US1597833A - Electrical switching apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 31 1926.

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fm. l

,mjiflw BY M43 6w ATTORNEY Aug. 31 1926.

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Dec. 29, 1923 1 i I @4 U INVENTOR MIQW 7. M BY M424C2flk ATTORNEY Aug. 31 1926. v 1,597,833

W. M. SCOTT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING APPARATUS Filed Dec. 29, 19 23 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR 15 ATTORNEY Patented Aug. 31, 1926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ELECTRICAL SWITCHINC APPARATUS.

Application filed December 29, 1923. Serial No. 683,323.

My invention relates to electrical switches or automatic circuit breakers for controlling circuits traversed by current utilizable for lighting, power or any other purpose.

In accordance with my invention switching mechanism or automatic circuit breaker mechanism provided with means for restraining the movable contact structure in predetermined position, is controlled by manually operated means comprising an actuating structure 'carried by a support, which may be a housing, in combination with means for locking the actuating structure in a position to attain which enforces tripping of the movable contact structure, said means comprising a locking bolt or member carried by and movable with respect to either the actuating structure or its support, said support or actuating structure having an aperture or recess in which the locking bolt or member engages.

In accordance with my invention, automatic circuit breaker mechanism of the character which prevents circuit closure during existence of an abnormal circuit'condition, such as nonclosable or double arm circuit breaker mechanism, is provided with actuating or control structure in combination with means for locking the actuating or con trol structure in a position to attain which the circuit breaker mechanism must be tripped.

My invention resides in apparatus of the character hereinafter described and claimed.

For an illustration of one of the various. forms my invention may take reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view, partly in section, and with parts broken away, of apparatus embodying my invention.

Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 1, with the front wall or door of the housing partly cut away.

Fig. '3 is a fragmentary side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the actuating or control structureon enlarged sealer Fig. 4 is a front elevational view of the structure shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. '5 is a side elevational view, partly in vertical section, of part of the structure of Fig. 3, with the locking member held in locking position by a padlock. v Figs. 6 and 7 are, respectively, side and front elevational views of the manually operated member of the actuating or control structure.

Figs. 8 and 9 are, respectively, side and front elevational Views of a member co-actmg with the member .illustrated in Figs. 6 and 7. 1

Figs. 10, 11 and 12 are, respectively, top plan, side elevational and front elevational views .of the locking member.

Referring to the drawings, 1 is a base,

preferably of insulating material, such as slate, marble or the like, upon the front face of which is secured a three-pole circuit breaker 'mechanism utilizable for three-wire direct current systems, for three phase alternating current systems, or for any other system, it being understood, however, that my invention is not limited withregard to the number of poles involved.

Enclosing the circuit breaker mechanism is the box or housing H, preferably of sheet metal, and preferably lined with insulating material, attached or secured to the base 1, or as indicated, to the rear housing 1,. by the hook members 2 secured to the housing H and detachably engaging in apertures 3 in the top wall of housing I.

The base 1 is secured to the rear housing 'I by the screws 4: threading into members 5 attached to or forming part of the rear housing structure.

The rear housing I, which supports or carries ,the base 1 and housing H is secured to any suitable support, as a pillar, wall or the like, by any suitable attaching means, as screws-6.

Through the pipe or conduit 7 extend the insulated supply or consumption circuit conductors 8 which pass into the interior of the housing- I and are provided, respectively, with terminals 9 b which they are conncted to the clrcuit breaker studs. Through the pipe or' conduit 10 extend the insulated conductors 11 of the consumption or supply circuit which are provided at their ends within the housing-I with terminals 12 connecting with the circuit breaker studs.

" The housing H has the front wall 14, which may be fixedly secured to the housing H or which may be pivoted thereto as in the vicinity of 13. The housing H may be secured in its normal or operative position indicated in Fig. 1 by the links 15 and ioo 16 pivoted respectively to the housing I and H and forming an over-travelled toggle lock.

