US3244827A

US3244827A - Switch actuating mechanism

Info

Publication number: US3244827A
Application number: US244375A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edwin E Kussmaul
Original assignee: KELEK CO
Current assignee: KELEK CO
Priority date: 1962-12-13
Filing date: 1962-12-13
Publication date: 1966-04-05
Anticipated expiration: 1983-04-05

Description

A ril 5, 1966 E. E. KUSSMAUL 3,244,827

SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 13, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 FIG. I

FIG. 2

INVENTOR.

I 1', Ill

6 72 74 EDWIN E. KU MAUL :ij' e4 fflff 6% 1- 8 4 Q SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Filed Dec. 15, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 FIG. 5

INVENTOR. EDWIN E.KUSS UL ww *7/ ATTORNEYS United. States Patent 3,244,827 SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM Edwin E. Kussmaul, Westwood, Mass, assignor to Kelek Company, Norwood, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Filed Dec. 13, 1962, Ser. No. 244,375 6 Claims. (Cl. 200-50) The present invention relates generally to switches, especially switches having high current carrying capacity. Such switches are used, for example, as service entrance, isolating or transfer switches. More particularly, the invention relates to an actuating mechanism for such switches.

A principal object of this invention is to provide a mechanism for opening and closing the switch by means advantageously located in relation to it. Hitherto, where the blades are joined by an insulating yoke it has been the practice to provide a bracket secured to the yoke and attached to an operating link, the link being connected to the free end of a pivoted operating arm. This arrangement has the disadvantage that the pivotal axis of the operating arm is situated substantially below the switch blades in the usual, vertically-mounted installation. Since the line side of the switches is normally at the top, the fuses are commonly immediately below the blades and are obstructed by the actuating mechanism. .Accordingly, a more advantageous location of the actuating mechanism is at or above the level of the switch blades, whereby the fuses are unobstructed by the operating mechanism.

A second object is to provide a switch actuating mechanism having resilient action to assist in fully closing and opening the switch.

A further object is to provide a mechanism having provision for independent access to the fuses, said mechanism including a safety door lock which, in the open switch position, permits unobstructed access through a fuse access door to all fuses. Since fuses of the type commonly used on such switches are bolted in position, such access is required for the insertion and turning of a wrench.

With the foregoing and other objects hereinafter appearing in view, the features of the invention include the provision of a telescoping sleeve and plunger operating arm mechanism utilizing a universal joint and a singledegree-of-freedom pivot in conjunction with the operating arm, said arm being pivoted about an axis advantageously located in relation to the switches.

Another feature resides in the use of a spring situated within the sleeve and plunger assembly to assist in opening and closing the switch.

A further feature resides in a combination safety interlock and position indicator device which is useful in enclosed wall-mounted or free-standing installations wherein all of the switch handle and the indicator-interlock device are preferably enclosed.

Other features of the invention reside in certain details of construction, arrangement of parts and modes of operation which will become more fully evident from the fol-lowing description of a preferred embodiment, having reference to the attached drawings wherein FIG. 1 is a front view of a three-phase switch with covers removed, showing the preferred embodiment of the switching actuating mechanism.

parts except the external operating 3,244,827 Patented Apr. 5, 1966 FIG. 2 is a fragmentary plan view of the switch actuating mechanism with the operating handle turned to a position midway between the open and closed positions;

FIG. 3 is a side elevation taken from the right as viewed in FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevation of the enclosed switch illustrating the position indicator and fuse access door interlock features; and

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary view of an alternative embodiment of the invention.

Referring to the drawings, the switch is provided with a frame consisting of two steel side angles 12 to which is bolted a metal backplate 14. The illustrated embodiment is a three-pole switch having

identical pole assemblies

16, 18 and 20. It will be evident that the invention may be used with any desired number of poles. The pole 18, for example, has an insulating base 22 bolted to the backplate 14. A hollow tubular line pole 24 of generally square cross-section is secured in any suitable manner, not shown, to the base 22. A load pole 26 of similar construction is fastened in a similar manner to the base 22. A hinge pin 28 is supported in the pole 26 and pivotally supports two pairs of switch blades 30. The blades are mutually fastened by an upper shaft 32 (FIG. 3) which in the closed position is received within a slot 34 in each of two jaws 36 extending from the pole 24.

As illustrated, the switch is of a simplified construction wherein each pole comprises two jaws and four blades frictionally engaging to make electrical contact in the closed position. This arrangement provides greater contact area and cooling surface, and permits the use of a relatively thin gauge of tubing for the pole members, thus reducing skin effect. In practice, it is preferred to provide each pole assembly with further means, not illustrated, for positively engaging and disengaging the blades in relation to the jaws, as described in the Kussmaul et al. Patent No. 2,960,590. However, the details of such means form no part of the present invention and are not shown in order to simplify the present description.

