US3230324A

US3230324A - Quick break arc horn for horizontally opening air break switches

Info

Publication number: US3230324A
Application number: US329610A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tomlinson F Johnson
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1963-12-05
Filing date: 1963-12-05
Publication date: 1966-01-18
Anticipated expiration: 1983-01-18

Description

Jan. 18, 1966 JOHNSON 3,230,324

QUICK BREAK ARC HORN FOR HORIZONTALLY OPENING AIR BREAK SWITCHES Filed Dec. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet l ATTORNEYS Jan. 18, 1966 T. F. JOHNSON 3,230,324

QUICK BREAK ARC HORN FOR HORIZONTALLY OPENING AIR BREAK SWITCHES Filed Dec. 5, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet Z INVENTOR 'ZA/ ffijnlmmmalr mfM ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,230,324 Patented Jan. 18, 1966 3,230,324 QUICK BREAK ARC HORN FOR HORIZONTALLY OPENING AIR BREAK SWITCHES Tomlinson F. Johnson, R0. Box 10958, Atlanta, Ga. Filed Dec. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 329,610 8 Claims. (Cl. 200--48) This application is a continuation-in-part of my application Serial No. 179,576, filed March 14, 1962, which application will be abandoned upon the filling hereof.

This invention relates to high tension electric switches and has more particular reference to the quick break arc horn mechanism for horizontally opening air break switches.

In present switches of the type described herein the arc horns operate in horizontal plane parallel to plane of movement of the switch elements, making the length of the arc horn a critical factor, as the length of the horn controls the phase spacing, the distance between the switches and the distance between supporting structures when the switch is fully opened. All these distances must be increased if the length of the arc horn is increased.

In accordance with the invention herein, the arc horn projects vertically and upwardly from the horizontally arranged switch, and its movement upon opening of the switch is in a vertical plane to overcome the disadvantages aforementioned.

The arrangement of the horn, and its associated horn engaging member, substantially vertical to the switch elements further permits their use on present installations, and clearance and are horn length cease to be a critical factor.

A still further advantage is that a vertically arranged arc horn throws the arc upward, causing the arc to extinguish faster, and eliminates the danger of damaging adjacent equipment.

It thus becomes apparent that the object of the invention herein is the provision of an arc horn and its engaging member vertical to the associated switch mechanism, whereby upon movement of the switch the arc horn moves in a vertical plane to obtain the advantages set forth above.

The foregoing and other objects will become apparent from the description herein when read in view of the showing on the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevation of a center opening high tension air break electric switch provided with one embodiment of the horn engaging member and are horn mechanism constructed in accordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of the switch shown in FIG. 1;

Y FIG. 3 is an enlarged fragmentary perspective view of the switch shown in FIG. 1, but showing in greater detail the horn engaging member and are horn construction; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary perspective detail view showing the position of the horn engaging member and are born as the switch opens; and

FIG. 5 is a view similar to FIG. 4, but showing the switch closing.

Referring to the drawings the invention is particularly adapted for use on a horizontally opening air break switch, and for purposes of illustration this type of switch is shown. The device may, however, be used on any type of horizontally opening switch.

More particularly, there is shown (FIGS. 1 and 2) a horizontally opening switch indicated generally as 10, with the arc horn mechanism described herein generally designated as 11. The center break switch includes a rotatable insulator and line connector 12, mounted on one end of a base member 13. The insulator 12 has secured thereon one end of a copper tube or arm switch element 14 which carries at its inner or free end the usual switch jaws 15. Mounted on the other end of the base 13 is a second rotatable insulator and line connector 16 which has secured thereon one end of a second arm switch element 17, similar to element 12, except that the inner or free end carries the switch blade assembly 18, which is receivable in the switch jaws 15.

