GB2252672A

GB2252672A - Switch operating mechanisms

Info

Publication number: GB2252672A
Application number: GB9116890A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Takakazu Inoue; Hideki Miyatake
Original assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Current assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corp
Priority date: 1991-01-21
Filing date: 1991-08-06
Publication date: 1992-08-12
Anticipated expiration: 2011-08-06
Also published as: DE4125897A1; GB2252672B; DE4125897C2; KR920015406A; GB9116890D0; KR940004948B1

Abstract

An operating mechanism for a two or three position switch 8 includes a manually operable member 3 for grounding the switch. In one form the operating mechanism comprises an actuating device, a main shaft 1 operatively connected to a three position switch 8, and first and second relatively displaceable link elements 4 and 2 connecting the actuating device to the main shaft 1. The three position switch 8 is operated between off and on positions by the actuating device which transmits motion to the operating shaft 1 via the link elements 4, 2. The switch 8 is operated between the off and grounded positions by displacing the link element 2 by means of a manually operable member 3 to uncouple it from the other link element 4 and allow it to be manually rotated so as to rotate the main shaft 1. In another form, motion is transmitted from the actuating device to the main shaft via an actuating lever (14, Fig 10) rotatable about the main shaft (11), a crank (12) mounted on the actuating lever (14) and a crank lever (13) connected to the main shaft (11). The crank (12) can be manually rotated to enable the switch to be grounded. The actuating device and the rotatable actuating lever (14) may be omitted to form a two position switch (Fig 12). <IMAGE>

Description

2- 1 _ ' - - I -- J 1 OPERATING MECHANISM FOR DISCONNECTING SWITCH

2 BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to an operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch for use for a receiving and distributing equipment. 2. Description of the Prior Art

Conventionally, various disconnecting switches are employed in receiving and distributing equipments and so forth. Such disconnecting switches include three position disconnecting switches wherein a contact of a secondary side electric line is operated among three positions including a "connecting" position, a "disconnecting" position and a "grounding" position by an operating mechanism. Such three position disconnecting switch operating mechanism normally involves two kinds of operation of a connectingdisconnecting operation wherein connection or disconnection. hat is, switching, between a primary side electric line and a secondary side electric line is performed by an external actuating device and a grounding operation wherein a contact of the secondary side electric line at the "disconnecting" position is grounded by manual operation. Such grounding operation is important in order to perform an operation for 3 maintenance and inspection of an electric appliance or the like connected to the secondary side electric line with safety, and is performed manually for the confirmation of safety, different from such mechanically actuated connecting-disconnecting operation as described above. The grounding operation is a manual operation of disconnecting the contact of the secondary side electric line at the "disconnecting" position with certainty from an actuating mechanism of the external actuating device and after then, electrically connecting the contact of the secondary side electric line to the grounding side by manual operation.

In such conventional three position disconnecting switch operating mechanism as described above, complicated operation is required to change over he operation of the contact of the secondary side electric line from a connecting-disconnecting operation to a grounding operation with certainty and accuracy. Further, since the disconnecting switch is provided for electric power, large size components of high weights are employed for a mechanical section for manual grounding operation, and great force is required for a manual grounding operation.

More particularly, an exemplary one of such 4 conventional operating mechanisms for a three position disconnecting switch is shown in FIGS. 13 and 14. Referring to FIGS. 13 and 14, the operating mechanism shown is designed so as to operate a three position disconnecting switch generally denoted at 8 and includes a main shaft 50 for transmitting turning force to the three position disconnecting switch 8. The three position disconnecting switch 8 includes an operating rod 8a, a movable blade 8b, a fixed main circuit terminal 8c and a grounding terminal 8d. The three position disconnecting switch 8 is connected to be operated by the operating mechanism such that it may be moved, or more particularly. the movable blade 8b thereof may be moved, among three positions including a connecting position indicated by solid lines in FIG. 13 at which the movable blade 8b is connected to the main circuit terminal 8c, a grounding position indicated in phantom at which the movable blade 8b is connected to the grounding terminal 8d, and a neutral or disconnecting position also indicated in phantom between the connecting and grounding positions at which the movable blade 8b is not connected to either of the main circuit terminal 8c and the grounding terminal 8d.

