US1614176A - Switch - Google Patents

Description

1,614,176 11 1927' B. o. AUSTIN v SWITCH Filed Oct. 7, 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 WITNESSES: INVENTOR Jan. 11, 1927.

B. O. AUSTIN SWITCH 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 7, 1921 INVENTOR .Bascum 0. flusfin.

ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 11, 1927.

UNITED. STATES PATENT OKFFICE.

BASCUM O. AUSTIN, F WILKINSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOB TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

SWITCH.

Application filed October 7, 1921. Serial No. 505,975.

My invention relates to switches and it has particular relation to switches for interrupting circuits that are traversed by relatively large currents.

One object of my invention is to provide a switch having relatively light movable parts for the amount of current traversing the switch.

Another object of my invention is to provide a switching device that is relatively simple, compact and economical in construction and positive and reliable in operation.

Briefly speaking, my invention consists in providing a switching device having a plurality of stationary arc horns, one of which is provided with a recessed portion, and a movable contact member having a projecting portion that is relatively movable in the recess of the arc horn.

For a better understanding of my invention, reference may be made to the accompanying drawings,

Figure 1 of which isa view, partly in side elevation and partly in section, of a portion of a switching device designed in accordance with my invention;

Figs. 2, 3 and 4 are detail views in plan, side and end elevation, respectively, of a contact-supporting member employed in the switching device illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing;

Figs. 5 and 6 are views, in plan and side elevation, respectively, of a lever arm illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing;

, Fig. 7 is a sectional view, taken along the line VII VII of Fig. 6; p

Figs. 8, 9 and 10 are views, in plan, side and end elevation, respectively, of one of the arcing horns illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings;

Figs. 11 and 12 are views, in side and end elevation, respectively, of one of the detail parts illustrated in Fig. lot the drawings; and

Figs. 13 and 14 are views, in side and end elevation, respectively, of one of the members illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawing.

Referring particularly to Fig. 1 of the drawings, a switching device 1 comprises two vertical supporting members 2 and 3 which are disposed in side-by-side relation, a stationary upper contact member 4 which is secured to a stationary arcing horn 5 by means of bolts 6 and a movable lower contact member 7 which is secured to a contact supporting member 8 by means of a tap bolt 9. ed upon the vertical supporting members 2 and 3 bymeans of a clamping member 5a and a plurality of bolts 6a. The contactsupporting member 8, which is best illus- \trated by Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, of th'' drawings, is pivotally mounted upon a plurality of projecting arms 11, constituting portions of a lever arm 12, by means of a pin 12a.

The lever arm 12, which is best illustrated in Figs. 5 to 7, inclusive, is pivotally mounted upona supporting bracket 13 by means of a pin 14. A stationary are born 15, which is provided for the lower contact member 7, and the supporting bracket 13 are securely clamped upon, the vertical supporting members 2 and 3 by means of a plurality of bolts 16. The shape of the lower arc horn 15, which is illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10 of the drawings, will be hereinafter more fully described.

The lever arm 12 may be actuated by a vertical rod or member 17, to which it is pivotally connected by means of a pin 18. The contact-supporting member 8 is provided with a plurality of projections 19 having arcuate slots 20 therein, as is best illustrated by Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, of the drawings. A spring seat 21, which is best illustrated in Figs. 13 and 14 of the drawings, is provided with a hole 22 for mounting it upon a pin 23. The pin 23 serves to position the spring seat 22 in the gro0ves'20 of the contact-supporting member 8.

A spring seat 24, which is best illustrated in Figs. 11 and 12 of the drawings, is provided with a flat portion 25 in which is located a hole 26 for mounting-the spring seat 24 upon the pin 14, between the sides 27 of. the lever arm 12.

A bolt 28, which is best illustrated in Fig. 1 of the drawings, is secured to the spring seat 21 by means of a threaded connection and is slidably mounted in a cavity 29 of the spring seat 24 (see Figs. 11 and 12). A resilient member or spring 31 is mounted upon the rod 28 and tends to actuate the contact-supporting member 8 in a clockwise direetion about the pin 12a. \Vhen the vertical member 17 is actuated upwardly, the lever The upper arc'horn 5 is securely mountarm 12 is moved in a clockwise direction about the pin 14, until the lower contact member 7 firmly engages the upper contact member 4.

