US1736369A - Electrical switching means - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 19, 1929. J. sAcHs ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS Filed July 29. 1922 Patented Nov. 19, 1929 PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH s'acrrs, or WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT ELECTRICAL SWITCHING MEANS Application filed July 29, 1922. Serial No. 578,339.

This invention relates to switch blocks, especially those switch and cut-out blocks which are designed to be used in connection with electrical meters and which are provided with means to facilitate testing of the meters.

A switch mechanism of the type to which the invention is particularly applicable comprises a base block and one or more main switches preferably of'the knife blade type and all on one face of the block. There is also provided a supplemental switch of similar or other type which is intended to be normally closed but which can be opened for special purposes, as for instance, the testing of a meter which may be connected with the switch mechanism.

.One of the objects of the invention is to provide in a switch of this type a switch blade operating means which is adapted and connected to move the main switch blade or blades in either direction and which is ada ted to ove the supplemental switch bla eonly int eclosing direction. This construction permits the main switch to be operated at will but it prevents the opening of the supplemental switch when the main switch 15 closed, and, when the supplemental switch has been once opened, it ensures its closing simultaneously with the closing of the main switch.

The invention is particularly serviceable when used in connection with those switches which areenclosed in cabinets or casings that are sealed so that they cannot be opened except by an authorized person, for instance by an inspector or meter tester. In accordance with the invention, when such a cabinet or casing is provided, the parts are so arranged with relation thereto that the main operating means is accessible from the outside of the casing and that the supplemental switch is accessible to be moved in the opening direction only when the casing is open. The invention however is not llmited to a switch enclosed in a casing for it is beneficial in any device where there is a main switch blade and an adjacent supplemental switch which is normally closed but which is capable of being opened for special purposes.

the walls 2 of a box in any suitable manner.

The said box is adapted to be opened, suitable means such as a pivoted cover 2 being provided for this purpose. The cover may be sealed in closed position. On the base shown are two electrical paths each comprising terminal contacts 3 and 4 adapted for connection with conductor wires and an interposed screw plug fuse 5. While the terminals 3 and 4 and the fuses 5 have been illustrated, it will be understood that these do i not necessarily constitute a part of the invention in its broader aspects. There are also one or more main electrical paths, and, as illustrated, there are two such paths each comprising terminal contacts 6 and 7 adapted for connection with conductor wires, and an interposed switch blade 8. The switch blades 8 are preferably pivotally mounted and preferably have their pivotal axes in alignment.

, For moving the main switch blades 8 there is provided a blade operating means which is preferably mounted independent-1y of any of the blades. When pivoted blades are used I prefer to make the operating means in the formof a crank rod or bail 11 which is pivotally mounted coaxially' with the pivots of the switch blades. When a casing is provided the crank rod is ordinarily pivoted'in apertures in the walls 2 of the casing and is extended at one side to provide" a handle 12- by which the rod 11 can beoperated fromplate 9 having a slot 10 therein through which the cranked portion of the rod 11 extends. When the handle is turned one way the crank rod swings the switch blades open and when the handle is turned theother way the switch blades are closed.

In addition to the switches comprising the contacts 6 and 7 and the blades 8, there is also provided at least one supplemental switch which is preferably but not necessarily similar in construction to the aforesaid switches and which as shown comprises terminal contacts 13 and 14 and an interposed switch blade 15. When the main switch blades 8 are pivoted as preferred, the switch blade 15 preferably has its pivotal axis in alignment with the axes of the blades 8 and it is adapted to be swung into and out of engagement with the contacts 13 and 14. WVhen the invention is embodied in a threewire switch block as illustrated the switch comprising'the contacts 13 and 14 and the blade 15 may form a part of the neutral electrical path across the block, but it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the use of the supplemental switch as a part of the neutral connection. The blade 15 is intended to be normally closed but under some circumstances, as for instance when the block is being used for meter testing purposes, it is necessary to open it. For this purpose the blade is provided with an insulating plate 16. This plate projects from the blade in such a manner that it may be used as a handle for opening the blade when desired, and it extends in such position that it is adapted to be engaged by the switch operating crank rod 11 when the handle is turned for closing the main switch blades. It will be seen that the insulating plate 16 constitutes a connection between the operating means andthe blade 15 adapted for moving the said blade in the closing direction but incapable of moving it in the opening direction. With this construction the supplemental or testing blade can never be left open with the main switch closed, for while the main switch may be opened and closed Without opening the supplemental blade, the main switch cannot be closed without closing the supplemental blade, and the-supplemental or testing blade can never be opened without first opening the main switch. As a result of this arrangement an inspector or tester cannot close the main switch and go away leaving the supplementalor testing blade open. a

