US3243535A - Contactor cover interlock - Google Patents

Description

March 29, 1966 E PLATZ ETAL 3,243,535

CONTAGTOR COVER INTERLO GK E; T. PLATZ ETAL 3,243,535

' coNTAcToR COVER INTERLocK March 29, 1966 Filed Jan. 27, 1964 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 United States Patent O 3,243,535 CQNTACTGR COVER INTERLOCK Elwood T. Platz, Grosse Pointe Farms, Bernard Di Margo,

Lincoln Park, and Robert L. Hickey, St. Clair Shores,

Mich., assignors to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company,

Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania Filed Jan. 27, 1964, SeraNo. 340,449 8 Claims. (Cl. 20D-50) This invention relates to contactors in general and more particularly to novel interlock means for preventing clossure of the contact-or when the contact area cover 1s removed.

The copending U.S. patent application Serial No. 189,915, filed April 24, 1962, entitled Electrical Device, with Cataldo et al. as invent-ors, and assigned to the assignee of the instant invention, describes a multiphase contactor which with only minor modification, may be provide-d with interlock means to prevent contact closure when the contact cover is removed.

The contactor of the aforesaid application includes cooperating stationary and movable contacts, a carrier for the movable contacts, a magnetic operating means for operating the cooperating contacts into engagement, a removable contact area cover and clip means f-or maintaining the cover latched in closed position. It has been found desirable, and quite often, necessary, to prevent contact closing unless than cover is in fully closed position.

This is conveniently accomplished in one embodiment of this invention by providing cover clamp means which when operated to cover releasing position are disposed in blocking relation with respect to the movable contact carrier thereby preventing closing of the contacts.

In another embodiment of this invention a member carried by the contactor frame is biased toward position to interfere with the contact carrier and automatically moves to this position when the cover is not closed. Closing of the cover moves the member clear of the contact carrier to permit closing of the contacts.

Accordingly, a primary 4object of the instant invention is to provide novel means to prevent closuring of a contactor when its contact area is uncovered.

Another 4object is to provide means of this type including a member which is biased to position for interfering with the movable contact carrier.

Still another object is to provide means of this type in which the member is also served as clamping means for the contact area cover.

A further object is to provide a means for this type in which the biasing means is too strong to be overcome by the force of the magnetic closing means.

These as well as lother objects of this invention will become readily apparent after reading the following description of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIGURE 1 is a side elevation of a contactor including `contact interlock means constructed in accordance with the teachings of the instant invention.

FIGURE 2 is a plan view of the contactor of FIG- URE 1 with portions of the cover broken away to reveal portions of the contact structure.

FIGURE 3 is an enlarged fragmentary cross-section taken through line 3-3 of FIGURE 4 looking in the direction of arrows 3-3.

FIGURE 4 is a cross-section taken through line 4-4 of FIGURE 3 looking in the direction of arrows 4 4.

FIGURES 5 and 6 are views similar to FIGURES 3 and 4, respectively, illustrating another embodiment of this invention.

FIGURES 7 and 8 are views similar to FIGURE 3, illustrating still another embodiment of this invention. In FIGURE 7 the contactor is interlocked open while 3,243,535 Patented Mar. 29, 1966l ice in FIGURE 8 the contactor cover is closed thereby operating the interlock means to permit contact closing.

For the sake of clarity all contacts and operating mechanisms have been omitted from FIGURES 3 through 8.

Now referring to the figures and more particularly to FIGURES 1 through 4. Contacter 10 is provided with a contact structure, contact operating mechanism, Contact support means and contact cover means as described in the aforesaid copending application Serial No. 189,915.

Briefly, contactor 10 includes molded base 11 wherein electromagnetic contact operating means (not shown) is -disposed with the operating coil of the latter having its terminals 12, 13 `disposed externally `of base 11. Stationary contact support plate 14, carrying guide studs 15, is mounted at the upper end of base 11 by means of screws 16, 17 which engage line and load terminals 18, 19, respectively. In FIGURE 2 the line terminals of the different poles are ydesignated 18A, 18B and 18C while the load terminals are designated 19A, 19B and 19C. Screws 16 electrically connect individual stationary contacts 21 to each line terminal 18 while screw 17 electrically connect individual stationary contacts 22 to each load terminal 19. Stationary contacts 21, 22 are mounted on the top side of support plate 14.

Movable contact carrier 23 is mounted below support plate 14 for reciprocating movement guided by studs 15. Downward movement is caused by the actuation of the operating coil connected across terminals 12, 13 while upward movement is caused by biasing springs 26, coiled about each stud 15, when the operating coil is deenergized.

