US1792896A - Disconnecting switch - Google Patents

Description

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3 Sheet -Sheet l A. M. DE BELLIS ET AL DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Aug. 26, 1926 Feb. 17, 1931.

Feb. 17, 1931. A. M. DE BELLIS ET AL 3 5 Q I DI SCONNECTING SWITCH med Aug. 2a, 1926 s Sheets-$heet 2 :4. W I BY ll %@TT0RNEYS.

INVENTORS Feb. 17, 1931. A. M. DE BELLIS ET AL 1,792,896

DISCONNECTING SWITCH Filed Aug. 26, 1926 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 77 hf a 7 BY M A TTQRNZYS.

INVENTOR5 Patented Feb. 17, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE A no in. DE BELLIS, or SUMMIT, NEW JERSEY,'AND WALLACE .B. KIRKE, or

v 'BRONXVILLE, NEW YORK DISCONNEGTING swrron' Application filed. August 26, 1926.. Serial no. 131,581.

Our invention relates particularly to dis connecting switches that are adapted for outdoor service to interrupt high-voltage transmission lines independently of the oil-im- B mersed or other indoor circuit breakers.

The principal object of the invention is to provide a switch of the character indicated which is of simple, and rugged construction, has but few parts, takes up but a minimum 1 amount of space, has no moving parts that are liable to be affected by weather. conditions so as to interfere with their operation, and is quick and reliable in operation. v The several features of the invention,

whereby the above mentioned and other objects may be attained, will be clearly'understood fromthe following description and accompanylngdrawlngs, 1n WhlCht ,Figu're'l 1S asectlonal elevation, taken on 1 the line 11 of Fig. 2, of a switch embodying the features of the invention in their preferred form, the switch being shown in closed position by full lines and in open position by broken lines, and the supporting structure for the switch being indicated by broken lines;

Fig. 2 is a sectional elevation, taken on' the line 22 of Fig. 1, with the movable switch member shown in partly open position and with parts broken away; n

Fig. 3 is aplan view of the switch with the movable switch member in the position shown in Fig. 2;"

Fig. 4: is a sectional view corresponding to the lower portion of Fig. 1' but showing'another form of operating mechanism forthe switch; and V I Fig. 51s a sectional elevation taken on the line 55 of Fig. 4. V

The switch as illustrated in the drawings is mounted on a horizontal base 2 which is made up of angle irons or beams and mounted upon a suitable supporting structure 4..

20 which are adapted to receive ablade 22 3O untilthey are separated a suflicient disand rigidly connected together to permit them to be swung simultaneously to move their upper ends toward and from the upper ends of the stationary columns 6. To provide for this, a depending ear 10 is secured to-the underside of the lowermost insulator of each column 8, and extends downwardly between upstanding cars 12 secured on the switch base 2. A square rock-shaft 14 extends through the ears 10 and 12 associated with both columns. The rock shaft is rigidly secured to the ears 10, and is pivotally mounted in the upstanding ears 12 by means ofsle'eves 13 on its ends that are mounted toturn in the ears 12. Upon turning the rockshaft 14 in the opposite directions, by means hereinafter described, the pair of columns 8 may be swung simultaneously about the axis of the shaft as desired. 1

A contact member 16 is secured on the upper end each of the columns "6, and a contact member 18 issecured on the upper end of each of the columns 8. Each contact member 16 is provided 'with upstanding clips on theopposedcontact member 18 when the 7 column carrying the latter member is swung inwardly; The contact members 16 have the 1 ends of line leads 24 connected therewith, re-

spectively; A-rigid tubular conductor 26 has its ends welded or otherwise firmly secured in apertures in the contact members 18 so as to electrically connect them, and also to secure them rigidly together. The contact members 16 are'pro vided with" arcing horns or rods 28 vertically arranged, and the contact members 18 are provided with arcing horns or rods 30 which are suitably inclined so as to cross the rods 28 substantially midway between their ends when the switch is closed M When the switch is closed, the movable cont-act blades 22 and the tubular conductor 26 bridge the gap between the line leads 24. Upon swinging the columns 8 outwardly to open the switch, as the blades 22 disengage from the stationary contact clips 20, thecircuit is made through the arcing horns 28 and tance to prevent the arcs from holding, thus breaking the circuit.

Any suitable means may be employed for operating the rock shaft 14 to open and close the switch. This operating means as shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3 comprises an arm 32 which has one end secured on the rock-shaft 14 and its other end pivotally connected with alink 34 which in turn has one end connected by a link or red 36 with the free end of an arm 38 secured on the upper end of a vertical shaft 40. This shaft 40 is adapted to be turned to open and close the switchand to be locked in open and closed position by means of a hand-operated lever 42 suitably connected with the lower end of the shaft. 7 Any desired number of similar switch units may be connected up so as to be simultaneously operated. Fig. 1 shows a link or rod 44 having one end connected with the rear end of the short link 34, the other end of the rod (not shown) being adapted to be connected with the forward end of the corresponding short link of the next switch unit.