The operating mechanism further includes a shaft operating lever 51 fitted on and secured to the main shaft 50, and an actuating lever 52 is loosely fitted on the main shaft 50 in an overlapping relationship to the shaft operating lever 51. Also a clutch lever 53 is loosely fitted on the main shaft 50 on the outer side of the actuating lever 52 and has three changing over pins 54, 55 and 56 secured to an inside face thereof an a same arc centered at the main shaft 50. The shaft operating lever 51 has a pin hole 51a perforated therein for receiving the changing over pin 55 or 56 of the clutch lever 53 therein while the actuating lever 52 has another pin hole 52a perforated therein in which the changing over pin 54 of the clutch lever 53 is normally received.

The operating mechanism further includes an external actuating device 62 securely mounted on a mounting plate 60 by means of a bracket 60a. The external actuating device 62 has a lever 62a ever 52 by way of a connecting reverse rotating motion of the device 62 may be transmitted the actuating lever 52. Such pivotal motion of actuating lever 52 is transmitted to the clutch by way of the changing over pin 54 and then to to the actuating 1 so that forward or external actuatin connected rod 61 to pivot the lever 53 the shaft 6 operating lever 51 by way of the changing over pin 56 and finally from the shaft operating lever 51 to the main shaft 50. Consequently, the main shaft 50 is rotated in one or the other direction to effect a connecting or disconnecting o peration of the three position disconnecting switch 8.

A pair of stopper pins 57 and 58 are securely mounted on an outer face of the mounting plate 60 for engaging with the shaft operating lever 51 to define a range of pivotal motion of the shaft operating lever 51 and hence of angular rotation of the main shaft 50.

When the three position disconnecting switch 8 should be operated between a connecting condition and a disconnecting condition, the changing over pin 56 on the clutch lever 53 is fitted in the pin hole 51a of the shaft operating lever 51. Consequently, a movement of the external actuating device 62 is transmitted to the actuating lever 52 by way of the lever 62a and the connecting rod 61 to pivot the actuating lever 52 as seen from FIGS. 14 and 15. Such pivotal motion is transmitted to the shaft operating lever 51 by way of the clutch lever 53 and the changing over pins 54 and 56 to angularly rotate the main shaft 50. Such angular rotation of the main shaft 50 is transmitted to the 7 movable blade 8b of the three Position disconnecting switch 8 by way of an actuating link 59 (FIG. 13) to pivot the movable blade 8b from the connecting position to the disconnecting position or vice versa to effect a disconnecting or connecting operation of the three position disconnecting switch 8.

When the three position disconnecting switch 8 should be operated between a disconnecting condition and a grounding condition, the clutch lever 53 is first displaced axially outwardly (leftwardly in FIG. 13) on the main shaft 50 until the changing over pins 54 and 56 thereon are removed from the levers 52 and 51, respectively, and then pivoted in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 14 or 15 around the main shaft 50 until the central changing over pin 55 thereof is aligned with the pin hole 51a of the shaft operating lever 51 as seen in FIG. 16 or 17, whereafter the clutch lever 53 is displaced axially inwardly (rightwardly in FIG. 13) to insert the changing over pin 55 thereon into the pin hole 51a thereby to couple the clutch lever 53 to the shaft operating lever 51 while the clutch lever 53 is disconnected from the actuating lever 52. In this condition. the clutch lever 53 will be manually operated to pivot between two positions shown in FIGS. 16 and 17 8 thereby to effect a grounding operation or a disconnection operation of the three position disconnecting switch 8.

