into the rectangular slot given on the rack during installation of ROM on MCCB. The pinion engages with the rack and drives it by converting rotary motion to reciprocating and eventually drives the knob of the MCCB making it operable. During Installation of ROM, the user has to ensure that the knob of MCCB should get intact in the slot of the rack, that means the MCCB state or ROM operating state should be same during assembly. However, when the panel has a higher depth or due to many unavoidable situations, User assembles ROM with MCCB in a wrong state, which leads to the malfunction of the unit or it may break the handle. Also, there is a chance where user will assemble the ROM in OFF condition where MCCB is at contact closed or ON position which will indicate the state of the circuit breaker is OFF where it is actually in ON condition. To avoid such accidental damage or human error, the present innovation offers a noble feature in ROM itself, which will prevent the user to assemble the ROM in unintended position on MCCB.
[0008] Thus, a there is need of accessories/assemblies particularly rotary operated mechanism with molded case circuit breaker in correct state to prevent accidental damage and ensures user safety.

SUMMARY
[0009] To overcome this observation, this invention is developed on the rotary operating mechanism.
[0010] The invention relates generally assembly of accessories particularly rotary operated mechanism with molded case circuit breaker in correct state to prevent accidental damage and ensures user safety. The use of switching devices, conventionally known as switchgear, is well known for making, breaking, regulating and to provide safety in a typical electrical distribution system. These devices are generally mounted inside a panel board for added safety of operator. Most often these switching devices are operated from outside of the panel through rotary operated mechanism.
[0011] Rotary operated mechanism (ROM) is installed in almost 90% molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) panels. It works on the philosophy of rack and pinion arrangement. It consists of an enclosure with a rotary handle and gear train arrangement to drive the MCCB knob. The rotary handle is coupled with driving gear which applies torque to the inside gear train arrangement and the gear train arrangement drives the pinion and rack. The MCCB knob goes into the rectangular slot given on the rack during installation of ROM on MCCB. The pinion engages with the rack and drives it by converting rotary motion to reciprocating and eventually drives the knob of the MCCB making it operable. During Installation of ROM, the user has to ensure that the knob of MCCB should get intact in the slot of the rack, that means the MCCB state or ROM operating state should be same during assembly. However, when the panel has a higher depth or due to many unavoidable situations, User assembles ROM with MCCB in a wrong state, which leads to the malfunction of the unit or it may break the handle. Also, there is a chance where user will assemble the ROM in OFF condition where MCCB is at contact closed or ON position which will indicate the state of the circuit breaker is OFF where it is actually in ON condition. To avoid such accidental damage or human error, the current invention offers a noble feature in ROM itself, which will prevent the user to assemble the ROM in unintended position on MCCB.
[0012] Aspects of the present invention relates to the rotary operating mechanism on a molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) when circuit breaker is in OFF condition. The proposed invention includes a cam and spring based slider mechanism configured in ROM obstructs MCCB knob and will not allow the user to assemble ROM in MCCB switch on or trip state. The proposed invention will not allow the ROM to get assembled on MCCB, if ROM is in off condition.
[0013] Various objects, features, aspects and advantages of the inventive subject matter will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred embodiments, along with the accompanying drawing figures in which like numerals represent like components.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0014] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated herein, and constitute a part of this invention, illustrate exemplary embodiments of the disclosed methods and systems in which like reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the different drawings. Components in the drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present invention. Some drawings may indicate the components using block diagrams and may not represent the internal circuitry of each component. It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that invention of such drawings includes the invention of electrical components, electronic components or circuitry commonly used to implement such components.
[0015] FIG. 1 illustrates the simplified representation of ROM with MCCB after assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0016] FIG. 2 illustrates the simplified representation of ROM assembly with MCCB, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0017] FIGs. 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) illustrates the simplified representation of internal mechanism of ROM, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0018] FIG. 4 illustrates the simplified representation of MCCB knob position at Switch ON, Switch OFF and TRIP state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0019] FIG. 5(a) illustrates the simplified representation of assembly of ROM with cross-section of MCCB Knob when ROM is at OFF state and MCCB knob is at ON, OFF and Trip state, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0020] FIG. 5(b) illustrates simplified representation of ROM assembly when ROM state is shifted from OFF to unintended assembly position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0021] FIG. 5(c) illustrates the simplified representation of operation of ROM with MCCB when ROM is mounted on MCCB at OFF position, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0022] FIG. 5(d) illustrates the simplified representation of operation of ROM with MCCB when ROM is abused and assembled in other states against instruction, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
[0023] The foregoing shall be more apparent from the following more detailed description of the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0024] Various example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings in which only some example embodiments are shown. Specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are merely representative for purposes of describing example embodiments. The present invention, however, may be embodied in many alternate forms and should not be construed as limited to only the example embodiments set forth herein.
[0025] Accordingly, while example embodiments of the invention are capable of various modifications and alternative forms, embodiments thereof are shown by way of example in the drawings and will herein be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that there is no intent to limit example embodiments of the present invention to the particular forms disclosed. On the contrary, example embodiments are to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the invention. Like numbers refer to like elements throughout the description of the figures.
[0026] It will be understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another. For example, a first element could be termed a second element, and, similarly, a second element could be termed a first element, without departing from the scope of example embodiments of the present invention. As used herein, the term “and/or,” includes any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items.
