US1193695A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

E. H. JACOBS.

ELECTRIC SWH'CH.

APPLICATION men APR. 26, m2.

1 1 93,695 Patented Aug. 8, 1916.

'2 SHEETS-SHEET I.

Witmesses: Enventnr:

E. H. JACOBS. moms swncn. APPLICATION FILED AHL 26; 1912 1,193,695. Patented Aug. 8,1916.

/;] 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

Inve fltDT; Ernest H.Ja00bs,

His flttnrnev necessary strength and ERNEST JAGOBEF, OF SCHENECYRADY,

YQRIQ ASSIG-IJOR Ti) GENERAL ELEG'IEIG COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0]? NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Original application filed March To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EnNns'r ll. JAcons, u citizen. of the United States, residing at Schenectady, county of Schenectady, State of New York, have invented certain new and llSQll Improvements in Electric Switches, oi which the following is a specification.

This application is cation filed March (313,376.

My invention and more particularly which the movable contact straight line motion.

In oil switches as usually conch-mated, the leads of the circuit to lie-controlled are cured to fixed contacts mounted in suitable insulators l i hen the circuit is to he closed, the fixed contacts are electrically connected by :1 hriailging contact controlled by operating); mechanism ii ich generally mounted above or to one i. of the switch and. which some project over the too of the *itch between the leads git-the circni oe con "lied. "l 'he opertin q' niecionisni and the nrts th of which. extend between the lcude are more of metal to secure We division of my applirelates to electric switches to oil switches, 111 should have it between. the buds ol the circuit must he so great that those metallic portions ol the op erating mechanism which are between the leads will. not cause a breakdown from lend to the other. Many of the parallel motion operating niechzmisms for conn clling the movable Contact to move in a straight line are objectionable because certain parts of the IfiQCllftlllSli'l are in between the leads or the fixed contacts, and the. lczuils of the circuit must he spaced so for apart that the i'loor m nce occupied hy the ewitc i too great. v

"The chic-2t of my in. improved switch which adapted "for controlling eirci'uts carrying large :unounts of energy; in which the mov- :ible contact given a straight line motion by means of u n; Lillel motion operating niechnnisui mounted to one side of the switch and having on :ictimting arm of minimum width projecting over the top of the switch between the leads. so that the lateral dimensions of the metallic members between leads entice to provide an particularly Specification of Letters Patent.

9th, 19H, Serial No;

therefore the space.

in the position ready to again Patented A11 8, 1916.

9, 1911, Serial No. 613,376. Divided and this application filed. April 26,

Serial No. 693,402.

is reduced to it minimum; in which the pivots, llnks and other bulky parts of the parollel motion mechanism are placed so far away from the live parts oi the switch that tie mechanism does not have any tendency 0 cause breakdown from one live part to another; in which the movable contact is posi tively guided in substantially a straight line so that it works easily and drops away from the fixed contacts quickly and cannot swing out of ulinement with the fixed. contact; and in which the operating ineclmnisin of the Enritch is thoroughly protected from the weather and from injury, but may be easily inspected when desired.

Another object oi my invention is to proiide an operating; mechanism which will permit the switch to open inde 'iendently of the position of the handle or other operating member in case conditions upon the circuit are abnormal when the switch is closed and which will trip with greater ease and :er tuinty than devices of this kind heretofore usedr particularly where the switch is large and the force transmitted through the operating nieeimnisni great liL invention will best be understood in connection with the accompanying drewine e, which merely for purposes of illustration show some ol? the rious forms in which the invention may he embodied and in which .l""i "ure 1 a View partly in. section a form oil switch which particularly adepted to control high POlJOfltliLl circuits carrying great quantities oi energy and in which the movable Contact is automatically released from the handle in case of overload and mechanism, Fig. Zshoiving' the parts in the position assumed by tl ein when the switch clo. Fig. 1-3 a view oi the some EEC/112k nisni Ell tor it has been tripped :ultomzitically; and Fig. l is a view of the some mechanism close the switch.

Fig. 1 shows it torm oliswitoh embodying my invention and well adapted to control circuits in which the potential is high and in which the amount of energy flowing is great. in this particular form of switch on oil tonic l contnin .i; a snllicient onioimt of oil tem of to submerge the contacts of the switch stands upon the floor of the station and is provided with a cover 2, preferably consisting of two portions separated by a comparatively narrow gap. In each of said portions there is an insulator 3 having a central conducting rod with its upper end connected to a lead of the circuit to be controlled and its lower end secured to some suitable form of fixed contact, such as the contact a shown in dotted lines and mounted in a pressure retaining chamber which confines the oil put under pressure by the arc and directs the oil against the are to eXtinguish it. The circuit is controlled by means of a bridging contact 5 which moves into and out of engagement with the fixed contacts on the lower ends of the insulators 3 and which is carried by an insulating rod (3 with its upper end extending above the surface of the oil in the oil vessel 1. The rod (3 is moved up and down by some suitable form of parallel motion operating mechanism having an arm which extends between the insulators 3 and which is connected at one end to the upper end of the rod 6. In the particular arrangement shown, the force for moving the parallel motion operating mechanism is transmitted to the operating mechanism through a sysinterconnected rods and bell cranks from some suitable operating member such as the handles 7 mounted upon any convenient and suitable support such as a panel 8.

