US2051771A - Repeating fuse construction - Google Patents

Description

Aug- 18, 1936 w. o. scHULTz Er Al.

REPEATING FUSE CONSTRUCTION 5 Sheets-Sheet' l Filed July 18, 1935 .5 Ufff ORNEY.

INVENTOR' 4 .l f Ku \N... f

Il w ss INVENTORS a/ Jai W O SCHULTZ ET AL REPEATING FUSE CONSTRUCTION Flled July 18, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 /z/m Q M i AT ORNEY Aug. 18, 1936.

Aug. 18, 1936.

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W` O. SCHULTZ ET AL REPEATING FUSE CONSTRUCTION Filed July 18, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 3.5 d INVENTORS Patented Aug. y18, 1936 UNITED `STATES PATENT OFFICE REPEATING FUSE CONSTRUCTION William 0. Schultz, South Milwaukee, and Alwin G. Steinmayer, Milwaukee, Wis., assignors to Line Material Company,

South Milwaukee,

20 Claims.

This invention relates to a repeating fuse construction and is particularly directed to a construction in which a device is provided which recloses the circuit after the blowing of a fuse and connects a fresh or reserve fuse in the circuit, such device being capable of repeating as many times as the device is designed for.

The advantage of this automatic repeating fuse construction is that the device lends itself to transmission service and customers substation service. Frequently in these services short-circuits occur due to any one of many causes, such as a tree falling across a pair of lines, a pair of lines being whipped together by a wind, a flashover, a temporary ground, or the branch of a tree which in a violent wind may be blown against the line. Under these and similar conditions it frequently happens that the trouble is only temporary and that it either ceases of itself or the fault is burned out almost immediately.

This invention is designed to provide a device which will take care of conditions such as outlined above, which will electrically disconnect the blown fuse from the line, and after a predetermined brief interval immediately connect a reserve or fresh fuse in the line, such device providing for the successive operation of as many fuses as the device is equipped to handle, and to provide a device of this type in which the time delay interval is obtained by an automatic time delay device. Y

This invention provides for the renewal of a blown fuse without interrupting the service, and objects of this invention'are to provide a construction which permits the ready removal and refusing of the blown fuse, which permits the ready restoring of such refused fuse, and the automatic disconnecting of the next adjacent auxillary or reserve fuse without at any time interrupting the circuit during this restoring operation.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a housed type oi drop-out repeating fuse construction in which as many housed types of fuses may be related as required for the given number of repetitions elected, and in which a1- though each fuse is housed, nevertheless it drops or moves out of position after blowing and projects from its particular housing, thus giving a visual indication of the particular fuse that has blown.

Further objects are to provide a repeating fuse construction in which each fuse assembly is mechanically held in place prior to blowing so that no cooking or setting of a fuse into operative position has to take p1ace, and in which the fuse (Cl. 20o- 126) assembly may include both the fuse tube and the door of the housing.

Further objects are to provide a novel type of housed repeating fuse construction in which automatic timing means is provided which may be adjusted for the particular time interval desired before the circuit is connected through the next fuse, in which the adjustment in timing may be varied, in which the closing motion of the connecting switch is retarded during the initial portion of the closing, and in which the iinal closing stroke of the connecting switch is quick so that a quick closing of the switch takes place, preferably arc ngers being provided to protect the contacts.

Further objects are to provide a housed type of drop-out repeating fuse which may take any one of several forms, in one form each fuse carrying the door of its housing and in another form the fuse dropping out after blowing While the door remains closed. However, the invention contemplates a construction such that the door may be pulled open if desired to open the circuit through any given fuse in all forms of the invention, and the mechanism automatically reconnects the next adjacent fuse in circuit whether the preceding fuse has automatically dropped out or has been manually pulled out, and in which after a fuse has blown, it may be readily refused and may be readily put back into circuit without interrupting the service, the renewed fuse unit making good electrical contact prior to the opening of the circuit for the next adjacent fuse.

Further objects are to provide a drop-out fuse construction of the repeating fuse type in which the several fuse units are so made that positive contact is maintained between the stationary contacts of the housing and the contacts carried by the fuse tube which ultimately moves away from the stationary contacts, such positive contact, however, being maintained for an appreciable interval of time to insure complete clearing of the fuse tube prior to breaking of the contact between either contact of the fuse tube and the corresponding stationary contact carried by the housing, thus guarding againstA any possibility of arcing over, the invention in greater detail contemplating the use of an arc nger or arc fingers, certain of which are movable with respect to the fuse tubes so that the particular arc iinger carried by or cooperating with the movable fuse tube will insure maintenance of contact with the stationary contact for the desired length of time hereinbefore mentioned.

