US1928635A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

R E Y A M m E T S G A SWITCH Filed March 5, 1928 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 A. G. STEINMAYER 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 UN D", S

Patented a. 3, 1933 SWITCH Alwin G. Steinmayer, Milwaukee, Wis., assignor,

by mesne assignments, to' Line Material Company, South Milwaukee, Wis., a corporation of Delaware Application March 5, 1928. Serial No. 259,289

res PATENT orries 8 Claims.

. This invention relates to certain new and useful improvements in switches and refers more particularly to that type of switch especially designed for use in connection with high tension current. A general object of this invention is to improve the construction and operation of switches of the character described whereby their operation is hoodfout of its path during movement, to an en-' gaging and disengaging position.

.A further object of this invention resides in the provision of a switch of the character described in which a sleet hood covers the movable contact 29 while the same is in its disengaged position.

And a still further object of this invention resides in the provision'of an improved switch of the character described in which the construction of the arcing horns is improved.

With the above and other objects in view whic will appear as the description proceeds, my invention resides in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of parts substantially as hereinafter described and more particularly de fined by the appended claims, it being understood that such changes in the precise embodiment of the hereindisclosed invention may bemade as comewithin the scope of the claims.

In the accompanying drawings I have illustrated as one complete example of the physical embodiment of my invention constructed according to the best mode I have so far devised for the practical application of the principles thereof, and in which:

Figure 1 is a side view of the switch unit embodying my invention, parts thereof being broken away and in section; b

FigureZ is a view, taken through Figure 1 on the plane of the line 2 -2, a portion of the sleet hood being broken away; P 1

Figure 3 is an enlarged side view of the stationary contact and movable switch blade illustrating the position of the sleet hood and the means for raising the same out of the path of the blade; and

Figure 4 is a sectional view, taken through Figure 3 on the plane of the line 4-4.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings in which like numerals designate like parts throughout the several views, the numeral 5 designates a transverse beam, or support of the customary framework upon which switches of this character are mounted. The switch may be arranged in units of one or more to be operated simultaneously and inasmuch as all units are-identical, but one has been shown in the drawings.

Fixedto the beam Sadjacent one end is. a.

bracket member 6 which has a flanged surface 7 inclined inwardly to-receive the flanged face 8 of an insulator support 9 which isbolted thereto to mount a suitable insulator 10, the outer end of which has a stationary contact 11 fixed thereto;

Thestationary contact 11 includes an approxi-, I

matelytriangularly shaped bracket member 12, one side of which is formedwith'a flange 13 by which it is secured tothe upper end of the insulator by bolts .or other means 14. The longest side 15 of-the triangle shaped bracket member, has one blade or clip- 16 of the contact proper secured theretoby bolts 17 whichv also pass through a terminal member 18 electrically connected with the end of a line 19, and extended from the apex of sides 13 and 15 is an arm 20,

the outer end of which is provided with means including a clamping plate 20, for mechanically anchoring the line 19 to the bracket member to relieve'the terminal of all strain. The thirdside of the bracket memberis provided with a grooved flange 21, to receiveithe laterally directed ends of an arcing horn 22, to be later described, the ends of the horn being clamped thereto by a plate 23.

Secured to. the side 15 of the bracket member adjacent the blade 16 is a recessed member 24, in which a floating or yieldable clip 25 is mounted to be yieldably urged towards the blade 16, and with it forms the stationary contact of the switch, the ends of the blade and clip being flared to facilitate the entrance therebetweenof the movable contact blade 26.

The movable contact blade 26 is mounted on an insulator 27 of any suitable construction by a pair of spaced standards,lugs, or ears 28 formed on a flange 29 which is'suitably secured to the insulator, being mounted between the lugs 28by a pivot bolt 30 and a stud 31. The openings 32 in the blade through which the bolt and stud pass are of increased diameter which permits a limited swinging movement of theswitch blade with respect to its insulator mounting whereby a shearing action takes place between the blade and the stationary contact members in the event they become mechanically frozen. The flange is adjustably secured therein by clamping plates 35 and which has its medial portion bent to substantially hairpin shape and extended forwardly to cooperate with the arcing horn 22 of the stationary contact.

