Letters Patent is: 1. Switch gear for electrically interconnecting a plurality of electrical power transmission lines comprising: ]0 a frame assembly; a main switch for each power line, mounted on said frame assenibly and each provided with a contact , jaw and a rotatable main switch blade adapted to be coupled to a respective power line and movable out 15 of en.-agement with a corresponding contact jaw by swinging movement about itsaxis of rotation; load interrupting switch structure having a pair of spaced terminals and selectively operable means defining an electrically conductive path.th erethrough 20 between said terminals and operable to open and close said conductive path; conductor means coupling one of the terminais of said switch structure with each of the contact jaws of said main switches; 25 mechanisni remote from the paths of swinging movement of the main switch blades, electrically coupled to the oth-.r terminal of the load interrupting switch structure and operable upon actuation thereof to open and close said selectively operable means; 30 an electrically conductive arm secured to each of the main switch blades for movement therewith; elongated members pivotally mounted on the structure adjacent said mechanism for swinging movement -about axes in generally perpendicular relation- 35 ship to the axes of swingin- movement of said main switch blades, each of said members having a contact segment remote from the axis of pivoting thereof within the path of travel of one of the arms and normally located in a stand-by position in proximal 40 relationship thereto when the respective main switch is closed, each of said arms on the main switch blades being operable to engage and then swing a corresponding member within the path -of travel thereof upon rotation of the associated blade about its axis 45 away from its contact jaw, with each member bein@ located to cledr a corresponding arm prior to the . main switch blade of a respective main switch completing its path of trav..-I durin- opening thereofmeans connected to each of the members for returning 50 the same to normal disposition thereof upon release of each member from a respective arm, the arms and corresponding members operated thereby being movable relatively durin.- reclosing -of a respective main switch @blade to permit the arms and members 55 to reassume the normal stand-by positions thereof; and means coupling the members to said mechanism for actuating the latter to open said selectively operable means ir@ response to shifting of the members by said 60 arms and for closing said selectively operable means upon return of the members to the normal stand-by positions of the same, said mechanism including component for effectin.- swinging movement of all of the members through said coupling means connected 65 thereto upon engagement of any one bf the arms with a corresponding member during opening of a selected main switch blade whereby upon opening of the selected main switch and formation of an auxiliary conductive path through said load in terrupting 70 means provided by engagement of the arm on the selected main switch blade with a corresponding member, aH of the memb,ers are moved out of recovery voltage restrike range from all other parts of opposite polarity during switch operation. 75 10 2. Switch gear as set forth in claim I wherein said main switches are located in - a con-in'lon plane and the main switch -blades thereof are swingable in said plane, said members being mounted for swinging movement about fixed axes, and the arms on respective main switch blades being shiftable relative to corresponding main switch blades to permit each arm to swing with respect to a respective main switch blade during engagement of the arm with a corresponding member and as the latter is swung by the arm during opening of said selected main switch ' 3. Switch gear as set forth in claim 2 wherein said me@mbers are provided with hook portions on the extremities thereof engaged by corresponding anns for assurin.- firm engagement of the arm with a respective member during opening of said selected main switch. 4. Switch gear as set forth in claim 2 wherein is pro-. vided means biasing each of the arms toward a normal position thereof whereby upon clearance of each of the arms by a corresponding member and after deflection of the arm from said normal position during engaaement thereof with a respective member, the biasing means immediately returns the arm to said normal position thereof. 5. Switch gear as set forth in claim I Wherein said main switches are located in a com@mon plane in surrounding relationship to said load interrupting switch structure and the main switch blades are swingable in said plane said switch structure being located within elongated @ousing means projecting from the plane of swinging movement -of said main switch blades, the axes of pivoting movement of the members being located in remote, laterally spaced rel-ationship to said housing means to permit cabh of the members to swing through a relatively large arc away.from ri@spective main switches. 