US2142155A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Jan. 3, 1939. R; F. SAMBLESON ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed March 12, 1937 lll Inventori 1 dml b m a Lu P e His Attorney.

Patented Jan. 3, 1939- PATENT OFFICE 2,142,155 ELECTRIC swrron Robert F. Sambleson, Bridgeport, Conn, assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application March 12, 1937, Serial No. 130,497

9 Claims. '(o1. 20o 152 The present invention relates to electric switches of the type having liquid contact circuit closers for controlling the fiow of current.

The object of my inventionis to provide an improved construction and arrangement in switches of this type.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a front elevation, partly broken away, of a switch embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a sectional end elevation of the switch; and Fig. 3 is an end view of the circuit closer, partially broken away, to show the construction and operation.

Referring to the drawing, I have illustrated my invention using a liquid contact circuit closer having a pair of opposed cup-shaped metal terminals I which are separated by an insulating diaphragm 2 of refractory material, such as a ceramic. The edges of the terminals are sealed by a glass bead 3 which also seals the junctions between the diaphragm and terminals. Within the space enclosed by the terminals is a suitable quantity of mercury 4 which forms the conducting medium between the terminals. In the .manufacture of circuit closers the space enclosed by the terminals is evacuated and filled with hydrogen at a pressure of one or more atmospheres. This increases the curernt interrupting capacity of the circuit closer. As shown in Fig. 3'the diaphragm 2 is provided with an opening 5 which is submerged in the mercury when the circuit closer is in the current conducting position. When the circuit closer is in the current interrupting position, the opening is above the mercury as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and the circuit between the terminals is therefore interrupted by the insulating diaphragm. Due to the construction of the circuit closer, the interruption of the circuit between the terminals takes place in the mercury as the circuit closer is turned so that the opening 5 approaches the dotted line position. The above described construction is typical of liquid contact circuit closers which are suitable for use in switches embodying my invention.

The liquid contact circuit closer is carried within a cylindrical metal housing 6. On the outside of the housing are threaded nuts I which are adapted to secure the housing toa suitable support by clamping the support between the nuts. At the lower end of the housing is a disk 8 of insulating material which is held against a shoulder 9 by the spun-over portion I 0. The disk is provided with rectangular slots ll through which contact strips l2 loosely extend. In the plane of the disk 8, the contact strips l2 are provided with notches extending from each edge thereof. The ends M which project below the disk 8 are twisted at an angle to the slots II, the shoulders l5 at the lower side of the notches thereby preventing upward movement of the 5 contact strips through the slots. Above the disk 8, the contact strips are provided with ears l5 at each side thereof which are bent at right angles to the slots ll thereby preventing downward movement of the contact strips through the slots. 10 The lower edges of the ears l5 are flush with the upper surface of the disk and prevent downward movement of the contact strips through the slots H The ears l5 on'each of the contact strips l2 project inwardly within the ends of the terminals of the circuit closers. In the upper ends of the contact strips are spherical projections l6 which fit in complementary depressions in the terminals of the circuit closers. The projections and depressions provide a construction which supports the circuit closer for rotation with respect to the contact strips and. also serves to make the electrical connection between the contact strips and the terminals. The circuit closer fits within a depression I! on the underside of a spherical handle IS. The handle is provided with a projection IS on its upper surface which provides a convenient grip for turning the handle. The circuit closer is non-rotatably connected to the handle by means of arcuate members 20 of insulating material which fit over the ends of the terminals of the circuit closer and are keyed thereto by means of projections 2| which fit into depressions 22 in the terminals. On the outer periphery of the members 20 are projections 23 which fit into complementary depressions in the recess I1 and non-rotatably secure the circuit closer to the handle. The side walls 24 of the depression I! bear against the outer surface of the contact strips l2 and hold the projection I6 of the contact strips in the depressions in the circuit closer terminals. When the handle is in place the circuit closer is therefore securely held between the contact strips. The upper end of the housing 6 is provided with a spherical seat 25 which serves as a bearing for the handle. The seat also prevents the removal of the handle through the upper end of the housing. The angular movement of the handle is limited by the engagement of the ends 26 of the members 20 with the ears l5.

