US1835228A - Switch and fuse box - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 8, 1931. J. C.-LEWIS SWITCH AND FUSE BOX Filed May 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 J6? Lewis Dec. 8, 1931. J C WI 1,835,228

SWITCH AND FUSE BOX Filed May 2, 1927 :5 Sheets-Sheet 2 I T i I as I J. C. LEWIS Dec. 8, 1931.

Filed May 2, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Dec. 8, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE aosErH d. LEWIS,IOF, MINERVA, OHIO, jnssmnon 'ro CHARLES W. KEPLINGER, 1m-

'CEIVEROF THE AMERICAN ELECTRIC SWITCH CORPORATION, or MINERVA, OHIO,

A eoRPoaA'non or DELAWARE swrrcn AND ruse BOX Application filed my 2,

The invention relates to entrance boxes suchias are ordinarily provided in residences a safety box so arranged that access to the fuseplugs canbe had only when the switch is in the open position, the fuse plugsbeing vcovered by a door which is held in locked position when the switch is closed, means being vprovldedto prevent closing of the door tion unless the cover to the fuse plugs locked, and to prevent moving the switch to stile-on position when it is desired to cut oil the electric service.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which 3 Figure 1 isian elevation of the-improved box with the door opened, showing the switch in closed position;

* Fig. 2, a perspective view of'the box, showing the doorzin closed position, the switch being shown in the on position and the cover to'the fuse plugs in locked position, parts ofsaid cover being broken away for the purpose of illustration shown in Fig. 2; I

Fig. 4, a. similar v1ew,'show1ng the switch in the open position and'thefuse plug cover locked, this being the position the parts assume when theelectric service is out 01f to the house, and 1 v -Fig.'5, a sectional View through the box, showing the switch in the open position and the fuse plug cover raised to permit access to the fuse plugs.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the drawings.

The box 1 is preferably made of sheet metal of any usual design and provided with the customary door 2 hinged to one side of the box as at 3 and provided at its other side with the pivoted catch 4 having a perforate ear 5 arranged to be located through the slot 6 formed in the perforated lug 7 upon the side wall of the box which is adapted to pro- 1927. "Serial 1%. 188-,168.

trade through the slot 8 in the door. -The usual seal may be located through the apertures 9 in thecatch 4 and lug '7 to seal the box in the customary manner.

An insulation block '10 may be fixed upon the bottom of the interior of the box 1, the

switch being mounted thereon. This switch may comprise the blades 11 pivoted as at 12 and adapted to contact with the jaws 13 also mounted. upon .the block and provided with the bindingposts 14. of the box when the switch is in closed .posia legends on and oif at opposite ends of the slot. v

The fuse plugs 21 are carried in sockets 22 formed in the porcelain block 23 which may be supported above the base block 10 as by v the legs 24.

This fuse block is so positioned that the fuse plugs will be displayed through the opening 25 in the door 2 when the door is closed. Binding posts 26 are provided upon the base block for the connection of wires.

A cover 27 is hinged as at 28 upon the door 2 and arranged to normally cover the fuse plugs 21 in orderto prevent access thereto. For the purpose of limiting the opening movement of-the cover 27, a stop arm 29 is fixed thereto and extended through an enlarged portion 30 in the slot 31 provided in the door, having its free end inturned as at 32 to engage the under side of the door 2 p to limit theopening mox ement of the cover as shown in Fig. 5.

The cover 27 is preferably provided with the rim flange 33 having a lip 34 at its free or swinging edge to permit the finger to be placed thereunder for opening the cover.

A locking plate 35 is slidably mounted upon the inside of the door near the swinging edge thereof. This plate may be pro vided with theelongated slots 36 engaged by the bolts 37 upon the door and is provided with the angular lip 38 extending through the slot 31 and arranged to be slidably engaged over the flange 33 of the'cover 27 when the cover is in closed position. The locking plate is provided with a depending flange 39 having the inclined ed es 4O and l at opposite ends, and provided with the notch 42 near the edge 40, and'adaptangular lip 38 engaging over the rim flange 33- of the cover 27 ,:holding said cover locked in closed position and preventing access to the enclosed fuse plugs 21. 1

- 3 In order to open the cover 27 to reach the fuse plugs, it is necessary to throw'the Handle 18'into the off position, opening the switch and sliding the locking plate 35 into the positionshownin Fig. 5, moving the lip 38 out' of'engagement with the rim flange 33 of the cover when the cover maybe raised as shown in said figure. Thus access can be had to the fuse plugs only when the switch is open, preventing a person from accidentally receiving an electric shock by touching thefuse plugs when the current is on.

WVhen the po'wer'company desires to shut foif the service, it is only necessary to open the door, 2, with the parts in the position shown in Figs. 2 and 3, then throw the switch to the off position and close the door. The v crank bar 17 will thus contact with the edge 4:0 of the flange upon the sliding locking plate,

preventing movement of the handle 18 toward the on position holding the switch in open position and the cover 27 locked in closed position. l It will, ofcourse, be'under'stood that the catch .4 will be moved into the locked position as shown in Fig. 2 and the usu'al'seal of the company placed through the apertures 9 in the catch 4 and ear 7. r 7 It will beseen that in theeventthe door 2 is opened with the locking plate in the posi' tion shown in'Fig'."5, should the switch be moved to the-on position, the door cannot be closedas the lower or inner edge of the range 39 will contact with the crank bar 17 andprevent closure of the door, making it necessary to first throw the switch to the olf'position before the door may be closed.

Shouldthe cover 27 be opened as shown in "Fig. '5, it will be seen that theswitch cannot be thrown" to the on position, as the angular lip 38 will contact with the stop arm 29, preventing movement of the switch han-' dle '18, and locking the switch in open position'.

From the above it will. be obvious that it is impossible to have the switch in closed position and the cover 27 unlocked at the same time, thus permitting access to the fuse plugs only when the current is turned off and making the switch box absolutely safe and fool proof. 3

I claim: V

1. A switch and fuse box provided with a door,-aswitch within the box, a fuse plug within the box,a c'ove'r hingedly mounted on thedoor and arranged to normally prevent access to the fuse plug, means for locking said cover, and means'preventing the closing of the door when the switch is closed and the cover unlocked. 1 I V 2. A switch and fuse box, a switch within the box, a fuse plug within the box, a coverhavmg a peripheral rim flange and arranged to normally prevent access to the fuse plug, and a sliding locking plate within the box operatively associated with the swit'chand having a lip extending outside of the box and arranged to slidably engage the rim flange of the cover.

3. Aswitch and fuse plug, an arm upon said'cover, and a lock for the cover operativelyassociated with the switch, said arnr arranged to prevent movement of the look when the cover 15 open.

5. A switch and fuse box, a switch within the box operating means for the switch, a fuse plug within the box, a cover arranged to normally prevent access to the fuse plug,'an arm upon the cover, a locking plate operatively associated with the switch and a lip upon the locking plate arranged to engage the cover andto contact with the arm toprevent movement of the locking plate and closing of the switch when the cover is open.

In testimony that I claim the above, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

JOSEPH G. Lewis;

I fuse box,a switch within the box, a fuse plug within the box,-aa-cover having a per pheralrim flange and arranged fuse-box, a switch within the box, a'fuse plug within the box, a cover arranged to normally-prevent access to the

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