US2265738A - Electrical apparatus - Google Patents

Description

Dec. 9, 1941. c L, ATTHEWS 2,265,738

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet l Dec. 9. 1941. c MATTHEWS 2,265,738

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2, 1939 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Dec. 9, 1941. v c. L. MATTHEWS 2,265,738

ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Filed Sept. 2, 1959 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGS.

Patented Dec. 9, 1941 ELECTRICAL APPARATUS Claude L. Matthews, St. Louis, Mo., assignor to W. N. Matthews Corporation, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri Application September 2, 1939, Serial No. 293,167

3 Claims. (Cl. 200-114) This invention relates to electrical apparatus, and with regard to certain more specific features to electrical line protection apparatus.

Among the several objects'o'f the invention may be noted the provision of an improvement in means for supporting the fuse holder shown in United States Patent 2,103,056 issued to Theodore Birkenmaier on December 21, 1937, wherein direct fastening to a line is eliminated while the advantages of a freely suspended fuse holder are retained and the functions thereof improved upon; and the provision of apparatus of the class de scribed which is simple in operation and economical in cost. Other objects will be in part obvious and in part pointed out hereinafter.

The invention accordingly comprises the elements and combinations of elements, features of construction, and arrangements of parts which will be exemplified in the structures hereinafter described, and the scope of the application of which will be indicated in the following claims.

In the accompanying drawings, in which are illustrated several of various possible embodiments of the invention:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of one form of the invention;

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a right-side elevation of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary section taken on line 44 of Fig. 2;

Figs. 5, 6 and '7 are related views similar to Figs. 1, 2 and 3, respectively, showing a modification;

Figs. 8 and 9 are related views similar to Figs. 1 and 2 respectively, showing a third form; and,

Fig. 10 isa detail section taken on line |-II3 of Fig. 9.

Similar reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 1, there is shown at numeral I a line wire to which it is desired to electrically connect a fuse holder. This wire I is carried on an insulator 3 on pole 5, being held by the wires I. A saddle 9 and a U-bolt II together grip the insulator 3 to support an extending cantilever arm or support I3, the outer end of which has a depending extension or carrier I5, carrying at its bottom a socket II. From the socket extend flaring guide fingers I9.

Pivoted in a clevis 2 at the upper end of the extensions I is a latch 2| which is normally biased by a spring 23 (Fig. 4) to a latching position above said socket IT. The amount of bias given to the latch 2| by the spring 23 is limited by a T-shaped extension 25 which. extends through a slot 21 in the member l5. Thus the latch 2! is normally pressed to the right. When the latch M is in its furthermost position toward the right, it obstructs the outlet from the socket I1, but when pressed to the left (as shown in Fig. 4) against bias of spring 23, it does not obstruct the outlet.

The fuse carrier comprises an upper contact 29 having a screw cap 3| for fastening the upper end of a fuse link 33. The contact 29 has formed therewith an eye 35 with which cooperates a lug 31 of the head of a linemans stick S. The purpose of this cooperation is to mount the fuse support on the end of the linemans stick for application and removal to and from the holder.

From the lower end of the contact 29 extends an insulating tube 38, the latter passing through and being held to a lower contact 39. The fuse link 33 extends out from the open lower end of the tube 33 and is held by a clamp member 42, part of which consists of an arm Ifli having a finger I63 over the link 33 so that pull from the link locks the clamp. At 44 is shown a flexible conductor which connects the clamp 52 with the lower contact 39. Around the conductor 44 and reacting between the clamp 42 and a lug 43 is a coil spring M. A wire holding openable connector also forms part of the lower contact 39.

Thus, between the attachment at 43 of the spring 45 and the release clamp 42 is a flexible shunt 14. This shunt protects the spring 4| from current, so that the spring 41 will not become annealed due to heating effect of current through it. In this respect, the spring II differs from the corresponding flat leaf-spring 2| referred to in Birkenmaier Patent 1,935,386 (Figs. 1 and 2).

An openable connector 4 also forms part of the arm I3 for a branch wire leader 6 which at a suitable point connects to wire I. The arm I3 being of a suitable conducting copper alloy, a plain copper alloy connector is suitable for the copper leader 6 which would be used if the line 4 can be used to Join these two elements i and 5 together. Such connectors are known, but one point of novelty here is in the fact that by changing the support for the fuse holder from a support on the wire i (as in Patent 2,103,056) to a support on an insulator 3 (as herein), there is not only avoided unsteadiness and a loading of the wire, but there is also avoided the necessity for difierent holder supports in the different cases of diflerent line wires (copper or aluminum). This is because with all supports l3 made of copper alloy, copper or copper-aluminumconnectors may be employed for connection through a suitable copper or copper-aluminum wire 8, to the copper or aluminum wire 5, as the case may be.

