US1729538A - Electric switch gear - Google Patents

Description

l p 1929., F. COATES ET AL ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR Filed July 6 v 1926 8 Sheets-$heet l p F. COATES ET AL ,538

ELECTRIC SWITCH C- EAR Filed July 6, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 p 1929- F cwm'zzs ET AL 1,729,538

ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR Filed July 6, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 N N4 N3 p 1929 F. coATEs ET AL I 1,729,538

ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR Filed July 6, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT'OK Sep 1 F. COATES ET AL 1,729,538

ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR Filed July 6, 1926 I 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Sept. 24, 1929. F. COATES ET AL 1,729,538

ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR Filed July 1926 8 She ets-Sheet 6 NVE/VTDW Sept. 24, 1929. F. COATES ET AL 1,729,538

ELECTRIC SWITCH GEAR Filed July 6, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 U H F/GJ/j p 1929- F. COATES ET AL v 1,729,538

ELECTRIC- SWITCH GEAR Filed July 6, 1926 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 Patented Sept. 24, 1929 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE I FRANK COATES, OF CLEADON, AND JAMES MIR/REY, OF EAST BOLDON, ENGLAND,

ASSIGNQRS TO A. REYROLLE & COMPANY LIMITED, F HEBBURN-ON-TYNE, ENG- LAND, A COMPANY OF GREAT BRITAIN ELECTRIC swrrcn snare Application filed July 6, 1926, Serial No. 120,860, and in Great Britain August 10, 1925.

This invention relates to electric switch gear and has for its object to provide a simple and convenient form of operating mechanism for a group of oil switch panels.

According to the present invention means are provided for selectively operatmg two or more oil-immersed switches from an electric motor or other driving unit common to all the switches. Thus each switch is provided with its own actuating mechanism which can be brought by the selecting means into operative engagement with the driving unit or with a common driving member energized thereby.

Preferably energy received from the elec tric motor or other driving unit is stored in a spring or other device and is released therefrom for the selective operation, of the switches. There may be one energystoring device common to all the switches, or alternatively each switch may have its own energy-storing device, all the devices being energized from the common driving unit. The invention maybe carried into practice in various ways but some alternative arrangements according thereto are illustrated byway of example in the accompanying drawings, in which Figures 1% respectively show a side elevation, a front elevation, a plan (partly in section on the line 3-3 of Figure 1) and a detail view of one arrangement,

' Figures 5 and 6 illustrate a modification of this arrangement,

F i 'ures 7 and 8 respectively show a front elevation and a plan of an alternative arrangement, i

. Figures 9 and 10 respectively show a front elevation (partly in section) and a section on the line 1010 of Figure 9 of a further arrangement, I

Figuresll and .12 illustrate a further alternative arrangement, and

' Figures 13 and 14: are diagrammatic views indicating the general arrangement of the switchgear andthe electrical circuits.

In all the arrangements illustrated, each of the metal-clad oil-immersed switches is provided with actuating mechanism compris- 'tuating mechanism may be employed.

ing a movable rack engaging with a pinion on a shaft, rotation of which against the action of a spring acts to close the switch, the spring being provided for the purpose of opening the switch when separate tripping mechanism is operated. The details of this arrangement will be described later with reference to Figures 13 and 14. It will be understood however that other forms of ac- In the arrangement of Figures 1%: the power necessary for closing the switches is supplied from an electric motor A through reduction gearing A A A to a gear wheel B carried on a sleeve B which can be coupled (by means of a magneticor other electrically-operated clutch B to a main driving shaft G common to all the switches. The clutch B is preferably operated electrically by means of a governor (indicated at A on the shaft of the motor A, so'that the sleeve 13 is clutched to the driving shaft G when the motor attains full speed.

