US1790324A - Emictbic-cihctrit-contbolling - Google Patents

Description

2 .suns-sunt -1 JJ/Em'r JUSQU/5 `595/75 J. SACHS ELECTRIC CIRCUIT COHTROLLING ARPLIMICI Filed Nov. 14. 1929 J`r9 ;f:

J. SACHS ELECTRIC CIRCUIT GONTROLLING APPLIANCE Jan. 27, l93l.

Filed Nov. 14, 1929 2 Shovfsshet .2

. fnl/antw JUSQU/J /ys @y ff 'tangy Patented Jan. 21, 1931 UNITED STATES.

JOSEPH SACHS, Ol' WEST HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT ELECTRIC-CIRCUIT-CONTBOLLING APPT-:LANCE Application lied November 14, 1928. Serial No. 407,283.

The invention relates particularly to a fused switch appliance of the type disclosed in my patents for vElectric circuit controlling appliances, No. 1,754,443 issued April 15, 1930 and No. 1,754,445 issued April 15, l1930, and in my copending application and for Electric meter service appliance, Serial No. 247,730 filed January 18, 1928.

In cach of the above mentioned patents and application I have disclosed a fused switch appliance wherein there isl provided for each leg of the circuit two 'separate pairs of stationary switch contacts connected in series with each other so that the circuit is broken at four separate places. A switch a pliance having provision for breaking the clrcuit at fouror more places is highly advantageous for the reasons as set forth in the aforesaid applications, but for certain classes of'service, wherein the switch is operated only infrequently, I have found that it is entirely satisfactory to provide only a single pair of stationary contacts, thus providing for the breaking of each leg of the circuit in two places only. By providing a two break switch instead of a four break switch, considerable economy of manufacture and installation is effected, while retaining many of the advantages incident to switches of the type set forth in the said patents and application. Onevobject of the present invention is to provide a switch similar in general principles to those set forth in the aforesaid patents and application, but having certain novel features of construction which make possible the economy and simplicity incident to the provision of only one pair of stationary switch contacts, Without, however, sacrificing other advantageous features.

Another object of the invention is to provide an improved location and 'mounting' for the wire terminals for the neutral connection through the appliance.

Further objects of the invention will be apparent from the following specification and claims.

The present invention is particularly ap plicable to a meter service switch, which, as is well known, is ordinarily required to be operated only infrequently. Such a switch is shown in the accompanying drawings, but it will be understood that I do not necessarily so limit myself. It will be further understood that the drawings are intended for illustrative pur oses only and are not'to be construed as de ning or limiting the scope of the invention, the claims forming a part of this specification 'being relied upon for that purpose. v

Of the drawings:

" Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a meter service installation embodying the invention, the front cover being broken away to show interior parts.

Fig. 2 is a front view of the fused switch appliance, the upper and lower portions'of' the enclosing cabinet being broken away.

Fig. 3 is a bottom view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, this view being partly in section along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary side view of the parts shown in Fig. 2, certain portions of the enclosing cabinet being shown in section.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view taken along the line 5-45 of Fig. 3 and omitting the cabinet and operating spindle.

Fig. 6 is a bottom View similar to Fig. 3, but showing the base detached from the other parts.

In the embodiment of the invention shown in the drawings, there are two airs of fuse contacts and two separate switc ing devices, but it will be understood that the invent-ion is 'not necessarily limited to any particular positions.

Fuse receiving contacts 1 and 2 are rovided on the front face of an insulating Ease 3, and means are provided for supporting the base 3 in fixed spaced relationship to a rear support. When there is an enclosed cabinet this support may be the rear wall of the ca binet. The fuse contactsasshown are adapted for receiving a 'cartridg'eenclosed fuse such ing device which is ordinarily secured to the main rear sup ort but which is nevertheless separate there rom. This supporting devlce is shown at 4 in the drawin' s and it may consist of a singletransverse ar of insulating material. Thel fuse contacts and the base are normally held in xed spaced relationship with the supporting device 4. v

Preferably, av plurality of supporting elements are provided which are connected at their forward portions with the bass and at their rear portions with the rear supporting device The said elements therefore serve to support the fuse contacts and the base in the described relationship with the said. supporting device As shown, there is one such supporting element for each pair of fuse contacts, this being represented at 5. The Supportin element 5 is shown as being Z-shaped (See igs. 2, 3 and 6) and it has its rear portion connected with the sppporting device 4 by means of screws 6 and 6a. Suitable means such as a screw 7 is provided for mechanically connecting the forward portion of the supporting element with the fuse base 3. The screw 7 preferably also serves to electrically connect the fuse contact 1 with the supporting element 5. A similar screw 7 serves to hold the fuse contact-2 in place.