In some cases the switch actuating mecha nism is mounted upon a support which is independent of the oil tank and contacts of the switch, but is fixed in some suitable relation thereto, so that the operating arm of the mechanism will project between the leads going to the switch and will move be tween the leads and parallel to them for the purpose of operating the movable contact. In such cases the parallel mot-ion mechanism for moving the operating arm should be as compact as possible so that the floor space occupied by the switch and its actuating mechanism shall be reduced to a minimum. In the preferred construction, illustrated in Figs. 2, 3 and 4;, some suitable support- 9 is provided on which the various parts of the parallel motion operatin mechanism are mounted. In the particular form of mechanism shown, a switch actuating member suitably journaled or mounted on the support 9 and comprising a rock shaft 10 is provided with a rigid extension or arm 11 which forms part of the parallel motion mechanism. To the outer end of the arm 11 pivoted a link 12 which forms part of the parallel mot-ion mechanism. and is pivoted at its outer end to an arm 13 to which the movable contact of the switch is connectet and by which the movhigh velocity and .talct,

able contact is actuated. One end of the arm 13 is pivotally connected to a link 14 mounted upon a suitable pivot 15 on the support 9. As the rock shaft 10 is moved the link ll is swung on its pivot by means of a guiding toggle 16 which is connected through an actuating link 17 to the arm 11. The various parts are so proportioned that as the arm 11 rocks about the rock shaft 110 as an axis, the arm 13 is moved up and down to open and close the switch and owing to the action of the guiding toggle 16 the-link ll and arm 13 are so moved that the end of the arm 13 and the movable contactconnected to it, move in a straight line.

During the opening of the switch the movable contact attains a comparatively some sort of yielding or resilient stop should be provided to stop the downward movement of the movable contact without causing excessive strains or jars, and also to store up energy which will assist the operator to close the switch. A spring 18 is connected at one end by a pin 19 to the link 12 and is connected atthe other end by a pin :20 to the support 9, the

parts being so proportioned that as the arnr the switch, the and yieldingly stops the downward movement of the con- The stretched spring also assists in closing the switch.

he actuating member of the switch mechanism also comprises an arm 21 rigidly secured to the rock shaft 10 and an operating member 22, which is loosely mounted on the rock shaft and is movableindependently of the actuating mechanism by an operating handle controlled by the operator.

In many types of switches, the switch mechanism is preferably disconnected from the operating handle or member when the conditions on the circuit are abnormal so that. for instance, it is impossible for the operator to hold the switch closed on ovcrload. In order to attain this result- I provide between the operating member and the arm 21 of the actuating member of the switch mechanism, some form of colla connection which normally forms va and positive connection between the two members but which under definite and predetermined conditions will collapse and per-- mit the members to move independently of each other. Various forms of collapsible connections may be used, but the preferred construction is that shown, which is particularly adapted for use where the switch is large and the amount of force to be transmitted through the connection great.

tion the operating member 29 is connected to the arm 21 through a normally undersct toggle consisting of a link 23 connected to the arm 21 through some suitable lost morigid In this preferred form of collapsible connee mes es tion connection such as a pin :24; which enters a slot in the end of the link B, so that. the link can move to a certain extent independently of the arm 21, and of a second linlt 25 pivoted to the link 23 to form a normally underset toggle which always tends to collapse. In order that the underset main toggle 23-25 may normally be held rigid, but at the same time will be in condition to collapse 'upon the occurrence of overload or other abnormal conditions on the circuit, some suitable device such as a sensitive form of locking toggle is provided for holding the main toggle extended. In the par ticular form of mechanism shown in the drawing, the link extends beyond the pivot 26 and at a point beyond the pivot provided with a pin 27 on which is mounted one link 28 of the locking toggle. The other link 29 of the locking toggle has one end connected to the middle of the link 28 and the other end mounted on a pivot 30 secured to the (merating member 'l. he locking toggle 28-29 is also normally undcrset and is held against collapse by a latch F t-mounted on the pivot 30. The latch PM has near one end a notch or other suitable means for engaging the free ond'o't the link :28 and near the other end a projection 33, which, when the switch is in the closed position, is in alinelnent with the core of an electroresponsive device, such as an overload coil or solenoid 34;.