The main driving shaft C carries a number of gear wheels C (one for each switch) which mesh with other gear wheels C respectively forming part of individual operating mechanisms for the switches. These individual mechanisms are similar to one another, and for the sake of simplicity only one such mechanism is shown in the drawings. This mechanism comprises in addition to the gear wheel G a slotted link D pivoted eccent-rically (at D to a disc C carried by thegear wheel. A rac E mounted to slide 85 vertically on guide rollers'lii carries a pin E which engages in the slot D of the link D. This rack E forms the primary member of the switch-actuating mechanism and engages with a pinion E on the switch-actuating 90 shaft E Thus when the driving shaft C is rotating the link D is reciprocated past the pin E and the slot D is made of such a length that normally the pin will not be moved.

Pivoted at F to the end of the link D is a catch lever F (see Figure 4) controlled by a solenoid F This catch lever F is so arranged that it will move over (when the solenoid is energized) and cover the lower part 0 of the slot D thus reducing the length of the slot. The catch lever is normally held in its inoperative position by means of a spring F Means such as a doubly threaded nut D are preferably provided whereby the length of the link D may be adjusted. If desired, a spring D may be provided between the link D and its pivot D to cover small inaccuracies in adjustment.

In operation when it is desired to .close a selected switch, the motor A is started and run up to full speed. Before full-speed is reached the solenoid F associated with the selectedswitch is energized and moves its catch lever F over to close part of the slot D in the link D. When full speed is reached, the motor clutch B is closed, and the driving shaft C is rotated to drive the gear wheels C C and cause the slotted links D to reciprocate. In the case of the selected switch, the reciprocation of the link D and its catch lever F will move the pin E and the rack E and will thus drive the actuating mechanism to close the switch. For all the other switches the reciprocation of the slotted links D will have no effect on the pins E and these switches will therefore remain unaffected. When the selected switch has been closed, its solenoid F and the motor clutch B are deenergized and the motor is stopped. The whole mechanism is now ready for the operation of another switch when required. The opening of the switch is effected by tripping mechanism in the usual manner, and, apart from the fact that it will bring the rack E and the pin E back into its original position relative to the slotted link D, it will have no effect on the closing mechanism described.

A modification of this construction is illustrated in Figures 5 and 6. "In this modi fication the arrangement of the motor and gearing is the same as that in the construction of Figures 1-4 (the same reference letters being employed), with the exception that the magnetic clutch B is dispensed with and the gear wheel B is directly mounted on the main driving shaft C. As before the main shaft C carries a numberof gear wheels C meshing with gear wheels Gr respectively forming part of similar individual operating mechanisms for the switches. The gear wheel G is connected through an electricallyoperated clutch to a disc G Any convenient form of electrically-operated clutch (such for example as a magnetic clutch) may be employed, but as illustrated the clutch G is of the expanding ring type actuated through a collar G and forked lever G by a solenoid G Pivoted eccentrically at H to the disc G is a slotted link H (which may be provided as in the previous construction with an adjusting nut. H and spring H Within the slot H of this link H a pin J engages, which is carried by a rack J movable in guide rollers J this rack serving to actuate a pinion J 3 on the switch-actuating shaft J". The slot H in the link H is only half the length of the corresponding slot in the previous construction, and the solenoid operated catch lever is dispensed with. Y

In operation when it is desired to close a selected switch, the motor is started and run up to full speed. TVhen full speed it attained the solenoid Gr associated with the selected switch is energized to operate the clutch G so that for this switch the rotation of the driving shaft C causes the reciprocation of the link H, which causes the rack J to drive the switch-actuating mechanism and thereby to close the switch. The other switches re main unaffected by the rotation of the driving shaft C. When the switch has been closed, the shaft C continues to rotate for a half-revolution, and the solenoid G is deenergized and the motor is stopped, so that the mechanism is ready for the closing of other switches when required. As in the previous arrangement the tripping of the switch does not affect the closing mechanism apart from the fact that it causes the rack J to move down again until the pin J reaches the bottom of the slot H Figures 7 and 8 show a further alternative arrangement. In this instance a motor K is connected through a clutch K operated by a solenoid K to a worm K meshing with a worm wheel K*. The shaft K of this worm wheel carries two pinions K which mesh with gear wheels L. Each of the two gear wheels L has eccentrically pivoted to it at L one end of a link L whose other end is connected through balanced springs L (provided for the purpose of covering small inaccuracies in the length of the link L to a pin L This pin L passes through a pair of parallel driving bars M, which are common to all the switches. To allow for lack of alignment between the various switches, the driving bars M are preferably made in sections, swivelling connections M being provided bet-ween adjacentsections. The parallel bars M are carried between guide rollers (not shown). Thus when the solenoid K is energized the motor K drives the gear wheels Lin the direction of the arrow shown in Figure 7 and thus causes the reciprocation of the parallel driving bars M.

