US3066209A - Distribution side opening load break switch - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 27, 1962 K. A. THALLNER 3,066,209

DISTRIBUTION SIDE OPENING LOAD BREAK SWITCH Filed Dec. 8, 1960 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 IN V EN TOR. 444,94 ,4. TH/IL A A/E Nov. 27, 1962 K. I A. THALLN ER 3,066,209

DISTRIBUTION SIDE OPENING LOAD BREAK SWITCH. Filed Dec. 8, 19.60,:

5 Sheets-Sheet 2 J53. RTE A 66; I

l I I r 150 95,22; 3 III I I 60 I I a A I QI if I I 1 l Z?T 5 INVENTOR- cg K4196 AJ'WIZLVEI 72 BY TTOMEK) Nov. 27, 1962 K. A. THALLNER 3,066,209

DISTRIBUTION SIDE OPENING LOAD BREAK SWITCH Filed Dec. 8, 1960 3 SheetsSheet 3 l I 7 ,5 /U

Q 47 I O 0 46b L 1 80 INVEN TOR.

United States Patent 3,066,239 DISTRIBUTION SIDE (BPENlP-l-G LUAD BREAK SWITCH Karl A. Thallner, Greenshurg, Pa, assigns: to I-T=-E Circult Breaker Qempany, Philadelphia, Pa, a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Dec. 8, 196i), Ser. No. 7 1,693 15 Claims. (Cl. Nil-163) This invention relates to a novel distribution side opening load break switch for outdoor use which is provided with a novel interrupter means of a simplified nature which permits simplification to be made within the switch itself.

Distribution side opening switches are well known in the art for outdoor use whereby they are equipped with so-called load break attachments of the well known plunger type design. Load break attachments permit the switch to interrupt currents of load current value by providing auxiliary contact means in parallel with the main switch contacts. The auxiliary or interrupter contacts are adapted to withstand and extinguish load current arcs and remain closed until the main contacts are opened. Thus, when the main contacts open, there is a parallel path for the flow of load current so that the main contacts will not interrupt load current. At a predetermined point after the main contacts open, the interrupter contacts are caused to open. The interrupter contacts are specifically designed for this purpose, it being noted that in their design it is not necessary that they carry continuous load current, this being normally car- 'ed by the main contacts. Thus, the auxiliary contacts can be relatively small as compared to the main contacts, although they are constructed in such a manner or with such auxiliary arc extinguishing means that they can interrupt the load current, once load current is shunted into these contacts due to the opening of the main contacts.

When such switches are used in outdoor environments they are subject to icing. This problem becomes particularly severe in the case of the interrupter where water can flow inside the interrupter and subsequently freeze, to interfere with the interrupter operation.

In addition to this, the presence of water within the interrupter will interfere with the interrupting characteristics of the interrupter, since it can provide a relatively low resistance path to electrical current flow across high dielectric elements within the interrupter.

In accordance with the present invention, a novel interrupter structure is provided for distribution side opening switches wherein there is access and egress for the movable load breaking contact to areas within an interruptin chamber, while the interrupter structure is formed to prevent leakage of water therein.

In addition, the novel interrupter structure is provided with passage means for permitting water which does accumulate within the interrupter as by condensation to flow out of the interrupter chamber to external areas.

With the use of such a novel interrupter it has been further found that the switch construction itself can be substantially simplified. As will be seen, the structure does not require castings, and is formed of components which lend themselves to simplified manufacturing techniques and which are light in weight.

Accordingly, a primary object of this invention is to provide a simplified distribution side opening load break switch.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel interrupter adapter for distribution side opening switches.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a novel interrupter structure for distribution side opening switches which offer substantial obstacles to the ingress of water to areas internal of the interrupter, and provides ice passage means for permitting drainage of water which does reach these internal areas.

A further object of this invention is to provide a novel distribution side opening switch which is inexpensive, utilizes no castings, is formed of parts capable of easy manufacture and is light in weight.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel interrupter adapter for distribution side opening switches which is inexpensive, is formed of simple component parts and is light in weight.

