US2671145A - Circuit interrupter construction - Google Patents

Description

March 2, 1954 s. l. LINDELL 2,671,145

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR.

' March 2, 1954 I s. I. LINDELL 2,671,145

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1952 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

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March 2, 1954 s, UNDELL 2,671,145

CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION Filed Jan. 9, 1952 J41 J5 J4 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Z a 7 u W x .1 ww w 4% (I March 2, 1954 Filed Jan. 9, 1952 6 6 m w fl wwww m w z 5 @50 w 4 \\f m. a Z y g y 6 if X 1 l 1 MM 9% g 5 Zamaparerz 2640/2 a i it Patented Mar. 2, 1954 CIRCUIT INTERRUPTER CONSTRUCTION lSigurd I. Lindell, Chicago, Ill., assignor to S & C Electric Company, Chicago, 111., a corporation of Delaware Application January9, 1952, Serial No. 265,570

18 Claims.

JIhis inventionv relates, generally, to electric circuit'interrupters and it hasparticular, elation to circuituinterruptersrfor use in opening disconnecting fuses, disconnectingiswitches, and the like Without arcing betweenthe energized in making application Serial No. 254,036,.fi1ed October 31, 1951, and assigned to the .assignee of this.application.

circuit without external-arcing; to restrain the biased apart contacts of thejcircuit interrupter from separating by inter-engaging .cshoulders thereon; to initiate operation of the-contacts. by movement of a sleeve relative to-a tubular housing containing the contacts; to provide a lost motion connection between the sleeve andthe contacts so that the same are free. to separate under the infiuenceof the means biasing them apart; to form the tubular housing of light transmitting arc extinguishing material so as to make the arc visible and to extinguish the same; to provide for reclosing the contacts under load to provide a contact arm onthe circuit interrupter for engaging a pull ring or the like on the dis connecting fuse or disconnecting switch and, to

For a more complete understanding of the na-,

ture" and belied to together which:

"Figur 1 is a'vi'ew in side'elev'ation of a conscope of this invention reference may the following detailed'description taken with theaccompanying drawings, in

ventional form of dropout fuse construction such as that described in more detail in Ramsey United States Patent No. 2,247,700, issued July 1, 1941, certain parts of the terminal assembly at the upper end being broken away in order to illustrate the details of construction;

Figure 2 is a top plan view of the circuit ,isolating device or dropout fuse shown inFigurel;

Figure 3 is a view, in side elevation, ofthe dropout fuse construction shown in Figure. 1, at a reduced scale, and illustrating the application of the auxiliary circuit interrupter of the present invention thereto for eiiecting the opening of. the fuse or disconnecting device without causing arcing between the parts thereof last to separate;

Figures 4 and 5 are views, similar to Figure. 3, showing successive stages in th opening. of the fuse or disconnecting device by means of the auxiliary circuit interrupter;

Figure 6 is a View at an enlarged scale, certain parts being broken away, illustrating the general construction andarrangement of the. auxiliary circuit interrupter, the view being taken looking from right to left with respect to the auxiliary circuit interrupter as illustrated in Figures 3, l and 5;

Figure 7 is a longitudinal sectional view of the auxiliary circuit interrupter, the separable contacts being shown in the fully closed position;

' Figure 8 is a detail sectional view taken generally along the line 3-8 of Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a detail sectional view taken generally along the line 99 of Figure '7;

Figure 10 is a view in side elevation of the tubular auxiliary circuitinterrupter, the upperand lower ends being broken away, the construction shown being to illustrate more clearly .thelost motion connection between the metallic sleeve slidably mounted on the insulatingsleeve and the movable rod-like contact within. the circuit interrupter;

Figure 11 is a longitudinal sectional view, similar to Figure '7, showing the relative positionsof the parts just after the contacts within the circuit interrupter have separated; and

Figure 12is a view, similar to Figure '7, showing the relative positions of the parts after the contacts in the circuit interrupter have been moved relatively to the full open position.

Referring now particularly to Figure l of. the drawings, it will be observed that the reference character 10 designates, generally; acircuitrisoswitching device which, in; this instance, is a dropout fuse construction such-as described .in more'detail in Ramsey Patent No.

2,247,700, issued July 1, 1941, and referred to above. However, it will be understood that the present invention can be used in conjunction with other circuit isolating devices, such as disconnecting switches in which a switch blade is swung from the closed to the open position for the purpose of introducing an air gap into the circuit.

