[1]Patented Mar. 30, 1954 296739903 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 2,673,903 DISCONNECT SWITCII Gustave E. Heberlein, Bryn Mawr, Pa., assignor, by mesne assignments, to I-T-E Circuit Brealcer Company, Philadelphi,%, Pa., a cor.Poration of Pennsylvania Application June 20, 1951, Serial No. 232,497 12 Claims. (Cl. 200-48) My present invention relates to disconnect switches. More particulgrly it relates to the current carryin.7 , connection between elements of the blade assembly of disconnect switches of the tYPe shown in patent applicttion Serial No. 145,389, 5 of which this is a contintiotion in part application. This switch has an angularly movable contact arm rotatably mounted oii a base or - terminal. This contact arm includes a blade vrhich rotates 10 arotind its longitudinell axis int,,) h-@gh pressure engagement with stationary contacts. 7@.o perr@iit this rotation, while maintain-'-n.- --, good eiirrent path between the rotatating blade ,,-,nd the angularly inovable portion thereof, a current car- 15 rying connection comprising threldedly engaged contg,ct elements is used. This connection is of the type generally disclosed in application Beria,l No. 145,389, the present ipvention beino; a modif7-catioii of that shown in the said application. 20 The primary object of my invention is, therefore, to Provide a current carryina conliection between the rotatable blade and the angularly movable men, ber on v@ihich it is moui-ited, the current carrying connection servinr. nlso as a means for 25 mountinp,, the blade. Another object of my invention is the provision of a novel weatherproof efficient current carrying cornection between the blade portion of the contact arm aiad the hinge casting of the disconnect switch. 30 A further object of my invent,@on is the arrange-rp.en'. ayid combiiiation of parts 2,,nd elemen@@s a,@a,.i the simplification of operation to 'Lhe end that t minimum ntimber of parts are - re-nuired tc, construct the hiige and blctde as-.sembly of 35 discoiinect switches. ..@.nother ob ' 'ect of my invention is the provision o'L spr4ng loaded contacts at the coniiection betit,,een the qngularly movarle hiT-i.-e casting and the rotatable blad@- itself so arral-l,%,;ed that the 40 contacts n-re a,lways in e-,iga.@ement, thereby simpli-fying the provision of means for e,,:cludinr.@ forei.-n matter from the contacts and thereby coi-rosion. A further object of m@ y irlvention is the - provi- 45 ef -a garter sprin.- to maintain tiie cont@.c@,. of the hin.-e casting and of the sultable blade iiito h--horessure e,@iga.-ement. These and r@i,@@ny other objecl@@o of the invention w;ll- b.,coine apt),arent i,-n. the following descri-Pt,@on 50 ',-ad -a rawings in i77hic'@.i: @7igtire I is a cross-sect,@onal view of the disc,)r,-@iect s@vi@'.rh ii2c,,orpor-,t4iig this Invention. @ll,@-are 2 i-S a. cross-sectiorial view of the Iiinge in,., the coiiducting joint and the coreipression sprinp,,. F-igure 3 is a erbss -sectional view of a niod,:Red version of the conducting joint of Figure 2. Figure 4 is a cross-sectionrll view of another modification of the condL7cting joi-nt of Figure 2. Figure 5a is a cross-s@@ctionql view of another modifip-ation of the conducting joint of Figure 2 showing a g,,,rter spring. Fig,,ire 5b is a, cross-sectional view of a modifac.%tion of thp conducting joint of Figure 5cy. 'Pi gure 5c i a -,Phematic cross-section showing s the contact en.,o..@ement achieved by the threaded hinge of Fi i P,,ures 5a and 5b. Pefer@--"ng no,,v to Figure 1, f have liere shown i disconnect of the type disclosed i.