The purpose of a spring member such as M and associated parts has already been described in Birkenmaier Patent 1,935,386, dated November 14, 1933. It is to withdraw and drop the lower end of the fuse 33, after the fuse blows at its upper reduced portion ti.

At the upper end of the contact 29 is a metallic extension '39 which carries a ball 5i adapted to snugly fit into the socket ill and having formed adjacent its end on one side a flat fin 53. This fin 53 extends around the ball and down to the upper contact 29 and carries an extending portion 55.

The operation of the device is as follows:

After having placed a fuse in the fuse holder (including attachment at 42) and thus having put the spring li into bowed tension ('Fig. 3), a lineman fastens connector 35 to wire 86. Next he applies the lug 3? of the stick S to the eye 35, as shown in Fig. 4. By this means he can lift the fuse support upward so as to move the ball 5i into the position shown in Fig. 3. The extension its under these conditions moves in between the guiding fingers 19, the portion '55 functioning as a rudder to keep the ball 5! directed forwardly.

As the ball 5i gravitates toward the socket ll, it engages the lug 5'? on the lower end of the latch 2i and forces the latch aside against the bias of the spring 23. The parts then assume the position wherein the ball 5i is seated in the socket i! and the latch 2i has sprung back under bias of the spring 23 to trap the ball in its socket. The linemans stick S may be pulled down to firmly seat the ball 58' and may then be removed from the eye 35. The fuse 33 is then in circuit. It hangs steadily but swingingly from the fixed arm l3, the wire 46 being connected as'required.

If the fuse blows, as under heavy overload, the engendered gases are projected expulsively from the lower end of the tube 38, thus causing a reaction along the center line of the fuse tube. Hence the fuse holder F as a whole tends to move upward. The tendency of ball 5! to move out from the seat N is resisted by the then shut latch 2 i In order to remove the fuse holder, the linemans stick S is reapplied and the fuse holder pushed upwardly as indicated in Fig. 4. Inasmuch as the upward motion of the ball 58 is resisted'by the latch 25, there is a tendency to rotate the fuse holder. The length of the wire 46 is such as to permit this rotation, or it may be removed.

The rotation causes the fin 53 to come into contact with the lower lug 5! of the latch 26 to push it aside. This contact also causes a fulcruming of the fuse holder to occur at the lug 51, whereupon the ball is automatically pushed out by the return biasing action of the latch. After complete removal of the fuse holder, the latch 2| is back in position, ready for the application of another or the same re-iused holder.

It will be clear that the reaction of the fuse blowing is not delivered to the wire I, as is the case in Patent 2,103,056, nor is this wire I in any other way interfered with by loading it.

It will be quite clear that the detached lower portion of the fuse 33 after being withdrawn from the tube 38 will cease to tension the arm BM. Thus, the clamp 52 will automatically open and drop the lower portion of the link 33. At the same time the spring 66 straightens out. In this respect the action is similar to that described in connection with Figs. 1 and 2 of said Birkenmaier Patent 1,935,386. It is to be understood, however, that the use of the coil spring M, together with the shunt fit, has the advantage above stated, namely, that current needs not to pass through the spring.

It should here be noted that the tube 38, or at least its interior, is formed of horn fibre which has a de-ionizing effect on an electric are which tends to extinguish it. Thus, any are due to melting of the fusible section d'i tends to be extinguished by the de-ionizing effect of the horn fibre tube 38. This tends to reduce the reaction on arm i3 because the expulsive action from the lower ,end of the tube 38 is less.

Figs. 5-7 show an alternative form of the invention in which like numerals designate like parts. Differences are as follows:

The arm i3 carries a non-removable connector 8 for wire 6 and the insulator 62 does not carry line wire i which is not shown in Figs. 5-7. The clamp 9, H of Figs. 1-4 has substituted therefor the one-piece spring clamp it. The insulator l2 supports parts forming a lightning arrestcr to a ground wire it.

At numeral 6! is a supporting bracket for the vertically arranged insulator 92. As indicated, the bracket GE is formed as a split clamp 63 held to the lower end of the insulator 3 by means of a bolt 65. At 51 is a holder which affords a support for the ground wire connector i i. Extending from the clamp 83 is a threaded socket 69 for receiving the threaded end of a lower conducting gap arm ii. A lock nut :12 holds the gap arm in predetermined adjustment, after adjustment, both longitudinally and angularly. The arm H is bent to one side of its normal plane as shown in Fig. 6.

The upper clamp Ill supports in a similar way an arm ll offset an equal amount oppositely (see Fig. 5).

Each conducting gap arm H has an outwardly extending straight portion. Beyond the straight portions each arm is turned at a right angle as indicated at 73. The angled portions are directed toward one another. Then there are formed loop or turn portions 75 with outwardly extending horn portions 11. The portions ll relatively flare out toward the left.

