US2087886A

US2087886A - Switching device

Info

Publication number: US2087886A
Application number: US11430A
Authority: US
Inventors: Harrison J L Frank
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1935-03-16
Filing date: 1935-03-16
Publication date: 1937-07-27
Anticipated expiration: 1954-07-27

Description

July27, 1937. H. J. FRANK SWITCHING DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet Filed March 16, 1955 INVENTOR. Jim

ATTORNEY.

July 27, 1937. H. J. L FRANK 2,087,886

SWITCHING DEVICE Filed March 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEY.

H. J. L. FRANK SWITCHING DEVICE July 27, 1937.

Filed March 16, 1935 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENT OR.

ATTORNEY.

Patented July 191 37 UNITED STATES PATENT OF'FlCE SWITCHING DEVICE Harrison J. L. Frank, Detroit, Mich. Application March 16, 1935, Serial No. 11,430 6 Claims. (or 200-114) This application relates to switching devices and more particularly relates to switching devices of the character disclosed in the patents to .Murray 1,158,534, November 2,1915, and Frank et al. 1,825,267, September 29, 1931.

The switching device here shown is of the accessible fuse safety type and includes a casing containing a switch of the carrier and base type, as shown in application Serial No. 750,492, flied tion is a continuation in part; the switch includes a fuse carrier or head which-can be reciprocated through a slot in the casing cover for switching by means of a handle formed on the carrier and accessible from outside the cover of the casing of the switching device, the handle being manipulable to-cause reciprocation'of the carrier in a direct manner without the intervention of mechanical linkage between the handle and the carrier.

application is to provide in a simplified, safely operable; compact, and economical form, and in conjunction with a switch of the character described above, an accessible fuse safety type switching device provided with means operable at the option of the user to provide all and more of the advantages of operation and construction provided by the switching devices of the aforementioned patents.

In order to attain such object, the switching device is provided with an optionally operable means which can be manipulated as desired so as to provide desired relations between the switch parts themselves and between the switch parts and the casing. I

The device here shown is intended to be useful'as a substitute for the crank type externally operated accessible fuse safety switches now being marketed, and for this reason care has been taken to provide, in the device here shown, all of the desirable attributes of the switches now being marketed, but in .a simpler, more economical,

and more readily and flexibly adjustable form. 45/ For an understandings! the switching device here disclosed, reference may be had to the appended drawings and to the following detailed descriptive matter which relates to the 'same. In these drawings,

Fig. 1 is a cutaway front view-of the switching device, with the main and'branch circuit covers closed; v

.Fig. 2 is a. similar October 29, 1934, of which the instant applica-- The principal object of the inventions of this I view but with the main cover 55 of the device swung open to expose its interior;

Figs. 3 and 4 are views of a fuse carrier forming part of the switch proper of the device;

Fig. 5 is a cutaway front view of the switching device with the interlockingplate thereof dis-. posed in a position A, where it does not operate for interlock; in this view the branch circuit cover is shown swung open to expose the branch circuit connection block fuses;

Fig. 6 is a section as if on line 6-4; of Fig. 5;

Fig. '7 shows the extent of withdrawal of the carrier when the interlocking plate is in nonoperating position A, Fig. 5; i

Fig. 8 shows the relation of the parts when the interlocking plate occupies/position B wherein it permits normal switching action accompanied by exposure of the fuses of the carrier sufficient for inspection and removal, but preventing access to the live parts of the device even when the carrier is pulled out for fuse exposure;

Fig. 9 shows the extent of withdrawal of the carrier when the interlocking plate is in position 13, Fig. 8; 3 Fig. 10 shows the relation of the parts when the interlocking plate is in position C wherein it operates to permit withdrawal of the carrier.

suflicient for normal switching action and to expose the fuses for inspection, but not suflicient to expose the fuses for removal, the live parts under these circumstances, even when the carrier. is moved for fuse exposure, being inaccessible;

Fig] 11 shows the extent of withdrawal of the carrier when the interlocking plate is in position 0, Fig. 10;

Fig. 12 shows the relation of the parts when the interlocking plate is in position D wherein it operates to seal the entire device in status quo;

Fig. '13 is a section as if on line l3|3 of Fig. 12; and

Figs. 14-15 show a modified form of carrier interchangeable with the carrier of Figs. 3 and 4 in the switch of the device.