When the lower contact member 7 first engages the upper contact member 4, the lower contact member 7 is actuated slightly in a counter-clockwise direction thereby. The counter-clockwise movement of the lower contact member 7 is resisted by resilient member 31, thereby causing the contact member 7 to effect a rolling action upon the upper contact member 4:. The movement of the lever arm 12 about the pin 14 causes a relatively slight horizontal movement of the contact surfaces of the contact segments 4 and 7, thereby ensuring a wiping action thereof. The contact-supporting member 8 is electrically connected to the stationary contact terminal 33 by a flexible conductor 34: and tap bolts 35 and 36, which are mounted in the contact-supporting member 8 and the sup orting bracket 13.

The ower arc horn 15, which is illustrated in Figs. 8 to 10, inclusive, of the drawings, is provided with a plurality of supporting arms 38 having holes 39 therein for receiving the bolts 16. The are born 15 is provided with a hollow projecting portion 41 having side walls 42 and a bottom portion 43. The cavity formed by the side walls &2

is of sufficient width to permit a projecting POlt-iOnfld of the contact-supporting memher 8 to move vertically therein.

The switch 1 is provided with a blow-out coil 45, which is mounted upon a core member 46, and with a plurality of pole pieces 4'? which are secured to the sides of an arc box 48.

The coil 45 is protected from any arcing action at the tip or the upper arc horn 5 by an insulatin barrier 49. A cover member and a p urality of side members 51 are provided for the switching device 1. A stationary contact terminal 52, which is electrically connected directly to the blow-out coil 45, is secured to the vertical members 2 and 3 by means of a bracket 53 and a plurality of bolts 54.

When the switching device 1 occupies its closed position, a circuit is established from the lower contact terminal 33 through the flexible conductor 34, pin 12a, contact-supporting member 8, contact members 7 and 4, arc horn 5 and blow-out coil 45 to stationary contact terminal 52.

When the switch 1 is opened under load conditions, the contact member 7 is disengaged from the contact segment 4, thereby establishing an arc therebetween, which is forced outwardly by the flux that is set up by the magnetic circuit comprisin, the pole pieces 47 and core member 46. The current passes from the contact segment 7 through the projection 44 of the contact-supporting member 8, stationary are born 15 and thence, as an arc, across the air gap to the stationary are born 5. The are will tend to move out along the arc horns 5 and 15 until it is extinguished.

The advantage of havin the are born 15 stationary is that its weiglit does not have to be carried by the vertical member 17, thereby lessening the Wei ht of the movable parts of the switch and t us eliminating or diminishing any chattering of the contact members 4 and 7 of the switch when actuated to closed position.

While I have shown my invention in the preferred form, it is apparent that minor modifications may be made in the shape and position of certain portions of the switch without departing from the spirit of my invention. I desire, therefore, to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. in a. switching device, in combination, a plurality of co-operative contact members, one of said contact members being movable, an arc horn for receiving arcs from the movable contact member, said are horn having a recess therein into which the contact member may be moved to facilitate the delivery of an arc.

2. In a switching device, in combination, a plurality of co-operative contact members, one of said contact members being movable, an are born for receiving arcs from the movable contact member, said are horn having a recess therein into which the contact member may be moved to facilitate the delivery of an are, said contact member having a projection thereon shaped to fit into said recess and engage the are born to facilitate the delivery of an are.

3. In a switchin device, the combination with a plurality ot contact members, one of said contact members being movably mount ed, of an arc horn having a recess, and a projecting member actuated within said recess by said movable contact member.

4. In a switching device, the combination with a plurality of contact members, one of said contact members being movably mounted, of an are born having a recess and a projecting member actuated within said recess by said movable contact member to electrically connect said movable member and said horn.

