US2147316A - Mounting for fuses - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 14, 1939. A, RAMSEY 2,147,316

MOUNTING FOR FUS ES Filed Feb. 3, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet l Feb. 14, 1939. A. RAMSEY 2,147,316

MOUNTING FOR FUSES Filed Feb. 3, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Feb. 14, 1939. A RAMSEY 2,147,316

MOUNTING FOR FUS E S Filed Feb. 3, 1936 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 J'Ygfi 76 Patented Feb. 14, 1939 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE MOUNTING FOR- FUSES of Delaware Application February 3, 1936, Serial No. 62,155

35 Claims.

This invention relates to mountings for fuses, and more particularly is directed to mountings for high voltage fuses which, to insure safety to the operator, must be handled with some form of insulating tool. More specifically, the present invention is peculiarly adapted for high pressure contact mounting of fuses having intermediate fuse ferrules and which may be mounted out of reach of the operator and require a tool of considerable length to maneuver them into position.

It has been customary heretofore to mount high voltage fuses of this type in contact clips by the use of insulating tongs by which the fuse tube is gripped, and the ferrules are pushed into engagement between spring contact clips or the like. This has not been entirely satisfactory, as it is difficult to manipulate the tongs properly, the spring friction of the clips resists insertion of the fuse and certain mountings are more 20 or less inaccessible or removed from the reach of the operator. 7

Also, with the development of fuses having an interiediate ferrule, it has been impossible to use the well known bail-type contact-clip in which a wire bail is slipped over the ferrules after the fuse has been placed in position to hold the fuse against withdrawal.

It is one of the primary objects of the present invention to provide a fuse mounting and assembly whereby high voltage fuses can be placed in position by means of an insulated switch stick, eliminating the use of tongs, and the stick can then be operated in a suitable manner to clamp the fuse ferrules in position with respect to the contact clips to provide a positive pressure contact therebetween. In this connection, I employ a contact clip which is capable of receiving either a rounded ferrule or a ferrule having slabbcd off sides, and providing for positivecon-- tact over an extensive surface ,of the ferrule.

In order to be able to mount the fuse in locations which are out of the reach of the operator, without means of tongs, I provide a suspension bracket on the terminal to which the upper contact clip is secured, which bracket is so shaped as to receive the suspension clamp secured to one end of the fuse. The clamp itself is designed to enable the operator to readily maneuver the fuse into position when the clamp is engaged by the end of the switch stick. This particular method of handling the fuse during its movement into mounting position is distinctly advantageous, in that the fuse remains in a relatively rigid position with respect to the end of the stick during the maneuvering operations, and consequently can be positioned in the proper manner within the contact clip. Also, the method of supporting or suspending the fuse from the upper contact clip has the additional feature of supporting the fuse against recoil when it operates, which removes this strain from the contact clips themselves, and eliminates the special construction of the clips and ferrules which was formerly employed to provide this support against recoil. The application of the suspension clamp to the upper ferrule of the fuse is advantageous in that it does not interfere with the insertion of the fuse nor does it require modification of the con tact arrangement, and at the same time is disposed in such manner as to allow proper maneuvering of the fuse, and also permits the operator to have a ciear view or the fuse itself during the mounting operation.

One of the main advantages secured by the present invention resides in the provision of a contact clip assembly which can be controlled from a remote point by a switch stick to increase and decrease the clamping pressure against the associated fuse ferrule which is disposed therein. Thus the fuse can be readily inserted into position and thereafter it can be clamped between the opposite jaws of the contact clip, and can be easily removed by release of this clamping engagement. This insures positive pressure contact which can be effected from a remote point, and eliminates the necessity of forcing the ferrules between the contact arms during insertion into position.

I preferably accomplish this clamping of the fuse ferrule within the contact clip by means of a double acting lever arrangement at the contact clip, which embodies a camrning action of an operating lever and the use of pressure applying fingers for moving the jaws of the clip into and out of pressure engagement with the ferrule. The clamp lever is provided with a socket which can be readily engaged by the end of the switch stick so that the lever can be positively controlled by an operator from a remote point. Floating clamp plates on each side of the arms of the clip, provided with suitable cam means, insure movement of the arms of the clip into and out of pressure engagement with the fuse ferrule.

