US2239224A

US2239224A - Electrical switch

Info

Publication number: US2239224A
Application number: US267370A
Authority: US
Inventors: George W Goldner
Original assignee: James R Kearney Corp
Current assignee: James R Kearney Corp
Priority date: 1939-04-12
Filing date: 1939-04-12
Publication date: 1941-04-22
Anticipated expiration: 1958-04-22

Description

April 22, 1941.

G. w. GOLDNER ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed April l2, 1939 Il L m.

3 Sheets-Sheet l TCT ATTORNEY April 22, 1941.

G. W. GOLDNER ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed April l2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 G. W. GOLDNER ELECTRICAL SWITCH Filed April 12, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 /m//YTOE v 650/255 W. 6m @Hf/a w Wm Arr April 22, 1941.l

Patented Apr. 22, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE ELECTRICAL SWITCH George W. Goidner, St. Louis, Mo., assigner to James B.. Kearney Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation o! Missouri Application April 12, 1939, Serial No. 267,370

, (Cl. 20o-146) This invention relates generally to electrical l SCiaims.

switches and more specically to electrical .switches of the by-pass, disconnect type, the

predominant object of the invention being to provide a novel, eiilciently operating switch for manually -by-passing or removing load from electrical equipment such, i'or instance, as, induction regulators, step voltage regulators. booster transformers, and current transformers of primary metering equipment, while inspections and adjustments are being made.

The improved switch disclosed herein is embodied in unitary form and an important feature'thereoi' is 4that it is operable to perform four distinct switching operations in succession during a single operation of the switch. In other words when the improved switch is operated to take a regulator or other piece of equipment out of service, the regulator is first bypassed, then the two main switch blades are withdrawn from their contacts, after which the switch operates to interrupt passage of exciting current to the regulator. In an equivalent installation employing conventional switches for taking a regulator out of service, three switches and a small manually operated circuit breaker for interrupting exciting current, are required for each regulator. Therefore during a single operation of the improved switch disclosed herein the switching duties of four independent switches of the conventional installation are performed.

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of the improved switch disclosed herein.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the switch illustrated in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary vertical section on an enlarged scale, illustrating the mechanism which serves to interrupt exciting current when the improved switch is operated.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section taken on line 4-4 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 5 is a horizontal section taken on line 5 5 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary section illustrating the upper portion of the switch in a partially opened condition.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation of the switch, on a reduced scale, showing the switch as it appears as it approaches the fully open position.

Fig. 8 is a circuit diagram illustrating the improved switch arranged in electrical connection with an induction-type regulator.

In the drawings, wherein is shown for the purpose of illustration, merely, one embodiment of the invention. A designates the improved switch generally. 'I'he particular switch illustrated in the drawings includes a pair of spaced insulators B which are fixed to a suitable support C as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Secured to the lower insulator B by means of suitable fastening elements I is a member 2, said member 2 being provided with an outwardly extended, vertically disposed portion 2a at its approximate center to which an angular element 3 is secured by one of the fastening elements I which secure the member 2 to the lower insulator, so that said angular element is disposed with one of its legs extended vertically and its other leg extended horizontally. Secured to the member 2 is a pair of downwardly extended

terminals

4 and 5 in the form of bars, said terminals being interposed at their upper ends between bosses formed -on the member 2 and inwardly turned ears 6 of bearing members 6, and said terminal members and said bearing members being secured to the member 2 by fastening elements 'i (Fig. 5) which are anchored to saidmember 2 and pass through the terminal members and the ears of the bearing members. The bearing members Y are spaced apart as shown to the best advantage in Figs. 2 and 5 and said bearing members are provided with openings 6a formed in their outer end portions which are intended to serve a function' to be hereinafter set forth. The

terminals

4 and 5 have connected thereto at their lower ends, through the instrumentality of suitable connectors 9, electrical conductors, the conductor connected to the terminal 4 being designated by the reference character D, and the conductor connected to the terminal i being designated by the reference character E. The conductors D and E lead from the switch A to the piece of electrical equipment with which the switch is electrically associated.