The particular dropout fuse construction it includes an insulator H which carries terminal assemblies 52 and i3 at its ends for connection to line conductors as will be understood readily. Pivotally mounted at [4- on the lower terminal assembly !3 is a fuse tube that is indicated, generally, at H5. The fuse tube l5 contains a fusible element which is arranged to be ruptured on flow therethrough of excess current and mechanism is provided for automatically unlatching the fuse tube !5 from the upper terminal assembly l2 so that it can fall to the open circuit position. When this occurs, the circuit is interrupted within the fuse tube l5 and the arc incident thereto is extinguished. Ordinarily under fault conditions, the circuit will be interrupted within the fuse tube i5 before it swings out of contact with the upper line terminal assembly it.

The present invention has to do particularly with the provision of mechanism for effecting the opening of the circuit under load by bodily moving the fuse tube l5 to the open circuit position while it still contains a fuse link that has not been ruptured by overcurrent. Provision is made for accomplishing this while load current is flowing through the fuse tube l5 in such manner that no arc is drawn between it and the upper terminal assembly l2 during the circuit opening operation.

At its upper end the fuse tube 55 has a fuse tube terminal assembly indicated, generally, at [6. This assembly includes a sleeve I! that is slidable upwardly relative to the fuse tube i5 and formed integrally with the sleeve ii is a hook is which is held in latching engagement with a roller I9 carried by the upper terminal assembly 12. When the fuse link within the fuse tube is ruptured, the sleeve H is moved upwardly to such position that the hook is no. longer engages the roller !9. This same operation can be accomplished by means of an operating arm 29 which is pivoted at 2| on the fuse tube terminal assembly I6. At its outer end the operating arm 20 has a pull ring 22 which is arranged to be engaged by the prong of a switch stick or the contact arm of the auxiliary circuit interrupted to be described hereinafter. When the pull ring 22 is swung in a counterclockwise direction about the pivot 2!, the sleeve II is moved upwardly so that the hook is clears the roller I9. The fuse tube if: then can be swung or allowed to fall to the open circuit position.

When the fuse tube I5 is operated in the manner just described by the prong of a switch stick engaging the pull ring 22, an arc will be drawn between the portions of the terminal assembly l2 and fuse tube terminal assembly 18 last to separate. As indicated above, such an arc may damage severely these terminal assemblies or it may cause a fault on the circuit. In accordance with the present invention, the fuse tube l5 can be unlatched from the upper terminal assembly 12 and swung to the open position without drawing an are between the terminal assemblies 12 and [6. The manner in which this is accomplished, generally, is by providing a shunt circuit between the terminal assemblies 12 and 16,

n outwardly,

unlatching the fuse tube terminal assembly it from the upper terminal assembly l2, swinging the fuse tube IE to such a position that an air gap is provided between the terminal assemblies [2 and i6 and then interrupting the circuit by separating contacts within the auxiliary circuit interrupter under such conditions that the arc is confined and extinguished quickly. The only modification required in the construction of the circuit breaker Iii for accommodating the auxiliary circuit interrupter comprises providing the sleet hood 23, forming a part of the terminal assembly I2, with a transversely extending conducting arm 24. As will appear hereinafter, this provides a fixed support for the auxiliary circuit interrupter while it is being employed for swinging the fuse tube IE to open position without arcing between the terminal assemblies l2 and iii.

For the purpose of operating the dropout fuse EU to the open position without arcing a generally tubular auxiliary circuit interrupter, shown generally at 25, is provided. Its application to the dropout fuse I0 is illustrated in Figure 3 and the details of construction are shown more clearly in Figure 7 to which reference now will be had.

It will be noted that the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 has a relatively fixed conducting member 26 at its upper end to which a metallic cap 2? is secured by cap screws 28. A conducting eye member 29 is pivoted or swiveled at 38 on the metallic cap 2? and it comprises a pair of resilient contact extensions 3| which are bowed outwardly as indicated at 32 for facilitating entry of the transversely extending conducting arm 2 carried by the sleet hood 23. In order to provide good contact engagement with the conducting arm 24, the upper portions 33 of the extensions 3! are positioned in side by side relationship and biased toward each other by the inherent resiliency of the contact extensions 3|. Because of this construction, they grip the conducting arm 24 tightly therebetween. The upper ends 34 of the contact extensions 3i are turned as shown, and interfit with a keeper 35 which not only limits the movement apart of the upper portions 33 but also serves as a stop to prevent relative movement between the eye member 29 and the conducting arm 24 when a downward pull is applied to the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 in a manner to be described.

