US1366504A

US1366504A - Locking-switch

Info

Publication number: US1366504A
Application number: US227200A
Authority: US
Inventors: Edson O Sessions
Original assignee: JARVIS GAUDY R
Current assignee: JARVIS GAUDY R; R JARVIS GAUDY
Priority date: 1918-04-08
Filing date: 1918-04-08
Publication date: 1921-01-25
Anticipated expiration: 1938-01-25

Description

E. 0. SESSIONS.

LOCKING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED.APR. 8, 191a.

Patented Jan. 25,1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l fiwevzfir Edson 0565510716 lnmmqll-n Illllll! [1 Hill! E'. O. SESSIONS.

LOCKING SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 8. 1918.

1,366,504, Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

- v fiwe/zff 51/122655 Edaon 0 655107Z5 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

EDSON O. SESSIONS, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF '10 R. JARVIS GAUDY, OF CHICAGO, ILLINOIS.

LOCKING-SWITCH.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 25, 1921.

Application filed April s, 1918. Serial No. 227,200.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EDSON O. SESSIONS, a citizen-of-the United States, residing at Chicago, in the county of Cook and State of Illinois, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Locking-Switches, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to an improved type of locking switches'for use particularly with alternating currents where highamperages are possible. Heretofore in the art, devices have been employed for retaining an operat ing tool in engagement with the switch blade, or' a part carried thereby, during the.

time that a pull is exerted upon the switch blade in opening the same, or a thrust exerted on the tool in" closing the switch. With these devices, however, it is possible to remove the operating tool at any time from the locking devices by ceasing to exert a longitudinal force on the operating tool, which permits the removal of the tool from the switch blade, or art carried thereby, to receive said tool., ther devices have been employed in connection with looking switches, supported from the base of the switch to retain the operating. tool in engagement with the switch blade until the latter has been opened a. desired amount, depending upon the formation and proportion of the retaining devices, after which the tool may be removed from the switch blade, even though the latter is not moved to its fully opened position. In other words, with one class of these locking devices, the pull or thrust upon the operating tool controls whether the latter is retained against removal from the switch blade, and in the other class of de-' vices, mechanism carried by the base of the switch controls the insertion or removal of the tool from the switch blade. By my invention I retain the operating tool in engagement with the switch blade by means independent of the base of the switch and independent of the exertion of a pull, or thrust, upon the operating tool, which means are mounted upon the switch blade itself and may be made to retain the operating tool in place in the locking mechanism for any desired angle of rotation of the switch blade, with the result that after the switch blade has been moved through said angle, the operating tool may be removed readily from the locking devices.

tion to retain the switch blade in its closed position, all of which is accomplished by devices mounted upon the switch blade.

My invention will best be understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, showing preferred embodiments thereof, in

a Figure 1. shows a complete switch in side elevation with an operating tool in engagement with the locking devices.

' Fig. 2. is a detail view of the end of the operating tool.

Fig. 3. is anenlarged view in side elevat1on of the locking mechanism.

F 1g. 4. is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 3. i

Fig. 5. shows in a sectional view similar to Fig. 3, the inside construction of the locking mechanism. 7

Fig. 6. is a sectional viewpf the parts shown in Fig. .5, taken along the line 6-6.

operating Fig. 7. shows in a view similar to Fig. 3'

a construction of locking mechanism having a modified form of opening for receiving the operating tool.

ig. 8 shows in a view similar to Fig. 3, a modified form of locking devices.