-a api)lication Ser-lil No. 145,389 Med February 21, 1950 in ivhich the discoiinect sw,'@tch is mountecl on the base I I ivhich is a. suitable longitudinal structural support, in this case shown horizontally arranged for -,3, horizbntally or upright mounted disconnect si@ri-tch, The base I I h-@s secured thereto i-n an3r suitable rnanner as by the ilisulator spacers 12 and 13 @vhe stationary upright supporting posts 14, 1 5 on the upper portions of which are mounted insulators 16, 17. 1,!qse II is also proirided with the bearing 20 appropriately secured tl-)ereto in ,,,,ny suitable monner as by the bolts 21 and carrying the rotatable verti-cal shaft 22 to the upper end of which i.5 keyed the insulator 23 for rotation with the ver,@ico.1 shaft or post 2 2. Below insulator 23 there is '@@eyed to the shaft 22 tlie cranl@: So secured. thereto in any suitable rcian-Tier -.ts by the bolts 31 connected to the flange or cranir, plgte 3?. Bolts 21 i,;hich see-ure the @,eating 20 i:o position also seciire the stbp plate 34 in position, the s'top plate being, provided at opposite ends w@@'th the ad,iustable stops 36, 37 i@7hich engage at either end with the stop 30 on the operating cranl,-- 30. While stops 30, 37 E;,re herein provided, the coil-strucl@i-On anrl operatio-n of my novel switch is si.-tch thpt it may operate nroperly without the stor)s at individual poles; in such case, the stops vvould be ,orovided at the operating means for the, entire switch. @7%There stods ar,, elim'inated at all poiilts, then the 9Nxii,.ch m.),y be opera,ted by crank 30 to close P.Tid then open by a single contliiuous movement iii oiie direction to establish a cortact moment?ri.ly a,nd tien break it. 9hpft 2P4@!. e.@toiicis abotre the insulator 23 as effective@,,,r a coritiliuati.on of vetrival shrft 22, casting and switch blade of this inveiition sbqw55 being, however, spaced therefrom by insulator
[2]2,673,003 3 23. Crank 40 at the upper end of shaft 22a is preferably integral therewith and, therefore, rotates therewith. Crank 40 extends horizontally or at least parallel with the base supporting structure I I and 5 rotates in the horizontal plane. Crank 40 il, shown herein as tubular although it may have any desired cross-section consistent with the mechanical loads imposed thereon. The outer end of crank 40 is flattened at 41 and is provided 10 with a circular opening 42 through which pin 43 may pass. A clevis member 44 receives extension 4 1, connection being made by pin 42. Clevis 44 is integral with the threaded exten15 sion 50 which enters into the tapped opening 51 in the forked link 52. The threaded extension 50 is so arranged that as the threaded extension 59 rotates with respect to the forked link 5 2 and its taliped opening 5 1, it has linear move20 ment with respect thereto. Forked link 52 has a pair of arms 54 at the ends opposite the tapped opening 51 which are secured to the blade crank 61 of sleeve casting 62 by pin 60a. 25 The blade support sleeve casting 62 carries the tubular switch blade 63 secured therein and rotatable therewith, The outer end of the tubular switch blade is flattened at 64 (Figure 1) and is provided with 30 appropriate contacts 65 engageable N@7ith the stationary contact jaws 66. The blade support sleeve casting 62 is mounted for rotation around its longitudinal axis on an extension of the hinge casting 70. The hinge 35 casting 70 is in turn rotatably mouiited by the hinge bearings indicated generally at 72 on the forked frame casting 73. The particular hinge bearing utilized for this purpose at this point constitutes the essence of 4( the present invention and will be discussed ii-i detail below. The frame casting 73 has a horizontal section 74 secured in any suitable manner as by the bolts 75 to the top of insulator I 6. The sides 76 extend back to the solid portion 77 which is provided with an opening 78 apPropriately recessed to form a bearing for crank 40 ancl its shaft. The solid portion 77 