US1511408A - Switch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Patented Oct. 14, 1 924.

UNITED .STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LAWRENCE F. KRIEG, r02E' IALTIMORE, KABYLAND, ASSIGNOR T0 i WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COHYANY, A CORPORATION F PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application led October 6, 1920. lSerial No. 415,076.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, LAWRENCE F. Kruis,

a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Baltimore, in the city of Baltimore and i State of Maryland, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Switch Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to enclosed entrance switches for controlling elect-ric current delivered to factories, apartments, residences and like buildings.

An object of this invention is to provide a switch box having a switch compartment and a fuse compartment, each provided with a separate cover .so controlled by the switch mechanism that the cover closing the fuse compartment is locked in closed positionl so long as the switch mechanism is in closed position, and that the. cover closing the switch compartment is locked in closed posi-tion so long as the switch is in open position, if desired.

Another object is to provide a switch box having the above characteristics wherein the switch-operating mechanism may be locked and sealed `in off or open position, thereby locking the cover closing the switch compartment in closed position without interfering with the opening move-ment of the cover closing the fuse compartment.

A further object is to provide a switch box having the above characteristics wherein the interlocking mechanism between the covers and the switch mechanism is simple, durable and 4inexpensive to manufacture, and wherein the switch mechanism serves to retain the covers for the switch compartment and the fuse compartment-in closed position when the switch is in an openposition intermediate extreme closed and opened positions.

Another object is to provide a switch box wherein the cover closing the switch compartment V is provided 'with an indicator visible `from the exterior of the box and actuated by the switch mechanism, for the purpose of indicating On and Off positionsof the switch.

Another object is to provideI a switch box wherein the cover for the fuse compartment is provided with fuse receptacles for con taining extra fuses which are accessible when the cover is in open position.

A en

Another object yis to provide a. switch box wherein the fuse and switch panel is so supported in spaced rela-tion with the bottom of the -boX lthat certain conductors and terminals entering the box may be accommodated beneath the panel.

A further object is to provide a switch box wherein the potential conductors enten ing the fuse compartment and leading to the potential coil of the meter are` not accessible in the fuse compartment, but are connected to a terminal at a point within the switch compartment.

' lVhen new wiring installations are made,

several different agencies are `involved in the operation, these 'agencies being the wiring contractor, the electric service company and the Wiring inspector. It is not always eX- pedient for these agencies :to operate simultaneously, and the service company may desire to connect the meter and main switch with the service line before the 'wiring throughout the system is completed, in which event it is necessar to guard against the premature closing yo the main switch controlling the current to the wiring system until the wiring has been completed and the inspector has approved ot thel installation. In order to provide `an entrance switch having the proper safe guards, I have provided the apparatus with a cover-arri switch-mechanism interlocking arrangement having the above recited characteristics. When the service company has installed the meter and, the enclosed main. switch, vas specifiedabove, the switch may be locked and sealed in open position wherein the cover closing the switch and the live` entrance terminals lis locked in closed position. The operating mechanisnr is provided with suitable sealing means which may be broken only by au authorized wiring inspector. Therefore, current cannot be turned into the system until after the inspector has broken the seal and closed the switch.

The wiring contractor may, at such times,

gain access to the fuse compartments and v may insert the required fuses and connect the dead-meter terminals without exposing any live parts. The interlocking arrange-v ment is such that, when the switch has been closed by an inspector, the cover closing the fuse compartment is locked in closed posi tion. The cover closing the switch compart- 'nient may be opened at this time for the purpose oi inspection. This cover may be locked and scaled exteriorly of the housing, as it is intended that this cover be opened only by authorized persons. p

1n the event that the service company desires to discontinue the service, the operating-handle may be sealed in an intermediate,

ligure 1 is a longitudinal section through the housing showing the switch mechanism in side elevation, with the switch in'closed position.

Fig. 2 is a view similar to that shown 1 n Fig. 1, with the switch shown in open position.

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Figs. 1 and 2 showing the switch and the housing covers in open osition. l

Fig. 4 is a transverse longitudinal section throu h the housing taken on the line 1V V of F ig. 3, showing the switch mechanism in plan view.

Fig. 5 is a top plan of a fragment of the switch-compartment c over showing the indicator mechanism..

Referrinv to the drawings, thev apparatus includes a iousing having a bottom wall 5, end walls 6 and I and side walls 8I and 9.

