US1450403A - Oil-circuit closer - Google Patents

Description

Patented Apr. 3, 1923.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

CHARLES A. YONT, OF DENVER, COLORADO, ASSIGNOR TO THE FLINT ELECTRIC AND MANUFACTURING COMPANY, F RADO.

DENVER, COLORADO, A CORPORATION OF COLO- OIL-CIRCUIT CLOSER. v

Application led October 13, 1919. Serial No. 330,353.

To all whom t may concern.' y

e it known that I, CHARLES. A. YoNT, a citizen of the United States, residing at the city and county of Denver and State of Colorado, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Oil-Circuit Closers; and I do declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in l0 the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference' marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to circuit closers to be used in mines and other places where there is considerable dampness, and where explosive materials are found in the air.

The object of the-invention is to enclose the contacts, whereby a-rcing will not cause explosion of explosive gases, and whereby short-circuiting of the contacts, due to collected moisture from the dampness, may be prevented.

Briefly the invention comprises a bellshaped housing having a compartment filled with oil. Within this compartment stationary spring contacts are mounted, these being suitably insulated and having conductors extending to the outside of the housing. These contacts are submerged in the oilwithin the housing, and a plunger carrying an insulated circuit-closing contact operates in the oil. By this means the circuit is closed under the oil, and arcing is prevented.

In the drawings forming a part of this specification Fig. 1 is a side elevation.

.F ig. 2 is a wiew of the bottom of the device.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing the devices in normal position; and

Fig. 4 is a vertical section showing the device in position to close the circuit.

The bell-shaped housing 10 is provided with ears 12 for mounting the same. Within the housing a transverse wall 14 is provided, into which an upstanding sleeve 16 is threaded. A reciprocating spindle 18 extends through the sleeve 16 and is provided at its outer end with an eye 20 for manipulation. The inner and upper end of the spindle 18. has a cap 22 mounted thereon,

I6 retained by means of a nut 24 and cotter 'tures for the pin 26. The cap 22 is provided with an aperture 28 for a purpose to be described. At the lower end of the sleeve 16 a cylindrical guide 30 of ber or other insulating material is positioned. On the top of the Aguide 30 the lower end of a spring 32 rests, the upper end thereof engaging the underside of the cap 22 to normally retain the spindle and cap in elevated position. A cylinder 34 of fiber or other insulation is fixed in the cap 22 at its upper end and slides upon the guide 30 at its lower end. The joint between the cylinder 34 and the guide 30 is not tight, but is suiiiciently close for guiding purposes. A circular contact 36 is fixed upon the sleeve 34.

Stationary spring contact lingers 38, having their free ends reversely curved as at 40, are secured to the wall 14 by means of conducting bolts 42, retained by means of nuts 44 and insulating plugs 46. The lower end of the bolts 42 are provided with conductor-receiving heads 48, having aperends of the conductors, and set screws 50 to anchor the conductors.

A cap 52, resting upon a gasket 54, is secured to the housing 10 by means of bolts 56, threaded into integral lugs 58 on the housing 10. At the top of the cap a seat 60 is provided for the upper end of the spindle 18.

The housing 10 extends below the wall 14 and provides a cavity for the heads 48 and conductor terminals. The lower end of the housing is provided with a groove 62 forming, in addition to the outer edge of the bell-shaped housing, an inner annular ring 64, having a lower knife edge. These parts provide edges from which accumulated moisture may readily drip, and the groove 62 prevents the working of moisture from the outside of the housing to the vinner side of the cavity above mentioned.

The interior of the housing is lled with oil 70 to a point a little below the lugs 58, as indicated. In this manner the contact fingers 38 and the contact 36 are always submerged in the oil. The oil is a non-conductor and prevents arcin'g at the time that the circuit is closed. At the same time the accumulation of moisture to short-circuit the contacts is prevented.

From the foregoing, it will be seen that there is presented a device for efficiently preventing short-circuit by moisture in 110 mines and other damp places7 and also for enc-losing oon'taotsand preventing areing as isrequired by governmental regulations in coal mines and other gaseous workings.

I claim:

l. An oil circuit closer comprising a housing having a bottom Wall and containing oil,

a Contact submerged in the oil, a vertieallv7 disposed sleeve threaded into said bottom Wall and extending above the oil level, a spindle reoiproeable in said sleeve, a member connected to said spindle and depending around said sleeve, a spring around lsaid sleeve Within said member to elevate the spindle, and a Contact on said member to engage the submerged Contact.

2. An oil circuit closer comprising a housing having a bottom Wall and containing oil, a pair of contacts submerged in the oil, a vertically disposed sleeve threaded into the bottom Wall and extending above the oil level, a spindle reoiproo'able in sleeve, a cylindrical member connected With the inner upper end of the spindle and depending around said sleeve, a Contact on the said member to be brought into engagement with said pair of submerged contacts, and. means in said cylindrical member to normally retain said member and spindle in elevated position.

ln testimony whereof I alix my signature.

CHARLES A. YONT.

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