US2381848A - Electric switch - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 7, 1945. H. L. VAN VALKENBURG 2,381,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 3, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet l /IZH BY @W M ATTGRNEY Aug. 7, 1945. H. 1 VAN VALKENBURG .2,331,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 3, 1945 `4 sheets-sheet 2 Herma i uw MNM 7,1945. H. L. VAN VALKENBURG 2,381,848

ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May 5, 1943 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENI'OR Aug. 7, 1945.

H. L. VAN VALKENBURG ELECTRIC SWITCH Filed May '3, 1945 fer/)e072 V472 BY 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Patented Auf?, 1945 ELECTRIC SWITCH Hermon L. Van Valkenburg, Wauwatosa, Wis., as-

signer to Square D Company, Detroit, Mich., a

corporation of Michigan Application May 3, 1943, Serial No. 485,466

(Cl. 20D- 50) Claims.

'I'his invention relates to apparatus for making and breaking electrical circuits and more particularly to enclosed electrical switches operable upon manual movement of an external operating handle.

One object oi' the present invention is to provide an improved construction of an enclosed electrical switch operable by an operating handle carried on an openable cover. l

Another object o! the present invention is to provide an improved electric switch construction.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an enclosed electric switch having improved means for effecting operation thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an electric switch enclosed within a cabinet and with an improved means for effecting an operative connection between the external operating handle on the cover and the switching member of the electric switch.

Another object o! the present invention is to provide, in an electric switch, improved means for eiecting snap movement of the switch contacts to break an electrical circuit.

Another object of the present invention is to provide, in an .enclosed electric switch, an improved construction whereby the external operating handle can readily eilect movement of the switching member to break a weld between the contacts if welding should occur therebetween.

Another object oi the invention is to provide an improved enclosed electric switch that is of simple construction, efficient in operation and inexpensive to manufacture.

Other objects and features of the present invention will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art from the specification and appended drawings illustrating certain preferred embodiments in which:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the switch cabinet embodying the present invention.

Figure 2 is a front elevational view of the interior of the switch cabinet, the cover having been removed. l

Figure 3 is a sectional III-III of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a sectional IV-IV oi' Figure 2.

Figure 5 is a sectional V-V of Figure 2.

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken along the line VI-VI oi! Figure 5.

Figure 7 is a sectional line VII-VII of Figure 2.

view taken along the line view taken along the line view taken along the line view taken along the spaced generally Figure 8 is a sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII of Figure 2.

Figure 9 is a fragmentary plan view of a portion of the underside of the cover showing the position of the interlocking mechanism when the operating handle is in ofP' position, and showing in dotted outline the position of the interlocking mechanism when the handle has been moved to cover unlocking position.

Figure 10 is a view similar to Figure 9 but showing the position of the interlocking mechanism when the operating handle is in the on" position.

Figure l1 is a sectional view taken along the line XI-XI of Figure 1.

Figure 12 is a, fragmentary plan view showing the position of various parts when the switch is in contacts engaged position.

Referring to the drawings, the embodiment of the invention, as illustrated, comprises a cabinet l having a rectangular box-like sheet metal body portion 2 and a pan-shaped cover 3, of smaller voutline than the body portion, hingedly mounted thereon. The cover 3 is adapted to swing to the right in moving to open position. The box 2 is provided, at all four sides, with integral, inwardly directed iianges 4. The edges of the flanges 4 are upwardly bent as at 5 to parallel the sides 6 of the pan-shaped cover 3 as shown in Figure l1. Secured to the rear wall 1 of the cabinet I and extending forwardly therefrom are mounting posts 8 disposed in pairs adjacent the top and bottom of the cabinet. A metallic U-shaped mounting plate 9 is secured in inverted position tothe posts 8 by studs Il. Posts 8 space the plate 9 from rear wall l to provide a wiring space for the lead-in wires and prevents their interfering with moving parts within the cabinet. An insulating base I2 of generally rectangular shape, but with a portion l0 projecting from one side, is mounted on plate 9, being disposed thereczrl near the top thereof and adjacent the right hand edge, as shown in Figure 2. A pair of studs I3, receivable within recesses I4 formed in the top surface of base I2, extend through the bottom of the base I2 and are adapted to be threaded into the face of mounting plate 9 to rigidly secure the base I2 thereto. The insulating base I2 is formed with a plurality of individual compartments I5, I8 and Il therein and with the central compartment I6 being separated from the other compartments by barrier walls I8 and I9. Within each of the compartments, there is provided a pair of L-shaped stationary contact members 2| and 22, mounted at either end of a compartment.

