US1248415A - Switchboard. - Google Patents

Description

H. F. KRANTZ.

SWITCHBOARD.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. I3, |915.B RENEWED APR. 11.1916.

1,248,415. Patented Nov. 2?, 19117.

H. F. KRANTZ.

swaTcHsoAR. APPLICAUON FILED MAR.13,1915. RENEWED APH. 11,1916.

. 1 ,248,4 1 5. Patented Nwa 27 19m 3 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

HUBERT F. KRANTZ, or BROQKLYN, Nrw YORK.

vSWTICHBCARD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

`Patented Nov. 27, 191'7.

.Application led March 13, 1915, Serial No. 14,130. Renewed April 11, 1916. Serial No. 90,519.

To all whom it may concern.'

Be it known ythat I, HUBERT F. KRAN'rz, ya citizen of the United States, and residing at Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Switchboard, of which the following specification is a full disclosure.

This invention relates to a switch board.

The object of the invention is to provide a switch board having the various elements thereof so arranged that a maximum number of switch ycontrolled connections may be safely made in a minimum of space and in a simple, efficient and practical manner.

A further object is to provide a switch board as above in which ready and convenient access is given to the various branch line connections and other parts.

A further object is to provide a switch .board in which the branch line wires, which Y lead to the branch line connections, are securely protected and shielded from view in a manner to protect the wires against injury and to protect an operator from any injury which might result from contact with the wires.

A further object is to provide a switch board in which the various switch elements, main line and branch line connections are contained within a protecting compartment f and in which the branch line wires, leading to the various branch line connections, are conveyed to said branch line connections by means of tube-like housings which traverse the compartment and carrly the branch line connections in insulated re ation to the main line connections.

A :further object is to provide a switch board as above in which a series of branch line connection supporting members extend transversely of and spaced from a series of bus bars, to the end that switch mechanisms arranged tandemwise along the bus bars may bemade to connect any one or more of the bus bars with a selected one or more of the overlying branch line connections.

" I the board.

A further object is to provide main bus bars and auxiliary bus bars 1n a novel relation, and to provide means whereby the aux iliary bus bars may be electrically disconnected from the main bus bars by a novel arrangement of switch mechanism.

Other objects will be in part obv-ions from the annexed drawings and in part indicated in connection therewith by the following analysis of this invention.

The switch instrumentality herein shown is claimed in a divisional application filed February 12, 1916, Serial No. 77,878.

This invention accordingly consists in the features of construction, combinations of parts, and in the unique relations of .the members and in the relative proportioning and disposition thereof; all as more completely outlined herein.

To enable others skilled in the art so fully to comprehend .the underlying features thereof that they may embody the same by the numerous modifications in structure and relation contemplated by this invention, drawings depicting a preferred form have been annexed .as a part of this disclosure, and in such drawings, like characters of reference denote corresponding part-s throughout all the views of which Figure 1 is a perspective of the rear side of a panel board embodying this invention, showing the arrangement of the various bus bars and showing the branch-line housing unit, together with the quick-break switches operating in direct contact with the bus bars, etc.

Fig. 2 is a. detail showing the use of a replaceable wear plate forming a component part of a bus bar for taking up the disintegrating tendency of the spark.

Fig. 3 is a detail of a. contact terminal adapted to be contacted directly by a brush of the switch.

Fig, i is a horizontal section taken through line 1 4 of Fig. 5.

Fig, 5 is a plain rear elevation of the panel board.

Fig. 6 is a plan partly in section and enlarged showing certain details of a toggle operated switch.

Fig. 7 is a front elevation showing the handles for operating `the switch.

Fig. 8 is a side elevation showing in full= lines the handle in the toggle-erecting position and showing it in dotted lines in the toggle-,breaking position.

Fig. 9 is a detailed inside elevation of the.`

construction of a vconduit for receiving the branch-line wires.

