US391594A - Arc-extinguisher for electric switches or cut-outs - Google Patents

Description

(No Model.)

A. H. EDDY.

ARC BXTINGUISHER FOR ELECTRIC SWITOHES OR GUT-OUTS.

No. 391,594. Patented Oct. 28, 1888.

Zz'ize WITNESSES: INVENTOR.

A TTORN E YJ.

UNITED STATES PATENT astes.

ARTHUR H. EDDY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 891,59 dated Get-ob: 23, 1888.

Application filed December 90, 183,7. Renewed August-'31. 1888. Serial X0. 2 1,296. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, ARTHUR II. EDDY, a citizen of the United States, residing at Hartford, in the county of Hartford and State of Connecticut, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Arc-Extinguishers for Electric Switches or Cut-uts; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which I it appertains to make and use the same.

In such devices as fusible cut-outs and switches for electric circuits, particularly on those of comparatively high tension, there is always more or less danger of the receding contacts or the melting fuse maintaining an are between the portions of the line opened thereby, and causing a fire or doing other damage. The danger is still greater when the tension is very high. In all cases it is very important to place the formation of an are between the parts absolutely beyond possibility, and to do this is the object of the present invention.

My invention consists, briefly, in a switch or cut-out so constructed that immediately following the act of rupture of the circuit a fanblade of non-conducting material will be set in rapid motion across the path which the arc would take, whereby if a tendency to are is present it will be literally blown out.

The invention further consists in the combination and arrangement of devices for the above purpose, all substantially as hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the drawings, Figures 1 and 2 are respectively a plan and side elevation of a simple form of fusible or safety catch embodying my invention. Fig. 3 is a plan view of one form of switch provided with my extinguisher.

On the base A, I place two blocks, I), each of which carries a curved spring-plate, c, having their adjacent ends bent oppositely, and, for convenience of securing the fuse,their ends are perforated, as shown. Each plate carries a fan or vane ofmica, (Z, and the fuse e, of lead or other metal or alloy, is held in the position shown by Fig. 1, its form being preferably that of a round wire with two flattened portions near the ends. The normal position of the springs c is much farther apart than shown in ,Fig. 1, as the springs are drawn into a position of tension in setting the fuse. Now, when an excess of current flows over the line .trated in Fig. 3.

the fuse e melts o softens and releases the tension of the springs, which instantly fly apart, as indicated by the arrows, and in doing so the two fans (Z of mica fly violently past one another and blow out any are which may have formed. Obviously the principle of action may be embodied in a great variety of specific forms, which being within the knowledge of those skilled in the art need not be further detailed.

The invention applied to a switch is illus- H is the base, and the circuit is made by the lever I entering between the clips K and broken by withdrawal therefrom. A mica plate, Z, is fixed at one side of the path of withdrawal, and on the other side a mica fan-blade, m, is pivoted on the base and provided with a tail piece or tappet, n, projecting in the path of the lever I or an extension thereof. lVhen the leverI is withdrawn from the clips K, and the circuit thus opened, the lever strikes the tappet and causes the fan at to fly across the path of withdrawal of contact of the switch-lever, and, as in the case of the fusible safety-catch, instantly extinguishes any are which may have formed.

The foregoing is a single illustration of my invention as applied to a cutout; but it also may be indefinitely varied. I therefore do not confine myself to any particular form or style of cut-out or fusible, as form is not of the essence of my invention; but

What I do claim is as follows:

1. In combination with a circuitopener, one or more movable fan-blades adapted to be set in motion by the act of opening the circuit and fly across the line of withdrawal or separation, substantially as described.

2. A circuitopener provided with one or more movable blades of insulating material adapted to movement across the arc-forming line and dependent for operation upon the act of opening the circuit, substantially as described.

3. In a circuitopener, one or more movable fans, in combination with actuating mechanism dependent for operation upon the act of opening the circuit and adapted to exert a fanning action across the arc-forming line, substantially as described.

In testimonywhereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

XVitncsses: ARTI-ililt II. EDDY.

ARTHUR L. Bnroos, Gno. T. Barons.

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