Figure 8 illustrates the general form of the stationary contact members 2 I and 22. Leg 22 of contact member 2| is ntted into a depression in the top wall 24 of the insulating base I2v which prevents its turning out of position. A stud 25 and its cooperating nut 25 secure leg 22 to wall 24. 'Ihe opposite contact member 22 is maintained in place by having its leg 21 disposed within a depression in wall 2l and with a stud 2l securing it to the wall. A second leg 2l of contact member 2l and a second leg l2 of contact member 22 are each provided with a contacting surface 32, which contacting surfaces are so disposed within a compartment that they lie in the same plane but are spaced from one another. Terminal members 34, 95 and $5 are secured one to each of the stationary contact members 2I by studs 25, and each terminal member carries a terminal stud 21 for securing circuit wires to the switch. Fuse clips l5, 29 and 4I are electrically and mechanically connected one to each of the stationary contact members 22 and by the studs 29. It is to be noted that each stationary contact member 2I and its cooperating `terminal member is held in position on wall 24 by one stud 25, and that each of the stationary contact members` 22 and its cooperating fuse clip is secured to the opposite wall 29 by one stud 29. A movable elongated insulating switching member or bar 42 is disposed on the insulating base I2. The end walls 43 and 44 of base I2 and the interior barrier walls I5 and I9 are each provided with a recess 45 extending from the top surfaces thereof, which recesses 45 are so located within their respective walls that they will be in horizontal alignment, whereby they are adapted to receive the elongated member 42 to act as a guide therefor, and to confine the movements of this member 42 to a rectilinear path. The recesses 45 are formed to a suicient depth that when the elongated member 42 is disposed therein, the top surface 45 thereof lies substantially in the plane of the top surface of the insulating base I2. 'I'he movable elongated member 42 carries a plurality of movable contact assemblies 41 spaced along the length thereof, there being one of such assemblies disposed within each of the compartments I5, I5 and I1, and each adapted to cooperate with the stationary contact set 2 I-22 disposed within these compartments to eifect the making and breaking of electrical circuits. The movable contact assemblies 41, as shown in Figure 3, each comprise a generally C-shaped member 48 secured to the bar 42 by rivets 49. A bridging contact member 5I is fitted into the s pace defined by the legs of the C-shaped members 45 and extends beyond either side of this member 45 as shown in Figure l2, to span the contacting surfaces 33 of stationary contact members 2| and 22. A compression spring 52 is likewise disposed within the space bounded by the legs of the shaped member 45, with one end of the spring 52 bearing against a leg 52 of C-shaped member 45 and the other end being disposed against the back surface of the bridging contact member I, and exerts its bias thereupon to normally maintain the contact members 5I in engagement with leg 54 of member 45. Each of the movable contact assemblies 41 are so located within their respective compartments relative to the stationary contact members 2| and 22 that upon movement of the bar 42, in a manner to be hereinafter described, to carry a bridging contact II into contacts engaged position, the bridging contact II, upon engagement. will be moved backwardly against the bias of the spring 52 to thereby enact a substantial contact pressure between the movable contact 5I and the stationary contacts I2. A movable contact construction as described provides for the ready self-alignment of the movable contacts 5I when moved into contacts engaged position. As can be seen from Figure 3, the movable contacts 5I will move in a rectilinear path between contacts engaged and contacts disengaged position, and in the construction above described, each of the plurality of movable con tacts 5I is adapted to engage and disengage its cooperating stationary contact members 2l and 22 substantially simultaneously as the other movable contacts 5I to thereby make and break a plurality of circuits substantially simultaneously; it is understood that if desired, the movable contact assemblies 41 may be so spaced along bar 42 and so located relative to the various sets of stationary contact members 2l and 22 that one bridging contact member 5I can be brought into contacts engaged position either ahead of or behind another bridging contact member 5I, dependent upon which condition is sought to be satisfied. An elongated insulating member 55 is disposed over the movable bar 42, extending the width of base I2 and resting upon the top surfaces of the various walls 43, 44, Il and I9 of base I2 to close the recesses 45 and to enclose that length of the bar 42 lying within the walls of the base I2. Studs 55 secure the insulating member 55 to base I2. A pair of mounting posts 55, internally threaded at both ends, are secured to base I2 adjacent the top edge thereof and disposed one on either sde.of the center terminal member Il. Each of the mounting posts 55 are disposed for part of their length within recesses provided in the top of wall 24 of base I2. A pair of studs 51 threaded into the bottoms of the mounting posts 55 secure them firmly to the wall 24. An elongated rectangular shaped insulating member 55 is mounted on the posts 55 being held thereon by studs 59, which are threaded into the top of the posts 55. The insulating member 5I extends the width of base I2 and forms a roof over the terminal members 24, 35 and 25. and overlaps insulating member 55 which is spaced therefrom. The insulating member 5I lessens the possibility of accidental dislodgment of the terminal members, or of the circuit wires secured thereto, for access to these parts is made very diiiicult when the insulating member 5I is in place. A generally U-shaped insulating member 5I is disposed about the center fuse clip 25 e'ectively insulating it from the fuse clips 2l and 4I on either side thereof. The insulating member 5I is provided with a pair of projecting portions or prongs 52 which are receivable within recesses in the top surface of base I2 to maintain the insulating member on the base and to assist in readib locating the member on the base and prevent its twisting out of position.

