US2213657A

US2213657A - Front operated switch

Info

Publication number: US2213657A
Application number: US234528A
Authority: US
Inventors: Raymond N Rowe
Original assignee: Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Co
Current assignee: Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Co
Priority date: 1938-10-12
Filing date: 1938-10-12
Publication date: 1940-09-03
Anticipated expiration: 1957-09-03
Also published as: USRE22559E

Description

Sept. 3,k 14940. R N, RQWE 2,213,657

FRONT OPERATED SWITCH Filed 001,. 12, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTOR Sept. 3, 1940. R, N ROW. 2,213,657

FRONT OPERATED SWITCH Filed oor. 12,1938 2 sneets-sneet'z INVENTOR Patented Sept. 3, 1940v PAT-ENT OFFICE FRONT OPERATED SWITCH Raymond N. Rowe, Plainvlle, Conn., assignor to The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut Application October 12, 1938, Serial No. 234,528

10 Claims.

This invention` relates to front operated switches, particularly to switches with dust proof enclosures.

One object of my invention is to provide a type -of switch box with an external operating handle which can be used to receive any suitable form of lever actuated switch.

Another object is to provide switch throwing mechanism that is adapted to be used with a pr'eassembled type of snap switch mechanism.

Another object is to provide an enclosed switch construction that can be actuated equally well with the cover either open or closed.-

Another object is to provide a front operated enclosed switch in which the external switch throwing handle and associated parts aremounted on the cover of the box or receptacle and yet do -not interfere with the closing of the cover regardless of the' position of the switch parts.

Another object is to provide a front operated enclosed switch in which the external switch throwing handle and associated parts are carried by the cover and movable therewith without disturbing the interior switch parts.

Another object is to provide a iront operated enclosed switch with means for operatively connecting the external operating handle to the intei-nal switch throwing mechanism while the cover is closed on the box.

Another object is to provide a front operated enclosed switch with automatic means for moving the external switch throwing handle and associated parts to an "oi position upon `the opening ofthe cover.

, Another object is to provide switch throwing mechanism that-is easilyassembled and disassembled.

Another object is to provide such switch actuating mechanism that is simple and compact in construction and positive and certain in action.

Another object is to provide such .a front operated enclosed switch in which the cover and the external switch throwing mechanism form a unitary structure.V

In the preferred form of my invention, the box is of a conventional form but provided'with a handle pivoted onthe front of the cover and a movable member on the inside of the cover connected to the handle and provided with partsI adapted to coact with `the opera-ting lever of a switch unit mounted inside of the box in such a way as to permit the cover to be closed regardless ofthe position of the interior lever and to ensure automatic operative connection of the Voutside handle with the interior lever when the exterior handle is moved to a position to correspond with the position of the lever.

Fig. 1 is a front view of an enclosed front operated switch embodying one form of my invention, with part of the cover being broken away to show part of the switch throwing mechanism.

Fig. 2 isa side view with part o f the box being broken away to show the interior, the parts being shown in their operative relation.

Fig. 3 is a front view of the switch with the details of the switch per sevbeing omitted.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of .my improved switch with the cover open.

Fig. 5 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but showing the cover closed with the inside switch lever in the on position while the external handle is in the oi position.

Fig. 6 is a transverse section generally on the plane of line 6 6 of Fig. 2.

- Fig.. 'l is a front view, on a reduced scale, showing a modification of my invention, parts being broken away to show the interior.

In the form of my invention 'shown 'the box I6 has a cover II hinged at I2. The top edge of the box is provided with a felt or other suitable gasket I3 to prevent dust'etc. from entering into the box when the cover is closed.

2,102,545 or No. 2,126,412 and suitably mounted in the body of the box.

A switch throwing handle I5 is pivoted to the cover on the outside and is connected to the arm I6 inside by means of a pairof pins or studs I'I `which extend inwardly through the cover and pass through a washer or'disc I8 interposed between the arm I6 and the cover.

Inside of the cover II and slidably or other- -wise suitably supported by grooved studs I9 is a plate 20; Carried by this plate are two spring arms 2|, .one end of veach arm being fixed to the plate and its other end being free and normally y bent away from the plate with a space 22 between the free endsof the arms.