Further objects are to provide a drop-out re- `or integral housing.

'Jace'nt' their lower end and thereafter rocking bodily downwardly to full open position, thus completely separating the fuse unit from the stationary contacts. the hinge construction for the fuse assembly being electrically dead after the fuse assembly has dropped'to open position.

Embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view through the device with parts broken away showing one of the fuse units in operative position in full lines and showing in dotted lines the successiva positions taken by the fuse tube assembly as it moves to open position.

Figure 2.is a fragmentary view, partly in section, showing details of the time delay mechanism. Figure 3 is a fragmentary view showing a group -of fuse units in the relative positions they occupy.

Figure 4 is a view similar to Figure 3 showing how the fuse units may be carried in a unitary Figure 5 is a view, partly in section, showing a further form of the invention and showing one of the fuse units in i'ull lines in operative position and showing the fuse unit in an early stage of its motion as it is travelling towards inoperative position after blowing of the fuse.

Figure 6 is a bottom view of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Figure 'I is a fragmentary detail'on the line 1--1 of Figure 5 showing the manner of holding the door temporarily closed.

Figure 8 is a detail of the bottom of the structure shown in Figure 5.

Figure 9 is a side view, partly in section, showing a modiiled form and indicating how the spring pressed contact linger can be applied to a fuse of the type shown in Figure 1.

Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and 3, it will be seen that the device comprises a plurality of housings I which are provided with doors 2 equipped with manipulating members or eyelets 3 and with removable upper covers 4 for the automatic connecting switch and timing mechanism hereinafter described, such covers being removably held in place in any suitable manner as by means of the screws 5. If desired, the doors 2 may be hinged. as will hereinafter appear, upon a supporting link 6.

The door is provided with a pair of arms I between which the lower collar l carried rigidly by the'fuse tube 9 is pivoted, as indicated at I0. The

lever I is bifurcated adjacent its upper end and is pivoted upon the pin I0 so that the door is pivotally supported by the contact lever l.

The lower end of the contact lever is provided with a pair of trimnions II which are received within the hook like hinge member I2, such hinge member being provided in duplicates and having inwardly projecting stops I3 against which the supporting contact lever 6 strikes when the fuse assembly is in its lowest position, as shown in the lowest dotted line position shown in Figure 1.

The fuse tube is held in approximately the position shown in Figure 1 with reference to the door as a spring I4 is carried by the door and bears against the lower end of the fusetube, thus forcing the fuse tube towards motion in a clockwise direction, but allowing a limited motion to occur between the fuse tube and the door when the dom` is pulled outwardly, as will hereinafter appear.

The upper end of the fuse tube is provided with an upper contact I5 provided with a cap Il in the usual manner for clamping the fuse link in place, 5 the lower portion of the fuse link being indicated by the reference character II in Figure l and extending through the lower end of the expulsion fuse and over the lower portion of the lever I and being clamped in place by the thumb nut I8. l0

The housing or body portion I is provided with an upper terminal member Is and with a lower terminal member 20. 'Ihe member 20 is provided with a brush or other form of contact 2| which bears against the contact lever or supporting lever l5 6 when the fuse is In its operative position, as shown in full lines in Figure l. This brush con- `tact 2| also follows the lever 8 outwardly a material distance as the fuse starts on its outward motion after rupture of the fuse link and thus 20 insures clearing oi' the fuse tube prior to breaking of the contact. However, the lever 6 itself may be provided with a spring urged contact nger. as will appear as the description proceeds.

The contact I5 at the upper end of the fuse 25 tube is provided with outwardly projecting pins 22 which normally are positioned behind the slanting cam faces 23 of a pair of spring arms 24 carried by the upper terminal member I9. The door is provided with a 'pair of bulged or cam- 3 shaped spreading members 25 which are located inside of the spring lingers 24 and when the door is pulled outwardly, these members 25 spread the spring fingers 24 sumciently to allow the pins 22 to pass, thus permitting the manual opening of 35 the fuse tube assembly, though this specific arrangement forms no portion of the present invention, and is more fully described vin the copending application of William O. Schultz for Fuses, Serial No. 650,815, filed January 9, 1933.