Another feature of the present'invention resides in the employment of restraining hooks at the upper end of the contact mounting, which hooks provide for independent suspension of the fuse with respect to the contact arms, whereby the arms themselves do not carry any of the weight of the fuse, nor are the contact clips subject to, recoil of the fuse upon high short circuit current. The fields of application for the particular mounting disclosed herein reside in the use of high voltage fuses which, to insure safety to the operator, must be handled with an insulated tool, and which may be mounted out of reach of the operator and require a tool of considerable length to reach them. It is tial, under such conditions, that the engagement between the tool and the fuse be such as to insure ready maneuvering of the fuse into its proper position at a point remote from the operator.

Another advantage provided by the present invention is that the particular construction of the contact clip assembly allows the fuse to be set in position without having to overcome the resilient frictional engagement between fuse ferrules and contact arms of the clip, which was a disadvantage in previous designs with which I am familiar. Also, the high pressure contact is, maintained byv a clamping system which is independent of and separate from the current carrying arms.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention will appear more fully from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, will disclose to those skilled in the art the particular construction andoperation of a preferred form of the present invention.

. In the drawings:-

Figure 1 is a front elevational view of a typical fuse mounting according to the teachings of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the structure shown in Figure 1;

Figure 3 is an end elevation of the suspension ,clip assembly;

Figure 4 is a plan view of the suspension clamp secured to one of the fuse ferrules:

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken substantially on line 5-5 of Figure 4; j."

Figure 6 is an exploded view of the constituent elements of the contact clip assembly;

Figure 7 is a side elevational view of the contact clip member; Y I

Figure 8 is a side elevational view of one of the clamp plates shown in Figure 6:

Figure 9 is a sectional view of the clamp plate taken substantially on line l-Oyof Figure 8;

Figure 10 shows ditically the insertion of a fuse into the contact clip; and

Figure 11 shows the fuse ferrule in position within the clip. 7 l

Referring now in detail to the drawings, I have shown in Figure I aim generally indicated by Y the reference numeral 5, which may be of any de;-

sired type, and which in the particular embodiment of the invention illustrated herein comprises an upper fuse ferrule i, an enclosing fuse tube 1,

' an intermediate fuse ferrule 8, and a third fuse ferrule a disposed at the oppoflte end of the fuse. Such a fuse is illustrated and described in the copending application of Hugh-A. Triplett. Serial No. 694,584, filed October 21, 1933, now Patent No. 2,087,744, and assigned to the cc of the present application. 1111s fuse is of the liquid-filled type and, on blowing of its fusible element, a

that may be quite severe when the fuse iscalled downward thrust is applied to the fuse tube 1 Y being carried on brackets i2 secured in any suitable manner to the top of insulating stacks I3.

While, for purposes of illustration, a particular type of fuse and contact clip arrangement is disclosed, it is to be understood that the invention 5 is not limitedto fuses having three ferrules, but may be employed in any high voltage fuse assembly, and the contact clips may be supported other than on the brackets and insulator stacks disclosed. 10

Referring now in detail to Figures 4 and 5, the fuse ferrule 6, shown in dotted lines in Figure 5, isadapted to receive a suspension clamp member formed of cast hard bronze and indicated generally at i5, which member is in the form of a split 15 ring clamp having an offset lug portion iii suitably tapped to receive the threaded end of a thumbscrew l1 which extends through a corresponding parallelly extending oflset lug portion l8; The portion i8 includes a hook-shaped end 20 portion l9, and a socket 20 adapted to receive the prong 22 of the switch stick 23 shown inFigure. 1. This provides a lifter ring having a curved rib portion 24 which may be engaged by the circular groove "carried at the end of the stick 23. By 25 inserting the prong 22 in the upper portion of the socket 20, and engaging the rib 24 in the groove 25, the fuse canbe held in rigid position laterally with respect to the end of the stick 23, and can be maneuvered about by the operator so that it so may be placed in the desired position. By this Y engagement, the operator has complete control through a wideanguiar range between the center line of the stick and the fuse tube, secured by the guiding action of the groove in the fitting at 35 the end of the stick 23 on the curved'rib forming the arcuate defining edge of the clamp; When employing this combination, a fuse can be handled at a height much above that which is practical with the use. of tongs such as heretofore o employed.

The suspension clamp i5 is also provided with a pair of oppositely extending trimnions 28 formed integral with an annular ring portion 21 which fits about the upper end of the ferrule 6 of the 45 fuse. This ring portion is provided with downwardly extending arcuate finger portions 28 which extend about the cylindrical lateral surface of the ferrule 8 and serve to clamp the same rigidly within the member I! when the thumb screw I1 is tightened to draw the lug portions 16 and i8 together. The ring portion 21 is open and does not in any way interfere with the vent cap on the upper end of the Use ferrule. Suitable indexingand thrust receiving means 29, in the is form of flanges, are provided across the interior of the annular portion 21 of the member i5, and

fit against the slabbed oil sides of the fuse ferrule to gauge the position of the clamp with respect thereto, whereby the clamp is tightened about the fuse ferrule in predetermined position with respect to these ilat sides.

