US2446676A - Fused cutout - Google Patents

Description

Aug. 10, 1948. E; H. YoNKERs FUSED CUTOUT Filed Dec. 30, i944 INV Patented Aug. l0, 1948 FUSED CUTOUT Edward H. Yonkers, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Joslyn Manufacturing and Supply Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 30, 1944, Serial No. 570,527

s claims. 1

The present invention relates to fused cutouts, and has for on of its objects the provision of an improved cutout of the dropout type which is of simple and rugged construction, is thoroughly reliable in operation, and in which the fuse tube assembly may be easily and quickly mounted upon or detached from the spaced terminals of the insulating support.

It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved and simple fuse controlled mechanism for releasably latching one end terminal of the fuse tube assembly and a cooperating terminal member of the insulator assembly.

According to a further and more specific object of the invention the fuse tube assembly is provided with a spring biased multi-purpose fuse extracting member which is itself provided with one of the terminal latching parts and which also responds to fuse rupture within the fuse tube to reliably and rapidly perform the functions of fuse pigtail conductor extraction, disengagement of lthe latching parts and swinging of the fuse tube away from the insulating support.

It is a still further object of the invention to provide a fused cutout of the type embodying a fuse tube having a pivoted upper end in which the fuse tube is supported in a vertical position between the terminal members of the insulating support and the center of gravity of the fuse tube assembly is displaced from the axis of the. fuse tube toward the insulating support, thereby to permit gravity pull upon the assembly to effect separation of the lower fuse tube terminal from the cooperating terminal member of the insulating support when the latching connection therebetween is broken incident to fuse rupture.

It is still another object of the invention to provide an improved, simple and weather protected arrangement for detachably and pivotally supporting a fuse tube at one end thereof.

The invention, both as to its organization and method of operation, together with further objects and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following specification taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. l is an angular side View illustrating an improved cutout characterized by the features of the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary sectional view illustrating the upper end support for the fuse tube assembly of the cutout shown in Fig. l;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side view, partially in section, illustrating the improved fuse extracting and latching mechanism provided at the lower end of the cutout; and

Fig. 4 is an underside view of the mechanism shown in Fig. 3.

Referring now to the drawing, and more particularly to Fig. l thereof, the present improved (Cl. 20D-114) fused cutout is there illustrated as comprising the usual insulating support in the form of a petticoat insulator I0 having a center zone longitudinally thereof clampingly embraced by a bracket I I which may be utilized in supporting the insulator in a vertical position upon a pole or another suitable supporting structure. At its respective upper and lower ends the insulating support I0 is provided with spaced apart upper and lower terminal members indicated generally at I2 and I8, respectively, and between which a fuse tube assembly 24 of the expulsion type is adapted to be supported.

Specically, the upper terminal I2 comprises a conductive channel member of U-shaped cross section thoughout its length which is disposed with its open side down and has an integrally formed half collar I 2a at one end thereof for embracing the collar seat provided at the upper end of the insulating support I0'. This portion of the terminal I2 is clamped against the seating surface of the support IIJ by means of a half collar clamping member I3 and clamping screws I3a disposed upon opposite sides of the support I0. At the laterally extended end thereof, the upper terminal member is provided with downwardly extending hood skirts I2c and I2d, the upper edges of Iwhich are arranged in meeting engagement with an upwardly flared top wall I2e. Thus, the parts I2C, I2d and I2e dene a hooded or partially enclosed space at the extended end of the terminal member I2 for receiving therewithin and partially housing the upper end of the fuse tube assembly 24. In order pivotally to support the upper end of the assembly 24 and to prevent this end of the assembly from being moved beyond a predetermined point longitudinally of the skirts |2c and I2d as the assembly is supported upon the terminal I2, a pivot and stop member I2b is connected transversely between the two identified skirts along the lower edges thereof. 'Ihis member, which may be formed integral with the skirts I2c and I2d, is arranged to coact with a reversely bent leaf spring I4 in biasing the upper end terminal of the fuse tube assembly 24 thereagainst to produce outwardly swinging movement of the lower end thereof to the open circuit position. The base end of the spring I4 is anchored to the under side of the upper terminal member by means of a terminal screw I5 which is threaded through a holding nut I1 disposed top side of the terminal member I2. A clamping nut I6 threaded on the screw I5 may be utilized to establish line :wire connections with the upper terminal member.

