US-12626878-B2 - Reverse handle accessory for molded circuit breaker

US12626878B2US 12626878 B2US12626878 B2US 12626878B2US-12626878-B2

Abstract

A circuit breaker accessory for reverse handle operation of a circuit breaker installed in a vertically inverse orientation includes a housing configured for attachment to a face of a circuit breaker on which a switching handle of the circuit breaker is arranged. A reverse switching handle is configured with a transverse sleeve for a pivot axis of operation between a down position and an up position with a top to protrude through the housing. An extension arm has a pivoting connector at a first end for coupling with the bottom end of the reverse switching handle, and a collar at a second end for coupling with the switching handle of the circuit breaker. A pivot shaft couples the transverse sleeve of reverse switching handle with the housing, arranged to fit through the transverse sleeve. The reverse switching handle operates in a direction opposite to the switching handle of the circuit breaker due to extension by the extension arm.

Inventors

Mauricio Rodriguez
Mario Munoz
Lawrence Navarre

Assignees

SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20230824

Claims (8)

1 . A circuit breaker accessory for reverse handle operation of a circuit breaker installed in a vertically inverse orientation, the accessory, comprising: a housing configured for attachment to a face of a circuit breaker on which a switching handle of the circuit breaker is arranged, the housing comprising a handle opening on the face surface and a pair of pivot openings to accept a pivot shaft through two sides of the housing; a reverse switching handle configured with a transverse sleeve for a pivot axis of operation between a down position and an up position, a top end arranged to protrude through a first opening, and a bottom end; an extension arm configured with a pivoting connector at a first end for coupling with the bottom end of the reverse switching handle, and a collar at a second end for coupling with the switching handle of the circuit breaker; and the pivot shaft, wherein the pivot shaft is: configured to couple the transverse sleeve of the reverse switching handle with the housing, and arranged to fit through the pair of pivot openings and through the transverse sleeve; wherein the reverse switching handle operates in a direction opposite to the switching handle of the circuit breaker due to extension by the extension arm.
2 . The circuit breaker accessory of claim 1 , wherein the pivoting connector is implemented as a pair of connection tabs that snap fit onto indentations at the bottom end of the reverse switching handle.
3 . The circuit breaker accessory of claim 1 , wherein the collar has a diameter that is slightly larger than the width of the switching handle for a fit that permits free rotation within the diameter while maintaining a coupling.
4 . The circuit breaker accessory of claim 1 , wherein a length of the extension arm is set to correspond with the top end of the reverse switching handle being in the down position while the position of the switching handle of the circuit breaker is in the up position and vice-versa.
5 . The circuit breaker accessory of claim 1 , wherein an axial center point of the pivot shaft and corresponding center point of the pivot openings along a first dimension of the housing is determined in conjunction with a length of the reverse switching handle, such as to allow for clearance between the face of the circuit breaker and the bottom end of the reverse switching handle.
6 . The circuit breaker accessory of claim 1 , wherein an axial center point of the pivot shaft and corresponding center point of the pivot openings along a second dimension of the housing is determined in conjunction with a length of the reverse switching handle, such as to allow for a full angular range of operation between the down position and the up position of the reverse switching handle.
7 . The circuit breaker accessory of claim 1 , wherein the extension arm comprises a flange arranged along a top surface of the extension arm for constant contact with an inside surface of the housing which forces the collar against the switching handle of the circuit breaker to maintain the coupling with the switching handle of the circuit breaker.
8 . The circuit breaker accessory of claim 7 , wherein the flange is shaped to allow rolling along its edge against the inside surface of the housing as the switching handle is operated up and down.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD This application relates to circuit breakers. More particularly, this application relates to an accessory for a molded case circuit breaker for inverted installation. BACKGROUND The National Electric Code requires circuit breaker operation conformity such that for a circuit breaker switching handle operated vertically, the up position shall be the “on” position (circuit breaker closed). However, there are certain installations that require that the circuit breaker be arranged in a panel such that the vertical orientation is inverted, which results in a reversal of switching handle direction when operated vertically, adverse to the code requirement. An example of such an installation is illustrated in FIG. 1, in which pairs of a molded case circuit breaker 101 with switching handle 105 are to be installed in an electrical enclosure 110 (e.g., a load center with a bank of watt-hour meters). This configuration can be found in new construction and modifications to multi-unit dwellings that now specify a mandatory provision for electrical vehicle (EV) charging for each service line. In order to accommodate this new requirement, a separate circuit is to be protected by a dedicated circuit breaker. A first circuit breaker 101a is mounted to a bus bar (not shown) in enclosure 110, oriented in the usual manner such that switching handle 105 is in the up position for an energized circuit load (i.e., circuit breaker closed, “on” position). For this example, circuit breaker 101a is a main circuit breaker for a metered electricity supply service, with meter connection point 120 shown in an adjacent compartment. A second circuit breaker 101b dedicated for the EV charging service is also mounted to the same bus bar, but inverted (upside-down) to permit wiring connections 102 without interference. For convenient metering, it is desirable to install the second circuit breaker 101b for the EV charger circuit adjacent to the main circuit breaker 101a. Due to the wiring access, bus configuration and space limitations, a preferred installation of circuit breaker 101b is in an inverted configuration, abutting circuit breaker 101a as shown. This way, both circuit breakers 101a, 101b can be connected on the same bus bar stabs to avoid potential overheating of the distribution bus bar. In such cases, the circuit breaker 101b violates the above stated code requirement for direction of the switching handle position. There is a need to reverse the switching handle operation for a circuit breaker for vertically inverted (upside-down) installations in order to comply with code requirements. SUMMARY Aspects of the present disclosure provide an apparatus for reversing the switching handle direction of a circuit breaker installed in a vertically inverted configuration, without having to deconstruct the molded case circuit breaker and avoiding a redesign and manufacture of a specialized circuit breaker with reversed switching handle. The technical solution provides an assembly that can be easily attached to the face of the circuit breaker which couples an operable extension to the switching handle to reverse the switching handle direction. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Non-limiting and non-exhaustive embodiments of the present embodiments are described with reference to the following FIGURES, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout the drawings unless otherwise specified. FIGS. 1A and 1B illustrate an example of electrical panel compartment installation with stacked pairs of circuit breakers in a power meter bank. FIGS. 2A, 2B illustrate an example of a circuit breaker accessory with inverted switching handle in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. FIG. 3 illustrates an example of a side cross-sectional view for the inverted switching handle installed on a circuit breaker in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION FIGS. 2A, 2B illustrate an example of a circuit breaker accessory with reverse switching handle in accordance with embodiments of this disclosure. As shown in FIG. 2A, an accessory 200 is provided for easily attaching to circuit breaker 101. Details of accessory 200 is shown as an exploded view in FIG. 2B. A housing 201 includes a handle opening 203 for allowing reverse switching handle 212 to protrude and operate freely for a range of motion between up and down positions. Mounting features 202 can be arranged along any edge of housing 201 for enabling a snap-on or clip-in fit to a coupling point of circuit breaker 101. For example, a protruding tab on circuit breaker 101 can snap into a mounting feature 202 configured as a fitted slot that mates with the tab. As an alternative, the slot and tab may be opposite of this. Other attachment means may include set screws, pins, rivets, clips, or the like. The reversing handle 212 is connected to the switching handle 105 via extension arm 211 within the interior of housing 201. A pivoting connector 215