US1972245A - Switch box - Google Patents

Description

Sept. 4, 1934.

A. B. RYPlNSKl SWITCH BOX Filed Jan. 6, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR Q41. BE/e rfi/FyP/NJ/fl.

BY HIS ATTORNEYS P 1934- A. B. RYPINSKI 1,972,245

SWITCH BOX IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII4IIII'IIIIII'ICVll'll'llll r INVENTOR A4 BEETE frP/NJKA BY ms ATTORNEYS Sept. 4, 1934. A. B. RYPlNSKl SWITCH BOX Filed Jan. 6, 1932 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 R O T N E V m BY HIS ATTORNEYS Sept. 4, 1934. A. B. RYPINSKI SWITCH BOX 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Jan. 6, 1932 INVENTOR 144 saw-5 B P/Na/w.

BY HIS ATTORNEYS Patented Sept. 4, 1934 SWETCH BOX Albert E. Rypinslri, Laurelton, Long llsland, N. .1 assignor to Metropolitan Device Corporation,

Brooklyn, N. F.

Application .luary 6, 1932, Serial No. 584,,tl3

cut-outs for supplying customers with current in till boxes or similar enclosures. Such switches usually have fuses adjacent thereto. There may be one or more switches with a corresponding number of iuses. It is desirable to have both the switches and fuses enclosed, the switches being under lock and seal so as to be accessible only to the companys inspectors, but with the fuses acv 'cessible to the customer when the switch is open so as to permit changing of fuses without access to the switches. ,This is to prevent accidental contacts or intentional contacts with the live wire for the purpose of stealing current.

My invention provides a structure of this sort which has advantages in simplicity of mechanism and in certain capabilities of operation referred to in detail hereinafter.

The accompanying drawings illustrate an embodiment of the invention.

Figs. 1 and 2 are respectively perspective views showing the position first with the switch open and the fuses enclosed, and second, with the fuses exposed for access;

Fig. 3 is a front elevation oi the box open, the switch being in the closed position;

Fig. 4 is a section on the line -4 of Fig. 3, but with the box closed;

5 is a section on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4;

Figs. 6, 7 and 3 are respectively sections on the line 6-t oi Fig. i with the mechanism in three successive positions; r

Fig. 9 is a section on the line 9-9 of Fig. c;

Fig. 10 is a section of the same apprommately on the line lit-i0 of Mg. 9;

Fig. 11 is a perspective of certain parts separated from one another for clearness.

Fig. 12 is a detail perspective view illustrating the switch blade and its rotary insulated carrier;

Fig. 13 s a fragmentary view illustrating a modification;

Figs. 14 and iii are sectional views on the cor respondingly numbered lines at Fig. 13. 4

Fig. 16 is a view illustrating a locking device similar to Fig. 13 but without the spring blade shown therein.

Fig. 17 illustrates a further modification.

, Referring to the embodiment of the inven== tion illustrated, the electrical devices are car= ried in a box having vertical side walls ll, top and bottom walls 12- and a back well it (Fig. 4). A box cover 14 has flanges l5 fitting over the side and end walls and is hinged at one edge as at it. It has a locking mech consisting of a member it fastened on the free end oi the box, projecting upward through a slot 18 in the cover and slotted at the outside for the passage of a pivoted latch 19, the perforated end 20 of which receives a seal or padlock.

The box cover has an opening 21 located over the electrical devices. On the inner side of the cover is a plate 22 with openings 23 giving access separately to the two fuses. The opening in the box cover is normally closed by a fuse cover 24 which is hinged at its upper edge so that it may cover the fuses as in F g. 1, or expose them for access as in Fig. 2.

On the outside of the box is a hand lever 25 which controls the switch and thecovering and uncovering oi the fuses. In the dotted line position of this handle in Fig. l the switch is closed and the fuse cover 24 is also closed. In the second position or" the lever shown in full lines in Fig. l, the switch is open but the fuses arestill covered so as to protect them from dirt or accidental injury. In the third position shown in Fig. 2, the switch is open and the fuse cover is open to permit changing fuses. In all positions of the handle the switch and the live terminals are closed against access until the switch cover or box cover 14,15 opened by an authorized person. The opening of the cover 24 exposes only the fuse (with which may be included wires, links, terminals and the like, which may be adjacent thereto but which are dead when exposed, but not including the switch and the live terminals).

