US1784735A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

J. S. LAWSON ELECTRIC SWITCH Dec; 9, 1930.

Filed July 17,- 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR (7066 .5. Kawaon ATTORNEYS Dec. 9, 1930.

J. s. LAWSON ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed July 17, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR .J'Z 5. Lawson ATTORN EYS J. S. LAWSON ELECTRIC SWITCH Dec. 9, 1930.

Filed July 17, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 I INVENTOR '/&e2 5. lla/zason/ BY M ATTORNEYS J. S. LAWSON ELECTRIC SWITCH Dec. 9, 1930.

Filed July 17, 1925 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 1 I hue- .1 IH II =1 illllulll lllllllll INVENTOR .75 e Z .5. Zia/20.3072

ATTORNEYS Patented Dec. 9, 1930 UNITED i, STATES: PA-TE OFFIQE; I

JOEL s. LAWSON, OF- s'r. mums, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T03 MEMoo iiiueninnn-inorv s. MANUFACTURING COMPANY, mo, F NEWYORK-,.1\T;'Y., ATCO'RPORATION onznnw Application filed. July 1'7,

My invention relates to electric switches, and particularly to a switch capable of efficient service in an exposed or out-of-door installation in a highvoltage line.

Among the objects of my invention may be mentioned, first, a generally improved layout of the switch by which a' wide, quick; break is attained; secon d,means by which the cooperating contacts of the switch are housed againstthe elements both in open and closed circuit positions; third, contacts of improved construction; fourth,improved arcing horns; and fifth, various details 'of construction. which will be hereinafter described or appear in the accompanying drawings in which- Fig.1 is a side elevation of a switch in which my invention is embodied in one form;

' Fig. 2 is a plan view thereof;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged vertical section through the driving gear of the switch;

Fig. 1 is an enlarged horizontal section through the cooperating switch contacts;

Fig. 5 is a section on the line 5 5, Fig. 4; Fig. 6 is a plan View of a modified switch construction; I

Fig. 7 is a side elevation thereof.

The switch in both forms shown is designed for out-door installation in high voltage transmission lines, and fallsin the gen.- eral classof air break switches. A switch of this character is customarily located at the head of a tower, of which only the beam is shown, uponwhich the switchis secured." It will of course be understood that like switches are installed in each phase of. the power line,

and are operated in unison.

Secured in fixed position and suitably spaced apart on the beam 15 are fixed post insulators 16 and 17. Adjacent the latter but spaced further apart on the beam are swivelling post insulators 18 and 19. The foot pieces 20 of the latter are provided with downwardly extending studs 21 which pass through step bearings 22 secured to the beam 15. Attached to, and preferably integral with,'the foot pieces 2.0 of the insulators 18 and 19, are crank arms 23 and 24 connected together by the rod 25 to cause the insulators to rotate in unison. A second crank arm 26 secured to and also preferably integral with ELECTRIC SWITGH! 1925. Serial. No... 44,294.

the foot piece of the insulator 19,,b11textend} ing at an angle of approximately 90? to crank arm-23, is hinged to the switch actuat ing bar 27 (Fig.2). Upon, displacement of the bar 27 in the direction ofits length, the insulators 18.an d 19. are caused to rotate" in the same direction on their respective axes.

ment 33 meshing with the bevel gear 29..

Straddling the gear box and keyed tothe pro.- jecting ends'ofthe rock shaft 32 are the end fork members 34:. of the switch arm 35.

The gear box is provided with. a cover 36 which may be detachably connectedto the end walls of the gear box for ready removal incident to inspection, lubrication and repair of the gear elements. A strut37 extends from the gear box to the'head of the adjacent fixed insulator 17 to which it is secured, so that the insulator posts17 19 mutually steady and support each other. I

At the opposite end of the gear box is secured a terminal bracket 38 carrying a connector 39 to.wh ich the power cable i0. is

secured. A flexible. conductor-Z41 also se-' cured to. the connector SO-passes over the gear box cover to the switch arm35. Gross braces 42 between. the side members of the switch arm form al'attice through which the flexible conductor 41 is laced, and thus ii maintained in position. Preferably the flex ibleconductor comprises two. strands (Fig; 2) between which the line current is dis tributed. V r I Jointed at 43 to one end of thearm 35 is the contact-carrying extension 44 thereof. A radius. arm 45,.joined at 46 to the extension 44:, is hinged at 47 to the cap of the stationary insulator 17. -The radius armcar- I ries an arcing horn 48- which cooperates with the arcing horn 49 on opening of the switch.

