FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention is directed to an interface between a flexible shaft and circuit
interrupting device and more part icularly to such an interface between a linearly moving
rod of the flexible shaft and a rotary mechanism which interacts with the handle of the
circuit breaker.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PRIOR ART
Method case circuit breaker arc well known in the art. Examples of such circuit
breakers are disclosed in U.S Patent 4, 679, 018, for instance. Such circuit breakers are
used to protect electrical circuitry from damage due to an ovcrcurrent condition. Molded
case circuit breakers include a pair of separable contacts, which may be operated cither
manually by way of a handle disposed on the outside of the caee or automatically in
response to an overcurrent condition.
For a variety of reasons, such as operator safety, for example, circuit interrupters
are often mounted behind a panel cover or behind a door in a cabinet. Typically, in these
installations, the handles of the circuit interrupters are not directly accessible without
opening the cover or door. In some of these installations a remote handle mechanism is
mounted on or near the opposite side or exterior of the panel or door and a mechanical
linkage is used to interconnect the remote handle mechanisms with the circuit interrupter
handle. Examples of such mechanisms can be found in U.S Patent 5, 493, 084 assigned to
the assignee of the present invention entitle "Door Release for Circuit Interrupter rotary
Handle Mechanism". In this case there is a relatively ridged linkage between the circuit
interrupter handle the remotely mounted handled. Another example maybe found in U.S
Patent 5, 422, 453 which teaches an actuator for displacing the toggle or handle of a circuit
interrupter, in particularly this includes a pair of spaced, abutment surfaces for bearing
against the handle along an arcuate path coincident with the motion of the handle. Still a
third example may be found in U.S Patent 5, 428, 196 entitled "Flexible Shaft Interface for
Circuit Interrupter" also assigned to the same assignee as the present application. Here is
taught an interface between a flexible shaft and a circuit interrupting device and more
particularly to an interface between a linearly movable rod of the flexible shaft and the
handle of the circuit breaker. Reference may also be made to Eaton
publication
SA12092 July 94-TLG1043 entitled, "Flex Shaft™ Flange Mounted Handle
Mechanism". Still another example maybe found in a publication entitled,
"Westinghouse Series C® M-Frame External Accessories" 29-120M January, 1995.
In the latter three examples a flexible cable is provided between the external handle
and the circuit breaker handle. This is advantageous for allowing easy disposal of the
circuit breaker on the inside of the cabinet. Since there are no ridged interconnections
between the external handle and the circuit breaker handle a broad range of locations
is possible inside of the circuit breaker cabinet for placement of the circuit interrupter.
Although the foregoing have many advantages, they do have certain
disadvantages. One disadvantage lays in the fact that all of the mechanisms taught
for interconnecting a flexible cable between an external handle and the internal handle
of the circuit breaker rely upon centrally locating the cable interface on the front of the
circuit breaker. Although this has the advantage of placing the longitudinally moving
drive member of the cable immediately over the handle so as to reduce lateral torsion,
it generally takes up significant cabinet space. It would be advantageous, if a means
could be found for mounting a significant portion of the interface on the side of the
circuit breaker thus freeing up more space in front of the face of the circuit breaker.
But this will eliminate or greatly reducing the effect of sideways torsion on the handle
which is usual for such an arrangement.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This and other needs of the circuit breaker are satisfied by the present
invention, in particular, a circuit interrupter system of the kind having a circuit
interrupter disposed within a cabinet with a face mounted circuit interrupter handle
movable between open and closed positioned to open and close separable main
contacts of the circuit breaker is taught. An operating handle disposed on the exterior
i
of the cabinet is interconnected by way of cable to the circuit interrupter handle to
actuate the circuit interrupter handle to open and close the separable main contacts.
There is provided a circuit interrupter handle actuating device mounted on an actuator
based plate. The circuit interrupter handle actuating device is rotationally movable in a
first plane for causing the circuit interrupter handle to move as the drive member of the
cable is moved linearly or translationally. There is provided on the actuator base a
limiting means for generally preventing, within limits, the rotational or twisting
movement of the circuit interrupter handle in a second plane which is perpendicular to
the first plane. In an preferred embodiment this latter limit means includes a sliding
surface and a protruding tab means with an ear or ears. A part of the handle
actuating device slides against the sliding surface during an opening operation for the
circuit interrupter and is prevented from sideways movement by the presence of the
sliding surface and slides against the underside of the ear or ears during closing
operation of the circuit interrupter and is prevented from sideways movement by the
presence of the ear.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
These and other features of the invention maybe found in the included
drawings in which:
Fig. 1 shows a prior art circuit interrupter system;
Fig. 2 shows an orthogonal view of the circuit interrupter handle actuating
mechanism of the present invention disposed upon a molded case circuit breaker;
Fig. 3 shows a top plane view of the apparatus of Figure 2;
Fig. 4 shows a side elevation view of the apparatus of Figure 3 shown along
the section lines IV-IV of Figure 3; and
Fig. 5 shows an arrangement similar to the prior art arrangement of Figure 1,
but incorporating the teachings of the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBOIDMENT
Referring now to the drawings and Figure 1 in particular, a prior art circuit
interrupter system of the kind having a circuit interrupter disposed within a cabinet and
a remote, exteriorly mounted operating handle with intermediate sheathed drive or
two-piece cable is depicted. In particular there is provided a cabinet 10 having a back
wall 12 and front wall or door 14. A remote operator handle 16 is provided on the front
wall or door 14, which is interconnected by way of a sheathed, flexible cable 18 to a
circuit breaker 20 mounted on the back wall 12. A transfer mechanism 22 is provided
on the generally flat front face of the circuit breaker or interrupter 20. It includes a
fixed base plate 24, which is attached to the front of the breaker 20 and sliding .