[0027] It will be understood that when an element is referred to as being “connected,” or “coupled,” to another element, it can be directly connected or coupled to the other element or intervening elements may be present. In contrast, when an element is referred to as being “directly connected,” or “directly coupled,” to another element, there are no intervening elements present. Other words used to describe the relationship between elements should be interpreted in a like fashion (e.g., “between,” versus “directly between,” “adjacent,” versus “directly adjacent,” etc.).
[0028] The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of example embodiments of the invention. As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the,” are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. As used herein, the terms “and/or” and “at least one of” include any and all combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms “comprises,” “comprising,” “includes,” and/or “including,” when used herein, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof.
[0029] It should also be noted that in some alternative implementations, the functions/acts noted may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two figures shown in succession may in fact be executed substantially concurrently or may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality/acts involved.
[0030] Spatially relative terms, such as “beneath”, “below”, “lower”, “above”, “upper”, and the like, may be used herein for ease of description to describe one element or feature's relationship to another element(s) or feature(s) as illustrated in the figures. It will be understood that the spatially relative terms are intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation in addition to the orientation depicted in the figures. For example, if the device in the figures is turned over, elements described as “below” or “beneath” other elements or features would then be oriented “above” the other elements or features. Thus, term such as “below” can encompass both an orientation of above and below. The device may be otherwise oriented (rotated 90 degrees or at other orientations) and the spatially relative descriptors used herein are interpreted accordingly.
[0031] Following terms are used in the application, to explain the working of the invention:
[0032] MCCB: Molded case circuit breaker.
[0033] ROM: Rotary Operating Mechanism.
[0034] Accordingly, the present invention relates to a rotary operated mechanism (ROM) installed in a circuit breaker. The ROM includes an enclosure (4) with a rotary handle and gear train arrangement to drive a knob (11) of the circuit breaker. The knob (11) of the circuit breaker is insertable in a rack (7) of the ROM. The ROM includes a slider (8) coupled with a spring biased component (10) mounted on the enclosure (4) with a screw (9). The slider (8) is connected to the rack (7) of the ROM such that when the ROM is at an OFF state, a cam profile (7(c)) of a rack (7) prohibits the slider against biasing spring force to indicate a default position of ROM.
[0035] The rotary handle is coupled with a driving gear (5) that applies a torque to the inside gear train arrangement and drives a pinion (6) to thereby drive the rack (7) by converting the rotary motion to a reciprocating motion.
[0036] The slider (8) comprises a first profile (8(c)), such that when the ROM is at OFF position the profile (8(c)) of the slider (8) allows the knob (11) at an OFF position 11(c) to enter into a slot 7(a) provided on the rack.
[0037] The slider (8) comprises a second profile (8(a)), such that when the profile 8(a) of the slider blocks the knob (11) at a switching ON position (11(a)).
[0038] The slider (8) comprises a third profile 8(b), such that the profile (8(b)) of the slider blocks the knob (11) at a TRIP position (11(b)).
[0039] The slider (8) comprises a fourth profile (8(f)), such that when the ROM is rotated to an unintended mounting position, the profile (8(f)) blocks the slider (7).
[0040] The slider (8) comprises a wedge (8(d)), wherein when the ROM is installed on the circuit breaker at OFF position, such that the rack (7) will drive the knob and the knob interacts with the wedge (8(d)) to unlock the profile (7(c)) and the fourth profile (8(f)).
[0041] The present invention relates to the rotary operating mechanism on a molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) when circuit breaker is in OFF condition. The proposed invention obstructs MCCB knob and will not allow the user to assemble ROM in MCCB switch on or trip state. The proposed invention will not allow the ROM to get assembled on MCCB, if ROM is in off condition.
[0042] The invention relates generally assembly of accessories particularly rotary operated mechanism with molded case circuit breaker in correct state to prevent accidental damage and ensures user safety.
[0043] ROM (1) is an accessory of MCCB (2) which operates MCCB through a rotary handle (3). Refer FIG.1 for ROM and MCCB complete assembly. As described in FIG. 2, ROM consists of an enclosure (4) with the rotary handle and gear train arrangement to drive a MCCB knob (11). The rotary handle is coupled with a driving gear (5) which applies torque to the inside gear train arrangement and drives a pinion (6). The pinion (6) drives a rack (7) by converting rotary motion to reciprocating motion. During Installation of ROM on MCCB, MCCB Knob (11) goes into the rack 7(a) profile. During Installation of ROM, the user has to ensure that the knob of MCCB should get intact in the slot of the rack, that means the MCCB state or ROM operating state should be same during assembly. However, sometimes when the panel has a higher depth or due to many unavoidable situations, user assembles ROM with MCCB in a wrong state, which leads to the malfunction of the unit or it may break the handle. Also, it shows false indication of MCCB contact state on ROM front facia. To avoid such circumstances, a slider (8) is introduced in ROM which is a spring (10) biased component mounted on the enclosure with a screw (9) as shown in FIG. 3(a).When ROM is at OFF state, the cam profile of the rack 7(b) works like a stopper for the slider 8(e) against biasing spring force and this is the default position of ROM.
[0044] FIG. 4 represents all 3 MCCB knob positions i.e. switching ON position 11(a), TRIP position 11(b) and Switching OFF position 11(c). When ROM is at OFF position as shown in FIG. 5 (a), the profile of slider 8 (c) allows the MCCB knob at OFF position 11(c) to enter into the rectangular slot of the rack 7 (a). Also, the profile of slider 8(a) will block MCCB knob at Switching ON position 11(a) and the profile of slider 8(b) will block MCCB knob at TRIP position 11(b). Therefore, the slider will not allow the MCCB to get assembled at ON and TRIP state. When ROM is rotated to unintended mounting position against instruction given it will be locked automatically as 8(f) profile will block slider 7(c) as shown in FIG 5(b). At this point, the profiles of slider 8(a),8(b) and 8(c) will block all three positions of MCCB knob i.e. 11(a),11(b) and 11(c) respectively. Therefore, ROM assembly on MCCB is not possible. Once ROM gets installed on MCCB at OFF position, the rack will drive MCCB knob and MCCB knob will interact with the wedge of slider 8 (d) and it will unlock the profile 7(c) and 8(f) as shown in FIG 5(c). Thus, ROM can drive MCCB knob without any hindrance.
[0045] In addition to that, if customer tries to abuse the slider to unlock 8 (f) and 7(c) intentionally and takes slider to ON position, again ROM can’t be assembled as 11(a),11(b) and 11(c) profile will be blocked by 8(a),8(b) and 8(c) as shown in FIG 5(d)
Components used in the assemble are:

