US 11,791,120 B2
Status indicator for switchgear
James K. Simonelli, Orlando, FL (US); Sean G. Murphy, Villa Park, IL (US); Arturas Dauksas, Oak Lawn, IL (US); and Blair S. Kerr, Downers Grove, IL (US)
Assigned to G&W Electric Company, Bolingbrook, IL (US)
Filed by G & W ELECTRIC COMPANY, Bolingbrook, IL (US)
Filed on May 20, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/749,263.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/191,599, filed on May 21, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0375708 A1, Nov. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. H01H 51/22 (2006.01); H01H 71/04 (2006.01)
CPC H01H 71/04 (2013.01) [H01H 2071/042 (2013.01); H01H 2071/046 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A switchgear assembly comprising:
a housing;
a vacuum interrupter assembly supported within the housing, the vacuum interrupter assembly including
a first contact, and
a second contact moveable relative the first contact along a longitudinal axis between a closed position in which the first contact engages the second contact and an open position in which the first contact is spaced from the second contact;
an actuator supported within the housing and operable to move the second contact between the open position and the closed position;
a cover coupled to the housing; and
an indicator assembly configured to indicate whether the second contact is in the open position or the closed position, the indicator assembly including
an indicator body having first and second sections, wherein the indicator body is rotatable relative to the longitudinal axis to display the first section through the cover when the second contact is in the open position, and to display the second section through the cover when the second contact is in the closed position,
a drive gear having a first helical spline and coupled to the actuator such that operation of the actuator moves the drive gear along the longitudinal axis, and
an elongated driven gear having a second helical spline extending along a length of the driven gear and engaged with the first helical spline of the drive gear such that movement of the drive gear along the longitudinal axis rotates the driven gear about the longitudinal axis, wherein the driven gear is coupled to the indicator body such that rotation of the driven gear causes rotation of the indicator body.