6. Switch ge@ar as s-ot forth in claim 5 wherein said members are mounted on the structure for swinging movement in planes extending radially frbm said housing means. 7. Switch gear as s-,t forth in claim I wherein said main switches are located in a common plane iii surrounding relationship to said load interrupting switch structure, disposed in generally radially extendin.- rel@ationship to said switch structure when closed, and positioned for movemeiit of the main switch blades in said plane, said members being located for swinging movement in planes extending radially from said switch structure and bisecting respective angles defined by adjacent closed main switches. 8. Switch gear as set forth in ciaim 7 wherein said members are mounted for pivoting movement about axes lying in a common plane and parall,@-I with the plane through said main switches. 9. Switch gear as set forth in claim 7 wherein saict arms on each of the main switch blades are located in disposition in generally perpendicular relationship to an adjacent member when the respective main switch is closed. 10. Switch gear as set forth in claim 7 wherein one member is provided for a pair of adjacent main switch blades -and disposed to be swung by the arms on either of said p,air of main switch blades durin- opening therbof 11. Switch gear as set forth in clai'm 7 wherein said' mechanism includes a toggle unit and crank means for Operating the tog,- le unit, said coupling means each comprisin,- an ongated component operably coupled to said crank means and to a respective member in spaced rela-tionship from the axis of pivoting thereof for translating the. arcuate motion of a corresponding member to reciprocatory motion for actuating the toggle unit through said crank means. 12. Switch gear as set forth in claim 11 wherein each of said components includes adjustable means for varying the effective length of each component and therel@y the

extent of rotation of the crank means by corresponding coiiiponents and the members connected thereto. 13. Switch gear as set forth in claim 12 wherein said adjustable means comprises a turnbuckle, References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,834,856 5/1958 Charewicz et al. 200-146 X 3,255,332 12 10/1960 Luehring ---- 200-146 3,070,680 12/1962 Mc]3ride et al - ------ 200-146 KA.'FILEEN.11. CLAFFY, Primai-y Examiner. ROBERT K. SCHAEFER, Exanziner. W. C. GARVERT, Assistant Exainiizet-.

United States Patent Office' 3,255,332 3,255,332 OPERATING ASSEMBLY FOR LOAD BREAK SWITCHGEAR Thomas E. Curtis, Centralia' Mo., and Marion A. Gebhardt, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, assignors to A. B. Chance 5 Company, Centralia, Mo., a corporation of Missotiri Filed Feb. 17, 1964, Ser.'No. 345,276 13 Claims. (Cl. 200-146) This invention relates broadly to. the field of electrical transmission line equipment and especially to sectionaliz10 ing switches of the load break type permitting maintenance of maximum service continuity in a transmission line. The high voltages and currents present in electrical transmission lines present especial problems in the design 15 of switches which will successfully interrupt the current when necessary, under all atmospheric conditi6ns, and which may be operated many times without si,-nificant deterioration of the performance or operiting - condition of the components. While an air-break ty-pe switch is 20 subject to severe limitations in opening loaded - circuits, it has been found that utilization of a vacuum-break type load interrupter switch may be associated with an airbreak switch to make the load break device reliable for opening and closing various types of circuits regardless 25 of the voltage and current load thereon. Switchgear embodying this basic concept is descri-bed in detail in U.S. Patent No. 3,070,680, wherein a plurality of - air-break switches are operably associated with a single vacuum type load interrupting switch thereby permitting most 30 efficient sectionalizing of tl-le transmission line as required with a minimum of switching assemblies being requred, and particularly the relatively expensive vacuum load break type. The switchgear disclosed in the aforementioned patent '35 includes a series of main air-break switches which are coupled to the main transmission lines as well as to a ta-p line, and with the single vacuum load breaker being operably positionable in serie@ relationship with respect ' to any selected one of the main switches. In this manner, 40 the power may be interrupted in any selected line by first opening the vacuumjbreak switch, followed by opening of the main switch, so that arcing between the contacts of the main air-break switch is ptecluded regardless 45 of the load on the line. Although a load break s@vitch unit of the type mentioned above @is satisfactory in operation under most conditions, it has been determined that equipment of the type described in the above patent is subject to certain power 50 limitations, @resents disadvantages in inclement weather and especially cold, icy conditions, and particularly was subject to possible restrike across the opeh gaps of th@ main switch elements under relatively high voltage applications. 