US2008139A - High tension electrical switch - Google Patents

Description

July 16, 1935- H. B. MASSEY ET AL HIGH TEN/SION ELECTRICAL SWITCH Original Filed April 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 July 16,1935. H. B. MASSEY El AL 7 2,008,139

HIGH TENSION ELECTRICAL swnrcn Original Filed April 15, 1930 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Julylfi; 1935 PATENT OFFICE 2,008,139 HIGH TENSION ELECTRICAL swrrcn Hemsley B. Massey and Olav Maseng, Greensburg,

Pa., assignors to Railwayand Industrial Engineering Company, Greensburg, Pa... a corporation of Pennsylvania Application April 15, 1930. Serial No. 444,564: Renewed December 13, 1934 12- Claims. (01."200-48) This invention relates to a high tension electrical switch.

Electrical switch blades can be classed with" established fact that in order to obtain the maximum current capacity with a given number of rectangular bars, it is necessary to depart from the single group of bars and arange them in two or more groupsfand one arrangement which is in use for bus bars of ratings 4000 amperes and above consists of four bars, or four groups of bars, arranged with two groups horizontal with a spacing between groups in excess of the width of the bars *used, together with two groups of vertical bars with a similar spacing, each group equidistant from a centeror axis common to both vertical and horizontal bars.

M This. grouping of bus bars is. commonly referred toias hollow square arrangementand has been founligyery efficient for heavy alternating currents. The ordinary disconnecting switch has blades hinged to one terminal. The hollow square arrangement if used for switch blades does not adapt itself for hinging in the usual manner.

One object of this invention is to construct a. switch which will utilize the high efficiency vof'this type of conductor both in the blade and 35*in 'the' terminals, so that when connected in the bus it will form a continuous hollow square conductor arrangement.

Anotherpbject of this invention is to provide a simple means for applying high pressure to a multiplicity of contact surfaces between terminals and blade after the blade has been closed.

' Another object is to provide a switch of this type wherein a telescoping form of blade and contact is used and provided with means to allow the movable and stationary members of the switch to telescope one upon the other, and to apply high pressure betweenthese members-after their initial engagement.

A further object is to construct operating mechanism arranged to release the high pressure normally existing when the switch is closed prior to disengaging movement of the movable contact. i

These and further objects will be apparent from the following description when taken in connec- Fig. 1 are longer than those at the left hand end.

tion withthe accompanying drawings, wherein,

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the switch in closed position.

Fig. 2 is a horizontal section on line 2-2 of Fi 1.

Fig. 3 is an end elevation,

Fig. 4 is a perspective view looking into the movable switch member in the disengaged position. Fig. 5 is a side elevation of one detail, and

Fig. 6 is a top view thereof, one corner thereof being broken away. I

Referring to Fig. 1, a support I is provided upon which is mounted the stationary insulators 2 and the movable insulator 3. The movable insulator 3 is secured to a frame 4 mounted on rollers 5 and guided for reciprocating movement in' sup,- port I. A lever 6 is secured to frame 4' and is connected to a'crank arm 1 which in tum is connected to rotary shaft 8 secured to support I. It will be seen that rotation of shaft 8 will impart reciprocating motion to insulator 3.

Each of the stationary insulators 2 has a strap thereon to secure a series of conductors 9 in the form of a hollow square. These conductors-are apertured at their ends for clamping engagement with bus bars or conductors similarly arranged in the form of a hollow square. It will be noted that the conductors 9 at the righthand end of The space between the ends of the two groups of conductors 9 is adapted to be bridged by a movable set of blades II) which are also arranged as a hollow square slightly smaller than that formed by conductors 9, the'blades l0 telescoping within .and contacting with blades 9. These movable blades 10 are attached to each other by a strap I l surrounding and secured to' each of the blades.

A U-shaped bracket I 2 which is secured to insulator 3 carries a cross pin I3, this 'pin passing through slots M in strap II and through-slots IS in the two opposite blades, these slots l4 and I5 being elongated in the direction of movement of the blades for a purpose to be later set forth.

As'previously stated, one of the objects of this invention is to press the movable blades Ill under high pressure against the blades 9 after the movable blades have moved into place. a The following construction accomplishes this result. Each blade I0 has secured thereto within the hollow square two socket members l6 adjacent each end' thereof. Each socket member has a rounded cavity therein to receive a pin ll, each pin having its end correspondingly rounded.