The detachable fuse tube assembly 24 comprises the usual expulsion fuse tube 25 formed of an inner layer of pressed fibre or the like, having good arc-extinguishing gas evolving properties, and an outer layer of Bakelite impregnated 3 paper having excellent insulating properties. At its upper end, this fuse tube is provided with a terminal 28 having an internally threaded end portion for receiving the externally threaded terminal cap 29. laterally extending tongue 28a. which is adapted to be slid down the under side ilf of the terminal L The terminal 28 also includes a 1 d In accordance with one feature of the present invention, the pivoted end 35a of the arm 35 is directly engageable with the lower terminal member i8 of the insulating support it, so that upon l fuse rupture within the tube 25, the arm 35 acts Mvdirectly, and not through an intermediate linkwall l2e to a position betweenthe spring arm lila.Y Y

and the pivot member lb. A shallow seat28b is A.

into which the hook of a switch stick may bereadily inserted. The two terminal parts 28 and 2li-are. arranged to have the head .33a of a fuse link'clamped therebetween internally of thev fuse tube 25. Thislink, .which preferably is oi the Aimproved .forni disclosed and claimed in appli-cants copending application, Serial No. 533,824, filed May 3, 194.4, is provided with a pigtail conductor 3l extending longitudinally of the tube 25 and out of the open lower end of this tube.

At its lower end, the rfuse tube 25 carries a second terminal. 32. which ycomprises a metallic supporting arm 3L extending laterally away from the lower open end 25a of the tubeand a metallic fuse extracting `arm 35 pivotally supported at the head end 31:31)v of the arm 33.. remote from the lower open end of the fuse tube. The ferrule end 33a of the supporting arm 32 is set screw mounted vupon the lower end of the tube 25 by meansof a set screw 35s, andis provided with a radialprojection 33e against which the hook of a switch stick may be broughtv to bear to produce engagement of the terminal 32 with the lower terminal member i8 of the insulating support It. At its head end 33h the supporting arm.33 is provided with Van yunderside recess 33d which is opened at its'end and within which the V-shaped head end or latching part 35a of the arm 35 is disposed. A pin @3 extending transversely between the side walls of the head 33h and a registering pin receiving opening ythrough the head 35u-of the arm 35 is employed pivotally to support the latter arm at its end upon the supporting arm 33 for swinging movement of its opposed end 35h toward and away from-the lower end 25a of the fuse tube. The arm 35is oi flat cross section, is adapted to besnugly received within a channel 530 provided at the underside of the arm 33, and is provided with an angularly vdisposed swingable lend part l-ibfhavinga notchiiol at the end thereofjwithin which `the pigtail conductor 3l.A of a fuse 3i) is adapted to be received. Intermediate the ends therecfthearm 35 is provided witha thickened portion 35o through which a clamping screw d!) is threaded to` receive a wing nut Land a washer 42, which elements are utilined in clampingthe end of the pigtail conductor 3i tothe arm 35. In order to bias thearm 35 away from the arm 33 for the purposes described below, a biasing spring 39 of the compression type is `provided vto bear against the upper head surface 35e of the arm head 35a., This spring is completely enclosed within an elongated hole 33d drilled longitudinally vof the arm 33 in the manner illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawings.

clamped to the lower end of the insulatingsup-v insulating .support it. 10i.

' age; to-release the lower end of the iuse tube assemblyifor swinging movement away from the More specifically, the lowerv terminalV member lil mounted upon the support it comprises two parallel extending and elongatedresilient elements da and lh projectingfrom the insulating support iii and provided with oppositely extending arcuate-shaped catch parts 4c and iid at their respective ends. These elements, inthe arrangement illustrated7 comprise opposite legs. of a U-shaped resilient.

wire member fifi, the base portion of which is port Ii)Y by means of an assembly comprising a petticoat .embracingcollar 45 and an assembly screw 155, Asindicated above, the opposed catch parts 44o and @lid of the resilient. elements lila and ibare engageable with the head end 35a of the arm 35;' to provide a latching connection between the terminal 33 .and the terminal member ES. To this end the head end 35a oi the arm lis providedwithj an underside recess having end wall segments-which define jaws' 3l and 323 respectively engageable with the catch parts lili-c and Md. These jaws are Yprovided with oppositely aring-camming surfaces Sla and. 38a, which are adapted-'for vengagement with the outer end surfacesiof thecatch parts Mic andlld to squeeze the'endsofvthe resilient elements lila and Mib towardseach other as the terminal 32 is swung to engage the terminal member iii. Immediately back of the jaws 3l and 35, the walls of the recess SSarecut back away ilomeach other to provide 'opposed pockets for receiving the catch parts and thuspermit an linterlocking connection to bemade between thejaws and the catch parts when 'thejaws are disposed fully within the recess; In orderto provide for disengagement of the; catch parts islcand .Md from the jaws 3l and incident to the pivotal movement of the arm'135' which results'irom fuse rupture within the tube 25,-the recess 351s provided with an inclinedr bottom wall which terminates at its left end in a hollowed out pocket for catching and holding the ends ofthe catch parts to move the same downward and away from the jaws 3l and 38 as the arm 35 is pivoted in a counter clockwise direction from the position illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawing.