The inner edges of flanges 29 engage the flat slabbed surface of the fuse ferrule 6 to insure a that the position of the fuse ferrule with respect to the fitting I! will be in a fixed angular relation.

The top surfaces of flanges 2! bear against shoulders formed at the Junction of the cylin- 7 drical surface of .the upper end of the ferrule 6 with the flat slabbed surface.' Thereby the recoil of a heavy blowing of the fuse is taken on these flanges 29 and transmitted directly to the mounting 34, as will be later described. without putting 1s a downward thrust upon the thin spring contact fingers such as 42.

The trunnions 26 extending on opposite sides of the member i5 are adapted to engage in notches 30 formed in the upstanding arms 32 of a suspension bracket 33, preferably formed of cast hard bronze, which bracket 33 is adapted to have its normally extending portion 34 secured on the contact bracket l2 which supports the contact clip assembly on the insulator stack l3. This engagement of the trunnions in notches 30 suspends the fuse from the bracket arms 32, so that the fuse may be placed in position within the contact clip assembly Ill without overcoming any frictional resistance between the contact arms and the fuse ferrules, inasmuch as the fuse is suspended independently of engagement with the clips, and may be manipulated into position within the jaws of the various contact clip assemblies by engagement of the stick 23 with the lifter ring 18.

The trunnions 26 are disposed back of the longitudinal (vertical) axis of the fuse i shown in Figure 2. This, and the overhanging weight of the lifter ring l8 of fitting I5, causes the fuse to swing all the way into the open clips. This is a feature of distinct utility because it obviates the necessity of either holding the fuse in position while the clamp is tightened --a difficult thing to door of partially tightening one of the clamps and pushing the fuse into holding engagement, which is also a diifieuit and time consuming operation.

Considering now the detaiis of the contact .clip assemblies ill, the details of the assembly are shown in Figure 3, the constituent parts thereof are shown in Figures 6 to ll, inclusive.

Each of the assemblies is mounted upon ,the corresponding supporting bracket it? by means of a plurality of boits 35. which extend through the web 34 of the Suspension bracket 33 and through the base portion 35 of a L -shaped contact clip member shown in further detail in Figures and 7. The lower ends of the bolts 35 are engaged by nuts 3'! for mounting them in fixed position with respect to the bracket 12, to support the entire contact assembly from this bracket. A suitable spacer 38 may be inserted in position to space the contact clip assembly above the surface of the bracket H to line up the clip when a cross connection is utilized. The contact clip member 40, preferably formed of bus copper, is provided with the parallel extending arms 42 which at their upper ends are flared outwardly as indicated at 43 to guide the fuse ferrule thereinto, this being diagrammatioally in Figure 10, wh rein a fuse ferrule such as the ferrule 6 having siabbed-off sides 44, is guided into position. by the flared ends 43 of the arms 42.

Immediately the portions 43, the arms 42 are provided with relativeiy parallel straight portions 45, spaced on opposite sides of outwardly curved arcuate portions 46. Instruck tongue members 41 serve to limit the inner position of the ferrule with respect to the jaws, acting as a stop to limit further inward movement of the ferrule within the jaws.

It will be obvious that either a fuse of the type shown in Figure if that is, one with slabbed oif sides, which in final position is engaged by the jaws along the inner surfaces of the portions 45 thereof, as shown in Figure ii, may be inserted; into the contact clip, or a rounded or cylindrical ferrule may be inserted thereinto, in which case the arcuate portion 46 of the arms 42 will engage about the lateral surface of the ferrule.

