US815824A - High-potential switch or circuit-breaker. - Google Patents

Description

N. 815,824. PATENTED MAR. 20, 1906.- B. M. :1 ILIVLETTL HIGH POTENTIAL SWITCH OR CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. I. i900. REHEWBD NOV.3,1904.

3 SHEETSSHEET 1.

Witnesses: jnventor.

PATENTED Lil-IR. 20, 1906.

" E. M. HEWLETT.

HIGH POTENTIAL SWITCH OR CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 7. 1900. RENEWED NOV. 3 1904.

3 SHEBTSSHEET 2.

Wztnesses:

EATBNTED MAR. 20, 1906. E. M. HEWLETT. HIGH POTENTIAL SWITCH OR CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLIOATION FILED N38. '1. 1900. RENEWED 110K 23, 1904.

3 SHEETS-SHEET s,

inventor? i ITED STATES EDWAR M. HEWLETT, :GENERAL ELECTRIC or scHENEcTADY. NEW I COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF NEWYoRK.

PATENT oEEICE;

YORK, Assrcuo n To HIGH-POTENTIAL SWITCH on CIRCUIT-BREAKERS."

I Application filed February 7,

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, EDWARD M. HEWLETT,

a citizen of the United States, residing at iliary to provide a rupture-points of the switch in a'closed oilchamber surrounded by fireproof walls, the

.movable contacts being operated by a motor adapted to give a long break and controllable at a distance from the switch.- The fixed and movable contacts are so mounted that they may be'disconnecterl from the circuitleads, and thereby rendered dead 'to insure the safety-of operators in repairing or adjust ing the apparatus.

' My -i m tures of t e governing mechanism which controls the operation of the ,devlbe and also features of mounting the several parts. The generic features are the same as disclosed in the application filed in the name of Edwin W.

1ce,-Jr., on or about December 30, 1899,

Serial N 0. 742,124, my invention residing in improvements on the switch therein. described and claimed.

The novel features 'will be more fully indicated hereinafter and will be definitely set forth in the clalms.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation with the front cover partly broken away of a switch or circuit-breaker embodying my, improvements. Fig. 2 is a sectional view on a plane at right angles to that indicated in Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is an elevation, partly in section, of a fluid-pressure motor for operating the device. Fig. 4 is a diagram'of the motor-controlling circuits; Fig. 5 is a detail view of the mounting for the fixed terminal. 6 is a sectional view of said mounting on a plane indicated by the line X X of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a sectional detail on a plane indicated by the line y y of Specification of Letters Patent. 1900. Renewed'November 3,

I Fig, 5 of a lifting device for the fixed may be mounted rovements involve structural feabrackets 7 7 at I position by clamps 8 8 at the bottomand n at the top.. Each":

screwed firml establsh a good contact andto slightl when pressed into enga ernent'with jthe f e Patented mirheo, 1996. 1904. Serial uo. 2si.204.

rm Fig. 8 is a detail view showing anflaiix contact between the fixed terminals, and Fig. 9 is a detail of the eferring first to I sents an insulating, base or support'forjlie,

nal.

frame in which the oil-chambers areliousedi" This may be formed of a slab of slate or mar? controlling motor'," Figs. 1 and 2, 1""repre-" ble or other fireproof insulating materia-l andi iron supported on I-beams, a'slllustratedf upon a frame "of channel fi Through this insulating-support passthe ci r-:.

ault-leads. The apparatus showniirith, drawings represents a double-break triphasei switch suitable for high-potential triphase'.

alternating currents; Upon th are built masonry walls of brick, at 2 2 2 2 2", forming on all the front a masonry inclosure chambers 3 3, &c. On top of these masonry. wallsis placed a slab of insulating fireproof. material upon which rests a cast-ironrcap 4,,

