US1498507A

US1498507A - Electric switch

Info

Publication number: US1498507A
Application number: US374276A
Authority: US
Inventors: George A Burnham
Original assignee: SEARS B CONDIT
Current assignee: SEARS B CONDIT
Priority date: 1919-07-10
Filing date: 1920-04-16
Publication date: 1924-06-17
Anticipated expiration: 1941-06-17

Description

June 17 ,-1924.

' G. A. BURNHAM ELECTRIC SWITCH 2 Shasta-Sheet Filed April 16 1920 r T. I

June 17, 1924. 1 1,498,507

G. A. BURNHAM ELEcTnc swI'TcH Filed April 16, 192() 2 Sheets-Shed?. 2

Patented June 17, 1924.

UNITED STATE-sY PATENT OFFICE.

GEORGE A. BURNHAM, OF SAUGUS.. MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR TO SEARS B. CONDIT, OE BROOKLINE, MASSACHUSETTS.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

Application led April 16, 1920. Serial No. 374,278.

To all whom t 'may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE A. BURNHAM,

a citizen of the United States, residing at Saugus, in the county of Essex and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Electric Switches, ot which the following is a specification. i

This invention relates to electric switches especially adapted safely to interrupty alterl0 nating current of high value.

In another application, Serial #309,853, tiled July 10, 1919 which application. has issued as Patent l\o. 1,413,156, under date of April 18, 1922,'I have described a switch having means comprising a resiliently sup,- ported oil receptacle to absorb energy developed upon circuit interruption and arranged freely to vent between the oil receptacle and the switch-supporting frame comprising the cover for the oil receptacle when a pressure develops therein of a. value sufficient to ioicethe receptacle away from the cover.

It is an object ot this invention to arrange the resiliently mounted oil receptacle to bein substantially gas tig-ht contact with the cover at all times, or at least for the greatest part of its extent ot movement downward, so that the switch in this respect is gas tight as vthis term is applied to switches of this general type, or the contact between the oil receptacle and the switch frame is as gas tight VVas in the ordinary type ot non-resiliently mounted oil receptacle. However, due to irregularities in the walls ot the reccptacle and switch frame, the contact is imperfect and the switch is suticiently vented to permit it to breathe; that is, admitot efflux and iniiux of aiiI between the expansion space of the switch and the atmosphere occasioned by temperaturevariations. In addition, I may provide the switch with a separate vent.y

In certain types of oil immersed switches it is not practicable, by reason oil size or structural conditions, removably and yieldingly to support the oil receptacle from the fixed switch frame and a further object of the invention is resiliently and, preferably, also removably to support the oil receptacle in position by means independent of Vthe switch frame.

In carrying out this object of the invention I mount the oil receptacle yieldingly in a carriage positioned beneath the switch by which the oil receptacle is retained in position and as a further object of the invention, for removing the oil receptacle, I provide means by which the receptacle may be raised and iowered in the carriage and removed from the switch; and the carriage, with or without the oil receptacle is arranged to be moved from position beneath the switch.

A further object is generally to improve the construction and operation of an oil immersed switch.

Fig. 1 is a side view, partly broken away, of anoil immersed switch embodying my invention.

Fig. '2 is a of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a transverse sec-tional elevation of the switch.

Fig. Lisa partial vertical section similar to Fig. 3 but'illustrating the oil receptacle in a downwardly moved position. Y Fig. 5 is a side elevation, partly in section, of an embodiment of .the invention whereas the oil receptacle is resiliently supported in position independently of the switch frame on a carriage having seltcontained raising and lowering means,

Fig. 6 is a plan detail of the raising and lowering means. Y

As here shown the oil immersed switch partial plan view of the switch ,embodying my invention includes the fixed switch frame 10 comprising a cover Vtor the oil receptacle 11 and having the peripheral iiange or apron 12 enclosing the side wall of the oil receptacle and depending for a considerable distance over said wall, and the arm 13 by which the switch `frame is adapted to be `fixed to a support, thereby to support the switch.

Movable and stationary switch members 14: and l5 are carried by said 'frame and depend therebelow into the oil adapted to be contained in said oil receptacle.