Clips 29A, 29B mount bridging contacts 30A, 30B, respectively, to the upper ends of extensions, from carrier 23, which project lthrough apertures in support plate 14. Naturally, the third pole is provided with a bridging contact 30C (not shown) similarly mounted.

Bridging contacts 30A, 30B, 30C are mounted above stationary contacts 21, 22 and are spaced therefrom when carrier 23 is in the raised position shown (when contactor 10 is open. When carrier 23 moves downward, the bridging contacts 30A, 30B, 30C each engage a set of stationary contacts 21, 22 thereby closing the circuit between the line and load terminals 18, 19 of the particular phase.

Removable cover 35, positioned above support plate 14, encloses the area wherein the contacts 21, 22, 30 are disposed. Clamps 40, disposed -on opposite sides of base 11, latch cover 35, in closed position. Since the constructions of both clips 40, their mountings and their engagement with cover 35 and carrier 23 are identical only one of them will be described with particular reference to FIGURES 3 and 4.

With clamp 40 in the solid line position of FIGURE 4 inward hook-shaped offset 49a thereof is disposed within depression 35a in the outer surface of cover 35 so that cover 35 is latched closed. In order to release cover 35 for removal thereof tab 40b at the inner end of offset 40a is grasped and moved to the right with respect to FIG- URE 4. This pivots clamp 40 clockwise about wire spring 45 as a center. Wire 45 extends through the U- turned portion 40e at the end of clamp 40 remote from tab 4Gb. The ends of wire spring 45 are disposed within recess 44, in support 14, open at its lower end. Sloping surfaces 43 of support 14 is so shaped and positioned relative to the `bearing surfaces `defining recess 44 that spring 45 is always loaded and as the outer portions of tab 4Gb engage surfaces 43 spring 45 moves-clamp 40 to blocking posi-tion shown in phantom in FIGURE 4.

In this position clamp portion 40a is disposed below the inward projection 23a at the upper end of upward extension 23b of carrier 23. In this position of clamp 40, portion 40a block downward or contact closing movement of carrier 23. Should contact closing be required while cover 35 is off the interlock function may be defeated by moving both clamps 40 to latching positio-n so that Iportions 40a will no longer be in the paths of carrier projections 23a.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 5 and 6 clamp 140 is provided with hook-like portion 140a yfor cover latching and tab 14019 for cover latch release. The central portion of clamp 140 is provided with U-shaped portions which embrace wire spring 145 the ends of which are disposed Within recesses 146 of support plate 114. Clamp 140 is provided with an interlock portion in the form of projection 140e having inturned tip 140i. Projection 140e extends downward into carrier recess 151.

When cover 135 is unlatched spring 145 in cooperation with sloping surfaces 143 guide cla-mp 140 in a clockwise direction with respect to FIGURE 6 to a position wherein extension tip 1401c is disposed within carrier undercut 152. In this position of clamp 140, tip 140f performs the interlock function by blocking downward movement of carrier 123. The interlock function of this second embodiment is defeatable in the same manner as in the embodiment of FIGURE 1-4.

In the embodiment of FIGURES 7 and 8 stud 250 eX- tends through aligned aperture-s 21401, 223a in stationary contact support 214 and movable contact carrier 223, respectively. The lower enlarged head 250a of stud 250 is disposed below carrier 223 while the upper enlarged head 250k is disposed above support 214. Coil spring 251 is -mounted upon stud 250 bearing against upper head 25017 and support 214.

With cover 235 open as in FIGURE 7 lower head 25001 engages carrier 223 Iand spring 251 biases carrier 223 upward to the open position of the contactor. Spring 251 and opening springs 26 combined exert a greater force than the closing magnet so that with the elements in their positions of `FIGURE 7 the contactor cannot be closed.

When cover 235 is in the closed position of FIGURE 8 head -250b and compressed spring 251 are disposed within cover recess 235er. The engagement of heardl 250b by cover 235 has moved stud 250 downward so that lower head 250a is considerably below carrier 223. In this position of head 250a carrier 223 may be moved downward. Hence, the contactor may be closed.

In this embodiment the interlock may be defeated manually by moving stud 250 downward. Then the contactor may be closed. While only a single stud and spring have been described, it should Ibe understood that when a plurality of these elements are present that it is the combined spring forces which must be overcome by the electromagnetic closing means.

Although there has been described a preferred embodiment of this novel invention, many variations and modifications will now be apparent to those skilled in the art. Therefore, this invention is to be limited, not by the specific disclosure herein, but only by the appending claims.

