Method for indicating the position of a circuit breaker in a switchgear and system therefor

Abstract

A method for indicating a position of a circuit breaker in a switchgear and a system thereof are disclosed. The method includes aspects of determining a position of a follower based on movement of the circuit breaker between a test position and an operating position of the circuit breaker in a circuit breaker compartment of the switchgear. The method also includes aspects of operating an indicator to indicate at least one of the test position and the operating position of the circuit breaker based on the determined position of the follower.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure generally relates to electrical switching equipment in power systems. More specifically, this disclosure relates to a method and system for indicating the position of a circuit breaker in a switch cabinet. Background Technology

[0002] Electrical switchgear is used in power distribution systems to distribute power and selectively isolate electrical loads. Switchgear is manufactured in various forms. Typically, switchgear comprises a combination of electrical components such as disconnecting switches, fuses, circuit breakers, and main distribution busbars or busbars. Switchgear is located where power distribution, isolation, and / or protection are required. These locations may include, for example, generators, factories, motors, transformers, and substations.

[0003] Several situations, such as short circuits or excessive overload current, sparks, or arcs, can cause fires within the power system. Because switching equipment distributes current, excessive current can sometimes damage the power system. Therefore, power systems should be equipped with circuit breakers when necessary. Circuit breakers protect the power system from damage caused by overcurrents resulting from overloads or short circuits. Circuit breakers disconnect the current path through disconnect terminals and interrupt current upon detecting a fault.

[0004] The information disclosed in the Background section of this disclosure is intended only to enhance the understanding of the general background of the invention and should not be construed as an admission of prior art known to those skilled in the art or any form of implication. Summary of the Invention

[0005] One or more drawbacks of the components and systems claimed in this disclosure are overcome, and additional advantages are provided by the components and systems claimed in this disclosure. Further features and advantages are achieved through the technology of this disclosure. Other embodiments and aspects of this disclosure are described in detail herein and are considered part of the claimed disclosure.

[0006] In a non-limiting embodiment of this disclosure, a method for indicating the position of a circuit breaker in a switchgear is disclosed. The method includes determining the position of a driven element based on movement of the circuit breaker between a test position and an operating position within the circuit breaker compartment of the switchgear. The method further includes operating an indicator to indicate at least one of the test position and the operating position of the circuit breaker based on the determined position of the driven element.

[0007] In embodiments of this disclosure, the driven element is actuated via the circuit breaker frame based on the movement of the circuit breaker.

[0008] In embodiments of this disclosure, the indicator is operated by a connection component that couples the follower and the indicator.

[0009] In embodiments of this disclosure, the indicator is slidably operated by a connecting component to indicate at least one of the test position and the operating position of the circuit breaker.

[0010] In embodiments of this disclosure, the indicator operates based on signals from a sensor module associated with at least one component of the follower and the connecting assembly.

[0011] In another non-limiting embodiment of this disclosure, an indicating assembly for indicating the position of a circuit breaker in a switchgear is disclosed. The indicating assembly includes an indicator slidably housed in the base plate of a low-voltage compartment. Furthermore, a follower contacts the frame of the circuit breaker, wherein the follower is configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to movement of the circuit breaker. One end of a connecting assembly is coupled to the follower, and the other end is coupled to the indicator. Movement of the follower between the first and second positions operates the indicator to slide between a test position and a working position to indicate the position of the circuit breaker.

[0012] In embodiments of this disclosure, the first position of the driven member corresponds to the test position of the circuit breaker, and the second position of the driven member corresponds to the operating position of the circuit breaker.

[0013] In embodiments of this disclosure, the indicator is housed behind a window defined in the floor of the low-pressure compartment.

[0014] In embodiments of this disclosure, a guide bracket is attached to the base plate of a low-pressure compartment for slidably accommodating an indicator.

[0015] In embodiments of this disclosure, the connection assembly includes a baffle pivotally connected to the top wall of the circuit breaker compartment and a driven member, wherein the baffle moves between a first position and a second position relative to movement of the driven member. One end of a spring-loaded mechanism is connected to an indicator and a cable, wherein one end of the cable is connected to the baffle, and the other end of the cable is connected to the opposite end of the spring-loaded mechanism.

[0016] In embodiments of this disclosure, the spring-loaded mechanism includes a shaft slidably housed by at least one support plate, one end of which is connected to an indicator and the other end to a cable. A spring is arranged around the shaft, wherein the spring is configured to provide a spring force to the indicator as it is laterally moved from a working position to a test position.

[0017] In embodiments of this disclosure, at least one limit switch is provided near the indicator and is actuated by sliding the indicator between the test position and the working position.

[0018] In another non-limiting embodiment of this disclosure, a switch cabinet is disclosed. The switch cabinet includes a low-voltage compartment, a cable compartment, and a circuit breaker compartment. At least one circuit breaker is movably housed in the circuit breaker compartment via a guide assembly, wherein the at least one circuit breaker can be operated between a test position and an operating position within the circuit breaker compartment via the guide assembly. An indicating assembly for indicating the position of the circuit breaker is provided, wherein the indicating assembly includes an indicator slidably housed in the base plate of the low-voltage compartment. A follower is provided in contact with the frame of the circuit breaker, wherein the follower is configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to movement of the circuit breaker. A connection assembly coupled to the follower is arranged at one end, and an indicator is arranged at the other end, wherein movement of the follower between the first and second positions operates the indicator to slide between the test position and the operating position to indicate the position of the circuit breaker.

