Claims:1. An illuminated rotary handle system (100) for a circuit breaker (10) having an enclosure, a rotary operating mechanism (20), a shaft (30), a rotary handle (50) with a back plate (52) mounted on an enclosure door (40) and operably connected to the shaft (30) to switch ON and switch OFF the circuit breaker (10); the illuminated rotary handle system (100) comprising:
colored LED units configured on the back plate (52); and
an actuator assembly (60) having
an actuator housing (62) configured with a rib in the centre,
a cam (68) diametrically constrained by the actuator housing rib, the cam (68) having a rectangular cut (63) and a peal point configured thereon, the rectangular cut (63) having the shaft (30) fitted therein rotating with the cam (68); and
a first micro switch (64) and a second micro switch (66) mounted on the actuator housing (62) and connected to the respective coloured LED units configured on the back plate (52),
wherein, the cam (68) rotates with the rotary handle (50) causing actuation of any one of the first micro switch (64) and the second micro switch (66) by peal point resulting in illumination of the respective colored LEDs, depending upon the ON and OFF position of the rotary handle (50).
2. The illuminated rotary handle system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cam (68) is a mango cam.
3. The illuminated rotary handle system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the total rotation of the entire system (100) is 120 degree.
4. The illuminated rotary handle system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the cam (68) actuates the first micro switch (64) and the second micro switch (66) after a rotation of 120 degree.
5. The illuminated rotary handle system (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the colored LED units configured on the back plate (52) are such that green colored LED is illuminated when the rotary handle (50) is in ON position and the red colored LED is illuminated when the rotary handle (50) is in OFF position.
, Description:Field of the invention
The present invention generally relates to a molded case circuit breaker enclosure and more particularly it relates to the extended rotary handle of the molded case circuit breaker, on the enclosure door.
Background of the invention
Low voltage current limiting circuit breakers and the likes are commonly used to receive, supply, protect and isolate the current supply in an electric circuit. Circuit breakers typically serve two basic purposes:
? as a switching device: Switching On/Off during normal operating conditions for the purpose of operation and maintenance.
? as a protecting device: Tripping or Isolating by breaking the contacts interrupting the fault current during abnormal conditions such as short-circuit, overload and under voltage.
Circuit breaker consists of one or more electric poles, whose number is determined by the application as single pole circuit breaker, two pole circuit breaker, three pole circuit breaker, four pole circuit breaker and so on. Circuit breakers are designed for use in switchboards, control panels, and combination starters in separate enclosures for effective single location distribution and control.
Circuit breakers are housed inside an enclosure to provide safety to users operating the same. In the most common type of installation, the operating handle for the circuit breaker is mounted on the enclosure door while the rotary operating mechanism is mounted inside the panel door. The the rotary operating mechanism has a shaft coming out that has to be rotated to switch the circuit breaker ON and OFF. The problem associated with this system is that the user can not understand the state of the circuit breaker without opening the enclosure door. In some prior art disclosures, the extended rotary handle for MCCB enclosure door are provided wherein the state of the circuit breaker viz. ON, OFF is marked depending upon the position of the handle. However, this arrangement does not allow the user to understand the state of the circuit breaker when the user is at a distance, also when the enclosures are installed in dark areas or during night.
Thus there exists a need for an improved system for MCCB panel which will allow the user to see the state of the circuit breaker from a distance and also in dark without opening the enclosure door to ensure user’s safety.
Objects of the invention
The primary object of present invention is to provide an illuminated rotary handle system for the circuit breaker enclosure.
Another object of the invention is to allow the user to understand the state of the circuit breaker inside the enclosure without opening the enclosure door.
Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cam based arrangement to give the illuminated indication on the circuit breaker enclosure door.
Yet another object of the present invention is to illuminate the circuit breaker cabinet handle with different colors depending upon On and OFF state of the of the circuit breaker.
Summary of the invention
The present invention provides a new safety feature for the operation of enclosed circuit breaker without the need to open the cabinet door. The cam based arrangement for the extended rotary handle of the circuit breaker actuates an internal circuit to illuminate the LEDs on the extended rotary handle, indicating the ON or OFF positions of the MCCB switch. The extended rotary handle is fitted on the door of the circuit breaker enclosure. The present invention improves the readability of the operating parameters of the circuit breaker, by illumination of different colors at different states of the circuit breaker e.g. Red when supply is switched ON and Green when the supply is switched OFF. This allows user to understand the state of the circuit breaker from a distance, also. Also, when the panels are installed in dark areas or during the night, the illuminated handle serves to provide a clear indication.