'I'he improved switch disclosed herein includes two spaced apart switch blades i I and ii which are secured together by means of a plurality of insulating blocks I2 which are interposed between said switch blades and are secured thereto by fastening elements I 2'. 'Ihe switch blade i'il at its lower end is provided with an inwardly turned portion I0' (Fig. 2) which, when the switch blades are drawn outwardly and downwardly contacts with the horizontal leg ofl the angular element 3 to limit downward movement of said switch blades. The switch blades i0 and Ii are provided with trunnions I3 which are secured by riveting, 'or otherwise, to the switchelectrical contact between the

terminals

4 and 5 and the trunnions I3 of the switch blades groups of resilient contact elements I4 are provided. These groups of contacts comprise assemblies of lengths of relatively heavy Wire which are suitably anchored to the

terminals

4 and 5 and bear with considerable compressive force at their outer ends against opposite portions of the trunnions of the switch blades.

Referring now to the upper end of the switch A, the upper insulator B has secured thereto a member I5 which resembles the member 2 heretofore described as being associated with the lower insulator B. The member I5 is provided with a raised portion I5' which extends vertically at the approximate center of said member and the vertical leg I6' of a keeper I6 is arranged in longitudinal contact with said raised portion. In order to secure said keeper I6 and said member I5 to the upper insulator B a pair of fastening elements I'I are extended through said keeper and member and pass into said upper insulator. The keeper includes an upwardly inclined portion I6a, which extends from the upper end of the vertical leg of said keeper, and at the outer end of this inclined portion a head IBC is provided, said head having an extension I6d formed thereon which serves a purpose to be hereinafter set forth.

The member I5 has also secured to it by fastening elements I8' a pair of terminals I8 and I9, and these terminals have connected to them, by means of suitable connectors 20, electrical conductors D' and E' which lead to the switch from a source of electrical energy.

At the upper end of the switch, opposed contact assemblies 2| and 22 are provided, into and out of contact with which rthe switch blades I0 and II are movable. Each of these contact assemblies comprises a plurality of lengths of relatively heavy resilient wire shaped in plan as shown in Fig. 4; that is to say the lengths of wire of the opposed contact assemblies include rear portions 22a which are suitably anchored to the terminals I3 and I9 and extend outwardly therefrom, convergent portions which extend from the forward ends of the rear portions 22a, parallel portions 22c with `which the switch blades are adapted to contact, and iiared portions 22d which extend outwardly from said portions 22e. By referring to Fig. 2 it will be noted that the switch blade ID is provided at its upper end with an extension 23 which extends inwardly at an upwardly extended angle to the approximate center of the dual blade structure and upwardly beyond said angularly extended portions. Mounted at the upper end of this extension is a latch 24 which is pivoted at 25 to the extension 23, said latch being bifurcated -in part so that the extension 23 of the switch blade is located between spaced portions of the latch, and the pivot 25 being`extended through said spaced portions and through the extension 23. The latch has associated with it a torsional coil spring 26 which is coiled about the opposite ends of the pivot 25 and extends over the top of the latch in contact therewith. The ends of the torsional coil spring are anchored at opposite sides of the extension 23 to a pin 21 which is supported by said extension 23, said pin 21 serving also as a pivot for a latch operating device 28 which includes an operating ring 28a and nubs 2lbat opposite sides of the extension 23 that contact with the latch 24. The latch operating device 28 includes a bifurcated portion in which a portion of the extension 23 is disposed and the face 26e at the base of the bifurcated portion of the latch operating device is adapted to contact with the Iorward face of the extension 23 when the ring 26a is pulled downwardly to limit movement of said latch operating device with respect to said extension.