These and other objects of this invention will become apparent from the following description when taken in connection with the drawings, in which:

FIGURE 1 shows a side view of a side opening distribution switch adapted with an interrupter manufactured in accordance with the present invention.

FEGURE 2 shows a top view of the operating crank of FIGURE 1, and illustrates the open and closed position for the crank.

FIGURE 3 shows a top view of the novel adapter of the invention.

FIGURE 3A is a front view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 4 shows a side view of FIGURE 3.

FIGURE 5 shows a top view of one of the stationary interrupter contacts contained within the interrupter of FIGURES 3 and 4.

FIGURE 6 is a side view of the contact of FIGURE 5.

FIGURE 7 is an enlarged top view of the jaw and contacts of the distribution switch.

FIGURE 8 is a side view of FIGURE 7.

FIGURE 9 is a detailed side view of the manner in which the interrupter movable blade is mounted for quick break or snap-type action.

FIGURE 10 is a top view of FIGURE 9.

Referring now to FIGURE 1, I have shown a distribution side opening switch which has a mounting base 10. The mounting base lil then supports a stationary insulator 11 and a pivotal support member 12 for a rotatable insulator 13.

The main switch blade is formed of parallel blades 14 and 15 which may be fabricated from bar material and is mounted to the top of rotatable insulator 13 by mounting strap 16. Mounting strap 16 as shown is bolted to the top of insulator 13 by bolts 17 and 18 and to the blades 14 and 35 as by bolts 19 and 20 which further carry spacers 21 and 22 respectively for holding blades 14 and 15 in their parallel spaced relationship.

The righthand and hinge end of blades 14 and 15 have openings therein which are in registry with an opening in terminal bar 23 which is stationarily mounted in some desirable manner (not shown). A bolt 24 passes through a spring washer 25, the opening in blade 15, the opening in terminal bar 23, the opening in blade 14, and a second spring washer 26. A nut 27 is thereafter se cured to bolt 24- so that the right-hand ends of blades 14 and 15 are pressed inwardly by spring washers 25 and 26 toward electrical engagement with terminal bar 23. If desired, small protrusions may be formed on the op posing surfaces of blades 14 and 15 which will engage the surfaces of terminal bar 23 along small high pressure areas to insure adequate electrical contact. The terminal bar 23 is then provided, for example, with openings 28 and 29 for receiving electrical connections to one terminal of the distribution circuit.

The terminal jaw end of the switch which is carried by insulator 11 carries a second terminal bar 30 which serves as the stationary jaw and contact at its right-hand end. More specifically, a U-shaped mounting strap 31 is secured to stationary insulator 11 as by bolts 32 and 33. The upper leg of U-shaped strap 31 is bolted to the terminal strap 30 in a mid-portion thereof as by bolts 34 and 35.

. to a motion into the paper in FIGURE 1.

To form the movable contact portion of the jaw end of the switch, a structure similar to the structure used at the hinge end is provided for blades 14 and 15. More specifically, and as best seen. in FIGURES 7 and 8, the left-hand ends of blades 14 and 15 are provided with openings for receiving a bolt 36 identical to bolt 24 which bears on a washer 37 which is identical to washer 25.

The lower end or" bolt 36 receives a washer 35 identical to washer 25 and a nut 39 identical to nut 37. A spacer 39a is interposed between blades 14 and 15 as is concentric with bolt to provide proper spacing etween blades 14 and 15. The terminal bar 311 is positioned to clear the central portion of bolt 36 so that appropriate movement can occur between the left-hand ends of blades 14 and 15 and the right-hand end of terminal bar 30 which serves as the stationary contact. Embossed contact ribs 14a and 15a are formed in the ends of blades 14 and 15, respectively, for making contact with terminal bar Sit. If desired, protrusions may again be provided ,at the inner surfaces of blades 14 and 15 to engage the surface of terminal bar to assure high pressure contact engagement. It will, therefore, be noted that the construction of blades 14 and 15 is symmetric to substantially simplify manufacturing techniques.

The terminal bar is then provided with openings 41) and 41 which receive electrical connection to another terminal in the distribution circuit which is to receive the disconnect switch.