[0019] In embodiments of this disclosure, the guiding assembly includes at least one guide rail and at least one guide groove for receiving at least one guide rail to facilitate sliding movement of the circuit breaker within the circuit breaker compartment.

[0020] In embodiments of this disclosure, at least one limit switch is provided near the indicator and is actuated by sliding the indicator between the test position and the working position.

[0021] In another non-limiting embodiment of this disclosure, a system for indicating the position of a circuit breaker is disclosed. The system includes a driven member in contact with the frame of the circuit breaker, wherein the driven member is configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to movement of the circuit breaker. A sensor module is associated with the driven member and configured to generate a signal corresponding to the position of the driven member. A control unit is associated with the sensor module, wherein the control unit is configured to determine the position of the circuit breaker based on signals received from the sensor module. The control unit also indicates at least one of a test position and an operating position of the circuit breaker via an indicator.

[0022] In embodiments of this disclosure, the transmitter is housed in a circuit breaker compartment and configured to transmit signals.

[0023] In embodiments of this disclosure, a sensor module associated with the follower laterally moves between a first position and a second position, and receives a signal transmitted by a transmitter when the follower is in at least one of the first and second positions.

[0024] In embodiments of this disclosure, the control unit is configured to indicate the test position and operating position of the circuit breaker via an indication unit based on signals received from the sensor module when the driven member is in at least one of a first position and a second position.

[0025] In embodiments of this disclosure, a sensor module housed in a follower receives a signal from a transmitter when the follower is laterally moved to a second position, and the control unit interprets the signal from the sensor module as the operating position of the circuit breaker.

[0026] In another non-limiting embodiment of this disclosure, a switch cabinet is disclosed. The switch cabinet includes a low-voltage compartment, a cable compartment, and a circuit breaker compartment. At least one circuit breaker is movably housed in the circuit breaker compartment via a guide assembly, wherein the at least one circuit breaker can be operated between a test position and an operating position within the circuit breaker compartment via the guide assembly. An indicating assembly for indicating the position of the circuit breaker is provided, wherein the indicating assembly includes an indicator slidably housed in the base plate of the low-voltage compartment. A follower is provided in contact with the frame of the circuit breaker, wherein the follower is configured to move between a first position and a second position relative to movement of the circuit breaker. A sensor module is configured to generate a signal corresponding to the position of the follower, and a control unit is associated with the sensor module. The control unit is configured to determine the position of the circuit breaker based on the signal received from the sensor module. The control unit indicates at least one of the test position and the operating position of the circuit breaker via the indicator.

[0027] The above overview is illustrative only and is not intended to be limiting in any way. Other aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent from the accompanying drawings and the following detailed description, in addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features described above. Attached Figure Description

[0028] The novel features and characteristics of this disclosure are set forth in the appended claims. However, the disclosure itself, its modes of use, other objectives and advantages, will be best understood by referring to the following detailed description of embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. One or more embodiments will now be described by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals denote like elements, and wherein:

[0029] Figure 1 A perspective view of a switch cabinet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0030] Figure 2 A perspective view of a low-voltage compartment of a switch cabinet with a door, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown.

[0031] Figure 3 A perspective view of a low-voltage compartment of a switch cabinet without a door, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure, is shown.

[0032] Figure 4 A side view of the low-voltage compartment of a switchgear according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0033] Figure 5A bottom perspective view of the low-voltage compartment of a switchgear according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0034] Figure 6 A perspective view of an indicator component in a switch cabinet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0035] Figure 7 Explanation Figure 6 The front view of the indicator component.

[0036] Figure 8 Explanation Figure 6 The side view of the indicator component.

[0037] Figure 9 A perspective view illustrating a circuit breaker and indicating assembly in a circuit breaker compartment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided.

[0038] Figure 10 and Figure 11 A perspective view illustrating an indicator component when the circuit breaker is in the test position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0039] Figure 12 A side view illustrating an indicator component when the circuit breaker is in the test position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0040] Figure 13 A front view of the indicator component is shown according to an embodiment of the present disclosure when the circuit breaker is in the operating position.

[0041] Figure 14 A perspective view illustrating an indicator component when the circuit breaker is in the operating position, according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

[0042] Figure 15 A side view of a low-pressure compartment according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated, wherein the indicated components are in the operating position.

[0043] Figure 16 A front view of an indicator component in a working position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0044] Figure 17 and Figure 18 A perspective view illustrating an indicator component in a working position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is shown.

[0045] Figure 19 A side view of an indicator component in a working position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0046] Figure 20 A front view of an indicator component in a working position according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is illustrated.

[0047] Figure 21A perspective view illustrating an embodiment of an indicator component having a transmitter and a receiver.

[0048] Figure 22 This is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the component when the circuit breaker is in the test position.

[0049] Figure 23 This is a perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the component when the circuit breaker is in the operating position.

[0050] Figure 24 A block diagram illustrating a system for indicating the location of a circuit breaker in a switch cabinet according to an embodiment of the present disclosure is provided.

[0051] The accompanying drawings illustrate embodiments of the present disclosure for illustrative purposes only. Those skilled in the art will readily recognize from the following description that alternative embodiments of the actuation components shown herein can be employed without departing from the principles of the present disclosure described herein. Detailed Implementation

[0052] The features and technical advantages of this disclosure have been summarized above to provide a better understanding of the following description. Further features and advantages of this disclosure that form the subject matter of this disclosure will be described below. Those skilled in the art will understand that the disclosed concepts and specific embodiments can be readily used as the basis for modifying or designing other systems to achieve the same objectives of this disclosure. Those skilled in the art will also recognize that such equivalent constructions do not depart from the scope of this disclosure. The novel features considered characteristic of this disclosure, its structure, and other objectives and advantages will be better understood from the following description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. However, it should be clearly understood that each drawing is provided for illustrative and descriptive purposes only and is not intended to be a definition of limitation of this disclosure.

