US1940575A - Fuse switch - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 1.9, 1933. 1 .V BOLL V 1,940,575

FUSE SWITCH L. P. BOLL FUSE SWITCH Dec. 19, 1933. l

Filed Nov. 21, 1952 4 sheets-sheet` 2 Dec. 19, 1933. v L. P. BOLL 1,940,575

FUSE SWITCH Filed Nov. 21, 1952 4 sheets-sheet 3 Dec. 19, 19337 l L P BOLL, A 1,940,575

FUSE SWITCH Filed Nov. 21, I1952 l4 sheets-sheet 4 FIGS.

'Patented Dec. 19, 1933 UNITED s'ra'rizsI si I 1,940,57165 FUSE SWITCHv v VLester Pierce Boll, University City, Mo., assignor l to W. N. Matthews Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri i Application November 21, 1932 SerialA No. 643,665

4 claims. (ci. zoo-126)' thestructure'disclosed'in thefinited States patent application of Ralph Pittman et el., Serial Number 602,666, filed April 2, V1932, now United States Patent Number 1,894,056, dated January 10, 1933 for Automatic fuse-changer; vthe provisionof apparatus of the class described incorporating by combination, the structures disclosed in the United States patent application of Theodore Birkenmaier, Serial Number 575,193, filed November 16, 1931, now United States Patent Number 1,935,386, dated November v14, 1933 for Fuse and United yStates Patent `1,899,915 issued to C. L. Matthews et al. on February 28, 1933 for' Electrical cut-out; the provision of apparatusof the class described which employs identical fuse cartridge for reloading any of its elements; the provision of apparatus of this class whose elements shall be easily changeable and the conditions of which are readily visible without close inspection; and the provision of apparatus of the class described which is simple in operation, and compact, rugged and economical in construction. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

, The invention .accordingly comprises the `elements and combinations' of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplifiedin the structures hereinafter which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which is illustrated one of various possible embodiments of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the apparatus;

Fig. 2 is a front` elevation viewed from the right of Fig. 3;

Fig. 3 is a plan View viewed from the top of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail of the upper end of a fuse cartridge;

Fig. 5 is a plan view of ,Fig. 4; and,

Fig. 6 is an enlarged detail of the lower end of said cartridge in a pivoting socket; the latter being in thrown position.

i Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, ,there is shown at numeral l an insulator rack supporting insulators 3, the latter carrying up- .per and lower brackets 5 and 7 respectively. l A

line Wire connection 9 is provided on the upper bracket 5^and line wire connections 11 on the lower bracket ,7. Either one of the line connections 11 may be usedfas illustrated in Fig. 2 whichfshows the-'left one in use.

The brackets 5 and 7 carry centrally located spring terminal clips 13 and 15 for spring en' gagement with the iiat side of upper and lower terminal contacts 17 and 19 respectively of a central fuse cartridge C. This cartridge C is of a general nature of the cartridge described in said Birkenmaier application, and'has a connection 21 in the upper contact 17 for a fuse link 23 which passes downwardly through an insulating tube 25 of said cartridge C and emerges from the lower end thereof. The insulated tube 25 passes through the lower contact 19.

Exteriorly, the fuse link 23 passes under and over a hinged element 29 of a clamp 27, a leaf spring element 31 forming the other element of the clahip as described `in said Patents 1,935,386 and 1,899,915 (see also Fig. 2).

When the link 23 is loaded, the spring 31 is pulled down from the untensioned, dotted-line position also shown bythe numeral 31 n Fig. 1, and the clamp 27 is opened by rotating the member 29 clockwise and thereafterI feeding in the end of the link23. Then upon release of the link from the hand of theoperator,` the strained posi tion is assumed as shown in solid lines in Fig'. 1. The spring 31 forces down the element 29, thus closing the clamp 27 to hold the link 23 in strained position in the tube. These points will be clear from Figs. 1 and 2 andfrom said Birkenmaier application.

The upper end'of the leaf spring 31 'is fastened to a platen 33 which is hinged to the lower contact 19 and which is normally pressed upwardly by a leaf spring 35 reacting against the contact 19. The leaf spring 35 is shown also in Fig. 6.

Said lower contact 19 also carries a downward extension 37 carrying trunnions 39 which rest in open sockets 41 of rigid extended ears 43 of the central portion of the lower bracket 7 (Fig. 1). The sockets '41 being open at the top, provision is therebymade for applying and removing as Ia whole the central,y fuse cartridge C.

Referring now to the upper terminal `17 of the' cartridge C (Fig. 5 shows an identical cartridge L), it will be seen to include ears 45 for pivotally reacting between thev upper terminal 17 and the arm 51 of the bell crank 47 tends to normally throw the latch 49 into upward position, However, if a hook of -a lineman's extension tool or the like' is applied to the ring 59, either upward or downward pressure (in fact any pressure except one directed into the axis of rotation of the mem- A the spring 31 while the cartridge as a whole is separated from the terminals 13 and 15. Thus loaded, the cartridge C mayhave the trunnions 39 applied to the fixed sockets 41, the whole cartridge then being rotated to a vertical position (Fig. 1) the upper terminal V17 engaging the upper line terminal 13. v

The lower bracket 7 also'carries sidewardly located sets of ears 63 which pivotally support socket members for receiving the trunnions 39 of rightand left-hand cartridges R and'L respectively (see Figs. 1', 2 and 6), said cartridges R and L being exact duplicatesof said central cartridge C.

