US1574531A - Circuit interrupter - Google Patents

Description

Feb.' 23 ,1926. '1,574,531

C. D. AINSWORTH CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed Deo. 14, 1921 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 .ff 72 s 20.25. Invenar'.

Feb. 23 1926. 1,574,531

c. D. AINSWORTH CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER Filed'Deo. 14, 1921 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Jvezof; QM n Mh Feb. 23 192.6:a

c. D. AlNswoRTH CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER fnl/671221:.

Patented Feb. i926.

UNITED sTATEs PATENT oFFlcE.

CHESTER. D. AINSWOBTH', or` woLLAs'roN, MAssAoHUsnrrs, ASSIGNOR, :BY MnsNn AssIGNmnNrs, 'ro coNDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, F BOS- TON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION 0F MASSACHUSETTS.

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER.

Application led December 14, 1921. Serial No. 522,227.

T o all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHESTER D. Ainswon'rH, a citizen of the United States, residing at lVollaston, in the county of N orfolk and State of Massachusetts, have invented an Improvement in Circuit Interrupters, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to electric switches and has particular reference to electricallyoperated oil switches adapted to be enclosed removably in cells.

An object of this invention is generally to improve the construction and operation of an electric switch of the type above set forth.

A further object is to improve the operating mechanism of the switch.

Certain features of this invention are claimed in my co-pending applications, Serial No. 535,220, filed February 9, 1922; Serial No. 585,672, filed September 1, 1922; and Serial No. 522,228, filed December 14, 1921.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation' of an electric switch embodying the invention contained in an enclosing cell which is illustrated`diagrammatically.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of the switch with the electrically-controlled operating mechanism removed.

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation along line 3-3 of Fig. 2.

. Fig. 4 is a front view. of the switch of Fig. 2 with the oil receptacle partly broken vaway to illustrate the auxiliary contact members.v

Fi 5 'is a plan section along line 5-5 of Fig. 3 and illustrates more particularly the switch operating mechanism.

Fig. 6 is a sectional detail illustrating the position of the operating mechanism in the open condition of the switch.

.Fig 7 is an end View of the auxiliary contact members.

Fig. Sis a plan view ofv the movable switch member with the switch rod removed.

Fig. 9 is a detail illustrating the manner of guiding the upper end of the movable switch member for vertical movement.

As here shown the switch embodying my invention includes the oil receptacle" ,10 and the switch frame 11 `which comprises a cover for 'said receptacle and is removably secured to the top thereof by the bolts 12. Said switch is adapted to be contained inthe cell A and be supported in position therein on the track 13. ceptacle is secured to-and supported upon the platform 14. Said platform is provided( with grooved wheels 15 adapted to engage said track 13. rlhe switch may be locked removably in position in the cell by the bolt 16 carried by said platform 14 and which "is adapted to be threaded in an aperture in a bracket 17 secured to the track 13.

rlhe switch is adapted normally to be operated by electrically-controlled means and, while said operating means may be disposed in any convenient relation with the switch, li'prefer to mount said operating means on the switch and as a component part of the switch unit.

For this purpose, the switch frame 11 is formed with the substantially verticallywdisposed end flange 18 to which the electricallycontrolled operating mechanism 19 is adapted to be secured rigidly and removably. For certain purposes, l may secure said mechanism directly to said flange and for other purposes, ll may interpose the adapter block 2Q' between said switch frame and mechanism.

rl'he electrically-controlled operating mechanism -19 is adapted to be disposed externally of the cell while the switch is For this purpose the oil refadapted to be'contained entirelywithin the cell. A. plate 21 is carried by said vadapter block 20 and is adapted to engage the opposite cell Wallsand form a part of the door of the cell. An upper door 22 may rest removably upon said plate and a lower door 23 may hang removably from said plate to 'enclose the lower portion of the cell.

.Said switch frame l1 is a dme-shaped casting and is adaptedto enclose and sup-l port the switch-operating mechanism. The

lower edge is formed .with a groove 25 in which the upper edge of the oil receptacle is received.