[0053] While this disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternatives, specific embodiments thereof have been illustrated by way of example in the accompanying drawings and will be described below. However, it should be understood that the invention is not intended to limit this disclosure to the specific forms disclosed; rather, this disclosure will cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives within the scope of this disclosure.

[0054] The term "comprising" or any other variations thereof as used in this disclosure is intended to cover non-exclusive inclusions, such that a component includes a list of parts that includes not only those parts but may also include other parts not expressly listed or inherent to such a component. In other words, without further constraints, the inclusion of one or more elements in a component does not exclude the presence of other elements or additional elements in the system or device.

[0055] refer to Figures 1 to 24The following paragraphs describe this disclosure. In the accompanying drawings, the same elements or elements having similar functions are indicated by the same reference numerals. To facilitate understanding of the principles of this disclosure, reference will now be made to specific embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, and these embodiments will be described using specific language. However, it should be understood that the scope of the invention is not therefore limited, and such changes and other modifications in the illustrated methods, as well as such other applications of the principles of the invention shown therein, are what those skilled in the art to which this disclosure pertains would normally conceive.

[0056] The following detailed description is exemplary in nature only and is not intended to limit application and use. Furthermore, it is not intended to be bound by any theory set forth in the foregoing background or overview or the following detailed description. It should be understood that this disclosure may take various alternative orientations and sequences of steps unless expressly stated otherwise. It should also be understood that the specific devices or components shown in the drawings and described in the following specification are merely exemplary embodiments of the inventive concepts as defined in the appended claims. Preferred embodiments of this disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Although some specific terminology will be used to indicate a particular direction, the purpose of using these terms or words is solely to facilitate understanding of the invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0057] Therefore, it should be noted that the meanings of these terms or words should not unduly limit the technical scope of the invention. Furthermore, it should be understood that the wording and terminology used herein are for descriptive purposes and should not be considered limiting. Unless otherwise specified or limited, the terms “installation,” “connection,” “support,” and “coupling,” and variations thereof, are widely used to include direct and indirect installation, connection, support, and coupling. Moreover, “connection” and “coupling” are not limited to physical or mechanical connections or couplings. It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the specific devices, methods, applications, conditions, or parameters described and / or shown herein, and the terminology used herein is for describing particular embodiments by way of example and is not intended to limit the claimed invention. In this document, the word “exemplary” is used herein to mean “serves as an example, instance, or illustration.” Any embodiment or implementation of the subject matter described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as superior to other embodiments.

[0058] Figure 1A perspective view of switchgear 100 is illustrated. Switchgear 100 may include at least one electrical device. Switchgear 100 may include at least one current transformer for measuring current from the main line and at least one voltage transformer for measuring voltage in the main line. Switchgear 100 includes a low-voltage compartment 1 with a low-voltage compartment door 1a. Switchgear 100 also includes a cable compartment 3 with a cable compartment door 3a. Switchgear 100 may also include a circuit breaker compartment 2, which houses at least one circuit breaker 22 (hereinafter referred to as "circuit breaker 22") and a door 2a for closing the circuit breaker compartment 2. Circuit breaker compartment 2 may be configured herein between low-voltage compartment 1 and cable compartment 3. However, this configuration should not be considered a limitation, and any other combination may be used as needed. Circuit breaker 22 protects the power system from damage caused by overcurrent due to overload or short circuit. Switchgear 100 may include at least one busbar connected to at least one circuit breaker 22 for isolating at least one electrical device in the power distribution system and for distributing current among multiple components within the power system. The circuit breaker 22, housed within the circuit breaker compartment 2, can be operated between test position A and operating position B. The circuit breaker 22 in operating position B corresponds to its operating state, while the circuit breaker 22 in test position A is in its non-operating state. The switchgear 100 also includes an indicating component 200 for indicating the instantaneous position of the circuit breaker 22. The indicating component 200 visually indicates to the user the test and operating positions of the circuit breaker 22 within the switchgear 100. The structural configuration and positioning of the indicating component 200 are described in more detail below.

[0059] In this embodiment, the circuit breaker 22 can be operated between a test position A and an operating position B via a guide assembly. The guide assembly includes at least one guide rail and at least one guide groove for receiving the at least one guide rail. The guide groove and guide rail facilitate sliding movement of the circuit breaker within the circuit breaker compartment 2.

[0060] Figures 2 to 5 A low-voltage compartment 1 in a switchgear 100 with an indicating assembly 200 is described. The low-voltage compartment 1 may include a base plate 1ab. Furthermore, the indicating assembly 200 may be connected to the base plate 1ab such that the indicating assembly 200 is located within a circuit breaker compartment 2. The low-voltage compartment 1 may define a window 5 along its bottom end. The window 5 may be a cutout or opening for receiving an indicator 4. The indicator 4 may be engraved with text, such as, but not limited to, “Test” and “Operating” indications. The indicator 4 may indicate the test position or operating position of the circuit breaker 22. The indicating assembly 200 includes a baffle 9 and a follower 6. The follower 6 is movably coupled to the baffle 9 via an intermediate connector 15. The baffle 9 may be pivotally connected to the base plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1. The baffle 9 may be pivotally connected to the base plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1 by any means known in the art, including but not limited to fasteners, rivets, welded joints, etc. Figure 5 As shown, the baffle 9 can be connected to the bottom plate 1ab of the low-pressure compartment 1 via an intermediate connecting block. The connecting block can be fixedly connected to the bottom plate 1ab of the low-pressure compartment 1, while the baffle 9 can be pivotally connected to the connecting block. The relative connections and operation between the follower 6, the baffle 9, and the indicator 4 will be described in more detail below.