The right hand arm 42, as viewed in Figures 6 and 7, adjacent its inner end, is provided with a longitudinally slotted portion 50 extending from the lower end ofthe instruck tongue 41 downwardly to a point ,adjacent the base 36, and intermediate the ends of the slot there is provided a circular opening 52 adapted to receive the shaft 53 secured in. the hub of the clamping lever indicated generally at 54. The engagement between the shaft and lever may be a press fit, with a lockingpin extending therethrough, if desired. The shaft 53 is provided with a pair of pins 55 extending therethrough, which pins 55 are of a length such that they will pass through the opening 50 when the shaft 53 is inserted through the openings 52 of the arms 42, the forward or left hand pin 55 coming to rest against the inside surface of the left hand arm 42, while the rear or right hand pin 55 as viewed in Figure 6, passes through the opening 52 and is disposed against the inside surface of the right hand arm 42, as shown in Figure 3. l'he right hand arm 42 of the contact clip 40 is provided, on opposite sides of the opening 52, with inwardly extending cam surfaces 56, which surfaces extend substantially radially from the opening 52 in horizontal fan shape toward the side edges of the arm 42. The right hand pin 55 on the "raft 53, when inserted within the arm 42, lies in a vertical position, along the slot 50 on the inner face of the right hand arm 42, but when the shaft 53 is rotated, the pin 55 rides up on the cam surfaces 56 to force the right hand arm 42 to the right, tending to spread the arms and thus release the clamping engagement thereof on the fuse ferrule.

On the outside of each of the arms 42 of the contact clip 40 there is provided floating clamp plates 60 and 62, the clamp plates having forwardly or inwardly extending prongs 63 adapted to enter into the openings formed by the instruck tongues 41 in the surfaces of the arms 12, whereby the clamp plates arenonrotatively positioned with respect to the corresponding arms 42. The lower end of the clamp plate 60 is provided with two forwardly extending edge portions 64 which engage upon opposite edges of the arm 42 as shown in Figure 3, to hold the lower end of the plate 60 rigid with respect to the arm 42. An oppositely extending stop finger 65 is provided at the lower edge of the plate 60, but is not employed when the plate is mounted in the position shown in Figure 3. The clamp plates 66 and 6t are made for left and right hand engagement, respectively, the clamp plate 62 being of the same construction as the clamp plate 60, but the stop finger of the right hand clamp plate 82, indicated at 65, is engaged by a corresponding stop finger 66 carried on the clamping lever 54, to limit the rotative movement of the shaft 53 with respect to the clamp plate.

The right and left construction of clamp plates 60-62 is desirable so that the assembly may be made with the tightening lever 54 disposed on either side, as desired. That is to say, the clamp ing levers 54 are shown on the right hand side of the fuse 5 in Figure 1. To dispose the lever 54 on the left side the spring clip member 40 is reversed so that the cam portion 56 lies at the left. Also, the shaft 53, with attached arm 54, is reversed so that the arm lies at the left of the assembly. The stop finger 66 on the clamping It is to be observed that the stop fingers 55-66 are important in that they compel all the arms 54 to swing in the same quadrant so that they may not swing toward or into contact with each other.

Considering now Figure 8 in detail, it will be noted that the clamp plates are provided with outerarcuate extending camming surfaces 51, disposed upon opposite sides of a, longitudinal slot 68 extending therethrough, which slot 68 is adapted to allow pins 55 to pass therethrough. Intermediate its ends the slot 58 is provided with a cylindrical cut-out portion 89 receiving the shaft 53. I

In the assembly of the construction shown in Figure 6, the two plates 60 and 62 are first disposed upon opposite sides of the arms 42, and non-rotative engagement therebetween is effected by means of the portions 33 and 64 of each of the plates. The shaft 53 is then inserted through the plate 62, the arm 42 adjacent thereto, the corresponding arm 42, and the plate 60. The clamping lever 54 lsprovlded with cam surfaces 10 which are similar to the cam surfaces 61 of the clamping plates, and when the shaft 53 is in-' serted, the surfaces 10 and 51 are so related as to have abutting engagement between the clamping plate 62 and the lever arm 54, the pins 55 being in vertical position as shown'in Figure 6 to pass through the slot 68 in the clamping plate 52, through the corresponding slot 50 in the right hand arm 42 of the contact clip 40, and the forward pin 55 then abuts against the inside surface of the left hand arm 42, the threaded portion 12 of the shaft extending outwardly through the clamp plates 60 and being engaged by the caste]- lated nut I3, the nut being threaded tightly on the shaft to bring the cam surfaces vl against the cam surfaces 51 of the outer cam plate 62 to force the arm 42 inwardly into clamping position. A cotter pin 14 is then inserted through the castellated nut 13 and the opening I in the threaded end 12 of the shaft 53 to lock the assembly in fixed position. This disposes the rear pin 55 on the shaft 53 along the slot 5|! on the inner face of the arm of the right hand arm 42, and between the camming surfaces 56 formed on this arm. The nut 13 is tightened on the threaded portion I2 of the shaft 53 a sufficient amount to insure that the arms 42 will be moved toward each other to insure positive clamping engagement of a fuse ferrule inserted therebetween. This is the clamped position of the assembly.

