US2309478A - Operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Jan.26,1943. A AU 2,309,478

OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 5. 1941 Inventor: Arthur .H. Rau,

His Abtorriey.

Patented Jan. 26, 1943 OPERATING MECHANISM Arthur H. Ran, Manoa, Pa., assignor to General Electric Company, York corporation of New Application August 5, 1941, Serial No. 405,479

4 Claims. (01. 192-67) My invention relates to improvements in operating mechanisms, especially for electric switches and the like, and more particularly to improvements in operating mechanisms which may be operated by a motor or manually.

Disconnecting switches, when used in relatively high voltage circuits, are frequently mounted on a framework of suitable structural members at a height above ground or operating level sufiicient to provide safety for the operating personnel. In such mountings the operation of the switches is usually effected through one or more cranks and interconnecting links which are normally actuated to open and close the switch by a suitable motor drive either directly or through a. gear mechanism. In order to keep the motor clear of high voltage equipment and readily available for inspection and maintenance and also to be able to operate the switches manually from the normally safe operating level, a relatively long, vertically mounted shaft may be employed. When this shaft is arranged to be actuated by a motor, some means must be provided to actuate the shaft in the event of motor failure and also in case of inspection or maintenance of switch structure to eliminate the usual automatic motor control and drive. Such changeover features must be simple and positive so that operation can be effected quickly without danger to either personnel or apparatus. Moreover, such features must be available at reasonable cost and free from erection refinements such as unity in alignment of the operating and motor shafts, in order to be economically justifiable.

An object of my invention is to provide an improved operating mechanism wherein the changeover from motor operation to manual operation or vice versa can be quickly made and wherein the maximum safety to personnel is insured. Another object of my invention is to provide an improved but relatively inexpensive and simple structure for reducing the cost to a minimum. These and other objects of my invention will appear in more detail hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, I provide an operatin mechanism comprising two cooperating clutch members one of which so engages the adjacent ends of the operating shaft and the motor shaft in the clutch disengaged or manual operating position as to provide a suitable bearing for the end of the operating shaft adjacent the motor shaft whereby to prevent lateral deflection or misalignment of the operating shaft during manual operation. Thus, in accordance with my bearing structure for the relatively long operating shaft the upper end of which may be suitably journaled in the gear mechanism or otherwise and also simplify erection.

My invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawing, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a switch-operating mechanism embodying my invention; Fig. 2 i a side elevation partly in section of the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. l with the parts arranged for motorv operation; and Fig. 3 is an elevation similar to Fig. 2 with the parts arranged for manual operation.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. l the operating mechanism comprises a vertical shaft l the rotation of which is effective through a suitable gear mechanism 2 to actuate a crank 3 and a link 4 attached thereto. The link 4 may be arranged to actuate the disconnecting switch, not shown, directly or through another mechanism in a manner well known to the art. The gear mechanism 2 is mounted on a suitable supporting structure shown simply as comprising structural members 5 and 6. At its upper end the operating shaft I is attached to the jack-shaft l of the gear mechanism by suitable means such as a coupling 8. In order to prevent whip in the operating shaft, suitable guides 9 and [0, through which the shaft passes, may be secured to the supporting member 6. In order to take the weight of the operating shaft I the shaft may be provided with a suitably secured collar l I immediately above the guide 9. For actuating the operating shaft 1 in both directions, I provide suitable means such as a reversible electric motor l2 which, as shown, is suitably secured to the supporting member 6 so that the motor shaft I3 is aligned with the operatin shaft with a small gap between their adjacent ends as I 1 shown in Figs. 2 and 3.

member I 4 is keyed to the motor shaft :3 so as to rotate therewith. The clutch member I4 is also provided with suitable means, such as a set invention, I materially reduce the expense of screw fi maintaining it in a predetermined position lengthwise of the motor shaft. The clutch member I5 is longitudinally movable on the operating shaft I to which it is splined by suitable means, such as a key II. A set screw I8 may also be provided for fixing the clutch member I5 in predetermined positions lengthwise of the operating shaft I. Upward movement of the clutch member I5 in the disengagedposition of the clutch member I5 may be limited by suitable means, such as a collar I9, which can be definitely positioned on the operating shaft I as by means of a set screw 20. In order that the shaft I may be manually rotated, the clutch member I5 is provided with a hand wheel 2|. For manual operation, the clutch member I5 is released for upward movement from the position shown in Fig. 2 to the position shown in Fig. 1 by backing off the set screw I8. In this upward position the set screw I8 may be again set to hold the clutch memger in the disengaged position shown in Fig.

Since there is a considerable portion of the lower end of the operating shaft I unrestrained against lateral movement and since the addition of a hearing at the lower end of the operating shaft I would not only add to the cost of the mechanism but also introduce a problem in nicety of alignment between the motor shaft bearings and the operating shaft bearings, I provide, in accordance with my invention, an arrangement which dispenses with the necessity for a bearing at the lower end of the operating shaft. In order to accomplish this result, I provide the clutch member i5 with a, bearing portion which is long enough to extend beyond the end of the motor shaft I3. This bearing portion is the hub or sleeve portion of the clutch member I5, and in the manual operating or clutch disengaged position, this portion overlaps the upper end of the motor shaft I 3, as shown in Fig. 3, whereby to prevent lateral deflection of the operating shaft when the clutch member I5 is operated as a hand wheel. In other words, in this manual operating position of the clutch member I5, the upper end of the motor shaft provides a bearing for the operating shaft. Since manual operation is relatively infrequent and rotation is much slower than under motor operation, a simple bearing of this type is not only satisfactory from the operating standpoint but is also economical and easy to erect.