[0061] Figure 6 and Figure 7 The diagram illustrates the perspective and front view of the indicator component 200 within the switch cabinet 100. Furthermore, Figure 8 A side view of the indicating assembly 200 in the switch cabinet 100 is illustrated. As described above, the follower 6 is rotatably connected to the connector 15 by any means known in the art. The connector 15 may be a solid member fixedly connected to the baffle 9. One end of the connector 15 rotatably receives the follower 6, while the other end of the connector 15 is fixedly connected to the baffle 9. The baffle 9 may be pivotally connected to the connecting block and may pivot about a first axis AA extending in the lateral direction of the switch cabinet 100. The follower 6 may be considered herein as an actuating member that causes the baffle 9 to pivot about the first axis AA. The follower 6 may be operated between a first position 6a and a second position 6b. Reference Figure 9 , Figure 9 A perspective view of the circuit breaker 22 and the indicating assembly 200 in the circuit breaker compartment 2 is shown. The circuit breaker 22 can be configured to contact the driven member 6. The circuit breaker 22 may include a frame 7. The frame 7 of the circuit breaker 22 is configured to contact the driven member 6 of the indicating assembly 200. Therefore, when the user operates the circuit breaker 22 between the test position and the operating position, the driven member 6 also moves laterally between a first position 6a and a second position 6b. When the circuit breaker 22 is in the test position, the driven member 6 is in the first position 6a. Furthermore, when the circuit breaker 22 moves to the operating position, the frame 7 of the circuit breaker 22 contacts the driven member 6 and pushes the driven member 6 to the second position 6b.

[0062] In an embodiment, the baffle 9 can be defined as an L-shaped member. For example... Figure 5 As shown, baffle 9 can be disposed in circuit breaker compartment 2, and baffle 9 can abut against the bottom plate 1ab of low-voltage compartment 1. (Reference) Figures 6 to 8The baffle 9 includes an extension 16 extending from the central corner of the L-shaped baffle 9. The extension 16 can be configured to extend downward into the circuit breaker compartment 2. The indicating assembly 200 includes a connecting assembly 300 that couples or movably connects the slave 6 to the indicator 4. The connecting assembly 300 transmits the force applied by the circuit breaker 22 to the slave 6 to the indicator 4. The connecting assembly 300 may include the baffle 9, which is pivotally connected to the top wall of the circuit breaker compartment 2 or the bottom plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1. The connecting assembly 300 also includes a base plate 17, which is received on the bottom plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1. The base plate 17 received on the bottom plate 1ab extends into the low-voltage compartment 1, while the baffle 9 and the slave 6 are received on the bottom plate 1ab to be held in the circuit breaker compartment 2. The base plate 17 can be connected to the bottom plate 1ab by any means known in the art, including but not limited to rivets, fasteners, etc. The substrate 17 may also accommodate a plurality of support plates (hereinafter referred to as “support plates”). A first support plate 11a and a second support plate 11b may be positioned adjacent to each other at one end of the substrate 17. A third support plate 11c may be accommodated at the other end of the substrate 17. Each of the first support plate 11a, the second support plate 11b, and the third support plate 11c may be defined by arrangement. The diameter of the device defined on the third support plate 11c may be configured to be larger than the cable 13 but smaller than the cable housing 14. Thus, only the cable 13 may be allowed to pass through the device in the third support plate 11c, while the cable housing 14 is abutted against the third support plate 11c and accommodated without passing through the device in the third support plate 11c. The cable 13 may be securely connected to the extension 16 of the baffle 9 by any means known in the art, including but not limited to fasteners. The cable 13 and the cable housing 14 are connected to the extension 16, which is located in the circuit breaker compartment 2 and may extend into the low-voltage compartment 1 by means defined in the base plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1. Cable 13 and cable housing 14 can also be connected to a third support plate 11c, with cable 13 passing through the third support plate 11c and cable housing 14 abutting against the third support plate 11c. Cable 13 extending through the third support plate 11c can be connected to a spring loading mechanism 400. Spring loading mechanism 400 may include a shaft 10 and a spring 12. Shaft 10 can be configured to be slidably received by means within a first support plate 11a and a second support plate 11b. The distance between the first support plate 11a, the second support plate 11b, the third support plate 11c, and the shaft 10 can be configured such that shaft 10 is always supported by the first support plate 11a and the second support plate 11b, regardless of sliding movement of shaft 10. One end of shaft 10 is connected to cable 13, and the other end of shaft 10 is connected to indicator 4. Furthermore, spring 12 or a tension member can be received on shaft 10, and spring 12 can be configured between indicator 4 and the first support plate 11a.Spring 12 can provide tension to indicator 4 and can retract indicator 4 to its initial position. Indicator 4 can be accommodated by guide bracket 8. Guide bracket 8 can be connected to the base plate 1ab of low-pressure compartment 1 and can be located inside low-pressure compartment 1. Guide bracket 8 can slidably accommodate indicator 4 and can allow indicator 4 to move laterally through window 5 defined in the door of low-pressure compartment 1 and indicate test position and working position.