55 As explained in pending application Serial No. 241,- 745, filed on December 3, 1962 and entitled "Load Break Switch Gear," it is often desirable to employ a number of vacuum load break switches in series Telationship in those instances where high voltages are involved, as fOr 60 example, (yf the order of 69 and 115 kv. The switches are connected mechanically in such a manner that the contacts of all of the vacuum-break switches aTe opened stt-bstantially simultaneously, but under these - operating parameters, it w@s found that there was a certain risk Of 65 restrike across the series connected main switch upon opening of the contacts thereof, particularly under adverse weather conditions. It is therefore the primary object of the present invention to provide improvements in load break switchgear 70 of the type described briefly above, and especially to provide improved mechanism for operating the vacuum type Patented June 7, 1966 2 load interru@pter or similar switch device by the switch elements of the air-break main switches, and only after the components of the air-break switches have moved into disposition such that restrike thereacross is absolutely precluded regardless of climatic conditions or the operating load on the lines in which the switchgear is interposed. A further important object of the invention is to provide load break switchgear wherein the mechaiiism for opening the vacuum or similar load interrupter str-ucture and which is operabl@e by the switch elements of the respective main air-break switches, requires the main switch elements to move out of effective Testrike range before the contacts of the load interrupter are shifted out of electrical contacting relationship. It is also a significant -object of the invention to provide an roved load break switch assembly having the improved characteristics mentioned previously, which is of especial design permittin.a protection of the mechanical corpponents thereof from adverse atmospheric conditions such as snow, freezing drizzle and ice, and thereby assuring proper operation of the switchgear regardless of the nature of the weather conditions and the ambient temperature at the time that the switch elements of the gear are operated. Also an important aim of the invention is to provide load break switchgear having improvements therein over the assemblies described. in the above referenced patent and application, which -do not require ext@nsive and prohibitively expensive redesign and Tetooling of the prior switches in order to incorporate the novel operating mechanism of the present invention into the switch assemblies. A still further important object of the invention is to provide improved loa-d break switchgear wherein effective opening of th@ load interrupting switches may be obtained utilizing essentially the same.type of components, Tegardless of 4the number of load interrupting switcbes operably connected in series relationship, and requiring alteration of a minimum of operating elements to accomplish the required opening of the load interrupting structure after the components of therespective main switch have been moved into sufficiently spaced relationship to absolutely preclude restrike thereacross. Other important objects and details of ihe present invention will become apparent or be explained in greater detail as the following specification proceeds. In the drawings: FIGURE I is a plan view of load break switchgear embodying the improved operating components of the present invention, constructed in accordance with the gene@ral princi@ples of the structure described in U.S. Patent No. 3,070,680, and with the switch elements (yf one of the main air-break switches, when in open disposition, being illustrated by dashed lines; FIG. 2 is an enlarged, fragmentary, side elevational view of the load break switchgear shown in FIG. 1, and with the path of travel of one of the operating components for effecting opening of the load interrupting structure in response to shifting of the switch elements of one of the main switches, being illustrated in dashed,lines; FIG. 3 is a greatly enlarged, fragmentary, plan view of the upper part of the load interrupting structure as illustrated in FIG. 2, and showing the toggle mechanism for effecting opening of the load interrupting structure in resp@nse to movement -of the switch elements of one of the main switches into disposition wherein the elements are out of restrike range; FIG. 4 is a fragmentary, enlarged, vertical cross-scetional view taken substantially on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3 and looking in the direction of the arrows; FIG. 5 is an enlarged, fragmentary, end elevational view of the to.-gle mechanism as shown in FIG. 4-1

