US1769563A

US1769563A - Isolated-phase-switching apparatus

Info

Publication number: US1769563A
Application number: US49441A
Authority: US
Inventors: Morris B Wood
Original assignee: Condit Electrical Manufacturing Corp
Current assignee: Condit Electrical Manufacturing Corp
Priority date: 1925-08-10
Filing date: 1925-08-10
Publication date: 1930-07-01
Anticipated expiration: 1947-07-01
Also published as: US1790689A

Description

July 1, 1930. M. B. woon 1,769,563

ISOLATED PHASE SWI'l-CHING APPARATUS Filed-Aug. 1o, 1925 Patented July 1, 1930 UNITED STATES PATENT oEFicE MORRIS B. WOOD, OF SOMERVILLE, MASSACHUSETTS, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE ASSIGN- MENTS, TO CONDIT ELECTRICAL MANUFACTURING CORPORATION, 0F BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF MASSACHUSETTS ISOLATED-PHASE-SWITCHING APPARATUS Application led August 10, 1925i. Serial No. 49,441.

This invention relates to isolated-phase distribution systems and switching apparatus therein and is intended as an improvement on the invention set forth in my copending application Serial No. 32,469, filed May 23, 1925. y

The electric switches of a multi-phase system arranged for phase-isolation are usually disposed at considerable distances, or are remotely disposed, from each other. yThe switches are usually mechanically inter-connected for conjoint operation by relatively long rods which extend between the switches.

Due to the relatively great length of the interconnecting rods between the switches, the mechanism is greatly influenced by temperature variations and expands and contracts to suoli a degree that its action is unreliable and that, at some times, the switches cannotbe moved into and held in completely closed condition and that, at other times, the switches open unexpectedly.

An object of this invention is the provision of switch-operating and inter-connecting mechanism so arranged that the switches can be closed, and held closed, and opened positively and conjointly, regardless of variations in the length Lof the inter-connecting mechanism due to temperature changes or othercauses. y

This object is attainedgenerally by having a lost motion connection and specifically a toggle having relatively long toggle members, interposed between the'switch mechanisms and the interconnecting mechanisms and so arranged that the toggle may be permitted a certain freedom of movement, due to the expansion and contraction of the ,interconnecting mechanism, while the 'switches are closed, and without detrimentallyaffecting the contact pressure between :y the fixed and movable switch members. Means are preferably provided to lock the switches releasably in closed position and the holding mechanism is arranged to permitthe aforesaid movement of the toggles withoutreleasing the lock on the switches. n

yA further `object is generally to improve tlie construction and operation of electric switches.

Fig. 1 is an elevation through a switchhouse arranged for phase isolation and equipped with mechanically inter-connected electric switches embodying the invention. l

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of one of the switches of Fig. l and illustrating the disposition of the mechanism in switch-closed position.

Fig. 3 is a detail of the mechanism of Fig. 2 in switch-open position. Y

Fig. 4 is a detail of the side elevation il'- lustrating particularly the holding and tripping mechanism for the switches.

As here shown, the invention is applied to the switches 10, each of which is associatedwith a phase of a multi-phase distribution system, and the switches are contained in isolated compartments oi cells 12 and spaced a considerable distance from each other, or are remotely disposed. rThe switches may be of any suitable type and are here shown as enclosed oilswitches, each of which is provided with an external electrically-actuated closing mechanism 14. The closing mechanisms of the switches may be identical and each may include a closing solenoid 16. The plunger 18 of the solenoid yis arranged to actuate a pivoted lever 20 which engages an arm 22 fixed to an operating shaft 24. The operating shaft is connected, through suitable mechanism forming a part of this invention, with switch operating mechanism which' is enclosed within the switch casing and which includes ashaft 26 extended through the casing and an arm 28 fixed to the external end of said shaft. The switches may be moved to open position in any suitable manner as by switch-opening springs 27, which springs encircle khorizontally movable rods 29 which are pivotally connected with said arms 28 and serve constantly to urge said arms in a switch opening direction towards the left,

`Fig. 1. The particular type ofswitch'here shown is similar to that shown in theChester D. Ainsworth Patent No. 1,574,531, dated February 23, 1926, which has a brush member that, when the switch is closed, is held in forcible engagement with a cooperating contact member.