Stationary switch members 26, which include the insulators 27 and conducting rods 28, are carried by said frame and are secured thereto by the clamps 26n and depend into the oil receptacle. The lower ends of said switch members are passed through apertures in and are secured to the insulating supporting bar 29 by the clamps 29a; and said bar is secured to the switch frame by the brackets 30.

The movable switch member 3l includes the insulatingrod 32 bearing the inverted brush-member 33 and auxiliary contact members hereinafter to be more fully described at its lower end and has the threaded rod 34 secured in its upper end.

(i' The switch herein illustrated is of the liipbreak type and the movable switch-member is moved upwardly to interrupt the circuit through the switch and downwardly to close-the circuit. v

The insulating rod 32 of said movable switch member is passed through an aperture in said supporting bar 29 and the uper end of saidswitch member is guided or vertical movement in a straight line.

The guiding means include the two 4brackets 35 secured to said supporting bar l29 on opposite sides of the movable switch member; and said brackets are formed with the vertical slots 36 therein. A block 37 is adjustably threaded on the rod 34 of said movable switch member and is held in position thereon, by the nut 38. Pins, here shown as shoulder screws 39, are .passed through the slots 36 in said brackets 35 and are fixed in the o posite sides of said block. lSaid pins are a apted to fit.freely within said slots but without substantial lateral play therein and serve to constrain the upper end of said movable switch member to move in a line parallel to the slots.

An operating lever is arranged to move said movable switch member between switchopen and closed positions,... Said lever comprises the two spaced arms and the integral rear connecting portion 51. Said rear portion is formed wlth. an ,aperture therethrough lthrough which a pivot pin 52 is passed; and the ends of said pin are extended through and journalled in apertures in opposite walls ofthe switch frame. Said arms are extended on'o osite sides of one of said stationary switclimembers and the 'outer ends of said arms are, "disposed on opposite sides of the block 37 carried ^by the movable switch members. The outer ends of said arms are formed with the slots 54 and the pins 39 carried by said block 37 are extended through said slots. It is obvious that as said arms are moved about its pivot the movable switch member will be carried with them.

An operating shaft 55` is journalled in suitable bearings in opposite side walls of the switch frame 'above' said arms 50 and extends beyond said side walls on both sides thereof. Arms 56' are fixed to said shaft within the switch frame and links 57 are pivotally connected by the lpins 58 to the ends of lsaid arms and by the pins 59 to intermediate portions of said arms 50. Said arms 56 and links 57 constitute toggle members by which the movable switch member is operated? and said toggle members arc adapted to be moved nearly to an on-center position, as illustrated in Fig. 3, in the closed condition of the switch. p

A bumper 60 is adjustably secured, by means of the threaded rod 6l and check nut 62 to said arms 50 and is adapted to engage said operating shaft 55 when the mova-A ble switch memberl and operatingmechanism is moved into switch-open position and absorb the energy of movement and also dcne the switch-open position of the movable switch member.

Downwardly depending arms 65 are fixed to each of the external ends of said operatingshaft 55 'and are adapted to be c0nnected with a link connected with the electrically-controlled switch operating mechanism 19 and also with springs by which the movable switch member is moved into vopen position. Said arms may also serve to keep the operating shaft against axial i displacement in the switch frame.

Dual means including springs are provided, each of which is arranged to function independently of the other to move the movable switch member to switch-open osition. Said means include the rods 66 pivota-lly connected by said pins 67 to said arms 65 intermediatexthe ends thereof. The free ends of said rods are slidably received in and supported by the brackets 68 carried by the switch frame. Coil-'springs 69 are disposed over said rods 66 between said brackets 68 and arms 65; and the outer ends of said springs bear against said brackets. Check nuts 7() are adjustably threaded on the inner ends of. said rods adjacent said arms 65, and the other ends of said springs bear Yagaint said nuts.

It will be apparent that said springs tend constantly to move and retain the movable switch member yieldingly in 'switch-open position and will belcoinpressed by the action of the electrically-controlled operatin mechanism in moving the movable switc member into switch closed position. The arrangement of dual springs disposed at the opposite ends of the operating shaft 55 is advantageous in that the turning movement of one ,spring is counterbalanced byl the other spring. Each spring alone is adapted vto counterbalance the weight of the operating mechanism and movable switch member and cause the opening of the switch and two' springs provide increased assurance of reliability of operation. The disposition of the springs on the outside of the switch casing is advantageous in that the springs may be under constant observation and failure of the switch to operate due to spring breakage may be guarded against.