3,255,332 3 FIG. 6 is a front elevational view on a greatly enlarged scale, of operating arm strticture adapted to be mounted on one of the elements of each of the main switches and adapted to swing an arm joined through linkage to the toggle mechanism for operating the load interrupting 5 switch structure in response to swinging movement of the main switch element mounting the operating arm tliereon; FIG. 7 is a fragmentary, vertical cross-sectional view taken substantially on the line 7-7 of FIG. 6; and FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing the switching 10 configuration of the present invention. The basic load break and switching operation of this invention is disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 3,070,680, and application Serial No. 241,745, and the disclosures therein are incorporated herein by reference as they may be neces- 15 sary for a complete understanding of the construction and general operation of the present switchgear. As is apparent from these prior disclosures, switchgear of this type operates in the following basic manner. Referring to FIG. 8, the load break switchgear of the 20 present invention is designated broadly by the nii-me@-al 20 and is adapted to be coupled to the three transmission lines 22, 24 and 26. Switchgear 20 includes three main switches 28, 30 and 32 which are operably associated with the vacuum load break interrupter unit designated 25 40. Three auxiliary switches 34, 36 and 38 are also operably associated with the main air-break switches '@8, 30 and 32 as well as the load interrupter unit 40. The auxiliary switches function as transfer devices and close during the opening of the main switches to trans.Ler the 30 current path through the load intorrupter. Although the unit 40 may be any one of a number of different types of switches, the preferred construction involves utilization of a vacuum-break switch of the type illustrated in Patent No. 3,070,680 or application Serial No. 241,745, with 35 one or more of the switches actually being used depending upon the voltage on the transmission lines. It may be obsor@ed from FIG. 8 that when it is desired to maintain all of the lines 22, 24 and 26 in electrically conductive relationship, the main air-break switches 28, 30 and 32 are 40 in closed disposition as illustrated in the schematic dranving. At the same time, the auxiliary switches 34, 36 and 33 are in the open position thereof while the load interrupter unit 40 is normally closed. Assuming for purposes of illustration only that the 45 transmission line 22 leads from a power station and that the lines 24 and 26 comprises either feeder lines leading to points of power consumption or distribution, or one line being the main distribution Ene while the other line is a secondary or feed line connected thereto, the 60 stattis of the circuit@ry will be as shown in FIG. 8 when all of the lines are conductive as referred to above. Should it be desired, for example, to disconnect line 24 from line 22, then the various switches would operate in the following sequence- @5 5 (a) Mechanism under the control of an operator would be actuated to commence openiiig of the main switch 30. (b) Duiing opening of the main switch 30 but prior to the components thereof assuming the fully open 60 position thereof wherein the clectrical circuit therethrough is interrupted, electrical contacts would be brought into conducting relationship to result in closing of auxiliary switch 36. In the schematic diagram, the mechanical coupling between switches 30 and 36 is in- 6,5 dicated by the dashed line 46. It may be seen that the closing of switch 36 creates a path for current from line 22 to line 24, through switch 28, interrupter 40 and switch 36. However, at this point in the operation of switch,@ear 20, a circuit still exists from line 22 throug4 70 switch 28 and switch 30 to line 24. Thiis, it is apparent that switebes 30 and 36, when switch 36 is closed, form parallel paths for the flow of electrical current from line 22 to lirle 24, as well as beiiig mechanically interconnected. 7,5 4 (e) Main switch 30 is then operated to move the coitact elements thereof into the fully open position of the same whereby the auxiliary switch 36 then carries the full current through lines 22 and 24. A single current path is furnished between lines 22 and 24 by the closed contacts of the load interrupter 40. (d) The movable contact 42 of interrapter unit 40 is then shifted out of engagement with the fixed contact 43 by mechanical structure which is actuated by one of the arms forming a part of the auxiliary switch 36, with interruption of the current through the unit 40 occurring only after the contact elements of the main switch 30 have been moved out of the restrike zone thereof. It is now believed to be fully apparent that switchgear 20 is to be utilized for interrupting the current throu,@h a plurality of transmission lines, even though only one vacuum type load break