Since motor operation may at times be undesirable, I provide means for positively maintaining the clutch members I4 and I5 in the disengaged position shown in Fig. 3. As therein illustrated, this means comprises a movable member 22 which is pivotally supported at 23 on the motor supporting structure. This member 22 is provided with an opening 24 which is arranged to register with an opening 25 in an arm 26 also mounted upon the supporting structure so that suitable locking means, such as a pin or padlock, may be passed through the registering openings 24 and 25 to maintain the member 22 in the position shown in Fig. 3 as an added means to keep the clutch member I5 disengaged from the clutch member I4 and to prevent unauthorized manual operation of the hand wheel 2 I. This also provides a safety factor such that mere operation of the motor controls, not shown, cannot cause operation of the switches when they are being inspected or maintained by the operating personnel.

Further, in order to increase the safety from this standpoint, I provide means for preventing effective rotation of the shaft I when the clutch members I4 and I5 are disengaged. As shown, this means comprises one or more projecting portions or radially disposed lugs 21 on the web of the hand wheel 2I of the clutch member I5. Only two of these lugs are shown in Figs. 2 and 3, but as many as may be desired can be provided. In general, four spaced apart are sufficient since this much rotation of the hand wheel is ineffective to produce a material movement of the switch. In the locked position of the member 22, it is in the path of movement of the lugs 27 so that the first lug which touches it prevents further turning of the hand wheel 2| and, therefore, stops rotation of the operating shaft I. When it is desired to remove any barrier to manual operation or engagement of the clutch members, the movable member 22 may be released by removal of Whatever means are used to lock it in the position shown in Fig. 3, whereupon the member 22 can be moved to the position shown in Fig. ,2. In this position the hand wheel 2i may be rotated for manual operation or the clutch member I5 may be lowered into engagement with the clutch member I4 and the set screw i8 tightened so that the operating shaft I is both coupled to and clutched with the motor shaft I3.

In order to prevent the movable member 22 from being raised into the position shown in Fig. 3 and locked therein before the clutch member i5 is disengaged from the clutch member I4, I provide suitable means, such as a lug 28 on the member 22 which abuts the hand wheel 2I when in the position shown in Fig. 2 upon any attempt to turn the member 22 counterclockwise into the locking position. When the clutch member I5 is moved upward on the shaft I as shown in Fig. 3, this interference between the hand wheel 2| and the lug 28 is removed so that the member 22 may be swung into position to lock the hand wheel 2% against unauthorized operation. From a safety standpoint, it is important that the movable member 22 cannot be moved into the locking position when the clutch member I5 is in engagement with the clutch member I4 since the latter is directly secured to the motor shaft. Any such locking action would stall the motor by reason of the lugs 21 engaging the member 22. This would prevent rotation of the motor armature and probably cause damage to the parts by overloading the motor and otherwise straining the mechanism.

While I have shownand described my invention in considerable detail, I do not desire to be limited to the exact arrangements shown, but seek to cover in the appended claims all those modifications that fall within the true spirit and scope of my invention.

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

1. In an operating mechanism particularly for electric switches and the like, two substantially aligned shafts, means for coupling said shafts for simultaneous movement comprising cooperating clutch members on said shafts near their adjacent ends one of said clutch members being rotatable with its shaft and longitudinally movable thereon, means comprising a movable memher for maintaining said clutch members disengaged, means for preventing effective rotation of one of said clutch members when said movable member is in position to maintain the clutch members disengaged, and means for preventing the movement of said movable member to said position while the clutch members are engaged.

2. In an operating mechanism particularly for electric switches and the like, two substantially vertical aligned shafts, means for rotating one of said shafts, cooperating clutch members on said shafts near their adjacent ends, the clutch member on one of said shafts being rotatable therewith and longitudinally movable thereon to and from engagement with the clutch member on the other shaft, means comprising a movable member adapted to be restrained in a predetermined position to maintain said cooperating clutch members disengaged, means for preventing effective rotation of said cooperating clutch member when said movable member is in said predetermined position, and means for preventing the movement of said movable member to said predetermined position while said clutch members are in engagement.

3. In an operating mechanism particularly for electric switches and the like, an operating shaft, a motor provided with a shaft substantially aligned with said operating shaft and having an end adjacent said one end of the operating shaft, a clutch member on the motor shaft adjacent said one end of said operating shaft, an operating member comprising a hollow cylindrical portion longitudinally movable on said shafts at their adjacent ends and rotatable with said operating shaft, said operating member comprising a cooperating clutch member engageable with the clutch member on the motor shaft to cause rotation of the operating shaft when the motor is energized, means for blocking said operating member in the clutch disengaged position comprising a pivoted member movable to a locking position when the operating, member is in the clutch disengaged position, and means comprising a lug on said pivoted member engageable with said operating member to prevent movement of the pivoted member to the locking position when the operating member is in the clutch engaged position.

4. In an operating mechanism particularly for electric switches and the like, a first vertical shaft. a second vertical shaft in substantial alignment with said first shaft, means for rotating said second shaft, a clutch member on said second shaft adjacent said one end of said first shaft, a cooperating clutch member rotatable with said first shaft and longitudinally movable on the adjacent ends of said shafts to engage the clutch member on said second shaft, means comprising a movable member lockable in a predetermined position to maintain said cooperating clutch members disengaged, means for preventing effective rotation of said cooperating clutch member when said movable member is in said predetermined position, and means on said movable member engageable with said cooperating clutch member while in the clutch-engaging position to prevent movement of; the movable memher to the predetermined position.

ARTHUR H. RAU.

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