The upper terminal member is provided with a bracket 26 which has outwardly projecting rigid arms 2,1 between which the timing mechanism and connecting switch are carried.

The connecting switch includes an upper stationary contact 2B which is normally free from engagement with a movable switch arm 29 which latter may take the form of a brush contact and may also have an arc finger 30. This connecting switch connects the upper terminal Il with the upper contact 28, the latter being connected by means of the conductor II, see Figure 3, with the upper terminal Il ofv a succeeding fuse, the lower terminal members 20 being permanently connected by the conductors 2|', see Figure 3.

'I'he switch contact 29 is carried by a lever I2, see Figure 1, which is spring pressed towards switch closed position by means of the spring Il. It is preferable to provide a iiexible leader u which directly connects the switch arm with the 'terminal I9. If desired, this leader 34 may continue to the upper contact 35 of the housing. which latter is also in the form of a rocking lever pivoted as indicated at 26 and spring pressed downwardly into firm electrical contact with the upper contact of the fuse tube.

The contact lever 35 carries a pair of slotted links 31 within whose slots pins 38 carried by the lever 32 are positioned.

It is'to be noted particularly that when the fuse assembly is in its closed position, that the links 31 hold the lever l2 and consequently the switch arm 29 in open position. However, when the fuse blows, the downward pressure of the lever 35 assists in the initial opening movement of the 75 fuse assembly. but the contact 35 follows the upper contact of the fuse tube downwardly a material distance and thus prevents breaking of the contact at this point until the fuse tube has had ample time to clear itself.

The opening movement of the fuse tube, it is believed, will be apparent from the dotted line indications in Figure 1. However, it will be seen that when the fuse link il is ruptured, that the lower portion of the fuse tube assembly rocks outwardly, as shown in the upper dotted line position in Figure l, and that the pins 22. thus slide downwardly and nally clear the cam faces 23. The fuse tube assembly now rocks downwardly to its nal position, as shown in the 'lowest dotted line position in Figure l, until the link 5 is arrested by the stops I3.

It is clear that when the fuse 'tube moves to open position, that the lever 35 releases the switch arm 23 through the mechanism hereinbefore described. The closing of the switch is retarded by means of the time delay mechanism which may consist of a pair of pivoted metal bellows 39 and 40, the bellows preferably containing oil or other suitable liquid and the bellows 40 constituting merely a storage compartment for receiving the liquid discharged from the bellows 39, as will appear later.

The bellows 39 and 40 are joined to a head 4I which is pivoted as indicated at 42 between the arms 21. 'I'he movable head 43 of the bellows assembly is pivotally carried between the arms of a cam lever 44, such cam lever itself being pivoted as indicated at 45. This cam lever is provided with a transverse curved or cam-shaped face 43. see particularly Figure 2, upon which a roller 4l carried between the extension arms 43 travels. These extension arms 48 are bolted to the switch arm 23 and the lever 32, asis seen from Figure 1.

It is apparent, therefore, that upon release of the closing switch, that the spring 33 urges such switch towards closed position and that the closing motion is retarded due to the fact that the bellows 39 is being compressed and is discharging liquid through the small orifice 49, see Figure 2, into the storage bellows 40. The shape of the cam member or face 4B is such that slow closing motion occurs throughout the major portion of the closing stroke of the switch, but that on the ilnal closing stroke, the switch suddenly closes with a quick motion. This is accomplished by the peculiar shaping of -the surface 45.

I! desired, an adjusting screw 5l, see Figure 2, may be provided to limit the initial opening motion of `the bellows 43, which opening motion'is produced by means of a spring 5i carried within the bellows 39. Thus a quicker closing of theswitch will occur if this screw 50 is set inwardly as the bellows is already held partly compressed. The screw 50, of course, may b'e locked in place by means of a lock nut, as shown in Figure 2.

It is to benoted that the timing mechanism and the Aconnecting switch in each fuse unit is separately housed and access may be had thereto by removal of the caps or closure members 4, see Figures 1 and 3. These switches are, therefore, protected from the weather even when the fuse assembly drops to open position.

