US2224848A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 17, 1940. L. w. COLE arm.

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 29, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet l H w E m 5 m 5 mg m (Ma 6 6. W2 5. l i wa I) w m S l. m .P O T m M C Dec. 17, 1940. 1 'w. COLE EI'AL 2,224,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 29, 1937 v 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Snnentors 1 (Ittorneg Dec. 17, 1940. w COLE EI-AL 2,224,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Sept. 29, 1937 will, IIIIIIIII. \\\\\\\\\\Q\\\\\\\\\\\\\\\ 1L 3rme'ntor5 A 00/5 W. C 01.5, CHRISTOPHER J. mra, a IVA-49E Jam/$5M.

Gttorneg Dec. 17, 1940.

L. w. COLE ETAL 24, 48

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed Sept. 29, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z'mventors AOL/u, W, COLE, Ora/s rap/151a Z", -SM/r/r 13 H51. 95 JAM/551M (Zttorneg Patented Dec. 17, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRIC SWITCH tion of New York Application September 29, 1937, Serial No. 166,314

20 Claims.

The present invention relates to switches and more particularly to quick make and break switches arranged within a casing and operable by means of a handle mounted on the casing externally thereof.

The primary objects of the invention are to provide a compact safety switch which is simple in construction and reliable in operation and in which the arc which is formed when the circuit is interrupted is completely covered so that it is practically impossible for the operator to make contact therewith even when the casing cover is in open position. 7

It is also an object of the invention to provide a switch in which the fuses are readily accessible and which can be inserted, removed and replaced substantially without danger.

Another object of the invention is to provide a switch of the character described with flexible stationary contact members and self-aligning movable contacts engageable between said stationary members.

The invention also has for an object the provision of an operating handle of improved construction and more specifically a handle which is easy to grasp and operate, which is of light weight yet rugged in construction, which can be made of a single piece of sheet metal by simple stamping and die forming operations whereby said handle can be economically manufactured; also to provide a handle which eliminates the necessity for intermediate spacing washers when fastened in operative engagement with the mechanism on the interior of the casing, "and to provide a handle which is operable through a.circular hole in a wall of the switch casing.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an improved quick make and break mechanism which has a minimum number of simple 40 parts and in which the rate of movement of the movable switch contact member is independent of the rate of movement of the handle after the initial movement thereof. Further objects in this connection are to provide a quick make and 45 break mechanism which may be easily assembled and disassembled without the use of special tools, to make such mechanism from parts stamped from sheet metal and economical to fabricate and assemble, and to provide a quick make and break 50 mechanism which makes unnecessary the use of small pins, rivets, eyelets or the like.

Another objector the invention is to provide an improved lock between the switch operating mechanism and the casing cover whereby the 55 cover cannot be opened unless the switch is in circuit interrupting position and whereby the switch cannot be operated to circuit closing position unless the casing cover is closed.

A yet further object ofthe invention is generally to improve the construction, operation, and 6 safety of electric switches.

The above objects of the invention and other objects ancillary thereto will be fully understood from the following description considered with reference to the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a view in elevation of the switch showing the casing cover in open position;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 2a is a detail sectional view on the line 2a2a of Fig. 2;

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on the line 3I of Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a bottom view of a switch block made in accordance with the present invention:

Fig. 5 is a sectional view on the line 55 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 6 is a sectional view on the line 6-6 of Fig.

.Fig. 7 is a fragmentary elevational view, partly in section, illustrating the interlock;

Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of the switch operating mechanism and part of the easins;

Fig. 9 is a view in elevation of part of the easing wall and of the switch operating handle mounted in position therein;

Fig. 10 is a rear view in elevation of the switch operating handle detached from the casing;

Fig. 11 is a sectional view on the line Il-Il of Fig. 9.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, it will be observed that the switch is housed within a metal casing it provided with a pivoted cover I: and a spring latch i4 welded at its lower oflset end portion It to the inner surface of casing wall l8 and provided with a catch 20 adjacent its upper end which is releasably engageable with cover I! at an edge 22 of an open ing through said cover.