The

insulators

12 and 16 are connected by a rod 27, which extends between a lever arm 127 projecting from the third quadrant of the insulator and line connector 16, (FIG. 2), and a lever arm 227 extending from the fourth quadrant of the insulator and line connector 12. Projecting from the fourth quadrant of the insulator and line connector 16 is a lever arm 29 to which there is connected an operation arm 28. It is thus seen that upon operation of lever 28 to rotate arm 29 in a counterclockwise direction, the switch element 17 will move clockwise, as viewed in FIG. 2, and the switch element 14 will move counterclockwise, whereupon the switch will be opened.

In accordance with the improvement herein, there is positioned adjacent the free ends of the

switch elements

14 and 17 the arc horn mechanism 11, comprising an arc horn 20 and a horn engaging member 19. Referring initially to the horn engaging member 19, it is made of a non-rusting metal spring material, preferably, silicon bronze, and includes a shank or lever arm 21 provided intermediate of its ends with downwardly projecting side ears 121, receivable between the upwardly extending side ears 117 of a bracket 119 secured to the switch element 17. The ears 117 and 121 have aligned openings therein to receive a horizontal pivot pin 122 arranged parallel to and above the axis of switch element 17, for pivotally mounting the horn engaging member lever 21 intermediate of its ends.

The horn engaging member 19 is provided at its lower end with a counterweight 22 which normally pivots the shank 21 counterclockwise to a substantially vertical position; the movement of the member being limited by the portion of shank 21 below the pivot, abutting the switch element 17. The upper end of the horn engaging member 19 terminates in a reverse bend hook member 23, the mouth 24 of the hook facing the opening direction of the switch elements, whereby the hook may be defined as an opening direction hooking member. The hook mouth 24 is sufficiently wide to permit entry of arc horn 20 into the bight of the hook. The book 23 is further provided with a camming or guiding member 25 which extends rearwardly from the hook end, at the mouth 24, for reasons hereafter set forth.

Referring now to the arc horn 20, it is preferably made of silicon bronze, spring tempered to be flexible or resilient, although it could be made of any non-rusting metallic spring material.

The are horn 20 comprises a vertical leg 26 which is at right angles to the switching elements and in the vertical plane which runs through the mouth of the hook 23 when the switch is closed. The leg 26 projects above hook member 23 and terminates in a free upper end and its lower end is integral with a horizontal portion 261 running parallel to and toward the switching element 14, to which it is secured by a bracket 141 for movement therewith. As seen in FIG. 1 the arc horn 20 lies in the bight of the hook when the switch is closed, that is, to the opening direction side of the switch.

From the foregoing it will be seen by reference to FIGS. 3 and 4 that as the switch opens the arc horn vertical leg 26 moving with arm 14 is being rotated in a counterclockwise direction in a plane at right angles to the switch arm 14. Simultaneously, the hooking member 23, is being rotated in a clockwise direction in a plane at right angles to arm 17. Thus the arc horn and hook member lie in intersecting arcs and as the opening increases,

the hook 23 will flex the arc horn 20, the flexing being in a vertical plane, with the lower end of the arc horn where it is fixed to portion 261 constituting the pivot point. As the switch elements continue to swing in the hook member 23 functions as a loop with the counterweight 22 serving to maintain it in engagement between the arc horn. The vertical height of leg portion 26 is such, that as the switch approaches close to its full open position, the arc horn is released from the hook whereupon it whips to its vertical position and the arc is discharged upwardly and away from the equipment.

As previously stated the horn engaging member is provided with a camming member of arm 25 (see FIG. 5) which projects rearwardly from the hook mouth and laterally toward the arc horn to lie in the path of the arc horn as the switch moves toward closed position. Otherwise stated it will lie in the path of travel of leg 26 in the closing direction of movement of the switch. Prior to the full closing of the switch, leg 26 will engage cam 25 and the latter will ride along the arc horn causing the horn engaging member 19 to pivot clockwise until the mouth 24 of the hook 23 is reached by leg 26 whereupon it will pass in front of the mouth and counterweight 22 will reverse the pivoting of the horn engaging member to reposition the parts as shown in FIG. 1.