The outer end of the clamping lever 54 is provided with an offset socket portion 16, formed as shown in the section in Figure 1, with an outwardly flaring bell-shaped mouth 11, and an undercut internal socket portion 18 which is 3 in the socket 18, the lever 54 is rotated in a clockwise direction, as viewed in Figure 2, to the position shown in full lines at the lower contact assembly in Figure 2, which moves the cam surfaces and 61 of the plate 52 out of engagement, and at the, same time moves the right hand pin 55 into a position crosswise of the slot 50 on the inner face of the right hand arm 42, forcing this pin up along .the camming surfaces 56 to move the right hand arm 42 outwardly away from the parallel arm 42, resulting in spreading of the arms apart due to the abutment of the other pin 55 against the inner surface of. the left hand arm 42, whereby the clamping pressure is released.

This is the normal open position of the contact clip assembly prior to insertion of the fuse.

In the operation of the structure shown herein, the suspension clamp I5 is first secured in fixed position about the upper end ferrule 5 of the fuse 5. The end 22 of the switch stick 23 is then inserted into the opening 20, and the circular groove 25 of this stick is engaged over the rib 24, whereby the fuse is rigidly positioned at an angle with respect to the stick 23. The operator then manipulates the fuse up into position to engage the trunnions 25 within the-notches of the suspension bracket carrled by the upper contact clip assembly, whereby the trunnions serve to suspend the fuse in position, while the operator can then rotate the fuse by means of the switch stick to move the lower end thereof into engagement between the arms 42 of the contact clip assemblies, all of the levers 54 being then in the position shown in full lines at the lower portion of Figure 2, that is, in the release position with the rear pin 55 of the shaft 53 urging the right hand arm 42 outwardly by engagement with the cam surfaces 56. The fuse ferrules therefore slip between the arms 42 of the contact clips without any friction, and thus no substantial pressure is necessary in order to position the fuse within the arms, the weight of the fuse being carried by the bracket 33. After the fuse has thus been positioned with its ferrules positioned within the arms 42 of each of the contact clip assemblies III, the switch stick is disengaged from the suspension clamp, and is then engaged in the bell-shaped sockets 15 carried at the outer end of each of the clamping levers 54'. Each of these levers is then rotated in a counterclockwise direction, until the fingers 56 of the levers 54 engage the fingers 55 of the outer clamp plates 52. This results in disengagement of the pin 55 of each assembly from the corresponding cam sur face 56, allowing inward movement of the arm 42, and at the same time produces camming engagement between the camming surfaces 10 of the lever 54 and the camming surfaces 61 of the outer clamp plate 52. As a result, the arms 42 are cammed inwardly to produce pressure engagement against the lateral surfaces of the fuse ferrule, clamping the fuse ferrule in positive pressure contact with the contact arms. the contact clip assemblies is thus cammed into clamping engagement, and the fuse is thus mounted in operating position. Any recoil of-the Each of fuse under operation upon a high short circuit current will be absorbed by the bracket 33, and

will not be transmitted to the-contact clips 40.

It should be noted that the clamping plates 50 and 52'have engagement at their upper ends with the arcuate portion 46 of the arms 42, and at their lower ends with the lower ends of the arms 42 adjacent the base 35 of the clip, whereby the plates and 62 extend in substantial parallelism to the arms 42,-and tend to remain in norr'rial position with respect to the axis of the shaft From the foregoing description, it is believed obvious that I have provided a mounting for fusesof this type in which the fuse can be carried by the operator at the end of a switch stick and readily mounted in position because of the substantially rigid angular engagement between the suspension clamp and the switch stick, whereby the operator can position the fuses in remote places which would normally be out of his reach and inaccessible. The clips herein disclosed may be used on low voltage installations where the fuse can be safely placed in the clips by hand without the use of a switch stick. In that case, clamp fitting l6 would not require the eye 20, or might be entirely dispensed with.

The fuse, also, can be mounted within the contact arms of the contact clip assemblies without requiring that the operator overcome the frictional resistance thereof, and can be suspended in position independently of the contact arms.

. plates themselves float with respect to the contact arms during the actuation of the levers 54, and it should be noted that in each operation of the lever 54 a double action takes place, namely, the release of the engagement between one of the cam surfaces and the simultaneous engagement of the other cam surfaces to produce either clamping or releasing movement of the contact arms.