Fig. 9 is a top view of the parts shown in Fig. 8, and

' Fig. 10 shows a modified form of operating tool.

imilar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The detail construction of the locking mechanism will best be understood by reference to Figs. 5 and 6, and as shown in said figures, the switch blade 10 is in closed position in'the contact clip 11, whichclip is supported from a base 12, upon which the bracket 13 is secured by screws 14. A catch 15 is pivotally connected to the bracket 13 at 16 and held in the position indicated by a spring 17. A projection 15 rests against the face of the base 12 under the action of the sprin 17 to prevent the catch moving beyond t e position indicated. The catch 15 is of double construction as indicated in Fig. 6, consisting really of two parts similarly conformed and held a proper distance apart by a spacing rod 18, against which one end of the spring 17 rests. The catches 15 are made to be engaged by hooks 19 projecting from disks 20, disposed upon opposite sides of a bracket 21, secured by rivets or bolts to the end of the switch blade 10. Be-

tween the disks 20, the bracket 21 is pro' vided with a circular hole extending therethrough of a diameter somewhat less than the diameter of the disks 20, and the disks are provided with grooves in their inner faces to engage the opposite ends of the hole through the bracket 21, as a result of which the disks enter the hole somewhat and may 15, rotate in the hole upon the bracket. A filler or sleeve 22 of smaller external diameter than-the diameter of said hole, is disposed between the disks 20 and said disks and filler are secured together by rivets 23 extending 20 through them. The filler 22 may be replaced, if desired, by a projection or projections from the disks 20. An aperture 24.

is formed centrally through the disks 20 and the filler 22 to receive the head of the op- 25 erating tool, and while this aperture may be given a variety of conformations, that shown in Figs. 5 and 6 is hexagonal as this shape is found to'serve the purpose admirabiy. v i

n the space between the outer surface of the. filler 22 and the bracket 21,*a spiral spring 25 is disposed, one end of which is secured by rivets to the filler '22, while the other end is similarly secured to the. bracket 21 in such a'manner-that there is a tendency at all times to rotate the disks 20 and the hooks 19, carried thereby, in. a clockwise direction for the arrangement of parts shown in Fig. 5, this tendency being the greatest 40 when the hooks, are in engagement with the catches 15. The bracket 21 has projecting from its upper edge, oppositely disposed lugs 26 extending over the edges ofthe oppositely disposed disks 20, which disks are provided with projecting lugs 27 for engagmg the lugs 26 when the switch blade is in its fully opened position.

As indicated in Fig. 1, the switch blade 10 is pivotally mounted at 28 on the pivot clip 29, held in proper relation to the contact clip 11 by a support 30. With the parts in the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 5, the operating head 31 of the tool 32, shown in Fig.

2, may readily be inserted in the hole 24 since the conformation of the notches in the catches 15 prevents-the spring 25 from rotating the hooks 19 beyond the position indicated in said figures. After the operating tool is inserted in the aperture 24, it is.

moved downwardly to a position indicated by'the broken line a-a, which rotates the hooks 19 from engagement with the catches 15'a fter which they may be moved with the switch blade 10 relatively to the contactclip 11. For this position a-a of the operating tool, a pull thereon moves the switch blade from engagement with the contact clip and opens the switch, but since the hooks 19 are clear of the catches 15 and are not prevented from rotating in the bracket 21, except by the operating tool 32, the total force of the spring 25 is exerted upon the head 31 of the operating tool, thus preventing movement of thehead. in the aperture 24. This condition continues until the switch blade '10 is moved to its fully opened position.

tively held in engagement with the locking devices and cannot readily be removed therefrom, thus requiring the complete opening 0 of the switch in order to remove the operating tool. Furthermore any amount of angular motion of the switch blade may be required before rotation of the hooks 19 relatively to the bracket 21 is prevented by the lugs referred to to release the operating tool; for certain conditions, if desired, it may be necessary to move the switch blade through 180 degrees, instead of 90 degrees, to release the operating tool. Similarly, in closing the switch, it will be observed that the parts are left in a position such that the operating head 31, of the operating tool, readily enters the aperture 24, and that from the time the closing operation is started the full force of the spring 25.is exerted upon the operating head of the tool, which continues until the hooks 19 are properly seated in the notches in the catches 15. If it is attempted to release the operating tool before the switch blade 10 is moved to its fully closed position, and the operating tool is swung in the bracket 21 to move the hooks 19 into engagement with the catches 15, the