An operating mechanism for operating the switch of FIGURE 1 includes a crank arm 42 attached to the lower end of rotatable insulator 13. The crank arm 42, as best seen in FEGURE 2, is movable from the closed position shown in FIGURE 2 and in a clockwise direction to an open position 43, which motion corresponds This movement can involve a rotation of the order of 75 degrees. If desired, a locking means of any desired type can be provided to lock crank arm 42 in its closed or opened position in the usual manner.

When rotatable insulator 13 is rotated as indicated above, it will be apparent that blades 14 and 15 will rotate about the axis of rotatable insulator 13 from the position shown in FZGURE l to an open position, and in a plane which is parallel to the plane which includes base 1G.

in order to convert the switch of FIGURE 1 to a switch which can operate under load current conditions, an interrupter attachment or load break attachment 44 is provided which cooperates with a quick break blade 45.

As best shown in FIGURE 1, the blades 14 and 15 carry the quick break blade 45 which is secured to mounting means 46, which is, in turn, bolted to blades 14 and 15 as by bolt means 47.

The manner in which quick break blade 45 is carried by blades 14 and 15 is best shown in FEGURES 9 and 10. Referring to FIGURES 9 and 10, the bolt means pivotally mounts mounting means 46 and thu blade 45. Mounting means 46 has two extending ears 46a and 4612 which are engageable with stop pin 8% carried by blades 14 and 15. A torsion spring 51, schematically shown in FIG- URE 10 is carried within mounting means 46 and coaxially with bolts 47 and has a first end 51a connected to mounting means 46 and its other end 81b connected to non-rotatable bolt 47.

In operation, and as will be later seen, as the blades 14 and 15 are moved to a disengaged position, blade 45 I is locked under the interrupter contacts so that there is relative angular motion between blades 14 and 15 and blade 45 with the torsion spring 81 being loaded. When blades 14 and 15 sufiiciently clear their contact 31 car 46a engages pin 30 to force blade 45 out of its latched postion in the interrupter. Once the latch is so defeated,

' the blade 45 is quickly snapped back to the relative posiwhere ear 46b engages pin 4% so that the blade is quickly snapped out of the interrupter.

The load break attachment 44 is supported, as best seen in FEGURE l, by a U-shaped bracket 48 which is secured to insulator 11 by bolts 32 as shown.

The manner in which the load break adapter 44 is constructed, and the manner in which it receives mounting bracket 45 is shown in FIGURES 3 and 4. Referring now to FIGURES 3 and 4, the load break adapter is formed of two halves 49 and 511 which are secured together by rivets 51 through 58. As best seen in FIG- URE 3A, the upper portion of the halves directly abut one another, and a portion of the adjacent surfaces of the halves is cut away to define the slot 59.

The halves 45 and are formed of an insulating material made of a gas-evolving material of any desired nature well known to those skilled in the art, and contains herein a pair of contacts 60 and 61 which are constructed, as shown in F-lGURES 5 and 6 for the case of contact at of a flexible contact arm 72 which has a contact of arc resisting material secured thereto as by brazing.

As best shown in PiGURE-S 3A and 4, the contact elements of contacts on and 61 oppose one another to receive, an will be seen hereinafter, the extending quick break blade 45 partially shown in FIGURE 3.

The contacts 55* and 61 are secured to their respective halves 49 and 55 by rivet member 53, as shown in FIG- URE 3. At the same time, it is seen in FIGURES 3 and 4 that the U-shaped bracket 45 is secured to the two halves 49 and 5% by rivets 52, 53 and 54.

It is to be noted that while securing devices 51 through 58 have been described herein as being rivets, they could be of any desired type of securing elements such as a nut and bolt arrangement whereby the two halves 49 and 55 can be opened for inspection and maintenance.

In accordance with the present invention, a bead 62 is formed on the edge of the outer surface adjacent slot 55 of half while a similar head 53 is formed on the surface of insulating half 51 of the load break adapter. In addition, one corner 64 of insulator half 4? and one corner 65 of insulator half 51 are flared outwardly as shown to guide the entrance of the quick break blade 45.