Brief description of the drawings
Figure 1 shows a perspective view of the illuminated rotary handle system for circuit breaker enclosure in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 2 shows perspective back view of the illuminated rotary handle system inside the circuit breaker enclosure in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 3 shows details of the actuator assembly of the illuminated rotary handle system in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 4 shows the outer view of the extended handle assembly of the illuminated rotary handle system in accordance with the present invention;
Figure 5 shows perspective back view of the extended handle assembly of the illuminated rotary handle system, in OFF position, in accordance with the present invention; and
Figure 6 shows perspective back view of the extended handle assembly of the illuminated rotary handle system, in ON position, in accordance with the present invention.
Detailed description of the invention
The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with the prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention as described below in the preferred embodiment.
The present invention provides an illuminated rotary handle system for circuit breaker. A molded case circuit breaker (MCCB) is equipped with a rotary operating mechanism in an enclosure and a rotary handle assembly mounted on an enclosure door. The Rotary handle assembly is such that MCCB can be switched ON or OFF using the rotary handle mounted on the enclosure door. The illuminated rotary handle system comprises of the LED units mounted along the rotary handle on the enclosure door and an actuator assembly. The actuator assembly houses a cam based mechanism to actuate the different color LED switches depending on the different states of the MCCB. When the rotary handle is rotated to switch ON or switch OFF the MCCB knob, the cam actuates the micro switches for illuminating green or red LEDs depending on the ON or OFF positions of the rotary handle and in turn, the MCCB knob.
The present invention is illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings, throughout which reference numbers indicate corresponding parts in the various figures. These reference numbers are shown in bracket in the following description.
Referring to Figures 1 to 6, an illuminated rotary handle system (100) (hereinafter “the system (100)”) for circuit breaker enclosure, in accordance with the present invention is shown.
A molded case circuit breaker (10) (hereinafter “MCCB (10)”) with a rotary operating mechanism block (20) is fitted in an enclosure. A shaft (30) operably connected to the rotary operating mechanism (20) essentially covers the distance between a enclosure door (40) and the MCCB (10). A rotary handle (50) with a back plate (52) is mounted on an enclosure door (40) and it is operably connected to the shaft (30) such that the rotary handle (50) is capable of switching on and switching off the MCCB (10) by rotating through 120 degrees.
An illuminated rotary handle system (100) of the present invention comprises of coloured LED units mounted (not shown) configured on the back plate (52) and an actuator assembly comprising an actuator housing (62) configured with a rib in the centre, a cam (68) diametrically constrained by the actuator housing rib, a first micro switch (64) and a second micro switch (66) mounted on the actuator housing (62) and connected to the respective coloured LED units configured on the back plate (52). The cam (68) is a mango cam, it is having a rectangular cut (63) and a peal point configured thereon. The rectangular cut (63) is having the shaft (30) fitted therein rotating with the cam (68); wherein, the cam (68) rotates with the rotary handle (50) causing actuation of any one of the first micro switch (64) and the second micro switch (66) by peal point resulting in illumination of the respective colored LEDs, depending upon the ON and OFF position of the rotary handle (50). Total rotation of the system is 120 degree and the cam (68) actuates the first micro switch (64) and the second micro switch (66) after a rotation of 120 degree. The coloured LED units (not shown) are such that green or red coloured LEDs are illuminated depending on the ON and OFF position of the rotary handle (50) respectively. Since the total rotation of the entire setup is 120 degree, the mango cam (68) is designed to actuate the first micro switch (64) and the second micro switch (66) after a rotation of 120 degree. The peal point on the mango cam (68) i.e. the top of the lift circle, allows the mango cam (68) to actuate the first micro switch (64) and the second micro switch (66) during its rotation, to turn on or off the MCCB switch.
Referring to figure 5, when the rotary handle (50) is in OFF position, the mango cam actuates the first micro switch (64) thereby illuminating the green LED, indicating that the system (100) is in OFF position.
Referring to figure 6, when the rotary handle (50) is in ON position, the mango cam actuates the second micro switch (66) thereby illuminating the red LED, indicating that the system (100) is in ON position.
The system (100) improves the readability of the operating parameters of the MCCB by illumination of different colors at switch ON and switch OFF conditions of MCCB. This allows user to understand the state of the MCCB from a distance, also, when the panels are installed in dark areas or during the night, the illuminated rotary handle (50) serves to provide a clear indication.
Advantages of the present invention
• The system (100) improves the readability of the operating parameters of the MCCB by illumination of different colors at different states of the switching device.
• The system (100) allows the user to understand the ON/OFF state of the MCCB from a distance, also, when the MCCB enclosures are installed in dark areas or during the night, the illuminated rotary handle (50) serves to provide a clear indication.
• The system (100) uses lesser number of components than the systems presently in use.
The foregoing objects of the invention are accomplished and the problems and shortcomings associated with prior art techniques and approaches are overcome by the present invention described in the present embodiment. Detailed descriptions of the preferred embodiment are provided herein; however, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but rather as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed system, structure, or matter. The embodiments of the invention as described above and the methods disclosed herein will suggest further modification and alterations to those skilled in the art. Such further modifications and alterations may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.