1. ROM
2. MCCB
3. ROM Handle
4. Enclosure
5. Driving Gear
6. Pinion
7. Rack
8. Slider
9. Screw
10. Spring
11. MCCB knob
[0046] FIG. 1illustrates the simplified representation of ROM with MCCB after assembly.
[0047] FIG. 2 illustrates the simplified representation of ROM assembly with MCCB.
[0048] FIG. 3(a), 3(b) and 3(c) illustrates the simplified representation of internal mechanism of ROM.
[0049] FIG. 4 illustrates the simplified representation of MCCB knob position at Switch ON, Switch OFF and TRIP state.
[0050] FIG. 5(a) illustrates the simplified representation of assembly of ROM with cross-section of MCCB Knob when ROM is at OFF state and MCCB knob is at ON, OFF and Trip state.
[0051] FIG. 5(b) illustrates simplified representation of ROM assembly when ROM state is shifted from OFF to unintended assembly position.
[0052] FIG. 5(c) illustrates the simplified representation of operation of ROM with MCCB when ROM is mounted on MCCB at OFF position.
[0053] FIG. 5(d) illustrates the simplified representation of operation of ROM with MCCB when ROM is abused and assembled in other states against instruction.
[0054] In an embodiment, cam and spring based slider mechanism allows the user to assemble ROM in MCCB switch off state only.
[0055] In another embodiment, slider mechanism obstructs MCCB knob and will not allow the user to assemble ROM in MCCB switch on or trip state. The slider mechanism will not allow the ROM to get assembled on MCCB, if ROM is in off condition.
[0056] In another embodiment, the slider mechanism will get auto-locked when assembled in unintended state
[0057] What are described above are merely preferred embodiments of the present invention, and are not to limit the present invention; any modification, equivalent replacement and improvement within the principle of the present invention should be included in the protection scope of the present invention.
[0058] The example embodiment or each example embodiment should not be understood as a restriction of the invention. Rather, numerous variations and modifications are possible in the context of the present disclosure, in particular those variants and combinations which can be inferred by the person skilled in the art with regard to achieving the object for example by combination or modification of individual features or elements or method steps that are described in connection with the general or specific part of the description and are contained in the claims and/or the drawings, and, by way of combinable features, lead to a new subject matter or to new method steps or sequences of method steps, including insofar as they concern production, testing and operating methods.
[0059] References back that are used in dependent claims indicate the further embodiment of the subject matter of the main claim by way of the features of the respective dependent claim; they should not be understood as dispensing with obtaining independent protection of the subject matter for the combinations of features in the referred-back dependent claims. Furthermore, with regard to interpreting the claims, where a feature is concretized in more specific detail in a subordinate claim, it should be assumed that such a restriction is not present in the respective preceding claims.
[0060] Since the subject matter of the dependent claims in relation to the prior art on the priority date may form separate and independent inventions, the applicant reserves the right to make them the subject matter of independent claims or divisional declarations. They may furthermore also contain independent inventions which have a configuration that is independent of the subject matters of the preceding dependent claims.
[0061] Further, elements and/or features of different example embodiments may be combined with each other and/or substituted for each other within the scope of this disclosure and appended claims.
[0062] Example embodiments being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the scope of the present invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.
, Claims:1. A rotary operated mechanism (ROM) installed in a circuit breaker, the ROM comprising:
an enclosure (4) with a rotary handle and gear train arrangement to drive a knob (11) of the circuit breaker, wherein the knob (11) of the circuit breaker is insertable in a rack (7) of the ROM; and
wherein the ROM comprising:
a slider (8) coupled with a spring biased component (10) mounted on the enclosure (4) with a screw (9), the slider (8) is connected to the rack (7) of the ROM such that when the ROM is at an OFF state, a cam profile (7(c)) of a rack (7) prohibits the slider against biasing spring force to indicate a default position of ROM.