Before describing further the details of certain of the switch elements, the general operation of the switchmay be pointed out. When the actuating bar 27 is shifted in the direction of the arrow (Fig. 2), it causes rotation of the insulators 18 and 19, and thus the rotation of the bevel gears 29. The meshing engagement of the segments 33 causes the switch arms 35 to swing upward. While thejeXtensions 44 partake bodily in the upward swing of arms 35, they form connecting links between these arms and the radius arms 45. The latter are of such length and their pivot points areso located, however, that the free ends of they extension links 44 at which the switch contacts are located, swingflto the downwardly inclined position indicated in broken lines. injFig. 1.- Upon the partingof the switchcon'tacts, the

current is transferred to thehorn members 48 and 49, which eventually part near their tips and sweep rapidly to upright or slightly past upright position, as indicated in broken lines in Fig. 1. The reverse dis-.

placement of the actuating bar 27 "returns the parts to the circuit-closing position illustrated I It is important that the switchcontacts be protected. against. accumulations of snow, sleet, etc. Forthis purpose I' surround the contacts with sleet hoods 50 and 51, respectively, connected to the ends of the extension links 44 and surrounding the respective con tacts. As noted from Figsr4 and v5 the hood 50 is largerjthan the hood 51, and embraces the open end of the latter in circuit-closing position. The engaging surfaces of the contacts are thus completely housed against the elements. In open circuit position the contacts hang downward, and the hoods form effective rain, snow and sleet sheds by which the parts are kept in proper condition-for reestablishment of the circuit when the coin tacts are again moved tocirc'uit-closin'g position. Y

The contacts (Figs. 4 and 5) are of an improved construction to obtain good electrical connection- One of the contactsconsists of a rigid blade 52, which may be integral with the lug 53 to which the terminals 54 of the. flexible conductors 41 are directly connected by screw bolts 55. Bolts 56 rigidly secure this contact and its associated members to the end of the link 44. The cooperating contact comprises a. pair of spring straps 57 having spaced parallel brushes 58 adapted to embrace between them the rigid contact blade 52, the brushes being connected by guide bevels 59 and spring bends 60 to their respective body members 57. Auxiliary plate springs 61 bear against the outer faces of the brushes 58 and aid the spring bends 60in effecting an-efficient frictional 2) are secured to-the free ends of the radius bars 45. One of the horn members, viz, 48, comprises a pair of independent rods, the

free ends of which 66 are offset in opposite directions'to guide the associated horn mem ber 49 into engagement therewith on theclosing of the switch. The'opposite ends of the rods are passed through angled flanges 67 at-the ends of the .opposite side members of the radius bars and securedat 68 thereto.

The cooperating horn member 49 has the form of a straight sided loop, the side rods of which are connected by a V-bridge 69, the rounded nose 70 1of which serves as an entering, wedge which aidsin properly locating this member with respect to the cooperating arms of the horn member48 when the circuit is closed. The horn members are in'electrical connection with the radius bars 45, and these in turn with the f'contact carrying extension 44 of the arm 35 through the bolt members 68which pass through both.

In Figs. 6 and 7,.is illustrated a modified switch construction which may be used to advantage in circuits. of lower voltage. In

this construction, the contact carrying link 75 is hinged at 76 to the arm 77 pivoted at 78 to a terminal bracket 79 carried by a clamp 80 at the top of a fixed insulator 81. The radius member which is pivoted at 82 to the link 75,

constitutes in this construction, the switch operating member.

the head of a rocking insulator 85, the base 86 of which is clamped to a rock shaft 87.

It comprises a bracket 83'secured to or integral with a clamp 84 at To the crank arm 88 of the latter is pivoted at 89 the, operating rod 90. A second crank arm9l is connected through link 92 with the crank arm 93 on the second crank shaft 94, upon which the corresponding insulator 85 and its associated parts 'are'mounted.

To open theswitch the bar 90 is pulled downward, thus causing the insulators 85 to 1. A high tension electric switch,.comprising a pair of'pivoted radius members inclined toward each other in closed circuit position, arcing horns carried by said radius members and engaging each other in circuit closing position, but moving upward and away from each other on movement of the radius arms to open circuit position, in combination with a toggle system comprising a contact arm connected to the radius arms and substantially horizontal in closed circuit position, but displaced to inclined position with the contact end downward on movement of the parts to open circuit position.

2. A high tension circuit breaker comprising two pivotally mounted contact members, arcing horns connected therewith, sleet hoods movable with and housing said contacts, said sleet hoods telescoping in closed circuit position of the contacts to protect the contacts, in combination with linkage mechanism to move said contacts between open and closed circuit position.

3. A high tension circuit breaker comprising two movable contact members, arcing horns connected therewith, sleet hoods housing said contacts and movable therewith, said sleet hoods telescoping in closed circuit position of said contacts to protect said contacts, in combination with means to move said contacts between open and closed circuit position and in open circuit position of said contacts to face said sleet hoods downwardly.

i. A high tension circuit breaker comprising two pivotally' mounted contact members, arcing horns connected therewith, sleet hoods housing said contacts and movable therewith, in combination with means to move said contacts between open and closed circuit position, said means moving said contacts in substantially a straight line path during the last portion of their closing movement whereby said sleet hoods may contacts.

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

JOEL S. LAWSON.

telescope to protect said

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