The oil receptacle 11 is contained within and, preferably, supported upon the bottoni of the outer receptacle or spill tank 16 which has its side wall peripherally spaced from the inner oil receptacle 11 to provide a space for the collection of oil discharged fromV the inner receptacle upon certain conditions caused by circuit interruption, and extended upwardly toward, and preferably above the depending flange or apron 12 of the cover and having an open top for the escape of uncondensed oil or other gas or vapor.

F or certain purposes the two receptacles may be united as by spot welding the bottoms together, andfor other purposes the receptacle may not be united and the inner receptacle may simpl-y rest within the outer receptacle.

It is to be noted that the space between the side walls of the two receptacles is relatively deep and narrow by which construction it is exceedingly difficult to support combustion of oil in the outer receptacle, whereby the lire hazard is materially decreased.

rlChe receptacles are suspendedV from the switch Yframe on rods 17 hxed in lugs 1S of said frame and extended through apertured lugs 19 of the outer receptacle 16 and through apertures in the supporting platforms or grids 20. The lower ends of said rods are threaded and compression springs 2l are arranged thereon and engage said grids 2O and the nuts 22 removably threaded on the ends of said rods, whereby the oil receptacle is yieldingly and also removably supported in position from the switch frame.

In'certain instances the outer receptacle 16 may be dispensedr with and the inner receptacle supported directly by the structure above set forth.

Whereas, in the above-named co-pending application the oil receptacle is spaced from the apron of the switch frame whereby to provide a passage through which the switch is vented, it is an object of the present invention so to arrangeV the switch that the side walls of the oil receptacle and the apron are in general peripheral contact, and yet the engagement should not be so tight as to restrict the downward movement of the oil receptacle when a sufficient pressure is developed therein. A pressure within the switch serves, to a greater or less degree, to expand the somewhat resilient side walls of the receptacle and tends to force it against the apron. Due, however, to the irregularities in the wall of the oil receptacle and the switch frame there will be suflicient clearance at various points'to permit the switch to breathe, yet the switch will not be' a ventedv switch as the term is commercially applied. Y

The top edge of the oil receptacle is adapted normally to seat against the switch frame comprising' its cover.`

Under normal conditions of switch operation the oil receptacle will be held against the switch frame by its springs. When, however, a pressure is set up within the switch, as by the ignition of combustible gases in the gas expansion space a under the cover, or otherwise, due to the interruption of a heavy load, pressure Vwill build up faster than it can be vented and the oil receptacle will be forced downward, thereby to keep down the pressure. Moreover, the resiliently supported oil receptacle absorbs energy due to circuit interruption, or the shock of the explosion, and thereby prevents damage to the switch. The construction of the switch is such as to provide a movable member whose chief purpose is to absorb the shock of circuit interruption, or one in which the energy may be stored, subsequently to be gradually dissipated.

Whereas in Figs. 1 through 4, I have illus-V trated the oil receptacle as resiliently supported from the fixed switch frame, in Fig. 5, I have illustrated means for resiliently supporting the receptacle in position about the switch-members independent of the switch, by which my invention is particularly adapted for certain type of switches.

In carrying out this embodiment of my invention, I provide a truck or carriage for the oil receptacle having the wheels 30 by which the carriage may Vbe moved and the four uprights or

standards

31 and 32. A platform 33 having the receptacle receiving recess 34 therein and the corner lugs 35 is slidably received on and is guided for vertical movement by said standards. The oil receptacle of the switch is adapted to be received in said recess with the side walls thereof holding the receptacle against lateral displacement, and yielding means as springs 36 are interposed between the bottom of the receptacle and the table upon which the oil receptacle is adapted to rest and by which it is resiliently and yieldingly supported.

Raising and lowering means are associated with the carriage by which the receptacle may be raised to and lowered from position, and in its lowered position, the carriage with the receptacle may be moved away from the switch.

For this purpose the two opposite corner standards 32 are screw-threaded, and worm gears 37 having screw-threaded bores are disposed thereon beneath the platform 32 and may serve to support it in set position without the necessity of other holding means. Luge 38 depend from the under side of the table 33 and the operating shaft 39 is journaled therein. vWorms 40, in engagement with said worm gear 37, are fixed to said shaft whereby said worm gears may be simultaneously operated to raise and lower the table and the oil receptacle sup` The outer oil receptacle 16 is provided on opposite sides with `the handle 45 by which the receptacle may be removed from the supporting carriage or otherwise manipulated.

