US1708077A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

April 9, 1929. y L. P. BOLL. ET AL 1,708,077

SWITCH Filed Oct. 17. 1927 Patented Apr. 9, 1929.

UNITED ATES wenn PATENT OFFICE.

LESTER PIERCE BOLL, OE MATLEWOOD, AND ARNOLD CLEMENT HANSEN, JR., or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSTGNORS To w. N. MATTHEWS CORPORATION, or ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, A CORPORATION or MISSOURI.

SWITCH.

Application led October 17, 1927. Serial No. 226,554.

This invention relates to switches and with A removable hinge-pin 21 is used for hinging regard to certain more specific features, to

fuse switches of the type wherein a f fuse cartridge is carried On the door of the switch box.

Among the several objects of the invention, may be noted the provision of a fuse switch in which the cartridge is carried on the door in such manner that an expulsive action 1s had upon blowing of the fuse, so as to eject burned gases and the like from and not into the switch box; and the provision of simple and rugged means for accomplishing the above ends. Other objects will be In part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combination of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structure hereinafter described, and the scope oit' the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

1n the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a vertical section of the switch box, parts being shown in full; o

Fig. 2 is a bottom plan View, parts being shown in section; and

Fig. 3 is a Jiront elevation.

Corresponding reference characters indi cate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1. there is illustrated at numeral 1 a preferably one-piece, porcelain or other insulating box equipped with an external support 3 and upper and lower line terminals 5 and 7 respectively positioned next to upper and lower inlet passages 9 and 11 respectively. The passages are adapted to receive suitable line wires which are fastenedto the terminls 5 and 7 The line wires are not shown.

The line terminals 5 and 7 are fastened to the box 1 in electrical combination with pairs of spring,` termina1 clips 13 and 14 respectively. The terminal clips extend forwardly into the box 1.

The front of the box 1 is provided with a preferably one-piece, porcelain or other insulating door 17 formed Hush with the front of saidbox and hinged to said box at a lower recess in the bottom 23 of the box, substantially equal in depth tothe depth of the door.`

the door on the box. A flange 25 around the edge of the door fitting into a recess therefor in the box, serves to limit the closing movement of the door to a predetermined amount and to protect the interior of the box from the elements. y

rlhe bottom 23 of the box is provided with an opening or recess 27 serving purposes hereinafter to be described.

The door 17 has formed thereon, upper and lowercradle supports 29 and 31 respectively, the lower support 31 having formed therewith downwardly extending walls 33. The walls 33 preferably have a cradle-like contour at their upper edges, similar to the contour of Said supports 29 and 3l.

Between said supports 29 and 31 is located a third support 85 for the purpose of mount- Ing a hinging spring clip 37. The purpose of this clip 37 is to removably hold a fuse cartridge F in supported position on said supports 29 and 31. rlhe cartridge F, per se, preferably comprises an insulating tube 39 carrying arcctangularly shaped lower terminal engaging velement 41 (through which the tube passes) and an upper enclosing terminal engaging element 48, said element 43 serving also as an enclosing cap.

Suitable holding means 45 for a fuse link 47 are provided in said upper terminal engaging element 43. The fuse link 47 passes downwardly through the tube to a hairpin turn 49 and then re-ascends` outside the tube to said lower terminal engaging element 41 where it is held in position by a screw clamp 51.

It will be noted that the fuse link has one long leg 53 positioned within the tube 39 and a short leg 55 positioned outside of said tube. It will also be observed that the short leg 55 is in effect positioned within a second tubular portion 57 formed by the door 17 the downwardly extending Walls 33 and the tube 39 of the cartridge.

In order to facilitate positioning of the cartridge, the upper side of the support 31 is formed as a pocket 58 to substanatially fit the rectangular contour of the lower terminal engaging clement 41. Furthermore, the upper support 29 is so position as to snugly tit beneath the .upper terminal-engaging element 43. ln this manner, the replacement or application of a fuse cartridge l@ is made an operation of simple routine.

All that is necessary vis to unclip the previous supported cartridge by rotating the clip 37, drop t-he new one into position, and return the clip to holding position on the replaced cartridge.

