FORM 2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
THE PATENTS RULES, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10, rule 13)
"Coupling System for Electrical Components"
LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED
L & T House, Ballard Estate, P. O. Box No. 278,
MUMBAI 400 001
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in
which it is to be performed.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a coupling mechanisms for electrical components, and more particularly to mechanisms for coupling auxiliary devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Auxiliary devices are additional electrical devices which are connected to circuit breakers. Examples of auxiliary devices are auxiliary contact, shunt release, under-voltage release, overvoltage release, and the like. Auxiliary devices are usually coupled along their lateral sides, i.e., side by side to form a chain of devices.
Auxiliary devices are mechanically coupled together by various mechanisms. One of the known mechanisms is a snap fitting mechanism which couples the auxiliary devices to one or more other auxiliary device(s). The snap fitting mechanism comprises of a male fitting element and a female fitting element, each of which is fixedly associated to a different side of the auxiliary devices (for example, the male fitting element to a right side and female fitting element to a the left side). Thus, a series of auxiliary devices can be coupled by engaging the male fitting element with the female fitting element.
However, since the male fitting element is on the right side and female fitting element on the left side and are fixed in position, the male fitting element and the female fitting element can only be coupled on one side of the auxiliary device and not on the other side of the auxiliary device even if there is a requirement. The auxiliary devices thus are limited to be coupled along one side, i.e., left side or right side as shown in figure 1.
To overcome the above limitation, coupling mechanisms have been devised that enable the auxiliary devices to be mounted along different sides as per requirement.

The mechanism comprises of a roto-translating arm with a double hook, wherein to couple one or more auxiliary devices, the roto-translating arm is rotated along an elongated seat towards another auxiliary device in either direction and is engaged with the auxiliary device using the double hook.
However, the roto-translational movement of the arm is complex, which makes it difficult to operate the arm in narrow spaces where these auxiliary devices are generally installed. Further, the arm is free to rotate inside the elongated seat since there is no fixed hinge for rotation of the arm. This may result in erroneous operation.
Therefore there is a need for a mechanism for coupling auxiliary devices which overcomes the above limitations.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
Object of the present invention is to provide coupling mechanisms for electrical components, which enables coupling of other component on either side.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provides a coupling mechanism for coupling plurality of electrical components. The component includes at least one arm, a hook and an aligning pin. The arm is rotatably disposed on the electrical component. The hook is configured on a distal end portion of the arm. Further, the hook enables to detachably secure the electrical component with other electrical component and the rotatble arrangement of the arm enables to secure an electrical component on either. Moreover, the aligning pin is disposed though-out the sides of the electrical component through a hole configured thereon. The aligning pin enables to align the other electrical component with the electrical component enabling precise coupling therebetween.

DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
Various embodiments of the present invention provide a mechanism and method for coupling auxiliary devices. The mechanism comprises at-least one arm mounted on the auxiliary device at a first arm end, the arm being rotatable about the first arm end between a first position and a second position, the arm having a hook at a second arm end; and a seat on the auxiliary device, the hook of the arm being able to lock with seat at the first and second position, the locking enabling coupling of auxiliary devices.
Figure 2, shows an auxiliary device 100 provided with a mechanism 150 for coupling auxiliary devices such as auxiliary device 100 in accordance with the invention. The auxiliary device 100 has a housing 110 with two major faces (or sides) 110a and 110b. The auxiliary device 100 is coupled to one or more auxiliary device 100 along sides 110a and 110b. A mechanism 150 for coupling auxiliary devices 100 includes at-least one arm 102, and a seat 106 on each auxiliary device. In an embodiment, the seat 106 has at-least one protruding tooth at edge of the seat 106 of the auxiliary devices 100. In an embodiment, the seat 106 has at-least one cavity.
Figure 3 shows enlarged view of the mechanism 150 for coupling the auxiliary device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. As shown, the mechanism (150) includes arms 102 having a first arm end 102a and a second arm end 102b. The arms 102 are mounted on the auxiliary device 100 at first arm end 102a. The arm 102 includes a hook 104 configured at second arm end 102b. The hook 104 locks with the seat 106 on the another auxiliary device. The locking enables coupling of the auxiliary devices 100 with another auxiliary device.
The arm 102 is capable of rotating about a fixed axis between a first position and a second position on a side 110a and on a side 110b of auxiliary device respectively. In an embodiment, the arm 102 is rotated around x-axis, which is perpendicular to the

seat 106. The rotation enables arm 102 to engage the other auxiliary device. In this regard the arm 102 is mounted on the auxiliary device 100 such that when the arm 102 is rotated between a first position and a second position, the arm 102 protrudes outwards from one of sides 110a and 110b of auxiliary device 100 to couple with the other auxiliary devices.
In an embodiment, the mechanism 150 for coupling the auxiliary devices 100 includes an aligning pin 108 to align the auxiliary devices 100. Figure 4 shows a sectional view of aligning pin 108. As shown, the aligning pin 108 is housed inside the housing 110 in the auxiliary device 100. The aligning pin 108 is rotatable in and out of sides 110a and 110b of auxiliary device 100. Aligning pin 108 when rotated protrudes out of the sides 110a and 110b of the auxiliary device 100 and is capable of engaging with one of the auxiliary devices 100. Also, as the aligning pin 108 protrudes it leaves space behind in the housing 110, allowing a similar aligning pin 108 from another auxiliary device 100 to be engaged with the auxiliary device 100. The aligning pin 108 is allowed to rotate along the housing 110 by a screw thread 112 positioned on the aligning pin 108 and in the housing 110. The aligning pin 108 aligns one or more auxiliary devices 100, enabling precise coupling of one or more auxiliary devices 100 on either side.
Figure 5 shows an array of the auxiliary devices 100 (for example 100a, 100b) coupled using the mechanism 150 for coupling in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The auxiliary devices 100 are fist aligned using the aligning pin 108 and then arm 102 of the auxiliary device 100 is locked with another auxiliary devices 100 to couple auxiliary devices 100. Figure 6 shows sectional view of the array of auxiliary devices 100 when coupled. As shown, the hook 104 of arm 102 of one auxiliary device 100 is locked on to seat 106 of another auxiliary device.
Advantageously, the present invention provides a mechanism for coupling auxiliary devices, wherein the mechanism allows each auxiliary devices to couple to an adjacent auxiliary device on either side, enabling assembly of the auxiliary devices as per requirement as shown in figure 7.

The foregoing description of the invention has been set merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to person skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the disclosure.

We Claims:
1. A coupling mechanism for coupling plurality of electrical components, the coupling mechanism comprising;
at least one arm rotatably disposed on the electrical component;
a hook configured on a distal end portion of the arm, the hook enables to detachably secure the electrical component with other electrical component, the rotatable arrangement of the arm enables to secure an electrical component on either sides; and
an aligning pin disposed though-out the sides of the electrical component through a hole configured thereon, the aligning pin enable to align the other electrical component with the electrical component enabling precise coupling therebetween.