A second insulating base 5I is provided within the cabinet I, disposed upon the mounting plate 9 and spaced a substantial distance from insulating base I2. A mounting bracket 54 is secured to the plate 9 by studs 55 and to this mounting bracket 54 the insulating base 52 is secured by studs 55. On the top surface of the insulating base 5I, a plurality of fuse clips 51, 5I, and 5l are mounted. Studs 1I secure these fuse clips to the top surface of insulating base 83. These studs 1| also secure a terminal member 12 to each of the fuse clips 81, 68 and 69. Terminal studs 13 are carried by each of the terminal members 12 and are adapted to extend into recesses 14 provided in the top of base 83 to thereby prevent the fuse clips turning out oi' position. A generally U-shaped insulating member 15 is provided about the center fuse clip 5,8, and the legs of the U-shaped member 15 will insulate the center fuse clip 68 from the fuse clips 61 and 68 on either side thereof. Stud 13 secures the insulating member 15 to the base 63. The fuse clips 61, 68 and 69 are so arranged upon the insulating base 63 as to verticaly align respectively with the fuse clips 34, 35 and 36 whereby each pair of fuse clips cooperate to receive a cartridge type fuse 16, one of which is shown in full line representation in Figures 2 and 4.

Operating mechanism for effecting movement of the movable contact carrying member 42 is provided within the cabinet immediately to the left of the insulating base I2 and embodies a generally U-shaped supporting bracket 11 which is secured to the mounting plate 9 by studs 18 and is indented as at 88 to receive projection I8 of base |2. A post-like member 19 is carried by bracket 11 at the lower end thereof and pivotally supports a member 8|. A cotter pin 82 maintains the member 8| on post 19. A rotatable shaft-like member 83 comprising a rectangular block-shaped portion 85 from the bottom face of which projects a cylindrical portion 84, is located at the opposite end of bracket 11. 'I'he cylindrical portion 84 extends through the bracket 11 and through an opening iny plate 9, directly beneath, to thereby position the' member 83 at right angles to the back wall ofthe cabinet I. Shaft 83 is maintained in this position by a pair of cotter pins 86 and Washers 81 carried by that portion of cylinder 84 disposed between the bracket 11 and the plate 9 which prevents the removal of the member 83. A disk-like member 88 is pivotally disposed upon that portion of the cylinder 84 lying above the bracket 11 and has a second disk 88 secured to the undersurface thereof as by welding. A series ofbushings are provided through which the cylinder 84 is adapted to pass. Two of the bushings 9| are formed integral with the disks 88 and 89; another. 98 is formed upon the lower surface of bracket 11. The lower of the bushings 9| spaces the disk 88 above the top surface of bracket 11. Disk 88 is recessed at its periphery as at 82, as seen in Figure 6, for a purpose to be explained. A second disk-like member 93 having a flange portion 94 integral therewith and bent upwardly therefrom is secured, by a stud 95 passing through the flange I4, to the rectangular portion 85 of member 83,