Located at least in part in the space behind a vertical plane extendingr throu h the rear parts of the base 3 is a switching evice cornprising a pair of stationary switch contacts 8 and 9. Preferably one of the said switch contacts, that is the contact 8, is mounted directlyv upon and electrically connected with the supporting element 5, which element is electrically connected with the fuse contact 1 as already stated. A contact supporting element 10 is provided 4for the switch contact 9,

` this preferably being similar to the main supporting element 5 rand being similarly secured to the supporting device 4 by screws 11 and 11a. Connected with the supporting element 10 is a wire connecting terminal 12. l have shown a terminal of the solder lug type, but l do not so limit myself.

Each of the two cont-acts 8 and 9 isformed of resilient sheet metal and preferably has two U-shaped bends, as set forth in detail in my patent for Electric circuit controlling appliance, No. 1,7 54,446 issued April 15, 1930. The two contacts 8 and 9 are oppositely disposed and are respectively connected mechanically and electrically with two sup- 17 porting elements 5 and 10 as already stated. For establishing or breaking electrical con- Z13-is preferably in the form of a flat plate, and v the said conducting contact element 14 eX- tends through it and projects somewhat beyond the opposed surfaces thereof as shown.

Ehe switching member may be similar in constructlon to that shown 1n my said patent,

No. 1,754,443. When the stationary switch contacts are located as shown, the said dat insulating element 13. is arranged perpendicularly to the supporting device and to the fuse base. The said element may extend into'a groove 15 formed in the base 3. From thel foregoing description, it will be apparent that when the swltching member is inthe onnposition as shown, a circuit will be established from the wire connecting terminal 12 through the contact supporting element 10' andthe switch contacts 9, 14 and 8 to the supporting element 5 and thence to the fuse contact 1.

l have shown an enclosin cabinet 16 of sheet metal having a rear wa l 17, side walls 18, 18 and end walls .19 and 20. ylhe upper end wall 19 preferably has an opening therein whichadapts the cabinet for direct protective relationship with an electric meter such as M. The cabinet has an openable front cover 21, which is shown as being hinged at 21 to the bottom end wall 20.

As already explained, the base 3 with the fuse contacts 1 and 2 thereon, is supported in part upon the transverse insulating supporting device or bar 4 by means of the two supporting elements 5, 5. When the fused switch proper is mounted in an enclosing cabinet, as is ordinarily preferred, the supporting device 4 is directly fastened to the rear wall 17 of the cabinet by means of screws 22, 22. l provide other supporting means for the base preferably adapted to directly engage the rear-supporting wall 1,7. While I do not so limit myself, l have shown spacing tubes 23, 23 which extend horizontally between the rear wall and the base, the tubes preferably extending into suitable recesses in the rear of' the base. lion- g screws 24, 24 are provided which extend through holes in the base and through the spacing tubes 23, 23 and which have threaded engagement at their rear ends withthe supporting wall 17. From the foregoing description it will be apparent that the base 3 is supported in part upon the supporting element 4 and in part substantially directly upon the main rear supporting wall ilhe switchingmembers are guided and held in place at the front by means or the switching membersare guided by the base 3,

- ca inet. The said spindle is bent to form a the supporting device 4 and the wall 17 and held by these parts against forward or backward movement, each of them is entirely free to adjust itself laterally to conform to It will be apparent that the base with the fuse'contacts thereon is readily detachable without disturbing the switch contacts. The

base may be removed as shown in Fig. 6, by loosening the screws 7, 7 and 24, 24. Rcmoval of the base permits more complete access to the switch parts for inspection, cleaning or adjustment. Inasmuch as the reciprocating switching members are guided and held in .place at the front by means of the base, it will.be apparent that when the base is removed, the said switching members the positions of the corresponding stationary\ may also be independently removed in the switch contacts.

For operating the switching members there isprovided a spindle having-two ivot sections 26 and 27 extending through earin openings in the side walls 18, 18 of the manually operable handle 28 outside of the cabinet and also to form a crank section -29 lowermost positions thus completing the cir-v cuit through the switch and fuse contacts as described. When the handle 28 is moved to its lowermost position, the switching members will be moved to their uppermost positions, as shown by dot-and-dash lines in Fig. 4, thus separating the movable contacts 14 from the stationary contacts 8 and 9 and thus breaking each leg of the circuit at two places as already fully described.