movable part 26, which is interconnected with the inner drive member of the cable 18.
The breaker handled is captured in the movable part 26, so that as the operating
handle 16 on the front wall is actuated to either open or close the circuit breaker, the
drive member of the cable 18 moves the movable part 26 of the transfer mechanism
22 to cause the breaker or circuit interrupter handle 28 to move to open or close the
circuit breaker separable main contacts as required.
Referring now to Figures 2, 3 and 4 an embodiment of the present invention is
shown. In particular there is provided a circuit breaker or circuit interrupter 40, which may
be of the kind described in U.S Patent 5, 418, 196, which is incorporated herein by
reference. Circuit breaker 40 may be mounted to the inside back of a cabinet in the manner
described with respect to the prior art of Figure 1. There is provided a flange or actuator
base 42 which may be attached by way of screws disposed in screw holes 46 in the flange
42 to the relatively front face of the circuit breaker 40. There is also provided on either size
of the flange pivotal nubs or axes 50 which support a yoke or circuit interrupter handle
actuating member 52 having an opening 54 for capturing the handle 55 of the circuit
breaker 40. There is also provided a bracket 56 having a protruding earned tab 60 with ears
at 60A and 60B which is captured in slot 61. slot 61 resides in a forward extension 58. The
outer sheath of flexible cable 18 is affixed to the bracket 56 at the cable terminating device
19. Bracket 56 has a sliding surface 56A against which an inner portion to the extension 58
of the yoke drive 52 translates, slidingly abuts or slides with a slight component of rotation
as the flexible relatively movable drive member, or central driving member 62 of the shaft
18 moves. The yoke 52 rotates in a first plane (parallel to extension 58 and parallel to the
generally flat side of the circuit interruptcrO on the axis of rotation or nub 50 which also
protrudes into a hole or opening 64A in a leg 64 of yoke drive 52. As the flexible end 62 of
the shaft 18 translates in the direction 70 (as shown in Fig 3), the extension 58 moves in the
same direction which causes the yoke 52 to rotate on the yoke axis at 50 in arc direction 72
(as shown in Fig 2), thus rotationally moving the circuit interrupter handle 55, which is
trapped in the handle opening 54, to move the handle to close the circuit breaker main
contacts. On the other hand, if drive end 62 is moved in the direction 80 (as shown in
Fig.3), extension 58 is translated or moved linearly and generally in the same direction
causing the yoke 52 to rotate on the drive axis 50 in the rotational direction 75 to cause the
captured circuit breaker handle 55, to rotate in the direction 75 to open the contacts of the
circuit breaker 40.
During movemeni in direction 70, the extension 58 bears against axis 68 causing
attached yoke 52 to rotate around axis 50. Axis 68 is free to rotate in the opening
in extension 58. Extension 58 is also to deflect slightly toward the axis 50
because of the flexibility of cable 18. Just the opposite occurs when the
movement is in direction 80.
By closely viewing Figure 3 it can be seen that as the member 62 is translated in
the direction 70, there is a tendency to twist or rotate the entire yoke 52 in the
rotational direction 90 in a second plane which is parallel to the face of the circuit
interrupter and perpendicular to the First plane. Both the first plane and second
plane are parallel to a plane of movement of circuit interrupter handle. On the
other hand as the flexible member 62 is withdrawn in the direction 80, there is a
tendency to twist or rotate the yoke 52 in the opposite rotational direction 92. To
prevent this from happening or at least to minimize it, extension 58 is securely
and snugly, slidingly trapped between the ears 60A and 60B protruding through
the slot 61 and the sliding surface 56A. This forms a limiting device. Thus any
tendency to rotate or twist yoke 52 in the direction 92 is offset by the surface 56A
of the bracket 56 reacting against the inner side of the extension 58. On the other
hand any tendency to move or twist the flange 42 in the rotational direction 90 is
resisted by the extension 58 riding against the ears 60A and 60B of the tab 60.
