US1942634A

US1942634A - Fuse switch

Info

Publication number: US1942634A
Application number: US15787A
Authority: US
Inventors: Thomas B Bash
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1925-03-16
Filing date: 1925-03-16
Publication date: 1934-01-09
Anticipated expiration: 1951-01-09

Description

T. B. BASH FUSE SWITCH `Ian. 9, 1934.

Filed March 16. 1925 @Wfl/7 W W. o Z

J fwwwwa w /N l//iNTOA 7770 a5 ,5w/7.

Patented Jan. 9, 1934 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFECE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to electric switches, commonly known as fuse switches, particularly designed for high tension electric current. In such switches there is a fuse cartridge with a fusible element which will blow or disrupt whenever there is a surge in the line.

The switch also contemplates the provision of a plug and a socket. The socket is fastened to the cross arm or other suitable support and it has two contacts complementary to the two contacts on the plug which carries the fuse cartridge and which is insertable into the socket to complete the circuit. Generically all this is old but prior to my invention whenever the fuse blew the gases were expelled from the bottom of the socket and, not infrequently, the operator was dangerously burned. With my invention, however, the gases will be expelled through the bottom or free end of the plug below the hand grip so that danger of burning the lineman will be entirely eliminated.

The novelty of the invention will be better understood by reference to the following description in connection with the accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 is a cross sectional View through the switch showing the parts in operative position.

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal, sectional View through the switch at right angles to the sectional View shown in Fig. 1.

' Fig. 3 is a perspective view through the plug, the fuse element being shown partly in elevation, and

Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the switch socket.

The switch socket 1 and the plug 2 are made of insulating material. The socket is provided with

openings

3 and 4 for the reception of screws or bolts so that the socket member may be fastened to a cross arm or other suitable support. The socket member has a relatively deep recess 5 and a relatively shallow recess 6 communicating therewith and having a cross sectional area in excess of the cross sectional area of the recess 5, so that a shoulder 7 is formed. The shallow recess 45 6 communicates with a guard-receiving recess 26, which may have a still greater cross-sectional area than the recess 6, as shown in Figs. l and 2. The described construction of the socket member provides an exteriorly overhanging flange, or petticoat 27, which accommodates a shield on the plug member, which will hereinafter be described, and which, by preference and as shown, extends an appreciable distance beyond the shield when the plug and socket are connected. The provision of the petticoat 27 serves effectively to prevent (Cl. 20G-127) the entrance of moisture, and foreign matter from the air, to the interior of the socket member, to cause corrosion and impair the insulation of the live parts of the assembly. The shoulder 7 carries two sets of

spring fingers

8 and 9 having 60 binding posts l0 and 11 adjacent to the

transverse openings

12 and 13 through which the electric conductors may be introduced to be fastened to the bindings posts in a well known manner.

The plug 2 is provided with a handle portion 65 14 extending outside of the socket and exposed to atmosphere so 'that it may be readily grasped to withdraw the plug from the socket. Between the plug and the handle 14 is a transverse shield 15 which is receivable in the yrecess 26. The plug 70 carries two

knife contacts

16 and 17 which are receivable between the

spring ngers

8 and 9.

Prior to my invention, means has been employed for connecting the

knife contacts

16 and 17, but such means was arranged on the exterior of the plug 2 so that when the means (usually a fuse) blew the gases were forced out of the shallow recess above the handle 14, dependence being had solely upon the shield 15 to prevent burning of the lineman. With my invention, however, I provide the plug element, including the plug proper and the handle with a longitudinal conduit or bore 18 in which is located a fuse cartridge connected to the'contact 16. The fuse cartridge consists of a tube 19 of insu- 85 lating material having at one end a metallic cap 20 to receive a fuse ribbon 21 which will blow or disrupt whenever the surge in the line exceeds a determined limit. The fusible ribbon 21 is connected at its lower end to a conductor wire 22 90 extending through the insulated portion of the fuse cartridge and through a passageway 23 in the handle, the wire passing out through the plug adjacent to the knife switch contact 17 to which it is fastened. My preference is, however, to form the ribbon 21 and conductor wire 22 of a single piece of material. The fusible ribbon or element 21 is fastened to the cap 20 by a screw 24. The lower end of the cap 20 is fastened to the knife switch contact 16 by a screw 25, there- 100 fore current may pass from element 16 to cap 20, to fusible element 21 through wire 22 to contact 17 or vice versa.

The switch will be closed, of course, when the plug is inserted in the socket with the

elements

16 and 17 received between the

spring fingers

8 and 9.

If the fuse element or ribbon 21 is disrupted or, in the nomenclature of the art, blows, the gases generated will blow through the tube 19 of the 110 cartridge below the exposed end of the handle or hand grip 14 so that danger of burning the hands of the lineman will he entirely eliminated. This is important because with known types of fuse switches the baille or guard 15 not infrequently fails as a safety device causing, through its failure, very serious burns, whereas with my invention such danger is entirely avoided.

What I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

l. In a fuse switn, a hollow element comprising a plug and a handle, an apertured cartridge disposed in the hollow portion of the plug, said cartridge being adapted to receive a fusible element, and a threaded element extending through adjacent Walls of the plug and cartridge, and adapted to cooperate with the cartridge to hol-:l the fusible element therein, to prevent the passage of gases through the aperture when the fusible element is fused, and to position the cartridge with respect to the plug.

L94aes4 2. In a fuse switch, a hollow plug having a tubular portion and an external Contact, a fuse cartridge having a conducting portion disposed Within the tubular portion of the plug, and means, extending through the wall of the plug, adapted to position the cartridge and connect it With said Contact.

3. In a fuse switch of plug type, a tubular element having open ends and comprising a plug provided with paired external contacts, and a handle, a cartridge including a fusible element, disposed in the plug and handle, the cartridge having a metal cap at its inner end, the fusible element being electrically connected at one end with one of the contacts on the plug, and at its opposite end to said cap, and means extending through a wall of the plug, adapted to position the cartridge and connect said cap to another plug Contact.

THOMAS B. BASH.