Although the arc horn is shown as having a horizontal leg 261 integral with the vertical leg 26, this is done for convenience in obtaining proper spacing. It is obvious that leg 26 could have its lower end secured to switch element 14, and the portion of the horn engaging member shank 21 above the pivot could be arranged at an angle to project behind the arc horn.

Obviously, many mechanical variations could be made, the essential requirements are that there be provided an arc horn extending vertically and upwardly from a horizontal opening switch and positioned tolie in the opening path of movement of a vertically extending hook engaging means for pivoting or flexing the arc horn in a vertical plane upon opening of the switch, and including means operative upon closing the switch for repositioning the arc horn in the opening path of movement of the horn engaging means.

The following is claimed:

1. In a high tension electric air break switch of the horizontally opening type having;

(a) switch elements in the form of a switch blade assembly and a switch jaw assembly,

(b) and means for rotating at least one of the elements to open or close the switch,

the improvement comprising:

() arc reducing means including a flexible arc horn and a horn engaging member,

(d) means securing the lower end of the horn engaging member to one of the switch elements,

(e) the horn engaging member extending vertically from the switching element and having its upper end free,

(f) hooking means on the upper end of the horn engag-ing member,

(g) means securing the lower end of the arc horn to the other switching element, the upper end being free,

(h) the arc horn extending vertically from the switching element and across the switch opening path of travel of the horn engaging member hooking means, with (i) the hooking means engaging the arc horn intermediate of its ends,

(3) pivot means pivotally mounting the hook member between its ends on the switching element,

(k) and counter balance means secured to the hook member below the pivot.

2. Apparatus as defined in claim 1 including;

(a) camming means secured to the hooking means engageable by the horn member upon closing of the switch to position the horn member in the switch opening path of travel of the horn engaging memher.

3. In a high tension horizontally opening center break electrical switch having;

(a) a pair of spaced rotatable insulators,

(b) one insulator carrying a switch element terminating in a switchblade,

(c) the other insulator carrying a switch element terminating in switch jaws,

(d) means for simultaneously rotating said switch elements to open and close the switch,

the improvement comprising:

(e) means for reducing the arc upon opening the switch including (f) a horn engaging member having a hook at its upper end, with the mouth of the hook facing the opening direction of travel of the switch,

(g) horizontally arranged pivoting means mounting the horn engaging member adjacent its lower end to one of the switch element,

(h) a flexible arc horn,

(i) means fixedly securing the lower end of the arc horn to the other switch element, its upper end being free,

(j) the arc horn extending across the opening path of travel of the hook member.

4. A switch comprising a pair of switch elements, actuating means for moving in a first plane, at leastone switch element with respect to the other, an elongated, flexible arc horn having a first end mounted stationary with respect to one of said switch elements and having a second end free and extending perpendicular to said plane, a horn engaging member mounted stationary with respect to the other switch element so that said first end of said are horn and said horn engaging member move relative to each other when said switch elements move relative to each other, said horn engaging member slidably engaging said are born above said first end and bending said are horn in an arc lying in a second moving plane which is always perpendicular to said first plane, said second end of said are born sliding free of said horn engaging member when said switch elements move beyond a predetermined distance from each other, whereby the switch is effectively closed through the contact between said are horn and horn engaging member when said switch elements are moving from a closed position until said are horn whips free from said engaging member and whereby any resulting electric are between the moving second end of said arc horn and said horn engaging member is discharged substantially perpendicular to said first plane.

5. A switch as set forth in claim 4 wherein said horn engaging member comprises a hook having a mouth, a cam connected to said hook for slidably contacting said are horn between its ends and guiding the same through said mouth when said switch elements are relatively moved to a closed position, whereby said hook encircles said arc horn when the switch elements are fully closed.

6. A switch as set forth in claim 4, wherein the switch element movable in said first plane is rotatable about a first axis which is perpendicular to said first plane, said first plane being horizontal and said second plane being a vertical plane above said horizontal plane.

