FORM2
THE PATENTS ACT, 1970
(39 of 1970)
&
The Patents Rules, 2003
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION
(See section 10; rule 13)
1. Title of the invention: IMPROVED ACTUATOR ARRANGEMENT FOR USE IN
CONTROL CIRCUITS
2. Applicant(s):
(a) NAME : LARSEN & TOUBRO LIMITED
(b) NATIONALITY : An Indian Company
(c) ADDRESS : L & T House, Ballard Estate, Mumbai
400 001, State of Maharashtra, India
3. PREAMBLE TO THE DESCRIPTION
The following specification particularly describes the invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to an actuation system. More particularly, the present invention relates to improved actuator arrangement for use in control circuits to actuate contacts manually.
BACKGROUND AND THE PRIOR ART
The present invention has been made in object to solve the need of economical manual actuator to actuate single normally open contact. Most of the time, closing and opening of actuators and add-on block contacts are coupled with other components like contactor. Hence there is no single pole actuator for manual contact actuation.
This invention relates to an economical manual actuator block suitable for actuating normally open contact manually. The actuator can be mounted with the any other actuating component so as to actuate both together or simultaneously. The present invention relates to such an arrangement wherein actuator needs to actuate manually. Also the invention will led to easy assembly of actuator (bridge and housing) incorporating moving and fixed contact and spring arrangements. The actuator can be assembled by easy click fit arrangement.
The economical manual actuator block is an easy assembly of two moulded components which can be actuated manually. The force required to actuate the contact is very less so even a little push will actuate the contacts. The actuating force can be changed by replacing the return spring with other spring having desired return force. Also the size of the actuator is very small. This will enable us to use the actuator in the application where space is major constraint.
The existing add-on blocks are made in such a way that it will get coupled with other electrical components like contactor/MCB. Hence actuation of such add-on blocks depends on actuation of corresponding component. The add-on block cannot be actuated manually. Also in existing addon block, the time for which it remains in circuit cannot be controlled manually. It solely depends on component with which it is coupled.

Genera] add-on block that exists today does not have click fit arrangement normally to avoid the sluggish movement of the bridge. Also those add-on blocks has separate feature to stop the bridge from coming out of housing. Also due to limitations in stopper function normally manufacturer does not recommend to change the return spring force.
An arrangement is made for fixed and moving contacts with desired rating. However, the actuator design is suitable for use in control circuit only. The assembly of the actuator is so simple and robust that any unskilled person can do the assembly. The mounting is can be done be with the help of single screw. The click fit arrangement provided with bridge and housing of the actuator makes it very simple to assemble.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
A basic object of the present invention is to overcome the disadvantages/drawbacks of the known art.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved economical manual actuator used in control system.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an actuator that can be mounted with any other actuating component so as to actuate both together or simultaneously.
Another object of the present invention is to provide an actuator that can be easily assembled by click fit arrangement.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a simple and cost effective actuator.
These and other advantages of the present invention will become readily apparent from the following detailed description read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The following presents a simplified summary of the invention in order to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the invention. This summary is not an extensive overview of the present invention. It is not intended to identify the key/critical elements of the invention or to delineate the scope of the invention. Its sole purpose is to present some concept of the invention in a simplified form as a prelude to a more detailed description of the invention presented later.
There is provided improved actuator arrangement for use in control circuits to actuate contacts manually.
According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided an improved actuator arrangement for use in control circuits to actuate contacts manually, said arrangement comprising a bridge means facilitating actuation; a housing means; a mounting means; a terminal means fixed using a plurality of screw means; a click fit means engaged to said housing means and said bridge means; a spring means integrated to said bridge means providing force for actuation; at least one fixed contact; at least one moving contact placed on said bridge means, said fixed and moving contact having a gap there between; wherein said click fit means facilitate said bridge means to assemble with said housing means; wherein said click fit means configured to restrict said bridge means in said housing means.
Yet other aspect of the present invention provides adapted to be mounted optionally with an actuating component so as to actuate both together or simultaneously.
Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses exemplary embodiments of the invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE ACCOMPANYING DRAWINGS
The following drawings are illustrative of particular examples for enabling methods of the present invention, are descriptive of some of the methods, and are not intended to limit the scope of the invention. The drawings are not to scale (unless so stated) and are intended for use in conjunction with the explanations in the following detailed description.
Reference is first invited to Fig 1 where the detailed isometric view is provided showing bridge means (1), housing means (2), screw means (3) for fixing fixed terminals (5); mounting means (4) and click fit means (6) for bridge housing assembly.
Fig 2 illustrates a detailed front section view with moving contact (7) placed on the bridge means (1). The manual actuator used in a single normally open contact consists of housing means (2) and bridge means (1). The component can be mounted with the help of screw means and mounting means (4). The click fit means (6) allows bridge means to assemble with housing means easily.
The invented system is thus a single contact actuator that can be actuated manually.
Persons skilled in the art will appreciate that elements in the figures are illustrated for simplicity and clarity and may have not been drawn to scale. For example, the dimensions of some of the elements in the figure may be exaggerated relative to other elements to help to improve understanding of various exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. Throughout the drawings, it should be noted that like reference numbers are used to depict the same or similar elements, features, and structures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The following description with reference to the accompanying drawings is provided to assist in a comprehensive understanding of exemplary embodiments of the invention as defined by the claims and their equivalents. It includes various specific details to assist in that understanding but