The handle 25 is a heavy wire loop which extends into the box and operates the switch and. also the mechanism by which the fuse-cover is controlled. The details oi this mechanism are shown in Fig. ll. Set in the opening in the side wall ll of the box is a rotating member comprising outer and inner plates 26 and 27 respectively, betweenwhich is a journal disc 28. The horizontal portion 29 of the handle extends through notches so and 31 of the plates and is bent over the inner face oi the plate 27 in a ring 32. On the inner face of this ring is a plate 33 of larger diameter. The parts referred do are fastened firmly together by means of bolts 34 so that when the handle is pulled down the entire assembly is rocked about the center 33 of the plate 33. This plate has a sector shaped opening 35. A ball 36 passes below the block of electrical devices and has arms 37 at the ends of which are short trunnions 38. One of these trunnions 38 is pivoted directly in the left hand wall 11 (Fig. a) of the box. The right hand as to lock the part 40 by the disc 33.

arm 37 lies in the sector shaped opening 35 of the plate 33, with the trunnion 38 lying in the center and entering openings 39 and 39 (Fig. 11) in the plates 2'7 and 28-. The bail 36 is drawn forward by a tension spring 39 fastened at its forward end on the plate 33.

As the plate is rocked -from the position of Fig. 6, the spring draws the bail forward '(against the friction of the switch contacts) until the switch blade is out of contact. The bail which has lagged somewhat behind the angular movement of the disc 33 is then snapped forward by the spring to the position of Fig. 7. During this switch-opening movement the fuse cover is locked shut. Any further movement of the disc merely carries the switch blade farther from the contacts; at the same time positively opening the fuse cover as follows.

The fuse cover 24 has an arm 40 at one side near the hinged edge which passes through a slot in the box cover 14, the arm 40 having a concave face 41 which fits against the convex edge of the disc 33 and prevents the rotation of the cover on' its hinge 42. The arm 40 has also one or more teeth 43 at the end near the hinge.

The disc 33 has corresponding teeth 44 which stand in the position of Fig. '7 when the switch has just been opened. As the handle 25 is further advanced the teeth 44 engage the teeth 43 and lift the cover 24 to the open position, Fig. 8. If now the box cover 14 is lifted, it will be observed that it cannot be closed again except with the fuse cover arm 40 and the disc 33 in registering positions. If the handle 25 is in the wide open position of Fig. 8, the cover 24 must open so that teeth 43 will engage teeth 44. If the handle is in the first or second position, Fig. 6 or Fig. 7, the cover 24 must be closed so 7 The projecting teeth 44 in the one case and 43 in the other case prevent closing the box unless the fuse cover 24 is in correct position. The disclike plate 33 actuated by the handle and the arm 40 with its locking recess 41 and its tooth 43 may be collectively referred to as 2. Geneva movement. A Geneva movement is a common mechanical device comprising a driver and a driven part, each rotating about its respective center,

the driver having a circular portion of its engaging face which locks the driven member while permitting partial rotation of the driver, and the driver having another, toothed, portion which engages a corresponding portion of the driven member and rocks the latter as the rotation of the driver is continued. This device is arranged not merely to unlock and lock the fuse cover, but also to positively open it completely so as to permit replacement of a fuse, and to positively move it from such a completely open position to the completely closed position. And the switch operating ball, which has a lost motion connection with the disc 33 through the slot 35 and spring 39 may be properly referred to in the claims as a switch operating member, whose motions are coordinated with said Geneva movement.

The electrical parts are carried on blocks of insulating material indicated as a whole at 45 which rest on the side flanges of a trough 46 mounted on the back 13 of the box and leaving space for the lateral swinging of the bail 36. Each block 45 is provided with a number of transverse grooves. In the first groove is located a connector 47 with an upward extension 48 at one end which is bent down over the dividing rib 49.

Facing the contact plate 48 is acontact plate 50 bent down over the insulating rib 51, the right end being connected to the terminals of a cartridge fuse 52 in the usual way. Between the contacts .48 and 50 is a switch blade 53 which is bent over the edge of a disc 54 of insulating ma* terial mounted to rotate in a recess of the insulating block. The bail 36 engages a notch in the lower edge of the disc 54 and rocks the latter so that the switch blade moves out of contact position and is replaced by the insulating material of the disc, which extinguishes any arc and permits a narrow spacing between contacts. Alongside of each fuse is a forwardly projecting arm 55 extending down below one end of the fuse and bent to form a lever by which this end of the fuse can be forced up from between its contacts, thus releasing it for ready removal by hand.

