US2377725A - Panel or switch box - Google Patents

Description

June 5, 1945., R, SMITH PANEL OR- SWITCH BOX 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed March 20, 1942 A INVENTOR. GEORGE R. SMITH June 5, 1945. e. R. SMITH PANEL OR SWITCH BOX Filed March 20, 1942 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 VIIIIIIIIJ rm FIG-.9.

FIG .7.

FIG.10.

' mmv'roza. GEORGE R. SMITH Patented June 5, 1945 George R. Smith,

signor to Win. 'Wurdack Company, St. Louis, Mo., a corporation of Missouri ichmond Heights, M .as-

Electric Manufacturing Application March 20, 1942, Serial No.*435,531

This invention relates generally to panel or switch boxes. More particularly, myinvention relates to atcertain new and useful improvement in locking means especially, though not exclu-' sively, adapted for the doors of panel or switch boxes ofxthe type :shown in Letters Patent No. 9,651,523, of July 24,1934, and has for its chief object the provision of readily installed and actua'ble means for securely locking the door of such a switch-cabinet or box in closed position for with'statndingthe disrupting or opening force of a severe fuse-explosion or the like.

And with the above and other objects in view, my invention resides in the novel features of form, construction, arrangement, and combination :ofparts presently described and pointed out inthe claims. t l

, Inthe accompanying drawings (two sheets),- Figure 1 is a plan view of a panel or switchbox equipped with door-locking means embodying my invention, the several levers thereof being in projected or doorlocking position;

Figure :2 :is a longitudinal sectional view of the box and door-locking means taken approximately on the line 2-2, Figure 1; i

Figure -3 is a transverse sectional view of the box and door-locking means taken approximatelyon the .line 1'3-3, Figure 1; t

Figure 4 is a fragmental plan view of the box, illustrating the door-locking levels in retracted or door-opening position;

Figure 5 is an enlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 5-5, Figure 1;

Figure 6 :is anenlarged detail sectional view taken approximately on the line 6-6, Figure 1; Figure 7 is a plan view quite similar to Figure 1 of a slightly modified embodiment of my invention;

Figures -8 and 9 are detail transverse sectional views taken approximately onthe lines 8 8 and 9--9,-Figuref7, respectively;

Figure 10 is an enlarged 'fragmental plan view illustrating a slightly modified bar-accommodating bracket forming part of the door-locking means of my inventiton; and

Figures 11 and 12 are detailtrans verse and longitudinal sectional views, respectively, taken approximately on the respective lines I IH and |2--|2, Figure 10. I

Referring now more in detail and by reference characters to the drawings, which illustrate practical embodiments of my invention, the box or cabinet proper, generally designated A, is in form and structure substantially identical with the panel :or switch-box shown and described in said 4 Claims. (01. 292-4) Letters Patent No; 1,967,523, issued on July 24, 1934,:130 William Wurdack, now deceased, for Panel or switch box. Reference to such letters patent is made for a full, detailldescription of the box or cabinet A. For present purposes, suffice to merely say that the box A is in the form ofa preferably metallic rectangular shell or cas ing preferably open at its opposite ends to facilitateelectrical connections and comprising a rear wall a and forwardly projecting side walls b.

The side walls b are preferably connected .at

' one end by a cross anglestrip I, for purposes presently appearing, and at their, forward margins are ofiset inwardly, as at 2, as best seen in Figure 3, to accommodate the lateral side flanges 3 of a lid ordoor, designated B in Figures 1 to 6, both inclusive, B in Figures '7 to 9, both inclusive, and B'i' in Figures 10 to 12, both 'inclusive, which is constructed of suitable sheet-metallic material, is of a size to snuglyand completely fit over and upon the free margins of theside walls b, and at its one end is provided with a lateral flange 4, welded or otherwisefixed to which are opposed pivot-members 5 adapted to endwise project through registering openings provided for the purposein the shell side walls b and inthe lateral cover flanges 3, as best seen in Figure 1, for swingably securing the particular lid to and upon shell A.