8 pp rt 1,

as indicated, sides exce tg for the 011+ r bolted to the channel-irons. 5, which form a 3 supporting-frame for the switch. On the; I, front side-of the chambers formedby the. masonry wall is placed a removable insulated restingonzz clamped'in door or cover 6, (see Fig. 2-,)

the bottom and corresponding buttons 9 9 circuit-lead terminates in a plug which is secured in good conductive relation to a socket 10, (see Fig. 6,) formed on the end'of a copper bolt extending; insu ator 11, enlarged a and clamped firmly in its seat washer 12. minal is threaded, and a formed of anumber of together and mounted inanut nithe ii per part of which is a plate which may" arms of the brush,

as in The bundle of plates 1s sufliciently'elastic to of a cooperating cup s each The cup-sha ed part 14 is likewise screwed to the end 0 a copper stem passing through an insulator of porcelain 15, constricted at its middle portion and secured to atwo-part laped "parsed "14 of 53 y Into 'enga e'inen t iwlthhth f icated in Fig.

foo

fixed terminal contact of the-switch.

' switch in order to render the lower fixed con- 23 23", fixed in two plates'24 24, the uppertors. -The lates 24 24 move in guides at the sides. he osition of thecranks21 21 is the companion insul'ators,as indicated in Fig.

which embraces the pair of movable insula- 14 of the companion double-pole contacts permitting the insulator-15 and its connected -=plug-contact 27. ()n the plug-terminal 18 is tact of the switch dead, and they may be separated by means of an organization which I will now describe. This comprises a casting 19,in the o posite walls of wh'.ch is sup orted a stud20, aming a bearing for a cran havin two arms, as indicated at 21 21, and pro- Vi ed with an inclined slot 22 (see Fig. 5) near its free edge through which pass studs ends of which hook into a yoke or split nut 17,

controlled by a ong wooden handle adapted to be inserted into a socket 25, (see Fig. 1,) by which they ma be rocked on the pin 20, thereby lifting or lbwering the plates 24 24 and closing or openingcontact between the brusharms 13 and the contact 14. Thus when it becomes for any reason necessary to detach any partof the switch to repair it or to examine its condition a handle may be in serted in the socket 25 and the contact-faces raised out of engagement with the brushes 13, thereby entirely dsconnecting the lower terminals of the switch from the circuit and 'rts to be withdrawn from the cell in which it is incloscd. This of course also necessitates the detachment of the upper or movable terminal of the switch, which may be also eas ly effected, as will presently be described. The socket 18, which forms the lower switch-terminal," is hollow and contains a yielding cupcontact,.(indicated at 26 in Fig. 2,) it being so arranged that it may yield laterally, so as to accommodate the entrance of the movable mounted a cylinder 28, provided with a cap at'the top forming a seat for a tube of insulating material 29, in whch moves the upper contact 27 of the switch. The oil-chamber is preferably lined with an insulating material.

In the type of switchshown in the drawings there is, as alread noted, a double-pole break. for each leg 0 the circuit, two oilchambers 3 3'. being placed side by side on 2 in a cell common to both. The two 'movable plug-.terminalsare connected at the top by a good conducting-yoke 3(). '(Shown in enlarged view in Fig. 8.) "This yoke is provided at itsbottom with ears 31, on each side in wluch are o'urnaled bolts 32, adapted to be thrown into a slot in the top of a head secured to the end of a rod 33. \Vith this organization it will be evident that byloosening the nuts on the bolts 32 they may be swung outwardly, disconnecting the yoke 30 from the rod 33 and permitting both contacts of the switch or circuit-breaker to be withdrawn from its fireproof cell when the lower contact is disconnected, as hereinbefore described. The rods 33, of which there is one for each leg of the circuit, are connected at the top by a cross-head 34, rigidly secured to the motor-piston.