As will be seen fromFig. 4, the pins l'l project inwardly from the blades l0 and their inner ends are seated in corresponding cavities in a square block l8. This block I8 is made strong and rigid to withstand heavy pressures exerted thereon by pins I1, and to that end it has a cross-section in the form of a T. As seen in Fig. (i, the cavities for the reception of pins II are placed near the corners of member I8 and each corner these bars being secured to lugs 2|, which lugs are integrally formed with blocks l8. Movement of bars 20 will therefore impart movement to both blocks l8.

In order to move blocks l8 with respect to the movable blades [0, thus tilting the toggle pins ll to spread the blades, the pin l3 which is rigidly secured to movable insulator 3 passes through and has a close fit in bars 20. Pin l3,however,.may

move with relation'to blades In for the length of slots l4 and 15. A cross-pin 22 is connected to two blades l0, said pins passing through slots 23 in bars 20. A tension spring 24 connects pins I3 and 22. The spring 24 thus tends to move blocks It to the right of Figs. 1 and 2 to thus tilt toggle pins l1. r

In the open position of the switch as seen in Fig. 4, the toggle pins l1 are tilted and pressure is relieved from the blades III. In moving to closed position the blades Ill telescope with blades 9 in rubbing engagement therewith, the corresponding edges of blades 9 and I9 being beveled to facilitate this engagement, as shown. .A stop pin 25 is secured to the blades 9 of the left hand contact, said stop pin being engaged by the movable blades I!) when said blades II] have fully engaged within blades 9. Further movement of insulator 3 to the left will move blocks l8 with respect to blades II] to thus spread blades l 0 outwardly by a camming movement of pins l1.

Cooperating means are provided adjacent the ends of stationary blades 9 to rigidly hold blades 9 against outward movement when blades l9 spread outwardly. Such means comprises a clamp 26 surrounding the ends of blades 9, the clamp as illustrated being an I beam for greater rigidity. This clamp I6 is adapted to receive threaded members 21 which engage in socket members 28 secured to blades 9, look nuts being P ovided to maintain the adjustment of members 21. The blades 9 may'thus be adjusted to position and will be prevented from spreading outwardly when pressure is applied upon blades [9;

It is believed that the operation will be clear from the above description. The blocks l8 assume the position as shown in Fig. 4 when the switch is open, due to spring 24. When insulator 3 moves to the left the blades 19 enter and telescope within the left hand stationary contacts 9 until they engage stop pin 25. Further movement of insulator 3 moves pin l3 to the left hand end of slots l4 and I5, thus moving blocks l8 to the left with respect to blades ill. The toggle pins H are thus straightened from their tilted positions to spread blades. I 9 outwardly. at the two ends thereof into engagement with blades Sunder very high pressure, clamps 2B preventing a corresponding outward movement of blades 9. In

opening the switch initial movement of insulator 3 to the right moves bars 29 to thus move blocks l8 to break toggle pins l1 and release the high pressure of contact. When 'pin l3 reaches the right hand end of slots l4 and I5 the blades l0 then move to the right with the insulator 3. Cross pin 22 projects slightly beyond blades ID to engage with stationary blades 9 at the right hand end to thus stop movement in the opening direction.

' Although this invention has beenshown and described in connection with a switch wherein the stationary and movable blades form a hollow square, it will be obvious that other forms of hollow switch members may beused, such as triangular, pentagonal, hexagonal or other shapes.

or the switch members might be curved to form a slotted cylinder or oval.

It will be obvious that various other modifications of the structure as shown may be made without departing from this invention, as expressed in the following claims.

We claim: I

1. In an electric switch, opposed stationary contacts forming a substantially closed hollow body, switch members including contacts movable into said hollow body, toggle pins engaging at one end against said movable contacts, means pivotally supporting the other ends of said toggle pins, and means for moving both said switch members and said supporting means, said operating means havinga lost-motion connection to said switch members, thereby to effect further movement of said supporting means after said switch membersare moved into their final closed position by said operating means and to eflect an initial movement of said supporting meansbefore said switch members are moved from said final closed posi-- tion during opening movement of said switch.