For an understanding of the drawings, reference should be had to the following detailed description of the parts therein shown. The. switching deviceincludes a sheet metal box Ill, adapted to be mounted on a vertical wall W, Fig. 13, to which is hingedly attached at H a main cover l2.provided with an aperture ll through which may pass a spring latch i 5 secured to the box and formed for the reception of a seal or padlock l5 whereby the main cover may be sealed or locked if desired.

the base so as to be shielded at all times against accidental contact, but normally accessible when the fuse carrier 20 whose contacts 2| are adapted to engage the contacts l8-l8a is not in position within the receptacle, the receptacle contacts being inaccessible against mischievous or malicious purposes when the carrier is partially or wholly associated with the receptacle or base. The carrier contacts operate to bridge the base cont-acts through main fuses F which may be of the plug type as in Figs. 3 and 4 or of the cartridge type, as in Figs. 14 and 15, it being observed that a plug fuse carrier may be substituted for or replaced by a cartridge fuse carrier with no difficulty whatever, inasmuch as the carriers, except for the fuses carried thereby, are

similar. i

For providing branch circuit connection, there are provided branch circuit blocks 22 whose tor-- minals may be properly interconnected to the parts of the receptacle ll through the branch fuses f and through the medium of parts 23, shown as straps but which may be meter coils, as will readily. be understood. The control of the branch circuits supplied bythe device is of course established through the use of carrier 20 with respect to the receptacle or base ll.

The main cover I2 is provided with a main slot 26 through which the carrier may be reciprocated for switching.

The main cover ii! is also provided with a supplementary opening ill registering with the branch circuit fuses f through "which these may be accessible for inspection or replacement,

and masked by mashing plate 28 secured to the main cover; and tor closing the supplementary opening there provided a branch fuse cover 29 hinged to the main cover at it and provided with a handle M; the cover ill may have a latching lug em engaging in a notch ill?) of the masking plate, as shown.

The main cover may have a small cover M hinged to it at 33 for covering the handle of the carrier 20 and protecting it against breakage, and cover 32 may be sealed or locked shut, as shown in Figs. 1 and '13, if desired, by the main cover seal 16 or by a separately operable seal or lock, passed. through sealing lugs Sub-ti l registering with each other and, if desired, with latching lug ill for the main cover. 'lfhe provision of the cover 32, and the provision of its scale, may be left to the discretion of the manufacturer oruser, as will readily be understood.

In order to attain the objects and advantages described earlier in this specification, interlock.- ing means may be provided and such means as well its operation will now be described.

Disposed behind the main cover Ill! is an inter-- locking plate til mounted thereon by means of the pin and slot guide construction including slots M of the plate it receiving headed pins lii oi-the main cover. The interlocking plate is shaped roughly in the form of a. U, substantially as shown, and the opening or clearance between the legs and bight thereof is proportioned to the size of the main slot 26 oi the main cover so as to cooperate therewith in a'manner that will later be dewribed.

For positioning the interlocking plate in one of its four positions li--lEl--C-D, as desired, the plate has an index slot d3 in its hight through which may be passed a pin it secured to the main cover and provided with a threaded shank (Fig. 6) for the reception of a nut Alli disposed within the casing and manipulable only when the suiidcient ior switching action.

main cover is open, the nut when threaded down securing the interlocking plate against movement. The index slot 43 is provided with tour enlargements referenced A, B, C, and D respectively, whose registration with the pin 44 defines positions A, B, C, and D of the interlocking plate, which positions determine the interlocking characteristics of the device.

It is observed that the carrier 20 is provided with L-shaped projections including lugs 41 and 68 which guide the carrier in its switching action by being received within receptacle slots 49, and in addition cooperate with parts of the interlocking plate for'interlocking purposes.