[0063] In this embodiment, cable 13 can be a non-expandable flexible component. Cable 13 can be made of any material, including but not limited to metals such as steel and aluminum.

[0064] refer to Figures 2 to 5 as well as Figure 10 and Figure 12 This describes the indicating component 200 when the circuit breaker 22 is in the test position. When the circuit breaker 22 is in the test position, the frame 7 of the circuit breaker 22 does not contact the driven member 6. Therefore, the driven member 6 is in the first position 6a, and the baffle 9 connected to the driven member 6 also abuts against the bottom plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1. The cable 13 connected to the extension 16 of the baffle 9 is also in a stationary position. Furthermore, the shaft 10 connected to the cable 13 is also in a position away from the third support plate 11c. Therefore, the indicator 4 can be in a position where the inscription "Test" is depicted through the window 5. The indicator 4 can depict the test position of the circuit breaker 22 to the user. The spring 12 housed between the first support structure and the indicator 4 can be in a state without tension or in a state of non-compression.

[0065] Figures 13 to 20 The indicator assembly 200 is described when the circuit breaker 22 is in the operating position. Once the user operates the circuit breaker 22 from the test position to the operating position, the frame 7 of the circuit breaker 22 can contact the driven member 6, and the driven member 6 can be pushed to the second position 6b. When the driven member 6 retracts to the second position 6b through the frame 7 of the circuit breaker 22, the connecting member 15 also retracts. Furthermore, the baffle 9, which is fixedly connected to the connecting member 15 and pivotally connected to the connecting block, also pivots with the movement of the connecting member 15. The driven member 6 and the connecting member 15 move as a whole; therefore, the baffle 9 connected to the connecting member 15 also pivots downwards away from the bottom plate 1ab of the low-pressure compartment 1. Figure 18Clearly visible, baffle 9 pivots downwards into the circuit breaker compartment 2 and away from the base plate 1ab. The extension 16 from baffle 9 also moves downwards, and the cable 13 connected to the extension 16 is thus pulled downwards. As the cable 13 is pulled downwards into the circuit breaker compartment 2 by the extension 16, the shaft 10 connected to the other end of the cable 13 also retracts. As the cable 13 is pulled away from the base plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1, the shaft 10 can retract to approach or be adjacent to the first support plate 11a. Since one end of the shaft 10 is connected to the cable 13 and the other end is connected to the indicator 4, the indicator 4 can also retract along with the shaft 10 to be in a position near or adjacent to the first support plate 11a. As the indicator 4 slides through the guide bracket and retracts toward the first support plate 11a, the indicator 4 plate also compresses the spring 12 or biasing member. The spring 12 now has sufficient tension to push the indicator 4 back to its initial position without any external force. When indicator 4 retracts toward the first support plate 11a, indicator 4 can be in a position where the inscription describing "operation" is displayed through window 5. Therefore, indicator 4 can show the user the operating position of circuit breaker 22.

[0066] Furthermore, once the user operates the circuit breaker 22 from the operating position back to the test position, the driven member 6 retracts to the first position 6a. Therefore, the biasing force or tension from the compression spring 12 can drive or push the indicator 4 back to its initial position. Thus, the test position is indicated to the user through the window 5 defined in the door of the low-voltage compartment 1. The baffle 9 also retracts to abut against the bottom plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1, and the cable 13 also retracts. The shaft 10 now moves away from the first support plate 11a and remains in this position until an external force is applied to the driven member 6 to move it laterally to the second position 6b.

[0067] In an embodiment, the baffle 9 may also include a spring 12 or a biasing member. When the baffle 9 pivots downwards away from the base plate 1ab of the low-voltage compartment 1, the biasing member in the baffle 9 may be compressed. Therefore, after the circuit breaker 22 is laterally moved or moved from the operating position to the test position, the biasing member of the baffle 9 can cause the baffle 9 to retract toward the base plate 1ab.

[0068] Figure 21 A perspective view illustrating an embodiment of the indicator component 200 in the switch cabinet 100. Figure 24 A block diagram illustrates a system for indicating the location of circuit breaker 22 in switchgear 100. The system may include a transmitter 19 and a receiver 20 connected to a control unit 18. The circuit breaker compartment 2 may include the transmitter 19, and the driven member 6 may include the receiver 20. Figure 21As shown, the side panel of the circuit breaker compartment 2, located near the driven member 6, can accommodate the transmitter 19. The transmitter 19 can be positioned close to or adjacent to the driven member 6 when the driven member 6 is in the first position 6a or when the circuit breaker 22 is in test position A. The control unit 18 can also be connected to the indicating unit 23 and can digitally indicate the test position or operating position of the circuit breaker 22 based on the position of the driven member 6 relative to the transmitter 19. When the driven member 6 is in the first position 6a, the driven member 6 is close to the transmitter 19, and the receiver 20 housed inside the driven member 6 is also close to the transmitter 19. Therefore, the receiver 20 in the driven member 6 receives the signal transmitted from the transmitter 19. The receiver 20 then transmits a signal to the control unit 18, which interprets the received signal as a condition that the driven member 6 is in the first position 6a. The control unit 18 can be configured to interpret the first position 6a of the driven member 6 corresponding to the test position A of the circuit breaker 22. The control unit 18 can then operate the indicating unit 23 to indicate the test position A of the circuit breaker 22. Furthermore, after the user operates the circuit breaker 22 to operating position B, the driven member 6 also moves to the second position 6b. The driven member 6 in the second position 6b can be configured to be away from the transmitter 19. Therefore, the driven member 6 will not receive signals transmitted from the transmitter 19, and the control unit 18 will not receive any signals from the receiver 20. The control unit 18 can be configured to interpret the absence of a signal received from the receiver 20 as corresponding to the driven member 6 in the second position 6b. The control unit 18 can also be configured to interpret the second position 6b of the driven member 6 as the operating position of the circuit breaker 22. The control unit 18 can then operate the indicating unit 23 to indicate the operating position of the circuit breaker 22.