When, in the operation of the switch disclosed herein, the switch blades are moved upwardly from the open switch position to the closed switch position, the switch blades move into contact with the flared portions 22d of the opposed contact assemblies 2I and 22 and said portions 22c of the opposed contact assemblies bear with considerable force against the switch blades when the closed switch position is reached by the switch blades. Also as the switch blades approach the closed switch position the nose portion 24 of the latch 24 rides up .the inclined face I6e of the keeper I6 against the force of the torsional coil spring 26 until said nose portion passes beyond the extension I6d of said keeper at which time the torsional coil spring 26 moves the nose portion of the latch downwardly behind the extension I6d of the keeper to lock the switch blades in the closed switch position as shown in Fig. 1.

When it is desired to move the switch blades from the closed swich position to the open switch position the ring 28a of the latch operating device is pulled downwardly. This causes the nubs 28h of the latch operating device to move the lower end portion of the latch rearwardly and thereby elevate the nose portion of said latch out of engagement with the extension I6d of the keeper I6. Such movement of the latch operating device brings the lower portion of the face 28e into contact with the forward face of the extension 23 of the switch blade I0 and a continued outward and downward pull exerted on the ring of the latch operating device will draw the switch blades out of contact with the opposed Contact assemblies 2| and 22.

Pivotally supported by the keeper I6 at the point designated by the reference character 25 is a by-pass blade 30, said by-pass blade being bifurcated at its upper end as shown in Fig. 2 to provide spaced portions which are disposed at opposite sides of the head I6c of the keeper and which are pivotally attached to said keeper head by the pivot 29. The lowery portion of the by-pass blade is of greater width than the upper bifurcated portion thereof so that said wider 'lower blade portion may be drawn between and in electrical contact with the portions 22o of the opposed contact assemblies 2| and 22. The wider lower portion of the by-pass blade 30 has an opening 3I formed therein and secured to a face of said wider lower portion of the by-pass blade is a plate 32 which overhangs said opening as shown in Fig. 6. The by-pass blade 30 has a torsional spring 30 associated therewith which tends to urge the lower end of said blade outwardly. The torsional spring 30' has portions coiled about the pivot element 29 at opposite sides of the blade with the opposite ends of the spring seated in apertures formed in the blade and a bridge portion of the spring engaging a portion of the keeper I3.

Secured to the switch blade Il is a member 33 which is provided with an extension 33', saidr extension being adapted to move into and out of the opening 3| formed in the by-pass blade 3l! during certain phases of the operation of the improved switch. 'I'he extensiojl' of the member 33 is provided with an opening 34 formed therein and arranged in this openingis an element 35 which is mounted for movement with respect to said extension 33' by a pivot 33. As shown to the best advantage in Fig. 6 the element 35 is adapted to engage the portion of the plate 32 which overhangs the opening 3| so that when the switch blades |3 and are drawn outwardly out of contact with the contact assemblies 2| and 22, the lower portion of the bypass blade will also be drawn outwardly, because of engagement between the element 35 and the plate 32, to move said lower wider portion of the by-pass bl-ade into contact with the portions 22c of the contact assemblies 2| and 22.

The element 35 at its lower forward end contacts with the face 34' of the opening 34 formed in the extension 33 of the member 33, and this arrangement prevents rearward rotation of the upper portion of said element 35 when the lower portion of the by-pass blade is being drawn forwardly during outward movement of the switch blades l and by contact between said upper portion of the element 35 and the plate 32 of the by-pass blade. Also the member 33 has xed to it a fiat spring 31 which contacts at its free rearward end with the lower face of the element 35 (Fig. 6). Because of this arrangement the element 35 may rotate forwardly at its upper end to permit the upper end of the element 33 Yto ride beneath the plate 32 and snap into a position behind the lower portion of said plate when the switch blades are being moved to the closed switch position. In order to move the by-pass blade rearwardly when the switch blades I0 and are being moved to the closed switch position, the

extension 33 is provided with a pair of oppositely extending pins 38 which contact with portions of the by-pass blade at opposite sides of the opening 3|, as the switch blades approach the closed switch position, and thereby move the by-pass blade rearwardly with the rearwardly moving switch blades and Thus as the switch blades move into contact with the portions 22c of the contact assemblies 2| and 22 when the switch is being closed, the by-pass blade will be moved out of contact with said contact portions 22e to a position rearwardly thereof where the elements of the opposed contact assemblies 2| and 22 are so widely separated that the Iby-pass blade will not contact therewith.