l and is spaced from the disk-like member 88. A second flange 96 is formed on member 93 and L extends downwardly into recess 82 in member 88. Alternate engagement of flange 96 with the opposed defining edges 91 and 88 of recess 92 will eiect pivotal movement of the disk member 88 in opposite directions on pivotal movement of disk 83. A generally V-shaped member 89 interconnects the disk member 88 and the pivotal member 8| whereby movement of disk 88 positively effects movement of member 8|. The member 98 is pivotally connected to an extension |8| on disk 88 by pin |82, and is pivotally connected to a flange |83 on pivotal member 8| by a pin |84. The supporting bracket 11 is upwardly bent as at and a flange |88 is formed on this bent portion and extends into a recess |81 which, like recess 92, is formed in the periphery of the disklike member 88. Alternate engagement of the,

defining edges |88 and |88 of the recess 96 with the flange or stop |86 upon movement in oppositie directions limits the extent of pivotal movement of the disk 88 in these opposite directions. Interconnection between disk 93 and the actuating member 8| is effected by an elongated member which is held in pivotal engagement with disk 93 by a pin ||2. The opposite end of the connecting member passes through an opening provided in flange |3 formed upon the lower end of pivotal member 8|. A compression spring ||4 is disposed about the shank portion of the connecting member and is confined between the back surface of the flange ||3 and shoulders ||5 provided on connecting member The purpose of compression spring ||4 will be hereinafter described. Pivotal member 8| carries a pin H6, which pin is closely received within an opening provided at the left hand endof the movable contact carrying bar 42 to thus effect a pivotal connection between the actuating member 8| and the bar 42 and provide a means whereby the bar 42 can be recprocably moved within recesses 45 to effect engagement and disengagement of the movable contacts 5| with the stationary contacts 33. A winged or slotted member ||1 is secured at the top of shaft 83 to the rectangular portion 85 by a stud ||8, with the fiat wing portions |9 and |2| of the member ||1 being disposed in the same plane. and parallel to the bottom wall of the cabinet An operating handle |22 is rotatably mounted upon the exterior surface of cover 3. The operating handle |22 has formed therewith a shaft |23 which extends through aligned openings in the cover 3 and in the bight |24 of a generally U-shaped bracket |25 disposed on the underside of cover 3. Legs |26 and |21 of the bracket |25 are bent outwardly and are welded to the underside of the cover 3 to secure the bracket |25 to cover 3. A stud |28 threaded into the bottom of shaft |23 prevents the removal of the operating handle |22 from cover 3. An actuating plate |28 of generally triangular shape is rigidly secured to shaft |23 and is movable therewith upon rotation of handle |22, and lies in a plane substantially parallel to the undersurface of cover 3.. The plate |29 is provided with a radial slot |3| which receives a pin |32 carried by bight |24 of bracket |25. The pin |32 cooperates with the defining edges of the slot |3| to limit the extent of pivotal movement of plate |29 and of handle |22 in opposite directions. Leg |21 of the U- shaped bracket |25 is bent at one end away from the cover 3 to provide a portion |33 which is spaced from the undersurface of the cover 3. The portion |33 is slotted as at |34 to receive a projecting end |35 of a torsional or overcenter spring |36 whose central portion is coiled; the opposite end |31 of the spring |36 is inserted in an opening |38 provided in a projection |39 provided on the actuating plate |29. Flange |4| bent downwardly from plate |28 is adapted to extend into the space between the wings ||9 and |2| of member ||1 whereby, upon rotation of the operating handle |22, movement of the winged member ||1 is effected for a purpose to be hereinafter fully described. A second downwardly extending flange |42 is provided on plate |29 and serves a purpose also to be hereinafter described.