Said arms 65 are extended beyond the nemesi.'

pivotal .connections of the spring rods 6d therewith and are provided with apertures Tl by which said arms-are adapted lor connectlon with the electricall -controlled operating mechanism 19. Ordinarily but one of said arms 65 will be connected with the loperating mechanism but said mechanism is so arranged that it may be operatively oonnected with either one or both oi said arms.. As here shown, a link 72 is pivotally secured to a pin 73 extended through an aperture 71 in one of said arms and is pivotally secured to a rocker-arm 71tof said operiating mechanism 19. lt will be obvious that, as said arm is rocked in its bearings, said switch will be opened and closed..

The top wall of said switch frame is formed with an aperture disposed above and vertically in line with the movable switch member and through which. the brush tension of said member may be adjusted; md said aperture is normally closed by the removable plate 75.

'lhc arrangement of the stationary and movable auxiliary contact members herein illustrated is of im ortance; and the arrangement is such trat the movable conu tact members tend to be drawn into more secure engagement with the stationaw contact members when 'the switch is carrying relatively' high values oi current, instead of the usual tendency ot the commonA form of Vcontact members to separate under heavy by said bolts 86;

loads.

rlhe brush member 33 is secured to the member 80 having the upwardly extended ears81. The switch rod 32 is disposed between and secured pivotally to said ears by the pin 82. Said member 80 is adapted to carry a frame which sup rts the auxiliary contact members. Said ame includes the two bars Sli which are secured to the ears 81 of said member 8O and are reflexed out-= wardlyimto provide the end portions 84m which "hre extended laterally beyond the brush member. .Flexible members 85 are secured to the ends oi? said bars 8d by the bolts 86 and extended downwardly beyond the brush member; and auxiliary contact members 87 are secured removably to the lower ends ot said members. Side tiemembers 88 are secured to the iiexible members on the same side of the brush member, also and end tie members serve to connect the ends of said bars 8d, whereby rigidly to support the auxiliary contact members in position.

'lhc stationary auxiliary contact members are carried by the members 90 which are securbd to the under side of the main oontact blocks 91 of the stationary switch members. Said members are formed with the vdownwardly and outwardly reiiexed endnortions 90E. The auxiliary contact mem= bers comprise the plates 92, which may be somewhat exible, if desired, and said lates the contact blocks 91, and slides in engagement with said plates, and the iiexiblc members 85 are iiexed outwardly while maintaining the engagement of the auxiliary contact members, as illustrated in l? ig. d.

l/V ith this arrangement of auxiliary con` tact members, the magnetic edect of a high value of current in the circuit controlled by the switch is to tend to press the contact members into a more firm engagement than that resulting trom the spring pressure of said resilient members 85 alone.

A long wiping engagement oi the contact members is obtained and the movable switch member attains av considerable speed of opening after the main current-carrying members have separated and before the auxiliary contact members have separated so that, when said auxiliary contact members are nally separated, the arc may be rapidly extinguished and the circuit-interrupting capacity of the switch is thereby enhanced.

The invention may be contained in other modications without departing from the spirit thereof.

l claim:

l.. An electric switch including a casing comprising an oil receptacle and a switch frame comprising a cover for the oil receptacle, movable and stationary switch members and operating mechanism disposed within the casing and supported by said switch trame, said operating kmechanism including an operating shaft pivotally supported by said switch :trame and extended therethrough, electrically-operated switchoperating mechanism supported externally on said switch iframe, and an operatingmember connecting said electrically operan ed mechanism and the extended end oi said shaft.

2.. An electric switch including a casing comprising an oil receptacle and a switch frame comprising a cover for the oil receptacle, 'movable and stationary switch members and operating mechanism disposed within the casing and supported by said switch trame, said operating mechanism including an operating shaft pivotally supported by said switch frame and extended therethrough, electrically-operated switchoperating mechanism supported externally on said switch frame, an arm fixed to an extended end of said shaft, and means including a connecting rod connecting said electrically-operated mechanism and said arm.