[0069] In an embodiment, the receiver 20 and the transmitter can be any proximity sensor known in the art, configured to receive a signal from the transmitter 19 when the receiver 20 is within a predetermined distance of the transmitter 19.

[0070] Figure 22 and Figure 23 A perspective view illustrating another embodiment of the indicating component 200 is shown. In this embodiment, a plurality of limit switches can be used to detect and indicate the position of the circuit breaker 22. The plurality of limit switches 21 (hereinafter referred to as "limit switches") may include a first limit switch 21a and a second limit switch 21b. The first limit switch 21a may be positioned close to the first support plate 11a and may be configured to be actuated when the indicator 4 slides to indicate the operating position of the circuit breaker 22, such as... Figure 23 As shown. The second limit switch 21b can be positioned away from the indicator 4 and can be configured to be actuated when the indicator 4 slides to indicate the test position of the circuit breaker 22, as shown. Figure 22As shown. As described above, when the circuit breaker 22 is in test position A, the driven member 6 is not in contact with the frame 7 of the circuit breaker 22, and the driven member 6 is in the first position 6a. Therefore, the indicator 4 is in its initial position and indicates the test position of the circuit breaker 22. When the indicator 4 is in its initial position, the tip of the indicator 4 actuates the second limit switch 21b. The second limit switch 21b can be connected to the control unit 18 and can transmit a signal to the control unit 18 when actuated. The control unit 18 receives the signal from the second limit switch 21b, and the control unit 18 can be configured to interpret the signal from the second limit switch 21b as a condition that the circuit breaker 22 is in the test position. The control unit 18 can then actuate the indicator unit 23 to indicate the test position of the circuit breaker 22. Furthermore, when the control unit 18 is actuated to the operating position, the indicator 4 retracts to approach the first support plate 11a. When the indicator 4 approaches the first support plate 11a, the first limit switch 21a can be actuated. The first limit switch 21a can also be connected to the control unit 18 and can transmit a signal to the control unit 18 upon actuation. The control unit 18 receives the signal from the first limit switch 21a and can be configured to interpret the signal from the first limit switch 21a as a condition that the circuit breaker 22 is in the operating position. The control unit 18 can then actuate the indicating unit 23 to indicate the operating position of the circuit breaker 22.

[0071] In this embodiment, the indicator unit 23 may be at least one of an audio device and a video device. The indicator unit 23 may also be a set of lights, one of which may be energized when the circuit breaker 22 is in the test position, and the other of which may be energized when the circuit breaker 22 is in the operating position B.

[0072] In this embodiment, the limit switch 21 can be any electromechanical device operated by external physical force, including but not limited to roller limit switches, plunger limit switches, lever limit switches, etc.

[0073] In the embodiments, the above-described system and indicator component 200 can be used in the switch cabinet 100 without being prone to repeated failures, and can be adapted to the high temperature and volatile environment inside the switch cabinet 100.

[0074] In embodiments of this disclosure, the control unit 18 may be a centralized control unit 18 or a dedicated control unit associated with the indicating component 200. The control unit 18 may include a processing unit. The processing unit may include at least one data processor for executing a program component that performs user- or system-generated requests. The processing unit may be a dedicated processing unit, such as an integrated system (bus) controller, memory management control unit, floating-point unit, graphics processing unit, digital signal processing unit, etc. The processing unit may include a microprocessor, such as an AMD Athlon, Duron, or Opteron, ARM application, embedded, or security processor, IBM PowerPC, Intel Core, Itanium, Xeon, Celeron, or other series of processors. The processing unit may be implemented using mainframe, distributed processor, multi-core, parallel, mesh, or other architectures. Some embodiments may utilize embedded technologies such as application-specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), field-programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), etc.

[0075] In some embodiments, the processing unit may be arranged to communicate with one or more memory devices (e.g., RAM, ROM, etc.) via a storage interface. The storage interface may be connected to the memory device using connection protocols such as Serial Advanced Technology Attachment (SATA), Integrated Drive Electronics (IDE), IEEE-1394, Universal Serial Bus (USB), Fibre Channel, Smaller Computing System Interface (SCSI), and includes, but is not limited to, memory drives, removable disk drives, etc. The memory drive may also include magnetic drums, disk drives, magneto-optical drives, optical drives, redundant arrays of independent disks (RAID), solid-state storage devices, solid-state drives, etc.

[0076] It should be understood that those skilled in the art can develop components and systems with similar configurations without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Such modifications and variations can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, this disclosure is intended to cover such modifications and variations, provided that they fall within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.

[0077] Equivalent:

[0078] Regarding the use of virtually any plural and / or singular terms in this document, those skilled in the art may appropriately convert from plural to singular and / or from singular to plural depending on the context and / or application. For clarity, various singular / plural permutations may be explicitly stated herein.