5. A switching device comprising, in combination, a frame, a stationary contact member carried by the frame. a movable contact member, a switch-actuating member for operating the movable contact member, said movable con tact member being mounted to move relative to the actuating member, means for retaining the movable contact member in a predetermined position when the switch is open and to permit movement of the contact member during the closure resilient means tending to retain the mov able contact member in a predetermined position, thereby to provide for imparting to the contact member a rolling and wiping action when the switch is closed, and an arc horn for receiving arcs from the movable contact member, said arc horn having a recess formed therein for the reception of the movable contact member to facilitate the delivery of an arc.

7 In a switching device, the combination with a plurality of contact members, and means for pivotally mounting one ofsaid contact members, of an arcing horn having a recess, and a conducting member actuated in said recess by said means.

8. A switching-device comprising, in combination, aframe, stationary and movable switch members carried by the frame, contact members mounted on the switch members, one of said contact members being pivotally mounted on a corresponding switch member, means adapted to effect a movement of the pivotally mounted contact member relative to. the corresponding switch member as the switch member is moved toward closedposition, said contact member rotating means being resilient thereby to permit a rolling and wiping action when the contact members are brought into engagement,

and arcing horns disposed to receive arcs from the contact members, said arcing horns being stationary.

9. A switching device comprisin in combination, a frame, stationary an movable switch members carried by thejframe, contact members mounted on the switchmembers, one of said contact members being pivotally mounted on a corresponding switch member, means adapted to effect a movement of the pivotally mounted contact member relative to the corresponding switch member, as the switch member is moved toward closed position, said contact member rotating means being resilient thereby to permit a rolling and wiping action when the contact members are brought into engagement and stationary arcing horns provided with projections disposed adjacent the outer ends of the contact members.

10. A switching device comprising, in combination, a frame, stationary and movable switch members carried by the frame, contact members mounted on the switch members,'one of said contact members being pivotally mounted on a corresponding switch member, means adapted to effect a movement of the pivotally mounted contact member relative to the corresponding switch member as the switch member is moved toward closed position, said contact member rotating means being resilient thereby to permit a rolling and wiping action when the contact members are brought into engagement, arcing horns disposed to receive arcs from said contact members, and means electrically connected to the movable contact member adapted to contact with one of the arcing horns when the movable switch member is moved to a predetermined position.

11. A switching device comprising, in combination, a frame, stationary and movable switch members carried by the frame, contact members mounted on the switch members, one of said contact members being pivotally mounted on a corresponding switch member, means adapted to effect a movement of the pivotally mounted contact member relative to the corresponding switch member as the switch member is moved toward closed position, said contact member rotating means being resilient thereby to permit a rolling and wiping action when the contact members are brought into engagement, arcing horns disposed to receive arcs from the contact members, and an arm electrically connected to the movable contact member disposed to contact with one of the arcing horns when the movable switch member is moved to a predetermined position.

12. A switching device comprising, in

combination, a frame, stationary and movable switch members carried by the frame, contact members mounted on the switch members, one of said contact members being pivotally mounted on a corresponding switch member, means adapted to effect a movement of the pivotally mounted contact member relative to the corresponding switch member as the switch member is moved toward closed position, said contact member rotating means being resilient, thereby to permit a rolling and wiping actionwhen the contact members. are brought into engagement, arcing horns disposed to receive arcs from the contact members, an arm electrically connected to the movable contact member disposed to contact with one of the arcing horns when the movable switch. member is moved to a predetermined position, and a plurality of walls formed on the arcing horn, said wallsbeing spaced to permit movement of said arm therebetween.

13. A switching device comprising, in combination, a frame, stationary and movable switch' members carried by the frame, contact members mounted on the switch members, one of said contact members being pivotally mounted on a corresponding switch member, means adapted to effect a movement of the pivotally mounted contact member relative to the corresponding switch member as the switch member is moved toward closed position, said contact member rotating means being resilient thereby to permit a rolling and Wiping action when the contact members are brought into engagement, stationary arcing horns disposed to receive arcs from the contact members, said arcing horns being provided with projections located adjacent the outer ends of the contact members, and means electrically connected to the movable contact member disposed to contact with one of the arcing horns when the movable switch memher is moved to a predetermined position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 29th day of September 1921.

BASCUM O. AUSTIN.

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