ends of the-hooks engage the ends of the 115.}

catches and move said catches upon their pivot 16 against the action of the spring 17. This permits rotation of the hooks 19 to retain the operating tool firmly in engagement with the locking mechanism, and since the catches 15 are designed to clear the hooks 19 for this condition, and not prevent continued rotation of said hooks, the op.-] erating tool cannot be removed from the locking mechanism, except by again rotating the hooks 19 ton position permitting the catches 15 to return to the position indicated in Figs. 1 and 5. Then after wholly closing the switch blade, raising the operating tool sufliciently to permit the hooks to 1 0 properly seat in the notches formed therefor in the catches 15, for which relation the engagement of the edges of the hooks with the side walls of the notches in the catches 15, looks the hooks against rotation under the action of the spring 25 and the operating tool may bereadily removed froni the locking mechanism.

If desired the head of the operating tool may be constructed as shown at 33 in Fig. 10, in which construction the body portion of the said head is somewhat smaller than the aperture 24, although of the same generaL-cross-section, and said head is provided at its outer end with a flange 34. of a size and conformation to just clear the aperture 24 when the tool is placed in engagement with the lock mechanism of the switch. The result of this is that the flange 34 renders the removal of the tool from the locking mechanismimpossible during, the interval that the force of the spring 25 is exerted on the tool, owing to the interlocking relation of the flange 34:

with one of the disks 20. In other respects the operating tool 35 shown in Fig. 10 18' similar to the operating tool 32 and operates the locking mechanism in the same manner as described above.

The aperture provided in the locking mechanism to receive the operating tool may have any desired conformation, as long as it prevents rotation in the locking hooks of the similarly conformed head of theoperating tool. As shown in Fig. v7 the construction of locking mechanism carried by the switch blade 10*- is the same" as above described, with the exception that the aperture 24 is of an irregular outline composed of curved surfaces related to each other in a manner to prevent rotation therein of an operating tool having a head similarly conformed. I i

The construction shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is similar to that above described, the princi al differences being in the construction of the catches employed to engage the locking hooks. .In this construction the switch blade 10 is provided with lockinghooks 19 extending from disks 20 mounted on the end of the switch blade in substantially the manner above described. The hooks 19 are arranged to engage a rod 36 when the switch blade is in its wholly closed position, which rod is supported by the lower end of the link 37, the upper end of which is pivotally mounted on a rod 38 carried by a bracket 39 secured to the base 12 on the contact clip 11% An extension 39 on the bracket 39 prevents the rod 36 moving outwardly beyond the position indicated in Fig. 8, in which position said rod is normally held by a spring 40. \Vith the construction described, if the operating tool is moved angularly relatively to the switch blade 10 blade to lock the after the switch blade 10 is in engagement with the contact clip- 11 and moved nearly to its fully closed position, the ends of the hooks l9 engage the top of the rod 36 and rotation of the hooks presses the rod downward and to the right so that the action of the spring in the bracket 21 continues to be exerted on the head of the operating tool and to release the operating tool it is necessary to again raise the hooks 19 and move the switch blade 10 to its fully closed position before again permitting the hooks 19 to rotate-to engage the rod 36, for which condition the engagement of the hooks with the rod locks the hooks against rotation and releases the operating tool so that it may be withdrawn. In other respects the construction of the locking mechanism shown in Figs. 8 and 9 is the same as that above described.

From the above it will appear that by my invention I provide a locking mechanism for switches in which the only pro- Jecting parts of the locking mechanism'carried by the switch blade are the locking hooks, and that by means of the locking mechanism carried by the switch blade, without the use of auxiliary devices, the operating tool may be positively retained in. engagement with the locking mechanism for any desired degree of angular movement of the switch blade upon its pivot before the operating tool can be released from the locking mechanism and removed from the switch, and that once the opening or closing 10o movement of the switch is begun,--its full movement either to open or close the switch, 1 as the case may he, must be completed before the operating tool can be removed from the switch.