The insulator 27 is mounted on a support 36 similar to the support 9 which is fixed to a bracket 37 mounted on a rotatable shaft 38 journaled in bearings 39 carried by the beam 5. The shaft 38 is rotated by a crank arm 40 fixed thereto and to the end of which an operating rod 41 is connected, the other end of the rod 41 being con nected with a suitable actuating mechanism,-not shown. Limit screws 42 define the travel of the shaft and are threaded in lugs 43 formed on the bearing 39, the screws 42 engaging the bracket 37 at either of its limits of movement.

The switch blade is connected with the other line 44 through a ribbon conductor 45 one end of which is clamped between a laterally extended portion 46 carried by the blade 26 and a member 47,. the inner ends-of which are secured together by bolts 48. The other end of the ribbon is clamped between a member 49 and an anchor member 50, the anchor member 50 being positioned on the upper end of an insulator 51 mounted on a support 52 secured to theibeam 5. The end of the ribbon 45. extends outwardly of the member 49 and has its outer end impinged between the anchor member 50 and a terminal 53 electrically connected with the adjacent end of the line 44, and clamping means 54 mechanically anchors the line 44 to the member 50 in a manner similar to the means for anchoring the line 19 to the bracket member 12.- In this manner the line is directly connected with the switch blade 26 and any possibility of trouble such as would beencountered where a frictional joint is relied upon to carry current is eliminated, the ribbon 46 is loose and issupported against coming into contact with the parts of the switch by a toggle arrangement best illustrated in Fig ure l.

The flange 29 and the anchor member 50 have their adjacent ends provided with apertured lugs 55 to which outer ends of levers 56 and 57 are connected by pivots 58 and 59, respectively, the inner ends of the levers being pivotally connected by a pin 60. Each lever is formed of a pair of links held in spaced relation by'the apertured lugs 55 and by suitable bushings, 60', mounted on the pivot pin 60 and cross bolts 61 being supported thereby so that when the switch is in either position the ribbon is held from coming in contact with any portion of the switch which may ground the same.

The levers 56 and 57 are of a length so that their pivot-60 never falls below an imaginary line drawn through the pivots 58 and 59 and as the insulator mounting for the switch blade 26 is swung to the left with reference to- Figure 1, breaking the continuity of the circuit from one line to the other, the levers 56 and 57 assume the dotted line positions illustrated.

It has been found that where switches of this character were provided with the usual type of arcing horns, that is, one end of which being secured to the mounting member and the other end terminating in the horn, crystallization at their mounting has very often caused them to fail and to obviate this and provide a more rigid construction both ends thereof are secured to the mounting member. The horn 34 has been described as being substantially hairpin shape with its ends directed laterally and secured to its mounting member, one longitudinal leg 62 thereof being positioned inwardly of the other leg to cooperate with a substantially transversely directed portion 63 of the horn 22. The horn 22 is medially bent upon itself to provide a straight leg 64 the end of which is directed laterally to be clamped to its mounting member as described and the other leg 65 extends downwardly'forming an acute angle with the leg 64 for a distance substantially equal to half the length of the leg 64 and then being directed transversely to form the portion 63, from the end of which it is directed back towards the leg 64, as at 66, and then downwardly, as at 67, to have its end also directed laterally in parallel relation with the end of the leg 64 to be likewise clamped to the mounting member.

vThe horns 22 and 34 are so positioned with respect to each other that the leg 62 of the horn 22 extends inwardly of the plane of the portion 63 so that asthe switch is moved from one position to the other, the engagement therebetween will be positive due to the resiliency of the horns.

However, thetransverse portion 63, which is straight except at its extreme ends, is of such lengththat the leg 62 of the movable horn 34 is positively engaged therewith under spring tension only during the engagement and disengagement of the contacts. 'When the switch is fully open the arcing horns are obviously entirely disengaged and when the switch is completely closed the leg 62 of the movable arcing horn moves off of a straight part of the transverse portion 63 so as to relieve the tension between the arcing horns.

The advantage of having the tension between thearcing horns relieved at such times except when they actually perform the function for which they are intended is obvious, for they are then free from strain and retain their resiliency indefinitely. Consequently the horns. may be formed of ordinary steel whereas arcing horns which are normally under tension necessitate an expensive material such as bronze or the like.