The driving bars M have pivoted to them a number of arms N, one for each switch, each arm being moved by a stirrup N controlled by a solenoid N Thus when the solenoid N is energized, the arm N is lifted from the po sition shown in dotted lines in Figure 7 into the operative position (shown in full lines), 1

in which its end abuts against the end of a rack N supported on rollers N*. This rack N forms the primary member of the switchactuating mechanism and engages with a pinion N on the switch-actuating shaft N selected switch, the motor K is started and run up to full speed, and the solenoid N associ ted with the selected switch is energized. The energization of the solenoid N brings the selected arm N into its operative position, so that when the solenoid K is energized to close the motor clutch K the driving bars M will be reciprocated and will drive the rack N to close the selected switch. The other switches will remain unaffected since the arms N associated with them will reciprocate underneath the corresponding racks without touching them. WVhen the switch has been closed, the mechanism is allowed to run for another half-revolution of the gear wheels L in order to bring the driving bars M back to their original positions, and the solenoids K and N are deenergized and the motor stopped. The apparatus is now ready for the closing of other switches when required. As in the previous constructions the only effect on the closing mechanism of opening the switch by means of the usual tripping mechanism is to move the rack N back to its original position ready for reclosing.

In the foregoing arrangements the switches are selectively closed by what may be described as direct operation from a motor. In many instances, however, it is preferable to employ the motor for the purpose of setting an energy-storing device, the energy being released from this device when required for the purpose of closing the selected switch. In this case two alternative arrangements may be employed, in one'of which a .single energy-storing device common to all the'switches is employed, Whilst in the other each switch is provided with its own energy-storing device, all the devices being set from a single source of power.

Figures 9 and 10 show a convenient arrangement in the case when a single energystoring device is employed. In this construction an electric motor(), which is preferably provided with an electrically controlled friction brake indicated at O acts through worm reduction gearing O O on a pair of gear wheels 0 each provided with cranks 0 Each crank O is provided with a connecting rod 0, the two connecting rods being rigidly attached to a cylindrical barrel P containing a spring P. This spring is held between the cover P of the barrel and a plunger P which carries a rod P passing through the cover P At its upper end this rod P is pivoted to a' toothed sector Q, mounted'on a spindle Q carrying a crank Q? connected by a link Q, to a two-armed lever Q}, which is in turn connected to a pair of toggle levers Q controlled by a further pair of toggle levers Q actuated by a solenoid Q].

The toothed sector Q meshes witha rack R carried by a pair of parallel driying bars B. These driving bars R are formed in sections connected-together and extend across the whole group of switches, only one section associated with one switch being shown in the drawings for the sake of simplicity. The driving bars R are supported on rollers R running in fixed guides R These driving bars B have pivoted to them a number of arms S, one foreach switch. Each arm S can be lifted from an inoperative position into the operative position shown in the drawings by means of a stirrup S actuated by a solenoid S In the operative position the end of the arm abuts against a'rack S sup ported on rollers S running in guides S this rack meshing with a pinion S mounted on the switch-actuating shaft S.