Further it will be seen that when a fuse blows, ample time ls allowed for the clearing of the fuse tube, 'although the blowing of the fuse may occur under small overload conditions where a high pressure does not suddenly build up in the fuse tube. Additionally, it is to be noted that the conafter the fuse has blown and are not connectedVv to either contact of the housing either directly or through Aany intermediate mechanism.

In the form of vthe invention shown in Figures 5, 6, 7 and 8, a construction is illustrated in which the door' is not carried by the fuse tube but in which the door remains closed while the fuse tube or fuse assembly drops to open position, and is an improvement over that disclosed in Patent No. 1,949,186 of February 27, 1934, issued to William O. Schultz, for Fuse.

In this form of the invention the casing is indi- 'cated by the reference character 52, but it is to be distinctly understood that this casing may be made either separate for each unit of the repeating fuse construction, as shown in Figure 3, or all of the casings may be made as one integral unit as indicated for two units in Figure 4, the ilgure, however, being designed to represent any number of units in which the casings are of integral construction.

'I'he casing is provided with a door 53 and with an upper cover 4 for the timing mechanism, such mechanism being similar to that previously described and a portion of which being indicated in Figure 5.

The fuse tube 54 is provided with a metal collar 55 adjacent its lower end and with an upper contact including a cap 56 and a rectangular metal member 5.1 somewhat similar to that described in connection with Figure 1. The fuse tube is open at its lower end and the fuse link 58 extends through such open end, as previously described, and is clamped by means of a thumb nut 59 to the supporting contact lever 60.

The contact lever 6D is also shown in Figure 8 and it will be seen that it is pivoted, as indicated at 6i, to the ferrule or collar 55 and thus supports the fuse assembly or fuse tube under normal conditions. The lever. however, is held relatively immovable with respect to the fuse tube by the fuse link 58 and thus restrains the fuse tube from rocking outwardly adjacent its lower end and dropping downwardly until the fuse link is severed. This contact lever or supporting lever 60, as may be seen from Figures 5 and 8, is provided with trunnions 62 which project outwardly from opposite sides adjacent the lower ends thereof, such lower ends being provided with ears or, in other words, substantially bifurcated, as is apparent from an examination of Figure 8.

These trunnions 52 are pivotally carried by ears 53 formed integrally with the door 53 and project beyond such ears. They are removably seated within hook like supports 64 or lower hinge members which are carried adjacent the lower portion of the casing so that the door and fuse assembly may be lifted out, if so desired, as for example when refusing.

The lever 60 is provided with a contact finger 65 which is pivotally mounted upon the pin B6 and positioned within a cut-out portion in the lever 50. It is urged by means of a spring El so that its upper arm is pressed into engagement with the contact 2l of the lower contact. see Figures and 8.

Normally the contact nnger is held within the cut-out portion of the lever C0 by the brush contact 2|, such brush contact engaging not only the contact unger 65 but the lever 50 as well under normal conditions. The lower portion of the contact ilnger or contact lever 6l is provided with a bearing part or member il which normally pressesagainstthefusetube ,asmaybe seen from Figure 5. The upper contact or portion 51 is provided with outwardly projecting pins Il, see particularly Figure "I, which fit within slots formed in the spring ears or arms 1l carried by the door 53. The arms Il are provided with outwardly turned portions 'I2 which fit behind inwardly turned portions 'Il of contact iingers or gripping nngers 1I carried by the upper terminal member Il, such fingers terminating in outwardly diverging extensions so that the door may be forced closed, thus spreading the ilngers 14 until the portions I2 snap back of the portions 13 and thus temporarily lock the door closed. However, the door may be pulled open to thus withdraw the fuse from circuit manually if so desired, as the portions 'I2 slant on their outer sides and act as cams to spread the ilngers 'I4 and thus allow the opening of the door.

However, the fuse can drop down without opening the door, as it is apparent from Figures 5 and 'I that the,slots 10 open downwardly and when the fuse is released upon blowing o! the i'use link 58, the pins 69 move downwardly out of the slots 10, as indicated in Figure 5.

Upon blowing o! the fuse link 58, the lever 6l is released and the lower end oi the fuse rocks outwardly and then downwardly, the door 53 beingV sumciently flared adjacent its lower end to allow the fuse tube to execute its motions and drop outwardly from circuit, the fuse tube after passing from the door rocking downwardly to an approximately vertical position and projecting downwardly from the casing and door.