I have shown in the drawings a motor 0 e erated by compressed air, 35 representing t c cylinder, and 36 36 the induction and eduction pipes, connecting through a valve-chamber 37 with the pipe 38, leading to a reservoir of compressed air. The details of its mode of construction will be more clearly under stood from an inspection of Figs. 3, 4, and 9. Its operation is governed by-a control-circuit extending to a point distant from the apparatus, so as to insure safety to the operator in manipulating it. This control-circuit includes an electromagnet 3!), provided with a movable core 40, normally retracted by a coil-spring, and is linked to a slide-valve -12 in the valve-chamber ol' the motor. The valve is held in its seat by a rod 43, mounted to slide in nuts 44 45, screwed into the valvecasing. The valve controls three ports 46 46 46*, 46 being an exhaust-port and the other two orts leading to the ends of the cylinder. ith this organization when the control-switch 47 is closed the electromagnet 39 is excited, the core 40 drawn down, and the valve shifted, so as to admit air-pressure from the supply-pipe to the upper end of the c linder, thereby quickly shifting the mova le contacts into engagement with the fixed contacts of the switch. In order to provide. a cushion for the end of the stroke, the induction-ports at the cylinder are placed between its ends, as indicated in Fig. 9, so that they are covered by the movement of the piston before it reaches the end of its stroke, thereby leaving a small body of air in the end of the c linder, which acts as a cushion and brings t e parts to rest after their sudden movement without jarring the ap )aratus, and in order to provide for driving tilt piston in the oppositedirection a leak-opening 48, controlled by a spring-matuatcd valve, is provided between the imluction-pipe and the. end of the c linder through which the. air feeds until t e main induction-port is uncovered. When the switch is opened, I provide a latch 4!), (see Fig. 3,) adapted to hook over the edge of the cross-head when the. piston is raised to its upper limit and prevent the movable element of the switc i from the When settling and makingan accidental contact. the switch is to be closed, the latch is pressed open .by a pin 50, controlled by a diaphragm of rubberv or otherelastic material 51min" open communication, through pipes '52", withrthe'upper end of the cylinder,

so that when the pressure is applied to close the switch the diaphragmfil is'depressed and the latch 49 is withdrawn from the crosshead. The control-circuit being closed and eration of the switch effected, it is desirab e to cut down the strength. of the control-current to prevent heating and waste of energy. I effect this by cutting into the control-crrcuit an auxiliary magnet-coil or re sistance 39*. By reason of the air-pressure on the slide-valve considerabe force is necessary'in order to move it,'ai1d the magnet must therefore be'wound for a very trong pull, and thesuddenthrus't given to its core will damage the operative parts which cut in the auxiliary section of the magnet unless special rov'ision is made to counteract it. An efectiveremedy isprovided by the organization shown inFig. 3 and consists of two insulated fc'ontact-springs '53 53, mounted upon a standard on the cap-plate 4 and connected by alink 54 with a 4 against a stud 56 on the magnet-frame by an adjustable 'coil spring 57. The end of this lever projects into a slot formed in the upper part of the core 40, the end wall of which it engages when the core has moved a suffic ient distance. 'When; under rapid movement, the core engages the end of the lever, and the latter is depressed, takin the fulcrum from the pin 56, which .ordinarify acts as a fulcrum, and making a fulcrum of the end of the spring. Two fixed contacts 58 58*", mounted springs 5353 upper coil'only I tact at 53 53, thereby putting thecircuit in.

*beused to hold on the magnet-frame, cooperate with the when the circuit is closed. switch 47 is first thrown the of the magnet 39, as shown in the diagram in Fig. 4, is i'n'circuit, current passing tothe fixed contact 58, then across the springs-"53 53 to the terminal 58. core 401s then drawn Thus when-"the down, opening the conthe condition indicated in- Fig. 4 and cutting in the auxiliary'coil 39, cutting down the current strength and holding, thevalve in the position to which it was thrown. This movement shifts the slide-valve, so as to cover the ports 4694?). Pressure is thereby introduced to the upper end of the cylinder and the switch closed. For heavy currents I em.

ploy a shunt-contact 59, of copper or phos- 'phor-bronze laminae, to short-circuit the rodcontacts when the switch is closed, being mounted (see Fig. 8) to bridge the top of the oil-pots after thacircuit has beenclosed by the rods. .To prevent distortion of aline- 'ment of the pots, a wedge or spacer 60 may the pots in' alinement. Both the laminated contact and spacer may be lever 55, held up The mounted on the yoke 30. On opening the control-switch 47 the magnet is deenergizcd, spring 41 pushes back the slidc-valve, putting the upper part of the eylinderin connection with the exhaust 46 and applying pressure below the piston. After being opened the latch 49 prevents accidental closure of the switch.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure as Letters Patent of the United States, is

l. A high-potential switch, comprising an insulating-support, a fireproof cell inclosing the terminals, a cap mounted on the top of the cell, and a motor to operate the switch mounted on the cap.