switch is provided for ihe plurality of airbreak main switches operably associated with each transmission line. In order to provide maximum versatility for switchgear 20, structure is provided to return the contact 42 of load interrupter unit 40 to the normal position thereof in engagement witli contact 43 and to reopen the auxiliary switch 36 subsequent to breaking of the current path between lines 22 and 24. This causes all of the switch elements illustrated in FIG. 8 to return to the disposition thereof as shown in the schematic drawing, with the exception of switch 30 being in an open condition. In this manner, subseq'uent closure of main switch 30, or operation of other switches associated with the other lines, may be car-ried out without in any way interfering with the electrcal nonconducting condition which exists between transmission lines 22 and 24. The frame assembly 44 of switchgear 20 is illustrated as being of generally triangular configuration since it is adapted to molint three main swit@@es 28, 30 and 32 in conjunction with three auxiliary switches 34, 36 and 38 and a single load interrupting unit therebetween, although it is to be appreciated that the frame will normally be of a configuration depending upon the number of switches actually forming a part of gear 20. The frame assembly 44 of switch gear 20 is adapted to be mounted through the medium of bracket 46 on any suitable supporting member such as a line pole or the like. It is also to be understood at the outset that three of the switchgear assemblies 20 are utilized in a three phase power system@ each unit being operably coupled within a single phase. This principle is conventional in sectionalizing switchgear equipment with each sectionalizing switch often beng mounted one above the other on the line pole for operation from the g@round through suitable remote control apparatus extending longitudinally of the pole. Since all of the main air-break switches 28, 30 and 32 are of substantially identical construction, only switches 28 and 30 will be described in any detail, and it is to be understood th4t similar numbers would apply to similar elements in all of the main switches. Thus, as is appar'ent from FIGS. 1 and 2, each of the main switches is provided with an upright shaft (not shown) w-hich is rotatably carried for pivoting about a vertical axis by insulator structure 48. Crank 50 operably coupled to the lower end of each of the operating shafts is adapted to be joined by suitable linkage (not shown) which extends toward the operating mechanism on the supporting pole, and permitting swinging of any one of the cranks 50 from a remote point at ground level. The main switches each have a switch blade 53 provided with a contact ttp 52 and secured to the upright shaft carried by a corresponding insulator 48. Each contact tip 52 is adapted to engage a jaw hinge contact 54 rotatably carried by a corresponding support member of frame assembly 44. The jaw hinge contacts are rotatably carried by a plate 56 which is in turn supported on frame 44 by suitable insulating structure 58 which is shown only fragrnentarily in FIG. 2. The eleotrical circuit connections of the blade contacts and jaw hinges of main

5 switches 28, 30 and 32 is believed to be clearly apparent in the sehematic representation iof FIG. 8. During rotation of a corresponding crank 50 to effect movement of the blades 53 and associated blade contact 52 of a respective main switch to the open position thereof, the jaw hinge normally gripping the blade contact 52 is rotated through an are in a direction opposite to the direction of rotation Df the blade contact 52, until the -latter fully clears the jaw hin.-e, Whereupon blade c6,ntact 52 then moves into the fully open positon thereof as represented by the dashed lines in FIG. 1. In this disposition of the blade contact, the latter is out of restrike range ftom the associated jaw hiidge contact. The interrupter unit 40 as illustrated in FIG. 2, includes three separate vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64 which are electrically coupled in series relationship and are connected to a common lead as is apparent from the schematic diagram of FIG. 8. One way in which the contacts of these switches may be operably connected for substantially simultaneous opening, is explained in detail in the disclosure of application Serial No. 241,745 and therefore a detailed showing and description of these switches is omitted from this disclosure. The toggle mechanism for effecting operation of the uppermost movable contact of -switch 60, and which effects simultaneous shifting of the movable contacts of the other - vacuum-break switches 62 and 64, is best shown in FIGS. 3 to 5 inclusive, wherein the shiftable connector member 66 within housing 63 and extending through the bottom wall 70 thereof is connected directly to the movable contact of the uppermost switch 60 for reciprocating the movable contact in response to shifting of connector member 66. The