US3575566A

US3575566A - Fuse and electrical switch blade mounting means

Info

Publication number: US3575566A
Application number: US823413A
Authority: US
Inventors: Tadeusz J Rys
Original assignee: Square D Co
Current assignee: Schneider Electric USA Inc
Priority date: 1969-05-09
Filing date: 1969-05-09
Publication date: 1971-04-20
Anticipated expiration: 1988-04-20

Abstract

The mounting means includes a pair of aligned generally U-shaped spring members, a generally U-shaped mounting member disposed within the spring members, and a generally L-shaped mounting member having one leg dividing the space between the legs of the U-shaped mounting member and the other leg secured to the bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member. A flat switch blade is pivotally mounted on one side of the dividing leg and a flat blade terminal of a fuse is receivable on the other side of the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member.

Description

United States Patent (C), 258 (F), 259 (F), 262 (F); 200/166 (E), 170, 170 (A) [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 3,287,533 11/1966 Rys 200/ 162 1,551,568 9/1925 Johnson 339/262(F) Primary Examiner-Bemard A. Gilheany Assistant Examiner-Dewitt M. Morgan Attorneys-Harold .l. Rathbun and Paul J. Rose ABSTRACT: The mounting means includes a pair of aligned generally U-shaped spring members, a generally U-shaped mounting member disposed within the spring members, and a generally L-shaped mounting member having one leg dividing the space between the legs of the U-shaped mounting member and the other leg secured to the bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member. A flat switch blade is pivotally mounted on one side of the dividing leg and a flat blade terminal of a fuse is receivable on the other side of the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member.

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FIG. 4

FUSE AND ELECTRICAL SWITCH BLADE MOUNTING MEANS This invention relates to a fuse and switch blade mounting means for an electrical switch, the mounting means including a generally U-shaped mounting member and a generally L shaped mounting member having a leg dividing the space between the leg portions of the U-shaped mounting member. A switch blade is pivotally mounted on one side of the dividing leg and a blade terminal of a fuse is mountable on the other side of the dividing leg of the L-shaped mounting member.

In the drawings, FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of one pole portion of a multipole fusible safety switch including a fuse and switch blade mounting means constructed in accordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken along the line 2-2 of FIG. I;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along the line 3 3 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken generally along the line 4-4 of FIG. I;

FIG. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the structure of FIG. I taken along the line 5-5 of FIG. 4; and

FIG. 6 is a sectional view taken along the line 6-6 of FIG. 3.

The drawings illustrate a single pole portion of a multipole fusible safety switch similar to that disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,339,047, issued Aug. 29, 1967. A base I0 molded of insulating material is securable to the rear wall of an enclosure (not shown). Secured to the base 10 by a pair of screws 12, only one of which is shown in FIG. 4, is a terminal strap 14 which includes a rear platform 14a and a front platform 14h joined by a connecting portion I4c (FIG. 3).

A relatively large connector including a stepped body 16 (FIGS. 1 and 3) having a pair of clamping screws/18 threadedly mounted therein is secured to the front platform 14b by a bolt 19 and a nut 20. Further, a relatively small connector including a stepped body 22 having a clamping screw 24 threadedly mounted therein is secured to the platform 14b by a bolt 25 and a nut 26. The two connectors are provided because a single wire cable large enough to carry the current for which the switch is designed would be too stiff and unwieldy. The

bolts

19 and 25 are held captive in the platform 14b by a pin 28 disposed in the connecting portion Me, the heads of the bolts being disposed between the pin 28 and the platform 14b. Further, the bolts I9 and 25 are disposed on opposite sides of the connecting portion 14c and a flat surface on the head of each bolt abuts an adjacent surface of the connecting portion 14c to prevent rotation of the bolts.

A stationary contact assembly including a double jaw member 30 (FIGS. 3 and 4) and a contact pressure spring member 32 is secured to the rear platform 14a by a bolt 33 and a nut 34, the head of the bolt 33 being recessed within the base It). A hoodlike casing 36 molded of insulating material is secured on one side to the rear platform 14a by a screw 37 (FIG. 3) and on the other side to the base It) by a pair of screws 38 (FIGS. I and 3).

Secured within the casing 36 are a pair of

complementary support members

40 and 41 formed of cold-mold, arcsuppressive insulating material such as melamine bonded oxides or hydrates of aluminum or magnesium. A pair of

screws

42 and 43 and cooperating

nuts

44 and 45 secure the member 54, and an anchoring plate 58 into which the screws are threaded to secure the

members

52, 54, and 56 to the base I0. A pin 60 is mounted adjacent one end in the member 56 and adjacent the other end in one leg portion of the member 54. A switch blade 62, movable by blade actuating means not shown, is pivotally mounted on the pin 60. The end portion of the pin 60 mounted in the one leg portion of the member 54 is larger in diameter than the remainder thereof and is trapped between the switch blade 62 and one leg portion of one of the spring members 52 to prevent axial movement of the pin. A spacer 64 is mounted between the member 56 and the one leg portion of the member 54 adjacent the other end of these members from the pin 60. The spacer 64 may have a smaller diameter portion (not shown) projecting into either the member 56 or the member 54. Before being secured to the base 10 by the screws 50, the assembly including the members 52, member 54, member 56, anchoring plate 58, pin 60, switch blade 62, and spacer 64 is secured together by a pair of screws 66 also threaded into the anchoring plate 58.