2. The rotary operated mechanism (ROM) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotary handle is coupled with a driving gear (5) that applies a torque to the inside gear train arrangement and drives a pinion (6) to thereby drive the rack (7) by converting the rotary motion to a reciprocating motion.

3. The rotary operated mechanism (ROM) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider ((8)) comprises a first profile (8(c)), such that when the ROM is at OFF position the profile (8(c)) of the slider (8) allows the knob (11) at an OFF position 11(c) to enter into a slot 7(a) provided on the rack.

4. The rotary operated mechanism (ROM) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider (8) comprises a second profile (8(a)), such that when the profile 8(a) of the slider blocks the knob (11) at a switching ON position (11(a)).

5. The rotary operated mechanism (ROM) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider (8) comprises a third profile 8(b), such that the profile (8(b)) of the slider blocks the knob (11) at a TRIP position (11(b)).
6. The rotary operated mechanism (ROM) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the slider (8) comprises a fourth profile (8(f)), such that when the ROM is rotated to an unintended mounting position, the profile (8(f)) blocks the slider (7).

7. The rotary operated mechanism (ROM) as claimed in claims 1 to 6, wherein the slider (8) comprises a wedge (8(d)), wherein when the ROM is installed on the circuit breaker at OFF position, such that the rack (7) will drive the knob and the knob interacts with the wedge (8(d)) to unlock the profile (7(c)) and the fourth profile ((8(f)).