The pivoted sockets 65 have upward socket extensions 67 between which, and sockets 69 on the bracket 7, are positioned compression coil springs 71 which tension the socket members 65 when said members 65 are rotated counterclockwise (Fig. 1). Latches 73 and 75 hold the pivoted socket members 65 of the cartridges Lv and R respectively against clockwise rotation after they -have been rotated counterclockwise against the reactions of springs 71.

As shown in Fig. 1, no upper terminalspring clips are provided for the cartridges R and L in l'It their counterclockwise or vertical positions. Such springterminal clips are provided at the ends of a branch 79 of an extending arm 77, and in the planes of the respective planes of the cartridges R. These clips are numbered 81 and 83 for the respective cartridges L and R.

The lateral extension 79 also carries U-shaped members 85 and 87 which clear the upper ends of the cartridges L and R and which'are provided with stops 89 and 91 respectively for 'preventing lrocketing of the cartridges because of reactions engendered upon blowing of the same. The U- shaped members 85 and 87 also have lower edges 93 which are adapted to be engaged by the ends 49 of the arms 49 upon forward nswing of the cartridges R and L (Fig. 1).

Referring again to the lower bracket 7, releasing means for the cartridges R and L will now be described. f 'I'he left-hand latch 73 is carried on a rock shaft 95 supported in bearings 97 on the lower bracket 7. Said'rock .shaft 95 has an extending arm 99 Which'visadapted to be engaged by an extension 101 of the central cartridge platen 33 when the latter lifts (as when the fuse switch 23 blows, thus permitting release of the spring 31 which moves upwardlyv through the `dotted-line position shown in Fig. l). Under these conditions the leaf spring 35 lifts the platen 33 with its arm 101 to contact with the extension 99 and thus, through the rock shaft 95 and latch 73 to release the terminal socket 65 of the lefthand cartridge L.

On the other hand, the latch is carried on a rock shaft 103 supported in bearings 105 on said lower bracket 7. Said rock shaft 103 carries an extending arm 107 which is adapted to be contacted by a lateral extension 109 of the platen 33 of said left-hand fuse cartridge L. Thus when the left-hand fuse blows, its spring 31 moves upwardly so that its platen 109 contacts the extension 107 to rotate the latch 75so as to -release the right-hand fuse cartridge R.

When the leftand right-hand fuse cartridges are released respectively, the respective springs .71 force them counterclockwise to dotted-line position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the latch arms 49 have contacted'with the edges 93, and the upper contacts of said cartridges are positioned within the respective clips 81 and/or 83.

' The operation of the device is as follows:

A11 of the cartridges C and R (being removed 1 from the apparatus) are fused, the springs 3l taking the solid-line position shown in Fig. 1. -lhe cartridges are then placed with trunnions 39 in'their respective sockets. It will be understood that the socket 41 of the central cartridge C is rigid and that the sockets 65 of the lateral cartridges L and R are swingable, but that when the cartridges L and R are applied, they are held back by latches 73 and 75 against the reaction of spring 71. y

All of the cartridges having been rotated ,counterclockwise to the-solid line position shown in Fig. 1, the central cartridge C thus has its fuse placed across the line. The fuses of the rightand left-hand cartridges are not so placed, because the upper termini of the cartridges are not in contact with any line terminal clips.

The device is now in condition for operation. When the fuse of cartridge C blows, it is, pulled from the tube 25 by the action of spring 31, and

. also by the expulsion action of the violent expansion of gases. It will be noted that the extension arm 77 functions as a stop for preventing substantial upward movement of the central cartridge C upon expulsive reaction.

After the lower part of the link 23 is ejected and withdrawn from the tube 25, the clamp 27 automatically opens, thus to drop the fuse link to the ground and positively opening and clearing the circuit.

Also, the spring 31 moves upwardly through the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1, thus aiding the small leaf spring 35 to upwardly rotate.

-the platen 33 of the cartridge C. This causes arm 101 (Fig. 2)- to move upwardly to contact the extension arm 99, thus to rotate the rock shaft and latch 73. 'I'his releases the pivoted socket 65 of said cartridge L, which, under the action of its spring 7l moves to the dotted line position shown in Fig. 1. In this position the upper terminal of the cartridge L contacts with the clip 81, the latch 49 limiting the movement by contact with the edges 93. I'his places the cartl ridge L in circuit after a short interval of open circuit condition. If the trouble which causes the first fuse cartridge C to blow has cleared before the second fuse cartridge L moves into contact position, no further action takes place except that the second cartridge goes into action. However, if the trouble has not been cleared, the excessive current will be applied to the second cartridge L in circuit. Its link will also drop to the ground, according to the sequence of the events above described in connection with the first cartridge, and its spring 3l will cause its arm 109 to contact the arm 107, thus rotating the shaft 103 and rotating the latch 'l5 to release the right hand maintain service. but if the trouble is permanent, x

the line will be permanently open until aline crew repairs the trouble.