of the base cast' c, 62 then extends beyond to form the terminal 80 to which appropriate leads may be connected. The stationary contact 66 coniprises the pILirality of contact blades 9 0, SI on each side biased toward each other by the spring support members 92, 93 and so arranged that when the blade 65 enters at an angle to the horizontal position during the closing operation it will clear the blades 9 0 on each side. These contact members are so arranged, however, that when the blade is rotated from the open to the closed position the blade 65 in turning to the horizontal positioii will spread the contacts 90 and SI on each side against the tension of springs 92 and 93, creating the desired 65 contact pressure. The spring blades 92, 93 are current conducting and are connected in any suitable manner as bY the bolts 98 to the base plate 99, which in turn is moun'ued in any suitable manner as by 70 bolts iDO at the top of insulator 17. The base 99 of stationary contact structure 66 has an extension 101 which serves as a terminal block Or comiecting member. Thus, when the disconnect &Witph l@ @4 @he 7,5 4 closed position of Figure 1, current enters the terminal $0, passes through t-he frame casting 73 to the hinge bearing 72, then through the current carrying coiinection ir)- the hinge bearing 72 to the hinge co.,sting Tn., from the hinge casting 70 to the contact b,ade 33 then through the contact 65 on the contact blade 63 to the statioiiary contac@u elements 90, Of and then through the base E-9 to the terminal extension 101. The particular joint utilized for th-is mounting constitutes the essence of the preseii@u invention and will be discussed in detail below. The hinge casting 70 is iii turn rotatably i-nounted by the hinge beariiigs indicated generally at ' 2 on the forkecl frame cast,.ng 73. The frame castiiig 'c3 has a horizontal section 74 secured in aiiy suitable manner as by the bolts 75 to the top of insulator I S. The sides 76 e@,.tend back to the solid portion 77 which is provided with aTi ODeniiig 73 appropriately recessed to form a bearing for crank 40 and its shaft. The solid portion 77 of the base casting 62 then extends beyond to form the termi@ial 80 to vthich appropriate leads may be connected. The statioliary contact 06 comprises the plurality of contact blades 'jO, 91 on each side ]3iased toward each oiher by the spring support members 92, 93 and so arranged that when the blade 65 enters at an angle to the horizontal position dliring the closin., operation it v,7ill clear the blades 90 on each side. These contact members are so arranged however, th,,it wheii the blade is rotated from the open to the closed position the blade C5 in turiiing to the horizontal position will spread the contacts 9 0 and 0 1 on each side against the tenSiOn Df springs 02 and C,3, creating the desired colitact pressure. The spring blades 92, 93 are current conducting and are connected in any suitable manner as by the bolts 98 to the base plate 99, which in turn is inounted in aiiy suitable manner as by bolts 100 at the top of insulator 17. The base 99 of stationary contact structure r@6 has an extension 101 which serves as a block or connecting mep-iber. Thus, when the disconnec'u switch i,@ in the closed position of Figure 1, currel'it enters the terminal 80, passes through the frame casting 73 to the hi-oge beaz-in- 72, then through the curr@-nt calt-ying conne@@tion in the hinge be,,iring 72 to the hiiige casting 70, Lroin the h-iiige casting 70 to the contact blade C3, then through the contact 65 on the contact blade 63 to the statior@ary contact Ciements 90, 91, and the-ri through the base 99 to the teyrninal extension 101. The conducting J'oint which col,'Istitutes tho current carryip-g conliectign betvjeen the hinge casting 