The exterior surface of cover I is marked with the indicia "On. Oi!," and "Unlocked" to indicate the operating positions assumed by handle |22. The switching unit within the cabinet I will be in circuit closing position when handle I22 occupies the on" position and will be actuated to break the circuit upon rotation of the handle |22 to "ofi" position. Movement of the handle |22 to "unlocked" position actuates an interlocking means. to be described, to releasing position to permit cover I to be opened. Interlocking means for normally locking the cover I to prevent opening thereof in all positions of the operating handle |22 except when this handle is moved to "unlocked" position is provided in the form of the generally triangular-shaped plate |2I and the inwardly directed nange I on box 2 cooperating therewith, for plate |29 is adapted, when the cover I is closed. to normally continually engage with flange I to prevent the cover I being opened except when handle |22 is moved to unlocked" position, in which position plate |29 lies out of engagement with flange I. Assume the cover I closed and the handle |22 in its on position, corner III of the plate |29 will then be disposed beneath the ilange I of the box 2, and with nange I thus projecting -into the path of movement of plate I2I, the cover I cannot be opened. Figure 9 is a view looking up at the undersurface of cover I and illustrates the position of plate |29 when the handle I22 is in on position. If the handle I22 were moved to off position, a corner III of the plate III would be located beneath the flange I of the box 2, and again flange I cooperates with plate |29 to prevent the cover I being opened. If the handle |22 were moved to "unlocked position, it would move the plate |2I to the position shown in dotted outline in Figure 9; in this position both of the corners III and III would be clear of flange I and there would then be no obstruction in the path of movement of plate |29 and, therefore, the cover I could be manually rotated to unlocked position.

In the movement of the handle I22 between "on" and "ofi positions, the line of action of spring III is movable across the axis of shaft |23, and the spring III will exert its force to maintain the operating handle |22 either in the ofl" position or in the "on" position, dependent on which side of shaft |23 the line of action of spring |36 has been moved to. Handle I22 can be made to occupy intermediate positions between on" and o|f only on the continued application of an external force. On rotation of the handle |22 to unlocked position, the handle must be manually held in that position, against the bias of spring |36, until the cover I is rotated to open position. If the handle |22 were moved to unlocked" position and released before the cover I were opened, it would be moved to "off" position by the spring |36, for at that moment the spring IIB is exerting its bias to move the handle |22 to the off position and thus the cover would be held closed because of the interlocking means.

'I'he handle I22 comprises a hub portion IIS which is slotted at the top as at IIB and has a plurality of apertures III in the rim thereof which align with apertures of a cup-shaped element (not shown) disposed within the hub |I when the handle I22 is in either on or off position. To lock the handle |22 in either of these positions, it is necessary only to insert a padlock (not shown) through the proper apertures.

The manner of effecting the operation of the switching unit carried within cabinet I will now be described.