The purpose of beads 52 and 63 and flares 64 and 65 is to provide an obstacle to water falling on the interrupter or condensing on the interrupter surfaces whereby such water is prevented from access to opening 59. That is to say, in the absence of such a head 62, and assuming that the surface carrying bead 52 faces upwardly in the switch, Water would be able to drip over the side or end of insulator half 49 and into slot 59. If the switch were called on to operate at this time, the water could serve as a conducting path over the insulating inner surface of the interrupter or load break attachment so that its operation would be substantially hindered. In addition, it will prevent the accumulation of water in slot 55 which could subsequently be frozen in the outdoor environment in which the switch is placed.

It is to be noted at this point that what appears to be the obvious expediency of drilling holes in the lower surface of the interrupter cannot be used for Water drainage purposes, since such holes would permit a blast of the ionized products outwardly of the interrupter chamber during operating conditions. This would, first, be dangen ous to maintenance personnel who may be in the area of the switch, and, secondly, may seriously interfere with the interruption characteristics of the device.

In addition to this, a gap 56 is provided to permit water which may have been blown inside slot 59 as by windblown rain to escape from the arc chute or from slot 59.

During operation of the switch, it will now be apparent that when crank 42 is operated to move switch blades 14 and 15 to their open position, the blades will first move out of engagement with contact bar 39, while quick break blade 45 remains engaged with, and latched behind, contacts 60 and 61 within the load break attachment 44. This position is shown in FIGURE 3. Once the blades 14 and 15 have moved sufiiciently, and a sufiicient biasing force has been applied to quick break blade 45, it will be able to drive contacts 60 and 61 apart so that it will thereafter be snapped out of the arc chute, including slot 59 of FIGURE 3A, as previously described.

During this snap action an arc will be drawn from contacts 60 and 61 to the quick break blade 45 within the confines of the interrupter 44. The interrupter 44 is operable to extinguish such an are within a few cycles so that there is a subsequent interruption of the circuit.

it is to be noted that it is preferable that quickbreak blade 45 has an excessive amount of over-travel so that when the switch is in its closed position, blade 45 will latch behind contacts 60 and 61, as shown in FIGURE 3, even though switch blades 14 and 15 are not in a fully closed position. Thus, even if the blades 14 and 15 are moved to an open position from only a partially closed position, the quick break snap-type action of blade 45 is obtained. This type of structure is highly desirable when ganged switches are used, since all of the switches may not close in precisely the same manner, as due to warping of Wooden supports and many other reasons.

Although this invention has been described with respect to its preferred embodiments it should be understood that many variations and modifications will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, and it is preferred, therefore, that the scope of this invention be limited not by the specific disclosure herein but only by the appended claims.

What is claimed is:

1. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slot therein for receiving a conductive blade; said conductive blade being movable into and out of said slot in a horizontal plane with respect to the ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a flat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive blade and said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said flat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon to prevent the flow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surface and toward said opening of said slot.

2. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slot therein for receiving a conductive blade; said conductive blade being movable into and out of said slot in a horizontal plane with respect to the ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a pair of parallel, flat opposing surfaces which are parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive blade and the plane including said slot; at least a portion of the edge of each of said upper and lower surfaces lying adjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon.

3. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slot therein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachment having a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive blade being movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationary contact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect to said stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a flat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive blade and said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said flat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon to prevent the flow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surface and toward said opening of said slot.

4. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachement being comprised of an insulating housing having a slot therein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachment having a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive blade being movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationary contact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect to said stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a fiat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive blade and said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said fiat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon to prevent the fiow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surface and toward said opening of said slot; said conductive blade being movable to a latched position behind said stationary contact when moved to said engaged position with respect to said stationary contact; said conductive blade being in said latched position over a relatively wide range of angular positions of said conductive blade.

5. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slot therein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachment having a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive blade being movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationary contact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect to said stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a flat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive blade and said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said fiat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon to prevent the fiow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surface and toward said opening of said slot; said electrical switch having a stationary contact and a movable contact; said stationary contact of said load break attachment being connected to said stationary con tact of said electrical switch; said movable contact of said electrical switch being electrically connected to said conductive blade; said conductive blade being operatively connected to said movable contact of electrical switch to be moved to its said disengaged position with respect to said stationary contact of said load break attachment after said movable contact of said electrical switch disengages said stationary contact of said electrical sw tch.