During the initial outward motion of the fuse tube, as indicated in dot and dash lines in Figure 5, the upper contact ilnger 35 maintains contact with the upper contact of the fuse tube lor a material length of time and the lower contact finger 55 maintains contact with the brush contact 2|, thus preventing breaking oi' the circuit at either the upper or lower contacts until the fune has had ample time to clear itself. This prevents any possibility oi arcing at either the upper or lower contacts.

The timing mechanism is released, as previousl5' described, and connects a successive fuse in circuit after the desired length of time has elapsed.

It is to be distinctly understood that the contact linger 65 may be applied to the construction shown in Figure 1 or the brush contact arrangement, as shown in Figure l, may alone be relied upon -for the form shown in Figure 5. In other words, the parts may be interchanged wherever found most desirable.

Figure 9 shows the manner in which the lower contact linger can be applied to the construction shown in Figure l. In this gure the fuse tube is indicated by the reference character 'I5 and is provided with a collar 11 which is hinged as indicated at 18 between the ilngers I9 carried by the-door. A spring 80 urges the fuse tube towards rocking motion in a clockwise direction, all as described in connection with Figure l. The contact lever or supporting lever is indicated by the reference character Il and supports the fuse tube and door,

as previously described in connection with Figure l. However,.this lever is provided with a contact linger l2 which is spring urged outwardly hy means ofa spring Il similarly to that described 5 in connection with Figure 8. The contact nnger or lever 82 is provided with an extension u which bears against the fuse tube under normal conditions while the fuse link II is intact, the fuse link 85 being clamped to the lever Il l0 by means of the thumb nut 0l.

This contact finger is identically the same as that described in connection with Figure 8 and serves to maintain a prolonged contact with the lower stationary contact, thus insuring clearing l5 oi' the fuse prior to opening o! the contacts.

In connection with Figure 5 as described in connection with Figure l, it is to be noted that the lower hinge members are electrically dead after the fuse has blown and dropped to open 20 circuit or inoperative position.

Figures 3 and 4 are intended to indicate that either type of luse units may be made as separate and distinct members in their individual casings or the structure may be made with an integral casing structure i'or all oi the fuse units, only two having been illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, but, of course, any number may be employed depending on the number oi successive operations desired.

Although housed type of fuses have been shown, nevertheless these fuses are of the dropout type, and, in addition, may be associated with other drop-out type fuses so that a repeating fuse construction is secured. The time interval between the connecting of successive fuse units is predetermined and adjustable lor any desired interval.

Ii desired the invention may be applied to open type drop-out repeating iuses. However, the housed type drop-out ruse is preferred as it may be mounted in an exposed position without damage from rain, sleet or snow. Also the individual protection oi the timing mechanism and connecting switch for successive fuses is maintained whether the fuse is of the type in which the door drops open or remains closed after the fuse blows.

It is to be distinctly understood that the succeeding fuses need not necessarily be of the same type or, in fact other types of cut-outs than fuses may be employed ii' desired, though the preferable construction is, o! course, a series o! fuses. that is to say, each unit being a fuse in itself.

With reference to the construction shown in Figures 5, 6 and 7, it is apparent that the door need not allow the fuse to drop completely downwardly from the casing, provided the door affords sumcient space for the fuse to drop outwardly to completely open both the upper and lower contacts. Also it is to be noted that it is preferable to use the contact linger carried by the lower lever, as this contact finger not only operates in the manner hereinbefore described, but also serves to withdraw any remainin g portion of the fuse link after the fuse has blown.

Although this invention has been described in considerable detail. it is to be imderstood that such description is intended as illustrative rather than limiting, as the invention may be variously embodied and is to be interpreted as claimed.

We claim:

l. In a repeating fuse construction, the combination oi' a plurality of fuse units, at least the .75

rst fuse unit comprising a casing having spaced stationary contacts, a fuse tube assembly including a door for said casing and a fuse tube, said ruse tube having an upper and a lower contact and a fuse link within said tube normally forming a connecting member between said upper and lower contacts, the lower contact of said fuse tube including a supporting lever for said fuse tube assembly, said lever being pivoted at one end to said fuse tube assembly and at the other end tosaid casing, said link normally restraining said lever against motion with reference to said fuse tube assembly, an electric line normally connected through the ilrst of said fuse units, and an automatic switchreleaseble by the motion of the fuse tube assembly of said ilrst fuse unit for connecting the electric line through a successive fuse unit.