The embodiments of the invention in which as eX- clusive privilege or property is claimed are dened as follows.

1. A device of the cla-ss described including stationary c-ontact means, movable contact means operable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact means, a stationary support means to vwhich said stationary contact means is mounted, a carrier means to which said movable contact means is mounted, means for guiding movement of said carrier means lalong a predetermined path relative to said support means between a contact closed and a contact open position, operable cover means cooperating with portions of said support means to enclose said stationary -and said movable contact means, interlock means including a member mounted to said support means and movable between a rst and -a second position, said member when in said rst position being clear of said path Iand when in said second position having a portion thereof in said path, said interlock means also including biasing means automatically operating said member to said second position when said cover means is open thereby blocking movement of said `carrier means to said contact closed position, said member When in Said first position engages said cover means when said cover lmeans is closed to clamp said cover means in this position with said biasing means contributing to clamping action of said member.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 in which said member is pivotally mounted at one end thereof, said portion of said member being positioned at the other end of said member.

3. A device as set forth in claim 2 in which there is a deflected straight wire spring constituting said biasing means and also constituting a pivotal axis for said member.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 in Vwhich said member is pivotally mounted at a point intermediate the ends thereof, said portion of said member being positioned at one end of said member, said member including another portion at its other end which acts to clamp said cover means in closed position.

'5. A device as set forth in claim 4 in which there is a deected straight wire spring constituting said biasing means and also constituting a pivotal axis for said member.

6. A device of the class described including stationary contact means, movable conta-ct means operable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact means, la stationary support means to which said stationary contact means is mounted, a carrier means to which said movable contact means is mounted, means for guiding movement of said carrier means along a predetermined path relative to said support means `between a contact closed and a contact open position, operable cover means cooper-ating with portions of said support means to enclose said stationary and said movable contact means, interlock means including 4a member mounted to said support means and movable between la first and a second position, said member when in said first position being clear of said path and when in said second position having a portion thereof in said path, said interlock means also including Ibiasing means automatically operating said member to said second position when said cover means is open thereby blocking movement of said carrier means to said contact closed position, said Icover means upon placement thereof in closed position engaging said member and operates same to said rst position, said device also including -an electromagnetic loperating means for closing said contact means and a spring means for opening said contact means when said operating means is deenergized, said operating means when energizedbeing incapable of exerting a for-ce capable of overcoming the combined forces of said spring means and said biasing means.

7. A device of the class described including stationary Contact means, movable contact means operable into and out of engagement with said stationary contact means, a stationary .support means to which said stationary contact means is mounted, ya carrier means to which said movable contact -means is mounted, means for guiding move-ment of said carrier means along a predetermined path relative to said support means between a contact closed and a contact open position, operable cover means cooperating with portions of said support means to enclose said stationary and said movable contact means, interlock means including a member mounted to said support means and movable between a first and a second position, said member when in said rst position being clear of said path and when in said second position having a portion thereof in said path, said interlock means also including biasing means automatically operating said 3,243,535 5 6 member to said second position when said cover is open References Cited by the Examiner thereby blocking movement of said carrier means to said FOREIGN PATENTS `contact closed position, said cover means upon placement thereof in closed position engaging said member and op- 7341845 8/1955 Great Bn'tamerates same to said irst position, said member comprising 5 an elongated element slidably mounted for movement KATHLEEN H' CLAFF Y Primary Examiner' along its longitudinal axis. M. GINSBURG, Assistant Examiner.

8. A device as set forth in claim 7 in which the biasing means is a coiled member mounted upon said elongated element. 10

Claims (1)

1. A DEVICE OF THE CLASS DESCRIBED INCLUDING STATIONARY CONTACT MEANS, MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS OPERABLE INTO AND OUT OF ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID STATIONARY CONTACT MEANS, A STATIONARY SUPPORT MEANS TO WHICH SAID STATIONARY CONTACT MEANS IS MOUNTED, A CARRIER MEANS TO WHICH SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS IS MOUNTED, MEANS FOR GUIDING MOVEMENT OF SAID CARRIER MEANS ALONG A PREDETERMINED PATH RELATIVE TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS BETWEEN A CONTACT CLOSED AND A CONTACT OPEN POSITION, OPERABLE COVER MEANS COOPERATING WITH PORTIONS OF SAID SUPPORT MEANS TO ENCLOSE SAID STATIONARY AND SAID MOVABLE CONTACT MEANS, INTERLOCK MEANS INCLUDING A MEMBER MOUNTED TO SAID SUPPORT MEANS AND MOVABLE BETWEEN A FIRST AND A SECOND

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