6. A load break attachment for electrical switch; said load break attachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slot therein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachment having a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive blade being movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationary contact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect to said stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a flat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said con ductive blade and said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said flat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon to prevent the flow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surface and toward said opening of said slot; said slot operating as an arc chute for said conductive blade and said stationary contact.

7. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment comprising a flat member of insulating material having opposing flat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; said fiat member having a slot therein entering said member at two said edge surfaces which are next to one another and having an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of its length; the boundary of said top surface having a raised section thereon for at least the length of said slot opening in said two edge sur faces.

8. A load break attachment for an electrical switch;

said load break attachment comprising a flat member of insulating material having opposing flat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; said flat member having a slot therein entering said member at two of said edge surfaces which are next to one another and having an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of its length; the boundary of each of said top and bottom surfaces having raised sections thereon for at least the length of said slot opening in said two edge surfaces.

9. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment comprising a flat member of insulating material having opposing flat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; said fiat member having a slot therein entering said member at two of said edge surfaces which are next to one another and having an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of its length; the boundary of each of said top and bottom surfaces having raised sections thereon for at least the length of said slot opening in said two edge surfaces; said fiat member being formed of a first and second identical flat member; each of said first and second identicalflat members lying in the plane of said top and bottom surfaces respectively.

10. A load break attachment for an electrical switch;

said load break attachment comprising a flat member of insulating material having opposing fiat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; said flat member having a slot therein entering said member at two of said edge surfaces which are next to one another and having an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of its length; the boundary of said top surface having a raised section thereon for at least the length of said slot opening in said two edge surfaces; said slot having a contact member secured therein for engaging a conductive blade movable into said slot.

11. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment comprising a flat member of insulating material having opposing fiat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; said flat member having a slot therein entering said member at two of said edge surfaces which are next to one another and having an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion ofits length; the boundary of said top surface having a raised section thereon for at least the length of said slot opening in said two edge surfaces; said load break attachment being mounted with said top surface parallel to the ground; said raised section preventing the flow of water from said top surface and into said slot opening.

12. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment being comprised of an in sulating housing having a slot therein for receiving a conductive blade; said conductive blade being movable into and out of said slot in a horizontal plane with respect to the ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulating housing having a flat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive'blade and. said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said flat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon to preventthe flow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surface and toward said opening of said slot; saidinsulatedfhousing having a passage means permitting water to flow out of said sot, said passage means being disposed in the horizontal plane of said slot.

13. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment being comprised of an insulating housing having a slot therein for receiving a conductive blade; said load break attachment having a stationary contact secured in said slot; said conductive blade being movable into said slot and into engagement with said stationary contact and out of said slot to a disengaged position with respect to said stationary contact in a horizontal plane with respect to the ground supporting said electrical switch; said insulatinghousing having a fiat upper surface parallel to said plane of motion of said conductive blade and said slot; at least a portion of the edge of said fiat upper surface adjacent the opening of said slot having a raised bead thereon to prevent the flow of fluid from said upper surface off of said surface and toward said opening of said slot; said insulated housing having a passage means permitting water to flow out of said slot, said passage means being disposed in the horizontal plane of said'slot.

14. A load break attachment for an electrical switch; said load break attachment comprising a flat member of insulating material having opposing flat top and bottom surfaces joined by four edge surfaces; said fiat member having a slot therein entering said member at two of said edge surfaces which are next to one another and having an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of its length; the boundary of said top surface having a raised section thereon for having a slot therein entering said member at two of said edge surfaces which are next to one another and 'having an opening extending along said two edge surfaces for at least a portion of its length; the boundary of said top surface having a raised section thereon for at least the length of said slot opening in said two edge surfaces; a passage means entering'said member at another of said surfaces and extending to said slot.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,303,496 Rawlins et a1. Dec. 1, 1942 2,308,026 Rawlins Jan. 12, 1943 2,404,957 Graybill July 30, 1946 FOREIGN PATENTS 1,053,615 Germany Mar. 26, 1959

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