With a view to resisting upward thrust on the conducting eye member 29, the resilient contact extensions 3! are bowed inwardly as indicated at 36 for engaging the underside of the conducting arm 24. Sufficient lost motion is provided between the upper portions 33 of the contact extensions 3i and the ends of the keeper 35 so as to permit these upper portions 33 to be moved sufficiently far apart so that the conducting arm 24 can pass between the innermost portions of the inwardly bowed portions 35. However, substantial force is required to effect this relative.

movement which ordinarily will be more than will be exerted for reclosing the contacts of the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 in a manner to be described.

Again referring to the relatively fixed conducting member 25, it will be observed that it is provided with radial vents 3? to permit ready escape to the atmosphere of gases which may be generated as an incident to the operation of 'the' circuit interrupter 25.

Threaded on and depending from the underside of the conducting member 26 is an insulating arcing tip 43 of the insulating sleeve 38 and threaded into the underside of the conducting member- 26 is a conductingsleeve l il of copper' oi brass. The lower enema of the conducting. sleeve-fisconstitutes an annular relatively stationary contact'which has a radially inwardly directed shoulder- 4| the: purpose of which willbe described presently. At the lowerconducting sleeve 39 there is provided a ringhke'arcing:contact. Immediately below the: arcing contact 42 is. an arcing tube which preferably is formed of'light transmittting arc extinguishing material such as methylmethacrylate resin. The reason for employing this material isto permit the arc-drawn from the arcing contact 12 to be visible exterior to theinsulating sleeve 33. The material. specified has arc extinguishing properties when it is subjected to theheat of the arcso that it evolves an arc extinguishing gaseous medium which assists in deionizing thearc space and preventing the arcfrom restriking. Since this construction makes it possible to view the are and to note that it has beendrawn and extinguished; it serves to positively indicate to the lineman that the current carrying circuit has been interrupted. The lower end of the arcing tube 53 bears against a shoulder 44 formed in the insulating sleeve 33 and isthereby held in fixed position against endwise movement.

Slidahly mounted within the insulating sleeve 38 is a rod-like relatively movable contact that isdesignated, generally, at 4?. At its upper end. the rod-like contact 4? has arms which form a bifurcated end portion having at their extreme upper ends semicircular arcing tips t9 which, as shown in Figure 7, are arranged to have contact engagement with the annular relatively stationary contact is at the lower end of the conducting sleeve as. Underneath each semicircular is a shoulder 59 which is arranged to bear against the shoulder 4! and thus irictionally hold the'rod-like contact 4'! against endwise movement through the insulating sleeve Stunt-ii sufiicient force is exerted thereon to overcome the restraining force provided by the interaction of the shoulders A! and 50.

With a View to holding the semicircular arcing tips 48 in mechanical and electrical contact engagement with the annular relatively stationary contact '49, the arms 58 are formed of resilient material and are so constructed as to he inherent ly biased away from-each other. Additionally a coil compression spring I,-Figure 8, is provided for biasing-the upper ends: of the arms 68 apart. The coil compression spring 51 is located in a transverse opening 52in a rod 53 to the upper end of which a trailer {i l is connected. It will be understood that the trailer 54, which is formed of insulating arc extinguishing mateial, such as methyl -methacrylate resin, is movable together with the rod-like contact l! into the bore in the arcing tube 43 for assisting thesame in extinguishing the are drawn between the arcing contact 42. and the semicircular arcing tips 13. At its lower end the rod 53 is pivoted at. 55. to the upper end of a support rod 55 that forms-a part of the rod-like movable contact 4?. At its lower .end the support rod. 55 hasa head 51. suitably secured thereto. Between the lower endv of the arcing tube. 43 the upper side ofthe-head 57 a coil compression spring 53 is stressed. flfhe spring dais so designed that, by itself, itdoes not have sufficient power to "disengage the shoulder -50 from the shoulder 4 'ment-of the rod-like contact 47 is limited by a scoped over theinsulating sleeve 50 :from" the shoulder 41. Accordingly, these shoulders"Mand SWare'sufiicient to hold the rod-like contact 41 in the closed position against the biasing'force exerted by the coil compression spring 58 until some additional force is applied addition to the force exer-ted' by-the spring 58; todisengage the shoulder I. The downward movetubular stop member 59 mounted in a suitable the lower end of the insulating sleeve "With a 'view -to operating the rod-like contact fi'l'from and tothe closed circuit position, there is provided a metallic slee-vetA which is tele- 38 and has a length about equal to one half the length thereof. Near-its upper end the metallic sleeve 4 carries a spring finger Ei'which-supports a detent or latch 86 that isarranged to engage a slot 61 so as -to-"hold by'frictional engagement the sleeve ti in the position shown in Figure? with resp'ect to the insulating sleeve 38. The lower shoulder 58*0f the s1ot B1 is inclined so as to facilitate the \vedging' out of the detent or latch 55 from the slot 67 when the metallic sleeve is moved downwardly relative to the insulating sleeve-38. Spaced downwardly from the upper slot '5'! is a-lower elongated'slot 69 in the outer surface of the insulating sleeve 38. The purpose of the elongated slot 89 is to receive the detent o latchfifigas shown in Figure 12, for the-purpose of-holding the metallic sleeve 64 in thelowermost position and against movement upwardly to a position corresponding to the circuit closed, position of'the contacts and 49. However, the'upper'shoulder 70 of the elongated slot 59 inclined so as to wedge the detent or latch out of *thesame when suflicient upward force is applied to the metallic sleeve 64 for the purpose of reclosing will hereinafter appear; under certain operating conditions it may be necessary to move the sleeve fiedownwardly past the-position shown in Figure It is 'for this-reason that the slot 59 is elongated so as to permit such movement of the detent-or latchSS.

