Circuit Breaker Lockout with Vertical Padlock Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing circuit breaker lockout apparatuses face difficulties in intuitive operation and space constraints when attaching a padlock, particularly due to the horizontal or vertical hanging requirements and laborious threading processes, which complicates secure locking and unlocking of power circuit breakers.
Innovation Solution
The circuit breaker lockout apparatus features a base body with a projection that includes a cutout for a locking element passage, allowing easy access and orientation for padlock attachment, with horizontal and vertical passages that facilitate intuitive operation and compact design, enabling secure locking without obstructing adjacent circuit breakers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the padlock is attached horizontally through two conduits extending through the base body, then the padlock can be secured to the circuit breaker, but the padlock takes up a lot of space in the horizontal direction and adjacent circuit breakers cannot be provided with lockout apparatus
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the attachment dimension from horizontal to vertical by providing a passage through the projection that extends in the vertical direction. This allows the padlock to be attached vertically, reducing horizontal space occupation and enabling adjacent circuit breakers to also have lockout apparatus attached.
2Area of stationary object
If the padlock is attached vertically by threading into a passage, then the horizontal space is reduced, but the threading process becomes comparatively laborious
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the locking mechanism into a projection extending from the base body with a passage through it. This segmented design allows the padlock shackle to be directly inserted through the projection without laborious threading, simplifying the attachment process while maintaining vertical orientation.
3Reliability
If two conduits are provided for padlock attachment, then the padlock can be secured, but the operation is not intuitively obvious to the user
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the padlock attachment function from the base body and concentrates it in a projection that extends outward. This projection with its passage provides a clear, intuitive attachment point that is immediately recognizable to users, eliminating the confusion of multiple conduits.
Data Source
AI summary
A circuit breaker lockout apparatus includes a base body having a first section, a second section, and a recess formed between the first and second sections to receive a switch lever of a circuit breaker; a fixing element installed at the first section of the base body and having an actuation section to fix the base body to a switch lever of a circuit breaker received in the recess; and a cover adjustably fastened between a release position and a lockout position at the base body, the actuation section of the fixing element is accessible in the release position and is covered in an inaccessible manner by the cover in the lockout position, and the cover is configured to be fixed to the base body in the lockout position to block an adjustment of the cover from the lockout position into the release position.