3. An electric switch including a casing having aligned apertures formed in the opposite side walls thereof, stationary and movable switch members disposed within thecasing, operating mechanism disposed within said casing including an operating shaft journalled in. the apertures in said casing and' extended externally beyond the side walls thereof in both directions, arms ixed to the extended ends ot' said shaft externally ofTJ the casing, electrically-operated switch-operating mechanism supported externally on said casing, means including a connecting rod connecting said electricallyoperated mechanism with one of said arms7 and a spring connecting said other arm and said casing.

a. An up-break electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switch members disposed within the casing, operating mechanism disposed within said casing and arranged tolmovethe movable switch member upward to open the switch and having a member extended externally of. the casing, and a switch opening spring carried externally by the casing and connected with said extended member to bias the movable switch member for upward movement..

5. An 11p-break electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switch members disposed within the casing, operating mechanism disposed within said casing and arranged to move the movable switch member upward to open the switch and having a `member extended externally orn the casing, and a switch-opening spring horizontally disposed externally of the casing and carried thereby and having mea-ns connecting it loosely with said extended member to bias the movable switch member for upward movement.

G. An up-brealt electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switch members disposed within the casing, operating mechanism disposed within said casing and arranged to move the movable switch member upward to open the switch and having a member extended externally of the casing7 and dual switch opening springs carried externally by the casing and having independent connections with said extended member, each of said springs arranged to act independently to open the switch.

7. An 11p-break electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switch. members disposed within the casing, operating mechanism disposed within said casmg and arranged to move the movable switch member upward to open the switch and .having a member extended externally of the casing on opposite sides thereof, and

amasar two switch-opening springs supported externally of the casing on opposite sides thereof, and means independently connecting said springs with said extended member.

8. An 11p-break 'electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switch members and operating mechanism disposed within the casing, said operating mechanism arranged to move the movable switch member upward to open the switch and having a member extended externally oie. the casing and a mechanism eounterbalancing compression spring supported externally by the casing and operatively connected with said extended member.

9. An electric switch including stationary and movable switch members, operating; mechanism, a casing enclosing the at'oresaid elements, and dual devices including springs associated with said mechanism and supported externally of said casing and each independently arranged to bias said mechanism for switch-opening movement.

lO. An Lip-break electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switch members and operating mechanism disposed within thecasing, said operating mechanism arranged to move said movable switch member upward to open the switch and inciuding an operating shat't extended horizontally through a wall of the casing, an arm fixed to said shaft externally of the casing. and a switch-opening compression spring carried externally by said casing and having an operating connection with said arm.

l1. An electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switch members and operating mechanism dis osed within the casing, said operating mec ianism having an operating member extended through a side wall externally oi' the casing, and switchopening .means carried externally by said casing including a rod having one end pivotally connected with said operating member and its other end slidably supported, and a spring encircling said rod having one end thereof in engagement with said rod and its other end in engagement. with said casing.

l2. An electric switch including a casing, stationary and movable switch members and operating mechanism dis osed within the casing, said operating n'iec anism having an operating sha't extended through apertures in opposite side walls of the casing, arms xed to the ends of said shaft externally on opposite sides ot' the casing, and dual switchopening means carried externally by the casing, each switch-operatingmeans including a rod pivotally connected with one of said arms, a bracket fixed to said casing in which the other end ot said rod is. slidably supported, and a springencircling said rod and bearing aga-inst said rod and said bracket.

13. An electrically-operated electric switch lll) including an oil receptacle, a switch frame, comprising a cover for said oil receptacle, stationary and movable switch carried by said frame and depending into said oil receptacle, switch-operating mechenism carried by and disposed Within said frame, and an operating coil including an armature disposed externally on and carried by said frame, and. means connecting said l0\a,rmeture with said enclosed operating A4 mechanism.

members 14. An electrically-operated electric switch comprising thecombination of a closed reeeptacle, stationary and movable switch members enclosed therein, and an operating 15 In testimony whereof, I have signed my )20 name to this specification.

CHESTER D. AIN SWORTH.

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