I am aware that the particular details of construction of various constituent parts of the present invention may be varied without departing from the underlying principles thereof, and I therefore do not intend to limit my invention to the actual details disclosed and described, but only in so far as defined by the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. Means for controlling the contact engagement of a contact clip with a fuse ferrule disposed therein comprising camming means operatively connected to said clip on opposite sides thereof, and means selectively actuating said camming means to positively move said clip into and out of engagement with the ferrule.

2. A contact clip assembly for a fuse ferrule comprising a pair of parallel resilient arms adapted to receive the ferrule therebetween, cam means on opposite sides of one of said arms, and means operable to actuate said cam means for moving said one arm toward and away from the other arm.

3. A contact clip assembly for the ferrule of a fuse comprising a U-shaped contact clip formed to receive said ferrule, floating clamp plates on the exterior side of each leg of said clip, cam means on the outer surface of each plate, a shaft extending through said plates and clip, and means carried by and projecting radially from said shaft for engaging and actuating at least one of said cam means.

4. A contact clip assembly for the ferrule of a fuse comprising a U-shaped contact clip formed to receive said ferrule, clamp plates on opposite sides of the clip, cam means on one leg of said clip, cam means on one of said clamp plates, and means engaging both said cam means and rotatable in opposite directions to increase and release the clamping engagement between said clip and ferrule.

5. A contact clip assembly for the ferrule of a fuse comprising a U-shaped contact clip formed to receive said ferrule, clamp plates on opposite sides of the clip, cam means on one leg of said clip, cam means on one of said clamp plates, and a shaft having means operable in one direction of rotation to engage the cam means on said clip to release the clamping engagement between said clip and ferrule, and means operable in the opposite direction to increase the clamping engagement between said clip and ferrule.

6. A fuse mounting for a fuse having a suspension clamp at one end thereof provided with laterally extending trunnions, comprising contact clip assemblies, clamping means associated therewith, means on one of said assemblies receiving said trunnions to provide independentsupport for said fuse, and means for actuating each of said clamping means to clamp said fuse in said assemblies.

7. A fuse mounting for a fuse having a plurality of ferrules, comprising a corresponding plurality of contact clip assemblies, means on one of said assemblies for suspending said fuse with the ferrules thereof in each of said corresponding assemblies independently of engagement of said ferrules with said assemblies, clamping means carried by each of said assemblies, and means for actuating said clamping means to produce positive pressure contact between each of the ferrules and the contact clip of the corresponding assembly.

8. A contact clip for a fuse ferrule comprising a U-shaped member having substantially parallel extending arms provided with outwardly diverging ends; the intermediate portion of each of said arms comprising fiat portions spaced apart by arcuate outwardly curved portions, whereby said clip may engage about either a cylindrical ferrule or a ferrule having opposite flatted sides.

9. A contact clip for a fuse ferrule comprising a U-shaped member having substantially parallel extending arms provided with outwardly diverging ends, the intermediate portion of each of said arms comprising flat portions spaced apart by arcuate outwardly curved portions, whereby said clip may engage about either a cylindrical ferrule or a ferrule having opposite flatted sides, and an inwardly extending integral .tongue disposed below the innermost flat portion of each arm.

10. In combination, a fuse having ferrules at opposite ends thereof, a suspension clamp engaging about one of said ferrules comprising a split clamp ring having arcuate axially extending portions engaging the lateral surface of said ferrule, a lift portion extending radially from said split ring and provided with an opening adapted to receive the offset prong of a switch stick, and an arcuate rib defining a portion of said opening and adapted to be engaged by a portion of said stick to provide a rigid engagement between said clamp and one end of said stick.

11. The combination with a contact clip assembly having a suspension bracket provided with notched arms, of a fuse having a suspension clamp secured to one end ferrule, said clamp having lateral oppositely extending trunnions engageable in said notched arms to suspend said fuse in position within said assembly independently of engagement between the ferrule and the contact clip, and remotely operable clamp means for effecting and releasing said engagement.

12. In combination, a fuse having a ferrule at each end and an intermediate ferrule, a suspension clamp secured about one of said end ferrules and having means adapted to be engaged by a switch stick for manipulating said fuse into position, a plurality of contact clip assemblies, means normally disposing said assemblies in position for free insertion of said ferrules therein, a suspension bracket carried by the upper one of said assemblies, means on said clamp engageable with said bracket for supporting said fuse in position within said assemblies independently of engagement of said ferrules with said assemblies, and means carried by each of said assemblies and operable from a remote point by said stick for forcing the contact portions of said assemblies into and out of positive pressure contact with the associated ferrules.