1. An electric switch having an oil receptacle movable in response to pressure conditions within the switch due to circuit interruption and means to maintain the switch substantially gas tight during circuit interruption comprising a fixed switch frame comprising a cover for the oilrecep-V tacle having a peripheral depending apron adapted to be maintained in general peripheral contact with the side wall of the receptacle in moved positions thereof.

2. An electric switch having a component movable in response to pressure conditions within the switch and means to maintain said switch substantially gas tight during such movement comprising a relatively movable receptacle and a switch frame comprising a cover for said receptacle, said frame having a depending apron adapted to be maintained in general peripheral contact with the side wall of the receptacle in relatively moved positions of the frame and receptacle. n

3. An electric switch comprising a fixed switch frame, switch members carried thereby, an oil receptacle adapted to contain said switch members, and means independent of the switch to hold said receptacle yieldingly in position.

4. The combination of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame, an oil receptacle, and a plat form adapted to receive the oil receptacle and support it in position independently of the switch, and means to admit of raising and lowering the platform and receptacle into and out of position beneath the switch frame.

5. The combination of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame and an oil receptacle, and a movable carriage adapted to receive the oil receptacle and support it in position independently of the switch admitting of raising and lowering the receptacle into and out of position and having means to admit of moving the carriage and oil receptacle as a unit away from the switch.

6. rEhe combina-tion of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame and an oil receptacle, a supporting platform for the oil receptacle and yielding means interposed between the oil receptacle and platform.

7. The combination of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame and an oil receptacle, a supporting platform for the oil receptacle and springs interposed between the oil receptacle and platform upon which the oil receptacle is adapted to rest.

8. The combination of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame and an oil guiding means.

10. The combination of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame and an oil receptacle, and a supporting carriage for the oil receptacle including receptacle receiving means, and raising and lowering means for the receiving means.

11. The combination of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame, and an oil receptacle, and a receptacle-receiving and supporting carriage comprising vertical uprights, a receptacle-supporting platform movable on said uprights and means to raise and lower said platform on said uprights.

12. The combination of an electric switch having a fixed switch frame, and an oil receptacle, and a receptacle-receiving and supporting-carriage comprising vertical uprights, a receptacle-supporting platform movable on said uprights, resilient means carried by said platform adapted to receive the` receptacle, and means to raise and lower said platform on said uprights.

13. An oil receptacle supporting-device for electric switches comprising a carriage, and a receptacle-supporting platform vertlcally movable in said carriage.

14. rin oil receptacle supporting-device for electric switches comprising a carriage and a receptacle-supporting platform vertically movable in said carriage having yielding means adapted to receive the receptacle.

lfAn oil receptacle supporting-device for electric switches comprising a carriage adapted to receive and yieldingly support the receptacle having means to raise and lower the supported receptacle.

16. An oil receptacle supporting-device for elect-ric switches comprising a carriage having uprights, a platform movable on said uprights having a receptacle receiving recess, springs arranged in said recess adapted to support the receptacle, and means to aise and lower said platform on said uprights adapted to hold it in set position.

17. An electric switch comprising a fixed switch frame having a peripheral depending' apron, an oil receptacle adapted to contain oil in which the' switch members are immersed received wit-hin said apron, a second receptacle containing said oil receptacle having its side walls spaced from the side walls of the cil receptacle adapted to catch cil expelled from the oil receptacle between it and said apron, and means independent of the switch to support said second recepmele in position. 'Y

18. An electric switch comprising a iixed switch freine, an inner receptacle adapted to contain oil, in which the switch members' are immersed and remove-bly disposed beneeth said heme, and an outer receptacle supporting and containing seid oil receptaaie to catch oil expelled from said oil recept-noie, said outer receptacle having manu'- 211 engaging means by which the two receptacles may be moved.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to thisspeoioabion. Y

GEGRGE A. BURNHAM.