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that there is a peculiar and novel relationship between the several switch parts and the enclosing casing. As already stated the casing is adapted to be sealed so as to serve to prevent unauthorized access to any of the parts contained therein. At the same time, however, the handle 12 is located outside of the casing so that the main switch or switches can be operated at any time without breaking the seal and opening the casing. The supplemental switch, however, is doubly protected against being unintentionally left open and against bein opened at all by unauthorized persons. y reason of the peculiar construction and relationship of the parts as already described the supplemental switch cannot be opened except when the main switches are opened, and it cannot be left open when the main switches are closed; and furthermore, by reason of the protective casing the supplemental switch cannot be opened even when the main switches are open, except by breaking the seal and opening the casing.

The invention claimed is 1. In a switch, the combination of a base block, a plurality of pairs of switch contacts on the block, a plurality of switch blades mounted on the block for independent movement and adapted upon bein so moved to respectively connect and isconnect the switch contacts of the several pairs, ablade operating means movably mounted independently of any of the switch blades, a connection between the operatin means and one blade adapted for moving t e said blade in either direction, and a connection between the operating means and another blade adapted for moving the said blade in the closing direction and incapable of moving it in the opening direction.

2. In a switch, the combination of a base block, a plurality of pairs of switch contacts on the block, a plurality of switch blades independently pivoted on the block for movement about aligned axes and adapted upon being so moved to respectively connect and disconnect the switch contacts of the several pairs, a blade operating crank rod pivotally mounted independently of any of the switch blades for movement coaxially therewith, a connection between the crank rod and one blade adapted for moving the said blade in either direction, and a connection between the crank rod and another blade adapted for moving the said blade in the closing irection and incapable ofmoving it in the opening direction.

3. In a switch, the combination of a base block, a plurality of pairs of switch contacts on the block, a plurality of switch blades independently pivoted on the block for movement about aligned axes and adapted upon being so moved to respectively connect and disconnect the switch contacts of the several pairs, a movably mounted blade operating means cooperating with all of the blades, and insulating members supplemental to the operating means and carried by the respective blades so as to be engageable by the o eratin means, the engagement of one mem er wit the operating means being such as to cause the movement of the corresponding blade in both directions and the engagement of another member with the operating means being such as to cause the movement of the corresponding blade in the closing direction .only.

4. In an enclosed switch mechanism, the combination of a casing having a movable cover, a block within the casing, a plurality of pairs of switch contacts on the block, a plurality of movable switch blades independently mounted on the block and adapted upon being moved to respectively connect and disconnect the switch contacts of the several pairs, means connected with one switch blade for manually moving the said blade-in either direction, the said means being inaccessible from the exterior of the casing when the easing cover is in closed position, and means-operable from the exterior of the casing for moving another blade in either direction and for moving the first said blade to its closed position and holding it in' such position whenever the second said blade is moved to or held in its closed position, the last said means being free from any connective relation with the first said blade tending to move it in the opening direction.

5. In an enclosed switch mechanism, the combination of a casing, a blockiwithin the casing, a pluralityiof pairs of switch contacts on the block, a plurality of switch blades -;independently pivoted on the block for movement about aligned axes and adapted upon being so moved to respectively connect and disconnect the switch contacts of the several pairs, a blade operating crank arm pivotally mounted coaxially with the switch blades in the walls of the casing at opposite sides of the block and operable from the ex terior of the casing, a connection between the crank arm and one blade adapted for mov-,

ing the said blade in either direction, and a connection between the crank arm and another blade adapted for moving the said blade in the closing direction and incapable of moving it in the opening direction.

6. An electrical service appliance comprising a casing, an insulating base mounted within the casing, wire attaching terminals connected by fusing means and wire attaching terminals connected by switching means mounted on the base and providin main current paths across the face of the ase, a bail supported by the casin and connected with said switchin means or opening and closing them, sai bail being actuated from the exterior of the casing, and wire attaching terminals mounted on the base and connected by a supplemental switch blade, the said supdisconnected e closing path of said ball whereby the openin movement of the bail opens the main switfiiing' means plemental switch bladeabein from but 1 ing below and in th JOSEPH SACHS.

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