[0079] Those skilled in the art will understand that, in general, the terms used herein, particularly in the appended claims, are often intended as “open” terms, for example, the body of the appended claims is usually intended to be interpreted as “including but not limited to”, the term “comprising” should be interpreted as “having at least”, the term “comprising” should be interpreted as “including but not limited to”, etc. Those skilled in the art will further understand that if a particular number of claim statements are intended to be introduced, that intention will be explicitly stated in the claims, and without such a statement, the intention does not exist. For example, to aid understanding, the appended claims below may contain the use of the introductory phrases “at least one” and “one or more” to introduce claim statements. However, the use of such phrases should not be construed as implying that the indefinite article “a” introducing a claim statement limits any particular claim containing such an introductory claim statement to containing only one such statement of invention, even when the same claim includes the introductory phrases “one or more” or “at least one” and an indefinite article such as “a”, which should generally be interpreted as meaning “at least one” or “one or more”; the same applies to the use of definite articles to introduce claim statements. Furthermore, even when a specific number of the introduced claim statements are explicitly stated, those skilled in the art will recognize that such statements should generally be interpreted as meaning at least the number stated. For example, a bare statement of "two statements" without other modifiers generally means at least two statements, or two or more statements. Moreover, when using conventions such as "at least one of A, B, and C," this construction generally implies that those skilled in the art will understand the meaning of the convention. For example, "a system having at least one of A, B, and C" will include, but is not limited to, systems having A alone, having B alone, having C alone, having both A and B, having both A and C, having both B and C, and / or having both A, B, and C, etc. In these cases, when using conventions such as "at least one of A, B, or C," this construction generally implies that those skilled in the art will understand the meaning of the convention. For example, "a system having at least one of A, B, or C" will include, but is not limited to, systems having A alone, having B alone, having C alone, having both A and B, having both A and C, having both B and C, and / or having both A, B, and C, etc. Those skilled in the art will further understand that any choice of words and / or phrases that actually present two or more alternative terms, whether in the specification, claims, or drawings, should be understood to take into account the possibility of including one or both of the terms. For example, the phrase "A or B" will be understood to include the possibility of "A" or "B" or "A and B". While various aspects and embodiments have been disclosed herein, others will be apparent to those skilled in the art.The various aspects and embodiments disclosed herein are for illustrative purposes and not for limitation, wherein the true scope and spirit are indicated by the following claims.

[0080] Figure Labels

[0081]

[0082]

[0083]

Claims

1. A method for indicating the position of a circuit breaker (22) in a switch cabinet (100), the method comprising: The position of the slave (6) is determined based on the movement of the circuit breaker (22) between the test position (A) and the working position (B) in the circuit breaker compartment (2) of the switch cabinet (100); The operation indicator (4) indicates at least one of the test position (A) and the operating position (B) of the circuit breaker (22) based on the determined position of the driven member (6); The indicator (4) operates based on a signal from a sensor module (20) associated with at least one of the slave (6) and the connection assembly (300).

2. The method according to claim 1, comprising: Based on the movement of the circuit breaker (22), the driven member (6) is actuated through the frame (7) of the circuit breaker (22).

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicator (4) is operated by the connection component (300), the connection component (300) being coupled to the follower (6) and the indicator (4).

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein the indicator (4) is slidably operated by the connection assembly (300) to indicate at least one of the test position (A) and the working position (B) of the circuit breaker (22).

5. An indicating assembly (200) for indicating the position of a circuit breaker (22) in a switch cabinet (100), the indicating assembly (200) comprising: The indicator (4) is slidably housed in the base plate (1ab) of the low-pressure compartment (1); The follower (6) contacts the frame (7) of the circuit breaker (22), wherein the follower (6) is configured to move between a first position (6a) and a second position (6b) relative to the movement of the circuit breaker (22); A connecting assembly (300) is coupled at one end to the follower (6) and at the other end to the indicator (4), wherein movement of the follower (6) between the first position (6a) and the second position (6b) causes the indicator (4) to slide between the test position (A) and the working position (B) to indicate the position of the circuit breaker (22); The indicator (4) operates based on a signal from a sensor module (20) associated with at least one of the slave (6) and the connection assembly (300).

6. The indicating component (200) according to claim 5, wherein the first position (6a) of the follower (6) corresponds to the test position (A) of the circuit breaker (22), and the second position (6b) of the follower (6) corresponds to the operating position (B) of the circuit breaker (22).

7. The indicator assembly (200) according to claim 5, wherein the indicator (4) is housed behind a window (5) defined in the base plate (1ab) of the low-pressure compartment (1).

8. The indicator assembly (200) according to claim 5, comprising a guide bracket (8) connected to the base plate (1ab) of the low-pressure compartment (1) for slidably accommodating the indicator (4).

9. The indicating component (200) according to claim 5, wherein the connection component (300) comprises: A baffle (9) is pivotally connected to the top wall of the circuit breaker compartment (2) and the follower (6), wherein the movement of the baffle (9) relative to the follower (6) is between a first position (6a) and a second position (6b); A spring-loaded mechanism (400) is connected at one end to the indicator (4); as well as A cable (13), one end of which is connected to the baffle (9), and the other end of which is connected to the opposite end of the spring loading mechanism (400).

10. The indicating assembly (200) according to claim 9, wherein the spring loading mechanism (400) comprises: A shaft (10), slidably housed by at least one support plate (11), one end of which is connected to the indicator (4) and the other end to the cable (13); and A spring (12) is arranged around the shaft (10), wherein the spring (12) is configured to provide elastic force to the indicator (4) when the indicator (4) is moved laterally from the working position (B) to the test position (A).

11. The indicator assembly (200) according to claim 9, comprising at least one limit switch (21) provided near the indicator (4) and actuated by sliding the indicator (4) between the test position (A) and the working position (B).