13. In combination, a fuse having a ferrule at each end and an intermediate ferrule, a suspension clamp secured about one of said end ferrules and having means adapted to be engaged by-a switch stick for manipulating said fuse into position, a plurality of contact clip assemblies, means normally disposing said assemblies in position for free insertion of said ferrules therein, a suspension bracket carried by the upper one of said assemblies, means on said clamp engageable with said bracket for supporting said fuse in position within said assemblies independently 'of engagement of said ferrules with said assemblies, and means carried by each of said assemblies and operable from a remote point by said stick for forcing the contact portions of said assemblies into and out of positive pressure contact with the associated ferrules, said last-named means including a pair of contact arms, and

' means operable to cam one of said arms toward and away from the other of said arms.

14. In combination, a pair of substantially parallel contact arms having portions adapted to receive a fuse ferrule therebetween, a clamping plate nonrotatively mounted on the external surface of each arm and having free movement toward and away from said arms, camming surfaces formed on the outer faces of said plates, 9. camming surface formed on the inner surface of one of said arms, a shaft extending through said plates and arms, pins on said shaft disposed against the inner surfaces of said arms, an operating lever carried by said shaft and having a camming surface engaging the camming surface on one of said plates, and means at the end of said lever adapted to be engaged by a switch stick for rotating said shaft to cam said one of said arms toward and away from the other of said arms.

15. A mounting for a fuse, comprising a stationary frame having a rigid trunnion bearing and having contact making jaws, and a clamping member for engaging a fuse ferrule outside the area of engagement of the contact jaws and the ferrule, said member having trunnions for supporting the fuse and the member on said bearing. 1

16. The. mounting of claim 15 wherein the trimnions are offset relative to the longitudinal axis of the fuse, whereby the fuse will tend to swing into the mounting.

17. The mounting of claim 15 wherein the member has a projecting portion extending forwardly of the mounting and tending to cause the fuse to swing into the mounting.

18. The mounting of claim 15 adapted for cooperation with a fuse ferrule having slabbed oif portions and adjacent shoulders, wherein the member comprises a split clamp having projections engaging the slabbed off portions to predetermine the position of the fuse ferrule relative to the jaws and having shoulders engaging the shoulders on the ferrule whereby to-take the' recoil of theblowing of the fuse through the trunnions upon the rigid trunnion bearing.

19. In a fuse mounting, spring jaws, rigid clamping jaws outside said spring jaws, a clamping shaft having an operating arm rigid on one end thereof, said shaft being insertable through said jaws from either the left or the right side, cooperating cam means on the jaws and on the shaft for opening and closing the jaws, a stop flngerrigid with the operating arm, and stop means on each of said jaws for confining the swing of the arms to a single quadrant of angular motion which is the same whether the shaft be inserted from the right side or the left side.

20. A fuse mounting for a fuse having at one end thereof laterally extending trunnions, comprising contact clip assemblies, clamping means associated therewith, means on one of said assemblies receiving said trunnions to provide independent support for said fuse, and means for actuating each of said clamping means to clamp said fuse in said assemblies.

21. In combination, a fuse having ferrules at opposite ends thereof, a lift member rigidly secured to and extending laterally from one of said ferrules and having an opening adapted to receive the offset prong of a switch stick, and an arcuate rib defining a portion of said opening and adapted to be engaged by a portion of said stick to provide a rigid engagement between said lift portion and one end of said stick.

22. The combination with a contact clip assembly having a suspension bracket provided with notched arms, of a fuse device having a contact member at the upper end thereof, oppositely extending trunnions mounted on the upper end of said fuse device for engagement with said notched arms to suspend said fuse device in operative position in said assembly independently of contact engagement between said contact member and said contact clip, and remotely operable clamp means for effecting and releasing said enga'gement,

23. In combination, a fuse having a ferrule at each end and an intermediate ferrule, a lift member carried by one end ferrule and having means adapted to be engaged by a switch stick for manipulating said fuse into position, a plurality of contact clip assemblies, means normally disposing said assemblies in position for free insertion of said ferrules therein, a suspension bracket carried by the upper one of said assemblies, means on said one end ferrule engageable with said bracket for supporting said fuse in position within said assemblies independently of engagement of said ferrules with said assem blies, and means carried by each of said assemblies and operable from a remote point by said stick for forcing the contact portions of said assemblies into and out of positive pressure contact with the associated ferrules.