The three switch members constituting the three poles of the circuit breaker mechanism are indicated at A, B and C, Fig. 2, and only one of which, namely B, is shown in Fig. 1.

Each of these switching or breaker 1nechanisms may be of the structure shown in my prior application Serial Number 496,815, filed August 30, 1921, and comprises the terminal blocks 17 and 18 having studs 19 extending through the base 1 into the box I where the aforesaid conductors 8 and 11 are connected therewith. The lower terminal blocks 18 of the breaker poles A and C connect, respectively, to the windings of tripping magnets 20, 20 whose remaining terminals connect to studs 19 extending into the box I and to which two of the conductors 11 are connected, whereby in series with each of two of the three poles there is an overload tripping magnet.

Adapted to engage and bridge the terminals 17 and 18 of each breaker mechanism is the laminated bridging member 21 carried by the arm 22 pivoted at 23 to a bracket or other suitable support secured to the base 1. Pivoted to the arm 22 at 24 is a toggle link 25 integral with themember 26, the link 25 or member 26 being in turn pivoted at 27 to the toggle link 28 pivoted at 29 to a bracket or'otherlsupport secured to the base 1, the links 25 and 28 forming a toggle for forcing the bridging member 21 into engagement with the terminal blocks 17 and 18. The members 26 of the three breaker mechanisms, A, B and C are tied together by the transversely extending bar 30, whereby all the toggle mechanisms and all the bridging members 21 operate in unison.

Secured to the bar 30, as preferably midway of its length in front of the breaker unit B, is the member 31, to which there is pivoted at 32 the links 33, which are in turn pivoted at their lower ends at 34 to the secondary operating lever 35, consisting of two similar members spaced apart, but attached to each other by the integral transversely extending tie members 36 and 37.

The member is pivoted at 23 concentri cally with the arm 22 of the middle breaker unit B. Pivoted to the lever 35 at 38 is a latch 39, which may be termed the nonclosable latch in the sense that it is the latch which connects the main and secondary operating levers and which i tripped to dis connect said levers upon attempted closure of the breaker mechanism during continuance of abnormal circuit condition. At its rear end the latch 39has the lugs or projections 40 and 41 spaced from each other at 42, the lugs 40 and 41 embracing or being disposed, respectively, above and below the plate 43 attached to the latch actuating mechanism comprising the transversely extending bar 44 carried by arms 45 pivoted at 46 to the base 1.

Each of the magnet coils 20 co-acts with a core structure having the poles 20, with which eo-acts an armature 47 suitably pivoted, as at 46 and adapted upon energization of the magnet to be attracted upwardly, after release of the movable from the stationary sucker element of the start-delaying device D, and engage the under side of the bar 44, which causes upward movement of the aforesaid plate or member 43 and also move upwardly the tripping member 48, which co-acts with the tail of the main latch 49 pivoted at 23 to a stationary housing or bracket secured to the base 1 and having at its forward end a latch hook adapted to re strain, by engagement with the pin or roller 50 on the member 26, the toggle in extended position, though somewhat under-travelled, and the bridging member 21 in circuit closing position indicated in Fig. 1.

The latch 39 has the latching surface 51 adapted to thrust against the co-acting surface 52 on the members 53 secured to each other and forming with the attached members 54 the main operating lever 55 pivoted at 23 to a stationary member secured to the base 1. Forming a part of the main operating lever 55 is the upwardly extending lug member 56 co-acting with the transversely extending lug 57 on the latch 39.

The members 53 of ,the main operating lever 55 extend forwardly and terminate at 58, at which the force for manually actuating the circuit breaker mechanism is applied.

The end 58 of the main operatinglever 55 is disposed in the path of travel of the members 60 and 61, which in the example illustrated are extensions on the single member or piece 62 ecured between the members 63 of insulating material, which in turn are secured to the member 64, which is pinned to the shaft 65, whose axis of rotation is normal to the base 1 and which has bearings at 66, 66 in the bracket member 68 secured upon the inner side of the wall or door 14 and movable therewith.