Switch blocks 24, which carry the stationary contact members, the fuses, and the switch terminals are mounted within casing ID in parallel relation and are removably secured to a wall 28 of said casing in any suitable manner as by 28. As blocks 24 may be identical in construction a description of one of said blocks will be sufiicient.

Referring now to Figs. 1, 2 and 4, block 24,

which maybe made of any suitable insulation 7 are provided with aligned recesses 48 through which the switch operating rod 48 extends. A stationary contact member is secured to the top 88 of block 24 by means of a bolt 52 and has a refiexed portion 54 which projects through a slot 88 in said top wall into the interior of the block, being spaced somewhat from the adjacent side 58 of the thickened top portion 80 of the block. A companion stationary contact member 82 is fastened to top 86 adjacent side wall 48 by means of a screw 84 and extends across and completely covers an opening 86 in the topof the block disposed between thickened portion 80 and the inner surface of side wall 88. Said stationary contact member 82 has a refiexed portion 88 a part of which lies closely adjacent the inner surface of side wall 88 and part 10 of which is spaced from said side wall and is disposed in confronting relation to portion 54 of stationary switch contact member 50. As thus arranged said stationary switch contact members have flexible portions 54 and 10 which, as will hereinafter appear, are engaged by the movable switch contact member I2 for completing the circuit.

It will be observed that screw 64 which secures swigrcontact member 62 in position constitutes one terminal of the switch and for that purpose is provided with a nut I4 threaded thereon for releasably securing the terminal end of the conductor or a connector terminal (not. shown) of any suitable construction. It will also be observed that bolt '52 which secures stationary contact member 50 in positionalso servesto secure fuse clip 16 in fixed electrical and mechanical connection with said stationary contact member on the top 88 of block 24. The other fuse clip I8 is secured by a screw 80 in fixed electrical and mechanical connection with aterminal contac't member 82 fastened to the top of the block by a U-shaped and is rigidly fastened to insulation member 80 preferably in the manner illustrated from which it appears that opposite sides 82 of said switch contact member are in engagement with opposite sides of said'insulation member.

Insulation member 80 is provided with a slot 94 in which member I2 is inserted and a slot 88 in which tongues 88 projecting from sides 82 of switch member 12 are bent for rigidly securing said switch member to insulation member 80.

Said insulation member is provided with a slot I00 through which operating rod 48 projects preferably in rather loose fitting relation therewith whereby said insulation member and said movable switch contact member'12 carried thereby may be moved into and out of engagement with stationary switch contact members 80 and 82. It will be observed that by the construction just described there is provided an important feature of the present invention, namely, the flexible stationary contact member in combination with a movable contact which is self-aligning therebetween, and for thelatter purpose it is preferred that the opening I00 in the insulation member 80 be dimensioned so as to permit said member to slide on rod 48 in frictional engagement therewith.

As illustrated in Fig. 2 insulation member 80 is dimensioned so that it is disposed between said stationary switch contact members forming a barrier to the arc which may be drawn when the movable switch contact member is moved to circult interrupting position. Movement of insulation member 80 takes place within passage I02 formed in said block in alignment with the spaced stationary contact portions 54 and 10. A plurality of spaced ribs I04 are disposed in confronting relation on the inner surface of the walls of said passage I02 for interrupting the continuity of said walls and thereby preventing the formation of continuous coatings of conducting material which might otherwise be deposited on said walls after repeated operations of the switch. Said ribs are preferably formed of the material of said block in integral relation with the walls of passage I02 when the block is molded into shape.

Rod 48 on which the movable switch members are mounted for pivotal movement in relation to the stationary contact members is pivotally mounted at its ends in bearing openings IIB formed in bearing'members II2 and H4 secured preferably by welding to casing :wall 26. As clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 8, openings IIO are defined by opposed arcuate edges H6 and by opposed pointed edges H8 and I20, said last mentioned pointed edges serving as knife-edge bearings for rod 48. A cap I22 is welded to bearing member H4 and is provided with a recessed portion I24 in alignment with opening III! in said bearing member for receiving an end portion of rod 48 for limiting the longitudinal movement of said rod in one direction.