24. A contact clip assembly for an electric circuit terminal member comprising a U-shaped clip formed to receive said terminal member, camming means on opposite sides of one leg of said clip, and rotatable means for selectively actuating said camming means to cause said clip to grip and release said terminal member.

25. A contact clip assembly for an electric circuit terminal member comprising a pair of flexible contact fingers arranged and adapted to receive said terminal member therebetween, a pair of clamp plates positioned on opposite sides of said contact fingers, cam means on one of said fingers, cam means on one of said clamp plates, and means operatively engaging both said cam means and rotatable to effect and release the contact engagement between said contact fingers and said terminal member.

26. A contact clip assembly adapted to be located in a relatively inaccessible position for contact engagement with a ferrule of a fuse device or the like comprising, in combination, a pair of relatively movable contact fingers arranged and adapted to receive said ferrule, means operatively associated with said contact fingers for moving them into and entirely out of contact engagement with said ferrule, and remotely operable means operatively connected to said last named means for effecting the operation thereof.

27. A contact clip assembly adapted to be located in a relatively inaccessible position for contact engagement with a ferrule of a fuse device or the like comprising, in combination, a pair of relatively movable contact fingers arranged and adapted to receive said ferrule, cam means operatively associated with said contact fingers for moving them into and entirely out of contact engagement with said ferrule, and remotely operable means rotatable through a partial revolution and operatively connected to said cam i means for eifecting the operation thereof.

28. The combination'with a pair of relatively movable contact members disposed to engage a ferrule of a fuse device therebetween at a relatively inaccessible location, of means for moving said contact members relative to each other, an operating arm operatively connected to said means and rotatable therewith in a plane substantially parallel to and along one side of the fuse device whereby the fuse device does not interfere with movement of the arm from one opcrating position to another, and a socket carried by said arm for receiving the offset prong of a switch stick.

29. The combination of claim 28 wherein said socket is provided with an outflared mouth to guide said prong into operative engagement therewith.

30. The combination of claim 28 wherein said socket is provided with an inwardly extending flange to retain said prong in operative engagement therewith and is further provided with a closed end portion to prevent said prong from extending therethrough and damaging said fuse device on remote operation of said arm.

31. A contact clip assembly for an electric circuit terminal member comprising a pair of contact means arranged and adapted to receive said terminal member therebetween, a pair of cam members disposed on the outer surface of one of said contact means, an arm mounted for rotation relative to said one contact means, and a pair of cam members on said arm arranged and adapted to individually operatively engage said cam members on said one contact means for moving said contact means into contact engagement with said terminal member.

82. A contact clip assembly for an electric circuit terminal member comprising a pair of relatively movable contact means arranged and adapted to receive said terminal member therebetween, a first pair of cam members symmetrically disposed on the inner surface of one of said contact means, a second pair of cam members symmetrically disposed'on the outer surface of one or said contact means, and rotatable means cooperating with said first and second pairs of cans members for moving both said contact means into or out of contact engagement with said terminal member.

33. A contact clip assembly for an electric circuit terminal member comprising a pair of relativeiy movable contact means arranged and adapted to receive said terminal member therebetween, a first pair of cam members symmetrically disposed on the inner surface of one of said contact means, a second pair of cam members symmetrically disposed on the outer surface of one of said contact means coaxially with said first pair of cam members and in substantially the same plane therewith, a shaft mounted for rotatron about the common axis of said pairs of cam.

members, a first operating means carried by said shaft for engagingsaid first pair of cam members, and a second operating means carried by said shaft in a plane substantially at right angles to the plane containing said first operating means Z for engaging said second pair of cam members, the rotation of said shaft causing successive movement oi both said contact means into and out of contact engagement with said terminal member.

as. For combination with means for mounting electric circuit controlling means on upper and lower circuit terminah, a contact clip carried by said upper circuit terminal, means for supporting said circuit controlling means on said upper circuit terminal independently or said contact clip, means for clamping said clip to said circuit controlling means independently of said supporting means, and means for releasing said clamp= ing means.

35. For combination with means for mounting electric circuit controlling means on upper and lower circuit terminals, a contact clip carried by said upper circuit terminal, means for supporting said circuit controlling means on said upper circuit terminai independently of said contact clip, means on circuit controlling means for receiving a hook stick to place the same in position on said supporting means, means for clamp-= ing said clip to said circuit controlling means independently or" said supporting means, means on said clamping means for receiving a hook stick to operate the some, and means operable by a hook stick for releasing said clamping means.

ALLAN RAMSEY.

Images