toggle mechanism broadly designated 72 is mounted on a horizontal shaft 74 carried between upright supports 76 extending upwardly from wall 70. The main operating lever 78 of toggle mechanism 72 is pivotally joined to a boss 80 depending from a bell crank 82 pivotally mounted on an upright support 84 projecting upwardly from wall 70 adjacent mechanism 72 as is apparent from FIG. 4. Shifting of lever 78 in response to swinging of crank 82 effects vertical rdeiprocation of connector member 66 through links 86 which are joined to a cross member 88. Springs 92 between shaft 74 and cross member 88 are normally extended, and the toggle linkage, is just over toggle to hold the contacts of switches 60, 62 and 64 in the normally closed position. A detailed showing and explanation of the operation of toggle mechanism of the type shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 herein, is found in the drawings and descriptibn of application Serial No. 241 745. 1 I i@echanism for actuating toggle 72 is mounted on the housing structure 68 of interrupter unit 40 and is operable to reciprocate connector member 66 in response to movement of any one of the blades 53 and associated blade contacts into the open and closed positions thereof. To this end, and referring to FIG. 1 it can be seen that a pair of elongated, downwardly openina. channel members 94 and 96 are s@ecured to the outer, circumferentially extending wall of housing 68 in radially projecting relationship therefroni and located approximately IZO' apart with reference to the vertical axis through unit 40. Although three inain switches 28, 30 and 32 are provided, only two operating mecbanisms for toggle 72 are required as will be explained hereinafter. A generally U-shaped, downwardly opening sleet and rain housing 98 is mounted on the outer extremities of respective channel members 94 and 96 as is best shown in FIG. 2, with the opposed side walls 100 of each housing serving as means for mounting a horizontal pin 102 which swingably carries an elongated actuating member 104 in depending -relationship therefrom. An elongated connector rod 106 extending longitudinally of each channel member 94 has a turnbuckle adjustment assembly 108 interposed therein, and is pivotally joined to the upper extremity of a corresponding operating member 104 by a connector link 110. 3,255,332 6 A spring 112 within each housin.- 98 is connected to a correspondin- link 110 and to the rear wall 114 of eacb . housing 98 for biasing the loiver extremity of each operating niembe'r 104 toward the lowermost portion of unit 40. Retuming to FIG. 3, it is to be noted that the connector rod 106 within channel member 94 is connected to the outer extremity of bell crank 82 adjacent lever 78, by a link 116, while the connector rod 106 within channel member 96 is pivotally joined to the opposite end of 10 bell crank 82 through the medium of a short link 118. Shifting of connector rods 106 in response to pivoting of corresponding operating members 104 thereby pivots bell crank 82 in a direction to effect reciprocation of connector member 66. 15 Each of the operating members 104 is provided with a hooked component 120 on the lower extremity thereof provided with an outer hook section 122 which is within tihe path of travel of an electrically conductive operating ar-m assembly 124 associated with respective members 20 104 and connected to each of -the blades 53 for movement therewith. The toggle mechanism 72, connector r-ods 106, operating menibers 104 and assemblies 124 -thereby cooperate to form the auxiliary switches which are designated by the numerals 34, 36 and 38 in the 25 schematic wiring diagram of FIG. 8. In view 6f -the fact that the assemblies 124 mounted on blades 53 of switches 28 and 30 are bothpositioned to operate the operating member 104, it can now be seen that only two members 104 and associated mechanisms connected 30 thereto, are opera-ble to actuate toggle mechanism 72 in response to opening of respective main switches. Since the assemblies 124 are of identical construction, differing only in the disposition of the same relative -to corresponding mounting blades 53 therefor, only one of the assem35 blies 124 has -been shown in detail in FIGS. 6 iand 7, and it is to be understood that similar parts in the assemblies on all of the arms 53 are indicated by identical numerals. Thus, referring specifically to FIGS. 6 and 7, each assembly 124 is provided with a bracke@t 126 having a pair of 40 le.- section 128 and 130 on the lower extremity thereof wliich are conflgured to complementally engage the tubular blade 53 of each main switch, with bolt means 131 extending through opposed ali.