From the above explanation, it will be apparent that when the ruse tube assembly 2d is detached from the terminal members of the insulating support if), andit is desired to fuse the assembly 24, the terminal cap 2S is unscrewed from the terminal 28 and a fuse linl; 39 inserted within Ythe chamber of the tube 25 so that the pigtail conductor Sli thereoi` projects out of the open lower end 25a o the tube. Following this operation; and with the extracting arm 35 firmly held in the channel 33e of the supporting arm 33, -theprojecting end or" the conductor 3i is positioned within the slot 35d, tensioned around thescrew '1501, and clamped against the arm 35 by'nger-manipulation of the wing nut i i. hus the pigtail conductor serves tightly to hold the arm 35 in engagement with the channeled underside of the arm 33 against the'bias of the spring 39 reacting between these two arms. With the twoarms thus tied together, the head end. 35a,

of the arm 35 occupies an angular setting relative to the pivot point 28h of the fuse tube assembly such that it is engageable with the catch parts 44e and 44d to provide a latching connection between the terminal 32 and the terminal member i I 8. After the described operations are completed, the terminal cap 29 may be threaded into the ferrule 28 to clamp ythe head 33a of the fuse link tightly against the internally shouldered portion of the terminal 28.

In order to mount the fuse tube assembly upon the terminal member of the insulating support I0, the hook of a switch stick is first inserted within the opening of the loop 28o, following which the assembly may be elevated to a position for engagement of the terminal 28 with the terminal member I2. In this regard it is noted that, by virtue of the mass of the arms 32 and 35, the center of gravity of the assembly 24 is displaced outwardly along these arms away from the axis of the tube 25 so that the axis of the tube is tilted with respect. to the vertical when the assembly is suspended by the loop 28o from the end of a switch stick. This `causes the tongue 28a to be tilted down with respect to the hori- Zonta] by an angle which is approximately the same as the angle of upward tilt of the upper terminal member wall I2e. Accordingly, after the assembly is manipulated to position the end of the tongue 28a between the skirts I2c and I2@ and against the upper wall I2@ oi the terminal I2, this tongue is easily slidable to the right to a position between the spring arm Illa and the pivot member I2b. In this regard it will be noted that in its unsprung setting the arm Illa ,forms a substantital continuation of the inclined surface I2f, whereby the tongue 28a is automatically cammed over the surface I2f and the spring arm Ida, into the desired position by the simple emedient of moving the upper end of the assembly toward the insulating support I3. When lthe tongue 28a is fully inserted between the arm Ida and the pivot member I2b, the latter member is automatically brought into engagement with the seat 28h and is engaged l by the ferrule part of the terminal 28 to stop further movement of this terminal toward the insulating support IIJ.

After the assembly 24 is thus pivotally supported at its upper end. upon the upper terminal member I2, the hook of the switch stick may be withdrawn from the opening within the loop 28o and engaged with ythe projection 33o for the purpose of rotating the assembly 2A, into its closed circuit position. As the fuse tube assembly is rotated in a counter clockwise direction about the pivot member I2b, the spring I4 is tensioned against the ltongue I4 and the camming surface-s 3l@ and 38a of the jaws 31 and 38 are engaged with the outer end surface of the catch parts 44e and Md. Further movement of the tube 25 toward the support I6 causes the jaws 31 and 38 to ride over the catch parts and thus squeeze or flex the ends of the elements 44d and 44h toward each other. After the jaws have passed the opposed high points of the catch parts, the ends of the resilient elements 43.0, and 44h are expanded within the side wall pockets recess 35 `to provide an interlock between the catch parts and jaws which serves to restrain the fuse tube assembly 24 in its closed circuit position against the bias of the spring I4. Thus the fuse tube assembly 24 is xedly mounted upon the insulating support I0 to provide a fused current path between the two terminals I2 and I8. Specically, this path extends from the terminal screw I5 through the terminal member I2 and the spring I4 to the terminal 28. From this point, the conductive path extends through the fusible element of the link 30, the iexible pigtail conductor 3l and the extracting arm 32 to the lower terminal member I8 of the insulating support. It will be noted that the spring I4 serves to hold all contacting parts of the fuse tube assembly and insulator terminals in pressure engagement, thereby to minimize Contact resistance therebetween.