Rod 48 is actuated by a handle I26 through a quick make and break mechanism which will now be described. Said mechanism comprises a lever I21 mounted on rod 48. Said lever is constituted as here shown by a metal plate having an opening I28 through which rod 48 projects. As clearly shown in Fig. 3 opening I28 is defined by opposed arcuate edges I80 and by opposed pointed edge I32. Said last mentioned edges provided knife edge bearings between said lever and rod 48 and said opening; flaring from said knife edges toward said arcuate edges thereby provide for limited relative movement between said lever and said rod to aid in producing a quick opening of the switch. Lever plate I2I hasspaced projections I34 and I86 and an intermediate arcuate edge portion I88. Projection I34 is provided with an opening I40 which communicates with an open-end slot I42. Said projection is engaged by the forked end I44 of. a rod I48. Said forked end of the rod is provided with an opening I48 and with shoulders I50. Said end of rod I48 is connected to projection I84 by engaging said end with opening I40 through slot I42, the spaced portions of projection I 34 at opposite sides of said slot being received within opening I48 in said jl'Od, and movable therein, whereby said rod and lever are pivotally connected. I Y

The other end portion of rod I I6 is slidably engageable with abracket I62 secured preferably by welding to casing wall I6. For this purpose bracket I62 is provided with an abutment portion I64 having an open-end slot I66 therein through which said end portion of rod I46 projects for sliding movement. A compression spring I66 surrounds rod I" and has a bearing at one end thereof on shoulders I66 of said rod and bears at its other end on abutment I66. The bifurcated ends I69 of said abutment are reflexed somewhat to prevent unintentional disengagement of rod I46 and spring I66 from bracket I62. By the arrangement thus provided lever 121 is effective to rock operating rod 66 with a snap action in both directions after movement of said lever is initiated by handle I26 in the manner which will hereinafter appear. Movement of rod 46 in either direction is limited by the engagement of edges I29 and I3I with the foot I33 of bearing member H2 and also by the pointed edges of openings III. Said foot I33 being welded to casing wall 26 is a part of the casing, but as said edges I29 and I3I of lever I21 hit with considerable force it is desirable to provide for their engagement with foot I33 instead of directly with wall 26, thus preventing loosening of the connection of said bearing member with said wall.

For initiating movement of lever I21, handle I26 is operatively connected to said lever by a connecting plate I66 which is rigidly secured to said handle by screws I62. Connecting plate I66 has a lost motion connection with lever I21, and for that purpose said connecting plate is provided with an integral U-shaped extension I66 which as clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 5 straddles lever plate I21 at the intermediate portion I36 thereof between plate projections I36 and I36 in position to engage either of said projections and thereby to move the lever in either direction first in opposition to the action of the spring projected rod I46 which is subsequently operative, as previously described, to move said lever by snap action in the direction of its initial movement by handle I26 and connecting plate I66. I

An important feature of the present invention resides in the construction ofhandle I26 and its. pivotal mounting in casing wall I6. First, with respect to the mounting of said handle, it will be observed that the latter is provided with a hub portion I66 which has a plurality of struck-out portions I66 the free edges of which lie substantially in the arc of a circle concentric with the center of said hub portion. Said hub portion is also provided with a pair of outwardly pressed circular projections I16 defining openings through which fastening screws I62 project for connecting handle I26 to connecting plate I66. Said projections I16 are positioned in tangential relation to and on the inside of the circle in which the outer edges of tongues I 66 lie. Said circle is substantially of the same size as circular opening I12 provided in casing wall I6 whereby the outer edges of tongues I66 and circular projections I16 have a bearing in the edge of said opening. By reason of this construction it is unnecessary to provide a spacing washer between handle hub I66 and connecting plate I66. A washer I16 is interposed between the outer surface of easing wall I6 and the adjacent surface of handle hub I66 whereby to frictionally retain handle I26 in any positionthrough its range of movement regardless of the lost -motion connection between plate I66 and lever I21. Stop members I16 are secured to the outer'suri'ace of casing wall I6, preferably by welding, for limiting the movement of handle I26 in either direction.