The operating mechanisms of the switches are mechanically inter-connected for conjoint operation by suitable means as relatively long rods 30, which rods may be pivotally connected and supported by the upper arms of bell-crank levers 32. Insulators 3l may be interposed in said rods whereby electrically to isolate the mechanisms. The lower arms of said bell-crank levers are pivotally connected through links 36 with arms 38 fixed to said operating shafts 2l: of the operating mechanisms. Since each switch is provided with its own closing mechanism, the rods 30 serve mainly as a governingr mechanism to insure the simultaneous closing and opening of the switches although, if one of the closing solenoids fails to operate, power to close the switch associated with that solenoid will be transmitted through said rods from the other closing solenoids.

In accordance with this invention, the closing and interconnecting mechanisms are provided with means whereby said rods B() may expand and contract or otherwise alter in length without interfering with the proper functioningT of the switches; and said means includes thrust toggles which are interposed between the switches` and the interconnecting mechanism. Said arms 38 comprise members of t-he toggles and the cooperating toggle members comprise rods 40 which are pivoted to the ends of said arms 3S at i2 and are also pivoted at all to the lower ends of the arms QS of the s vitches and are adjustable in length between their pivotal connections. Preferably the links 36 of the interconnecting mechanism are pivoted to the common pivotal connection 42 between said toggle members. Said

arms

38 and 40 are preferably relatively long so that the pivotal connection 42 between the toggle members may have a substantial amount of vertical movement without imparting any detrimental amount of movement to the arms 28 of the switches. As thus arranged var' tions in length of said interconnecting rod 30 merely serve to move the toggles in a vertical direction without effecting an appreciable change of contact pressure between the stationary and movable current carrying components of the switches.

The toggles are preferably so arranged that they are normally offset in a switchopening direction from an on-center position or for upward movement from the switch-closed position illustrated in Fig. l. Excessive movement of the toggles in the opposite direction may be prevented by the engagement of the arms Q2 with the closing solenoid casing.

The weight of the connecting rods 30 and associated interconnecting mechanism may serve to hold the switches closed, even though said toggles are biased for opening movement. Preferably, however, the switches are held closed positively by means of a latch and tripping mechanism which preferably is disposed in the middle switch compartn'ient and associated with the interconnecting switch mechanism therein contained. The holding mechanism includes a latch 4G which is pivoted at its lower end to a bracket 18 and extends up\\f'ardly thereabove in a position rcleasably to engage some suitable part of thc mechanism, as a pivot pin 5() which connects the upper end of the link 36 with the lower arm of the bell crank lever Said latch is held yieldingly in the aforesaid relation by suitable means as the spring 52. The latch is so disposed that it permits movements of the mechanism due to temperature changes and yet prevents a` positive and undesired switch-opening movement thereof. Said latch is adapted to be removed from locking relation with the interconnecting mechanism and switches by means including an opening solenoid The plunger 5G of said solenoid is pivotally connected with one arm of a bell crank lever 58 the upper arm (3() of which is connected through a link (3Q with the latch 46. W'hen said solenoid is energized, the arm 60 of said bell crank lever' is moved towards the right whereby to move said latch 46 toward the right and thereby out of locking engagement with the link 36. Said solenoid 5i also serves to move the switch and interconnecting mechanisms positively in the switch opening direction. To this end, said arm G0 is adapted to engage an abutment member (3i-.t carried by the intermediate interconnecting rod 30 and move said rods in a switch-opening direction after the mechanism has been released for movement.

Said arm 60 is free from positive connection with said intermediate rod 30 whereby the switches may move to open position independently of the opening coil in its associated mechanism, after such movement has been initiated by the opening coil.

The structure may be otherwise modified without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

l. The combination of a plurality of re` motely disposed electric switches, mechanism interconnecting said switches for conjoint operation having such a length between switches as to be detrimentally affected by expansion and contraction, and means including switch-closing toggles interposed in said interconnecting mechanism at each switch, which toggles are so arranged as to absorb the movement of said mechanism due to temperature variations While maintaining the switches in their set circuit-controlling condition.

2. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electric switches, mechanism including relatively long rods interconnecting said switches and reci'procable along their lengths for conjoint operation of said switches, said rods having such lengths between switches as to be detrimentally affected by expansion and contraction, and means including switch-closing thrust toggles connecting said rods andkswitches arranged to absorb the movement of said rods due to temperature variations while maintaining the switches in their set circuit-controlling condition.

3. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electric switches, a separate electrically-actuated closing mechanism for each switch, and thermally-expansible mechanism mechanically inter-connecting said switches and said closing mechanisms including toggles connected with said interconnecting mechanism arranged to permit the movement of the switches into and hold them in completely closed position regardless of minor variations in the length of said inter-connecting mechanism.

V4. The combination of a plurality of remotely-disposed electric switches, means including a long rod inter-connecting said switches, and means including toggles in the connections between said rod and each switch arranged to provide for a substantial degree of movement of said rod due to the thermal expansion and contraction thereof beyond completely switch-closed position of the toggles without effectively moving the switches from completely closedposition.

5. The combination of a plurality of remotely-disposed electric switches having predetermined extents of movement between open and closed positions, interconnecting mechanism including a long rod extended between said switches and means including toggles connecting said rod and switches arranged to provide for a combined movement of said rod and switches into the completely closed positions of said switches and for a further movement of said rod and toggles alone without effectively moving said switches and while holding said switches closed.

6. The combination of a plurality ofy remotely disposed electric switches, independent electrical closing mechanism for each switch, mechanism interconnecting said switches for conjoint operation, and toggles interposed between said interconnecting mechanism and switches, said interconnecting mechanism arranged by its weight to hold said toggles in switch closed condition.

7. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electric switches biased for opening movement, operating thrust toggles connected at'one end'to said switches yfor closing them and holding them closed, and interconnecting mechanism extended between said switches and associated with and connected to the middle of said toggles and arranged by its weight to hold vsaid toggles and switches in switch-closed position.

8. The combination of a plurality of 'remotely disposedy electric switches, an electrically-actuated closing device for yeach switch, mechanism interconnecting sai-d switches arranged to operate them conjointly, means to hold said interconnecting mechanism in switch-closed condition while permitting a restricted amount of movement of said mechanism, and means to release said holding means and thence urge said switches positively in an opening direction.

' 9. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electric switches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to operate them conjointly, means to hold said interconnecting mechanism in switch closed condition while permitting a restricted amount of movement of said mechanism, and means common to all switches to release said holding means and thence ur e said interconnecting mechanism positive y in a switch-opening direction.

` 10. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electric switches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to operate them conjointly, means to hold said switches in closed condition while permitting a restricted amount of movement of said mechanism', and means having a loose connection with said interconnecting mechanism arranged to release said holding means and thence move saidl mechanism positively in a switch-opening direction. f

ll. The combination of a plurality of remotely disposed electric switches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to operate them conjointly,means acting on said mechanism to hold said switches in closed condition while permitting a restricted amount of movement of said mechanism, and means to release said holding means and thence urge saidswitches positively in an opening direction, said mechanism havin provision' for movement in a switch-opening direction independently of said urging means.

12. The combination of motely disposed electric switches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to operate them conjointly, means including a latch arranged to hold said mechanism and switches in switch-closed condition while permitting restrictedv movements of said mechanism, and means including a solenoid arranged to release said latchand thence urge saidv interconnecting mechanism positively in a switch-opening direction.

a plurality of re- 13. The combination of a plurality of electric switches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to open and close them conjoint-ly, means to hold said switches in closed condition, and means to release said holding means and also to urffe said switches positively in an opening cirection.

1l. The combination of a plurality of electric switches, mechanism interconnecting said switches arranged to operate them conjointly, means to hold said switches in closed condition, means to release said holding means, and means normally free from connection with said mechanism operable upon release of said holding means to urge said switches positively in an opening direction.

l5. rlhe combination of a plurality of remotely-disposed electric switches each having an electrically-actuated closing mechanism associated with it, means including thrust-toggles operatively connecting said closing mechanisms separately with said switches, and mechanism which interconnects said switches to insure simultaneous operation thereof through their respective closing mechanisms including long rods which are extended between said switches and have connections with said toggles whereby to assure the simultaneous operation thereof, said rods adapted to expand and contract due to temperature variations, which expansion and contraction effects a substantial movement of the toggle-joint,

- and said toggles each having at least one toggle-member which is so long that the aforesaid movement of the toggle-joint does not materially change the over-all length of the toggle and affect a change in the setting of the switch.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification.

MORRIS B. VOOD.