So long as current flow over the described conductive path between the terminals I2 and I8 does not exceed the current-time fusing characteristic of the link 3E, the fusible element within this link serves mechanically to hold the extracting arm 35 in its set position against the channeled` underside of the supporting arm 33. When, however, this fusible element is required to carry current in excess of a predetermined magnitude for more than a predetermined interval, it is ruptured to relieve the holding force imposed upon the extracting arm 35 through the pigtail conductor 3|. The spring 39, in reacting between the arm 32 and the surface 35e is thus rendered operative rapidly to rotate the arm 35 downwardly about the pivot pin 43, thereby to withdraw the pigtail conductor 3| from the lower end of the fuse tube 25. In this regard, it is noted that the arm 35 is of substantial length, such that rotation thereof through a relative small angle produces a relatively large displacement between the swingable end 35h thereof and the lower end 25a of the tube 25. Further, this arm has relatively little inertia, is positively drivenl by the spring 39 throughout its entire stroke, and is not substantially impeded in its movement through the engagement of the pivoted end thereof with the resilient elements 44a and 44d. Accordingly, fairly reasonably rapid movement of the swingable end 35h thereof away from the lowerY end of the fuse tube 25 is obtained. This provides for rapid elongation of the arc -within the fuse tube and rapid extinction of the arc following fuse rupture. Further, the length of the extracting arm 35 and the length of the arc through which the end 35h thereof is moved is such that under all conditions of fuse rupture, all of the pigtail conductor 3| and the lower unfused segment of the fuse link are completely removed from the bore of the fuse tube 25 to hang downwardly away from the fuse tube. After the arm 35 has been rotated substantially to the position illustrated in Fig. l of the drawings, the jaws 3I and 38 engage the end of the arm 32 to arrest further rotation of the arm 35. During the initial pivotal movement of the arm 35 away from the arm 33, the inwardly pocketed end 35a of the recess 36 is brought into interlocking engagement with the ends of the catch parts 44o and 44d. Accordingly, as rotation of the arm 35 continues, the catch part ends are moved downwardly away from the pivot pin 43, thereby to flex the resilient elements 44a and 44h so that the catch parts are disengaged from the jaws 31 and 38. Thus the latching connection between the terminal member I8 and the terminal 32 is broken. Further, and due to continued engagement with the pocketed end 36a, of the recess 35 with the ends of the catch parts 43o and 33d, continued rotation of the arm 35 serves to force the lower end of the fuse tube 25 away from the insulating support I0. This high leverage 'aggregare 'force fexertednbackwardly 4through fthe' 'Iuse tub'e assembly may :be :usefulfinibreaking ice"crusts which may havel formed between theifconta'cting surfaces 4of the :terminali 28 `and :the":terminal ymember l2. :Inithis regarditis.'notedfthatallfof the movable parts of fthe lower terminal v33' are either completelyc'overed -or enclosed,.2thereby to vminimize the formation :of icetdepositswhich might interfere with :downward swinging'movementof the arm 35.

After the fuse tube assembly r-Jis thus freed `rfor yswinging movement 'away from'the 'insulating support l0, gravitational 4pull:upon` .thisf'assembly and the spring .114' coact Lto produce rva'wide separation between Ythe terminal 132 Yand 'the terminal member f8. Themanner in which fthe 'spring ifi, 'in 4reacting .between Athe tongue I23a and 4the terminal member i2; `contributes to t'his swing- 'ing movement of the :assembly 24 will :beireadily apparent. :In respect to the gravity component i.

oi 'the lforce .acting upon the assembly 24,1it V`is pointedy out thattheiinsul'ating rsupport 5| il is'held bythe bracket il l .in "a vertical positionan'dthat the lengths of 4'the I.arm l2; the larmw;V and the :resilient elements Ma .and 1Mb-arefso proportioned as 'to provide for 'vertical positioning -ithe :fuse

vtube 25 `when the assembly '24 is vv*mounted :upon the .insulating support.

to 'an inclined rpositionfaway'from tlreinsulating f support lio `to produce the desired separation by the 'terminal .32 and fthe terminal member 1.8. This isolation of 'the :identied terminal 'aparts serves to prevent leakage .currentowy between the terminal members I8 and '.I2. After yt'l'iezfuse tube `assembly Ais thus swung away from the 1insulating Vsupport .I0 Ato its open'. .circuit "position, therhook "of a switch stick may bereengaged with the 'loop 23e to disengage the assembly. :from 'the terminal member l2. tforzrefusing.