2., A high-potential switch, comprising an insulsting-support, a fireproof cell inclosing double-pole terminals and a bridging contact for said terminals, a cap mounted on top of the cell, and a motor to operate the switch mounted on the cap.

3. A high-potential switch having fixed and movable contacts, terminals therefor, and means for mechanically Withdrawing said contacts from their terminals to render said contacts dead.

4. A high-potential switch having multipolar terminal contacts, and means for disengaging the active or engaging portion of the congacts from the terminals to render them dea v 5. A high-potential switch having a fixed terminal mounted on an insulating-base, a detachable contact-tip forthe fixed terminal, a movable contact-piece mechanically connected to the tip but insulated therefrom, a cooperating movable contact, and means for rendering both said movable contact and movable contact-piece dead and removing them from the other parts of the switch.

6. A highpotential switch provided with a fixed terminal mounted on an insulating-support, a movable contact-piece for said terminal, mounted on an independent insulator, and means for separating the two insulators.

7. A highpotential switch provided with double-pole n'xed terminals mounted on an insulating-support, cooperating double-pole, contact-pieces normally forming terminal extensions mounted on a frame common to both and insulated therefrom, and means for shifting the frame to separatethe contactpieces from the circuit-terminals.

' 8. A high-potential switch provided with a fixed terminal mounted on an insulating-support, a removable contact-plece for said ter- .minal, mounted on an independent insulator, and a lever mounted on a fixed switch for separating the two insu ators.

9. A high-potential switch provided with a fixed hollow insulator, a terminal supported therein, and a cooperating movable insulator containing adetachable con zctpiece for. said terminal.

10. A high-potential switch provided with art of the a fixed terminal supported by an insulator, a cooperating movable contact-piece for said terminal mounted on an independent insulator, and a laminated yielding contact at the joint. I

11. A high-potential an insulated hxed terminal, a movable contact-piece on an independentinsulating-sup insulator and its upper end connected with a contact above the insulator.

- 13%. A high-potential switch provided with a hollow insulator, a tixed terminal extending through the insulator, a movable contactpiece for the terminal supported in an independent insulator, a voke on the movable insulator, and a. crank ior raising the yoke, said crank being adapted for disconnection from the \'t l\'(.

14. A highpotential switch comprising double-pole ti. :ed terminals, a movable bridge to engage t he same in anoil-bath, and ashuntcontact outside of the oil, of greater currentcarrying capacity, adapted to open before the oil-submerged contact.

15. A multi )olar high potential switch comprising a p urality of lireproot insulated cells l'or dill'ereut poles, and a removable door for the cells.

It). A high-potential switch, comprising multipolar lixed terminals, a movable bridging contact, all inclosed in a tireproot cell, an operating connect ion extending through the cellcover, and means'l'or rendering the contacts dead and permitting withdrawal from the cell.

l7. A high-potential switch, comprising a plurality of pairs of separable contacts, a

small oil-chamber around each pair of contacts, tire )roo'i insulated cells separating different pocs, and a fluid-pressure motor for joining or separating the contacts.

18. A high-potential switch, comprising separable contacts, a fluid-pressure motor controlling their junction or se aration, a valve for reversing the motor, am an electromagnet in a control-circuit leading away from the switch for controlling the valve.