While I have shown my. invention in the particular embodiments above described, I do not limit myself to these exact construc tions as Inmay employ equivalents thereof. known to the art at, the time of the filing of thisapplication without departing from the S00 e ofappended claims.

W hat I claim is;

1. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, locking devices carried'by said switch blade having a conformation to receive an operating tool, means carried by said switch blade for retaining an operating tool in engagement with said locking devices independently of a thrust or pull on the operating tool, and a catch mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent said contact clip for engaging said devices in the closed position of said switch switch blade in its closed position.

2. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, locking devices carried by said switch blade having a conformation to reblade to lock the switch blade in its closed position. v j

3. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, locking devices carried by said switch blade having a conformation to receive an operating tool, means carried by said switch blade for retaining an operating tool in engagement with said locking devices independentl of a thrust or pull on the operating tool and catch mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent said contact clip for engaging said devices in the closed position of said switch blade to lock the switch blade in its closed position and releasing the operating tool.

4:. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, locking devices carried by said switch blade having a conformation to receive an operating tool, said conformation preventing longitudinal motion of said operating tool relatively to said locking devices, means carried by said switch blade for retaining the operating tool in engagement with said locking devices for a desired angular movement of said switch blade, and a catch mechanism pivotally mounted adjacent said contact clip for engaging said devices in the closed position of said switch blade to lock the switch blade in its closed position and releasing the operating tool.

5. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivotedto said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a locking hook pivotally connected to said switch blade and having an aperture through its body portion to receive an operating tool, said aperture being conformed to prevent rotation of said tool in said body portion, a spring carried by said switch blade tending to rotate said locking hook relatively to said switch blade and stops carried by said switch blade and body portion for preventing excessive rotation of said hook.

6. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivotclip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a locking hook pivotally connected to said switch blade and having an aperture through its body portion to receive an operating tool, said aperture being conformed to prevent rotation of said tool in said body portion, a spring carried by said switch blade tending to rotate said locking hook relatively to said switch blade, stops carried by said switch blade and body portion for preventing excessive rotation of said hook, and catch mechanism adjacent said contact clip engaging said hook to hold said switch blade in its closed position.

7 In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade -clip engaging said hook to hold said switch blade in its closed position and to prevent rotation of said hook relatively to said switch blade.

8. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a locking hook pivotall connected to said switch blade and having an aperture through its body portion to receive an operating tool, said aperture being conformed to prevent rotation of said tool in said body portion, a spring carried by said switch blade tending to rotate said locking hook relatively to said switch blade, stops carried by said switch blade and body portion for preventing excessive rotation of said hook, and a catch pivotally supported adjacent said contact clip for engaging said locking hook in the closed position of said switch blade to lock said switch blade in its closed position.

9. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade contact clip, a locking ok pivotally con nected to said switch blade and having an aperture through its body portion to receive an operating tool, said aperture being conformed to prevent rotation of said tool in said body portion, a spring carried by said switch blade tending to rotate said locking hook relatively to said switch blade, stops carried by said switch blade and body portion for preventing excessive rotation of said hook, and a catch pivotally supported adjacent said contact clip for engaging said locking hook in the closed position of said switch blade to lock said switch blade in its closed position, the locking surfaces of said catch and locking hook cooperating by their engagement to prevent rotation of said looking hook relatively to said switch blade.

10. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a locking hook pivotally connected to said switch blade and having an aperture through its body portion to receive an operating tool, said aperture being conformed to prevent rotation of said tool in .said body portion, a spring carried by said switch blade tending to rotate said locking hook relatively to said switch blade, stops carried by said switch blade and body portion for preventing excessive rotation of said hook, and a catch pivotally supported adj acent said contact clip for engaging said locking hook in the closed posit-ion of said switch blade to lock said switch blade in its closed position, the locking surfaces of said catch and locking hook cooperating by their engagement to prevent rotation of said locking hook relatively to said switch blade, the pivot of said catch being so disposed that engagement of said locking hook with said catch outside of said locking surface, moves said catch upon its pivot and permits rotation of said locking-hook relatively to said switch blade.

11. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade, a sleeve extending through said bracket and having an internal conformation for receiving an operating tool and preventing rotation of said tool relatively to said sleeve, a spring disposed between said sleeve and said bracket, and a locking hook carried by said sleeve for locking the switch blade in its closed position.

12. In a locking switch, the combination of a 'pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade, a sleeve extending through said bracket and having an internal conformation for receiving an operating tool and preventing rotation of said tool relatively to said sleeve, a spring disposed between said sleeve and said bracket, a locking hook carried by said sleeve for locking the switch blade in its closed position, and stops carried by the bracket and sleeve for preventing rotation of said sleeve under the action of said spring in the open position of said switch blade.

13. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade, a sleeve extending through said bracket and having an internal conformation for receiving an operating tool and preventing rotation of said tool relatively to said sleeve, a spring disposed between said sleeve and said bracket, and a locking hook carried by each end of said sleeve for locking the switch blade in its closed position.

14. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip,- a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade, a sleeve extending through said bracket and having an internal conformation for receiving an operating tooland preventing rotation of said tool relatively to said sleeve, a spring disposed between said sleeve and said bracket, a looking hook carried by each end of said sleeve for locking the switch blade in its closed position, and stops carried by the bracket and sleeve for preventing rotation of said sleeve under the action of said spring in the open position of said switch blade.

15. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade, a sleeve extending through said bracketv and having an internal conformation for receiving an operating tool and preventing rotation of said tool relatively to said sleeve, a sprin disposed between said sleeve and said brac ret, a locking hook carried by said sleeve for locking the switch blade in its closed position, and a catch pivotally supported adjacent the contact clip to engage the lockin hook in the closed position of the switch %lade, the engaging surfaces of said catch and locking hook being conformed to prevent rotation of said catch and locking hook.

16. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade, a sleeve extending through said bracket and having an internal conformation for receiving an operating tool and preventing rotation of said tool relatively to said sleeve, a spring disposed 7 between said sleeve and bracket, a locking hook carried by said sleeve for'locking the switch blade in its closed position, stops carried by the bracket and sleeve for preventing rotation of said sleeve under the action of said spring in the open position of said switch blade, and a catch pivotally supported adjacent the contact clip to engage the locking hook in the closed position of the switch blade, the engaging surfaces of said catch and locking hook being conformed to prevent rotation of said catch and lockin hook.

17. n a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade, a sleeve extending through said bracket andhaving an internal conformation for receiving an operating tool and preventing rotation of said tool relatively to said sleeve, a spring disposed between said sleeve and said bracket, a locking hook carried by each end of said sleeve for locking the switch blade in its closed position, and catch mechanism pivotally supported adjacent the contact clip for enengaging the locking hooks in the closed position of the switch blade, the engaging surfaces of said catch mechanism and locking hooks preventing rotation of said catch mechanism and said locking hooks.

18. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said ivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a racket carried by the free end of said switch blade, a sleeve extending through said bracket and having an internal conformation for receiving an operating tool and preventing rotation of said tool relatively to said sleeve, a spring disposed between said sleeve and said racket, a locking hook carried by each end of said sleeve for locking the switch blade in its closed position, stops carried by thebracket and sleeve for preventing rotation of said sleeve under the action of said spring in the open position of said switch blade, and catch mechanism pivotally supported adjacent the contact clip for en aging the locking hooks in the closed position of the switch blade, the engaging surfaces of said catch mechanism and lockinghooks preventing rotation ofsaid catch mechanism and said locking hooks.