The bifurcated lever or arm I6 is arranged on the inside of the cover and its bifurcated end engages a stud v23 on plate 20 at one side of its center line.

.piece upon the closing of the cover.

The plate 20 may have outstruck ears 20 on opposite edges to limit movement of the plate in either direction.

When the parts are in operative relationthe tip of the lever I4 extends into the space 22 between the ends of the'arms 2| so that by swinging the handle I from one side to the other the switch may be actuated.

The outermost portions of the spring arms 2| Yextend into the box beyond the outermost end of the nger piece I4 when the cover is closed and being of spring material yield when and if they come-into contact with the end of the finger The arm 2l contacting the top of the lever or finger piece I4 upon closing the cover may be slid along it by the handle l5 until the arm slides off the lever I4 and the arms 2I become interlocked with said lever I4. Further movement of the handle I5 will move the finger piece I4 and switch parts to either on or off position.

The arrangement of the parts preferably is such that upon opening movement of the cover, the weight of the parts will cause the plate and connected parts to fall by gravity to the off? circuit position of Fig. 1. This automatically places the switch throwing mechanism in proper position for operative connection with the switch actuating finger piece I4 which ordinarily will have been thrown to off circuit position before the opening of the cover.

From Fig. 5 it will be seen that the cover can be closed even with the finger lever I4 in the on position. The handle I5 may'then be moved to the on" position in which the spring arms 2l will snap into connection with the lever I4.

A guard member24 having an opening 25 for receiving a padlock or seal (not shown) may be provided to secure the handle I5 if desired. The cover I I may be held closed on the box by a screw 26 which is adapted to engage a screw threaded lug 21 on the inside of the box. The cover may be sealed to the box by a padlock or seal (not shown) passing through the openings 28 in the spaced lugs 29 directly over the head of screw 26.

It will be understood that the improved switch throwing mechanism may be used to actuate the movable switch member of any type of switch or circuit breaker which is operated by a front lever or toggle type handle.

The spring arms 2I permit the cover to be closed regardless of the position of the handle I5 or of the lever I4 because the arms yield and ride over the projecting end of the finger piece if not in their proper operative positions and will automatically interlock Yas soon as the handle I5 is moved sufliciently.

In the modification shown in Figure'l there is a box with a cover 3|, hinged at 32, and with a conventional cover catch or screw 33 for holding the cover closed. A handle 34. similarto the handle I5 of the other form, is pivoted on the outside of the cover, and fixed, to this handle is a plate 35 on the inside of the cover. Pivotal movement of the handle will result in direct arcuate movement of the plate 35.

Secured to this plate are two spring arms 36, which are similar to the spring arms 2|, with their free ends bent away fromthe plate and spaced from each other to receive' the lever or nger p iece 31 of a switch 38. Inthis form, as in the other, in whichv the device is installed, as usual gravity will urge the switch throwing mechanism to the oil position illustrated in Figure -7. The spring arms will allow the cover to be closed even if the position of outer handle and inner lever do not coincide, and will alsosnap into engagement with the switch lever 31 when they are moved to proper position.

I claim:

l. Afront actuated enclosed switch including a box open at the front and having a cover hinged at one edge, 'switch mechanism mounted in the box and having an actuating lever with a free end projecting toward the cover, a carrier movably supported by the cover at the inside of the cover, and movable therewith, spring pressed members carried by said carrier and having a space to receive the free end of the lever when' the cover is closed, said members and said lever having coacting surfaces outside of said space shaped so that when the cover is closed said members will yield upon engaging said lever, and an external handle at the front of the cover connected to said carrier and moving the same to engage the lever in said space.

2. In a front actuated switch, a box -having a lever in certain positions, at least a part of said means engaging the lever and yielding toward .the cover in case the cover is closed when the space is not in position to receive the end of the lever.

3. In a front actuated switch, a box having a. cover hinged thereto, switch mechanism within the box having an operating lever' with an end projecting toward the cover, an actuating handle carried by the cover at the outer face thereof, a connec'ting device mounte on the inside 'of the cover and connected to the handle and including means at least a part of which includes a flat inclined spring with a movableend, said means having a space adjacent said end to receive the end of the lever, said spring engaging the lever and yielding toward the cover in case the cover is closed when the space is not in position to receive the end of the lever.