7. A switch as set forth in claim 4 wherein each switch element is rotatable about an axis extending perpendicular to said first plane and said actuating means rotating each switch element in an opposite direction between a fully open and fully closed position, said first plane being horizontal and said arc horn being mounted near the outward end of one of said switch elements and the horn engaging member being mounted near the outward end of the other switch element.

8. A switch comprising first and second switch elements mounted on first and second rotatable insulator columns, respectively, and having outer ends adapted to be cooperatively engaging when said switch elements are in closed positions, means for rotating said first and second switch elements in a horizontal plane between a fully closed position and a fully open position, said rotating means rotating said first switch element in a first clockwise direction and rotating said second switch element in a second clockwise direction, an arc horn having a first end mounted near the outer end of said first switch element and having a second free end extending vertically upward, a horn engaging mernber mounted near the outer end of said second switch element, said horn engaging member being rotatably mounted with respect to said second switch element and being adapted to pivot in a. vertical plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal dimension of said second switch element, said horn engaging member comprising a normally upwardly extending hook connected to a normally downwardly extending counterweight, said hook having an open mouth facing in the direction of movement of said outer end of said second switch element, a cam mounted on said hook for slidably contacting said arc ho-rn between its ends and guiding the same into the mouth of said hook when said first and second switch elements are rotated to the closed position, said hook slid-ably engaging said are horn between its ends when said first and second switch elements are rotated from the closed position, whereby said hook bends said are horn in an arc lying in a moving vertical plane so that the electrical circuit is connected through said horn engaging member and said are horn when said first and second switch elements move out of engagement from the closed position, said horn engaging member pivoting when said engaging member bends said are horn so that said hook portion rotates downward toward the horizontal and said counterweight rotates upward toward the horizontal, said second end of said are horn sliding tree of said hook when said switch elements move beyond a predetermined distance from each other, whereby any resulting electric are between the moving second end of said are horn and said horn engaging member is discharged in a substantially vertical direction, and whereby said counterweight rotates said hook back to a substantially vertical position when said second end of said arc horn slides free of said hook.

Claims

1. IN A HIGH TENSION ELECTRIC AIR BREAK SWITCH OF THE HORIZONTALLY OPENING TYPE HAVING; (A) SWITCH ELEMENTS IN THE FORM OF A SWITCH BLADE ASSEMBLY AND A SWITCH JAW ASSEMBLY, (B) AND MEANS FOR ROTATING AT LEAST ONE OF THE ELEMENTS TO OPEN OR CLOSE THE SWITCH, THE IMPROVEMENT COMPRISING: (C) ARC REDUCING MEANS INCLUDING A FLEXIBLE ARC HORN AND A HORN ENGAGING MEMBER, (D) MEANS SECURING THE LOWER END OF THE HORN ENGAGING MEMBER TO ONE OF THE SWITCH ELEMENTS, (E) THE HORN ENGAGING MEMBER EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM THE SWITCHING ELEMENT AND HAVING ITS UPPER END FREE, (F) HOOKING MEANS ON THE UPPER END OF THE HORN ENGAGING MEMBER, (G) MEANS SECURING THE LOWER END OF THE ARC HORN TO THE OTHER SWITCHING ELEMENT, THE UPPER END BEING FREE, (H) THE ARC HORN EXTENDING VERTICALLY FROM THE SWITCHING ELEMENT AND ACROSS THE SWITCH OPENING PATH OF TRAVEL OF THE HORN ENGAGING MEMBER HOOKING MEANS, WITH (I) THE HOOKING MEANS ENGAGING THE ARC HORN INTERMEDIATE OF ITS ENDS, (J) PIVOT MEANS PIVOTALLY MOUNTING THE HOOK MEMBER BETWEEN ITS ENDS ON THE SWITCHING ELEMENT, (K) AND COUNTER BALANCE MEANS SECURED TO THE HOOK MEMBER BELOW THE PIVOT.