While .there has ybeen Adescribed 'what-is :at present .considered to be the 'preferred"embodiment-of the invention, it will..'be'understoo'd that various modincations may be made 'therein which are within the -true spirit and scope of the invention as dened in theappended claims.

I claim:

1. In a fused cutout which comprises insulating supporting means provided with a terminal member and a fuse tube provided with a terminal at one end pivotally engageable with -said terminal member 4to 'support lsaid tube "for 'swinging movement of the other 'end thereof; a second terminal member carried by said supporting means,' a second terminal mounted upon said other end of said tube and comprising a spring biased pivotally supported fuse extracting member, said second vterminal member and said extracting member respectively including complementary parts engageable in response to "swinging movement of said tube towardat'least ya Apart of 'said supporting means' vto vlatchsai'd second terminal and second 'terminal lmember'in vengagement,y at least one of said parts being resiliently deformable to .permit latching engagement between said parts, and a fuse Idisposed within said tube to be tensioned by said extracting member, to normally hold said extracting member in a position such `.that said complementary parts are engaged and to have a ypart thereof :Jextracted'from said tubeby'said extracting'mem- *beruponrupturethereof, said extracting memberincluding a part adjacent the pivoted end thereof'for reacting against the complementary partiof said terminal member to disengage said 'complementary parts in response tothe move- Tnentlof said extracting member which results from rupture of said fuse, thereby to permit :swinging motion of said tube away 'from said supporting means.

"2. In a fused cutout which comprises insulating `supportingimeans provided with a terminal 'member 'and a fuse tube provided with a terminal iat one end pivotally engageable with said terminal member to support said tube for swinging movement of the other end thereofja'sec- 'ond 'terminal member comprising a resilient element vprojecting from said supporting means and `provided with a catch part adjacent the end thereof, a second terminal mounted upon said vother end 'of said tube and comprising a spring 'biased '.pivotally supported fuse extracting arm 'havingra latch part engageable with said catch partito latch 'said second terminal member Vand second terminal in engagement as said tube is swung 'toward at least a part of said supporting "means, said resilient element being deformed'to permit 4latching engagement of said catch and latch parts as said parts are engaged, and a fuse disposedl within said tube to be tensioned yby said arm, to normally hold said arm in a posiition such that said latch part is engageable with said catch part and to have a part thereof extracted from said tube by said arm upon rupture thereof= said arm having a part adjacent the Apivoted end thereof for reacting against said catch part to disengage said catch and vlatch parts inresponse to the movement of said arm which results from rupture of said fuse, thereby Ato permit swinging motion of said tube away from said supporting means.

--"3.-In a fused cutout which comprises an insulating support provided with a terminal member and a fuse tube provided with a terminal at one end pivotally engageable with said terminal member to support said tube for swinging movement of the other end thereof; a second terminal member comprising substantially parallel re- 'silient'elements projecting from said support and 'provided with oppositely extending catch parts at their ends, a second terminal mounted upon said other end of said tube and comprising a spring biased pivotally supported fuse extracting arm'having a pair of jaws engageable with said catch parts to squeeze the ends of said elements `toward each other and then interlock with said catch parts as said tube is swung toward said support, thereby to latch said second terminal member and second terminal in engagement, and a fuse disposed within said tube to be tensioned by said arm, to normally hold said arm ina position such that said jaws are engageable with said catch parts and to have a part thereof 'extracted from said tube upon fuse'rupture, said arm 'having a part for disengaging said catch 'parts from said jaws in response to the move- *ment of `said arm which results from rupture of said fuse, thereby to permit swinging motion of lsaid tube away from said support.