For the purpose of limiting forward movement of the by-pass blade 30 the head lic of the keeper I6 is provided with an abutment 33 with which an upper portion of theyby-pass blade contacts when the forward limit of movement of said bypass blade has been reached. This forward limit of movement of the lay-pass blade is attained at the moment the plate 32 of the by-pass blade reaches such elevation, during forward movement of the by-pass blade, that the upper portion of the element 35 may pass beneath said plate 32 to effect disengagement of the element 35 and the plate 32.

Supported by the switch blade of the improved switch is an auxiliary switch 40 for interrupting passage of exciting current to a piece of equipment with which the improved switch A is associated. 'Ihe auxiliary switch 40 comprises a stud shaft 4| (Fig. 3) which includes a screwthreaded end portion 4|' that is extended through an opening formed through the switch blade l0 and receives a nut 42 for securing said stud shaft to said switch blade. Mounted on the stud shaft 4| is a member 43, formed of electrical conducting material, which includes a horizontal tubular portion 44 and a tubular portion 45 which is extended at ran approximate right angle with respect to said horizontal tubular portion. The horizontal tubular portion 44 of the member 43 embraces the stud shaft 4|, a pin 46 being supported by the wall of said horizontal tubular portion and being extended into an annular groove 45 formed in the stud shaft, so as to permit rotary movement of the horizontal tubular portion with respect to the stud shaft while preventing longitudinal movement of the horizontal tubular portion relative to the stud shaft.

Extended through and supported by the tubular portion 45 of the member 43 is a tube 41 which may be made of Bakelite or other suitable insulating material. The tube 41 has arranged in the lower portion thereof in contact with the inner face of the tube a metallic tubular contact 41', the lower edge of said tubular contact 41' being flush with the lower edge of the tube 41, and said tubular contact 41 at its upper end being provided with a plurality of upwardly extended, integral fingers 48. As shown in Fig. l, the tube 41 and the tubular contact 41' arranged therein are secured together and are attached to the tubular portion 45 of the member 43 by a metallic rivet 43', and this rivet serves also as a conductor for electrically connecting the tubular contact to the member 43. Arranged within the upper portion of the tube 41 is an inner tube 49 formed preferably of fiber, said inner tube 49 being suitably secured in place Within the outer tube 41. The inner tube 49 is internally screwthreaded at its upper end and screwed in this internally screwthreaded portion of said inner tube is an externally screwthreaded sleeve 50. Also cemented, or otherwise secured to the top edges of the outer tube 41, the inner tube 49, and the sleeve 5U is a washer 5I formed of rubber or other yieldable material.

Located Within the tube 41 is a rod 52 which is provided at its upper end with a screwthreaded extension 53 of reduced diameter. This screwthreaded extension is screwed into an opening 54 formed in a cap 55 which normally embraces the upper end portion of the tu-be 41 and is provided with an upstanding finger 56, said linger being provided with an annular groove 56. The rod 52 extends downwardly from cap 55, passing through the sleeve 50, and mounted on the lower portion of said rod, which is of reduced diameter, is a tubular contact element 51 with which the fingers 48 of the tubular contact 41 are adapted to contact as shown in Fig. 3. The tubular contact 51 is in engagement with a shoulder 58 formed on the rod 52 where the reduced lower portion of said rod meets the upper rod portion of larger diameter, and mounted on the extreme lower end portion of said rod is a ber tube 59 whose upper edge contacts with the lower edge of the tubular contact 51. The ber tube 59 is secured to the rod 52 by a pin 50, and arranged within the fiber tube 59 is an inner tube 5| formed preferably of Bakelite which is disposed beneath the lower end of the rod 52 and is suitably secured in place within the ber tube 59. Interposed between the lower face of the sleeve 50 and the top face o! the tubular contact 51 is a coil spring 88 which surrounds the rod 52. I