Rotation of handle I22 will effect a rotative movement of plate |29, and flange III extending from plate I2I will positively engage one or the other of wings II9 or III, dependent on the direction in which flange III is moving, to elect rotation of the winged member III in a like direction. Actuation of the winged member II'I will effect a rotatable movement of the shaft II to which it is rigidly secured. Now, assuming the various parts to be in the position illustrated in Figures 2 and 6, which is the contacts off position,movement of the handle |22in a counterclockwise direction from the "off" position to the on position will rotate shaft II in a like direction to move the disk-like member II carried thereon. Flange 96 depending from disk member II will be moved from defining edge 98 of recess I2 in the periphery of disk member II and into engagement with edge 91 thereof; continued movement of the flange 96 will then effect rotation of disk III, and disk I8 will move member II interconnecting the disk I9 and the pivotal member I I. Member 99 will then positively move the pivotal member II about its pivot 19, and the pivotal member BI having a pin and slot connection with the movable contact carrying bar I2 moves this bar I2 rectilinearly to the right to carry the plurality of movable contacts 5| thereon into engagement with the stationary contact members 2| and 22 to make the electrical circuits controlledthereby. Denning edge IIII of reces IIII on disk 98 will, during the movement of disk BI, be moved until it engages stop |06 and this will prevent any further rotation of the operating handle |22 in counter-clockwise direction and thus define the on position of handle |22. Connecting rod I I I secured to disk 93 will, on this movement of the disk 93 effected by the counterclockwise rotation of the handle I22, be moved to the position of Figure 12 wherein the spring I II will be compressed between shoulders III on rod III and the back surface of ilange III on bracket 1l. Disk I8 and member 99 comprise a toggle connection between the rotatable member I3 and the pivotal member Il. Movement of the operating handle |22 to on position will move the toggle connecting pin |02 from the left side to the right side of the centerline between the centers of disk II and connecting pin III to throw the toggle overcenter, and engagement of the defining edge |08 with stop IIIB will lock this toggle in the over-set or over-travelled position to thereby lock the movable contact carrying bar I2 in contacts engaged position. Movement of the operating handle |22 in the reverse, or clockwise, direction from on to "off" position will effect a reverse movement of the operating parts. Flange 9B on disk 93 will move from edge 91 to edge 9B to effect a positive clockwise rotation of disk 88; and disk BB will move the end of connecting member 99 pivotally secured thereto by pin |Ii2. As soon as pin |02 is moved to the left of the centerline above described, spring III, which was compressed on movement of the handle to on position, will suddenly expand and will exert force upon flange I I3 to effect a snap movement of the pivotal member 9|, this snap movement of the pivotal member II will be transmitted to the movable contact carrying bar I2 in either diretcion.

2,381,848 through pin I I6 to snap it to the left to effect a.

snap disengagement between movable contacts and the stationary contact members 2| and 22. When disk 39 is first moved, clockwise, by flange 93, the pivotal member 8| pivots slightly being actuated by the connecting member 99 which, being connected to disk 88 by pin |02, is made to move; movement of the pivotal member 9| will move the bar 42 a slight amount but the movable contacts remain in engagement with the stationary contacts because of bias exerted by springs 52 and will continue to do so until spring ||4 is allowed to come into action, whereupon the movable contacts 5| disengage from the stationary contacts with a snap. Engagement of the defining edge |09 of the recess |01 on disk 88 with stop |06 limits the extent of clockwise movement of the operating handle |22 and the various parts moved thereby, and stops the handle 22 in the "off position. Thus, the defining edges |08 and |09 and the stop |06 act to limit the extent of rotative movement of the operating handle |22 And, as was described above, the combination of the pin |32 provided on cover 3 and the radial slot I3| provided in plate I 29 also acts to limit the rotative movement of the handle |22 in either direction; in the closed position of the cover, these latter limiting means would be unnecessary for the edges |08 and |09 and the stop |06 would define the on and "off" positions of the operating handle, but with the cover open, the pin and slot arrangement is necessary.

If the handle I 22 were in the on position, indicating that the contacts were engaged, and it was desired that the cover be opened, it would be necessary, as above indicated, to move handle 22 to the position marked Unlocked before the cover could be swung open. This movement of the handle 22 to unlocked position rotates the plate |29 so that corners |43 and |44 are aligned as to be clear of the flange 4 and thereby removing the obstruction in the path of movement of plate |29. When the handle |22 is moved to "unlocked position, the toggle 88-99 will be moved just overcenter by rotation of shaft 83 and spring I I4 will then become effective and will exert its bias upon flange ||3 to move the pivotal member 9| and effect snap disengagement of the contacts scribed, so that before the cover 3 is moved open, the contacts will be disengaged. Upon swinging the cover 3 to open position, the flange |4| will be moved from between wings I9 and 2| and spring ||4 can then exert its bias through connecting member III upon disk 93 to continue the rotation of shaft 83 to carry the slotted member |I`| to the position of Figure 2. With the cover 3 Opened, if' the handle |22 is then released, it will be rotated by the force of the overcenter spring |36 from "unlocked position to "ofi position, for the force of spring |36 is at the time of release being exerted in a direction which can only move the handle |22 to ofF position.