This block combines in a compact unit (1) a I cartridge fuse accessible only from the front, (2)

a fuse lifting device, (3) a switch blade inaccessible from within the fuse compartment but completely accessible for inspection at the front when the box is open, and (4) an arc extinguishing arrangement permitting a small spacing between contacts. Two such blocks are shown, each carrying one switch and one fuse.

Additional means are provided for closely covering the entire exposed terminal, 47 and 48, of the live side of the switch. The plate 22 on the under side of the cover carries on its underface blocks of insulating material adapted to fit over live ends of the two switches. The part 56 of each block overlies the lower groove in which the terminal 47 runs. The part 57 is shallower, overlying the plate 48 and the slot in which the switch is carried and fitting closely down on these parts.

Various other arrangements of the electrical devices may'be provided, the means for enclosing them being correspondingly modified and rearranged; and various other schemes may be substituted for the sort of Geneva movement by which the cover is automatically and positively.

opened by the advance of the handle beyond the switch-opening position. For example, instead of the toothed disc 33, Fig. 11, the wire 32 might be set in the same plane as the projection from the fuse cover and might be shaped and toothed to lock the cover or to positively open it.

Also, the cam and disc arrangement may be used for locking and unlocking the auxiliary door or fuse cover without positively opening the latter as the handle is advanced beyond the first switch-opening position. To achieve this variation we have merely to omit the teeth 43, 44 which form the positive engagements between the parts in the final opening movement. With these teeth omitted the fuse cover will be unlocked in the po-' sition of Fig. 8, for example, and will be free for manual opening and closing, as desired. on small switches, it is a good feature to have the fuse cover open automatically. On very large sizes it may be better to avoid the positive operation the switch box is locked by a latch mechanism,

which in turn cooperates with the switch operating mechanism. The switch actuating mechanism including the disc-like member 33 used may be substantially the same as that previously re-.

tee

.not automatically accomplished. switch is moved to the open position, the locking ferred to. This member-33 will be operated by the handle 25 and there will be a bail similar to that shown at 36 in the other drawings. Some of these parts have been omitted to avoid duplication of illustration. In this modification, the latch is pivoted at 61 to a wall of the box and its hooked end 62 extends through a slot in the cover 14 and is adapted to be moved into locking engagement therewith by coaction of its tooth 63, which engages similar teeth in the member 33. The latch 60 and the member 33 may be said to constitute the first and second members of the Geneva movement.

When the handle 25 is swung to the left to close the switch, the latch 60 will be rocked so as to engage the hooked end 62 with the cover. At this time, the projection 64 of the latch will ride on the periphery of the member 33, thus preventing the unlocking movement of the latch. Theprojection 64 of the latch is beveled, asindicated at 65, for coaction with a spring leaf 66 secured by rivets 67 to a wall of the box. This leaf has an outward projection 68 extending through a suitable opening formed in the box and engaging the downwardly extending flange 15 of the cover. ,So long as the cover is closed, the

spring leaf 66 will be held in the outwardly flexed position, as indicated in Fig. 15, so as not to interfere with the rockinggnovement of the latch member 60. However, when the switch is swung to open position and the cover 14: is open, the spring leaf 66 being no longer restrained by coaction of its projection 68 with the flange 15 of the cover, will spring .into the position of Fig.

13. This will serve to prevent inadvertent movement of the switch handle when the cover is opened.

. In the modification of Fig. 16, the latch member 60*and the Geneva member 33 are substantially the same as above described. As the member 33 is turned by the operating handle 25 it will be understood that the latch will automatically lock and unlock the cover 14 depending upon whether the switch operating handle is given a closing or opening movement. When the switch is closed, the tooth 63 and projection 64 will engage the periphery of the disc 33 and thus lock the latch in the position shown in broken lines.

In the modification of Fig. 17, the latch 60 is adapted to be moved automatically to closed position,-when the switch is.closed,.the edge 69 of a cutout '70 formed in an operating disc 71 being adapted to strike the tooth 63 of the latch to close it. The opening of the latch, however, is When the disc will occupy the position illustrated, in which position the latch may be manually moved by rocking it on its pivot screw. In this form of the device, it will be understood'that when the switch is closed the circular part of the disc 71 will coact with the teeth 63 and 64 of the latch and therefore positively hold it in locked engagement with the cover 14. The cutout is brought to the position illustrated in Fig. 17 when the switch is unlocked, thus permitting the manipulation of the latch.