There is a 'lost motion connection provide-cl between the metallic sleeve 64 and the rod-like contact 41. *In part this lost motion connecticn'is made up of a-longitudinal slot 'il in the metallic sleeve 54 and an arm [2 projecting from the head"?! through a longitudinal slot 13 in the "insulating "sleeve 38. Contact fingers l4, carried by"thej-projecting"end of the arm 12, bear against the outer surface of the metallic sleeve 54, as shown 'in Figure 10, for the purpose 01..maintaining good "circuit connection between'themetallic' sleeve 54 and the rod-like contactd'l. Theupper end 15 of the slot H is arranged to engage 'theinpper'side of the arm 1'2 when the sleeve 641s moved downwardly relativelytothe' insulating sleeve 38. and continued movement of the sleeve causes the shoulder 50 to disengage the shoulder ii on the annular stationary contact 4!) so as to permit the spring 53 to move the rod-like contact 4'! to the'open position. "Whenlthe rod-like contact 4! is to he. returned to the closed position, the metallic sissy-e754 is .moved upwardly, from the position shown in Figure 12;.and'the lower endlii of the slot 1! engages the underside of'ithe' arm '72 to move/the contact. upwardly and to compress the spring58. It' will be understood that the sleeve 54 is moved upwardly sufficiently far so as to cause the shoulder 50 to override the shoulder 49 and restore the rod-like contact 4'! to the position shown in Figure 7.

With a view to moving the metallic sleeve 64 relative to the insulating sleeve 38 for the purpose of effecting operation of the rod-like movable contact 41 into and out of engagement with the annular stationary contact 49, a support bracket 8! is provided, Figure 8, and it is formed of a split construction with spaced ends 82 that are adjustably interconnected by a bolt 83. The support bracket 8| preferably is formed of good conducting material such as brass or copper and, as shown in Figure '7, is located intermediate the ends of the metallic sleeve 64 and is rigidly clamped thereto so as to have good electrical contact engagement therewith. The reason for this is that the support bracket 8| forms a part of the circuit through the auxiliary circuit interrupter in a manner to be described presently. Since the support bracket 9! is movable past the contact finger T4, the former is provided with an offset portion 84 which, as shown in Figure 8, clearly spans the contact finger i l. and permits relative movement with respect thereto.

When it is desired to employ the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 as a line tap and to open and close the circuit thereto, a terminal 95 can be employed and it can be clamped by a bolt 85 to the oifset portion 84 of the support bracket 8!. Suitably secured in the terminal 95 is a flexible cable or tap 81 that may be connected to the desired device, such as a transformer or the like, which is to be energized from the circuit to which the conducting arm 29 is connected. It will be understood that the terminal 85 and flexible cable or tap 8! will not be used when the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 is intended to be used solely for the purpose of opening a disconnecting switch or a disconnecting fuse, such as that illustrated at H] in Figure l of the drawings.

Formed integrally with the support bracket 9! and projecting therefrom is an arm 98, Figure 6, which carries a rockable shaft 89 having a flange 99 secured to one end thereof by a transverse pin 91. Interposed between the arm 88 and the flange 90 is a centering spring 92, one end 93 being anchored to the flange 90 and the other end 9t being anchored to the arm 88. At its outer end the shaft 89 carries a head 95 to which is secured a shank 96 of a contact arm 91. It will be noted that the shaft 89 extends transversely to the longitudinal axis of the tubular auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 and that the shank 95 is inclined at an acute angle to this longitudinal axis when the contact arm 91 is free of engagement of the pull ring 22. The centering spring 92 is arranged to hold the shank 9t and the contact arm 91 in this position. Then when the contact arm 91 is inserted in the pull ring 22 with the conducting eye member 29 in engagement with the conducting arm 24, as shown in Figure 3, the centering spring 92 causes the contact arm 9? to engage the inner surface of the pull ring 22 under substantial pressure and thus provides good electrical contact engagement therewith. As the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 is operated through the successive stages shown in Figures 4 and 5, the shank 95 is swung further and further away from the centered position, shown in Figure 7, and thus the contact pressure on the pull ring 22 correspondingly increases.