19. In a locking switch, the combination pivoted to said ivot clip for engaging said contact clip, aracket carried by the free end of said switch blade and havin a clearance opening therethrough; a sieeve of smaller diameter than said opening extending therethrou h, a disk carried by each end of said sleeve $01 rotatably supporting said sleeve'in said bracket, a spiral spring disposed around said sleeve in said bracket and connected to said sleeve and bracket, a looking hook projecting from one of said disks, said disks and sleeve being conformed to receive an operating tool and prevent rotation thereof relatively tosaid sleeve and disks, and stops carried by said bracket and one of said disks for preventing rotation of said sleeve relatively to said bracket.

20. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engag ing said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade and havsleeve of smaller diameter than said opening extending therethrough, a disk carried by each end of said sleeve for rotatably supporting said sleeve in said bracket, a spiral spring disposed around said sleeve in said bracket and connected to said sleeve and bracket, a locking hook projecting from each of said disks, said disks and sleeve being conformed to receive an operating tool and prevent rotation thereof relatively to said sleeve and disks, and stops carried by said bracket and one of said disks for preventing rotation of said sleeve relative y to said bracket.

21. In a locking switch the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade and having a clearance opening therethrough, a sleeve of smaller diameter than said opening extending therethrough,a disk carried by each end of said sleeve for rotatably supporting said sleeve in said bracket, a spiral spring disposed around said sleeve in said bracket and connected to said sleeve and bracket, a locklng hook projecting from one of said disks, said disks and sleeve being conformed to receive an operating tool and prevent r0- tation thereof relatively to said sleeve and disks, stops carried by said bracket and one of said disks for preventing rotation of said sleeve relatively to said bracket, a 10d tion of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a bracket carried by the free end of said switch blade and having a clearance opening therethrough, a sleeve of smaller diameter than said opening extending therethrough, a disk carried by each end of said sleeve for rotatably supporting said sleeve in said bracket, a spiral spring disposed around said sleeve in said bracket and connected to said sleeve and bracket, a locking hook projecting from each of said disks, said disks fand sleeve being conformed to receive an operating tool and prevent rotation thereof relatively to said sleeve and disks, stops carried by said bracket and one of said disks for preventing rotation of said sleeve relatively to locking position, the engaging surfaces of said catch mechanism and locking hooks preventing rotation of said catch mechanism and said locking hooks under the action ofsaid spiral spring.

23. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivot clip, a contact clip, a switch blade pivoted to said pivot clip for engaging said contact clip, a locking member carried by said switch blade and having alimited range of movement relatively to said blade, and means constantly tending to move said member toward its position limiting said range of movement, said member having an aperture for receiving an operating tool to move said blade toward and away from said contact clip, whereby said operating tool restrains said moving means and is held in engagement with said member during motion of said blade toward and away from said contact clip.

24. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivoted switch bla de having open and closed positions, a locking member carried by said blade having locking and releasing positions, and means tending to move said member to its locking position, said member having an aperture for receiving and engaging a switch operating tool constituting the only restraining means for said moving means during movement of said blade to either its open or its closed position, whereby said engagement between said member and tool moves said member to its releasing position during both movements of said blade.

25. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivoted switch blade having open and closed positions, a locking member pivotally carried by said blade and free to rotate relatively to said blade during movement of the latter from either of its positions to the other, and means tending to rotate said member to its locking position, said member having an aperture for receiving and engaging a switch operating tool to restrain said moving means and said engagement between said member and tool preventing movement of either said member or said tool relatively to the other of said parts during movement of said blade to either its open or its closed position.

26. In a locking switch, the combination of a pivoted switch blade, a locking member pivotally carried by said switch blade, and means tending to rotate said member to its locking position, said member having an aperture for receiving and engaging a switch operating tool, said aperture and tool being conformed to prevent relative motion between said member and said tool during movement of said switch blade.

In witness whereof I hereunto subscribe my name this 3rd day of April, A. D. 1918.

EDSON 0. sessions.