Various other changes may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the invention as defined in the following claims.

' What I claim is:

' 1. The combination with a switch anda fuse,

-cover having an arm extending into the box and having a locking recess and a toothed portion, an external switch operating hande and an internal plate rocked by said handle and having a locking portion to engage said recess during the first advance of the handle only and a toothed portion to engage said arm and open the cover when further advanced.

2. A box for electric switch and fuse units having an opening giving access to the fuse only, a pivoted fuse cover having an arm extending into the box and having a locking recess and a toothed portion, an external switch-operating handle and an internal plate rocked by said handle and having a locking portion to engage portion, an external switch-operating handle and a plate. rocked by said handle and having a locking portion to engage said recess during the first advance of the handle only and a toothed portion to engage the toothed portion of said arm and open the cover when further advanced.

4. A box for electric switch and fuse units having an opening giving access to the fuse handle, a pivoted fuse cover having an arm with a locking recess and a toothed portion, an external switchoperating handle and a plate rocked by said handle and having a locking portion to engage said recess during the first advance of the handle only and a toothed portion to engage thetoothed portion of said arm and open the cover when further advanced.

5. The combination with a switch and a fuse, of means for enclosing the fuse, a. switch-operating'handle, co-operative means between the handle and the switch, including a lost motion connection, whereby the handle first takes up the lost motion and then opens the switch during the first portion of the advance of the handle and cooperative means between the handle and fuseenclosing means for locking the latter closed and holding it stationary during the switch-operating movement of the handle and for unlocking and completely opening the fuse-enclosing means during the continued advance of the handle.

6. The combination with a switch and a fuse, of means for enclosing the fuse, a switch-operating handle, co-operative mechanism between said handle and the switch for opening the latter during the first portion of the forward movement of the'handle and closing it during the last portion of the backward movement of the handle and a Geneva movement between said handle and the fuse-enclosing means arranged to hold the latter closed and locked during the first portion of the forward movement of thehandle and to positively open it wide during the continued forward movement and to reverse these operations during the rearward movement of the handle.

7. The combination with a switch and a fuse, of a box enclosing them and having an opening giving access to the fuse only, a cover for said opening, an external switch-operating handle, cooperative mechanism between said handle and said switch, including a lost-motion connection, whereby the handle first takes up the lost motion and then opens the switch during the first portion of the forward movement of the handle and co-operative mechanism between said handle Ila-ll);

and said fuse cover holding the latter stationary of a box enclosing them and having-an opening giving access to the fuse only, a cover for said opening, an external switch-operating handle, oo-

operative mechanism between said handle and said coverfor closing the latter during the first part of the rearward movement of the handle and for locking and holding it stationary and locked during the continued rearward movement and co-operative mechanism between said handle and the switch, including a lost motion connection, whereby the handle first takes up the lost motion and then opens the switch on its forward movement and closes the switch during the continued rearward movement of the handle.

9. The combination with a switch and a fuse, of a box enclosing them and having an opening giving access to the fuse only, a cover for said opening, an external switch-operating handle, co-operative mechanism between 'said handle and switch, including a lost-motion connection, whereby the handle first takes up the lost motion and then opens the switchin the first part of the forward movement of the handle and closes it in the rearward movement and co-operative mechanism between the handle and said cover for lockmovement and locking it during the end part of such rearward movement.

10. The combination with a switch and fuse, of means for enclosing the fuse, a locking device .for said fuse-enclosing means, an operating handle, co-operative means between the handle and said locking device for locking and holding it locked during the backward movement of the handle and co-operative means between the handle and the switch, including a switch-actuating member having a lost-motion connection with said handle and a spring between said member and the handle which is tensioned on the forward movement of the handle, whereby the switch is openedunder spring tension by the advance of the handle and is closed by the backward movement of the handle.

11. The combination with a switch and fuse of means for enclosing the fuse,-a locking device for said fuse-enclosing means, an operating handle, a Geneva movement between the handle and the locking device which holds said device locked in the retracted position of the handle, releases and withdraws said device on the forward movement of the handle and restores said device to locking position on the backward movement, and co-operative means between the handle and the switch, including a switch-actuating member having a lost-motion connection with said handle and a spring between said member and the handle which is tensioned on the forward movement of the handle, whereby the switch is opened under spring tension by the advance of thehandle and is closed by the backward movement of the handle. 1

ALBERT B. "'RYPINSKI.

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