The novel construction of handle I26 will now be further described. As here shown said handle is provided with a spherical hand grip I16 and with a shank I66, integral with each other and with hub I66. For this purpose handle I26 is formed from a single sheet of suitable metal such as sheet steel by suitable die stamping and bending operations. More particularly, after the sheet metal blank from which the handle is made is cut to the necessary shape, said blank is bent into the form shown for providing the handle and is welded at a median line I62 in the spherical portion I16. Shank I66 of the handle is con- I stltuted by two longitudinal extending transversely curved portions I66 which merge at their desirable to provide an interlock between the casing cover and the switch operating mechanism, whereby to prevent opening of the casing before the switch is moved to circuit interrupting position and to prevent movement of the switch to circuit closing position unless the switch cover is closed. For this purpose the interlock which will now be described is preferred. As here shown, more particularly in Figs. 3 and 7, a pivoted lever I 66 is arranged for engagement with connecting disk I 66 and with a pin I96 fixed to casing cover I2 and projecting inwardly from the side edge I92 of said cover (Fig. 1). Lever I66 is provided intermediate its ends with bearing opening I62 by which said lever is journalled on a bearing I96 constituted by an inwardly pressed projection formed, in a plate I96. Said plate is reniovably secured to the inner surface of casing wall I6 by screws I96. The intermediate portion 266 of plate I96 is pressed outwardly from side plate portions 262 to provide room for lever I66, the inner surface of plate portion 266 and the adjacent surface of easing wall I6 forming a guide for the pivotal movement of said lever. The upper edge portion of plate I96 is provided with a cut-out 266 which registers with a similar cut-out 266 formed in casing wall I6 for receiv- I ing cover pin I66 when the cover is in closed position. One end of lever I66 is provided with an angularly disposed slot 266 in which pin I96 is received, said slotted portion of the lever constituting a latch to retain said pin against outward movement in certain positions of said lever. The other end of lever I66 is provided with a finger 2I6 which engages connecting plate I 66 and is normally in engagement with the-circumferential edge of said plate and when so engaged prevents release of pin I96 from the hook portion of the lever and thereby prevents opening of the cover. I

Connecting'plate I66 is provided with a recess 2I2 in a circumferential edge portion thereof disposed so that when said connecting plate has been moved to open the switch, finger 2 I6 can enter said recess to permit pivotal movement of lever I89 for releasing pin I96. Such movement of the lever is effected by a spring 214 secured at one end thereof between spaced inwardly pressed portions 2I6 and 2I6 of plate I96 and bearing at its other end on an edge of said lever.

said shoulder and thereby prevents movement of connecting plate I60, thus preventing movement of said plate for closing the switch, but when cover I2 is closed pin I60 engages in the slot 200 of lever I66 and thereby moves said lever to withdraw finger 2 I0 from recess 2I2 and from engagement with shoulder 220, thereby releasing plate I60 fromsaid lever for operation of the latter by handle I26 to effect the closing of the switch. In the construction described above it will be apparent that the switch parts,- including the switch block or blocks, the quick make and break mechanism, and the operating handle maybe readily assembled in the casing and also readily disassembled, and that a minimum of fastening elements are utilized. It will be noted that rod 46 having the insulation disks 60 and lever plate I21 assembled thereon may be readily inserted in bearings H2 and H4, by inserting one end portion of said rod through opening H0 in bearing H2 and then moving said rod in a reverse direction to engage the opposite end thereof with the opening in bearing II4. Movement of rod 46 through opening H0 is permitted because of the presence of circular opening I12 in casing wall I8 which is in alignment with the opening in bearing II2. After rod 46 is positioned in its bearings, rod I 46 with spring I56 assembled thereon is engaged at its forked end I44 with projection I34 and at its other end with abutment I54 of bracket I52. When rod I46 and lever I21 are thus connected, said lever plate lies adjacent to the upstanding portion of bearing I I2. After said rod and lever are connected, plate I60 is positioned in operative engagement to said lever and is connected to handle I26 by screws I62. It will be observed that lever plate I21 is held in position adjacent bearing I I 2 by the free side of U-shaped projection I64 of plate I60. It will be observed also that longitudinal movement of rod 48 in 50 bearing H2 is prevented by connecting plate I60 which is spaced but .a small distance from hearing II2. After the operating mechanism is assembled switch blocks 24 are mounted in'position and secured to casing wall 26, the insulation disks 90 with the movable contact members carried thereby being disposed within passages I02 for engagement with and disengagement from companion stationary contact members 54 and 10. By reason of the flexibility of said stationaryso contact members and the mounting of the insulation disks on rod 46 for movement longitudinally thereof, said movable contact members are substantially self-aligning for assembly purposes as well as for engagement with the stationary contacts in the operation of the switch.