The

pole assemblies

16 and 20 are constructed in the same manner as the pole assembly 18, and the blades of all three pole assemblies are rigidly connected to a yoke 38 constructed of insulating material such as phenolic resin, by means of bolts 40. As shown in FIG. 3, the yoke 38 is preferably supported on brackets 42 either directly connected to the switch blades, or indirectly connected thereto as described in said patent.

A bracket 44 is bolted to the yoke 38, and a swivel pin 46 is pivotally secured to this bracket. As hereinafter further described, the actuation of the switch is accomplished through the linkage provided by the pin 46.

On the load side of the switch there is provided an insulating bar 48 bolted to the side angles 12 and securing load side terminals 54 52 and 54. Fuses 56 are bolted between the load side terminals and the load poles.

A rigid, fixed handle post 58' is secured to one of the side angles 12 so that its horizontal axis intersects the horizontal pivotal axis of the switch blades at right angles. A bracket member 60 comprising a tubular part and a pair of bracket arms welded thereto is rotatably received on the post 58. A hexagonal head portion integral with the member 60 is adapted to receive a matching socket on an operating handle hub 62 having an integral handle 64. The hub 62 is assembled to the bracket member 60 I? by a single bolt 66. Thus the handle 64 may be assembled to the switch in any one of twelve positions, separated by thirty degrees, in relation to the angular position of the bracket member 60.

The bracket member 60 is pivotally secured to one end of a sleeve 68 by means of a pin 70. The opposite end of the sleeve 68 is open and receives a hollow plunger 72 in slidable relationship. The plunger is pinned to a clevice 74 pivoted at its outer end by means of a pin 76 to the swivel pin 46.

A compression spring 78 is situated within the sleeve 68 and resiliently urges the plunger 72 outwardly therefrom.

It will be seen that the sleeve 68 and plunger 72 comprise a telescoping operating arm assembly where-by rtational movement of the bracket member 60 about the axis of the post 58 is transmitted to the yoke 38 so as to cause pivotal movement of the switch blades 30 about the axis of their pins 28.

The preferred position of the operating handle 64, as

illustrated, is directed upwardly towardthe line side of the switch when the latter is in the closed position. The dimensions of the parts and their mutual arrangement is such that the handle moves through an angle of 60 from the closed position to the open position whereby, if

the handle is 60 from horizontal in the closed position,

it will move the switch to open position when rotated through that angle to the horizontal position. It will be observed that in the latter position no part of the switch actuating mechanism extends substantially below the axis ,of the switch blades and there is unobstructed access to the fuses 56. The advantageous location of the actuating mechanism in relation to the switch blades is altorded by the combination of the sleeveand plunger assembly with its pivotal connection to the bracket member 60 and the universal joint provided by the clevice 74 and swivel pin 46.

The spring 78 is partially compressed in the closed position of FIGS. 1 and 2. FIG. 3 shows that the spring has a force component tending to urge the yoke 38 clockwise as viewed in the drawing, that is, to hold the switch closed. As the

operating arm

68, 72 is pivoted, the yoke is pivoted counterclockwise and this force component is first reduced to zero, then begins to increase in a counterclockwise direction tending to open the switch more fully.

It will also be understood that the mechanism is operable without the spring 78, which may therefore be eliminated if its additional operating advantages are not desired. In that case the plunger 72 may be solid rather than of hollow construction.

As illustrated in FIG. 4, the switch is preferably surrounded by a dead-front enclosure 79 provided with a fuse access door 80. A separate cover 82 encloses the switch portion of the assembly and has an opening through which the handle hub 62 extends, and through which the handle hub may be assembled to the bracket member 60. A combination indicator-interlock member 84 is secured to the hub 62 and is adapted to project over the fuse access door 80 when the switch is in the closed position asillustrated, and to be pivoted away from the door when the switch is in the open position. A pointer 86 on the member 84 is located to indicate the position of the switch.

FIG. 5 illustrates an alternative embodiment of the invention which employs two

telescoping operating arms

88 and 90 each constructed like the

arm

68, 72 described above. The arm 88 is provided with an operating handle 92. The arms are swiveled to a yoke 94 and form equal but opposite angles with it. By this means the lateral forces exerted by the operating arms upon the switch closing mechanism are neutralized. The resulting force upon the yoke 94 is then in the same direction as'that in which the yoke pivots.