In the assembly of the switch, the members 20 are mounted on the terminals of the circuit closer and the circuit closer is assembled between the contact strips, the projections 16 on the contact 66 strips fitting in the depressions in the circuit closer terminals. The circuit closer is then inserted in the depression II in the handle. In this position the projections 23 on the members 20 fit in complementary depressions in the bottom of the recess 11 and the walls and the side walls 24 of the recess engage the outer surfaces of the contact strips I2 and hold the contact strips in engagement with the terminals. The assembly is then inserted through the lower end of the -housing, the disk 8 placed over the contacts, and the assembly is secured in place by. clamping the disk 8 against the shoulder 9 by means of the spun-over portion Ill. The ends ll of the contact strips are then twisted at an angle to the slots I I, thereby securing the contact strips to the disk. The circuit closer is now supported for rotation by the projection I6 on the contact strips l2.

What I claim as new and desire-to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposed terminals, contacts engaging said terminals, said contacts and said terminals having 'interfltting, portions whereby the circuit closer is supported for rotation with respect tothe contacts, a handle having a portion fitting over said contacts serving to hold thecontacts against the said terminals, and means connecting the handle and the circuit closer whereby the circuit closer is rotated by the handle.

2. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposed terminals, contact strips engaging said terminals, said contacts and said terminals having interi'ltting portions whereby the circuit closer is rotatable with respect to' 'the contacts, a handle having a recess receiving said circuit closer andghavlng walls holding said contacts against said terminals, and means connecting the handle and the circuit closer whereby the circuit closer is rotated by the handle.

3. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposed terminals, contact strips engaging said terminals, said contacts and said 4:; terminals having interfitting portions whereby the circuit closer is rotatable with respectto the contacts, a handle having a recess receiving said circuit closer and having walls engaging said contacts and holding said contacts against said terminals, and a member having parts non-rotatably engaging said recess and one of said terminals for connecting the circuit closer and handle whereby the circuit closer is rotated by the handle.

4. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposed terminals, contact strips engaging said terminals, said contacts and said terminals having interfittlngportions whereby the circuit closer is rotatable with respect to the contacts, a handle having a recess receiving said circuit closer and having walls engaging said contacts and holding said contacts against said terminals, 9. member having parts non-rotatably engaging said recess and one of said terminals for connecting the circuit closer and handle whereby the circuit closer is rotated by the handle, and parts on said member arranged to engage one of said contacts whereby the angular rotation of the circuit closer is limited.

5. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposed terminals, contact strips engaging said terminals, said contacts and said terminals having interiitting portions whereby the circuit closer is supported for rotation with respect to the contacts, a handle having a recess receiving said circuit closer and having walls holding said contacts against said terminals, means connecting said handle to said circuit'closer whereby the circuit closer is rotated by the handle, a housing having an opening through which the handle projects, said handle and said housing having cooperating bearing surfaces preventing Ithe removal of the handle through said openin and means securing said contact strips to saidhouslng whereby the circuit closer is held therein;

6. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposed terminals, contacts engaging said terminals, said contacts and said terminals having interfltting bearing surfaces of relatively great diameter compared to the thickness of the contacts whereby the circuit closer is sup ported for rotation with respect to the contacts, the bearing surfaces of the contacts comprising projections, a handle having a portion fitting over the contacts and serving to hold the contacts against the terminals, and means connecting the handleand circuit closer whereby the circuit closer is rotated by the handle.

7. In an electric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposed terminals, contacts fitting over the ends of the terminals, said contacts and said terminals having interfitting portions whereby.the circuit closer is rotatable with respect to the contacts, a handle having a portion preventing endwise removal of the contacts off the terminals, and means connecting the handle and circuit closer whereby the circuit closer is rotated by the handle.

'8. In aneIectric switch, a liquid contact circuit closer having opposed terminals, contact strips engaging said terminals, said contacts and said terminals having interfitting bearing surfaces of relatively great diameter compared to the thickness of the contacts wherebythe circuit closer is rotatable with respect to the contacts,

the bearing surfaces of the contacts comprising projections, a handle having a recess receiving the circuit closer and the contacts, and means connecting the handle and the circuit closer whereby the circuit closer is rotated by the handle.

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