US1550031A - Safety switch - Google Patents

Description

Aug, 38, 1925.

F. T. KovAR ET AL SAFETY SWITCH Filed Sept. l2, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet l l l l l l l um NY .INVENTUM FMNK l? .Km JOJEPH 1'. .7 By 47 Aug. m i925. 155mm F. T. KOVAR ET AL SAFETY SWITCH Filed Sept. l2, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 .sk a

IWENIRJ mainz 1: from Patented Aug. 18,Y 1925.

UNITED STATES PATENT oFFlcE.

, FRANK T. KOVAB AND JOSEPH F. JIRXA, 0F CLEVELAND, OHIO.

sAFETY swrrcn.

Application led September 12, 1921. Serial No. 499,877.

-To aZZ'wwm t may comem:

Be it known that FRANK T. KovAR .and

. JOSEPH F. JmxA, who are residents of the Switches, of which the followingv is a specif fication.'

This invention relates to safety switches and'to switch operating mechanism for oo ntrolling electric currents of high amperage, though it will be evident that it will be useful for circuits of any description.

It is an` object of this invention to provide improved land 'positively operated means for an inclosed type of switch, and especially to render the inclosure safe and uniformly efficient even in the hands ofan inexperienced operator.' Another object is to provide a construction of this character infwhich pressure mayA beapplied toward and closed with a Athe inclosure either toclos'e or to open the electric circuit, thus makngthe switch operating means convenient jfor actuation by the operators `foot. `Another object' is to gprovide a hihged cover section for the inclosure which is so related to the switch` operating element that the hinged section cannot he raised or lifted without moving closing of the circuits when the contact parts are exposed. A further object is the provision of a switch having a novel form of quickmake-and-break operating mechanism by' which the Yswitch-is both opened snap, action'y to avoid` a lingering arc. f y i n [Our invention also'resides in certain other features of construction and arrangements lot'. partsA whichy will be described in the specificationand set forth in the appended.

claims. It tis, however be expressly to this exact disclosure, tor we may "depart therefrom in many respects within they ferred form of embodiment'of the invention:

Fig. l is a top plan view of box and actuating lever.

Figs-2 is a sectional view taken on` the the switch line 2420i Fig.

Fig. 34' is a section taken on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.'

Fig. et is a face view and Fig. 5 an edge.

view of the rocking lever for actuating the switch bars.

Fig. 6 is a switchV blades, and:

Figs. bracket.

Referrin now to the drawings in detail, the numera 2 designates a base ofinsulating material, such as slate, which.7 is secured to the bottom of an inclosure which is illustrated as a junction box or panel box 1. This box may be made of sheet metal,

though other material may be used. The

cover of the box is made in sections one of which, designated 5 is movably secured to a fixed kpart 4 by hinges 26. Upon the mainl or fixed part 4 are mounted vertical sup-J portingbrackets 6 which are shown as having leaves 31 cut" out of the body of the bracketsA and then bent back from the same and riveted toL the box cover (see Figs.,` 8w and 9). These brackets also are provided with openings atv the top and bottom ends toreceive the pins tl and 23 later tobe deetail .view of-fthe; telescope" 'plunger and roller:

Fig. 7 is a detail of the bar carrying the,

. e5 8 andl 9 are views of the supportir'xg scribed. The .brackets also have slots 25 for 8.' The part 9 which, it has been explained, A

extends through the slot 32 in the'cover comp-rises telescoping sections 10 which are normally extended to their limit by the force understoodfthat wedo not restrict ourselves.

of an .internally positioned compression spring 11.9 and the cross -bar is curved and shapedv to a form convenient for actuation iryrpressure applied by the foot or hand at elther endiof the bar. The pin 8 may well be held against lateral movement by cotter..

pins as shown. The Alower end of the plunger 9 which extends into the interior of the box is formed into a yoke 15 in which is mounted lfor rotation a roller 14 having an enlarged perhhery'interrnediate its faces for a purpose to e later ex lained.