Arranged about the tubular portion 44' of the member 43 is a torsional coil spring 62 one end of which is anchored to the switch blade I as indicated at 62a and the opposite end of which is anchored to the member 43 as indicated at 62h. The torsional coil spring tends to move the auxiliary switch 40 to a position where it is parallel, mechanically, with respect to the switch blade I0 as shown in Fig. l, said switch blade I8 being provided with a member 63 which is provided with a curved seat, as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 4, that is adapted to receive and hold the auxiliary switch in such position in parallelism with respect to the switch blade I0. Anchored in the terminal I8 is a contact 64 comprised of a pair of resilient, spaced apart contact elements which are flared apart at their outer ends as indiciated at 64' in Fig. 4, said spaced apart contact elements being provided with an embracing band 65 which prevents undue spreading of said contact elements. In the closed position of the switch A the finger 56 at the upper end of the auxiliary switch 40 is positioned between the spaced contact elements of the contact 64 with said spaced contact elements seated in the annular groove 56' of said finger as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 3.L Also as will presently appear herein the finger 56 of the auxiliary switch 40 is withdrawn from contact with the contact 64 during a certain phase of the operation of the switch A.

In describing the operation of the improved switch A, it will be assumed that the switch is in the closed switch position as shown in Fig. 1. In this position of the switch electrical energy is conducted from a source of energy to the terminal I8 by the conductor D', said energy then passing through the contact assembly 2I to the switch blade I8, from the trunnions I3 of the blade I0 by way of the contact assembly I4 to the terminal 4, and to the equipment with which thel switch is electrically associated by way of the conductor D. The path of electrical energy from the equipment is by way of the conductor E, terminal 5, contact I4, switch blade II, contact 22, terminal I9 and conductor E'. Also, part of the current, which is conducted to the terminal I8, passes through the contact 64 to the cap 55 of the auxiliary switch 40, through the rod 52 to the tubular contact 51, through the fingers 48 and tubular contact 41 to the switch blade I0 by way of the rivet 41 and l the member44, and from the switch blade to the equipment with which the switch is associated by way of the terminal 4 and conductor D.

Assume now that it is desired to take the equipment with which the switch is associated out of service for inspection or repairs. In this event the ring 28a of the latch operating device 28 is pulled downwardly to raise the nose portion 24' of the latch 24 out of enagement with the extension I6d of the keeper I6. This movement of the latch operating device causes the face 28o of the latch operating device to contact with the outer face of the extension 23 of the switch blade III and continued outward and downward pull on the ring of the latch operating device will move the upper portions of the switch blades I0 and I I outwardly with respect to the contact assemblies 2l and 22. The element 35 carried by the member 33 secured to the switch blade I8 is in engagement with the plate 32 of the by-pass blade 38 as shown to the best advantage in Fig. 6, ani therefore as the switch blades I0 and il are drawn outwardly the lower portion of the bypas` blade 38 will likewise be drawn outwardly int" a position between and in electrical contact witlthe portions 22e of the contact assemblies 2i and 22. The by-pass blade is moved into contact with the portions 22e of the contact assemblies immediately before the switch blades I0 and II move out of contact with said contact portions 22'c, and as soon as contact is made between the by-pass blade and the contact portions 22e the current is by-passed across the contact assemblies 2l and 22. As the outward movement of the switch blades III and II continues the lower end portion of the by-pass blade reaches an outward point where the abutment 39 arrests forward movement of the lower portion of the by-pass blade and at this time the lower edge of the plate 32 of said by-pass blade has reached an elevation where the upper portion of the element may pass under said plate 32 so as to disengage said element 35 from said plate 32.