-Reverting to the switch mechanism, a feature of substantial importance resides in the provision of means for preventing the switch from being retained in closed position which mightothe'rwise occur, notwithstanding theoperation of the handle to switch opening position, by reasonfof the friction between the relatively movable parts and the necessity for spring projected rod I46 15 thisvpurpose there is provided a coil spring 200 spring projected rod I46and lever I21 is broken to overcome its dead center withlever I21. For

disposed about switch operating rod 40 and hearing at one end 202 against an out-turned ear portion 204 of connecting plate I and at its other end portion 206 against a struck-out portion 200 on plate I 21, said last mentioned end 5 portion being provided with a reflexed part 240 projected into an opening.242 in said last mentioned plate. It will be observed that the action 01' spring 200 is to assist spring I56 iii-moving plate I21 to circuit opening positionand that said spring by opposing the movement of connecting plate I64, which is connected to handle I26, is effective to return the handle to circuit closing position unless the dead center between by the movement of said lever to circuit interrupting .position, in which case handle I26 is also moved to circuit interrupting position. In other words, should handle I26 be moved in a direction to open the switch but without actually effecting such opening, upon release of handle I26 spring 200 will operate to return said handle to circuit closing position which will serve to indicate that the switch has not been opened. It will be observed also that spring 200, by opposing the movement of lever I21 to circuit closing position, cushions the movement of said lever beyond its dead center with spring projected rod I46 and thereby serves to decrease the impact and consequent noise which might otherwise occur when said lever strikes the foot I03 of bearing member I2.

While we have shown and described the pre-' ferred embodiment of the invention it will be understood that the invention may 'be embodied otherwise than as here shown, and that in the construction specifically illustrated ordescribed herein, certain changes may be made within the spirit of the invention and will occur to those skilled in the art particularly in view 01' the present disclosure; Therefore, we do not wish to be limited precisely to the construction herein shown or described or to any part thereof or to all of the features of the invention in combination unless required by the appended claims considered with reference to the prior art.

What we claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing members secured in said casing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearing members for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, an insulating block secured in said casing and provided with stationary contact members, a movable switch contact member operable by said rod and engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact members, and means including a handle accessible externally of said casing for actuating said rod, said last mentioned means including also a member mounted on said rod for turning the latter, said member having a limited'turning movement in relation to said rod and having parts engageable with said casing at the end of the turning movement of said member in opening and closing the switch 2. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing members secured in said casing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearing members for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, an insulating block secured in said casing 'and provided with stationary contact members, a movable switch contact member operable by said rod and engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact members, one of said bearing members having a foot 7 portion secured to said casing wall and means including a handle accessible externally of said casing for actuating said rod, said last mentioned means including also a member mounted on said rod for turning the latter, said member having a limited movement in relation to said rod and having parts engageable with said foot portion at the end of the turning movement of said member in opening and closing the switch.

3. In an electric switch, a casing, stationary contact members in said casing, a rod mounted in said casing for pivotal movement in diiferent directions about its longitudinal axis, a movable switch member mounted on said rod and provided with a contact member engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact members upon movement of said rod in said different directions, respectively, a handle mounted in said casing and operably externally thereof, a lost motion connection between said handle and said rod comprising a plate mounted on said rod and operable to impart pivotal movement thereto, said plate having spaced peripheral projections, and a connecting member fixed to said handle and operable thereby to selectively engage said projections for initiating the movement of said rod in a predetermined direction, and spring actuated means operatively connected to said plate i'or completing the movement of said rod in the same direction, said plate having parts engageable with said casing for limiting the movement of said spring actuated means in said direction.