From the above description, it is apparent the cover 3 cannot be opened while the contacts are engaged for the interlocking means prevents this, and when the cover 3 is opened, it is done so only after the contacts have been actuated to disengaged position. If the contacts were desired to be re-engaged, the cover 3 must first be moved toward closed position and flange |4| must be received in the space between wings ||9 and I2I;

as was hereinbefore dewith the handle |22 in ofi' position, corner 44 of plate |29 extends over flange 4 and the cover 3 cannot be fully closed; therefore, the handle |22 must be rotated counter-clockwise a sufficient distance that corner |44 clears the innermost edge of flange 4, but with corner |43 held out of obstructing position, whereupon the cover 3 will be able to fully close. Actuation of handle |22 to effect contact movement cannot be had, even though corners |44 and |43 are not in obstructing position unless the door 3 is fully closed, for if the cover were held open even a slight amount, fiange |42 and the edges of plate |29 would engage the portion 5 of flange 4 and prevent operating movement of handle |22; and, it is not until the top surface of plate I 29 is carried to a position that is below the undersurface of flange 4 that the handle |22 can be rotated as desired and actuation of the movable contacts 5| into engagement with stationary contacts 33 can then be accomplished in the manner hereinbefore described. Once the cover 3 has been opened and it is desired to reclose it, it will always be necessary to have the handle |22 first in its off position, for the formations on the operating plate |29 would otherwise be effective to prevent it, that is the flange I4| will not be receivable within the space between wings ||9 and |2| but rather would engage the fiat upper surfaces thereof; and, further, ange 42 would be disposed outside of the ridge 5 and will rest on the outer surface of flange 4, and either is sufficient to hold the cover open, If inadvertently the winged member I|`| were moved by hand or otherwise to the position of Figure 12 which is the contacts engaged position of the switch, while the cover 3 was opened, the cover could not be closed for if the handle |22 were moved to "on position to align flange I4I with the space between wings ||9 and I2I, the fiange |42 on plate |29 would be disposed outside of ridge 5 and on top of the outer surface of flange 4 and will be engageable with the ridge to prevent the handle being rotated; so, therefore, it will first be necessary to manually actuate winged member |I1 to the position of Figure 2 before the device of this invention could be put into operation. Flange I 42 has another function in that when the cover is closed and contacts are engaged, it is not possible to move the handle |22 to unlocked position, which effects disengagement of the contacts, and open the cover 3 slightly and then actuate the handle 22 back to on" position to throw the contacts back into reengagement, and this with the cover 3 open, for flange |42 will engage ridge 5 and interfere with rotation of handle |22 until it is moved above the ridge 5, but the flange |42 is of a certain length that by the time it clears ridge 5, flange I 4| will be moved out of the space between wings |I9 and |2| and, therefore, the interconnection between the handle |22 and the contained mechanism will be broken, and thus the handle I 22 can have no effect on the actuation of the contacts when the cover 3 is open,

It is to be noted that with the arrangement of parts as above described, it is possible to effect disengagement of the contacts even though they may have welded together and spring I 4 is ineffective to move switch member 42, for the exerted upon the manual operating handle |22 can be positively transmitted to the switch member 42 to effect movement thereof and the disengagement of the contacts. As described, handle |22 has a positive connection with the slotted member III through flange Ill to effect rotationof the shaft I3; member il supported on shaft Il will engage and move disk Il through the flange l., and disk ll connected to member Il by the member I9 will move it, whereby member Il having a pin and slot connection with switch member 42 exerts a positive force thereon to move it to the left. Under normal conditions, member it will move member I I only until pin |02, joining members Il and Il, passes overcenter, at which time the force exerted by spring Ill will effect the movement of the switch member 42, but with a condition of weld existing spring Illl is ineifective; however. member Il will continue to move under the force applied by the operating handle i!! and this force will be positively applied by member Il upon switch member I2 to break the weld between the contacts.

While certain preferred embodiments of the invention have been specifically disclosed, it is understood that the invention is not limited thereto. as many variations will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art and the invention is to be given its broadest possible interpretation within the terms of the following claims.