Where it is desired to provide additional contact engagement with the pull ring 22, a contact finger 98, Figure 6, can be employed in conjunction with the contact arm 91. It will be observed that the contact finger 98 has an outturned end 99 which facilitates cooperation with the pull ring 22. The contact finger 98 is carried by a sleeve I99 which is slidably mounted on the shank 96. A coil compression spring l9! urges the sleeve I99 outwardly of the shank and the contact finger 99 toward the contact arm 91. The sleeve I00 is guided on the shank 99 by a pin I92 extending radially from the shank 96 and projecting through a longitudinal slot I93 in the sleeve Hill.

It is intended that the tubular auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 will be manipulated by a lineman using a conventional live line stick which is employed in conjunction with various live line tools for operation in connection with circuits that are energized. To accommodate such a device, the arm 88 has an integrally formed depending bracket 19'! specially designed 'for engagement with a detachable fitting N18. The bracket i9! and fitting E98 are arranged to be clamped together by a bolt 99 having a wing nut i it as shown in Figure 6. It will be observed that the detachable fitting M38 is mounted on the upper end of a live line stick I l i which ordinarily is formed of food that has been specially seasoned and prepared and is carefully tested with respect to its strength and insulating qualities.

In operation the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25, supported by the live line stick H! is manipulated, as shown in Figure 3, to place the conducting eye member 29 in operative engagement with the transversely extending conducting arm 24 from the sleet hood 23 and the centact arm 9'! is threaded through the opening in the pull ring 22. Where it is desired merely to make a line tap, the contact arm 9'! will not be inserted in the pull ring 22 and the flexible cable or tap 8! will be connected by the terminal 95 to the support bracket 8!. In such case the conducting eye member 29 will be applied to the conducting arm 24 with the circuit interrupter 25 in the open position. Where it is desired to open a disconnecting fuse or disconnecting switch, the circuit interrupter 25 will be applied in the closed position.

Assuming that the circuit interrupter 25 has been applied to the circuit isolating device or disconnecting fuse l9, as shown in Figure 3, then a pull is exerted by the lineman on the live line stick III to move the metallic sleeve 99 downwardly over the insulating sleeve 33.

With the circuit interrupter 25 in the closed circuit position, the circuit therethrough can be traced from the conducting arm 2% through the conducting eye member 29 to the relatively fixed conducting member 25. The circuit extends therefrom through the conducting sleeve 99 to the annular relatively stationary contact 2-9 and thence to the arms 43 of the rod-like movable contact 47. The circuit is carried through the support rod 55 of the contact 41, arm 12 and contact fingers M to the metallic sleeve Thence the circuit continues through the support bracket 8!, shank 99 and contact arm 9"! to the pull ring 22. In this manner the termi nal assembly I2, which is relatively stationary, and the fuse tube terminal assembly it, which is relatively movable, are shunted so that when they separate no arc will be drawn therebetween.

As the metallic sleeve is 'moved downward ly over the insulatingsleeve 38,-the detent or latch 66 is cammed out of the slot-61' over the inclined lowershoulder' 68. The continued movement downwardly of'the metallic sleeve 64 over the insulating 'sleeve 38 is accompanied by no movement of the rod-like contact since-there is the lost motion connectiontherebetween. The contact fingers l4 bear" against the metallic sleeve 64 with only suiiicien't iorce to maintain Continued movement of the metallic sleeve 84. as shown in Figure 11, causes the upper end 75 of the slot ito engage the radially projecting arm 12' so as to move the shoulder 55 on the underside of the semicircular arcing tips 49 out of engagement with the radiallyinwardly directed 'shoulder 4lon the annul r relatively stationary contact 40. This is accomplished by causing the'bifurcated upper end portion or arms 48 of the rod-like movable contact 4'. to be moved towardeach other. As soon as the shoulder 50 is moved out of frictional en agement with theshoulder M, the cord compression spring 58 then has suflicient power to continue the downward movement of the rodlike contact 47 so that it moves downwardly through the insulating sleeve 38 with a snap action at relatively high speed; The arm 7?. moves freely downwardly in the slot 13 and independently of further movement of the metallic sleeve 54;" The downward'movement of the metallic sleeve 54 ordinarilycontinues only until the detent or latch'ttslides over theupper shoulder it and into the upper end of the slot -69.