-ned openings 132 in -legs 123 and 130 operating to effectively clamp bracket 126 to 45 the corresponding blade 53. The upper shroud portion 134 of bracket 126 defines a hollow, outwardly opening com,,paptment 136 which receives an elongated pivot pin 138 located in spanning relationship to compartment 136 and carried by the side walls 140 of shroud 134. Mount50 ing block 142 carried by pivot pin 138 intermediate the ends thereof, serves as means for mounting pLn elongated operating arm 144 of bent longitudinal configuration as is apparent from FIG. 1. Coil springs 146 over pin 138 on opposite sides of block 142@ have opposed legs which en55 gage the horizontal edge 148 of shroud 134, and the downwardly tuned lips 150 of mounting block 142, for normally biasing arm 144 in a counterclockwise direction viewing FIG. 7. Means for limiting the extent of countetclockwise rotation of the mounting block 142 about pin 138 60 as shown in FIG. 6, comprises a bolt 152 threaded througb the upper wall of shroud 134 into selective engagement with mounting block 142. Nut 154 threaded over bolt 152 above shroud 134 releasably maintains the bolt in selected Vertical disposition for manual adjustment of the 65 disposition of operating arm 144 relative to bracket 126. As is apparent from FIG. 1, the arm assemblies 124 are mounted on the blades 53 of switches 28 and 30 respectively, so that the arms 144 extend toward each other into overlapping relationship and in disposition 70 such that the outer extremities of arms 144 are located to contact the hook section 122 of the operating membei 104 carried by channel member 94. During swinging movement of a blade 53, the corresponding arm 144 thereon engages the hooked component 120 of an ad75 jacent operating member 104 to pivot the latter about

3,255,332 7 the axis of a moun@ting pin 102 therefor until the arm 144 clears the hook section 122 of a corresponding component 120, permitting the member 104 which has been swung out of the normal position thereof to return to the initial disposition of the same as illustrated in FIG. 2. 5 During such outward swingin.- movement of the operating member 104, the hook section 122 of the component 120 thereon is maintained in proper engagement with the respective operating arm 144, by doughnut rings 156 on arms 144. 10 Arcing horns are also provided on the contact elements of each of the main switches 28, 30 and:32, as is best evident from FIG. 2. It can be seen that,a rod 158 carried by bracket 126 below the arm 53 of main swit@h 28, is disposed to normally engage a generally U-shaped 15 rod or arcing horn 160 carried by the rotatable jaw hinge contact of main switch 28. The disposition of the archina homs presented by rods 158 and 160 is such that the main blade and jaw hinge of each main switch move out of electrical interengagement, prior to the coupling of nor- 20 mally interengaged arcing horns 158 and 160. The operation of horns of this type is fully e)@nlained in U.S. Patent No. 3,070,680 and application Serial No. 241,745. 0 eration 25 p Assumin.- that all of the operating components of switchgear 20 are in the normal stand-by positions of the same as illustrated in FIG. 1, and with the - electrical circuit thereby being in the condition illustrated schematically in FIG. 8, sectionalizing of the power transmis- 30 sion lines, or opening of the circuit to all the lines may be accomplished by simple openin.- of one or more of the main switches 28, 30 and 32 in any desired sequence. Since the opening of one main switch proceeds in the 35 same fashion as the opening of all of the remaining - switches, @only one operational procedure will be described in detail althou,@h it is to be understood that -the other switches open in a similar manner. Referring to FIGS. I and 2, it is to be understood that 40 if it is desired that switch 30 be opened to interrupt t@he current between lines 22 and 24 as previously described, the operator simply manually shifts mechanism extending longitudinally of the support p-ole as mentioned above, to thereby effect pivoting of crank 50 about the longitudinal axis of the shaft through insulator structure 45 48. As the blade 53 of inain switch 30 commences to - move in a counterclockwise direction viewing FIG. 1, the main jaw hinge contact 54 of the main switch also commences movement in a clockwise direction by virtiie of engagement of the hinge clamps with the main blade 50 contact 52 of switch 30. During swinging movement of jaw hinge contact 54 and main blade contact 52, the arcing horns 158 and 160 of main switch 30 remain in electrical contact to preclude arcing between the adjacent 55 extremities of hinge jaxv 54 and main blade contact 52 as soon as the same move out of contacting relationship. Very shortly after commencement of swinging of the blade 53, the arm 144 <)f the assembly 124 mounted on the blade 53 of main switch 30, moves into enga,@oment with the hook section 122 of component 120 on operating 60 member 104 depending from channel member 94. As the blade 53 continues to swing in a c ounterclockwise direction, the operating member' 104 is swung outwardly away from unit 40 and with the operatin.