Within the housing is disposed a fuse and switch insulating panel 10 that is so mounted in spaced relation with the bottom 5 upon supports 11, that a space 12 is provided beneath the panel for the accommodation of conductors, such as the meter-potential conductors 13, and others which enter the box through perforations 14 in the end walls adjacent .the panel. Upon the panel 10 are mounted three sets of stationary switch-jaw members 15 in which are pivoted movable knife-blade members 16 having their free ends connected by an insulatin bar 17. The switch-blade members are` ac apted to be simultaneously moved into engagement with separate switch-jaw members 18 that are positioned opposite the jaw members 15 and to which the service conductors 19, which ent-er the housing through the perforation 14, are attached by means of the threaded nuts 20. For-the pur ose of providing ample space in ywhich lieavy-duty service conductors 19 may be located, the end 7 of the bei; is provided with an extension 19 'to which theusual conduit is attached. Y

,et tlie opposite end oi the panel 5, three sets of terminal clips 21 and 22 are located, for receiving the fuse elements 23. The clips 21 and the switch jaws 15 are connected by metallic-conductor strips 24 andthe clips 22 are connected by means of threaded nuts 25 to conductors 26, which enter the box through perforations 14.

A partition 27 divides the housing into a switch compartment 28 and a fuse compartment 29, the former being closed by means of a hinged cover or door 30 that is provided with lia-nge members 31 which extend interiorly ofthe housing. Pivot screws 32 extend through the said iianges and are secured to the side walls of the housing, thereby forming a hinge connection about which the door or. cover may be turned to open or to closed position. A cover or door 33 that is provided with inwardly-depending ears or webs 84 is so pivoted to the side walls of the housing by means of screws 35 that it may be turned to open and to closed position. The inner face of this cover is provided with a series of clips 33a and 33?; for detachably retaining several extra fuses which are made accessible, when the cover` is in open position.

The switch members 16 are moved to open and to closed position by means of a pair of operating rods 36 that slide longitudinally of the housing in guide slots 37 provided in the end wall 6 and the partition 27 adjacent the upper edges thereof. A pair of bell-crank lever arms 38 are pivoted upon ylate'rally-extending supports 39 that are mounted, respectively, on the side walls 8 and 9 which carry the pivot pins 40. The inner ends of the rods 36 are pivoted at 4l to one arm of the bell-crank levers. pivot pins 41 carried by the rod 36 operate in the slots 42 provided in the said arms. Movement of the rods 36 to the right turns the arms 43 of the bell-crank lever 12 in a clockwise direction, which movement is translated to the switching members 16 for the reason that the free ends of the arms 43 are joined to the insulating bar 17. The outer ends of the rods 36 are connected by means of an operating handle 44.

From the foregoing7 it is apparent that the switch is moved to the closed position illustrated in Fig. 1 by movement of the operating handle toward thev adjacent end of the housing, and that the switch is moved to the open position, as shown in Fig. 2, by movement of the handle away from the housing.

An. object of this invention is tol so interlock the switch mechanism with the covers 30 and 33 that, when the switch is in closed position, the cover 33 closin the fuse compartment is locked in close position, and, when the switch mechanism is in open position, the cover closing the switch compartment is locked in closed position. The ianges 3l of the cover 30 are provided with The (not shown) adjacent, the bottom ot the box through which -the service :testis may enter the box et any desired point.

' The operation oit the switch mechanism is es Yoiiovvs: miiheii the service company installs the :meter in the Wiring system entrance terminals ere connected to the switch terminals or enti the switch is then moved to the open positieve, shown in Fig. 2, with the sivitch-compsitmeiit covei1 30 ioekeci in ciosed position hy the projections o6. Access, therefore, ceimot be had to the switch compartment. The locking pin is then inserted through the pertoretions 50 in the rods 36 and the join sealed in position. When the switch is in open position7 access may he heet hy the Wiring contractor to the fuse compartment for the "purpose of connecting the fuse-clip terminals to the Wiring system eed inserting the fuses in their respective clips. The switch is thus heiri open uotii the 'Wiring inspector is ready to turn in the current. fin orcier'to do so7 the inspector removes the locking pin 5l and moves the switch member to closed position. The pin thus removeci is 'then inserted inthe clip 55 sont sealed in locking* position by the inspec tor who also seais the tusocompartment cover bv meses of it seal 56 which is in sorted throogh perforetions 5t and provitieii in the cover 33 enti the end Weit 6, respectively, Yihe switch. is tree to he opened or ciosed untii the bor; is seeied. by the in Spector.