In operation, the spring P is normally maintained compressed (as shown), and when it is desired to close a selected switch, the appropriate solenoid S is energized to raise its arm S into the operative position. The toggle-actuating solenoid Q, is then energized to break the toggle and thus to release the spring P, which expands and pulls over the toothed sector Q, to drive the parallel driving bars R. The movement of the bars R causes the arm S associated with the selected switch to drive its rack S and thereby to close the selected switch. The other switches remain unaffected since the arms S associated with them move underneath the correspond ing racks and do not touch them. When the selected switch is closed, suitable auxiliary switch mechanism is operated to release the motor brake O and start up the motor 0, the solenoids Q, and S being deenergized.

The motor then drives the cranks O to raise the barrel P This pushes the sector Q, back to its original position, the driving bars R also moving back, and the toggles Q and Q, are reset thus holding the sector Q, in this position. Further rotation of the cranks 0 into the position shown brings the barrel P down again and thus again compresses the spring ready for further switch-actuation when required. The motor 0 is stopped and the brake 0 applied when this position is reached. The opening of the switch by the unusual tripping mechanism will have no effect on this closing mechanism, except for the fact that it will bring the rack- S back to its original position.

Figures 11 and 12 show an arrangement in which a separate energy-storing device is provided for each switch. In this construction an electric motor T drives through reduction gearing T a driving shaft T common to all the switches. This shaft T carries a number of gear wheels T one for each switch, and each of these gear wheels meshes with a second gear wheel T driving a crank arm T to which is pivoted one end of a slotted link T.- The energy-storing device provided for" cylindrical barrel U this plunger being connected by a rod U and links U with a pin U engaging in the slot T of the link T.

The slot T is of such a length that normally the link T will slide over the pin U during rotation of the crank arm T without moving the pin. A catch lever T controlled by a solenoid T is pivoted to the link T and is so arranged that, when the solenoid is energized, it moves to cover part of the slot T When the catch lever T is thus moved into its operative position, rotation of the crank arm T will cause the pin U to be moved to compress the spring U; The spring is held in the compressed condition by means of toggle levers U connected to a rack U carried by the links U*, these toggle levers being controlled by a further pair of toggle levers U actuated by a solenoid U. The rack U meshes wit-h a pinion V on a shaft V carrying a clutch member V provided with a recess V A second clutch member V provided with a tooth V cooperating with the'recess V is keyed to the switch-actuating shaft V a spring V being provided which tends to hold the two clutch members in engagement.

The drawings show the apparatus in position when the switch has just been closed. As soon as the switch is closed, the solenoid T is energized to move the catch lever T into the operative position, in which it covers part of the slot T and the motor T is started up for the purpose of compressing the spring U, the toggle mechanisms U and U being reset by the movement of the rack U. During this movement of the rack, the clutch member V "rotates through part of a revolution, the tooth V being forced out of the recess Y After the crank arm T has made one complete revolution the motor is stopped and the solenoid T is deenergized. The mechanism remains in this condition until the switch is opened by the usual tripping mechanism. This opening of the switch causes the rotation of the shaft V just far enough to bringthe tooth V again into engagement with the recess V The mechanism is nowTeady forthe reclosing of the switch when required. The closing of the switch is brought about by energizing the solenoid U. This has the effect of breaking the toggles U U and thereby of releasing the spring U to drive the switch actuating shaft V". As has been mentioned the spring is at once reset when the switch has been closed.

Figures 13 and 14 are diagrammatic views of the general arrangement of one of the switches and serve to show one convenient manner in which the rack-operated shaft (referred to in each of the constructions above described) actuates the switch. Figure 13 also indicates by way of example the electrical circuits employed with the construction of'Figures 9 and 10. It will be clear that this arrangement of circuits can be readily modified to suit the other constructions.

