US1224186A - Circuit-interrupter. - Google Patents

Description

J. N. MAHONEY.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

APPLICATIONIILED AUG. 11. 1913.

Patented May 1, 1917.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ATTORNEY UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JOSEPH MAHONEY, or wILxrNsBUne, PENNSYLVANIA, AssreNon 'ro WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMP NY, A conronArIoN or PENNSYL- 'VANIA.

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To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Josnrn N. MAHONEY, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Willn'nsbur in the county of A1legheny and State 0 Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Oircuit-Interrupters, of f which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to circuit interrupters and particularly to contact members for oil-insulated circuit breakers.

The object of my invention is to provide contact members having jaws which are self-alining and upon which there is an initial tension before contact is made.

Since the contact terminals of oil-insulated circuit ,breakers of the usual types are not self-alining. when moved into and out of engagement, such apparatus is defective to that extent.

My invention provides a selfalin means and also springs which exert an imtial'tension upon the contact pieces to cause from shock or jar.

a resilient action when the contact pieces come together and to relieve the insulators I also provide arcing contact terminals which prevent the main contact faces from becoming pitted. I also provide a stop for the contacts which determines their initial position and tension. In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a contact member embodying my invention, Fig. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line II-II of Fig. 1.

Fig. .3 is a sectional view taken on the line III-III of Fig. '1. Fig. 4'is a fragmentary in elevation and end view of the contact member shown in Fig. 1 in its open position, shown partially partially in section, and Fig. 5, is a side 716W of a circu t breaker wherein is incorporated my. invention, shown partially in elevation and partially in section.

Referring to the figures, my inventlon 1s embodied in a circuit breaker 1 compris ng an operating mechanism 2, a tripping mechanism 3, oil-containing compartments 4, and terminals 5. The contact members 6 and 7 are immersed in oil 8 in the compartments 4. y p

The movable contact members 7 comprising solid pieces of metal 9 of truncated triangular form in cross section, are connected together by a base 10 and webs 11. Fas- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 1, 1917.

Application filed August 11, 1918. Serial No. 784,088.

tened to base 10-is an operating lever 12.

Projections 13 .on the base 10 support are.

and a cylindrical portion 1 threaded at its' upper end 18 for the purpose of screwin it .into a terminal 5. Around. the cylindrlcal portion of the bar 15 are placed insulating tubes 19 and 20. Tube 20 supports tube 19 and is itself supported by the lower portion 16 of the metal bar 15. To each side of the portion 16 is fastened, by bolts 21, a resilient flat conductor 22 having an indentation 23. On top of conductor 22 is a very thin pliable steel strip 24 and on top of this is placed a relatively stifi' steel strip 25 havng a bearin point 26 on its lower end. On the under si e of portion 16 is attached, b

screws 27 a spring-like structure 28 of stee which has bearing points 29 directly opposite the bearing points 26 on the steel strips 25. To the lower end of the conducting strip 22 and the strip 24' are attached con-j tact pieces 30 having an upper portion cut away.

The stationary arcing contact member comprises a. projecting structure 31 having a plunger 32 capable of moving latera therein under the tension of a spring 33.

A flexible conductor 34 connects the plunger 32 to a clip terminal 35 on the portion 16 of the stationary contact members 6.

When the circuit is open, the conducting strip 22 and the strip 24 rest against the contact point 29, under the pressure of the contact point 26, and, with this initial pressure on it, the contact pieces 30 assume a position that is in direct alinement with the movable contact member 9. When'the movable contact member 9 is moved upward, it en ages the contactv pieces 30 and distri utesits force in such direction that its main component is in]; line normal to its contact planes and passing through. the point 26, thereby not stressing the'alining strip 24, since the still? steelstrip 25 is provided for dissi ating the externalforces.

My contact evice may be "made without the arcing contact member 32 and ma have as many units or sections as will furnish the correct contact areas.

While, as here shown, my invention' is of any size within the scope of the appended claims.

I clalm as my 1nvent1on:' 1. A contact devlce for clrcuit interrupters comprising a resiliently supported contact member and resilient means having bearing points that engage the resilient support on opposite sides under normal conditions. I

2. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a contact member, a flexible support therefor and means having bearing points for engaging the flexible support on opposite sides under normal conditions. i

3. In a contact making device, the combination with a movable member, of a stationary member, contact or bearing parts for said stationarymember, means for suspending said contact parts, resilient means disposed at substantially opposite points on each side of the suspending means for alining the contact parts of the stationary member with the said movable member.