Whiie i have described enti iiiustreteti but one cmbofiimeiit of my invention, it will he apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes, mofiiicetions substitutions, additions, smi omissions may he made in the eppziratos tiescribeti Without tiepsrb img from the spirit and scope of the ioven tion, :is sei forth by the appended cieims,

I' claim :1s my invention:

l. Switch mechenism coitiprisiiig o housinghaving :i switch compartment emi 'fuse compartment, e seperate movebie cover for closing cach ot the saisi compartments, e movable sivitchioemher in 'the switch compartment, e' fuse member in vthe fuse compartment, enti means tor moving the switch member to open and to closed position adapted, when in cioseci position, to prevent opening movement of the cover closing the fuse compartment anoto permit opening movement of the cover ciosing the switch conrlperttiiest7 enti, when iii open position, to permit opening movement of the first said cover and to prevent epee ing movement of' the isst seid. covere 2. Switch mechenism comprising e heus ing having e switch compartment etici :i fuse compartiment, e seperate moveh'ie cover toi? eech of the seid coiiprirtments, c moy sible switch member in the switch comporthousing., s co mimos ment, tisse memher iii thiA moet, miti meses tor preses movement o?? the seid cover f the nich comp-tu moet, when the switch is open.,

' Eivvi ch iiiecheiiisi'ii comprising ing having; e switch commer com artreeot-9 e separe-.t ciosiig eech of 'the esiti cor switch mecheoism ivithiiithe o usiii chie to open enti to cioseti position e means interiociting f 'the esiti covers hie cover whereby the cover closing the coni-Ak the switch mechsoism is iii ciosect posi; met the cover ciosiiig; the switch coiiipsrtmeot is iociteti foo ctose-ti position when switch mechanism is open positi ii.

li. Switch meeheriism comprising cousiiig having e switch compartmenteoti o. fuse compartment, e seperate movohie i ver for ciosiog each oit the esiti compertmehts, e switch mechanism' 'within 'the housi movcbie to open emi to closed positiorL het ing ineens iiiterioehing with the seid covers whereby movement of the seitt mecii finisci to eiteriietive positions oiterrieteiy locks theseid covers iii cioseci positio?Lu pertinent is tocieci in cioseri position when 5. Switch mecheiiisoi coioiprle of mg having so opeiiiiig ch accessible through the esiti opeoir JFor ciosiiig the ssici openingy 'a carried by the cover and iiitcrioch o; with the seiti switch when the is iii open position for preventing opening movement of the cover.

6., Switch iiiechooisio comprising ing having so opeiiiiig5 e therein. accessible through the seio; openings e, :moi7N chie cover 'for ciosiiig the seid opening, means carried hy the cover enti interiechf f with the seit?. switch when the hitter open position tor preventing ope "l i' moet of the cover9 end memos for iochiiig toe switch in epee position.

@Witch iecheiiism con ing hz'tviog e tese compoi compertment, et soperete iso f oi each ot the seid compter switch :meiiihei' in 'the meses cerrieti by the cov'e compartment etici iriterio mg "with f switch when the is io o for preventing 'opt-initie; movemos? cover, and operating meses for 'for moving the switch to open t eiosci position, so iliteriociting with cover ciosthe tese comperemeot the switch is in cioseti position that opening movement o3? the esiti cover is prev-estoi hy the seid operetiog' ii'ieeis t3. Switch mecheniem comprfsiog e. housheviog es opening the...ein:Y s knife switch, iiieiiher pivotziiiy' mounted ite the 'tor ciosiiig the ogseiiii in th-esst@ escueto Elster hoesthe housing" locking member carried by the cover and projecting into the housing, a projection extending from the switch member adapted to engage the arcuate interlocking member when the switch is in open position and the ycover is in closed position for precluding opening movement of the cover so long as the switch is in open position.

9. Switch mechanism comprisinga housing having an opening therein, aswitch member pivotally mounted in the housing, a cover for closing the ning in the housing and means carried bym cover for interlockl; with the switch, so related thenewit t the switch and cover may be wtuated independently of the other ex t when the cover is in closed position. and switch in open position.

1.0. Switch mechanism comprising a houssubscribed my name this 14th day of Septomber, 1920.

LAWRENCE F. KRIES.

In testimony whereof, I have heieunto open and closed posi-

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