4.In a switch, a box having a cover hinged thereto, a circuit breaker inv the box having a lever projecting toward thecover, a handle pivoted to the cover and movable therewith, a carrier mounted lon the inside of the cover and connected to the handle, spring pressed connecting means carried bysaid carrier and normally pressed toward and engaging the handle when the cover is closed, said carrier, said handle and said connecting means being so balancedas to automatically move to the oi position when the cover is opened and the handle released, said connecting means yielding toward the cover when the cover is closed while the lever is in the "on position and the handle is in the oif position.

5. An enclosed switch including a box, a movable cover for said box, switch mechanism in the box including a pivotal finger piece for moving the movable switch member, a movable handle on the outside of said cover and means of connection between the handle and nger piece whereby said nger piece is actuated', said means including a member on said handle extending interiorly of the cover, a plate movably suppe-:ted on the inside of said cover and operatively connected to said handle, a pair of projections carried by said plate and adapted to be moved into position to actuate said finger piece and means to limit the movement of the plate, a spring arm support for at least one of the projections adapted to yield when the cover is closed while the switch lever is in the on position and the handle is in the off position, said plate being then movable by means of the external handle to the on position so as to position the projections on opposite sides of the switch lever.

6. An enclosed switch including a box, a movable cover for said box, switch mechanism in the box including a finger piece protruding from saidmechanism for moving the movable switch member, a movable handle on the outside of said' cover and normally disengageable means of connection between the handle and finger piece whereby said iinger piece is actuated, said handle and means of connection being adapted to be automatically moved to oli circuit position upon the opening of the cover, said means of connection including two projections carried by the cover at least one of which consists ofa spring arm adapted to yield when the cover is closed in case the switch lever is in a position to otherwise obstruct the movement of the cover.

7. An enclosed switch including a box, a movable cover for said box, switch mechanism in the box including a nger piece for vmoving the movable switch member, a movable handle on the outside of said cover and means of connection between the handle and nger piece whereby said iinger piece is actuated including a slidable platecarried by the cover and adapted .to vbe moved by gravity to "ofP position upon the opening of the cover whereby the operating handle is moved to o position, said plate having two projections with a space between them to normally `receive the tip of the iinger piece, at least one of said projections having aA spring arm adapted to yield to permit the plate to be moved to a position in which the tip of the lever can be received between the projections if the cover is closed when the finger piece is in line with the a pair of spaced spring arms carried by said plate and adapted to be moved into position to yengage said finger piece, said plate and iirst named arm being so arranged that the movable handle and associated parts are automatically 6 moved to oi position upon the opening of the cover, said arms being resilient and yieldable to permit proper connection between the arms and the nger piece should the cover be closed when the arms are not in position to normally engage the nger piece.

9. An enclosed switch including a box, a movable cover for said box, switch mechanism in the box including a pivotal finger piece protruding from said mechanism for moving the movable switch member, a movable handle on the outside of the cover and means of connection between the handle and finger piece whereby said nger piece'is actuated, said means including-a member on said handle extending interiorly of the cover, a slidable. plate operatively connected to the handle and a pair of spring arms carried by said plate, each spring arm having one end xed 'to said plate and its other en d extending freely outwardly and toward the other arm, the free ends of said spring arms being spaced from each other to receive the nger piece between them, said spring arms when the cover is closed being arranged so as to engage said nger piece and so as to be moved into interlocking engage'- ment with the nger piece by the outside handle whereby movement of the plate will move the iinger piece, said'arms being yieldable to permit thecover to be closed even when the finger piece is not in a position to t between the ends of the arms, said arms permitting proper connection of the arms and the iinger piece by moving the slidable plate after the cover is closed should the cover be closed when the parts are not in position to automatically engage.

10. A box for containing an electric switch having a pivoted actuating lever, said box having a. body portion adapted to support the switch in a position with its actuating lever projecting for-v wardly, a cover` hinged to one edge of the box body, a handle pivoted to the cover on an axis `perpendicular to the plane of the cover, a plate mounted on the inside of the cover and connected to the handle so that the handle may move the plate, two spring arms carried by the plate 50 `be closed when they are not in position to engage automatically.

RAYMOND N. ROWE.

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