The sup ortin device 4 together with the base 3 an all o the partsv directly carried thereby constitute a unit which may be assembled with or disassembled from the en closing cabinet. VThe open ended slots 30 in the insulating elements of the switching members make it possible foi` the said switch members to be readily engaged with or disengaged from the cranked section 29 of the operating spindle.

While the reciprocating switching members may ordinarily be regarded as constituting parts of the removable fused switch unit, they are nevertheless easily removable therefrom or assembled therewith when the unit is separate from the cabinet and operating spindle. This will be apparent from an inspection of Fig. 5 which shows in dot-anddash lines an intermediate position which is assumed by each switching member as it is assembled with or removed from the other parts of the fused switch unit.

referably open at forward direction.

In order that access may be had to the fuses when the main front cover 21 of the cabinet is closed, the said cover is provided with an opening therein through which the fuses are accessible. In order to prevent access tothe fuses through the said opening except when the circuit is broken there is provided an auxiliary cover 31 which is so related to the handle that the cover can be opened only when the handle is in switch opening position and so that the handle cannot be moved to switch closing position when the cover is open. The details of the cover and handle construction form no part of the present invention being covered by my patents for Enclosed fused switches, Nos. 1,721,493, 1,721,494 and 1,721,495, all issued J uy 16, 1929. Y

or an appliance of the character described, it may be desired to provide a nonfused and non-switching connection for the wires constituting the neutral leg of the circuit. VFor the sake of simplicity and convenience I provide terminals for the neutral wires mounted directly upon the before-mentioned insulating supporting device 41 When the appliance is adapted for use with a three wire circuit, the neutral terminals may be located at or near the center between the stationary switch contacts of the two pairs. I have shown the supporting device 4 as provided with a central forward extension 4. Mounted on this extension are two wire terminals 32 and 33 which are electrically connected together, being held -in place by a 'screw 34 and nut 342.

In addition to the parts'already described, I may provide means for facilitating the testing of the meter. The details of the. testing means may be varied according to the conditions of use. For three wire service I preferably p-rovide testing means for each of two legs of the circuit, each means comprising at c least one movable test link adapted to be' in- Ordinarily `and preferably, the incoming circuit Wires S, S are connected with the terminals 12, l2 and as shown a neutral wire S "is connected with the terminal 32. The circuit extends from the terminals l2, 12, through the switch and fuse parts in the manner already described to terminals 35, 35 on the base extensions 3', 3, preferablynear the tops thereof. The said terminals 35, 35 are indirectly connected with the outgoing or 37on the base extensions 3, 3, andthe neutral load wire L is connected with the terminal 33. Vrllie said terminals 37, 3? are connected respectively with the terminals 36, 36 by means ci movable testing links 38, 33. As illustrated the links 33, 33 are entirely removable, but this is not essential. 'lhe- testing links 33, 33 as shown are ci a well known construction, each link being slotted near its ends and thus adapted to receive studs 39 and 40 connected respectively with the corre.- sponding terminals 36 and 37.' Each link has an insulating handle 33. lt will be seen that by removing the links 33, 33 the circuit may be broken between the said terminals 33, 36 and 37, 37. Y

Preferably, in addition to the testing links 33, 33 l provide other similar links 4l, 4l interposed between the fuse contacts 2,2 and the terminals 35, 35. At the back ci the base at the side thereoi is located a transverse con ductor strap 42. At the inner end eachstrap is engaged bythe screw 'la which holds the fuse contact 2 in place, the screw serving as an electrical connection between the contact and the strap. At the outer end each strap is engaged by a screw or stud 43. The correspending testing link il is connected with the stud 43 and with a similar stud 44 connected with the terminal 35.

ln addition to the removable links 33, 38 and 4l, 4l l provide contacts adapted for the attachment of icy-passing connections from the iiuse contacts 2, 2 to the terminals 37, 3'?. For this purpose, l provide at each side studs45 and 46 electrically connected respectively with the strap 4l and. the terminal 37. Links`47, 4'? may be provided as shown in dot-and-dash lines in 1rlig.. 3 for connecting the said studs 45, 45V and 46, 46. llt will be seen that when the links 47, 47 are in place, the circuit will extenddirectly through the switch and inse to the 4load terminals 37, 37. lt is then possible to either partly or entirely disconnect the meter and electrically free the terminals thereof by removing some or allof the links 38, 38 and 41 4l.