2. In a repeating i'use construction, the combination of a plurality of fuse units, at least the ilrst fuse unit comprising a casing having spaced stationary contacts, a fuse tube assembly including a door for said casing and a fuse tube, said fuse tube having an upper and a lower contact and a fuse link within said tube normally forming a connecting member between said upper and lower contacts, the lower contact of said fuse tube including a supporting lever for said fuse tube assembly, said lever being pivoted at one end to said fuse tube assembly and at the other end to said casing, said link normally restraining said lever against motion with reference to said fuse tube assembly, an electric line normally connected through the first oi' said fuse units,- and a switch biased towards closed position and released by the outward motion of said'ilrst fuse tube assembly for connecting the electric line through a successive fuse unit.

3. In a repeating electrical construction, the combination of a plurality of fuse units, the first fuse unit comprising a casing having spaced stationary contacts, a fuse tube assembly including a door for said casing and a fuse tube, said fuse tube having an upper and a lower contact and a fuse link within said tube normally forming a connecting member between said upper and lower contacts, the lower contact of said fuse tube including a supporting lever for said fuse tube assembly, said lever being pivoted at one end to said fuse tube assembly and at the other end to said casing, said link normally restraining said lever against motion with reference to said fuse tube assembly, an electric line normally connected through the first fuse unit, an automatic switch housed within the ilrst fuse unit and biased towards closed position for connecting the electric line through a succeeding fuse unit, said switch being released when the ilrst fuse tube assembly drops to open position, and time delay mechanism for delaying the closing motion of said switch.

4. A repeating electrical construction comprising a plurality of cut-outs including at least a ilrst cut-out and a second cut-out, said ilrst cutout comprising a housing having a door and a fuse tube constituting jointly a. fuse tube assembly, means ior guiding said fuse tube assembly for opening the electric circuit through said rst cut-out by the mechanical motion of said fuse tube assembly from operative to inoperative position, restraining means including a fuse link within the fuse tube for normally holding the fuse tube assembly in place, and a normally open switch biased towards closed position carried by said ilrst cut-out for establishing connection,

through said second cut-out upon blowing of said iirst cut-out.

5. A repeating electrical construction comprising a plurality of cut-outs including at least a rst cut-out and a second cut-out. said first cut-out comprising a housing having a door and a fuse tube constituting jointly a fuse tube assembly, means for guiding said fuse tube assembly for opening the electric circuit through said first cut-out by the mechanical motion of 1 said fuse tube assembly from operative to inoperative position, restraining means including a fuse link within the fuse tube for normally holding the fuse tube assembly in place, a normally open switch biased towards closed posi- 1 tion carried by said first cut-out for establishing connection through said second cut-out upon blowing of said iirst cut-out, and time delay mechanism for delaying the closing motion oi! said switch.

6. A repeating electrical construction comprising a plurality of cut-outs including at least a iirst cut-out and a second cut-out, said rst cut-out comprising a housing having a door and a fuse tube constituting jointly a fuse tube assembly, means for guiding said fuse tube assembly for opening the electric circuit through said first cut-out by the mechanical motion of said fuse tube assembly from operative to inoperative position, restraining means including a fuse link 30 within the fuse tube for normally holding the fuse tube assembly in place, a normally open switch biased towards closed position carried by said iirst cut-out for establishing connection through said second cut-out upon blowing of said rst cut-out, and time delay mechanism for delaying the closing motion of said switch, said switch having a slow initial closing motion and a quick nal closing motion.

7. A repeating electrical construction comprising a plurality of cut-outs including at least a iii-st cut-out and a second cut-out, said rst cutout comprising a housing having a door and a fuse tube constituting jointly a fuse tube assembly, means for guiding said fuse tube assembly for opening the electric circuit through said first cutout by the mechanical motion of said fuse tube assembly from operative to inoperative position, restraining means including a fuse link within the fuse tube for normally holding the ruse tube assembly in place, a normally open switch biased towards closed position carried by said first cutout for establishing connection through said second cut-out upon blowing of said iirst cut-out, and time delay mechanism for delaying the closing motion of said switch, said switch having a slow initial closing motion and a quick ilnal closing motion, said switch including an arc linger and a main movable switch arm.