Assuming that the "circuit in whichthe device ii! is connected'is carryingcurrent, thenan' arc will be drawn'betwe'en the semicircular arcing tips 49 and the ring-like arcing contact 42. Such are will be visible to the lineman on the ground, particularly atnight, since theinsulating sleeve 38 and the arcing tube43- both are formed of light transmitting material; The are will be extinguished within thearcing tube i3 as the trailer 54 is moved into'the'sarne because the surfaces thereof evolve in an'arc extinguish-' ing medium due to the=heat 'of the arc.

Another indication that'the interrnpter'25 A circuit is provided by thecontact fingers M again being located at the lower end of the slot H. Preferably, they are painted with a contrasting color, such as .red, so that their position is readily visible. after noting that the arc has been extinguished that the contact fingers 14-are-at the lower end of the slot 7! when the metallic sleeve been pulled to the position shown in Figure 12, knows that it is then safe to remove the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25 permit the circuit isolating device Hi to operate the fullopen position.

The downward movement of therod-like contact 4? is arrested whenithe' head 51 engages the upper end of the stopmem'ber 58L The relative positions of the parts when the circuit-interrupter 25-is in the open position is illustrated in Figure 12.

In the event't'hat the coil compression spring SSshouIdbe unable tact 4! downwardly continued downward sleeve 64 with the upper -end--;7;5 oft-he :slot lt in engagement with the arm lz --will cause. thcsrodto move the :rod-like con- The' lineman,

from the arm- 24 in the manner described, movement ofthe metallic like contact 41 to move shown by the broken lines in Figure 12, the metallic sleeve 64 would be moved well past the lower end of the insulating sleeve 38. It is for the purpose of accommodating such extended movement of the metallic sleeve 64 that the slot 69 is elongated for the purpose of accommodating the detent or latch 68, and to permit follow through without injury to the sleeve 38 the stop member 59 preferably is formed of resilient material.

As shown in Figure 12, when the circuit interrupter 25 is in the open position, the upper end of the rod-like contact 4'! is substantially closer to the lower end or" the conducting sleeve 39 than is the upper end of the metallic sleeve 64 or the spring finger 65 carried thereby. High voltage stress then is concentrated on the upper end of the rod-like contact ii and any restriking that might take place will occur within the arcing tube 43 and not externally thereto.

When it is desired to reclose the auxiliary circuit interrupter 25, the live line stick H i is moved upwardly. When this occurs, the lower end 16 of the slot ll engages the underside of the arm 72 and moves the rod-like contact 4'! upwardly until the semicircular arcing tips 49 engage the ring-like arcing contact 42. Continued upward movement of the live line stick ill causes the semicircular arcing tips 39 to move upwardly until the shoulder iii! again engages the radially inwardly directed shoulder M. This upward movement of the metallic sleeve Ed on upward movement of the live line stick Hi is permitted since the detent or latch is camrned out of the elongated slot $9 by the inclined upper shoulder id.

The current carrying capacity of the circuit interrupter 25 can be increased by providing shunting contacts between the conducting member 23 and the metallic sleeve E54. For example, contact fingers H2 can be secured by screws H3 to the conducting member 25 and their lower ends H4 arranged to make electrical contact engagement with the upper end of the-metallic When the circuit interrupter 25 is closed, the circuit through the movable contact 41' is shunted by the contact fingers H2. On movement of the sleeve 65 toward open circuit position, this shunt circuit is opened and the en'- tire flow of current is through the movable contact 41.

Since certain changes can be made in the foregoing circuit interrupter construction-and different embodiments of the invention can be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof, it is intended that all matter shown in the-accompanying drawings and described hereinbefore shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.

What is claimed as new is:

1. A circuit interrupterfor connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising,

effecting op'ening and closing of said separable contacts including means providing mechanical connection downwardly from the 11' relative to said energized conductor or terminal effects operation of said contacts, and circuit means connected to the other of said separable contacts.

2. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a pair of separable contacts Within said housing, connector means having a swivel mounting at one end of said housing and connected to one of said separable contacts and arranged and adapted to be detachably connected to said energized conductor or terminal, operating means associated with said housing for effecting opening and closing of said separable contacts including means providing mechanical connection to said live line stick whereby movement thereof relative to said energized conductor or terminal effects operation of said contacts, and circuit means connected to the other of said separable contacts.

3. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a pair of separable contacts within said tubular housing, connector means carried by one end of said housing and connected to one of said separable contacts and arranged and adapted to be detachably connected to said energized conductor or terminal, a metallic sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and operatively interconnected with said separable contacts for opening the same on relative movement of said sleeve housing, support means carried by said sleeve for attachment to said live line stick for moving said sleeve, and circuit means connected through said metallic sleeve to the other of said separable contacts.

a 4. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a pair of separable contacts within said tubular housing, connector means carried by one end of said housing and connected to one of said separable contacts and arranged and adapted to be detachably connected to said energized conductor or terminal, said connector means including means for cooperating with said conductor or terminal to resist longitudinal movement of said tubular housing in either direction, a metallic sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and operatively interconnected with said separable contacts for opening and closing the same on relative movement of said sleeve and housing, support means carried by said sleeve for attachment to said live line stick for moving said sleeve, and circuit means connected through said metallic sleeve to the other of said separable contacts.

5. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, connector means carried by one end of said housing and connected to one of said separable contacts and arranged and adapted to be detachably connected to said energized conductor or terminal, a metallic sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and having a lost motion connection with the other of said separable contacts for opening and closing the same on relative movement of said sleeve and housing, connecting means electrically interconnecting said metallic sleeve and said other contact to maintain a circuit therebetween, support means attached to said position,

sleeve and arranged and adapted to be attached to said live line stick for moving said sleeve, and circuit means connected to said metallic sleeve.

6. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a pair of separable contacts Within said tubular housing, connector means carried by one end of said housing and connected to one of said separable contacts and arranged and adapted to be detachably connected to said energized conductor or terminal, spring means biasing said contacts apart endwise of said tubular housing, detent means cooperating with said contacts and acting to hold the same in engagement against the biasing action of said spring means, a metallic sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and having lost motion connection with the other of said separable contacts for moving the same to over come the action of said detent means whereupon said spring means moves said contacts to open support means carried by said sleeve for attachment to said live line stick whereby relative movement of said sleeve with respect to said housing is effected, and circuit means connected through said metallic sleeve to said other separable contact.

7. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a relatively stationary annular contact coaxially disposed within said housing and having a radially inwardly directed shoulder, a relatively movable rod-like contact coaxially disposed within said housing and having one end bifurcated with a radially outwardly directed shoulder thereon, the arms of said end of said rod-like contact being biased apart for engaging said shoulder on said annular contact to resist endwise movement of said rod-like contact, spring means biasing said rod-like contact for endwise movement away from said annular contact and restrained by said interengaging shoulders, connector means carried by one end of said housing and connected to said annular contact and arranged and adapted to be detachably connected to said energized conductor or terminal, a metallic sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and having lost motion connection with said rod-like contact for moving the same endwise to disengage said shoulders whereupon said spring means moves said contacts to open position, support means carried by said sleeve for attachment to said live line stick whereby relative movement of said sleeve with res ect to said housing is efiected, and circuit means connected through said metallic sleeve to said rodlike contact.

8. The invention, as set forth in claim '7, wherein at least a portion of the tubular housing between the contacts in open position is formed of arc extinguishing light transmitting material to indicate externally the drawing of an are therebetween and for extinguishing the same.

9. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a relatively stationary annular contact coaxially disposed Within said housing and having a radially inwardly directed shoulder, a relatively movable rod-like contact coaxially disposed Within said housing and having one end bifurcated with a radially outwardly directed shoulder thereon,

accrues,

the arms of said endeof'isaidrodelike contact by one end of said housing and connected to said annular contact and arranged and adapted to .be detachably connectedto said energizedconductor metallic sleeve telescoped over said in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a relatively stationary annular contact coaxially disposed Within said housing and having a radially 11. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to be manipulated by a live line stick comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a relatively stationary annular contact coaxially disposed within said housing and having a radially inwardly directed shoulden. a, relatively movable rod-like contact coaxially disposed within said housing and having one end bifurcated witha radially outwardly directed shouldertthereon, the arms of said end of said rod-likecontactbeing biased apart for engaging said shoulder on'said annular contact'to resist endwise movement of said rod-like contact,rspring meansbiasing said rod-like contact for endwise movement away from.

said annularcontact and restrained by said in terengaging shoulders, connector means/carried by one end of said housing and connected to said annular contact and arranged and adapted to be detachably connected to said energized conductor or terminal, a metallic sleeve telescoped'oversaid,

tubular housing and having lost motionconnece tion with said rod-like contact, said lost motion connection comprising a longitud nal slot in said metallic sleeve and an arm projectingradially from said rod-like contact through said slot with relative movement therebetween being limited by the ends thereof, movement of said sleeve in one direction relative to said housing with one end of said slot in engagement with said .arm causing disengagement of said shoulders whereupon said spring means moves said contacts to open position and movement of said sleevein the .opposite direction relative to said housing with the said slot in engagement with said arm causing movement of said rod-likecontact line stick whereby relative movement of said and circuit means connected through said metallic sleeve to said rod-like contact.