A sleet hood 68 is pivotally mounted from the stationary contact to sustantially cover the contacts when the same are enaged and is pivotally supported by a pivotrod 69-mounted in the legs of a U-shaped member '70 which is secured to the side 15 of the triangular shaped bracket member 12 by screws 71 or the like and is yieldably urged to a position covering the contacts by a coil spring '72 coiled about the rod 69 and having one end abutting the transverse portion of the member and its other end extended to .engage the inner surface of the sleet hood outwardly of its pivotal connection.

The sleet hood consists of a substantially box shaped member having a top, side walls and end walls connecting the same, the lower edge of the side walls being curved as at '73, one of which being engaged by a member 74 to raise the hood out. of the path of the movable contact blade 26 as it moves to engagement with the clips forming the stationary contact.

The member '74 is suitably formed of bendable metal and has an inner arm '75 extended at an angle to its arm 76, the outer end of which is preferably rounded to engage the edge 73 of the sleet hood and is secured by its arm '75 to a flange '77 extended from one of the projections of lugs 28by cap screws 78. A second hood 79 carried by the lever 56 adjacent its pivotal connection 60 substantially covers the movable blade 26 when the same is moved to its disengaging position, as shown by dotted lines in Figure 1.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which an invention of this character apertains that I provide an improved switch construction in which the failure of the arcing horns due to crystallization at their points of support is greatly minimized and in which the contacts are protected against the elements both in their contact making position and while the switch is in its open position. I

What I claim as my invention is:

1. An electric switch comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, a terminal member having a line secured thereto, conductor means electrically connecting the terminal member with the movable contact, link means connecting the terminal member and the movable contact, and supporting the conductor means, means for actuating the movable contact into and out of engagement with the stationary contact, a sleet hood covering both contacts when engaged and a second sleet hood carried by the link means and covering the movable contact when the same is moved from the stationary one.

2. In an electric switch comprising a stationary contact, a movable contact, means for actuating the movable contact into and out of engagement with the stationary contact to close and open the switch, line conductors, means connecting one line conductor with the stationary contact, means connecting the other line conductor with the movable contact, anchoring means for the latter line conductor, pivotally connected link members connected with the anchoring means and the movable contact to support the means connecting the movable contact with its line conductor, a sleet hood carried by the stationary contact and covering both contacts whenengaged, and a second sleet hood carried byone of said link members to move over the movable contact as the switch is opened.

3. In 'a switch, a contact, a switch member movable to and from engagement with said contact, a protecting hood covering the contact and switch member when engaged, a second protecting hood, and means mounting the second protecting hood whereby it is positioned remote from the switch member when the same is engaged with the. contact andflcovers the switch member when the same is moved to its fully open position. I

4. In a switch, a stationary contact, a switch member movable to and from closed position and engaging the stationary contact when in said closed position, a protecting hood at all times disposed over the stationary contact and protecting the movable'switch member when the same is inclosedfposition, a second protecting hood remote from the movable switch member when the same is in closed position, and means movably mounting the second protecting hood whereby it moves over the movable switch member as the same is moved to its fully open position.

5. In a switch of the character described, a first contact and a second contact, one of said contacts being mounted on a fixed axis and pivotally movable relative'to the other said contact, a sleet hood mounted on said first contact for pivotal movement on an axis parallel to said fixed axis, said hood having a portion thereofoverlying said second contact when said contacts are engaged, and means on said second contact engageable with a portion of said hood to raise said overlying portion during engagement and disengagement of said contacts.

6. In a switch of the character described, a first contact and a second contact, one of said con tacts being mounted on a fixed axis and pivotally movable relative to the other said contact, a sleet hood mounted on said first contact for pivotal movement on an axis parallel to said fixed axis, said hood having a portion thereof overlying said second contact when said contacts are engaged, a cam surface on said hood, and a cam follower on said second contact engageable with said cam sm'face to effect vertical movement of the overlying portion of said hood during engagement and disengagement of said contacts.

'7. In a switch of the character described, a first contact and a second contact, one of said contacts being mounted on a fixed axis and pivotally movable relative to the other said contact, a sleet hood mounted on said first contact for pivotal movement on an axis parallel to said fixed axis,

said hood having a portion thereof overlying said contacts, an arcing horn mounted on the opposite side of said switch from said first arcing horn and having a substantially radial contacting surface relative to said axis, said contacting portions being engageable during opening and closing of said switch for the purpose set forth.

ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.

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