70 and the blade 63 is shown specificaily in the cross-sectio,.ial view of Figure 2. Modificationz of this J'oint are shown in cross-section in Figures 3, 4, 5a, and 5b. Referring first to Figure 2, the blade section 63 is a tubular metallic member which is extended back inside sleeve 02 which carries the blade crank GI. Sleeve 62 is rotatably mounted on cyliiidrical extension 205 of the hinge casting 79 bY the rotatable iiiterengagement of nut 253 of blade 63 with threaded part 206 of extension 205 of the hinge casting 70 as hereinafter described, The interior of sleeve 62 is provided with an annular recess 201 at the point of engagement of
[3]29673,903 5 the sleeve 62 with extension 200 of the hinge casting 70 to receive a weatherproo,.9ng gaslcet. A heavy compression spring 212 placed between one end 211 of the cylindrical extension 285 and the nut 255 of blade 63 mai-ntai-ns the threads 25@. 5 of blade 63 in cl-ose conti_nuously engaged currenlu carrying engagement on one side with the threads 206 of the cylindrical e@,,tension 295 of the hinge casting 70. In this xvay the blade 63 ca-n be rotated around lo@ its longitudinal oxis while blade 63 and hinge casting, 70 remain in close current c,.trrying enga,qement. Comparing this type of currenlu carrying engagement to a well-known anntilar contact, four 15 times the coiitact area is avai',-able where --otir threads are in engagement. 1-.',.ence the screw contact is more efficient and can be proport,'@Oned to the current corrying ,iuty and not limited by the diameter larger, etc. Thus the current path from stationary contact 66 to the movable contact 65 and contact blade 63 extends through threads 2S5 of blode 63 to the 25 threads 200 of hinge casting 70 and then through the hinge coiitact 12 to the bose ii-leinber -iS to the opposite terminal 0. The weatherproofing for '@he curreiif, carrying connection between the blade 63 and the hinge casting TO compri.ses the solid sleeve, 62, the weatberproofing gasl,:et in aiirlul ar recess Fj i and the method of securement oil the blacle E3 to the sleeve 62. To secure the blade 63 to the sleeve 62, o. -u-it- 85 able method is used, for iii-stance, that shown in the above-mentioned patent applicat;,Oii S-er. l@j'o. 145,389. An alternate pos-ition of the compression spring is shown by the dotted lines in FigLire 2. Here 40 the spring 2 1 3 is placed between extension @ 4 of thecylindri-Cal extension 205 of hinge castipg 70 and suitable circular stops 2 1 5 secured to the blade tube. The same type of close coiitinuously engaged curren'Ll carrying engagement is, there- i5 fore,obtained. A modification of th-. conducting joint is shovvn in Fig. 3. The blade section 63 -Ls a tubular metallic member v,7hich is secured in a sui-table woy to the end 313 of the blade sleeve farluhest from the hirrp, 70. One part rj,.@' the sleeve 62 -is inluernE),Ily threaded to allow it to rotate around the longitudinal axis of the blade 63. Tiese threads @5io engage the threads 306 placed centrally on the o5 hino.e casti_ng ey',indrica,L extension 30U. A heavy coinpression spring Si 2 is placed in a recess 31,0 of the extens,,on SDE- so that it e),,erts pressure on eiid 2 @ I of recess 3 @ 0 and side S 1 4 o-f blade sleeve 62. This spring maintp.,Ins the co threads 355 of sleeve 62 in close coritinuoiif,'iy engaged current carrying engagerien'. on one s@de with the threads 306 of the cyli@@idrical eztension 303 of the hi,@ige casting 70. That is the threads 355 and SOB are in the sarqe type of conta.-t as C previou,,,Iy describe@,l with refere,.ice to F,@.