It will be seen that the present invention provides an improvement over previously proposed switch actuating mechanisms, whereby the safety and convenience of the switch are increased through the location of the mechanism in a non-obstructive relationship to the fuses. The operating handle 64 is in a position where it may be readily grasped by the operator, and provision is made for alternate locations of the handle.

It will be understood that an insulating sleeve may be inserted as a low friction liner and also as an insulator preventing a current flow to the operating handle in the event that the

parts

44, 46, 74 and 76 should become alive.

It will be understood that while the invention has been described with reference to a specific and preferred embodiment, various modifications may be incorporated therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, I claim:

1. A blade switch actuating mechanism having, in combination,

a support,

a switch blade pivoted about a first axis in the support,

a bracket pivoted about a second axis in the support normal to the first axis,

and an arm assembly extensible between two ends thereof, said ends respectively having pivotal connections to the switch blade and to the bracket, said connection to the switch blade comprising a universal joint and said connection to the bracket restraining the arm assembly from rotation relative to the bracket about any axis parallel to said second axis,

said combination including means causing the arm .as-

sembly to rotate about said second axis directly with the rotation of the bracket, thereby causing said arm assembly to transmit a torque about said first axis to the switch blade.

2. The combination according to claim 1 in which the arm assembly comprises a telescoping sleeve and plunger.

3. The combination according to claim 1 in which the arm assembly comprises a telescoping sleeve and plunger, and including a spring urging the plunger resiliently outwardly from the sleeve.

4. The combination according to claim 1 including means tending resiliently to extend the arm assembly, the ends of the arm assembly being positioned to produce a force component in the closed switch position tending to hold the switch closed.

5. The combination according to claim 1 including means tending resiliently to extend the arm assembly, the ends of the arm assembly being positioned to produce a force component in the closed switch position tending to hold the switch closed and a force component in the open switch position tending to hold the switch open.

6. A switch having, in combination,

a support,

a switch blade pivoted about a first axis in the support,

poles on the support associated with the switch blade,

one of said poles having a connection for a fuse,

a bracket pivoted about a second axis in the support normal to and adjacent the first axis,

an arm assembly extensible between two ends thereof, said ends respectively having pivotal connections to the switch blade and to the bracket, said connection to the switch blade comprising a universal joint and said connection to the bracket restraining the arm assembly from rotation relative to the bracket about any axis parallel to said second axis, 1

a cover for the fuse, and

an interlock member attached to the bracket and pivotal therewith to a position in locking relationship to the cover,

said combination including means causing the arm as: sembly to rotate about said second axis directly with the rotation of the bracket, thereby causing said arm 1,490,935 4/ 1924 Miller 200-50 assembly to transmit a torque about said first axis 1,491,244 4/1924 Palmer 200-50 to the switch blade, 1,812,896 7/1931 Olley 200-50 said interlock member locking the cover in one posi- 2,531,165 12/1950 Scheuermeyer 200-48 tion of the switch and unlocking the cover in the 5 3,016,420 1/ 1962 Mero 178l8 other position of the switch.

FOREIGN PATENTS References the Examiner Canada.

UNITED STATES PATENTS Re 15,718 11/1923 Wadsworth 10 KATHLEEN H. CLAFFY, Primary Examiner.

528,615 11/1894 Shaw 200'-50 BERNARD A. GILHEANY, Examiner.

Claims

1. A BLADE SWITCH ACTUATING MECHANISM HAVING, IN COMBINATION, A SUPPORT, A SWITCH BLADE PIVOTED ABOUT A FIRST AXIS IN THE SUPPORT, A BRACKET PIVOTED ABOUT A SECOND AXIS IN THE SUPPORT NORMAL TO THE FIRST AXIS, AND AN ARM ASSEMBLY EXTENSIBLE BETWEEN TWO ENDS THEREOF, SAID ENDS RESPECTIVELY HAVING PIVOTAL CONNECTIONS TO THE SWITCH BLADE AND TO THE BRACKET, SAID CONNECTION TO THE SWITCH BLADE COMPRISING A UNIVERSAL JOINT AND SAID CONNECTION TO THE BRACKET RESTRAINING THE ARM ASSEMBLY FROM ROTATION RELATIVE TO THE BRACKET ABOUT ANY AXIS PARALLEL TO SAID SECOND AXIS, SAID COMBINATION INCLUDING MEANS CAUSING THE ARM ASSEMBLY TO ROTATE ABOUT SAID SECOND AXIS DIRECTLY WITH THE ROTATION OF THE BRACKET, THEREBY CAUSING SAID ARM ASSEMBLY TO TRANSMIT A TORQUE ABOUT SAID FIRST AXIS TO THE SWITCH BLADE.