With the conventional operating mechanism for three position disconnecting'switch, when it is to be changed over between a first mode in which the three position disconnecting switch is operated between a connecting condition and a disconnecting condition and second mode in which the three position disconnecting switch is operated between a disconnecting condition and a grounding condition, the changing over pins 54, 55 and 56 provided on the clutch lever 53 must necessarily be pulled out from and then selectively inserted into the pin holes 51a and 52a. However, it is difficult and cumbersome to position the changing over pins 54, 55 and 56 with respect to the pin holes 51a and 52a. As a result. such changing over is performed while some load is applied in an actuating direction between the pins 54, 55 and 56 and the pin holes 51a and 52a. Consequently, a considerably great force is such changing over operation.

required for SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the present invention to 9 provide an operating mechanism wherein changing over of a clutch can be performed smoothly.

In order to attain the object, according to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operating mechanism for a thr'ee position disconnecting switch having a connecting position. a disconnecting position and a grounding position, which comprises an actuating device, a main shaft operatively connected to the three position disconnecting switch, a link mechanism for operatively connecting the actuating device to the main shaft, the link mechanism including a first element connecting to the actuating device and a second element connecting the main shaft, the first and second elements of the link mechanism being displaceable relative to each other between a first position in which the first and second elements are operatively coupled to each other and a second position in which the first and second elements are disconnected from each other, and manually operable means connected to the link mechanism, the three position disconnecting switch being operated between the disconnecting and connecting positions by the actuating device whereas the three position disconnecting switch is operated between the disconnecting and grounding positions by manual - 10 operation of the manually operable means to displace one of the first and second elements of the link mechanism relative to the other between the first and second positions.

With the operating mechanism, the actuating device is operatively coupled to the three position disconnecting switch by way of a clutch which is formed by the first and second elements of the link mec,-lanism. When the actuating device is coupled to the three position disconnecting switch, the three position disconnecting switch is actuated by the actuating device. but when the former is disconnected from the latter, the three position disconnecting switch is actuated by the manually operable means. Acc-irdingly, light and smooth changing over can be achieved between an operation between the connecting and disconnecting positions and another operation between the iisconnecting and grounding positions of the three position disconnecting switch.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch, which comprises a main shaft operatively connected to the disconnecting switch, a lever mounted for pivotal motion on and with respect to 1 11 the main shaft, a manually operable shaft mounted for axial sliding movement on and for integral rotation with the main shaft, and a manually operable clutch operating member for moving the manually operable shaft axially on the main shaft between a firs. t position in which the manually operable shaft engages with the lever sucn that pivotal motion of the lever around an axis of the main shaft is transmitted to the manually operable shaft thereby to angularly rotate the main shaft and a second position in which the manually operable shaft is free from the lever.

With the operating mechanism, the manually operable shaft is moved between the first and second positions by the manually operable clutch ope7ating member, and when it is in the second position, pivotal motion of the lever is not transmitted to the manually operable shaft and hence to the main shaft. but the manually operable shaft may be manually operated to operate the disconnecting switch between a pair of positions. for example. a disconnecting position and a grounding position. On the other hand, when the manually operable shaft is in the first position, pivotal motion of the lever around the axis of the main shaft is transmitted to the main shaft by way of the - 12 manually operable shaft to operate the disconnecting switch between, where the disconnecting switch is of the three position type, one of such positions as described above and a further position. for example, a connecting position.

According to a further aspect of the present invention, there is provided an operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch, which comprises a main shaft operatively connected to the disconnecting switch. a crank lever secured for integral rotation to the main shaft, a lever mounted for pivotal motion an and with respect to the main shaft, and a manually operable member mounted for movement on the lever and operatively coupled to the crank lever such that the crank lever is pivoted. by manual operation of the manually operable member, around an axis of the main shaft between first and second positions to operate the disconnecting switch between first and second positions by way of the main shaf t.