8. A repeating electrical construction comprising a plurality of cut-outs including at least a first cut-out and a second cut-out, said ilrst cutout comprising a housing having a door and a fuse tube constituting jointly a fuse tube assembly, means for guiding said fuse tube assembly for opening the electric circuit through said first cut-out by the mechanical motion of said fuse tube assembly from operative to inoperative positicn, restraining means including a fuse link within the fuse tube for normally holding the rst cut-out, and a removable cover for said s witch, whereby said switch will be covered after said door has swung to open position.

9. A repeating electrical construction comprising a plurality of cut-outs including at least a first cut-out and a second cut-out, said first cut-out comprising a housing having a door and a fuse tube constituting jointly a fuse tube assembly, means for guiding said fuse tube assembly for opening the electric circuit through said first cut-out by the mechanical motion of said fuse tube assembly from operative to inoperative position, restraining means including a fuse link within the fuse tube for no1 .nally holding the fuse tube assembly in place, a normally open switch biased towards closed position carried by said first cut-out for establishing connection through said second cut-out upon blowing of said first cutout, time delay mechanism for delaying the closing motion oi' said switch, and means for adjusting said time delay mechanism to change the interval oi' closing of said switch.

10. A repeating electrical construction comprising a first cut-out and a second cut-out, said first cut-out including a housing having a door and a fuse tube carried by said door and constituting a fuse tube assembly, lever mechanism for holding said fuse tube assembly in closed position and movable to allow the fuse tube assembly to rock outwardly to open position, a. fuse link in said fuse tube restraining the lever mechanism against movement with respect to said fuse tube assembly, said first cut-out having al switch biased towards closed position for connecting said second cut-out in circuit upon blowing of said first cut-out, time delay mechanism for delaying the closing of said switch. and a downwardly pressed movable member engaging the fuse tube of said first cut-out and electrically connected thereto, said movable member controlling the closing motion of said switch.

11. A repeating electrical construction comprising a first cut-out and a second cut-out, said first cut-out including a housing having a door and a fuse tube carried by said door and constituting a fuse tube assembly, lever mechanism for holding said fuse tube assembly in closed position and movable to allow the fuse tube assembly to rock outwardly to open position, a fuse link in" said fuse tube restraining the lever mechanism against movement with respect to said fuse tube assembly, said iirst cut-out having aswitch biased towards closed position for connecting said second cut-out in circuit upon blowing of said first cut-out, time delay mechanism for delaying the closing of said switch, and a downwardly pressed movable member engaging the fuse tube of said first cut-out and electricallyconnected thereto, said movable member controlling the closing motion of said switch, said movable member being arranged in the path of movement of said fuse tube, whereby when the fuse tube assembly of said first cut-out is rocked to closed position, said movable member will be retracted to thereby open said switch.

12. A repeating electrical construction comprising a first cut-out and a second cut-out, said rst cut-out including a housing having a doorv and a fuse tube, lever mechanism for holding said fuse tube in closed position and movable to allow said fuse tube to rock outwardly to open position, said housing having contacts, a fuse link carried by said fuse tube and normally restraining said lever against motion relatively to said fuse tube,

said link normally electrically connecting the contacts of said housing, a contact lever pivotally prising a first cut-out and a second cut-out. said l0 first cut-out comprising a housing having a door and a fuse tube. means for guiding said fuse tube for opening the electric circuit through said rst cut-out by the mechanical motion of said fuse tube from operative to inoperative position, re- 'l5 straining means including a fuse link within the fuse tube for normally holding the fuse tube assembly in place, said housing having contacts normally electrically connected by said fuse link when said fuse tube is in operative position, a

contact lever carried adjacent the lower portion of said fuse tube for maintaining contact with one of the contacts of said housing during a portion of the opening motion oi' said fuse tube,

and switch means controlled by the position of said fuse tube for establishing connection first cut-out.