` The base 2 is provided wlt-h binding posts 22 at the' ends for connection with con-y ,ductors` to be led into the box through suit- 15,v and down movements for opening and closable 'bushings 24. .Nearer the end of the box having the hinged cover section the base has suitable clips connected by fuses 21,

and the opposite end of the base is provided with spaced switch contacts 197 to be connected by the knife blade switch bars 3 adapted to be raised or lowered to open or close 'the circuits.

between the clips and the posts 22 as will be understood. Theblades 3 (2 or more) are mounted on a common'nsulatin block 17 :having a centra-l opening `1.8A by w ich its up ing the circuits vis guided by a rigid post 16 l secured to the base and inserted in said Opern beconnected with the block 17 by the beforeable rivets.

1n .the lever is cut out somewhat on either mentioned lu s and links, and less widely ,separated to orm ay groove throughout the remainder of their length and `iixedly secured in the parallel relation desired by suit- One edge of both strips formsi ey of the opening 231toform notches 13 with an intervening raised portion so that,

pressure a plied at either notch will tip the correspon ingy endK of' the lever to a 'lower position.

This lever 1 2 is pivoted to the lower or i inner ortions of the brackets 6 as above describe directly beneath the plunger 9 within the box` and is* adapted to rock in the Same'plane that the 'plunger 9 swings. The roller 14 rides in said roove of the lever and is mounted at such a eight that the spring 11 will be under compression even when'the roller rests in the notches. The enlarged central part of the roller 14 is guided inv the groove of the lever 12 while the smaller parts ridev on the edges of the lever strips.

For the purpose of locking the switch in the off position, slots 25 are provided in the outer end of the brackets 6 at the fuse side of the pivot 8. A locking stri 27, preferably secured to the box by ya cham 29, be inserted in the slots immediately may un er the end of the lever 7 when raised to lock'the latter in such position.

In operation, assuming that the fuses are 1n proper position, the block 17 carryin the blades 3 is mounted on the Apost 16 wit the Suitable connections [are also made between the contact members andi blades in register with the contacts 19. The

fuse end of the.. box willv swing the roller 14 into the notch 18 nearest the post 16 lowering the blades 3 intothe contacts 19 and closing the circuits. VSuch relation of the parts 1s marked on the box as the on position. See the full-line position in Fig. 1. Pressureupon the opposite end of the lever 7 will obviously open the circuits.

In the closed relation of parts, the lower end of the bar 7 is very closeto the cover section 5, and forthis reasonthe latter can-` not be raised without first moving the switch lever and opening the circuits; and if the hinged section is forcibly lifted, it will automatically shift the switch whether this function is` intended or not. This therefore pro-` vides a safety element whereby the operator cannot incurthe danger of exposing the fuse end of the box while the circuits are closed.

It will be evident that the disclosed operating mechanism can well be used for operating many kinds of switch elements other than those disclosed herein, and applicants by no means conne this invention to the particular make-and-break means here shown. It will be obvious that a laminated brush of metal leaves may be substituted for the blades 3, in which case the ends would contact with 'a suitable conducting plate instead of the contacts 19. It will also be evident that the described actuating means for ythe switch may be "advantageously used for operating more than two pairs of bars 3 or for controlling more than one circuit. In fact a number of such switch blades may be mounted on the same block 17.

Having thus described our invention, what we claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is: y

1. HIn a safety switch, *an inclosing means for -spaced contact points and movable means for bridging the gap between the said points, in combination wlth a support secured-.to a fixed cover section of said inclosure and extending above and below said cover, a rocking lever ivoted to the outer end of said support so t at pressure applied to either end of said lever will rock the same, there being slots in said outer end immediatel beneath one end of said lever, a locking ar adapted to be inserted in said slots to prevent the actuation of said lever, and means including a part pivoted to the inner portion of said support, connected with said lever for actuating the said bridging means.

2. In a safety switch, a support for spaced contact members, an inclosing means for said members and movable means for bridging the ap between said -members Yto close a circuit, in combination with a support lil - hinged directly beneath one end of the rock- .ing lever, so that the closure 'of the switch ",is prevented when the box is open, andthe is moving. of the coversection to open the box will automatically open the switch. 3. A safety switch comprising a movable insulating bar carryingelectrical conducting members*4 for bridging the gap between spacediccntact elements to close a circuit, an inclosurc for said bar and conducting members, having fixed andv movable cover sectiens, in combination with apair of support brackets spaced apart in parallelism and having leaves cu't out thereof and bent back therefrom and riveted to said fixed cover section to, mount said brackets to extend outside the box and within the same, ,a pivoted operating lever Jmounted on the outer extension so that the lever will rock f the application of pressure to either end thereof', the movable cover section being lhinged directly beneath bue end of the rock# ing lever so that opening the said hinged sectionwill rock the-lever if said end of the latter is down, means for locking the lever dit' when said end is raised, and means mounted on the inner extensions of said'brackets for actuating the said bar by rocking the lever,