At a mid-point on the insulator I2 is provided a third clamp 19 having a clamp bolt 8!. Clamps of this type are made very malleable so that they may be opened and reclosed around the waist which they encircle. Two-piece clamps may also be used. In this case the threaded socket carries a threaded stem 83 locked by means of another look nut 84. The stem 83 carries at its outer end a loop or ring-like member 85, which is shown circular. The plane of the circle is midway between those of the gap arm 1 l.

The operationof the lightning arrester is like that specified in said application, except that therein the offset between arms II and 83 prevents short-circuits due to dripping rain or pendent icicles.

It will be noted that the offset or stagger of the conducting portions 15 are opposite with respect to the intermediate conductor member '85. This permits of obtaining the same gap above and below the member 85 without introducing shortcircuiting due to pendent icicles. For instance, if the upper member 15 were adjacent to the left in Fig. 6, instead of to the right, then for equal gaps the upper member 15 would be directly over the lower member 15, thus reintroducing the difficulty due to short-circuiting from icicles and the like. Under such conditions the only way to avoid a coplanar relationship between the members 15 would be to make the gaps unequal, which is not desired. Thus it will be seen that by having the respective members 15 staggered oppositely with respect to the intermediate member 85, none of the three electrodes in the surge arrester is in the plane of the other, and equal gaps may be maintained respectively between the upper and lower conductors and the intermediate conductor.

It will be understood in connection with Figs. -7 that any overload or short-circuit on the line (with which wire 6 is connected) will melt the fuse in the fuse holder 38, and that any, or at least most, transient voltage surges such as lightning will be by-passed to ground over the gaps between parts H and 83 and ground wire I4.

- In Figs. 8-10 a construction without a lightning arrester is shown, wherein a flexible supporting cantilever arm is used. In this case an inner arm portion 9| is attached or anchored to the top of an insulator 93. An outer arm portion 95 supports the fuse holder parts, as shown at set screws 20, like numerals designating like parts in respect to the fuse holder parts. This outer portison 95 also carries a lug 91 for a wire connector 9 To resiliently connect parts SI and 95 they are tightly threaded into a relatively stiff (but yieldable) spring 2M which, with parts 9| and 95 makes an arm still enough to support the fuse holder parts against the action of gravity. However, any heavy reaction forces due to blowing of the fuse in holder 38 are relieved by flexing of the spring 20! with a subsequent return to the normal position shown. Wires 48 and 6 are connected with enough leeway to allow for this action.

The arms 8| and 95 and associated elements of this embodiment can likewise with success be used in the embodiment of Figures 1, 2 and 3, in order to make the latter embodiment capable of interrupting heavier short-circuit currents.

It will be seen that the construction of Figs. 8-10, like that of the other figures, provides an upper single laterally extended support which is relatively stiff against gravity action, which support, by means of the carrier at its end, supports the depending rigid expulsive fuse holder F. As before, the fuse holder has a. quick detachable connection with the carrier, and the support is resilient enough to permit movement of the fuse holder and the carrier in responsive to expulsive reactions from the fuse holder.

Advantages of the invention are:

(l) Avoidance of objections which are often made (validly or invalidly) to hanging items on line wires;

(2) Elimination of time and trouble required to manipulate line wire supporting clamps, and providing for a quick-detachable connection between the fuse holder and its supporting carrier;

(3) Elimination of the necessity for special aluminum fuse holder parts where aluminum line wires are encountered; and

(4) Low cost and simplicity. I

Further references and claims directed to cantilever spring fuse parts may be found in the United States patent application of Claude L. Matthews et al., Serial No. 298,448, filed October 7, 1939, for Electrical apparatus.

In view of the above, it will be seen that the several objects of the invention are achieved and other advantageous results attained.

As many changes could be made in the above constructions without departing from the scope of the invention, it is intended that all matter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

I claim:

1. Line protection apparatus comprising a single laterally extending'support which is relatively stiif against gravity action, a carrier thereon, an open expulsive fuse holder which is rigid per se and which is dependingly supported against gravity exclusively by said single support, the opening of the fuse holder bell-'18 directed down so that expulsive reactions are against gravity and applied to the support, quick-detachable means between the carrier and fuse holder, and a substantially resilient section in said support permitting substantial resilient movement of the carrier under operative expulsive reactions from the fuse holder.

2. Line protection apparatus comprising a cantilever member, a fuse holder supported thereby, said member having .a spring section therein.

3. A support for a fuse holder comprising a round anchored member threaded at one end, a second round member also threaded at one end, said threaded ends being threaded into a common coil spring which forms a connection therebetween and means on the second member for swingably hanging a fuse holder therefrom.

, CLAUDE L. MATTHEWS.

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