With the operating mechanism, the crank lever is pivoted. by manual operation of the manually operable member. around the axis of the main shaft between the first and second positions to operate the disconnecting switch between the first and second positions which may 13 be a disconnecting position and a grounding position. On the other hand, when the lever is pivoted, such pivotal motion is transmitted to the main shaft and hence to the disconnecting switch by way of the manually operable member to operate. when the disconnecting switch is of the three position type, the disconnecting switch between the first position and a third position which may be a connecting position. mechanism is constructed using such is simple in construction and easy The above and other objects, advantages of the present invention from the following description and the appended claims. taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts or elements are denoted by like reference characters.

Since the oper crank mechanism, to operate. features and a'. in g 1 t will become apparent BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of an operating mechanism for a three position disconnecting switch in a disconnecting condition showing a preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 2 is a similar view but showing the operating mechanism in a connecting condition:

FIG. 3 is a similar view but showing the operating mechanism in a grounding condition:

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the operating mechanism of FIG. 1 illustrating changing over from a disconnecting condition to a connecting condition; FIG. 5 is a similar view but illustrating changing over from a disconnecting condition to a grounding condition of the operating mechanism:

FIG. 6 is an enlarged partial vertical sectional view of the operating mechanism of FIG. 1:

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of an operating mechanism for a three position disconnecting switch in a disconnecting condition showing another preferred embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 8 is a similar view but showing the operating mechanism FIG. 9 is a operating mechanism FIG. 10 is operating mechanism in a connecting condition: similar view but showing the in a grounding condition: a side elevational view showing the of FIG. 7 in a disconnecting condition:

FIG. 11 is a front elevational view of a modification to the operating mechanism shown in FIG. 7 FIG. 12 is a side elevational modified disconnecting switch of FIG.

FIG. 13 is a side elevational conventional operating mechanism for view of the 11 '. view showing a a three position disconnecting switch in a codnecting condition:

FIG. 14 is a front elevational view of the operating mechanism of FIG. 13; FIG. 15 is a similar view but showing the operating mechanism of FIG. 13 in a disconnecting condition; FIG. 16 is a front elevational view of the operating mechanism of FIG. 13 in the disconnecting condition showing a link mechanism in a disconnected condition: and FIG. 17 is a front elevational view of the operating mechanism of FIG. 13 but in a grounding condition.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring first to FIGS. 1 and 4, there is shown an operating mechanism for a three position disconnecting switch to which the present invention is applied. The operating mechanism includes a main shaft 1 supported for rotation in the opposite directions on a - 16 mounting plate 5 by means of a pair of bearing 5a. The main shaft 1 is connected to actuate a disconnecting switch body of a three position disconnecting switch not shown which has a similar construction to the three position disconnecting switch 8 described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 12. Here. the disconnecting switch body is diagrammatically shown and denoted at 8 in FIG. 4.

The operating mechanism further includes a manually operable member or shaft 2 fitted coaxially on the main shaft 1 in such a manner that it covers over an end portion of the main shaft 1. Referring also to FIG. 6, the manually operable shaft 2 is connected for integral rotation to the main shaft 1 by means of a pin la which is secured at a mid portion thereof to the main shaft 1 and extends diametrically through the main shaft 1 and manuallv operable shaft 2. in particular, the pin la is received at the opposite end portions thereof in a pair of axially elongated slots 2c formed at the diametrically opposite portions of a cylindrical portion of the manually operable shaft 2 so that the pin la can be moved back and forth in an axial direction of and relative to the manually operable shaft 2 within a range defined by the slots 2c of the manually operable shaft - 17 2. Consequently, the manually operable shaft 2 can be slidably moved in a forward or backward direction while maintaining its connection for integral rotation to the main shaft 1.

The manually operable'shaft 2 has a pair of clutch portions 2b in the form of axial projections formed on a rear end thereof while a pair of pins 2a are provided diametrically at a front end portion of the manually operable shaft 2 for engaging with a first handle (not shown) which is provided for manual operation to rotate the manually operable shaft 2.