- Ure 2. Thus, the current path from stationary contact 60 to the movable contact 65 and contac+@ blade 63 extends through threa,@'S 255 o--F b'lade 03, the threads 306 of hinge c,,,st,ng 70 a,-,,id +.hp-ii i'O through the hinge contact 72 to the base member 73 and to the opposite terminal Oe. The weatherproof ng for the current caiiyir@g coiinections is the same as 'that described in relation to Figure 2. 75 6 Another modi-flcation of the conducting joint between switch blade and hinge casting is shown in Figure 4. The switch blade 63 is extended back inside sleeve 62 which carries the blade crank 61. Sleeve 62 and blade 63, secured one to the other, for instance, as described with reference to FigLre 2, are rotatably mounted on conical extensiop- 401.; of the hinge casting 70 by the rotatable interengagement of nut 435 of blade 63 with threaded part 406 of extensi.on 405 of the hinge casting 70. A heavy co,-npression spring 412 placed inside the blade tube 63 between the end 414 of conical e@.Iension 4C@5 of the hinge casting 70 and the transverse stoo casting 41 3 maintains the threads 435 of blade 63 in close continuously eiigaged current carrying evigagement on one side with the threads 406 of the conical extension 405 of the hinge casting 70. The threads 455 and 406 are tion solely ii speci-qc prelerred The interior of sleeve 62 is provided with an annular recess 401 at the point of engagement of the sleeve 62 w-ith eytension 0,00 of the hinge casting 70 to receive a vveatherproofing gasket. Another modl'lration of tl-le 'rlade hinge casting conducti,,ig joint is shown in Figure 5a. The switch ):)lade 63 is extended back into sleeve 62 and se@,ured to it by ay-ly suitable r@aeans, for instance, tha,'v described with reference to Mgure 2. Blade tube 63 is thre,,.ided at the end 555 to engage threads 508 of thee-,,tension 505 of the hinge casting 70. 'riae sleeve 61 has an ann-Lilar recess just a@,3ove thyeads 955. A garter spring U@2 placed a,round the blade tube 63 at poiiit 557 maintains ihreads 535 of tube 63 in close continuously engagecl. curre-qt carrying er-gageinent on both sides N-,,,ith 'Uhe threads Eg,"C of the. conical extension 503 of the hinge casting 79. This type of contact is shown schematically ;,n Figure 5c. The current therefore, flows from stationary cor-tact 66 to the -movo-ble contaet 65 and contact blade 63, then throu,-h threads ',,55 of bl@ade 63, threads 1.90 of hitige casting 70, hinge contact 72 to the baso- ine,-ciber 73 and to the opposite termilial $0. The interior of sleeve 62 can be provided with onother annlilar rece5s 903 at the point of engagenient of the sleeve 02 with extension 600 of the hinge c,,tsting 70 to receive a vieatherproofing gasket. iviodi-l'ic--tion of the condupting joi_rt of Figur(i ---a is shown in -F"igLLee 5b. Here the extensioi-i 5C,2 of the hinge c,5,st-,ng T'@ is piovided witla aniiulpr casf-ll@ig 'co maintain the P.,arter spring 913 i-,l -ItE. POS-ition during rotitioii of the blacto CB aiir3. its lopgilukliv-ial axis. Co,.iseciuentiy, 'Llh--ccads -uSO cf bl-,de 63 @ind threads r@07 of hinge castin.- eyier@s4;.o@i FQ-.4 aA!,, ir the type of e-ngagem,-nt d,lscribed iii ecnre,-tic,@i vi-,@th -"@ligures 5c Plirl 5a. The tlacle '-.8 is sec-jred to the s'xeeve 62 iii any siiita',11-, v@iay, .or thpt desToib,,@d i con, n wi@h.-Figuce 2. gas,@:e'@', pi,@i@-ed -in the aiinular re@-ess 501. of sleave C2 iveg,,'@- h.3rproofs6hc, eiirrent carryi-ng cor,tp,,@,t n-ieiiibei-s. iii the foregoing, I liave described my i@-.ivendiarqete@- of the parts a,@j determir-ed froiu rqe- 20'therefore, in the same type of cont'act as previchanical design considerations, such as making Dusly described with reference to Figure 2. einbodii.--,ie-nt th---recii. Sinee xxiany vari-ations ard i-r-od'cflcations of r@iy inventi-on will now be obviotis to those sk-'@ilod ii-i t;-.ie art, I prefQ.,., to bobour@d not by the s,)ep-iiie d,@Selostire herein coi-itained but orly by the appended claims.