Among the advantages of the invention may be noted the fact that the cartridges C, L and R are identical and it is therefore unnecessary to use any care in determining what fixed or rotable socket a given cartridge shall be placed in. Each cartridge tits in any position.

The linemans hooked stick, -when placed in the respective-rings 59 may be pressed upwardly or downwardly to effect release of the latches 49 so that the cartridges may be removed. It will be noted in this connection that the latch 49 o f the central cartridge .C holds it in position by contact with edges 50 of the upper bracket 5.

A trouble man. can see at a glance, even when traveling in a motor car, or otherwise, whether any of the cartridges have blown and which ones have done so, and this by noting the angular positions of the cartridges or tubes. vIf cartridge L has been thrownl outwardly, this means that cartridge C has blown. If cartridges L and R are thrown outwardly, this means that at least b oth C and L have blown, and inany event that the next blowing of cartridge will beV permanent v and that no automatic refusing will occur, and thus that a replacement is in order so that the effectiveness of the device as a repeating fuse may be restored.

If cartridges or tubes L and R are forward and in their upper contacts, then for a short moment both C and L and/or C and R tubes are in circuit at the same time, if not blown. It is only necesvertical position out of their upper contacts to put ail of the load on the link inthe refuse tube C. i It will be understood that cartridges L and R are passed through their respective contacts 8l and 83 in making removals and replacements,

If the troubleman finds that C and L tubes are both without links. he removes both tubes and relinks them. Then he puts one of them vbaci: in the vertical position and immediately pushes the other tube back to its vertical position.l

If the troubleman finds that all of the tubes have cleared, he removes them with his stick and after relinking them he puts any one of the relinked tubes into the vertical position ,and then pushescthe others through contacts to their vertical positions.

All of the latches and/or pawls are self-locking when the tubes are vpushed into their ver' tical positions. A

VIt is tobe understood that the term vertical VVis herein to be' construed as a position wherein the cartridgesv or tubes generally lie parallel to the position oi' the fixed central cartridge C, in asmuch as the device as a whole may be fastened to a vertically arranged member -or one that is horizontal if desired. The device operates inde'- pendently of the relative position of the same with respect to the earth.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As inany changes could be made in carrying centtl'ie ends thereof, the contacts of one of said sary to push back the L and R cartridges tofth' out the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained inthe above description or shownv in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and limiting sense.

I claim:

1. A reclosing fuse switch comprising line' con tacts. a plurality of fuse-containing insulating cartridges having contacts adjacent the ends thereof. the contacts of one of said cartridges engagingl cooperating contacts to close a circuit, fuses electrically engaging contacts in said cartridges, platens pivoted to the other contacts of the cartridges, leaf springs attached to said platens and removably attachedto the respective links to tension the same. said springs dropping notina.

the links after election upon the fuses blowing,

said spring moving to new positions, and means responsive to the alternative positionings of said spring adapted to actuate other of said tubes to engage cooperating contacts to close the circuit.

2. A reclosing fuse. switch comprising line contacts, a' plurality of fuse-containing insulating cartridges having contacts adjacent Ithe ends thereof, the contacts of one oi .said 4cartridges engaging cooperating contacts to close a circuit, fuses electrically engaging contacts in said cartridges, leaf springs swingingly attached respec-` tively to each of one set of contacts and removably attached to the 4respective links tol tension the same, said springs dropping the links after ejection upon the fuses blowing `and moving to new positions. and means responsive to the alternative positionings of said springs adapted to actuateother of said tubes to engage cooperating contacts to close the circuit.

32 A reclosing fuse switch comprisingdxed and vpivoted line contacts, a plurality'ofuse-vcontalning insulating 4cartridges having contacts adia- 115 cartridges engaging cooperating fixed contacts to close the circuitfuseselectrically engaging contacts in said-cartridges, leaf springs'attached Y ing insulating cartridges having contactsl adiacent the ends thereof. the contacts of one of said cartridges engaging cooperating xed line contacts to close a circuit. fuses electrically engaging contacts in said cartridges, platens pivoted to one set of contacts of the cartridges, leaf springs. attached to said platens and removably attached to the respective links to tension the same, said springs dropping the links after ejec tion vupon the fuses blowing and moving to new positions, and means responsive to the alternative positioning of said springs adapted ,to actuate other'of said cartridges which are in the pivoted line contactsv to engage cooperating iixed contacts to close the circuit, said cartridges and parts mounted thereon being identical.

- -LES'l'liR. PIERCE BOLL.

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