'2. In an electric switch for use with bus bars arranged as a hollow square, opposed stationary contacts forming a substantially closed hollow square, movable switch members forming a similar but smaller substantially closed hollow square reciprocating means for telescoping the movable switch members into the substantially closed hollow square formed by the stationary contacts, said reciprocating means having a lost-motion connec-.

tion to said switch members, means to expand the substantially closed hollow body formed by,the movable switch members, and means connecting said expanding means to said reciprocating means.

3. The structure as set forth in claim 2 wherein rigid clamping means encloses the stationary contact to prevent expansion thereof, whereby a high pressure contact is obtained.

4. In an electrical switch, the combination with a stationary insulator, a switch contact mounted on said insulator and having a pair of opposed contact surfaces, a movable contact comprising a pair of parallel flexible blades, a reciprocating carrier supporting said movable contact for positioning said flexible blades between the opposed surfaces'of said'switch contact, means secured to said carrier and positioned between said blades for flexing the same outwardly, and a lost motion connection between said carrier and said movable contact, whereby said movable contact is positioned between said opposed contact surfaces by reciprocation of said carrier and the further movement thereof serves to operate said flexing means.

5. In an electrical switch,. the combination with a pair of longitudinally spaced contacts each including a pairof transversely opposed contact surfaces, a movable contact comprising two substantially parallel blades, and means for reciprocating said movable contact into and out of position bridging the said longitudinally spaced contacts, of means actuated by said reciprocating means for flexing said blades into high pressure contact with the respective spaced contacts at the end of the closing movement of said switch and for relieving said high pressure contact at the beginning of the opening movement of said switch.

6. In an electric switch, opposed stationary contacts, correspondingly shaped movable contacts, a reciprocating carrier having a lost motion connection with said movable contacts for moving the same into and out of position between.

the opposed stationary contacts, a rigid support between the movable contacts, toggle pins supported at one end in said rigid support and at the other end against said movable contacts, means rigidly connecting said rigid support and said reciprocating carrier, and a stop for engaging' said movable contacts when they have been moved to a position within the stationary contacts, whereby continued movement of the carrier moves the rigid support to straighten said toggle pins and expand the movable contacts.

"7. The structure as in claim 6 wherein a spring normally holds the movable contacts at one end of the relative movement between said contacts and said rigid support.

8. In an electric switch, two sets of stationary contacts in longitudinal alignment, each of said sets having transversely opposed contacts, a reciprocating switch member having contacts for bridging the .two sets of stationary contacts, said movable contacts being adapted to telescope within the opposed stationary contacts, means I sets of bus bars, each set of bus bars comprising a stationary contact in the form of a hollow body, carrier means, a plurality of bus bars mounted on said carrier means and defining a movable contact of hollow form conforming to the shape of said stationary contacts, and means for reciprocating said carrier means to telescope said movable contact within and bridging the said stationary contacts.

10. A switch as claimed in claim 9, in combination with means forexpanding the-said plurality of bus bars of said movable contact into high pressure engagement with said stationary contacts during the final closing movement of said carrier means and for releasing said high pressure engagement at the initiation of the switch-opening movement of said carrier means.

11. An electrical switch comprising a pair of stationary contacts, each having a pair of opposed contact surfaces, a movable contact having a pair of contact elements adapted to engage respectively the correspondingly arranged contact surfaces of said pair of stationary contacts, operating means for reciprocating said,

movable contact into a position bridging said stationary contacts and alternatively into a nonbridging position, said reciprocating means havinga'lost-motion connection to said movable contact, and pressure means for forcing the said contact elements of said movable contact, into firm contacting engagement with the contact surfaces of said stationary contacts, said operating means being movable through said lostmotion connection with respect to said movable contact to actuate said pressure means after said operating means has reciprocated said movable contact into bridging position with respect to said stationary contacts. 1

12. In an electric switch, two sets of stationary contacts in longitudinal alignment, each of said sets having transversely opposed contacts, a reciprocable switch member having similarly arranged contacts for bridging the sets of stationary contacts, said movable contacts telescoping within the opposed stationary contacts, a reciprocating carrier having a lost motion connection with said movable contacts, and means operable upon relative movement between said carrier and said movable contacts for expanding said movable contacts.

I-lIEMSLEY B. MASSEY. OLAV MASENG.

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