Continuing now, by way of a more detailed analysis of the primary characteristics ot this invention, A designates a board of insulating material, as of slate, marble or the like, which forms the front exposed :tace of the panel carrying the operating handles and on the rear side of which are mounted the various connections arranged in accordance with this invention. B designates a strip of insulating material which will ordinarily be ar anged at an angle with the front lace A and which may be utilized to carry the bus bars X, Y, Z receiving current directly from the mains. Various branchline circuits are to be supplied with current derived from these ina-in bus bars. The branch line circuits are connected to the main bnsbars preferably through the medium ot'auxiliary bus bars and these auxiliary bus bars, as g/ and e and m and y may be connected with the main bus bars either permanently Aas shown with respect to the auxiliary bus bars and y or by a switch mechanism as shown with respect to the auxiliary bus bars 00 g/ and e. This invention proposes a very simple and direct manner of accomplishing the latter purpose, by mounting the auxiliary bus bars m, y, e on the rear face of the board vA in such a way that a switch blade or brush may extend diagonally through the corner space and contact at its ends with one of the auxiliary bus bars and with a terminal of one of the main bus bars.

Preferably,l a terminal contact piece l, 2, 3 will be provided for each of the main bus bars and these terminals are each arranged equidistant from the board A. Each terminal piece may be composed of an angle member attached to the board B by means o1 the toot d and providing a clip 5 for receiving the contact end of a fuse 6. The contacting face ot this angle member may carry al replaceable plate 7 so that when its surface becomes roughened by frequent use of the switch it may easily be substituted by another. The opposite terminal of the fuse Gis received by a clip 8 extending from the extension 9 that is connected at its upper end to the bus bar. The construction in the case of the contact pieces 2 and 3 is similar, save for the fact that the extension l0, etc., will vary in length in accordance with the distance of the respective main bus bars. The auxiliary bus bar a? is secured to the rear :tace of the board A in the same horizontal plane as the contact l so that its end terminates diagonally opposite said contact and said end may carry a replaceable facing ll similar to that indica-ted by 7. The auxiliary bus bars y, a, etc., are arranged' in a similar manner.

v'and 13 closely adjacent the side board B that carries the main bus bars, and extensions l-l and l5 ot suitable length will extend from the appropriatebus bars and terminate equi-distant trom the trent board A. This construction enables duplicate brace connectors 16 and 17 to be used for the purpose of permanently establishing connection between the bus bars Y and Z and the auxiliary bus bars and y.

rl'he main switch C is ln'eterably constructed of the double-break type in which the switch blades are pivotally mounted intermediate their ends and are adapted to swing into and out of circuit closing position. In the drawings the switch` C is provided with three independent blades as G, G and G one for each oi the auxiliary bus bars g/ and e. These are held spaced apart in proper insulated relation and in coperative relation with the adjacent main and auxiliary bus bars by means ol insulating and supporting members :i3 and 24k the opposite ends oit 4which are pivotally supported as at Q6 and 27. A bracket 29 which. supports the 'end 26 may support also suitable mechanism by means oi' which the blades may be shiited into and ont of circuit closing position through the medium et an operating handle l mounted at the opposite side of the front board A and being connected with the switch blades by a link H which extends through a suitable aperture in the .t'ront board. n

It is proposed to locate a main switch C, adjacent the corner termed by the intersection of the planes of the main bus bars and of the auxiliary bus bars so that the axis oi rotation of the main switch C will be parallel with the intersection of the two planes. As shown by Fig'. l, the main bus bars extend parallel. to said intersection and the auxiliary bus bars extend transversely to said intersection, and the terminals of these respective bus bars are preferably arranged diagonally opposite one another, as shown by Fig. l. This arrangement ejtlects many important economies in the amount of metal and the number of parts required.

In the illustrated embodiment, the blades G swingin a plane transverse to the intersection between the planes A and B, and when occupying a diagonal position they may establish an electrical connection between the parts.

It will be noted that this arrangement is equally applicable to two-Wire or three-Wire systems and fthe necessary Width of the slate or marble board A is but little increased by the utilization of a main supply switch, such as indicated by C.

