US1292809A - Safety panel-box. - Google Patents

Description

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET I.

@wumfoz H. F. KRANTZ.

SAFETY PANEL BOX.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 31, 191-7.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

2 SHEETSSHEET 2- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HUBERT F. KRANTZ, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR TO KRANTZ MAN UFAC- TURING- COMPANY, INCL, 0F BROOKLYN, NEW YORK, A. CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

SAFETY PANEL-BOX.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 28, 1919.

Application filed March 31, 1917. Serial No. 158,959.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, HUBERT F. KRANTZ, residing at Brooklyn, in the county of-Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Safety Panel-Boxes, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a safety panel box.

A particular object of the invention is to provide improved and positively operating means for rendering the panel box safe and uniformly eflicient even in the hands of an inexperienced operator.

A more specific object is to provide a panel box in which the switch mechanism is mounted in a stationary position within the box, and in which means is provided operatively associated with the switch mechanism for positively locking the door closed whenever the switch is in the on? position and for positively locking the switch in the off position whenever the door is open.

A further more detailed object is to provide a member fixed to and movable with the door having a part disposed to stand in the path of movement of a part fixed movable with the switch blade to positively prevent movement of the switch blade to the on position when the door is open; and to provide said member with another part disposed to engage the mentioned part of the switch blade when the switch blade is in the on position whereby to positively pre vent swinging movementof the door toward open position.

Other ob'ects and aims of the invention, more or less specific than those referred to above, will be in part obvious and in part pointed out in the course of the following description of the elements, combinations, arrangements of parts and applications of principles, constituting the invention; and the scope of protection contemplated will be indicated in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawings which are to be taken as a part of this specification, and in which I have shown ,merely a preferred form of embodiment of the invention:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal vertical sectional view through a panel box constructed in accordance with this invention, theparts being illustrated in elevation, the switch being shown in the on position.

Fig. 2 is a view slmilar to that shown-in metal or otherwise, according to preference.

In the drawing it is shown to be made of sheet metal.

The switch mechanism G is arranged within the box being preferably fixed to the upper wall 1 of the box and having a handle 2 projecting through an opening 8 formed through said upper wall.

The switch mechanism per 86 is substantially the same as that illustrated in my copending application Serial No. 7 9,094, and comprises a swinging double-ended contact member or blade 4, adapted to be swung by the handle 2 for moving its opposite ends into and out of electrical engagement with the stationary contact members 5 and 6, which are within the box, being preferably carried upon a suitable base 7 of insulating material.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the switch mechanism is shown in full lines in the off position, and in dotted lines in the on position.

A stud or stop 8 is carried by the frame 9 upon which the blade 4 is fixed so that said stud is fixed to and positively movable with the blade into the two positions shown in Fig. 1.

Additional blades, as 10, may be fixed to move with theqblade, 4 if desired, in a well understood manner.

The usual fuses, as 11, are arranged within the box, being carried between suitable clips 12 and 13, andbeing disposed so that when the switch blades are in the on position the electric current will pass. to said fuses along extensions 14 from the contact members 6.

' When the switch blades are in the off position the current is dead-ended in the position an operator may insert fuses at will and without receiving a shock, and the presence of switch mechanism and the switch blade or blades will constitute an eflicient barrier to guard against possible chance of the operators hand or tool coming into engagement with the currentcarrying contacts 5.

When the switch blades are in the on position however, the operators hand must not be inserted into the box for any purpose and for this reason a door, as 15, which is provided as a part of the upper wall 1 just above the fuse position for giving access to the fuses, is provided with a rigid extension or looking member 16 which is fixed thereto adjacent the hinge part of the door and which projects backwardly from the hinged part beneath the adjacent portion of the wall 1 within the box. This locking member has an arcuate edge surface 17 made concentric with the hinge and disposed to slide closely over the stud 8 whenever the door is opened. A shoulder 18 en gages the stud to limit the opening movement of the door, and while the surface stands over the stud, it is manifestly impossible to move the stud upwardly to circuit-closing position.

The locking member is formed also to provide a surface 19 along which the stud may move into circuit-closing or circuitopening position so long as the door remains closed. When the stud is in oircuit-opening position, as shown by the full lines in Fig. 1, the door may be readily opened, but when in circuit-closing position, as shown by the dotted lines in Fig. 1, the stud will stand in the path of movement of the surface 19 of the locking member and will positively prevent swinging movement of the locking member. The door is thereby positively held closed.

If desired, an auxiliary door-retainin g device, as at H, may be employed at the free edge of the door for locking the door closed. This device also serves as a handle by means of which the dOOr may be manipulated.

As many changes could be made in this construction without departing from the scope of the following claims, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description, or shown in the accompanying drawings, shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not in a limiting sense.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is:

1. A panel box having a pivotally mounted door giving entrance thereto, a switch mechanism arranged within the box including a switch blade movable toward and away from the door, a bracket carried by the door within the box having a portion projecting beyond the door pivot and into proximity with the switch mechanism, said bracket having a marginal edge portion substantially concentric with the door pivot and having another marginal edge portion continuing inwardly from one end of said first edge portion substantially in the general direction of said door pivot, and a stop carried by the switch mechanism rigid with Said blade movable in the general direction toward and away from the door pivot when the blade is operated adapted to traverse said last mentioned edge portion while the door is closed and to be restrained from movement toward the door pivot when the door is open, together with a contact disposed to be engaged by the switch blade when said stop moves toward the door pivot.

2. A panel box having a pivotally mounted door giving entrance thereto, a switch mechanism arranged within the box including a switch blade movable toward and away from the door, a pivotally mounted carrier for the switch blade to which the switch blade is rigidly connected, and operating mechanism for said carrier operable to swing the carrier about an axis substantially parallel to the door pivot, a bracket carried by the door within the box having a portion projecting beyond the door pivot and into proximity with the switch mechanism, said bracket having a marginal edge portion substantially concentric with the door pivot and having another marginal edge portion continuing inwardly from one end of said first edge portion substantially in the general direction of said door pivot, and a stop fixed to said switch blade carrier movable in the general direction toward and away from the door pivot when the carrier is operated adapted to traverse said last mentioned edge portion while the door is closed and to be restrained from movement toward the door pivot when the door is open, together with a contact disposed to be engaged by the switch blade when the carrier moves toward the door pivot.

3. A panel box having a front wall a part of which comprises a door pivotally connected to move into open and closed positions for giving access into the box, a switch mechanism arranged within the box being supported by said front wall adjacent the door pivot, said switch mechanism including a switch blade movable into on and ofi positions and an operating handle projecting exteriorly of the box to move said blade, a bracket fixed rigidly with the door and projecting rearwardly of the pivot thereof into proximity to said switch blade, and a part of said bracket adjacent said blade having an ancuate surface portion substantially concentric with the door pivot and having another surface portion continuing inwardly from said first surface portion substantially in the general direcmovement of the switch blade when the door 10 tion of the door pivot, and a stop carried is open.

rigid with said switch blade to move there- In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature with in the general direction toward and in the presence of two witnesses.

away from the door pivot, and said mentioned surfaces of said bracket being posi- HUBERT hRANTZ' tioned to cooperate with said stop in a Witnesses:

manner to prevent opening of the door when JOHN L. Korma,

the switch blade is on and to prevent on I J. A. NEWTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addreuing the Gommiuioner of Patents. Walhington, D. G.

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