The fuse cartridge F, by the 111c11ns described, is held to the door 17 in such a relative position that its lower open end or mouth 59 is positioned so to blow out of the fuse box when the fuse link breaks down under excessive load. This is accomplished preferably by placing the lower edge of the tube below the inside iioor line 61 of the box and within or below said opening 27.

The result is that the fuse link, which has a restricted portion at its upper end in the region indicated by numeral 63, upon breaking down, burns from top to bottom, thereby ejecting gas and flame downwardly out the lower end of the tube 39. rlhe ejecting gases passing through the opening 27 induce a downward current of air from the interior of the box (through the opening 27 and passage 57) which, when the fuse arc reaches the hairpin turn 49, tends to extinguish said arc and prevent further burning of the fuse up and into said passage 57. The elongated and restricted passage 57 tends to increase the velocity of the air therethrough in accordance with the laws of the flow of iuids, thereby enhancing the safety action of this device. If the are is not extinguished at the turn 49, the downward flow in passage 57 directs flame and the like out of the box as the fuse burns up the short leg 55.

It will be seen that with this switch maximum distance between fuse terminals is attained with minimum danger of incurring an explosive fuse action withinrthe box itself. Also, the improved effect is accomplished with a, minimum number of parts.

It should be noted that in the present embodiment the spring clip 37 is positioned at a lower elevation than the uppermost point of the line terminal 7. The reason for this is that maximum Hash-over distance between line terminals is attained. lf the clip 37 were placed at some elevation above the lower ter minal 7 and below the upper terminal 5, the flash-over distance would be reduced, because the current could more readily jump from one terminal to the clip 37 and thence to the other terminal.

Itis to be understood that elements such as the supports 29,31, 35 and walls 33, may be fastened to the door 17 as separate pieces or in separate combinations.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are Vachieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in carrying out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is inf tended that all matter contained in the above nrcan?? description or shown in theV accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrativo and not in a limiting sense.

qWe claim:

1. A switch comprising a box, line terminals within the box, a door engaging the box adapted to open and close, a tubular fuse cartridge supported on said door having a closed upper terminal engaging element, a lower terminal engaging element, a fuse passing through the cartridge to connect said e f1- gaging elements and having one portion thereof positioned outside of the cartridge in an enclosed portion formed by portions on said door and said cartridge.

2. A switch comprising a box carrying line terminals therein, a door for the box carrying a fuse cartridge, said cartridge having terminal engaging elements, a tube joining said engaging elements and having an open lower end, a fuse connecting the engaging elements having one portion in the tube and an external portion outside of the tube, said external portion being surrounded by a portion compos ing said tube and a portion associated with said door.

3. A switch comprising a box carrying line terminals therein, a door for the box carrying a fuse cartridge, said cartridge having terminal engaging elements, a tube joining said engaging elements and having an open lower end, a fuse connecting the engaging elements having one portion in the tube and an external portion outside of the tube, said external portion being surrounded by a por- 109 tion composing said tube and a portion associated with said door and an opening in said box adapted to permit ejection of gases.

4. A switch comprising a box and a movable door therefor, said door carrying a tubular cartridge adapted to make electrical connections within the box, a bent fuse having one portion within the cartridge and a second portion externally thereof, said external portion being substantially surrounded by a por- 110 tion of the cartridge and a portion associated with said door.

5. A switch comprising a box and a movable door therefor, said door carrying a tubular cartridge adapted to make electrical connec-tions wit-hin the box, a fuse having one portion within the cartridge and a second p ortion externally thereof, said external portion being substantially surrounded by a portion of the cartridge and a portion associated 129 with said door.

' 6. A switch comprising a box and a movable door therefor, said door carrying a tubular cartridge adapted to make electrical connections within the box, a bent fuse joining 'said electrical connections having one portion within the cartridge and a second portion externally thereof, said external portion being substantially surrounded by a portion of the cartridge and a portion associated im with said door and an opening between the portion being formed by engagement between box and said door through which-ejections the cartridge and the support. 10 from said cartridge and material from said In testimony whereof, we-have signed our surrounding portion are adapted to pass. names to this specification this 14th day of 7. A support for fuse cartridges having October, 1927. fuses with. at least one internal leg and one l external leg, comprising an enclosed portion LESTER PIERCE BOLL. surrounding said external leg, said enclosed ARNOLD CLEMENT HANSEN, JR.

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