12. A switch cabinet (100), comprising, Low-pressure compartment (1); Cable compartment (3); Circuit breaker compartment (2); At least one circuit breaker (22) is movably housed in the circuit breaker compartment (2) via a guide assembly, wherein the at least one circuit breaker (22) is operable between a test position (A) and a working position (B) within the circuit breaker compartment (2) via the guide assembly; An indicating component (200) for indicating the position of the circuit breaker (22), wherein the indicating component (200) includes: The indicator (4) is slidably housed in the base plate (1ab) of the low-pressure compartment (1); Follower (6) contacts the frame of circuit breaker (22), wherein the follower (6) is configured to move between a first position (6a) and a second position (6b) relative to the movement of the circuit breaker (22); A connecting assembly (300) is coupled at one end to the follower (6) and at the other end to the indicator (4), wherein movement of the follower (6) between the first position (6a) and the second position (6b) causes the indicator (4) to slide between the test position (A) and the working position (B) to indicate the position of the circuit breaker (22); The indicator (4) operates based on a signal from a sensor module (20) associated with at least one of the slave (6) and the connection assembly (300).

13. The switch cabinet (100) according to claim 12, wherein the guiding assembly includes at least one guide rail and at least one guide groove for receiving the at least one guide rail to facilitate sliding movement of the circuit breaker (22) within the circuit breaker compartment (2).

14. The switch cabinet (100) according to claim 12, wherein the first position (6a) of the follower (6) corresponds to the test position (A) of the circuit breaker (22), and the second position (6b) of the follower (6) corresponds to the working position (B) of the circuit breaker (22).

15. The switch cabinet (100) according to claim 12, wherein the indicator (4) is housed behind a window (5) which is defined in the base plate (1ab) of the low-pressure compartment (1).

16. The switch cabinet (100) according to claim 12, comprising a guide bracket (8) connected to the base plate (1ab) of the low-pressure compartment (1) for slidably accommodating the indicator (4).

17. The switch cabinet (100) according to claim 12, wherein the connection assembly (300) comprises: A baffle (9) is pivotally connected to the top wall of the circuit breaker compartment (2) and the follower (6), wherein the movement of the baffle (9) relative to the follower (6) is between a first position (6a) and a second position (6b); A spring-loaded mechanism (400) is connected at one end to the indicator (4); as well as A cable (13), one end of which is connected to the baffle (9), and the other end of which is connected to the opposite end of the spring loading mechanism (400).

18. The switch cabinet (100) according to claim 17, wherein the spring loading mechanism (400) comprises: A shaft (10), slidably housed by at least one support plate (11), one end of which is connected to the indicator (4) and the other end to the cable (13); and A spring (12) is arranged around the shaft (10), wherein the spring (12) is configured to provide elastic force to the indicator (4) when the indicator (4) is moved laterally from the working position (B) to the test position (A).

19. The switch cabinet (100) according to claim 12 includes at least one limit switch (21) provided near the indicator (4) and actuated by sliding the indicator (4) between the test position (A) and the working position (B).

20. A system (500) for indicating the location of a circuit breaker (22), the system (500) comprising: The follower (6) contacts the frame (7) of the circuit breaker (22), wherein the follower (6) is configured to move between a first position (6a) and a second position (6b) relative to the movement of the circuit breaker (22); A sensor module (20), associated with the follower (6), is configured to generate a signal corresponding to the position of the follower (6); as well as A control unit (18), associated with the sensor module (20), wherein the control unit (18) is configured to: The position of the circuit breaker (22) is determined based on the signal received from the sensor module (20); The indicator (4) indicates at least one of the test position (A) and the working position (B) of the circuit breaker (22).

21. The system (500) of claim 20, comprising a transmitter (19) housed in the circuit breaker compartment (2), the transmitter being configured to transmit signals.

22. The system (500) of claim 21, wherein the sensor module (20) associated with the follower (6) moves laterally between the first position (6a) and the second position (6b), and receives a signal transmitted by the transmitter (19) when the follower (6) is in at least one of the first position (6a) and the second position (6b).

23. The system (500) according to claim 20, wherein the control unit (18) is configured to, based on a signal received from the sensor module (20), indicate the test position (A) and the working position (B) of the circuit breaker (22) via the indicator unit (23) when the follower (6) is in at least one of the first position (6a) and the second position (6b).

24. The system (500) according to claim 21, wherein the sensor module (20) housed in the follower (6) receives a signal from the transmitter (19) when the follower (6) is laterally moved to the second position (6b), and the control unit (18) interprets the signal from the sensor module (20) as the operating position (B) of the circuit breaker (22).

25. A switch cabinet (100), comprising, At least one low-pressure compartment (1); At least one cable compartment (3); At least one circuit breaker compartment (2), and at least one circuit breaker (22) movably housed in the circuit breaker compartment (2) via a guide assembly; System (500) for indicating the location of the circuit breaker (22), wherein the system (500) includes: The follower (6) contacts the frame (7) of the circuit breaker (22), wherein the follower (6) is configured to move between a first position (6a) and a second position (6b) relative to the movement of the circuit breaker (22); The sensor module (20) is configured to generate a signal corresponding to the position of the follower (6); and A control unit (18), associated with the sensor module (20), wherein the control unit (18) is configured to: The position of the circuit breaker (22) is determined based on the signal received from the sensor module (20); The indicator (4) indicates at least one of the test position (A) and the working position (B) of the circuit breaker (22).

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