The three-phase switchgear of the horizon draw-out type shown in Figures 13 and 14 comprises a draw-out portion WV which can be moved for example on rollers Vi rela-. tive to a fixed portion The fixed portion carries two rows of sockets, three in each row, the sockets W of the upper row being connected respectively to the three busbars Vi in a busbar chamber lVf whilst the sockets W. of the lower row are connected to a feeder or transformer in the usual manner. The hood W of the draw-out portion W carries two rows of plugs cooperating with these sockets, the plugs of the upper row being respectively connected to the three fixed phase-contacts of the main switch contained in the oil tank WV, whilst the plugs of the lower row are connected to the other three fixed phase-contacts WV of the main switch. The three movable phasecontacts WV of the main switch are all carried on a bar W supported on two ropes W, by which the switch is operated. These ropes are connected to the ends of a spindle X carried by lever arms X fixed on a shaft X The spindle X also carries two short arms X each having a roller X at its end. Each roller X cooperates with a recess 9 in a cam-shaped block X l'otatably mounted on a spindle X carried on the ends of cranks X on a shaft X, which .is mounted coaXially with the shaft X and is connected through bevel gearing X with a shaft X. This shaft X engages through a sliding connection X, when the draw-out portion is racked in, with the shaft S, part of which is shown in Figure 10 (or with the shaft E" of Figures 14, or the shaft J 4 of Figures 5 and 6, or the shaft N of Figures 7 and 8 or the shaft V of Figures 11 and 12). This shaft S (or E or J or N or V) is mounted on the fixed portion of the gear and is provided with a spring X which tends to rotate it in a direction to open the main switch. Each cam-shaped block X carries an arm X which is held in position by means of a toggle mechanism X. A springcontrolled catch lever X is provided on one of the crank arms X to cooperate with a fixed stop X when the mechanism has been moved into the switch closed position.

Thus when the shaft S is, rotated in the manner previously described for the purpose of closing the switch, its motion is transmitted to the shaft X, which causes the cranks X to push the arms X (the rollers X being at this stage in engagement in the recesses in the cam-shaped blocks X which are held in position by the toggle mechanism X and thus to move the spindle X and theropes' 1V to close the switch, the lever arms X be ing held in position with the switch closed by the toggle mechanism X and by the enstop X When the switch is to be opened,

tripping mechanism (not shown) acts to lift the catch le-v'er X and to break the toggle X thereby allowing the rollers X to move out of the recesses, in the cam-shaped blocks X The switch contacts W thereupon open under the action of kick-off springs (not shown), the rollers X moving past the cam blocks X Owing to the action of the spring X, however, the shaft X and its crank X" also return into the position shown, the rollers X again falling into the recesses in the blocks X whilst the toggle mechanism X is reset. The switch is now in cond1t1on for reclosing when desired.

The shaft X carrles a crank Y which 1s connected by a link Y to one arm Y of a two-armed lever pivoted at Y The other arm Y of this lever carries at its end a pin Y engaging in a slot Y in the contact arm Y of an auxiliary change-over switch, this arm Y being pivoted at Y The contact arm Y cooperates with fixed auxiliary switch contacts Y Y. The contact arm Y and one of the fixed contacts Y are connected to plugs indicated at Y carried by the draw-out portion and cooperating with sockets in-the fixed portion, these sockets'being connected to leads Z Z The other fixed contact Y may be used for example for in dicating purposes. It will be seen that the leads Z Z, are connected together through the contact arm Y when the main switch is open, the circuit being broken when the main switch is closed. Y

The lead Z is connected through a selecting control switch Z to one of two control busbars Z whilst the lead Z passes to the solenoid S,, which controls the pivoted arm S (Figures 9 and 10), and thence to the other control busbars Z*. The selecting control switch Z is provided with a number of contacts, one associated with each of the switches to be controlled. Another lead from the control busbar Z passes to the contact arm Z of a change-over switchwhich cooperates with fixed contacts Z and Z. The contact Z is connected through the toggle-controlling solenoid Q (Figure 9)' and through a control switchZ to the other busbar Z this switchzz being so interlocked with the switch Z that it cannot be closed unless the switch Z is closed. The other contact Z"- is connected to the busbar Z through the motor 0 and the coil of the friction brake O in parallel to oneanother. The auxiliary switch Z Z" Z is operated through suitable mechanism by the toggle levers Q and by the motor crank '0 so that when the toggle Q is broken the contact arm Z will be moved over from the position shown into en agement with the contact Z whilst when t e motor crank O has com- O to a pivoted catch 0 whose finger 0 cooperates with a pin 0 on one of the gear wheels 0. Thus when the toggle Q is broken, the movement of the plate Q,