At suitable locations "adjacent its opposite side margins and also adjacent itsone end margin, the particular coveraor lid B, B',or B", as the case may be, is slotted, as at 6, for accommodating, when in closed position over the shell, A,

shell walls b and the end strip I, and with which respective keepers C, the several locking levers 1, 8, and 9, presently described, are, adapted to ing the respective inner'end of the levers 1, 8.,

and 9, and engaging said. respective ends of the levers 1, 8, and 9 andthe leaves e, e,of the crank E, are preferably loosely fitting pins or studs H, II, forpiv'otallysecuring the crank E and the slotted or apertured keepers C Welded or otherwise fixed to, and projecting forwardlyfrom, the,

levers I, 8, 9, together. It may be here remarked that the several pins or studs H loosely rest and ride at their lower end in the actuation of crank E upon the cover-section b, and fitted and secured pivotally on the stud D to rest flatwise upon the upper crank leaf e and marginally over the several studs or pins II, is a suitable washer l1 initially equipped with a bendable ear ll adapted to be upset to project into and endwise fit within a recess or opening e in the crank E for'retaining the several pins or studs H in lever-pivoting engagement with the crank E.

The lever-pivoting studs II are annularly disposed approximately equidistantly the one from the other, and permanently fixed to and upon, and upstanding from, the particular lid or cover B, B, or B", as the case may be, in respective registration longitudinally and laterally thereof for slidably accommodating the respective outer ends of the levers I, 8, 9, are slotted guide-mem- I bers or brackets I2, as in Figures 1 to'9, both inclusive, and I2, as in Figure 10,- which are also in respective parallelism with the several slots 6. Each of the brackets l2 has its single upright wall w and each of the brackets 12 has its inner upright wall w suitably spaced inwardly upon the particular dooror lid from the several slots 5, and each lever-"I, 8, and 9 has a length to project at its free end through the slotted wall or walls of the brackets 12 and [2 and the registering keepers C, as best seen in Figures 1, 3, 7, and 10, each of said levers being also provided in suitable adjacence to its free end with an upstanding abutment or boss 13 for engagement with the inner face of said specific walls of the respective brackets IE or l2 for purposes presently appearing.

Suitably located upon, and upstanding from, the lid B of Figures 1 to 6, both inclusive, is a fourth fixed apertured bracket [4, with which a like apertured member fixed on the lever B is adapted to fiatwise engage for limiting the oscillatory movement of the crank E to 1ever-projecting position and for jointly receiving the hasp of a lock 48 for preventing unauthorized opening of the door B. However, alternatively or selectively, the brackets l4 and [5 may be omitted, and the lid, as the lid B in Figure 7, provided upon its upper face with a stop I5 for engagement by'the crank E andone of the keepers, as C, and its co-operable bracket l2, a best seen in Figures '7 to 9, both inclusive, may be outward ly extended, as at (17, a2, and registrably apertured, as at y, y, to similarly receive the hasp of a lock l6 for limiting the oscillatory movement of the crank E to lever-projecting position and for preventing unauthorized opening of the particular lid or cover.

' In use and operation, the crank E and the several levers I, 8, 9, are so proportioned that, when said levers are retracted and crank E oscillated to the right, they will occupy the respective positions illustrated in Figure 4, the levers 8 and 9 being then substantially in parallel registration, the lever 7 being approximately or nearly' at right-angles thereto, all said levers being withdrawn from the several keepers, but loosely supported at. their free ends by, and for movement through, the mentioned walls of the brackets I2 or IZ a the case may be, all the several abutments l3 being shifted inwardly away from said bracket and the particular door being then freely swingable to open position.

Reversely, when the crank E is pivotally swung or oscillated to the left, the respective levers I, 8, and 9, will be pivotally shifted endwise outwardl through the brackets l2 or l2 and into engagement with their respective keepers, such movement of the crank E being continued until interrupted by and under the engagement of the bracket IS with the bracket 14 or of the crank E with the stud or stop 15, at which time the crank E and levers or bolts 1, 8, and 9 have moved past dead-center position, that is to say, the

position in which the boss 13 and the pin ll of each of the bolts are substantially in line with the stud D, and into so-called over-center position, that is to say, the position shown in Figures 1 and 7. However, in movement of the crank E to such ofi-center position, the bosses l3 first impinge the several respective brackets l2 or l2, as the case may be, and under such impinging engagement of the bosses I3 with said brackets as movement of the crank E in such direction is continued, the several levers 1, 8, and

9 are sprung or strained, as it may be said, with the result that, with the crank E so shifted to off-center position, the several levers I, 8, 9, s0.

shifted into engagement with the several keepers C, andthe bosses l3 in lever-straining or springing impinging relation to the fixed brackets l2 or I2 the crank E is firmly retained in such ofi-center position and the door B securely locked or retained in closed position upon the shell A and capable of withstanding great and excessive opening pressures.