Another base 68 (FIG. I) molded of insulating material is securable to the rear wall of the enclosure (not shown) in spaced relationship to the base 10. Secured to the base 68 is a terminal strap 70 similar to the terminal strap 14 and having connector bodies identical to bodies 16 and 22 secured to the front platform thereof. A fuse clip 72 reinforced by a spring member 74 is secured to the rear platform of the terminal 1 strap 70. A fuse 76 having blade terminals adjacent opposite 35 jaw member 30 and extending rearwardly of the front

end support members

40 and 41 respectively to opposite sidewalls of the casing 36. In addition, the casing 36 is provided with a pair of

projections

36a and 36b (FIGS. 5 and 6) which extend into appropriate recesses respectively in the support members 40 and 4ll. Adjacent the front end, the upper wall of the casing 36 is provided with a series of vent holes 36c. A plurality of generally U-shaped metal plates 48 are mounted in spaced relationship in complementary grooves provided in the

support members

40 and 41.

Also secured to the base 10 by a pair of screws 50 (FIG. 4) is a combination fuse and switch blade mounting means including a pair of aligned generally U-shaped spring members 52 (FIGS. 1 and 2), a generally U-shaped mounting member 54 disposed within the spring members 52, a generally L- shaped mounting member 56 disposed within the mounting thereof, where any arc would originate upon separation of the switch blade 62 from the jaw member 30.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 6, the support members respectively include portions 40b and 41b which together substantially completely cover the plate 48 nearest the jaw member 30 on the side of the plate facing the jaw member. In addition, as shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the support members respectively include portions 40c and Me which support the plates 48 in spaced relationship and respectively line opposite walls of the casing 36. The construction and arrangement result in an arc suppressor which can repeatedly withstand interruption of larger currents than formerly possible with an arc suppressor of similar size.

While the spring members 52 can be replaced by a single spring member as long as the mounting member 54, the two spring members 52 are preferable to insure good clamping both at the switch blade 62 and at the respective blade .terminal of the fuse 76.

The spring members 52, mounting

members

54 and 56, anchoring plate 58, pin 60, switch blade 62, spacer 64, and screws 66 may be readily assembled before being secured to the base 10 by the screws 50. Further, the screws 66 and anchoring plate 58 maintain good electrical contact between the

mounting members

54 and 56 despite dimensional changes in the base 10.

Because the one leg portion of the L-shaped member 56 is the only thing separating the switch blade 62 from the respective blade terminal of the fuse 76, a saving in width in each pole portion of a multipole switch is effected, and because the switch blade 62 and the respective blade terminal of the fuse 76 are disposed adjacent opposite longitudinal ends of the

mounting members

54 and 56, the body of the fuse does not interfere with the normal movement of the switch blade.

Iclaim:

I. A fuse and switch blade mounting means comprising a generally U-shaped spring member, a generally U-shaped mounting member disposed within the spring member, a generally L-shaped mounting member having one leg portion dividing the space between opposed leg portions of the U- shaped mounting member and the other leg portion secured to the bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member, a mounting pin having opposite end portions mounted respectively in one leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member and the one leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member, a flat switch blade mounted on an intermediate portion of the mounting pin for edgewise pivotal movement, the mounting pin being disposed adjacent first longitudinal ends of the mounting members, and a spacer disposed adjacent opposite longitudinal ends of the mounting members in alignment with the switch blade, the space between the one leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member and the other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member being suitable for reception of a blade terminal of a fuse.

2. A mounting means as claimed in claim 1 wherein the spring member includes a pair of generally U-shaped spring members disposed respectively adjacent opposite longitudinal ends of the U-shaped mounting member in embracing relationship therewith.

3. A mounting means as claimed in claim 2 including an anchoring plate disposed on the other leg portion of the L- shaped mounting member, the anchoring plate-having a pair of threaded holes therein, and a pair of bolts extending respectively through the spring members and extending through the mounting members into threaded engagement with the anchoring plate respectively in the holes thereof.

4. A mounting means as claimed in claim 3 wherein the anchoring plate is provided with a second pair of threaded holes, and including a second pair of bolts extending respectively through the spring members and extending through the mounting members into threaded engagement with the anchoring plate respectively in the second pair of holes thereof, the second pair of bolts also extending through an insulating base and securing the mounting means thereto.

Claims

1. A fuse and switch blade mounting means comprising a generally U-shaped spring member, a generally U-shaped mounting member disposed within the spring member, a generally L-shaped mounting member having one leg portion dividing the space between opposed leg portions of the U-shaped mounting member and the other leg portion secured to the bight portion of the U-shaped mounting member, a mounting pin having opposite end portions mounted respectively in one leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member and the one leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member, a flat switch blade mounted on an intermediate portion of the mounting pin for edgewise pivotal movement, the mounting pin being disposed adjacent first longitudinal ends of the mounting members, and a spacer disposed adjacent opposite longitudinal ends of the mounting members in alignment with the switch blade, the space between the one leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member and the other leg portion of the U-shaped mounting member being suitable for reception of a blade terminal of a fuse.

3. A mounting means as claimed in claim 2 including an anchoring plate disposed on the other leg portion of the L-shaped mounting member, the anchoring plate having a pair of threaded holes therein, and a pair of bolts extending respectively through the spring members and extending through the mounting members into threaded engagement with the anchoring plate respectively in the holes thereof.