US1652569A - Switch mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 13, 1927.

W. M. GRANT SWITCH MECHANISM Filed March 2 4. 1921 2. Sheets-Sheet 1 QQ I INVENTOR f ATTRNEY WITNEssEs;

Patented Dec. 13, 1927.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM M. GRANT, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA, ASSIGNOLB, T WES'IINGHOUSE ELECTRIC &,MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION 0F PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH MECI-IANISM.

Application filed March 24, 1921.

My invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to boxes for containing switch and fuse mechanism employed in electrical circuits.

An object of the invention is yto provide a box structure wherein the walls of the box are provided with normally closed openings through which meter leads may be inserted for the purpose of connecting the reed line at a point within the box, when it is desired to direct the current through the meter for the purpose of making a motor test.

A further object or' the invention is to provide a box having the above characteristics wherein the closures for the meterlead openings are retained in closed position so long as the box cover is in closed position.

A further object is to provide a'box wherein the cover latch is switch controlled and cannot be opened so long as the switch is in closed position and wherein the cover latch retains the closure for the metenlead openings in closed position so long as the latch is in closed position.

A further object is to provide hinged closures for the meter-lead openings that are yieldingly retained in closed position and which may be swung inwardly to permit the insertion of the meter leads, after the switch has been moved to open position.

A further object is to so interlock'the'box closures, including the box cover, that they cannot be opened except in the proper sequence of operation, namely, the box cover iirst and the lead-opening closures subsequently. j

A further object of the invention is to provide a meter-plug connection having contact members similar to those of the fuses used in the box so that, in order to connect the meter with the load, it is only necessary to remove the fuse and to insert the plug connection in its place. The device eliminates the necessity of cutting into the circuit kat a point externally oit' the box.

These and other objects, that will be apparent through the further description of the invention, are attained in the apparatus hereinafter described and illustrated in the 50 accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure'lis a front elevational view of a Serial N0. 455,053.

switch box embodying features of my in'- vention.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view through a box showing the switch-latch mechanism in side elevation.

b Fig. 3 is an end elevational view of a ox. e

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a housing 4l having kside and endwail members 5 andl 6, respectively, and a bottom wall 7. lVithin thehousing, an insulating base or panel 8 is secured to the bottom oi" the box, and two pairs or" fuse clips or jaws 9 and lO are mounted thereon. The clip l() is provided with a switch-contact member ll with which a rotatable switch 12 of the brush type engages.

The switch is pivoted at 13 upon the shaft carried by the box and serves to connect the terminal contact member 11 to the live terminal 14 that is mounted adjacent the housing cover l5. The switch is actuated by means or' an operating handle 16 that is pivotally attached to the cover and is connected to the switch by means of ltoggle links 17 and 18.

As shown in F ig. 2, the switch is in open position. W hen the handle is moved ton ward the left, the toggle links are moved to set position and the switch blades are moved to closed position, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 2. The spring 19 serves to normally retain the switch in open position, and the toggle links, when in set position, hold the switch in engagement with the contact members. The 4switch may be moved to open position by moving the knee pivot 21 of the toggle toward the lett past dead center, therebyv causing the collapse of the toggle.

The housing 5 is provided with an opening 22 through which the fuse jaw members 9 and l0 and the cartridge-fuse element 26y mounted thereon are accessible and the ppening is closed by a door 24 that is hinged to the cover l5, as at 20. The free end oit the cover is provided with a rotatable latch 26 having an exteriorly disposed operating handle 27. A slide member 28 is slidably attached to the inside of the 4door and is pivoted at 29 to the latch 26and extends toward the switch and abuts the free end of a plunger member 31 that is attached to the toggle knee pivot 21, which is supported at its tree end upon a pin 32 that is secured to the cover 15 and which projects through the slot 33 in the plunger member.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that, when the switch handle is moved to the left, the'plunger 31 will be mo ved to the right, and, by reason of its engagement with the slide member 28, will cause the latch to be so rotated that it is moved beneath the ledge 34 provided at the upper end olf the edge 6. The closing movement of the switch, therefore, causes the door 24 to be locked in closed position. On the other hand, the latch cannot be turned to. open position without first causing the collapse oit the toggle. It is apparent, therefore, that the door cannot be opened while the switch is in closed position.

rIhe apparatus above described is disclosed in Patent No. 1,324,555, issued December 9, 1919 to'H. F. Krantz, and no claim is made to any of the features above described except in combination with certain 4features of my invention to be hereinafter disclosed.