Referring now to Figure 5 an arrangement similar to that shown in Figure 1, but
replaced by the present embodiment of the invention is shown. In particular the
same cabinet 10 is provided with the same operating handle 16 disposed on the
same front or exterior wall 14 of cabinet 10 and interconnected with circuit
breaker 40 by way of the flexible cable 18. In this case however, the mechanism
17 of Figures 2 through 4 is shown interconnected with breaker 40.
WE CLAIM
1. A circuit interrupted handle device of the kind having a circuit interrupter
(40) disposed within a cabinet (10), said circuit interrupter (40) having a
circuit interrupter handle (55) movable between opened and closed
positions to open and close separable main contacts of the circuit
interrupter, an opening handle (16) disposed on the exterior of the cabinet
and interconnected by way of a cable (18) to the circuit interrupter handle
(55) to actuate said circuit interrupter handle to open said close the
separable main contacts from the exterior of the cabinet (10), said cable
(180) having an outer sheath and a relatively movable inner drive member
(62) comprising:
a circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52) for interconnection with
said circuit interrupter handle (55);
actuator base device (42,56) disposed on the circuit interrupter (40) for
supporting said circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52); and
cable terminating device (19) disposed on said actuator base device
(42,56) for terminating said outer sheath, said movable inner drive
member (62) being interconnected with said circuit interrupter handle
actuating device (52);
characterized in that said circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52) is
generally rotationally movable in a first plane for causing said circuit
interrupter handle (55) to move as said movable inner drive member (62)
is moved generally translation ally; and
said actuator base device (42, 56) has a limiting device (56A, 60,60A,60B)
thereon for generally preventing within limits the rotational movement of
said circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52) in a second plane
which is perpendicular to said first plane.
2. A circuit interrupted handle device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
circuit interrupter (40) has a generally flat from face thereof an opening
through which protrudes the circuit interrupter handle (55), said circuit
interrupter having a generally flat side which is generally perpendicular to
said front face, the first plane being parallel to the side of the circuit
interrupter and the second plane being perpendicular to said first plane
and parallel to said front face of said circuit interrupter, and the actuator
base device (42) being disposed on the circuit interrupter front face for
supporting the circuit interrupter handle actuating means (52).
3. A circuit interrupted handle device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the
limiting device comprises a sliding surface (56A) and a protruding tab
device (60) with an ear (60A, 60B), the circuit interrupter handle actuating
device (52) sliding against said sliding surface (56A) during one of the
circuit interrupter handle opening or closing operations and sliding against
an underside of said ear (60A.60B) during the other of said circuit
interrupter handle opening or closing operations to minimize the rotational
movement of said circuit interrupter handle actuating device in said
second plane.
4. A circuit interrupted handle device as claimed in claim 3, wherein the
circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52) has a opening (61) therein
through which the tab (60) protrudes so that a portion of said circuit
interrupter handle actuating device (52) is slidingly trapped between the
ear (60A, 60B) and the sliding surface (56A).
5. A circuit interrupted handle device as claimed in claim 3 or 4, wherein
sliding abutment of the circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52)
when moved in a first transnational direction (70) against the sliding
surface (56A) prevents the rotational movement of said circuit interrupter
handle actuating device (52) in a first rotational direction (90) in the
second plane, and wherein sliding abutment of said circuit interrupter
handle actuating device (52) when moved in the opposite transnational
direction (80) against the underside of the ear (60A, 60B) reduces said
rotational movement of said circuit interrupter handle actuating device in
the opposite rotational direction in said second plane.
6. A circuit interrupted handle device as claimed in claim 1 and substantially
as described herein with particular reference to Figures 2 to 5 of the
accompanying drawings.

A circuit interrupted handle device of the kind having a circuit interrupter (40) disposed within a cabinet (10), said circuit interrupter (40) having a circuit interrupter handle (55) movable between opened and closed positions to open and close separable main contacts of the circuit interrupter, an opening handle (16) disposed on the exterior of the cabinet and interconnected by way of a cable (18) to the circuit interrupter handle (55) to actuate said circuit interrupter handle to open said close the separable main contacts from the exterior of the cabinet (10), said cable (180) having an outer sheath and a relatively movable inner drive member (62) comprising: a circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52) for interconnection with said circuit interrupter handle (55); actuator base device (42,56) disposed on the circuit interrupter (40) for supporting said circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52); and cable terminating device (19) disposed on said actuator base device (42,56) for terminating said outer sheath, said movable inner drive member (62) being interconnected with said circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52); characterized in that said circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52) is generally rotationally movable in a first plane for causing said circuit interrupter handle (55) to move as said movable inner drive member (62) is moved generally translation ally; and said actuator base device (42, 56) has a limiting device (56A, 60,60A,60B) thereon for generally preventing within limits the rotational movement of said circuit interrupter handle actuating device (52) in a second plane which is perpendicular to said first plane.