4. In an electric switch, a casing, stationary contact members in said casing, a rod mounted in said casing for pivotal movement in different directions about its longitudinal axis, a movable switch member mounted on said rod and provided with a contact member engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact members upon movement of said rod in different directions, respectively, said casing having a wall provided with an opening, a handle operable externally of the casing rotatably mounted in said opening, said handle having an integral part in rotary engagement with the edge of said wall of the casing at said opening therein, said edge of the wall constituting a bearing for said handle, a member associated with said rod for pivotally moving the same, and means releasably engageable directly with said last mentioned member and removably connected directly to said handle and operable thereby for actuating said last mentioned member, said last mentioned means also serving to retain said integral part of the handle in said opening.

5. In an electric switch, a casing. bearing members secured in said casing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearing members for pivotal movement about its longit' dinal axis, said bearing members having surface portions which engage said rod to limit the pivotal movement thereof, an insulating block secured in said casing and provided with stationary contact members, a movable switch contact member operable by said rod and engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact members, said casing having a wall provided with an opening substantially in alignment with said rod, and means for actuating said rod including a handle mounted for rotation in said opening. a member mounted on said rod for pivotally moving the same, said member having a limited turning movement in relation to said rod and having parts engageable with said casing at the end of the turning movement of said member in opening and closing the switch, and means removably connected to said handle and operable thereby for actuating said member.

6. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing members secured in said casing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearing members for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, an insulating block secured in said casing and provided with stationary contact members, a movable switch contact member operable by said rod and engageable with and disengageable from said stationary contact members, at least one of said bearing members having means to limit the pivotal movement of said rod, and means operable externally of said casing for actuating said rod, said last mentioned means including a member mounted on said rod, having a limited turning movement in relation thereto, and having a part engageable with said casing for limiting movement thereof in one direction.

7. In an electric switch, a casing, a bearing member secured in said casing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearing member for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, said bearing member having an opening in which said rod is received, said opening being defined by intermediate spaced confronting edges which engage opposite sides of said rod and by pairs of spaced confronting edges extending in diverging relation from said intermediate edge, said pairs of div rging edges being located at opposite sides, respectively, of said intermediate edges and engageable with said rod for limiting the pivotal movement thereof.

8. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing members secured in said casing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearing members for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, said bearing members having openings in which portions of said rod are received and which limit the turning of said rod therein, each of said openings being defined by intermediate spaced confronting edges which engage opposite sides of said rod and by pairs of spaced confronting edges extending in diverging relation from said intermediate edge, said pairs of diverging edges being located at opposite sides, respectively, of said intermediate edges and engageable with said rod for limiting the pivotal movement thereof.

9. In an electric switch, a casing, bearing mem-v bers secured in said casing and upstanding from a wall thereof, a rod mounted in said bearing members for pivotal movement about its longitudinal axis, an insulating block secured to said casing wall independently of said bearing members and provided with stationary contact members, a movable switch member positioned substantially entirely within said block and operable by said rod and having a contact member engage able with and disengageable from said stationary contact members, said block having a substantially closed wall on which said stationary members are mounted and provided with openings through which said stationary contact members extend for engagement by said movable contact member, said stationary contact members substantially closing said openings, said movable contact member being movable by said rod from a point adjacent said closed wall of said block, in engagement with said stationary contacts, to disengaged position at a point spaced a substantial distance from said stationary contacts in a direction away from said wall of said insulation block and means for operating said rod.

otally mounted in said casing, a movable switch member carried by said rod and provided with a contact member,-a hollow one-piece insulating I block secured removably to a wall of said casing over said rod separately from the latter, said block having a substantially closed wall overlying said rod and said contact member, openings in said wall, and stationary contact members mounted on said wall externally thereof and extending through said openings into said block for members upstanding from a wall of said casing, a

rod pivotally mounted in said bearing members,

a movable switch member carried by said rod and provided with a contact membena hollow onepiece insulating block'secured to said casing wall in position over said rod separately from the latter, said block having a substantially closed wall overlying said rod and said contact member, openings in said wall, and stationary contact members mounted on said wall externally thereof and extending through said openings into said block for engagement by said movable contact,

' said openings being substantially closed by said part in said opening for turning movement therestationary contact members, whereby an are which may be formed when the electric circuit is interrupted is confined within said block, said movable contact member being'movable by said rod from a point adjacent said closed wallof said block, in engagement with said stationary contacts, to disengaged position at a point spaced a substantial distance from said stationary contacts in a direction away from said wallof said insulation block the portions of said stationary contact members which are engagea-ble by said' movable contact member being spaced from the adjacent wall portions of the block to permit flexing of said portions.