14. A repeating electrical construction compristhrough said second cut-out upon blowing of said ing a first cut-out and a second cut-out. said first 3 cut-out comprising a housing having a door and a fuse tube, means for guiding said fuse tube for opening the electric circuit through said first cut-out by the mechanical motion of said fuse tube from operative to inoperative position, re-

straining means including a fuse link within the iuse tube for normally holding the fuse tube in place, said housing having spaced contacts, contact fingers located adjacent opposite ends of said fuse tube for maintaining contact between said fuse tube and the contacts of said housing during a portion of the opening motion of said fuse tube, and switch means controlled by the position of said fuse tube for establishing connection through said second cut-out upon blowing of said first cut-out. 15. A repeating electrical construction comprising a first cut-out and a second cut-out, said first cut-out comprising a housing having oon- 5o tacts, a door for said housing. said door and housing providing a downwardly fiaring opening in the lower portion of said structure, a fuse sssembly having spaced contacts normally engaging the contacts of said housing, mechanism releasably holding said fuse assembly in position, a fuse link forming a portion of said fuse assembly and normally holding said mechanism against releasing movement, and a switch controlled by the position of said fuse assembly for establishing connection through said second cut-out upon blowing of said rst cut-out.

16. A repeating electrical construction comprising a first cut-out and a second cut-out, said first cut-out comprising a housing having con`' tacts, a door for said housing, said door and housing providing a downwardly flaring opening in the lower portion of said structure, a fuse assembly having spaced contacts normally engaging the contacts of said housing, mechanism releasably holding said fuse assembly in position, a fuse link forming a portion of said fuse assembly and normally holding said mechanism against releasing movement, a switch controlled by the Psitlon of said fuse assembly for establishing connection through said second cut-out upon blowing of said rst cut-out, and time delay mechanism for delaying the operation of said switch.

17. A repeating electrical construction comprising a first cut-out and a second cut-out, said iirst cut-out comprising a housing having contactsa door for said housing, said door having a portion spaced outwardly from said housing, a fuse tube having spaced contacts normally engaging the contacts of said housing and having a fuse link electrically joining the contacts of said fuse tube, means for guiding said fuse tube for opening the electric circuit through said rstcut-out by the mechanical motion of said fuse tube from operative to inoperative position, restraining means controlled by said fuse link for normally holding the fuse tube in place, and a normally open switch biased towards closed position for establishing connection through said second cut-out upon the blowing of said iirst cut-out, said fuse tube moving towards said spaced portion of said door when said fuse tube moves towards inoperative position.

18. A cut-out comprising a casing having spaced contacts and having a door, a fuse tube located within said casing and having contacts normally engaging said spaced contacts, said fuse tube and said door constituting a fuse tube assem- I bly, a fuse link carried by said fuse tube and normally electrically joining the contacts of said fuse tube, said cut-out having a third contact normally insulated from said first mentioned spaced contacts, a lever normally supporting said fuse tube assembly with the fuse tube in operative position and being restrained kagainst releasing motion by said fuse link,`whereby when said fuse link blows, said fuse tube assembly will move away from said spaced contacts, and switch means movable to closed position when said fuse blows and establishing electrical connection between one of said spaced contacts and said third contact.

19. A cut-out comprising a casing having spaced contacts and having a door, a fuse tube located within said casing and having contacts normally engaging said spaced contacts, said fuse tube and said door constituting a fuse tube assembly, a fuse link carried by said fuse tube and normally electrically joining the contacts of said fuse tube, said cut-out having a third contact normally insulated from said rst mentioned spaced contacts, a lever normally supporting said fuse tube assembly with the fuse tube in operative position and being restrained against releasing motion by said fuse link, whereby when said fuse link blows, said fuse tube assembly will move away from said spaced contacts, and switch means biased towards closed position and normally restrained by said fuse tube and movable to closed position when said fuse blows and establishing electrical connection between one of said spaced contacts and said third contact.

20. A cut-out comprising a casing having spaced contacts and having a door, a fuse tube located within said casing and having contacts normally engaging said spaced contacts, said fuse tube and said door constituting a fuse tube assembly, a fuse link carried by said fuse tube and normally electrically joining the contacts of said fuse tube, said cut-out having a third contact normally insulated from said rst mentioned spaced contacts, a lever normally supporting said fuse tube assembly with the fuse ,tube in operative position and being restrained against releasing motion by said fuse link, whereby when said fuse link blows, said fuse tube assembly will move away from said spaced contacts, switch means biased towards closed position and normally restrained by said fuse tube and movable to closed position when said fuse blows and establishing electrical connectionbetween one of said spaced contacts and said third contact, and time delay mechanism for delaying the closing motion of said switch means.

WILLIAM O. SCHULTZ. ALWIN G. STEINMAYER.

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