- arm 144 being depressed against the bias of springs 146 as arm 144 is 65 -retained beneath the hook section 122 of component 120. Swinging of operating member 104 causes the connector rod 106 coupled thereto to be reciprocated in a direction away from the structure supporting unit 40, whereby 70 link 116 is shifted toward the circumferentially extending wall of hotising 68 in a direction to effect rotation of bell crank 82 in a clockwise direction viewing FIG. 3. In this manner, lever 78 is shifled in a direction to operate toggle mechanism 72 and eventually permit springs 92 75 8 to move connector member 66 upwardly through a sufflicient path to effect disenagement of the movable contacts of all of the vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64, from respective stationary contacts therewithin. Returning to the operating rrember 104 wlaich has been shifted by the arm 144 in en.- agement with the hooked component 120 thereon, it can be seen in FIG. 2 that the arm 144 will remain in enga.-Cment with the component 120 until after member 104 has reached the lowermost end of its path of tran, and t commences upward movement while still swinging away from the adjacentjawhingecontact54. Whenth eoperatingmember 104 reaches a 'certain point in the upward path of swinging movement thereof, it becomes disengaged from arm 144 whereby the operating member 104 is permitted to retur-@i to the initial location of the same as illustrated in FIG. 2. The operatin@ arm 144 under the bias of springs 146 returns to the staid-@by disposition of the same as illustrated in FIG. 7, although the assembly 124 continues to move outwardly until-the blade 53 reaches the outermost end @of iis path of travel through an arc of an extent indicated diagrammatically in FIG. 1 by the dashed line position of blade 53 of main switch 28. It is to be understood however that during the outward movement of operatin@ member 104, and consequent shifting of the connector rod 106 coupled thereto, the toggle mechanism 72 operates to effect ope-iiing of th-- contacts of the vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64, but only after the main blade contact 52 of the main switch being opened, has moved out of restrike ran,-e of the hinge jaw contact 54. Thus, return of the operating member 104 to the initial disposition of the same under the influence of the sprin- 112 connected thereto, effects reclosing of the contacts of the vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64, although this does not result in reclosing of the -main circuit because the main switch blade contact 52 of the main switch 30 has been moved out of resfrike range from the associated hinge jaw contact 54. In this respect, it is believed to be obvious that the trunbtickle 108 in each connector rod 106 p@-rmits selective adjustment lof the pc>int during the swinging movement of a corresponding operating member 104, when tog,-le mechanism 72 is actuated to open the contacts of the interrupter unit 40. The pivotal mounting of operating arms 144 on brackets 126 is also of im'portance, because of the fact that upon return of the blade 53 which has been shifted, to the original position of the same wherein the blade contact 52 reengages the associated hingt jaw 54, the corresponding arm 144 will shift downwardly a-ainst th@@ bias of springs 146 to a position clearing the lower extremity of component 120 of the as@ociated member 104. Furthermore, mounting of the assemblies 124 in disposition so that two operatin, arms 144 on adjacent main switches face toward each other, necessitates provision of only one 6pe@rating mechanism therefor operably coupled to the @l contog, e mechanism 72 to effect reciprocation of the nector member 66 coupled thereto. The housinas or hoods 98 carried by the outer extremities of channel members 94 and 96, not only serve to protect the pivo'al connections b@@-tween connector rods 106 and operating @members 104, but also improve the appearance of the ovi-r-all switchgear. By virtue of the structure described above for operating the toggle mechanism 72 by openina of the main switch blades 53, actuation of the contacts 'of the vacuum-break switches 60, 62 and 64 can be delayed until the blade contact 52 of a respective main switch is completely out of restrike range with respect to the associated hin,@e jaw contact. This is true because of the utilization of a relatively long operating member 104 for each connector rod 106, which requires that the blade 53 be swung throtigh a relatively long are before the conn-@ctor rod 106 joined to the operatin@ member 104 being swan.-, has moved a significant dist@ance to effect rotation of the bell crank 82 operably coupled to the lever 7s of mechanism

3,255,332 9 72. Mounting of operating members 104 for pivoting movement about axes in generally perpendicular relationship to the axes of pivoting of blades 53, also contributes to more effective control over toggle mechanism 72 to assure movement of main blade contacts 52 out of 5 restrike range with respect to hinge jaws 54. Having thus described the invention what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by