A pair of clutch operating levers 3 for moving the manually operable shaft 2 axially forwardly or rearwardly are mounted for integral pivotal motion on a mounting block 3d secured to the mounting plate 5. In particular, the clutch operating levers 3 are secured to a shaft 3c which is in turn supported for rotation on the mounting block 3d so that the clutch operating levers 3 may be pivoted integrally with each other in one or the other direction around an axis of the shaft 3c. One of the clutch operating levers 3 has a hole 3b formed therein for receiving a second handle (not shown) provided for manually operating the clutch operating levers 3. A pin 3a is mounted on each of opposing faces - 18 of end portions of the clutch operating levers 3, and the pins 3a are normally received in an annular groove 2d defined by a pair of annular ribs 2e formed on an outer periphery of the manually operable shaft 2 so that, when the clutch operating levers 3 are pivoted, the manually operable shaft 2 may be moved axially forwardly or reversely by the clutch operating levers 3.

An actuating lever 4 is mounted for pivotal motion on and relative to the main shaft 1 between the mounting block 5 and the manually operable shaft 2. The actuating lever 4 has a pair of recessed portions 4a -C formed at diametrical portions thereof adjacent the manually operable shaft 2 for receiving the clutch portions 2b of the manually operable shaft 2 to transmit pivotal motion of the actuating lever 4 to the manually operable shaft 2. A pin 4b is fitted in a hole 4c of and secured to the actuating lever 4 and normally held in engagement in an annular groove lb formed on an outer periphery of the main shaft 1 so that the actuating lever 4 may not move axially relative to the main shaft 1 but may pivot around the main shaft 1.

The actuating lever 4 is connected to an output lever 7a of an external actuating device 7 by way of a connecting rod 6. Thus, when the external actuating - 19 device 7 operates, the actuating lever 4 is pivoted in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction in FIG. 1 around the axis of the main shaft 1.

Referring again to FIGS. 1 and 4, the operating mechanism is shown in a condi-tion wherein the three position disconnecting switch body 8 is at its neutral "disconnecting" position. When the operating mechanism is in such condition, the clutch portions 2b of the manually operable shaft 2 are engaged in the recessed portions 4a of the actuating lever 4 as seen from FIG. 1. Accordingly, if the actuating lever 4 is pivoted around the axis of the main shaft 1, then the manually operable shaft 2 is rotated integrally by the actuating lever 4. Thus, when the external actuating device 7 is rendered operative so that the output lever 7a thereof is pivoted by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1 to another position shown in FIG. 2, the connecting rod 6 rotates the actuating lever 4 in the counterclockwise direction. Consequently, the manually operable shaft 2 is angularly rotated by the actuating lever 4 and in turn rotates the main shaft 1 thereby to move the three position disconnecting switch body 8 to its "connecting" position. The operating mechanism in such "connecting" condition is shown in FIG. 2. When the three position disconnecting switch body 8 is to be moved from the. connecting" position to the "disconnecting position", the external actuating device 7 is rendered operative but in the reverse direction'to that described above to move the associated members in the respective reverse directions.