The object oit my invention is to provide suitable openings in the box ot the type described and in boxes having similar characteristics for the purpose oill inserting meter leads when it is desired to connect a meter with the ieed line for the purpose ol testing motors and other apparatus.

It has been the usual practice to cut the wires exteriorly ot' the box for the purpose of connecting the meter in series with the apparatus being tested. By providing suitable openings in the housing that are normally held in closed position and by providing a simple meter-lead plug that may be attached to standard fuse jaw members or receptacles and which may be readily inserted through the openings, the testing operation is greatly simplified and considerable time is saved.

In carrying out my invention, I provide the end ot' the housing adjacent to the iiuse jaws with oblong openings 35 and 36 that are closed by doors 37 .and 38, respectively. The doors are hinged between the ledge 34 at the top of the end wall and the projections 39 which are secured to the end wall, by means of the hinged pins 41 about which springs 42 are wound. The center portion 43 of the springs bears against the entire side of the door while the free ends ot the spring engage the end wall, The springs normally exert tension tending to yieldingly hold the doors in closed position.

Each door is provided, at its free end, with a tongue 44 which occupies a position between the latch 26 and the end wall 6. So long as the latch is in closed position and so long as the door 24 remains in closed position, the closures 37 and 38 cannot be opened because ol the engagement of the latch with the tongues 44. The door 35 1s provided with a notch 40, so located as to clear the depending flange of the latch 26 when the latch is in open position.

The meter-terminal plug comprises an insulating body 45, upon the ends of which separate contact members 4G and 47 are se cured by means ol screws 48. Terminal sockets 49 and 51 are attached to the contact members, respectively, and the flexible conductors 52 and53 are secured thereto. The contact members are similar to those of the fuses used in the box and, therefore, tit within the fuse clips and establish a circuit through the meter when the plug is inserted within the clips in lieu of the fuse.

The operation is as follows: The switch handle is first moved to open position, thereby cutting off lthe current through the fuse clips and permitting open movement of the latch. However, if the switch is not first thrown open, opening movement of the latch 26 will cause it to be moved to open position before the cover is released. Vhen the cover is opened, the latch 26 is withdrawn thereby from the path oi the doors 37 and 38. These doors may be opened and the meter-terminal plug inserted through either of the openings 35. Gne of the -fuses is removed from the clip and a plug inserted in lieu thereof. The door 24 may then be closed and the switch subsequently closed to supply current Yl'or the test. The apparatus being tested will, of course, be protect-ed bythe remaining fuse.

The construction is simple, and the meterlead doors may be applied to a variet of boxes and switch structures other than t lose here shown.

While I have illustrated and described but one embodiment oi m invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modiiications, changes, substitutions, additions and omissions may be made in the apparatus described without departing from the spirit' and scope of the invention, as set Yforth in the appended claims.

I claim as my invention 1. The combination with a housing for electrical fixtures having a movable cover, a. latch for the cover and an opening for the temporary insertion oit conductor elements, of a movable doei' for closing the opening and means for retaining the movable door closed so long as the cover is in latched position.

2. The combination with a housing for electrical fixtures having a movable cover, a latch for the cover and an opening for the temporary insertion of conductor elements, of a movable door member closing the open-l ing and normally yieldinfly retained in closed position and means Ior holding the door closed so long as the cover is in latched position.

3. The combinationpwith a housing for a switch having a movable cover and an Opening for the temporary insertion of conductor elements, and a latch for retaining the cover in closed position so long as the switch is in closed position7 of a movable door for closing the opening and adapted to be retained in closed position by the said latch so long as the latch is in closed position.

4. A b'ox for electrical fixtures comprising a housing closed by a movable cover, a latch for the cover, the said box being provided With an opening, and a door for the opening mounted interior-ly of the box and retained in closed position by the cover s0 long as the latter is in latched position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 17th day of March 20 WILLIAM M. GRANT.

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