4:. In a contact making device, the combination with a movable member, of a stationary member, contact fingers for the stationary member, means for suspending the contact fin ers, resilient means disposed at substantial y opposite points on each, side of the suspending means for alining the contact fingers of the stationary member with the movable member and for exerting a tension on the suspending means when the contact fingers and the movable member are separated.

. 5. In a contact making device, the combination with a movable member, of a. sta-. tionary member, contact fingers for the stationary member, a flexible conductor and a relatively thin strip of metal for suspendin the contact fingers, resilient means disposed ,at substantially opposite oints on each side of the suspending means or alining the con- .tact fingers of the stationary member with the movable member and for exerting a tension on the thin metal strip when the contact fingers and the movable member are separated.

6. In a circuit interrupter, the combina tion with an operating mechanism and m0vable contact members, of a stationary base member, stationary contact members, resilient means for connectin said stationary contact members to said %ase member, and resilient bearing members having bearing points thereon for engaging the resilient connecting means at substantially opposite points.

7. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a resiliently supported contact member, and resilient means bearing on substantially opposite points on both sides thereof under normal conditions.

8. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising resiliently supported contact members, resilient means for bearing on substantially opposite points on both sides of said contact members, and a movable contact member for engaging said resiliently supported contact members.

9. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a stationary member, stationary contact members having an u per portion thereof cut away, resilient con ucting strips connected to said stationary member and to the lower portion of said stationary contact members, inner resilient bearing members disposed between the cut away portion of said stationary contact members and said resilient conducting strips, and outer bearing members for bearing on the outer portion of said conducting strips at points opposite the bearing points of said\ inner bearing members.

10. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a stationary member, a movable member, contact members for said stationary member, flexible conductors connected to said stationary member and to said contact members, resilient strips of metal attached to said stationary member and bearing on the outer side of said flexible conductors, a resilient U-shaped metal strip attached to said stationary member having bearin points on the ends thereof that enage 516 inner sides of said flexible conuctor at points opposite to the bearing points of said resilient strips of metal.

11. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a stationary member, a

movable member, contact members for said stationary member, flexible conductors and resilient metal str1ps for suspending said contact members from said stationary member, relatively stifi' resilient metal strips having bearing points mounted thereon, said strips being attached to said stationary member and bearin on said resilient metal stri s throu h sai bearing points, and a resi ient U- aped metal strip attached to said stationary member and having bearing points thereon for engaging the inner side of said flexible conductors.

12. A contact device for circuit interrupters' com rising a base, contact members, flexible con uctors connected to said base and to said contact members, relatively stifi resilient members mounted on said base and havin bearing points thereon for engaging said exible conductors, and resilient members havingbearing points attached thereto for engagin the flexible conductors on the opposite si e from the bearing points attached to said relatively stiff resilient mem- 13. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a base, contact members, flexible conductors and resilient metal strips connected to said base and to said contact members, resilient bearing members mounted on said base and havlng bearing polnts thereon for engaging the resilient metal strip, and resilient members attached to said base and having bearin'g points thereon for engaging the said flexible conductors on points directly opposite the bearing points attached to said resilient members.

, 14. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a base, contact members, flexible conductors connected to said base and to said contact members, and resilient bearing members having bearing points thereon for engaging the said flexible conductors on opposite sides thereof.

15. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a contact member having an upper portion cut away, a resilient support therefor attached to the lower portion thereof and means for normally engaging the resilient support on opposite sides thereof at a point adjacent the cut-away portion.

16. A contact device for circuit interrupters comprising a contact member, a stationary base member, resilient means for supporting the contact member from the base member and means for permitting the contact member to turn about two .pivotal points disposed on opposite sides of the said resilient supporting means.

17. In a circuit interrupter, the combination with an operating mechanism and movable contact members, of a stationary base member, stationary contact members, resilient means for connecting the stationary contact members to the base member, and means for permitting the stationary contact members to turn about two pivotal points disposed on opposite sides of the said resilient connecting means for alining the stationary contact members with the movable contact member.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of July, 1913.

JOSEPH N. MAI-IONEY. Witnesses:

B. B. Hmns, M. C. ,MERZ.

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