In case the operating mechanism is to be changed over from such a first mode wherein the three position disconnecting switch body 8 is operated between the disconnecting position and the connecting position to a second mode wherein the three position disconnecting switch body 8 is operated between the disconnecting position and a grounding position, the clutch operating levers 3 are operated when the operating mechanism is in the "disconnecting" condition. In particular, the second handle mentioned hereinabove will be inserted into the hole 3b of one of the clutch operating levers 3 and then manually pivoted downwardly in FIG. 4 by a predetermined angle. Thereupon, the pins 3a of the clutch operating levers 3 move the manually operable shaft 2 forwardly (leftwardly in FIG. 4) to such a position as shown in FIG. 5. In this condition, the engagement between the clutch portions 2b on the - 21 manually operable shaft 2 and the recessed portions 4b of the actuating lever 4 is cancelled, and accordingly, the main shaft 1 can rotate freely with respect to the actuating lever 4. Thus, the first handle mentioned hereinabove will be engaged viith the pins 2a of the manually operable shaft 2 and manually pivoted by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction in FIG. 1. Thereupon, the manually operable shaft 2 and hence the main shaft 1 are rotated by the predetermined angle thereby to move the three position disconnecting switch body 8 from the "disconnecting" position to its "grounding" position remote from the "connecting" position. The operating mechanism when the three position disconnecting switch body 8 is in the grounding condition is shown in FIG. 3. When the three position disconnecting switch body 8 is to be moved reversely from the grounding position to the disconnecting position, the first handle will be operated reversely. It is to be noted that, when the operating mechanism is to be changed over from the second mode to the first mode, the second shaft 2 will first be rotated by the first handle until the clutch portions 2b thereof are aligned with the recessed portions 4a of the actuating lever 4 as seen in FIG. 5, and then the clutch operating - 22 levers 3 will be pivoted in the clockwise direction in FIG. 5 by the second handle.

Referring now to FIGS. 7 and 10, there is shown another another operating mechanism for a three position disconnecting switch to whic the present invention is applied. The operating mechanism includes a main shaft 11 supported for rotation in the opposite directions on a mounting plate 5 by means of a pair of bearing 5a. The main shaft 11 is connected to actuate a body 8 of a three position disconnecting switch not shown which has a similar construction to the three position disconnecting switch body 8 described hereinabove with reference to FIG. 1.

The operating mechanism further includes a crank lever 13 securely mounted on the main shaft 11 and having a groove or hole 13a formed therein. A holding spring 13c is received in the groove 13a of the crank lever 13 and fitted at an end thereof around a roller pin 13b.

The operating mechanism further includes an actuating lever 14 mounted for pivotal motion on the main shaft 11 and hdving a connecting rod mounting hole 14a formed therein. The actuating lever 14 is connected to an output lever 7a of an external actuating device 7 - 23 by way of a connecting rod 6 received for pivotal motion in the connecting rod mounting hole 14a of the actuating lever 14.

The crank lever 13 is disposed between the mounting plate 5 and the actuating lever 14, and a pair of spacers 15 and 16 are interposed between the mounting plate 5 and the crank lever 13 and between the crank lever 13 and the actuating lever 14, respectively, to hold them in a suitably spaced relationship from each other.

The operating mechanism further includes a crank 12 including a shaft portion 12e at which it is mounted for pivotal motion on the actuating lever 14. The crank 12 further includes an eccentric shaft 12b on which a roller 12c is supported for rotation. The roller 12c is accommodated in the groove 13a of the crank lever 13 and normally urged to contact with an groove 13a by the holding spring 13c by way of the roller pin 13b. Thus, when the crank 12 is pivoted, the roller 12c thereon slidably moves along the groove 13a under or against the urging force of the holding spring 13c while pivoting the crank lever 13 in the clockwise or counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7 around the main shaft 11. The crank 12 further has a pin 12a for inner end of the - 24 engaging with a handle (not shown) provided for manual operation to angularly pivot the the crank 12.

In FIGS. 7 and 10. the operating mechanism is shown in a condition wherein the three position disconnecting switch body 8 is at its neutral "disconnecting" position. When the operating mechanism is in such condition, a line interconnecting the main shaft 11 and the eccentric shaft 12b intersects substantially perpendicularly with another line interconnecting the shaft portion 12e of the crank 12 and the eccentric shaft 12b and the eccentric shaft 12b contacts with the inner end of the groove 13a of the crank lever 13 under the urging force of the holding spring 13c. Thus, when the external actuating device 7 is rendered operative so that the output lever 7a thereof is pivoted by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7, the actuating lever 14 is pivoted in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7 by connecting rod 6 and in turn pivots the 13 in the counterclockwise direction by way crank 12 with the eccentric shaft 12b thereof received in the groove 13a of the crank lever 13. Since the crank lever 13 is securely mounted on the main shaft 11. pivotal motion of the crank lever 13 angularly rotates way of the lever crank of the - 25 the main shaft 11 by a predetermined angle in the counterclockwise direction in FIG. 7 thereby to move the three position disconnecting switch body 8 from the "disconnecting" position to its "connecting" position. The operating mechanism in sch "connecting" condition is shown in FIG. 8. When the operating mechanism is to be moved from the "connecting" condition back to the "disconnecting" condition, the external actuating device 7 is renderedoperative but in the reverse direction to move the associated members in the respective reverse directions.