During the outward movement of the switch blades I0 and II thus far described, the auxiliary switch 4I) for interrupting passage of exciting current to the equipment with which the switch A is associated is in electrical connection with the contact 64, and therefore exciting current continues to flow to the equipment through the path previously described herein. As a result of the fact that exciting current continues to flow to the equipment associated with the switch A, arcing is eliminated when the switch blades I0 and II are drawn out of contact with respect to the contact assemblies 2I and 22. As downward movement of the switch blades I0 and II continues, the tube 41 of the auxiliary switch 40 together with the parts assembled therewith, move downwardly with respect to the rod 52, which, as shown in Fig. 7, is still connected to the contact 64, and eventually during such downward movement of the tube. 41, the fingers 48 of the tubular contact 41' of the auxiliary switch 40 move out of contact with respect to the tubular contact 51 supported by the rod 52. This interrupts passage of exciting current to the equipment and arcs which are produced when electrical contact is broken 4bet een the contact fingers 48 and the contact 51 are drawn between the liber tube 49 which moves downwardly with the tube 41 and the stationary ber tube 59 which is fixed to the rod 52, the arcs being effectively extinguished between said tubes because the

tubes

49 and 59 are formed of horn ber which is characterized by the ability to give off gas in the presence of an electric arc which tends to extinguish the arc. The exciting current interruption is started in the manner described when the switch blades I0 and II have moved a sufcient distance from the contact assemblies 2I and 22 to prevent arcing at said contact assemblies.

As downward movement of the switch blades continues, the arc path between the contact ngers 48 and the contact 51 is elongated and the arc is extinguished. Then, as downward movement of the blades continues further, and after the exciting current has been interrupted as explained, the nger 56 of the cap 55 will be disengaged from the contact 64 by being drawn beyond the outerend thereof. When this happens the coil spring 66 which is compressed between the top edge of the contact 51 and the bottom face of the sleeve 50 when the tube 41 is moved longitudinally with respect to the rod 52,

will expand thereby moving the rod 52 downwardly into the tube 41 to the position of these parts as shown in Fig. 3, and at about the same time the torsional coil spring 62 will swing the auxiliary switch 40 to a position in parallelism with respect to the switch blade l 0 as has already been explained herein.

To replace the equipment with which the switch A is associated in service the switch blades are moved upwardly into contact with the portions 22o of the contact assemblies 2| and 22 and at the same time the by-pass blade 30 will be moved rearwardly by the member 33 of the blade l0 out of contact with said contact portions 22o, the finger 56 of the tubular switch 40 will be moved into engagement with the contact 64, an-d the switch blades l0 and Il will be latched in the closed switch position. This arrangement completely restores the equipment with which the switch A is associated in service for normal operation.

It is obvious, therefore, as previously stated herein, that a single operation of the switch from the closedto the open position accomplishes four distinct switching operations in succession; that is to say during such single operation of the switch the equipment with which the switch is associated is first by-passed, the mainswitch blades I 0 and ll are then withdrawn from the contact assemblies 2| and 22 and the auxiliary switch 40- operates toV interrupt the exciting current.

It is pointed out that the switch disclosed herein may be used without the auxiliary switch 40 being a part thereof, in which event, if necessary, a separate manually operated circuit breaker would be employed to interrupt the exciting current. In this case a single operation of the switch will by-pass the current and withdraw the main switch blades from their contacts, a separate operation being required to interrupt the exciting current.

In Fig. 8 a circuit diagram is illustrated showing the improved switch arranged in electrical connection with an induction-type regulator R. In this view P designates the primary winding of the regulator R, and S designates the series winding thereof. Also, in Fig. 8 are shown diagrammatically the switch blades I0 and Il, the by-pass blade 30, and the auxiliary switch 40 of the improved switch. Additionally, Fig. 8 illustrates conductors W, Wb, Wc, Wd and We which serve, in an obvious manner, to interconnect the switch and the regulator electrically and to connect the switch and regulator with a primary feeder Pf.