4. In a lfused cutout which comprises an insulating support provided with a terminal mem- 'ber and a fuse tube provided with a terminal at Vone -end pivotally engageable with said terminal member -to support said tube for swinging movement of the other end thereof; a second terminal member comprising substantially parallel resilient elements projecting from said support and provided with oppositely extending catch parts at their ends, a second terminal mounted upon said other end of said tube and comprising a spring biased fuse extracting arm having a pivotally supported end remote from said other end of said tube, said arm having at its pivoted end a pair of jaws engageable with said catch parts to squeeze the ends of said elements toward each other and then interlock with said catch parts as said tube is swung toward said support, thereby to latch said second terminal member and second terminal in engagement, and a fuse disposed within said tube to be tensioned by said arm, to normally hold said arm in a position such that said jaws are engageable with said catch parts and to have a part thereof extracted from said tube upon rupture thereof, said arm having a part adjacent the pivoted end thereof for disengaging said catch parts from said jaws in response to the movement of said arm which results from rupture of said fuse, thereby to permit swinging motion of said tube away from said support.

5. In a fused cutout which comprises an insulating support provided with a terminal member and a fuse tube provided with a terminal at one end pivotally engageable with said terminal member to support said tube for swinging movement of the other end thereof; a second terminal member comprising substantially parallel resilient elements projecting from said support and provided with oppositely extending catch parts at their ends, a second terminal mounted upon said other end of said tube and comprising a spring biased fuse extracting arm having a pivotally supported end remote from said other end of said tube, said arm having at its pivoted end a pair of jaws engageable with said catch parts to squeeze the ends of said elements toward each other and then interlock with said catch parts as said tube is swung toward said support, thereby to latch said second terminal member and second terminal in engagement, and a fuse disposed within said tube to be tensioned by said arm, to normally hold said arm in a position such that said jaws are engageable with said catch parts and to have a part thereof extracted from said tube upon rupture thereof, said arm having a part adjacent the pivoted end thereof for exing said resilient elements to disengage said catch parts from said jaws and for concurrently reacting against said resilient elements to swing said tube away from said support in response to the movement of said arm which results from rupture of said fuse.

6. In a fused cutout, the means for detachably and pivotally supporting a fuse tube which comprises, a terminal mounted upon one end of said fuse tube and provided with a laterally extending tongue, a supporting terminal member comprising a pivot part engageable by said tongue pivotally to support said tube and having walls defining a partial housing for said pivot part and said tongue, one of said walls having an angularly disposed camming surface engageable by said tongue t cam said tongue into engagement with said pivot part, and a reversely bent biasing spring mounted upon said terminal member and having an arm forming a continuation of said surface to assist in camming said tongue into engagement with said pivot part and to provide a biasing reaction between said tongue and said terminal member as said fuse tube is pivoted about said pivot part.

'7. In a fused cutout, the means for detachably and pivotally supporting a fuse tube at the upper end thereof which comprises, a terminal mounted upon said upper end of said fuse tube and pro-- vided with a laterally extending tongue, a horizontally disposed channel-shaped terminal member supported with its open side down and comprising a pivot part engageable by said tongue pivotally to support said tube, said member having end skirts and a top wall defining a partial housing for said pivot part and said tongue, and said top wall having an angulariy disposed bottom surface engageable by said tongue to cam said tongue into engagement with said pivot part, and a reverseiy bent biasing spring mounted upon said member within the channel thereof and mounted within said channel shaped terminal member and having an arm forming a continuation of said surface to assist in camming said tongue into engagement with said pivot part and to provide a biasing reaction between said tongue and said terminal member as said fuse tube is pivoted about said pivot part.

8. In a fused cutout which comprises insulating supporting means provided with a terminal member and a fuse tube provided with a terminal at one end pivotally engageable with said terminal member to support said tube for swinging movement of the other end thereof; a second terminal member comprising a resilient element projecting from said supporting means and provided with a laterally extending catch shoulder at the extended end thereof, a second terminal mounted upon said other end of said fuse tube and comprising a laterally extending supporting arm, a spring biased fuse extracting arm pivotally supported upon said supportingr arm adjacent the extended end thereof, one of said arms having a latching shoulder adjacent the extended end of said supporting arm engageable with said catch shoulder to latch said second terminal member and second terminal in engagement as said other tube end is swung toward said second terminal member, said resilient element being deformed to permit latching engagement of said catch and latching shoulders as said other tube end is swung toward said second terminal member, and a fuse disposed within said tube to be tensioned by said extracting arm and to have a part thereof extracted from said tube by said extracting arm upon rupture thereof, said extracting arm having a part adjacent the pivoted end thereof for reacting against the extended portion of said resilient element to disengage said catch and latch shoulders in response to the movement of said extracting arm which results from rupture of said fuse, thereby to permit swinging motion of said other tube end away from said second terminal member.

EDWARD H. YONKERS.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the ile of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,212,633 Bodendieck Aug. 27, 1940 2,296,991 Fox Sept. 29, 1942

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