In order to taeilitate straightening out t ic main toggle KP-25, the rock shatt 10 is provided with an arm or projection 35 which is connected through a spring 36 to the operating member 22, this spring being so proportioned that it tends to straighten the main toggle 23 25.

\Vhere the movable contact arreaae its downward movement by a spring bun such as the spring 18, there is a tenth icy tor the contact to reluun'nt, and some able latching mechanism provided which will catch the operating mechanism a* the switch opens and hold the swi ch in the open position. Tt is desirable that the latching mechanism be auton'iatically ci'introllcd by the movement of the operating l'nechani incident to the closing of the switch, so that the catch will be automatically moved to release the switch as soon as the operator be gins to close the switch. in inc preferred construction the switch' is cauglt and held open by means of a latch or deter mount ed on the support 9 in a position 1.. actuate and engage the end of the arm 21 as the switch opens, this latch being provided with :1 lug or projection 38, so arranged that as the operator begins to close the switch by moving the operating member "22, the lint: 23 of the main toggle moves a short distance independently of the arm. 21 and during this independent movement the end of the l engages the lug 38 and forces the latcl 57 down, thereby re easing the arm :21 so that the switch is tree and can be closed.

When the switch is closed the parts are in the position shown in Fig. 3, vhere the main toggle 2325 is prevented from collapsing by the locking toggle 28---2 which in turn is held against collapse by the latch 31. If an overload or any other abnormal condition appears on the circuit the coil 34; is energized, the latch. 31 is moved and releases the other end of the link 28 of the lockin toggle, thereupon the locking toggle collapses and permits the main toggle to collapse so that the actuating member of the switch can move independently of the main operating member and the parts then move to the position shown in Fig. 3 as the switch opens. In order to close the switch t is necessary that the operator move the operating mem her in sucn a way that the members :22 and iii are again locked in rigid relation to eachother, and this result is acctnnplished by moving the operating member 22 to the position shown in Fig. t. by which movei'nen't the main and lochiiw toggles are straightened out and are held in the extended posi tion by the latch 31 engaging the eiid oi the linkQS, whereupon the operating member and t 1e actuating member are rigullylocked to each other and the switch can be closed by means ot the operating member It the overload is still on the circuit or other abnormal conditim'is appc: r during the clos-- in? of the switch, the coil 34. is energized as the contacts of the switch touch, whereupon the latch 2- isagain actuated and the switch less oi": the position ot the open r reg; c

handle and of the operating memnvei'ition may be embodied in other forms than those shown and described, and therefore do not limit;- my invention to the precise arrangement disclosed in this applitat-ion, but aim in the appended claims to coverv all modifications which are within the spirit and. scope of my invention.

\Vhat I claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United Statesis 1.. In an actuating mechanism for electric switches, the combination of a switch actuating iemher and an operating member mounted to be movable relatively to each other, a collapsible connection between sait members for transmitting tori-"e from one member to the other, a locking toggle for normally preventing the collapse of said connection, said toggle comprising a. link pivoted at one end to said connection, a sec- 0nd line pivoted to said operating iember and to said first link ends thcrcot, and a pivot ct said second 1 end of said ll prevent collapse.

at a point between the 2. In an actuating mechanism for electric switches, the combination of a switch actuating member, an operating member, a normally underset collapsible main toggle connecting said members, a locking toggle pivoted to said main toggle and to said operating member for normally preventing the collapse of said main toggle, and a latch piv oted on said operating member to engage one of the links of said locking toggle and thereby preventcollapse of both said toggles.

3. In a switch actuating mechanism, the combination of a switch actuating member and. an operating member mounted to oscillate independently of each other about a common axis, a normally positive collapsible connection between said members having a lost motion connection with one of said members to permit a limited movement of said connection independently of said member, and a detent mounted to engage said switch actuating member and hold the switch in open position and to be moved into position to release said switch actuating member by movement of said connection incident to closing of the switch.

4. In a switch actuating mechanism, the combination of a switch actuating member and an operating member mounted to rock about the same axis, a main toggle having one end connected to said operating member and the other end to said actuating member, a locking toggle having one end pivoted to one link of said main toggle and the other end pivoted on said operating member, a latch pivoted on said operating member to cooperate with one of the links of said locking toggle, and means responsive to abnormal conditions on the circuit controlled by the switch for moving said latch and thereby permitting both said toggles to collapse and said members to move relatively to each other.

In an actuating mechanism for electric switches, the combination of a switch actuat ing member, an operating member, a collapsible' main toggle connecting said members, a locking toggle operatively related to said main toggle for normally preventing the collapse of said main toggle, and electromagnetic means for controlling the collapse of said locking toggle.

In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 25th day of April, 1912.

ERNEST H. JACOBS. Witnesses IIELEN Onronn, BENJAMIN B. HULL.

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