The shaft and the parts attached thereto are biased toward normal position, that indicated in Figs. 2 and 4, bya spring, not shown, the rotation of the shaft 65 and the parts attached thereto in either direction from the normal position being opposed by the spring.

Secured to the shaft 65, outside of the wall or door 14, for operating the actuator members 60, 61, is the member 69 provided with the operators handle 70. Embracing and secured to the member 69 is the U-shaped member 71 having the downwardly turned flange or abutment 72 adjacent the forward end of the notch 73 to the rear of which is m an the transversely extending portion 74 spaced from the upper end of the member 69 to accommodate the longitudinally movable locking plate 75 terminating the locking bolt or member 76 adapted to enter an aperture in the housing wall 14, and particularly the aperture 77, Fig. 4. The locking plate 75 has the downwardly extending end member 78 to which is secured the pin 79 upon which is disposed the helical spring 80 disposed in the socket 81 in the member 69, the spring 80 thrusting the locking plate 75 toward the right as viewed in Figs. 1, 3 and 5. The

'lockingplate 75 and the locking member 76 may be forced toward the left in opposition to the spring 80 by a finger or thumb pressed in upon the downwardly extending portion 78 of the plate 75. The plate 75 may be thrust toward the left also by inserting the hasp 82 of the padlock 83 into the space between the abutment 72 and the web of plate 74 of the member 71, whereby thelockmg member 76 is held in locking position until the hasp 82 is removed after unlocking the padlock 83.

The structure above described, comprising the members 69, 71, 76, etc. for locking the actuating mechanism against operation is of the general character described and claimed in my prior application Serial Number 655,196 and is of the species disclosed in said application in Figs. 23 and 24 thereof.

The operation is as follows:

\Vith the structure in the circuit closing position illustrated in Fig. 1, upon occurrence of an abnormal electrical condition in the circuit, one or the other, or both, of the electromagnets willbe energized to degree sufficient to attract the armature or armatures 47, as a result of which the tripping member will be lifted, thereby rotating the latch 49 in clockwise direction, Fig. 1, and releasing the member 26, and simultaneously the tripping member 43 will engage the underside of'the lug 40 of latch 39, rotating that latch in clockwise direction about its pivot 38, disengaging the lug or latch surface 51 from the co-acting surface 52 of the main operating lever 55. As a result of the actuation of the latch 49 the toggle 25, 28 collapses, and the bridging members 21 separate from their terminal blocks 17 and 18, thereby interrupting the ycircuit; the final are being taken as usual bv the carbon shunt contacts 84 and 85.

Upon collapse of the toggle as aforesaid, the member 26 is rotated in counter-clockwise direction about its pivot 24, causing counterclockwise rotation of the secondary operating lever 35 about its pivot 23, and the latch 39, now disengaged from the main lever 55,

i is rarricd upwardly with the lever 35.

The mechanism is reset in circuit closing position by rotating the handle 70 first in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, causing the lug 61 to engage the under side of the end 58 of the main lever 55, thereby rotating it in counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 1, and causing it to approach the lever 36, and finally the latch 39, under the influence of gravity, or spring, not

shown, resumes the relative position indicated in Fig. 1, whereby the secondary lever 35 is locked to the main lever 55. Thereafter the handle 70 is rotated in counterclockwise direction, causing the "In or member to engage upon theupper side of the end 58 of the main lever 55, depressing it, and thereby rotating the lever 55 in clockwise direction, causing rotation in like direction of the co-axially pivoted lever 35, and followed by extension .of the toggle structure and engagement of the contact members 21 with their terminals'17 and 18, the latch 49, under the influence of gravity, or spring, not shown, re-engaging the pin or roller 50 and restraining the mechanism in circuit closing position;