causes the contact arm Q to move over into engagement with the contact. Z. This brings the finger O on the catch O into the path of the pin 0 WVhen the toggle Q is reset the slot Q in the plate Q, moves past the pin Q, without affecting the contact arm Z When the motor cranks O are just about to complete their cycle, the pin 0 engages with the finger O and thereby acts through the link 0 to bring the contact arm Z back into engagement with the contact Z and also moves the pin Q, to the other end of the slot Q ready for the next operation.

The electrical circuits diagrammatically indicated in Figure 13 are shown in the condition corresponding to the openposition of the main switch. When it is desired to close the main switch, the selecting control switch Z is moved into the appropriate position. This completes the circuit (through the auxiliary switch contact arm Y") to the solenoid S which thereupon lifts the arm S into the operative position. The control switch Z is then closed. This completes the circuit to the solenoid Q] Which breaks the toggles Q Q, and thus releases the spring to close the switch thereby deenergizing the solenoid S The breaking of the toggles Q Q, causes the auxiliary switch contact arm Z to move over into engagement with the contact Z thus deenerglzing the solenoid Q], releasing the brake O and starting up the motor 0. This lifts the spring barrel P to reset the spring and also to reset the toggles O 0. As the spring barrel approaches its bottom position, the auxiliary switch Z Z Z is changed over to stop the motor and apply the brake (the control switch Z meanwhile having been opened). The apparatus is now ready for further switch actuation when required.

It Will be appreciated that although the various arrangements have been described with reference to the operation of one selected switch,jthey areequally applicable to the case when two or more selected switches are to be simultaneously operated. Thus I solenoids (instead of one as described) will allow the simultaneous closing of the corresponding switches. Again in the case where each switch has its own energy-storing device, two or more of such devices may be simultaneously released to close the corresponding switches, and these devices may be simultaneously re-energized by the common motor.

It will be understood that the various arrangements more particularly described have been given by way of example only and that modifications may be made without departing it'rom the scope of the invention. Thus, for instance, other forms of energy-storing devices may be employed instead of springs such as falling weights. Again the power for setting the energy-storing devices or for directly operating the switches may be obtained from a source other than an electric motor, and in some cases it may be desirable to set the energy-storing devices by hand.

lVhat we claim as our invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent is 1. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-immersed switches, an actuating mechanism for each switch, an electric motor, a common driving member for the actuating mechanisms, a device for storing energy received from the electric motor, means whereby the energy released from the energy-storing device is utilized to drive the common driving member, and means for selectively bringing the actuating mechanisms into operative engagement with the driving member.

2. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-immersed switches, an actuating mechanism for each switch, an electric motor, a common driving member for the actuating mechanisms comprising a longitudinally movable bar, means whereby power derived from the electric motor is utilized to move the bar longitudinally, a plurality of arms pivoted to the longitudinally movable bar and associated one with each switch, and means whereby the arms can be selectively moved into operative engagement with the individual switch-actuating mechanisms.

3. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-immersedswitches, an actuating mechanism for each switch, a driving unit, a common driving member for the actuating mechanisms comprising a longitudinally movable bar, a device for storing energy received from the driving unit, means whereby the energy released from the energystoring device is utilized to move the bar longitudinally, a plurality of arms pivoted to the longitudinally movable bar and associated one with each switch, and means whereby the arms can be selectively moved into operative engagement with the individual switchactuating mechanisms.

4. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oilmmersed switches, an actuating mechanism for each switch, a driving unit, a common driving member for the actuating mechanisms, means whereby power derived from the driving unit is utilized to drive the common driving member, a plurality of selecting electromagnets one for each switch, and a device associated with each electromagnet and acting when operated thereby to bring the common driving member into operative engagement with the corresponding switch-actuating mechanism whereby movement of the common driving member will cause the closing of the selected switch.

5. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-immersed switches, an actuating mechanism for each switch, a driving unit, a common driving member for the actuating mechanisms, a device for storing energy received from the driving unit, a plurality of selecting electromagnets one for each switch, means associated with each electromagnet whereby when the electromagnet is energized the common driving member is brought into operative engagement with the corresponding switch-actuating mechanism, and means for releasing the energy from the energy-storing device to drive the common driving member and thereby to close the selected switch.

6. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-immersed switches, an actuating mechanism for each switch, a driving unit, a longitudinally movable bar common to all the actuating mechanisms, means whereby power derived from the driving unit is utilized to move the bar longitudinally, a plurality of arms pivoted to the bar and associated one with each switch, and an electromagnet associated with each arm and acting when energized to move the arm into operative engagement with the corresponding switch-actuating mechanism.

7. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-immersed switches, an actuating mechanism for each switch, a common driving member for the actuating mech-. anisms, a spring, means for stressing the spring and holding it in its stressed condition, means for releasing the spring whereby it can drive the common driving member, and means for selectively bringing the actuating mechanisms into operative engagement with the common driving member.

8. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-imm arsed switches, an actuating mechanism for each switch, a longitudinally movable bar common to all the actuating mechanisms, a spring, an operative driving connection between the spring and the bar means for stressing the spring and for holding it in its stressed condition, electromagnetically-operated means for releasing the spring whereby the bar is moved longitudinally, and electromagnetically-Operated means for bringing the longitudinally movable bar into operative engagement with a selected switch-actuating mechanism.

9. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-immersed switches, an

actuating mechanism for each switch, a

longitudinally movable bar common to all the actuating mechanisms, a spring, an operative driving connection between the spring and the bar, an electric motor serving to supply the power for stressing the spring, a toggle mechanism for holding the springin its stressed condition, an electromagnetfor collapsing the toggle mechanism and thereby releasing the energy stored in the spring to move the bar longitudinally, a plurality of arms pivoted to the bar and one associated with each switch, and a selecting electromagnet associated with each arm and acting when energized to move the arm intov operative engagement with the corresponding switch-actuating mechanism.

10. In electric switchgear, the combination of a plurality of oil-immersed switches, a

driving unit common to all the switches, a device for storing energy received from the driving unit, means for holding the energy stored in the device, means for releasing the stored energy whereby the switches are se- ,lectively, closed, and means whereby after the closing of'a selected switch the driving unit is caused to reset the energy-storing de vice ready for furtherswitch-closing.

11. In electric switchgear, the combination with the features set forth in claim 1 of auxiliary switch mechanism whereby after the operation of a selected-switch the electric motor is caused to reset the energy-storing device ready for further switch-actuation.

12. In electric switchgear, the combination with the features set forth in claim 5, of auxiliary switch mechanism acting when a selected oil-immersed switch is" closed to break the circuit to the corresponding selecting electromagnet and to make a circuit switch is closed to ole-energize the electro magnetic selecting and energy-releasing means and to make a circuit which causes the electric motor to reset the energy-store ing device ready for further switch-actuation.

1 1. In electric switchgear the combination of a plurality of oil-immersed switches, an electric motor common to all the switches, a device for storing energy received from the electric motor, means for holding the energy stored in the device, electromagnetic means for selecting an individual switch and for releasing energy from the energy-storing device to close the selected switch, control switch mechanism operable at will for controlling the circuits to the electromagnetic selecting and energy releasing means, and auxiliary switch mechanism automatically operated after the operation of a selected switch to break such circuits.

15. In electric switchgear, the combination with the features set forth in claim 9, of control switches operable at will for controlling the circuits to the toggle-controlling electromagnet and to the selecting electromagnets, and auxiliary switches automatically operated when a selected switch is closed to break such circuits and to make a circuit to the electric motor whereby the motor is caused to reset the spring.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification.

FRANK COATES. JAMES MIRREY.

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