12. In an electric switch, a casing having a wall provided with circular openings, stationary and movable contact members in said casing, and means operable externally of the casing through said opening for actuating said movable contact member, said means comprising a handle positioned externally of the casing and mounted for rotation in said opening, said handle having an integral part provided with a plurality of circumferentially spaced struck out portions rotatably engageable with the edge of the wall "at said opening, and means for retaining said handle 13. In an electric switch, an operating handle composed of sheet metal and having a substantially spherical hand-grip portion comprising two substantially semi-spherical parts having their edges disposed in abutting relation and welded together, a shank portion integral with said handgrip portions, and. a hub integral with said shank portion. I

14. In an electric switch, an operating handle composed of sheet metal and having a substantially spherical hand-grip portion comprising two 10. In an electric switch, a casing, a rod pivint spaced a substantial substantially semi-spherical parts having'their edges disposed in abutting relation and welded tostationary contact member, said mechanism in cluding pivoted levers and a handle having a lostmotion connection withone of said levers for initiating the movement thereof to effect disengagement of saidcontactmembers, a spring for actuating said levers under the control of said handle, and means for returning'said handle to circuit closing position unless the movement of said levers to disengage said contact members is completed.

I 16; In an electric switch, stationary and movable contact members, a quick make and break mechanism vfor moving said movable contact member into and out of engagement with said stationary contact member, said mechanism including pivoted levers and a handle having a lost-motion connection with one of said levers for initiating the movement thereof to effect disen- Easement 01' said contact members, said mechanism including-also a spring for moving said levers to engage and disengage said contact members, and means associated with said mechanism comprising a spring operative after a predetermined movement of said levers to assist said spring to complete the movement of said levers to disengage said contact members.

17. In an electric switch, stationary and movable contact members, a quick make and break mechanism for moving said movable contact member into and out of engagement with said stationary contact member, said mechanism including spring actuated toggle levers, a movable member having a lost motion connection with one of said toggle levers for moving the latter beyond dead center to open the switch, a handle for actuating said movable member, and spring means operatively connected to said movable member to return the handle, upon release thereof, to circuit closing position unless said movable member has projected said toggle leversbeycnd the dead center thereof to open the switch.

18. In an electric switch, stationary and mov- 'able contact members, a quick make and break mechanism ,ior moving said movable contact member into and out of engagement with said stationary contact member, said mechanism ineluding spring actuated toggle levers, a movable member having a lost motion connection with one of said toggle levers for moving the latter beyond dead center to open the switch, a han-' dle for actuating said. movable member, and spring means operatively connected to said movable member ,to return the handle, upon release thereof, to circuit closing position unless said movablemember has projected said toggle levers beyond the dead center thereof to open the switch, said spring means being operable upon said toggle levers to assist in the projection thereof beyond deadcenter to switch-opening position.

19. In an electric switch, stationary and movable contact members, a quick make and break mechanism for moving said movable contact 'memberintoandcutoi engagement withsaid stationary contact member, said mechanism including spring actuated toggle levers, a movable member maving a lost motion connection with one oi. said toggle levers for moving the latter be- .yonddeadcentertoopentheswitch,ahandleior actuating said movable member, and spring means connected to one of said toggle levers and engageable by said movable member to return the handle, upon release thereoi, to circuit closing position unless said movable member has procluding spring actuated toggle levers, a movable member having a lost motion connection with one of said toggle levers for moving the latter beyond dead center to open the switch, a handle for actuating said movable member, spring means connected to one of said toggle levers and engageable by said movable member to return the handle, upon release thereof, to circuit closing position unless said movable member has projected said toggle levers beyond the dead center thereof to open the switch, said spring means being stressed during the movement 01' said handle from circuit closing position toward circuit opening position whereby it is eiiective to assist the proiection of said toggle levers from dead center to circuit opening position.

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