Position A, Figures 5 and 7 When the interlocking plate is in the position shown in Fig. 5, namely position it, no part thereof restricts or restrains any movement of the carrier 20 or any movement of the branch fuse cover 29. Under such circumstances normal switching action is assured with the carrier being receivable in the receptacle in either one of two positions'l80 degrees apart for circuit closing or circuit opening; and access to the branch circuit fuses is completely free. It is observed that when the interlocking plate is in position A, the live parts of the switch are always accessible for contact, even though they are shielded against accidental contact.

Position B, Figures 8 and ii plete removai of the carrier from the receptacle,

without intertering with movement oi the carrier Accordingly though the carrier may be manipulated. tor norreal switching action and inspection or moval of the main fuses, complete removal oi the carrier from the device is prevented and to the live parts is also prevented, assuming the main cover to be sealed or loclrcd, it usually Ii desired, the main cover may he o tied with springs 5i ior cooperating with seat... of the carrier, whereby the earl day be held in circuit open position, partially insert in the receptacle. This provides means whereby the carrier, though non-removable from the device, may be retained in circuit open position.

Position C, ill and: ii

Position D, Figures 12 and ill For sealing or looking the entire device, the

interlocking plate may be moved to position D where its portions at will register with corners lid of the body of the carrier to loci: the same against withdrawal, in switch closing or switch open position, and Where its ends '55 will pass through slots of the masking plate 28 around the branch circuit blocks 22 to register with I passed through lug I5, will seal the entire device against access and in status quo.

It may be observed that the provision of a single seal through lugs l5 and 3334 will also seal all of the parts, regardless of the position of the interlocking plate.

Summary- In order to summarize the novel features of the device it is observed that the user of the device .may at his option provide normal switching actionwith or without access to the live parts. and with or without access to the main fuses for renewal, and without interfering with access-to these fuses for inspection; that themain cover may be opened without requiring the carrier to be moved to switch ofi position; that the switch in part or in whole may readily be locked or sealed in status quo; and that the same may be accomplished with a single seal at l5. 7

In other words, the device here shown may be used as an accessible fuse switch, or a.

sealable fuse switch, or a plain "interlocked switch.

It is noted that the switch here shown pos sesses the important safety feature stressed in externally operated switches that the live parts are shielded against accidental contact at all times when the main cover is closed, and that this feature is provided in a switch which is ing a cover provided with an opening and containing a switch base behind the opening, a switching head constructed and arranged to be movable through the opening towards and away from the basefor switching action, and means comprising a movably mounted element manually and optionally movableinto and out of a plurality of stopped and indexed, positions. in

one of which it clears the head for permitting withdrawal and removal of the head from and movement and association of the head to the device from outside the same with the cover closed, and in another of which it cooperates with formations on the head for restraining withdrawal of the head from the base.

2. A switching device comprising a casing having a cover provided with an opening and containing a switch base behind the opening, a switching head constructed and arranged to be movable through the opening towards and away from the base for switching action, and means comprising a movably mounted element manually and optionally movable into and out of a. plurality of stopped and indexed positions, in one of whichit clears the head for permitting withdrawal and removal of the head from and.

movement and association of the head to the device from outside the same with the cover closed. and in another of which it cooperates with formations on the head for preventing separation of the head from the'device with the cover closed while permitting it to be moved towards and away from the base.

3. A switching device comprising a casing having a cover provided with an'opening and containing a switch base behind the opening, a switching head constructed and arranged to be movable through the opening towards and away from the base for switching action, and means comprising a movably mounted element manually and optionally movable into and out of a plurality of stopped and indexed positions, in one of which it clears the head for permitting withdrawal and removal of the head from and .movement and association of the head to the device from outside the same with the cover closed, and in another of which it cooperates with formations on the head for preventing separation of the head from the device with the cover closed while permitting it to be moved towards and away from the base, and in another of which it cooperates with formations on'the head for restraining withdrawal of the head from the base. v

4. A-construction of the character described in claim 1 wherein the element is carried by and disposed below the cover and manipulable only when the cover is open.

5. A construction of thecharacterdescribed in claim 2 wherein the element is carried by and- HARRISON J. I. FRANK.