2llie- several studs 39, 40, 43 and 44 are adapted to serve as test contacts for the attachment of instrument leads and the like which may be needed for the purpose of testing the meter. Preferably a test contact 48 is connected with the neutral terminals 32 and'33 for a similar purpose.

What I claim is i. In a fused switch a pliance, the combination ci a rear insulating supporting device adapted to be secured to a rear supporting wall, an insulating base in iront ci the supporting device and spaced therefrom, means carried by the supporting device and serving to partly support the base, .other means adapted to directly engage the rear supporting wall and also serving'to partly support the base, a pair ci fuse contacts on the base, a pair oi stationary switch contacts at the iront ci the supporting device and behind the plane ci the rear tace ci? the base, one ci them being normally electrically connected with one ot the 'fuse contacts, and a switching member rectilinearly movable between the said switch contacts and parallelly with the rear lace oi the base, the said inemlber comprisingan insulating element and contact element carried by the insulatin element and having contact laces respectively adapted upon rectilinear movement to engage and disengage the stationary switch cona tacts to make and break electrical connection between them. A

2. ln a :fused switch appliance, the combination oi a rear insulating supporting device adapted to be secured to a rear supporting wall, an insulating base in iront oi the supporting device and spaced therefrom, means carried by the supporting device and detachably connected with the base for 'partly supporting it, other means serving to detachably connect the base with the rear supporting wall, a pair ci fuss contacts on the base, a pair ci stationary switch contacts at the iront ci the supporting device and behind the plane ci the rear face or" the base, one ci them being normally electrically connectedwith one ci the inse contacts, and a switching member rectilinearly movable between the said switch contacts and parallelly with the rear 'lace ci the base, the said member comprising an insulating element and a contact element carried by the insulating element, and having contact faces respectivelyadapted upon rectilinear movement to engage and disengage the stationary switch contacts to make and break electrical connection between them.

3. in a fused switch appliance, the combi- `nation oiga rear insulating supporting device and spaced forward therefrom, a pair oiv lili isc

stationary switcn cont-acts carried directly .by the supporting device adjacent the front face thereof and behind a plane through the rear parts of the fuse contacts, one of the switch contacts bein normally electrically connected with one o the fuse contacts, and a switching member rectilinearly movable behind the said plane through the rear parts of the fuse contacts and having guiding engagement at the rear with the supporting device and also with the rear supporting wall, the said switching member being adapted upon rectilinear movement to engage and disengage at least one of the stationary switch contacts -to make and break electrical connectionv between them. f 4

4. In a fused switch appliance, the combination of a rear insulating supporting device c adapted to be secured to a rear supporting wall, a base carried at least in part by the supporting device and spaced forward therefrom, a pair of stationary fuse contacts on the base at the front thereof, a pair of4 stationary switch contacts carried directly by the supporting device adjacent the front face thereof and behind the plane of the rear face of the base, one of the switch contacts being normally electrically connected with one of the fuse contacts, and a switching member rectilinearly movable behind the said plane through the rear parts of the fuse contacts and `"having guiding engagement at the front with the base and at the rear with the supporting device and also with the rear supporting wall, the said switching member being adapted upon rectilinear movement to engage and disengage at least one of the stationary switch contacts to make and 'break electrical connection between them.

5. In a fused switch appliance, the combiing wall, two transversely spaced pairs of stationary fuse contacts carried at least in part by the supporting device and spaced forward therefrom, two transversely spaced pairs of stationary switch contacts lcarried directly by the supporting deviceadjacent the front face thereof and behind a plane through the rear parts of the fuse contacts, one of the switch contacts of each pair being normally electrically connected with one of the fuse contacts of the corresponding pair, two switching members rectilinearly movable behind the said plane through therear parts of the fuse contacts, the said switching members nation of a rear insulating supporting device 'Y adapted to be secured to a rear supporting wall, a pair of stationary fuse contacts carried at least in part b the supporting device and spaced forward t erefrom, a pair of stationary switch contacts carried directly by the supporting device adjacent the front face thereof and behind a plane through the rear parts of the fuse contacts, one of theswitch contacts being normally electrically connected with one of the fuse contactsa switchin member rectilinearly movable behind the sai plane through the rear parts of the ,fuse contacts and adapted upon rectilinear movement to engage and kdisengage at least one of the stationary switch contacts to make and break electrical connection between them, and two electrically connected wire terminals on the supporting device electrically separate from the said switch contacts and adapted for the separate attachment of two wires forming a neutral circuitv connection.

6. In a fused switch appliance, the combination of a rear insulating supporting device adapted to be secured to a rear support-

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