When it is demanded for the operating mechanism to move the three position disconnecting switch body 8 between the disconnecting position and a grounding position, it is only necessary to manually operate the crank 12. In particular, the handle (not shown) mentioned hereinabove will first be engaged with the manually operable pin 12a and manually turned to pivot the crank 12 in the clockwise direction in FIG. 7 while the external actuating device 7 is kept inoperative. Thereupon. the roller 12c mounted on the eccentric shaft 12b of the crank 12 moves along the groove 13a of the crank lever 13 while pivoting the crank lever 13 in the clockwise direction around the axis of the main shaft - 26 Such pivotal motion of the crank 12 is restricted. after the crank 12 is pivoted by an angle greater than 180 degrees, at a position at which the roller 12c is engaged with and stopped by the inner end of the groove 13a of the crank lever 13 again as seen in FIG. 9. It can be seen from FIG. 9 that, at the position of the crank 12, the line interconnecting the main shaft 11 and the eccentric shaft 12b and the line interconnecting the shaft portion 12e of the crank 12 and the eccentric 12b intersect substantially perpendicularly with each other but on the opposite side to that in FIG. 7 with respect to a further line interconnecting the main shaft 11 and the shaft portion 12e of the crank 12. Further, the eccentric shaft 12b is pressed against the inner end of the groove 13a of the crank lever 13 by the roller 12c under the urging force of the holding spring 13c. By such pivotal motion of the crank 12 as described above, the crank lever 13 is pivoted by a predetermined angle in the clockwise direction so that the three position disconnecting switch body 8 is moved from the "disconnecting" position to the "grounding" position remote from the. connecting" position way of the main shaft 11. When the three - 27 position disconnecting switch body 8 is to be moved reversely from the grounding position to the disconnecting position, the handle will be operated reversely.

It is to be noted th6t, while the crank 12 is mounted on the actuating lever 14 and the external actuating device 7 is connected to move the actuating lever 14 in the operating mechanism for a three position disconnecting switch described above with reference to FIGS. 7 to 10, where the three position disconnecting switch to be operated by the operating mechanism is otherwise a two position disconnecting switch, the external actuating device 7 may be omitted while the actuating lever 14 is fixed on the mounting plate 5 or alternatively the crank 12 is mounted on a separate fixed bed so as fix the center of rotation of the crank 12, Referring to FIGS. 11 and 12, such a modified operating mechanism for a two position disconnecting switch is illustratively shown. The modified operating mechanism includes a fixed member 17 in place of the actuating lever 14. The fixed member 17 is securely mounted on the mounting plate 5, and the crank 12 is supported for pivotal motion on the fixed member 17.

28 Thus, the two position disconnecting switch connected to the main shaft 11 is operated. by such manual operation of the crank 12 as described hereinabove, between two positions corresponding to the disconnecting and grounding positions of the three position disconnecting switch 8 described hereinabove.

It is to be further noted that, while the present invention is applied to an operating mechanism for a three or two position disconnecting switch in the embodiments and modification described hereinabove, it can naturally be applied also to a switch of some other type such as a grounding switch.

Having now fully described the invention, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that many changes and modifications can be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth herein.