What is claimed is:

l. In a switching device, an enclosing cabinet, an openable cover therefor, an operating handle on said cover, an electric circuit controlling instrumentality mounted within said cabinet, said electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an insulating base, stationary and movable contacts thereon, and a movable switch member for moving said movable contact into and out of engagement with said stationary contact to effect the switching operation, actuating means for effecting movement of said movable switch member, said actuating means comprising a pivotal member operatively connected to said movable member, a rotatable member, toggle means interconnecting said rotatable member and said pivotal member, said toggle means being operative to lock said movable switch member in contacts-engaged position, and means interconnecting said operating handle and said actuating means whereby said operating handle can move said actuating means to effect movement of said movable switch member to perform the switching operation.

2. In a switching device, an enclosing cabinet, an openable cover therefor, an operating handle on said cover, an electric circuit controlling instrumentality mounted within said cabinet, said i electric circuit controlling instrumentality comprising an insulating base, stationary and movable contacts, and a movable switch member for moving said movable contact into and out of engagement with said stationary contact to effect the switching operation, actuating means for effecting movement of said movable switch member, said actuating means comprising a pivotal member operatively connected with said movable member, a rotatable member, toggle means interconnecting said rotatable member and said pivotal member, said toggle means being operative to lock said movable switch member in contacts engaged position, and means interconnecting said operating handle and said actuating means whereby said operating handle can move said actuating means to effect movement of said movable switch member `to perform the switching operation, and resilient means actuable on said pivotal member to effect snap movement of said movable switch member in one direction.

3. In an enclosed switch, an enclosing cabinet, an openable cover therefor, an operating handle thereon, a switching device mounted within said cabinet, said switching device comprising an insulating base, stationary and movable contacts therein, a switching member for effecting movement of said movable contact into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, actuating means for moving said switching member to perform the switching operation, said actuating means comprisins a pivotal member operative on said switching member for movement thereof, a shaft rotatably supported upon a wall of said cabinet, a first member supported on said shaft, means interconnecting said first member and said pivotal member whereby the former can actuate the latter, a second member supported on said shaft, and means effecting a resilient interconnection between said second member and said pivotal member and operative to eiect a snap movement thereof, a movable member disposed within said cabinet, spaced from said actuating means and movable by said operating handle, and means carried by said movable member to effect a separable connection between said movable member and said actuating means for the switching member whereby said operating handle can effect movement of said actuat-l ing means to move the switching member to effect the switching operation.

4, In an enclosed switch, an enclosing cabinet, an openable cover therefor, an operating handle thereon, a switching device mounted within said cabinet. said switching device comprising an insulating base, stationary and movable contacts therein, a switching member for effecting movement of said movable contact into and out of engagement with said stationary contact, actuating means for moving said switching member to perform the switching operation, said actuating means comprising a pivotal member oper- `ative on said switching member for movement thereof, a shaft rotatably supported upon a wall of said cabinet, a first member supported on said shaft, means interconnecting said first member and said pivotal member whereby the former can actuate the latter, a second member supported on said shaft, and means effecting a resilient interconnection between said second member and said pivotal member and operative to effect a snap movement oi' said pivotal member. an operating member mounted on the interior surface of said cover and movable by said operating handle, a slotted member carried by said shaft, means extending from said operating member and receivable within the slot of said slotted member to provide a separable connection between said operating member and said slotted member whereby said operating handle can move said actuating means to move the switching member.

5. In an enclosed switch, an enclosing cabinet, an openable cover therefor, an operating handle thereon, a switching device mounted within said cabinet, said switching device comprising an insulating base, stationary and movable contacts therein, a switching member for effecting movement of said movable contact for cooperation with said stationary contact, a pivotal member operatively connected to said switching member for movement thereof to perform the switching operation, a shaft-like member rotatably supported upon a wall of said cabinet, a first memher supported on said shaft, means interconnecting said first member and said pivotal member whereby the former can actuate the latter, resilient means operative to effect a snap movement oi said pivotal member, an operating plate-like member mounted on the interior surface of said cover and disposed substantially parallel thereto, said plate-like member being movable by said Operating handle, a flange on a side wall of said cabinet cooperating with said plate-like member to retain the cover closed in all positions ot said operating handle except one predetermined position, a. slotted member carried by seid shaft. means extending from said operating member and receivable by the slot of said slotted member to effect a. separable connection between said plate-like member and said slotted member whereby said operating handle canmove said pivotal member to effect movement of said switching member.

HERMON L. VAN VALKENBURG.

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