A simplified system and construction for the branch-line circuits is also provided byv this invention. The various branch-line wires J, which are provided with insulation in the ordinary manner, extend upwardly or downwardly, as the case may be, along one side of the narrow insulating board E and are connected to suitable terminals 35. These terminals are arranged in alinement on one side of the narrow board E, as shown best by Fig. l, and the branch-line wires J preferably are located on the opposite side and pass through apertures 36 to contact directly with the terminals 35. These terminals preferably are provided with fuse-receiving clips 3T adapted to make contact with thel terminals of the fuses 38 or 39, whereby the current may be received from the contact making terminals 40 of the type shown by Fig. 8, and with which the blades K, K and l of the branch line switches D and F directly contact, as shown by Fig. l; These terminals 40 may be made alike, thus introducing economies in manufacturing, and they are arranged inA alinement as shown and'may have replaceable facings 41, as shown by Fig. 3, so that the switch blades may contact directly with said terminals and the actual contact surfaces may be renewed in case of excessive pitting. The narrow board E extends transversely to the bus bars ac, y and z and preferably inclines somewhat to the plane thereof, so as to expose the fuse-bearing side thereof and thereby facilitate the replacement of fuses. An advantageous construction for the mounting of these boards is shown best, perhaps, by Fig. 5. The upper and lower partitions L and M extend transversely to the plane of the board A and in conjunction with the plates L and M form gutters or passageways N open at their ends to receive the main line wires vwhich may enter through insulated bushings 4'2 and be connected to the main bus bars X, Y and Z. These gutters N also carry the branch-line wires J and said branch line Vwires extend inwardly through openings at 43 adjacent each of the narrow terminal bearing boards E, E', etc. These boards 'each preferably form the front Wall of a narrow elongated box made ofoppositely arranged T- irons 44 and 45 bolted at their respective ends to the plates L and M by means of angle pieces 46, An L-shaped strip 47 (see Fig. 6) is secured to the T-iron which is positioned nearest the board A soaps to provide an overhanging lip 48. A closure or cover plate 5() has a flange 51 along one edge for engaging the outer' T-iron 44. The opposite longitudinal edge of this plate engages against the inner surface of the over-hanging lip 48 and thereby completes the box. These parts may be assembled before the branch line wires are connected but preferably the cover plate 50 is omitted until the branch line wires are threaded in place. By this means a wide open and convenient space is provided for the operation of threading the wires, and after the wires have been fully threaded the cover plate is then fixed into position. This is done simply by introducing one edge of the plate behind the lip 48 and by thereafter fixing the flange 51 to the angular iron 44 by suitable screws or other mea-ns. lVhen the cover plate is in position the wires are entirely concealed, the terminal boards and the parts 44, 45, 47, and 50 constituting tubular conductor carriers through which the branch line conductors extend from the gutters N to their respective branch line terminals. ln this way, all the wires are compacted into a relatively small space and are very effectively protected, and the entire rear side of the panel board is free from any exposed wires so that it has very clean-cut appearance. As indicated by Figs. 4 and 5, a series of similar boxes E, E, etc., preferably arranged in echelon, will be provided.

lt will accordingly be perceived that l have devised a simple, durable, efficient switch instrumentality which requires but few parts in its construction and which demands a comparatively small amount of copper or other valuable materials and which, nevertheless, provides for a great number of b 1anch lines within a relatively small space.

Tithout further analysis, the foregoing will so fully reveal the gist of this invention that others can by applying current knowledge readily adapt it for various applications without omitting certain features that, from the standpoint of the prior art, fairly constitute essential characteristics of the generic or specific aspects of this invention, and therefore such adaptations should and are intended to be comprehended within the meaning and range of equivalency of the following claims.

Having thus lrevealed this invention, I claim as new and desire to secure the following combinations of elements, or equivalents thereof. by Letters Patent of the United States:

1. An electrical switch instrumentality combining a series of .bus-bars arranged substantially in the same plane; a number of narrow elongated boxes extending transversely to said bus-bars at one side thereof; a series of terminals mounted on one face of each box; wires positioned longitudinally in each of said boxes and connected with said terminals; and switches arranged to estab- Cit lish electrical connection between said terminals and said bus-bars.

2. nn electrical switch instrumentality eombiring a board of insulating material; a partion arranged transversely thereto and toi-ming the side oi a gutter; a narrow elongated box er\:tendingv from said partition iarallel with said board and having a numbei' oit terminals on a tace thereof; a number et wires arranged in raid gutter and extend' into said box 'through an aperture o partition and connecting with said terminals; a plurality of bus-bars arranged parallel with said board and transversely to said box; and switch blades 'for estabeleci'rical connection between said terminals and said bus-bars.