If, during the aforementioned resetting movement, an abnormal electrical condition obtains in the circuit protected by the circuit breaker mechanism, at first closure of the circuit, as by engagement of shunt contact 85 by shunt contact 84 before the bridging members 21 engage the upper terminals 17, and before the latch49 locks the member 26, one or the other, or both, of the magnets 20 will be energized, with the result that the tripping member 43 will be elevated or moved to higher position, and the under side of the lug or extension 40 ofthe latch 39 will ride up upon the top surface of the trip ping member 43, causing a clockwise rotation of the latch 39, as viewed in Fig. 1, and consequently an automatic disengagement or release of the secondary operating lever 35 from the main operating lever 55, the circuit breaker structure then flying to open circuit position, as in the case first described.

With the circuit breaker mechanism in circuit closing position as indicated in Fig. 1, if it should be desired to trip it manually,

the operators handle 70 is moved in clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2. causing the lug 61 to engage the under side of the end 58 of the main operating lever 55, causing counterclockwise rotation of the main operating lever 55, as viewed in Fig. 1, the- I iii upon the lever 55. The mechanism is now unlatched as regards both latches l9 and 39, and the circuit breaker mechanism flies to open circuit position, under the influence of gravity, or spring means, not shown, operating upon the arms 22.

The actuating mechanism comprising the members 60 and 61 and the parts secured therewith to the shaft 65 may be locked against operation by moving operating handle to such position that the locking bolt or member 76 comes into alignment or register with the slot 77, Fig. 4, whereupon it may be forced into said slot 77 and there held or locked by application of the padlock 88 as indicated in Fig. 5.

The slot 77 is so located that in moving the actuating mechanism to position in which it may be locked by engagement of member 76 in slot 77, the member 61 engages the under side of the lever 58 to trip the circuit breaker mechanism manually as above described. I

It is accordingly true of the circuit breaker mechanism described that it is and must be manually tripped to move the actuating mechanism to position in which it may be locked; and that when the actuating mechanism is so locked against operation the circuit breaker mechanism is necessarily in open circuit position.

Upon removal of the padlock 83, the spring 80 will withdraw the locking bolt 76 from the aperture 77, freeing the actuating mechanism which may thereafter be operated to actuate the lever 55 for any of the purposes hereinbetorc described.

This appli ation is in part a continuation of my prior application Serial Number (355.196, filed August 2, 1923.

'What I claim is:

l. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a support, a movable member carried by said support, means for locking said member against movement in predetermined position with respect to said support comprising a locking member carried by and movable with respect to said movable member and adapted to engage said support, and means whereby in response to movement of said movable member to position in which it is locked to said support said contact mem ber is tripped by actuation of said restraining means.

2. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a support, a movable member carried by said support, means for locking said member against movement in predetermined position with respect to said support comprising a locking member carried by and movable with respect to said movable supto said support in predetermined position,

said movable member actuating said re straining means to trip said contact member when said movable member is moved to said predetermined position.

at. The combination with a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of an enclosing housing, a movable member carried by said housing for actuating said restraining means, and a locking member carried by and movable with respect to said movable member for locking .it in predetermined position to said housing,

said movable member actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member when said movable member is moved to said predetermined position.

The combination with a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of an enclosing housing, a movable member carried by said housing for actuating said restraining means, and a locking member carried by and movable with respect to said movable member for locking it in predetermined position -to said housing, said movable member actuating said restraining means to trip said contact member when said movable member is moved to said predetermined position, and a lock disposed in the pathof movement of said locking mem ber.

6. The combination with an automatic circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, and automatic tripping mechanism, of means for preventing circuit closure during existence of an abnormal electrical condition, a support, a movable member carried by said support and adapted to ellect actuation of said restraining means, and means for locking said movable member in predetermined position with respect to said support, movement of said movable member to said predetermined position effecting tripping of said contact member.