Preferably, suitable counterbalancing means is employed for the movable insulator columns 8. As shown in Figs. 1 and 52-, the pivoted supporting ear or block 10 of each of the columns is provided with a depending arm 46, to the lower end of which is pivotally connected one end of a horizontal rod 48 that extends through guiding apertures in bearing plates 50 secured on the switch base 2. The rod 48 is provided with a centrally located collar 52, and counter-balancing springs 54 are coiled about the rod and interposed between opposite sides of said collar and the plates 50. p

The switchoperating mechanism illustrated in Figs. 4 and 5 comprises a segmental worm wheel 56 secured on the rock-shaft 14 and operatively engaged by a worm 58 se cured. on a shaft 60 which extends through bearings 62 on the sides of a housing 63 which encloses the worm and worm wheel. The forward end of the worm shaft 60 is connected by a suitable coupling 64 with the rear end of a shaft 66. The other end of this shaft (36 is connected with the upper end of a vertical shaft 68 by means of bevel gears 70 secured on said ends of the shafts, respectively. The lower end of the shaft 68 is connected with an operating shaft 72 by means of bevel gears 74 secured on said shafts. By turning this shaft 72 it will be apparent that the rock-shaft 14 may be operated to open and close the switch as desired, the worm and worm wheel connection serving to lock the movable insulator columns in the position moved. The operating shaft 7 2 may be operated by means of a hand wheel 76, or, if desired, it may be operated by means of an electric motor or other power operated means.

The housing 63 serves as a protecting covering for the segmental worm wheel and worm, and the bevel gears 70 and 74 are shown enclosed by similar housings 7 8.

Any desired number of switch units may be simultaneously operated by suitably connecting them with the worm shaft 60. In Fig. 4 a coupling 79 is shown connecting the rear end of the worm shaft 60 with ashaft SO, which in turn may be connected with the worm shaft of the next switch unit.

Instead of counter-balancing the insulator columns 8 by means of springs as .above described, this may be accomplished by means of weights 84 which are suitably mounted on the lower end of arms 86 having their upper ends secured on the rock-shaft 14.

From the foregoing it will be apparent that our improved switch permits quick operation and the double break insures high operating safety. The simplicity and ruggedness of construction particularly well adapts the switch for outdoor service in highvoltage transmission lines. There are no fiexible or swivel connections among the current .arrying parts of the switch and no operating mechanism above the insulators which would be liable to be affected by ice, and accurate adjustment of parts is not required. The tilting insulator columns, which are the only moving parts of the switch proper, are properly counterbalanced and are rigidly secured together at their lower ends by the operating shaft and at their upper ends by the conducting rod 26, and thus very little mechanical strain is placed upon them. Also, the operating mechanism is such as to permit a plurality of switch units to be connected to operate together without placing undue strain on any of the parts thereof which might cause the switches of the several phases to fail to operate at the same time.

As will be evident to those skilled in the art, our invention permits various modifications without departing from the spirit thereof or the scope of the appended claims.

What we claim is:

1. A switch of the class described for highvoltage lines having, in combination, two pairs of insulator columns, contact members mounted on corresponding ends of said columns, respectively, means for pivotally mounting the columns of one pair to permit them to be turned about a common axis adjacent to their other ends to move their contact members into and out of engagement with the contact members, respectively, of the other pair, and a member rigidly connecting the free ends of said movable columns and electrically connecting the contact members thereof.

2. A switch of the class described for high voltage lines having, in combination, two pairs of insulator columns, contact members respectively mounted on corresponding ends of said columns, a rod rigidly connecting said ends of one of said pairs and electrically connecting the contacts thereof, a shaft upon which the other end of the last-mentioned pair of columns are mounted and rigidly con nected, and means for turning said shaft to tip the pair of columns carried thereby to move their contacts into and out of engagement with the contacts mounted on the other pair of columns.

3. A switch of the class described for high voltage lines having, in combination, two

7 pairs of insulator columns arranged in generally upright position with the columns of the two pairs arranged opposite each other and spaced apart, contact members respectively mounted on the upper ends of said columns, means rigidly connecting the upper ends of the columns of one of said pairs and electrically connecting the contacts thereof, V

a shaft upon which the lower ends of the last mentioned columns are rigidly mounted, and means for turning said shaft to tip the pair of columns carried thereby to move their contacts into and out of engagement with the contacts mounted on the other pair of columns. V V

In testimony whereof, we have signed our names to this specification this 20th dayof August, 1926.

ALDO M. DE BELLIS. WALLACE B. KIRKE.

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