2l. in e`eetrical switch instrumentality combining a board of insulating material; a pl'i 'ality of bus-bars mounted en the rear tace thereof; a partition extending transversely to (he vrear Jr'ace thereof and forming a side of a conduit t'or branch-line wires and having a seriesl oi openings; a series of elongated cong 'eringattlieirfnnls withsaid opend .d extending parallel withtherearside ,fr .d board and transversely to said busbars and having termin als; branch-line wires extending` through said openings into said conduits and connected with said terminals; switch blades adapted to establish connection betw .en said terminals and said busbars; and means for operating said switches from the front side of said board.

4l. .rin electrical switch instrumentality combining a series of parallel auxiliary busbars arranged in the same plane; a series of main bus-bars extending transversely t said auxiliary bus-bars and arranged in a plane at an angle to said first-mentioned plane; a series of branch-line terminals arrange l in a plane at an angle with said iirstmentioned plane; a series of switch-blades extending from said terminals to said auxiliary bus-bars; and a plurality of branchline wires connecting with said terminals.

5. A switch-board combining a baseboard; a plurality of parallel strips of insulating material inclined at an acute angle to said base-board; a plurality of parallel busbars extending transversely to said strips between the same and said baseboard; a plurality of branch-line terminals arranged adjacent corresponding edges oi said strips in proximity with said bus-bars; and pivotally mounted switch blades adapted to establish connection between said terminals and said bus-bars.

G. A switchboard combining a baseboard; a plurality of parallel strips of insulating material spaced apart and disposed edgewise to said base-board and distanced therefrom; a series of parallel bus-bars extending intermediate the ends of the strips between said base-board and said strips transversely thereto; branch-line terminals mounted on said strips; and resilient switchblades pivoted to swing into positions establishingelectrical connection between their respective branch-line terminals and said bus-bars.

7. il switch -board combining a baseboard; a plurality of aarallel strips oi. insulating material spaced apart adjacent said base-board; an elongated conductor extending transversely to said strips between the same and said base-board; branch line terminals mounted at the edge oi5 said strips adjacent said conductor; and a resilient switch blade pivoted to swing into engagement with its respective branch-line terminal.

S. A switch -board combining a baseboard; a narrow elongated strip of insulating material arranged adjacent one 'face oi: said base-board but spaced away therefrom; a plurality of narrow elongated parallel conductors extending flatwise along the tace ol said base-board between the saine and said strips and transversely thereto; a corresponding number oit branch-line terminals, each arranged on said strip adjaceirl its respective conductor; and a corresponding number of resilient laminated switch blades pivotally mounted so as to be movable into a position and contacting directly with said conductor and its appropriate branch-line terminal.

9. ik switch-board combining` a baseboard; a plurality of parallel strips oil insulating material arranged adjacent one face thereof; a plurality of narrow elongated bus-bars arranged tlatwise adjacent the face of said board and extending transversely to said strips intermediate the ends of the strips and between the same and said board; a plurality of branch-line terminals carr`ed by said strips; and a corresponding number of switches adapted to connect said terminals with said bus-bars.

10. A switch-board combining a plurality of elongated strips of insulating materia-l spaced apart in parallelism so as to be arranged in echelon; a number of branch-line cables extending along the rear face of each strip; a number of branch-line terminals carricdby the front iace of each strip and connected across the plane of each strip with its appropriate branch-line conductor; a main bus-bar extending transversely to said strips; and switches adapted to establ connection between said bus-bar and said branch-line terminals.

il. i switch-board combining a baseboard; a plurality of parallel strips of insulating material arranged at acute angles to said base-board; a plurality of parallel bus-bars extending transversely to said 'strips between the same and said baseboard; a plurality of branch-line terminals arranged adjacent corresponding edges of said strips inv proximity with said bus-bars; and pivotally mounted switch blades adapted to establish connection between said terminals and said bus-bars.

1 12. A switch-board combining a baseboard; a plurality of parallel strips of insulating material spaced apart in echelon adjacent said baseboard; an elongated conductor extending transversely to said strips between the same and said base-board; branch-line terminals mounted at the edge of said strips adjacent said conductor; and a switch-blade pivoted at an intermediate point and adapted to swing to bring its one end into contact with said conductor and its otherend into contact with its respective branch-line terminal.