I claim:

1. A disconnect switch comprising spaced contacts, a blade structure comprising a pair of blades supported for movement into and out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts, a by-pass member supported independently of said blade structure for pivotal movement into electrical contact with said spaced contacts so as to by-pass electrical energy from one to the other I of said spaced contacts and out of such electrical contact with said spaced contacts, said blade structure being adapted for movement independently of said by-pass member, and means carried by said blade structure and adapted to engage said by-pass member whereby movement of said blade structure to draw the pair of blades thereof out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts will move said by-pass member into electrical contact with said spaced contacts.

2. A disconnect switch comprising spaced contacts, a blade structure comprising a pair ofblades supported for movement into and out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts, a by-pass member supported independently of said blade structure between said spaced contacts for movement into electrical contact with portions of said spaced contacts so as to by-pass electrical energy from one to the other of said spaced contacts and out of such electrical contact with said spaced contacts, said blade structure being adapted for movement independently of said bypass member, and means carried by said blade structure and adapted to engage said by-pass member whereby movement of said blade structure to draw the pair of blades thereof out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts will move said by-pass member into electrical contact with said portions of said spaced contacts.

3. A disconnect'switch comprising spaced contacts, a blade structure comprising a pair of blades supported for movement into and out vof electrical contact with said spaced contacts, said spaced contacts including portions which are widely spaced apart and portions which are relatively close together, a by-pass member supported between said widely spaced portions of said spaced contacts where it is normally out of electrical contact, with said spaced contacts and adapted for movement into electrical contact with said relatively close portions of the spaced contacts so as to by-pass electrical energy from one to the other of said spaced contacts, and means carried by said blade structure and adapted to engage said by-pass member whereby movement of said blade structure to draw the pair of blades thereof out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts will move said bypass member into electrical contact with said closely spaced portions of said spaced contacts.

4. A disconnect switch comprising spaced contacts, a blade structure comprising a pair of blades supported for movement into and out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts, said spaced contacts including portions which are widely spaced apart and por-tions which are relatively close together, a by-pass member supporte-d between said widely spaced portions of said spaced contacts for movement into electrical contact with said relatively close portions of the spaced contacts so as to by-pass electrical energy from one to the other of said spaced contacts, manually operated latch means carried by said blade structure, a keeper into engagement with which said latch means is movable to lock the blades of the blade structure in contact with said spaced contacts, means for pivotally attaching said by-pass member to said keeper, and means carried by. said blade structure and adapted to detachably engage said by-pass member whereby movement of said blade structure to draw the pair of blades thereof out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts will move said by-pass member into electrical contact, with sai-d closely spaced portions of said spaced contacts.

5. A disconnect switch comprising spaced contacts in the form each of a plurality of assembled resilient contact elements, a blade structure comprising a pair of blades supported for movement into and out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts, said spaced contacts including portions which are widely spaced apart and portions which are relatively close together, a by-pass member supported between said widely spaced portions of said spaced contacts for movement into electrical contact with said relatively close portions of the spaced contacts so as to by-paSs electrical energy from one to the other oi said spaced contacts, manually operated latch `means carried by said blade structure, a keeper into engagement with which said latch means is movable to lock the blades of the blade structure in contact with said spaced contacts, means for pivotally attaching said by-pass member to said keeper, and means carried by said blade structure and adapted to detachably engage said bypass member whereby movement of said blade structure to draw the pair ofA blades thereotout l oi' electrical contact with said spaced contacts will move-said by-pass member into electrical contact with said closely space-d portions of said spaced contacts. y l