12. A circuit interrupter for connection to an energized conductor or terminal and adapted to housing and having one end bifurcated with a radially outwardly directed shoulder thereon, the arms of said end of said rod-like contact being said annular contact and restrained ;by said interengaging shoulders, connector means carried connection comprising a longitudinal slot in said metallic sleeve and an arm projecting radially from said rod-like contact through line stick whereby relative movement of said sleeve with respect to said housing is efiected, and circuit means connected to said metallic sleeve.

13. Mechanism for opening a high voltage circuit isolating device such as a disconnecting fuse, disconnecting switch or the like normally carrying line current comprising, in combination, an elongated circuit interrupter having a relatively fixed conducting member at one end for attachment to a stationary energized conducting part of said circuit isolating device and a relatively movable conducting member adapted to be carried by a live line stick, a contact arm swingably mounted on said movable member to rock about an axis transverse to the longitudinal axis of said circuit interrupter and arranged and adapted to engage a movable energized conducting part of said circuit isolating device, a centering spring cooperating with said contact arm to bias the same to a position at an angle to the longitudinal axis of said circuit interrupter when it is out of engagement with said movable energized conducting part, and arranged to exert substantial contact pressure thereon when in engagement therewith and said contact arm is thereby swung toward said circuit interrupter, relatively fixed and movable contacts in said circuit interrupter connected respectively to said fixed and movable conducting members, movement of said movable conducting member away from said fixed conducting member effecting separation of said movable energized conducting part from said stationary energized conducting part while maintaining a shunt circuit therebetween through said contacts, and operating means responsive to said movement or said movable conductin member away from said fixed conducting member for effecting separation of said contacts.

14. A circuit interrupter comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a relatively stationary annular contact coaxially disposed within said housing and having a radially inwardly directed shoulder, a relatively movable rod-like contact coaxially disposed within said housing and having one end bifurcated with a radially outwardly directed shoulder thereon, the arms or" said end of said rod-like contact being biased apart for engaging said shoulder on said annular contact to resist endwise movement of said rod-lure contact, spring means biasing said rod-like contact for endwise movement away from said annular contact and restrained by said. interengaging shoulders, a sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and having lost motion connection with same endwise to disengage said shoulders whereupon said spring means moves said contacts to open position, and operating means connected to said sleeve for moving the same relative to said housing.

15. The invention, as set forth in claim 14,

wherein at least a portion of the tubular housing between the contacts in open position is formed of arc extinguishing light transmitting said rod-like contact for moving the.

16 material to indicate externally the drawing of an arc therebetween and for extinguishing the same.

16. A circuit interrupter comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a conductor extending into said housing from one end having a relatively stationary contact at its inner end, a relatively movable contact Within said housing for engaging said relatively stationary contact, spring means for biasing said movable contact for endwise movement through said housing away from said stationary contact, means holding said contacts in engagement, and a metallic sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and having lost motion connection with said movable contact for moving the same endwise to disengage said contacts and permit said spring means to move the same apart.

17. A circuit interrupter comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, a conductor extending into said housing from one end having a relatively stationary contact at its innor end, a relatively movable contact within said housing for engaging said relatively stationary contact, spring means for biasing said movable contact for endwise movement through said housing away from said stationary contact, means holding said contacts in engagement, a metallic sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and having lost motion connection with said movable contact for moving the same endwise to disengage said contacts and permit said spring means to move the same apart, and stop means limiting the movement of said movable contact away from said stationary contact to a position where the distance therebetween is less than the distance between said stationary contact and said metallic sleeve.

18. A circuit interrupter, comprising, in combination, a tubular insulating housing, .a conductor extending into said housing from one end having a relatively stationary contact at its inner end, a relatively movable contact within said housing for engaging said relatively stationary contact, a coil compression spring biasing said movable contact away from said stationary contact, latch means holding said contacts in engagement against the biasing force of said spring, a metallic sleeve telescoped over said tubular housing and having lost motion connection with said movable contact for unlatching said latch means on movement to a predetermined position along said tubular housing away from said stationary contact to permit said spring to separate said contacts, and stop means limiting the movement of said movable contact away from said stationary contact to a position where the distance therebetween is less than the distance between said stationary contact and said metallic sleeve.

SIGURD I. LI ELL.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 2,239,224 Golden Apr. 22, 1941 2,331,778 Hill Oct. 12, 1943 2,438,746 Garrison Mar. 30, 1948

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