yl. A. safety switch comprising, an insulating support for spaced contact points, means for bridging the gap between said points and an inclosingmeans forsaid support and 5. A safety switch comprising a switch box having a support for fuse terminals and both power and load conductors, and a sectional cover, a lswitch arranged to connect and disconnect saidfuse terminals with said conductors, a lever )pivoted to a fixed section of said cover and having connections at one end with opening and closing elements of said switch and notches at the other end thereof situated on either side of the pivot for said lever, a spring-pressed plunger pivoted on the outer face of said fixed cover section and having a roller on one end thereof for engaging the said notches selectively, and man-nahoperating' means on the` outer face of saidcove sec-v #tion for actuating the said `plunger to open or to close the circuit, said means belng operable for either purpose by pressure ap.- plied ina directiontoward the said support.

6. A safety switch comprising in combination, afix'edp'ost for guiding the vertical 4movement of electrical conducting members its related structure, includinga cover hav-.

ing fixed )and .movablef sections, a lever; "plvotallyl mounted on `said fixed cover' s'ecj;l tion but within thefinclosure, and havlngff 'connections at one v,endfvv'ith saidv bridging means for yactuating the latter and notches l adjacentits other,A end on opposite sides ofv its pivot, in; rcombination with a plvotedA operating lever mounted on the outer facep ofsaid fixed cover section, so that it will rock by the applicatien-of-` pressureto either end thereof, actuating means for said notched lever, .connected with said pressure-actu ated lever and including a swinging plunger element carrying a roller for engaging said notched lever and seating in said notches, selectively, said movable cover section being hinged directly beneath one end of the rocking lever, so that opening 4said hinged section will rock the lever, if the adjacent end of' the lever is down and thereby opent-he switch.; i Y

for Vbridging the gap between spaced contact elements when sald members are in the down position, a fixed vertical supporting member positioned above 4said, elements, a swinging lever pivoted on the lower end of said supporting member and having .connections with said members at `one end and a pair of connected notches, at the other "end, the pivotal point `of the'lever being between the notches so that pressure applied at either notch will lowerthe corresponding end of the lever to raise or lower the said conductl ing members and thereby open or bridge'th'e 5 said gap, and actuating means including a plunger pivoted on the upper end bf said supporting member manually operable byl pressure thereon at spaced portions thereof for applying pressure to the respective notches selectively. y

7, In combination, arSw-itch base of insulating/material, an elongated support lixed relative to and at an angle to the plane of ysaid base, spaced contacts on said base, conf susv ducting elements'mounted for movement to and from said contacts, a lever pivoted to the lower end 'of said support and having connectionswith said conducting elements at one end 1nd notches adjacent the other end on opposite sides of the fulcrum, a plunger l element having 'a cross bar lixedly secured to one of its ends `and a roller rotatably mounted on the other end, the said plunger elementbeing mounted on the upper end of saidsupport for swinging-movement above said p ivoted lever so that-"said roller may engage one of said notches in said lever, and follow the contour of the edgeof the lever as it passes from one notch to the other during the swinging movement of the plunl ger element. u

8.l In a safetyl switch, an inclosing means for spaced contact points and movable means for bridging /the gailbetween the said points,l

low said cover'and secured'to the said fixed section, a rocking lever ivoted to `the outer end of said support so t at pressure a ilied toward the cover at either end offsai ever will rock the same, means mounted on the lower extension of said sup ort' for actuating said bridging means an having oper`aty ing connections with said rockin lever, the A said hinged cover section beingl irectly beneath one end of the said lever so that opening said hinged section will rock the lever, if the adjacent end of the lever is down and thereby openthe switch.' n f,

In testimony whereof we. `hereunto aix our signatures'.

FRANK -T. KovAn. JOSEPH r. JIRKA,

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