Having reference now particularly to Figures 10 to 12, both inclusive, the brackets I2 are of U-shape in end elevation and are permanently fixed at their respective bights h fiatwise upon the door B" over the respective slots 6 with their walls w and w presented outwardly. The bight h is slotted, as at s, in registration with the seats 6 for accommodating the several keepers. C or C, and the bracket-walls 'w' and w" are slotted in registration and for registration with the respective slots of the keepers for accommodating the projection therethrough of the respective ends of the several levers 1,8, and 9, the outer walls w" of the respective brackets functioning in reenforcing the'seevral levers in withstanding endbuckling or deformation under the disrupting force of an explosion within the shell A,"

The structure has been found exceedingly efiicient in the performance of its intended functions, and 'I might add that suitably mounted for shiftable movement on the lid B, is a handle'F for shifting a blockG anddepending blades'H from off to on and from on" to off" position; as'in said Letters Patent No. and in detail described.

It is to be understood that changes in the form, construction, arrangement, and combination ,of the several parts of the box and its door-lockingmeans may be made'and substituted for .those herein shown and described without departing from the nature-and principle of' my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure-by Letters Patentis:

1. A switch-box door-lockingasse'mbly including; in combination, a crank for pivoted-oscillation upon the door, a fixed rigid bracket 'onthe door in spaced relation to the pivot; of the crank and for registration with a fixed keeperon the box, a metallic latch-bolt having pivot connection with the crank and shiftable longitudinally and obliquely on actuation of the crank inzone'directionfor en'dwise engagingthe bracket andkeeper; and co-operable members on the:door and 1,967,523 fully ferential relation about the pivot of, the crank;

latch latch-bolt adapted for impinging engagement as the latch-bolt is pivotally shiftedto overcenter position for springing the latch-bolt for releasably retaining the latch-bolt in door-locked position.

2. A switch-box door-lockingassembly including, in combination, a crank for pivoted osci1lation upon the door, a fixed rigid bracket n the door in spaced relation to the pivot of the crank and for registration with a fixed keeper on the box, a metallic latch-bolt having pivot connec-' tion with the crankand shiftable longitudinally and obliquelyon actuation of the crank in one direction for endwise engaging the bracket and keeper, a rigid member upstanding from the door,

rigid member as thelatch-bolt is pivotally shifted to over-center position for springing the latchbolt for releasably retaining the latch-bolt in door-locked position. i l

3. A switch-box door-locking assembly including, in combination, a crank for pivoted oscillai and a rigid member upstanding from the latchbolt for impinging engagement with said first the several bolts being shiftable longitudinally and obliquely on actuation of the crank in. one

direction for endwise engaging the respective registering brackets and prising a rigid member upstanding from the door and a second rigid member upstanding from one of said latch-bolts for co-operable impinging en-,

gagement as the latch bolts are pivotally shifted to over-center position for springing the respective latch-bolt'for releasably retaining the several bolts in door-locked position.

4. A switch-box door-locking assembly including, in combination, a crank for pivoted oscillation upon the door, a fixed rigid bracket on the door in spaced relation to the pivot of the crank and for registration with a fixed keeper on the box, a metallic latch-bo1t having pivot connection upon the door, a plurality of fixed rigid brackets on the door in fixed lateral relationone to the other and also in spaced longitudinal relationto the pivot of the crank and for registraplurality of metallic latch-bolts each having pivot connection with, and disposed in spaced circumtion with respective fixed keepers on the box, a

tion with the crank and shiftable longitudinally and obliquely on actuation of the crank in one direction for endwise engaging the bracket and keeper, a rigid member upstanding from the door, and a pin of circular cross-section mounted in the latch-bolt for impinging engagement with said ijrst rigidlm'ember as the latch-bolt is pivotally shifted to over-center position for springing thef latch-bolt for releasably retaining the latch-bolt in door-locked position.

GEORGE R. SMITH.

keepers, and means com-

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