13. A switch-board combining a baseboard, a partition carried at one face of the base-board defining a switch carrying portion at one side of the partition and a branch line wire gutter at the other side of the partition, a plurality of main line contacts and branch line contacts arranged within the switch carrying portion, switch blades movable for making and breaking engagement between said main line contacts and said branch line contacts, a tubular conductor carrier communicating with an opening in said partition, and extending from said partition to said branch line contacts serving as a support for said branch line contacts and being adapted to carry the branch line wires therethrough from said gutter through the opening in said partition into electrical connection with said branch line contacts.

14. A switch-board combining a base-board,`

a partition carried at one face of the baseboard defining a switch carrying portion at one side of the partition and a branch line wire gutter at the other side of the partition, a plurality of main line contacts and branch line contacts arranged within the switch carrying portion, switch blades movable for making and breaking engagement between said main line contacts and said branch line contacts, a carrier extending from said partition to said branch line contacts, said carrier comprising a flat strip of insulating material to which said branch line contacts are ixed in a row at spaced points away from said partition, said carrier comprising also means fixed to said strip of insulating material to constitute a tubular inclosure of which the strip of insulating material forms one wall, said tubular inclosure communicating at its end with the opening in said pai'- tition adapted to receive branch line wires extending from the gutter inwardly through the opening n the partition and along the tacts tubular inclosure to said branch line conln a dead 'face switchboard, the ccmbination with a base board of insulating material :and a pair oi bus-bars extending in siibstaiilially parallel relation along the rear surface oi' said board adapted i'or carrying the opposite sides of an electric circuit, oi' branch-line contacts also at the rear of the board one lor each of said bus bars and being spaced therefrom, switch blades also at the rear oi' the board one for each of said bus bars, means operable from the front of the board tor moving said switch blades, supporting means for the switch blades insulating said switch blades from cach ether and holding them to move in unison for making and breaking contact between said bus bars and the respective adjacent branch line contacts, and bi'anch line wires also at the rear of the board extending transversely oi and across said bus bars in insulated relation thereto and being connected with said branch line contacts.

16. A dead face switch-board combining a series or' bus bars arranged in substantially parallel relation along the rear surface of the switchboard, branch line terminals also at the rear of the board one for each of said bus bars, switch blades also arranged at the rear of the board one for each of said bus bars, means operable from the front of the board for moving said switch blades to make and break contact between said bus bars and the respective adjacent branch line terminals, and branch-line wires also at the rear of the board extending transversely and across the bus bars in insulated relation thereto and being connected with said branch line terminals.

17. A dead face switch-board combining a series of bus bars arranged in substantially parallel relation along the rear surface of the switch-board, means deiining a branch line wire gutter also at the rear of the board extending substantially parallel with said bus bars, branch-line terminals also at the rear of the board one adjacent each of said bus-bars, switch blades also arranged at the rear of the board one for each oi' said bus bars, means operable from the front of the board 'for moving said switch blades to make and break contact between said bus bars and the respective adjacent branch-line terminals, and branch line wires also at the rear of the board extending longitudinally along said gutter and thence laterally from the gutter transversely of and across the bus bars in insulated relation to the bus bars and into electrical connection with said branchline terminals.

18. A switch-board combining a series of bus bars extending side by side along one side of the switch board, branch line termi- .nale also at the same side of the board one -for each bus bar, switch blades also arranged at the same side of the board one for each bus bar, means for operating the switch blades to make and break Contact between said bus bars and the respective adjacent branch line terminals, a branch-line-wiresupporting,` member arranged at the same side of the switch-board and extending transversely of and across the bus-bars, and branch-line wires extending along,` said supportingl member transversely or' the busbars and into Connection with said branchline terminals.

19. A switch board combining a basel olf parallel bus-bars supported by said base board Vand extending in a direction transverse to said strip, terminals mounted on 20 said strip and positioned in planes other than those occupied by said bus-bars and the base board, branch line wires extending longitudinally of, and carried on, said strip,

and switch blades for establishing electrical 25 connections between said terminals and said bus-bars.

In witness whereof, I hereunto subscribe my name, as attested by the two subscribing Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C.

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