Claims

Claims:

29 1. An operating mechanism for a three position disconnecting switch having a connecting position, a disconnecting position and a grounding position, comprising an actuating device, a main shaft operatively connected to said three position disconnecting switch, a link mechanism for operatively connecting said actuating device to said main shaft, said link mechanism including a first element connecting to said actuating device and a second element connecting said main shaft, said first and second elements of said link mechanism being displaceable relative to each other between a first position in which said first and second elements are operatively coupled to each other and a second position in which said first and second elements are disconnected from each other, and manually operable means connected to said link mechanism, said three position disconnecting switch being operated between the disconnecting and connecting positions by said actuating device whereas said three position disconnecting switch is operated between the disconnecting and grounding positions by manual operation of said manually operable means to displace one of said first and second elements of said link mechanism relative to the other between the first and second positions.
2. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first element of said link mechanism is mounted for Pivotal motion at an axially fixed position on said main shaft while said second element of said link mechanism is mounted for axial sliding movement on and for integral rotation with said main shaft.
3. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first element of said link mechanism is mounted for pivotal motion on said main shaft while said second element of said link mechanism is securely mounted on said main shaft, and said first element has a third element mounted for movement thereon and operatively coupled to said second element, said third element serving as said manually operable means.
4. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch, comprising a main shaft operatively connected to said disconnecting switch, a lever mounted for pivotal motion on and with respect to said main shaft, a manually operable shaft mounted for axial sliding movement on and for integral rotation with said main shaft, and a manually operable clutch operating member for moving 31 said manually operable shaft axially on said main shaft between a first position in which said manually operable shaft engages with said lever such that pivotal motion of said lever around an axis of said main shaft is transmitted to said manually operable shaft thereby to angularly rotate said main shaft and a second position in which said manually operable shaft is free from said lever.
5. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein said manually operable shaft has a cylindrical portion fitted on said main shaft and having an axially elongated slot formed therein, and a pin is secured to said main shaft and received in said slot of said manually operable shaft.
6. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein one of said manually operable shaft and said lever has a projection formed thereon while the other has a complementary recessed portion formed therein for receiving said projection.
7. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 2, wherein an annular groove is formed on an outer periphery of said manually operable shaft while said manually operable clutch operating lever has a pin secured thereto and received in said groove of - 32 said manually operabl e shaft.
8. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 2. further comprising an actuating device for pivoting said lever between first and second positions to operate, when said manually operable shaft is at the first position. said disconnecting switch between first and second position.
9. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 8. wherein said disconnecting switch is of the three position type and is capable of being operated between the first position and a third position remote from the second position with respect to the first position by manual operation of said manually operable shaft.
10. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch, comprising a main shaft operatively connected to said disconnecting switch. a crank lever secured for integral rotation to said main shaft, a lever mounted for pivotal motion on and with respect to said main shaft. and a manually operable member mounted for movement on said lever and operatively coupled to said crank lever such that said crank lever is pivoted, by manual operation of said manually operable member, around an axis of said main shaft between first and second positions to operate - 33 said disconnecting switch between first and second positions by way of said main shaft.
11. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 4, wherei.n said crank lever has a radially extending groove formed therein in such a manner as to open to an end face thereof in an axial direction of said main shaft while said manually operable member has a pair of mutually eccentric shafts having axes extending in parallel to each other, one of said shafts extending through said groove of said crank lever while the other shaft extends through and is supported for rotation on said lever.
12. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 4, wherein said lever is fixed with respect to said disconnecting switch.
13. An operating mechanism for a disconnecting switch as claimed in claim 4, further comprising an actuating device for pivoting said lever between first and second positions, said disconnecting switch being of the three position type, said crank lever being pivoted, by manual operation of said manually operable member, between the first and second positions when said lever is at the first position, said crank lever being pivoted, when said lever is pivoted from the first to the second - 34 position. to a third position remote from the second position with respect to the second position, thereby to operate said disconnecting switch to a third position.