6. A disconnect switch comprising spaced con tacts, a blade structurel comprising a' pairr'of blades supported for movement into andiout of electrical contact with said spaced contacts, a by-pass member movable into contact with said spaced contacts in response to movement of the pair of blades of said blade structure out of contact with said spaced contacts so as to by-pass electrical energy from one to the other of said spaced contacts, an auxiliary switch operated in response to movement of the blades of said blade structure out of contact with said spaced contacts to interrupt exciting current which passes through said auxiliary switch when said blades of the blade structure are withdrawn from contact with said spaced contacts, and a contact into and out of electrical contact with which said auxiliary switch moves in response to movement of said blade structure, said auxiliary'switch comprising relatively movable portions one of which is normally mechanically connected to the last mentioned contact and adapted for release therefrom and the other of which is connected to said blade structure for independent movemen-t with respect thereto, and the switch portion connected to said blade structure being movable with 'said blade structure and with respect to the associated switch portion, when said blade structure is imoved to the open switch position, to interrupt an electrical path through the auxiliary switch.

7. A disconnect switch comprising spaced contacts, a blade. structure comprising a pair of blades supported Ior'movement into and out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts, a by-pass member movable into contact with said spaced contacts in response to movement of the pair oi blades of said blade structure out of contact with said 'spaced contacts so as to by-pass electrical energy from one to the other of said spaced contacts, an auxiliary switch operated in response to movement of the blades of said blade structure out of contact with said spaced contacts to interrupt exciting currentwhich passes through said auxiliary switch when said blades of the blade structure are withdrawn from con- Itact with said spaced contacts, a contact into and out of electrical contact with which said auxiliary switch =moves in response to movement of said -blade structure, said auxiliary switch comprising `relatively movable portions one oi which is detachably connected to the lastmentioned contact and the other of which is pivotally connected to said blade structure, and the switch portion connected to said blade structure being movable with said blade structure and with respect to the associated switch portion, when said blade structure is moved to the open switch position, to interrupt an electrical path through the auxiliary switch, and means comprising a torsional coil spring arranged at the pivotal connection between said auxiliary switch and said blade structure for moving the auxiliary switch to a predetermined position with respect to said blade structure when said auxiliary switch is detached from its contact.

8; A switch comprising a tube formed of insulating material which is supported for pivotal movement, a rod disposed within said tube for movement longitudinally thereof, said tube and rod being adapted for relative longitudinal movement, a spring located within said tube which tends to restore said tube and rod to predetermined relative positions when said tube and rod have been subjected to relative movement, a contact carried by said rod, a second contact fixed to said tube within same, the tube and rod being movable with respect to each other to position said contacts in electrical contact with each other to provide an electrical path through the switch and to separate said contacts to break such electrical path, a tubular element xed Within said tube, and a tubular member secured to said rod, said tubular element being moved into embracing relation with respect to said tubular member when the tube and rod are subjected to relative movement to separate the contacts whereby an electrical arc produced when the contacts are separated is drawn between the walls of said tubular element and tubular member, said tubular element and said tubular member being formed oi' a material characterized by the ability to give ofi.' gas in the presence of an electric arc which acts to extinguish said arc.

9. A disconnect switch comprising spaced contacts, a blade structure comprising a pair of blades supported for movement into and out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts, a by-pass member supported for movement into electrical contact with 'said spaced contacts so as to by-pass electrical energy from one to the other of said spaced contacts and out of such electrical contact with said spaced contacts, said blade structure being adapted for movement independently of said by-pass .memben and means carried by said blade structure adapted to engage said by-pass member for subjecting said by-pass memberto movement,said by-pass member being movable into. .electrical contact with said spaced contacts in response to movement of said blade structure which withdraws said blade structure from electrical contact; with said spaced contacts and being movable out of electrical contact with said spaced contacts in response to movement oi' said blade structure which disposes said blade structure in electrical contant with said spaced contacts.

GEORGE W. .GOLDNER.