these are to be regarded as merely exemplary. Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are omitted for clarity and conciseness.
The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the bibliographical meanings, but, are merely used by the inventor to enable a clear and consistent understanding of the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention as defined by the appended claims and their equivalents.
It is to be understood that the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
By the term "substantially" it is meant that the recited characteristic, parameter, or value need not be achieved exactly, but that deviations or variations, including for example, tolerances, measurement error, measurement accuracy limitations and other factors known to those of skill in the art, may occur in amounts that do not preclude the effect the characteristic was intended to provide.
Accordingly in the present invention, there is provided a manual actuator block suitable for actuating normally open contact manually.
The actuator can be mounted with the any other actuating component so as to actuate both together or simultaneously.
The present invention relates to such an arrangement wherein actuator needs to actuate manually. Also the invention will led to easy assembly of actuator (bridge and housing) incorporating moving and fixed contact and spring means. The actuator can be assembly by easy click fit means.

The manual actuator arrangement is a simple and easy assembly. The force required to actuate the contact is very less so even a little push will actuate the contacts. The actuating force can be increased by replacing the spring means with other spring having desired return force. Also the size of the actuator is very small. This will enable us to use the actuator in the application where space is major constraint.
An arrangement is made for fixed and moving contacts with desired rating. However, the actuator design is suitable for use in control circuit only. The assembly of the actuator is quite simple. The mounting can be done be with the help of single screw means. The click fit means provided with bridge means and housing means of the actuator arrangement makes it very simple to assemble.
Fig 1 gives a detailed isometric view showing bridge means (1), housing means (2), screw means (3) for fixing fixed terminals (5); mounting means (4) and click fit means (6) for bridge housing assembly. Fig 2 gives a detailed front section view with moving contact (7) placed on the bridge means (1). The manual actuator is a single normally open contact consists of housing means (1) and bridge (1). The component can be mounted with the help of screw means and mounting means (4). The click fit means (6) allows bridge means to assembly with housing easily.
As the component will be mounted with the help of screw, it can be mounted in any direction on a plane surface.
The actuator can be operated manually by pressing bridge means (1) from the top. As soon as the bridge means (1) cover the distance equal to gap between fixed (5) and moving contact (7) the normally open contact will get closed till the time pressure exists on the bridge (1).
Following are the features of such an Integrated Support:
1. The invention uses a single economical contact actuator that can be actuated manually.