1!). A high-potential switch, comprising separable contacts, a fluid-pressure motor controlling their junction or separation, a valve for controlling the motor, an electromagnet controlling the valve, a control-cireuit for the magnet, and a resistance cut into the. lcontrol-circuit after the valve has operatet .20. A high-potential switch, comprising separable contacts, a fluid-pressure motor switch provided with controlling their junction or separation, a valve controlling the fluid-pressure, an elect-romagnet to operate the valve, a resistance out into the control-circuit by the operation of the switch, and a lever controlling the resistance having two movable fulcrums, one 7 being yieldingto reduce damage from impact. 21. A high-potential switch, comprising separable contacts, a fluid-pressure motor controlling their junction or separation, a valve controlling the fluid-pressure, an electromagnet to operate the valve, a resistance out into the control-circuit by the operation of the, magnet, a lever controlling a normal and in line for engagement bv the magnet-armature, the other end linked to the short-circuiting contact, and two fulcrums, one rigid and separable, and the other elastic and permanently connected to-the lever.

22. A high-potential switch comprising separable contacts, a fluid-pressure piston controlling their junction'or separation, a latch to hold the switch open, and a release device governed by the ap )lication of fluidpressure to operate the latch 23. A high-potential switch comprisin l lixed and movable contacts, a fireproof ce int-losing said contacts, and a motor for operating the switch mounted on the exterior of said cell.

pole mounted on an insulating-base, a removable contact therefor, means for disconnecting the removable contact, without dismounting the same, to render it dead, and a cot'iperating movable pole to make and break the circuit.

2"). A high-potential switch having a fixed pole mounted on an insulatin -base, a movpole, and means for diseonn ectinthe con-- tact ol' the tixed pole to render dea the coopcrating switch-contacts.

.26. A high-potential switch comprising separable contacts, a fluid-pressure piston controllingtheir {auction and separation, and pneumatitatl y cont-rolled means for holding the switch open when pressure tend- I ing to open the switch is removed from said piston.

'27. A high-potential switch comprising lixed contacts submerged in oil, one or more #cooperating vertically-mov able bridging contacts, a fluid-pressure piston for actuating said bridging contacts, and menmaticallyreleased means for holding the switch 'o )en when pressure tending to open the switc i is removed from said piston.

28.. A high-potential switch comprising fixed contacts submerged in oil, one coi iperating vertically movable bridging contacts, a lluid-pressure )lStOll for aetuatmg said contacts, and mec tanical means for l holding the switch open when pressure tendshort circuit for the resistance having oneable contact therefor, a deta able movable 4 .34. A high-potential switch having a fixed I ing to open the switch is removed from said piston, said means being rendered inoperative when fluid-pressure is admitted to the piston to close the switch.

29. A high-potential switch comprising tixed contacts submerged in oil, cooperating movable contacts.- a horizontal supporting member to which said movable contacts are connected, means for preventing thetorination of an are between the fixed contacts, an operating-eylinder located above said incinher, a piston in said cylinder operatively eonnceted to said member, and pneumaticallycontrolled means for engaging said member to hold the switch in its open position.

30. A' high-potential switch comprising fixed contacts subnier ed in oil, cooperating movable contacts, .a iorizontal supporting member to which said mm'ablecontacts are connected, a separate oil-chamber for each of said contacts, an o (rating-cylinder lo-r eated above said eliam crs, a piston in said cylinder operatively connected to said memher, and pneumaneally-coiitrolled means for engaging said member to hold the switch in its open position.

31. A highpotential switch comprising fixed contacts subi'nerged in oil, cooperating member, and latching means located adja;

cent to said cylinder and operative to engage said member to hold the switch in open posit-ion.

- 32. A high-potential switch, comprising fixed contacts Slll)ll'l0lg0(i 1n oil cooperating movable contacts, a iorizontal tion of an are between the fixed contacts, an

operating-cylinder located above said inente her, a {piston insaid evlinder operatively con-- nectet to said .nieinber, and a mechanical means for holding the switch open rendered ineffective when fluid-pressure is admitted to the piston to close the switch.

In witness whereof I hate hereunto set my supportingmeniber to which said movable contacts are. connected, means for preventing the forma-

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