7. The combination with an automatic circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position and automatic tripping mechanism, of means for preventing circuit closure during existence of an abnormal electrical condition, a support, a. movable member carried by said support, and adapted to eflect actuatlon of saidrestraining means, means for locking said movable member in predeter mined position with respect to said support,

movement of said movable member to saidrelation with respect to and adapted to effect actuation of said restraining means, and means for locking said movable member in predetermined position with respect to said ousi-ng, movement of said movable member to said predetermined position efi'ecting tripping of said Contact member.

9. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a 'movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, an operating member detachably connected to said contact member, and automatic tripping mechanism, of a support, a movable member carried by said support and adapted to trip said contact member, and means for locking said movable member in predetermined position with respect to said support, movement of said movable member to said predetermined position eflfecting tripping of said member.

10. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, an operating member detachably connected to said contact member, and automatic tripping mechanism, of an enclosing housing, an

actuating member carried thereby and adapted by movement in one direction to actuate said operating member to move said" contact member to normal position and by movement in opposite direction to eflect tripping of said contact member, and means for ocking said actuating member in predetermined position with respect to said housing, movement of said actuating member to said predetermined position effecting tripping of said contact member.

11. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, an operating member, means detachably connecting said operating member to said contact member, and automatic tripping mechanism, of an enclosing housing, an actuating member carried thereby and adapted by movement in one direction to actuate said operating member to move said contact member to normal position and by movement in opposite direction to efi'ect tripping of said contact member, means for locking said actuating member in predetermined position with respect to said housing, movement of said actuating member to said predetermined position effecting tripping of said' contact member, and means for locking said locking means in position to lock said actuating member in said predetermined position.

12. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, an operating member, means detachably connecting said operating member to said contact member, and automatic tripping mechanism, of a support and a movable member carried by said support and adapted to effect by movements in opposite directions tripping of said contact member and actuation of said operating member to re-set said contact member, and a locking member carried by and movable with respect to said movable member for locking it in predetermined position with respect to said support, movement of said movable member to said predetermined position efi'ecting tripping of said contact member.

18. The combination with a circuit breaker comprising a movable contact member, means for restraining it in normal position, an operating member, means detachably con necting said operating member to said contact member, and automatic tripping mechanism, of a support, and a movable member carried by said support and adapted to effect by movements in opposite directions tripping of said contact member and actuation of said operating member to re-set said contact member, a locking member carried by and movable with respect to. said movable member for looking it in predetermined position with respect to said support, movement of said movable member to said predetermined position effecting tripping of said contact member, and a lock for restraining said locking member in predetermined position.

l4. Switching apparatus comprising a movable contact member, a support, an actuating member carried by said support, said actuating member having a recess, a spring therein, and a locking member carried by said actuating member and disposed for rectilinear sliding movement upon said actuating member, said locking member having a transversely extending portion disposed adjacent to said recess and co-acting with said spring.

15. The combination with a movable contact member of a switch, of a support, an actuating member carried by said support, a locking member disposed for rectilinear sliding movement upon said actuating member, said actuating member having a recess,

a helical spring in said recess, a transversely extending portion on said locking member, and a pin on said portion extending into said spring.

16. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a support, a movable member carried by said support, means for locking said member against movement in predetermined position with respect to said support, means whereby in response to movement of said movable member to position in which it is locked said contact member is tripped,

and locking means for holding said first named locking means in locking position.

17. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a support, a movable member carried by said support, means for locking said movable member in predetermined position with respect to said support, and means whereby in response to movement of said movable member to said predetermined position said contact member is tripped.

18. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of an enclosing housing, a movable member carried by said housing, means for locking said movable member in predetermined position with respect to said housing, and means whereby in response to movement of said movable member to said predetermined position said contact member is tripped.

19. The combination with switching mechanism comprising a movable contact member and means for restraining it in normal position, of a support, a movable member carried by said support and movable to positions with respect thereto for freeing said contact member from said restraining means and for resetting said contact member,

means for locking said movable member in predetermined position with respect to said support, and means whereby in response to movement of said movable member to, said predetermined position said contact member is freed from said restraining means.

WILLIAM M. SCOTT.

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