2. The invention is very easy and simple to assembly due to click fit arrangement. The click fit arrangement also acts as stopper for moving bridge so that the movement of the bridge can be restricted.
3. The arrangement is kept to replace the contacts of the actuator to use it for different current ratings.
4. The force required for actuation is very less and can be vary by replacing return spring of the actuator with other spring having desired return force.
5. The size of the actuator is so small that it will enable us to use it in application where space is major constraint.
6. The cost of the actuator is much less than conventional actuator hence name economical manual actuator.
Notably, Click fit means also act as a stopper for bridge thereby restricting the bridge from coming out of the housing. Hence it will act as a stopper for bridge means. In most of the add-on block the click fit means do not act as stopper but it has to provide some other arrangement to stop bridge from coming out of housing.
Further, the actuation force can be increased or decreased. In add-on block manufacturer does not recommend to change spring means to vary spring force. The increase in spring force will result in more pressure on stopper and hence there will be more chances of damaging the stopper. Also reduction in spring will result into struggling of bridge to return to its original position. This issue cannot occur in manual actuator. As bridge will be actuated manually hence the any deviation in spring fore will not result in any abnormalities.
The mounting of the actuator is very simple and can be done with a single screw. It enables quick and easy mounting while replacement or maintenance. It additionally provides freedom of mounting in any direction. This feature allow user to mount the add-on block in any direction (vertically/horizontally/upside down) without affecting the working of the add-on block.
There is freedom of actuating at any time for desired period during working of the panel. Most of the existing add-on blocks are made to use in couple with other electrical components like

contactor/MCB. Hence actuation of such add-on blocks depends on actuation of corresponding component. Also without use of additional control circuit to monitor couple component (like contactor/MCB), there is no control over actuating time (time at which we need the add-on block should be 'ON') and on time (time for which the add-on block is 'ON'). Since the new Manual actuator can be fully controlled manually, desired actuation time and on time can be achieved without change in circuit/additional monitor and much effort.
Application:
The manual actuator will be used in the product where manual actuation is required. For example in single phase controllers/starters the start capacitors are used for 5-6sec in starting. So the customer has to make an arrangement such that the start capacitors will remain n the circuit in the starting period for 5-6sec. For such condition the manual actuator can be used. The capacitor can be connected in series with manual actuator and customer can press and hold the manual actuator for 5-6sec. With this, the manual actuator will bring the start capacitor in the circuit till the time customer holds the manual actuator. In this way the actuator can be used in the circuit. The actuator can be used in other similar applications.
Although the embodiments herein are described with various specific embodiments, it will be obvious for a person skilled in the art to practice the embodiments herein with modifications. However, all such modifications are deemed to be within the scope of the claims.
It is also to be understood that the following claims are intended to cover all of the generic and specific features of the embodiments described herein and all the statements of the scope of the embodiments which as a matter of language might be said to fall there between.

WE CLAIM:
1. An improved actuator arrangement for use in control circuits to actuate contacts manually, said arrangement comprising:
a bridge means facilitating actuation;
a housing means;
a mounting means;
a terminal means fixed using a plurality of screw means;
a click fit means engaged to said housing means and said bridge means;
a spring means integrated to said bridge means providing force for actuation;
at least one fixed contact;
at least one moving contact placed on said bridge means, said fixed and moving contact having a gap there between;
wherein said click fit means facilitate said bridge means to assemble with said housing means;
wherein said click fit means configured to restrict said bridge means in said housing means.
2. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said spring means selected optionally based on required spring force.
3. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said mounting means comprising a single screw means.
4. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 adapted to be mounted optionally with an actuating component so as to actuate both together or simultaneously.

5. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said terminal means is substantially a fixed terminal means.
6. Arrangement as claimed in claim 1 wherein said actuator is substantially a single contact actuator.
7. An improved actuator arrangement for actuating contacts manually as herein described and illustrated with reference to accompanying drawings.