US1177948A - Circuit-breaker. - Google Patents

Description

B. HASKINS.

CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1910.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

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B. HASKINS.

cmcun BREAK ER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 2!. 191a.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

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CIRCUIT BREAKER.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 21, 1910.

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UNITED STAWENT OFFICE.

- BRADLEY HASKINS, or MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN, ASSIGNOR, BY MESNE assremlinnrs,

TO ALLI S CHALMERS MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE.

CiRdUIT-BBEAKER.

- citizen of the United States, residing at Milwaukee, in the county of Milwaukee and State of Wisconsin, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit- Breakers, of which the following is a full, clear, and exact specification.

My invention relates to switches or circuit-breakers.

In circuit-breakers, which are usually caused to open upon the occurrence of some abnormal condition, it is desirable that it be impossible to close the circuit-breaker and maintain it closed during the continuance of the abnormal condition.

It is the fundamental object of my present invention to provide such a circuitbreaker; and to do so by an arrangement more simple and eflicient than anything heretofore intended for the same purpose.

Among the other objects of invention are to provide an oil switch structure whi is removable as a unit from its oil tank and its operating and tripping mechanisms, and to improve the tripping mechanism.'-

There are provided two -movable switch arms which are in series with 'each otherwhen the switch is closed but are disconnected from each other when the switch is open. Both of these arms must be in proper position in order for the switch to be closed;

if either arm is in another position the circuit through the switch is broken. One'of the arms may be moved away from its closed position automatically upon the occurrence of a predetermined abnormal con dition. Th1s arm may be reset in its closed position only by means which at the same time moves the other arm away from its closed position.- The switch is not closed until the second arm is moved back to its closed position, whereupon, if the abnormal condition still continues, the first arm is immediately caused to move again to open position. t,

Preferably the switch mechanism proper 'is so mounted that it is readily removable as a unit from the operating and tripping mechanisms and the line\ connections, and also from the oil tank if the switch is afi oil switch. The arrangement for trippingthe circuit-breaker also contains several novel features, whereby the switch, if a multiple switch controlling several lines, may be Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 4, 1916.

Application filed November 21, 1910. Serial No. 593,340.

tripped upon an abnormal condition in any- .one of the lines, and may be adjusted for each line separately and for all the lines collectlvely. r The various novel features of my invention will appear from the description and drawings, and will be particularly pointed out in the claims.

Figure 1 is an end view of a switch or circuit-breaker embodying my invention, some of the parts being shown in section and the switch being inclosed position; Fig. 2 'is a section through the same switch on the line 22 of Fig. 4, but shows the switch just after it has been automatically opened; Fig. 3 1s a view somewhat similar to Fig. 1, showing the switch after it has been manually opened' and with the switch unit proper partially raisedfrom the tank; and Fig. 4; 1s a section mainly on theline 44 of Fig. 1.

The switch is shown as an oil switch of the switch-board type. 1 The oil tank 10 is hung from a casting 11 supported on brackets 12 mounted on a panel 13 of the switch-board. Four rods'14 depend from the casting '11, and at their lower extremities support two cross-bars 15- on which are mounted two parallel'bars 16, of wood or other suitable insulating material, extending lengthwise of the switch near the bottom and carrying the switch terminals 17 and 17 respectively. The switch shown being a three phase switch, there are three sets of terminals 17 and 17, the three terminals 17 being mounted on one bar 16 and the three termlnals 17: on the other. The terminals 17 are connected to the line wires by conductors 18 and couplers 19, the con-. nection extending from the inside to the outside of the tank through insulating bushings 20 in the casting 11. The terminals 17 are connected to the line wires in a somewhat similar fashion, but the conductors between the terminals and the couplers, or some of them, are in the form .of coils 21, which are the overload coils of the circuitbreaker. The upper ends of the coils 21 are preferably mounted in castings 22, which are connected to the lower parts of the proper couplers 19 and. mounted on a bar 23, of wood or other suitable insulating material, in turn supported by nuts on two of the rods 14. The coils 21 are oifset someswitch terminals 17 and 17 respectively,

with which they correspond in number and spacing. The two rods 31 and 32 are journaled in the end plates 26 and 27 and carry the movable switch arms 33 and 34 respec tively, which correspond in number and spacing with the pairs of contacts29 and 30, there being three pairs in the switch illustrated. The arms 33 and 34 are clamped around insulation 35 surrounding the rods 31 and 32, the cross-section of latter preferably being square between the end plates 26 and 27 The parts 17 and 17 29 and 30, and 33 and 34 are all preferably made of sheet metal, and are spaced so that corresponding pairs of switch terminals 17 and 17 fixed contacts 29 and 30, and switch arms 33 and 34 are all in the same vertical planes. The arms 33 and 34 are double arms, their lower ends coijperating with the fixed contacts 29 and 30 respectively while their upper ends coiiperate with each other. Arcing tips 36 may be provided for either or both ends of the arms 33 and 34. The switch is closed when the arms are in the positions shown in Fig. 1 and is open when they are in the positions shown in either Fig. 2 or Fig. 3.

On the ends of the rods 31 and 32 beyond the end plate 27 are fixed double arms 37 j and 38 respectively, to the upper ends of which are attached toggles 39 and 40 respectively, the other ends of these two toggles being pivoted on the end plate 27. Links 41 and 42 connect the knees of these toggles to the ends of the beam 43, which has an upwardly extending arm 43 carrying a pin 44 engaging a slot 45 in an end of a rod 46 extending to the operating handle 47. The link 42 is slotted at its connection with the toggle 40, so as to permit a certain definite amount of lost motion between the two parts. The lower ends of the arms 37 and 38 are connected by a tension spring 48, which tends to open the switch by rotating the rods 31 and 32 in counterclockwise and clockwise directions respectively. The rod 31, when in closed position as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2, .is

prevented from turning in response to such tendency by means of a latch 49 which engages the operating handle 47; this latch may be released by a push button 50 in such handle. The rod 32, when in closed position as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, is prevented from turningin response to such tendency by the engagement of a roller 52 on an arm 53 with a notch in the end of an arm 54 fixed on one end of the rod 32. The arm 53, which is pivoted on the end plate 26,

.is spring-pressed to hold the roller 52 in engaging position by means of a spring 55,

the extent of its movement in this direction being adjustable by the limiting screw 56.

The arm 53 may be moved against the spring 55 to release the arm 54 by my improved overload tripping mechanism. This tripping mechanism is as follows: A shaft 57 is mounted in bearings 58 fixed on the wooden bar 23. Fixed on this shaft opposite the upper end of the arm 53 is a hammer 59, in the end of which a roller 60 may be mounted to reduce friction. When the shaft 57 is turned in a counter-clockwise di-.

along the axes of the coils 21. These rods 63 may be of any suitable material, but are preferably made of metal where they are subject to friction, as at the end portions, and of insulating material in the central portion; the joints between the metal and the insulating-material are plainly shown in the drawings. The rods 63 extend through openings in the bar 23 and in the casting 11, and are supported at their upper ends on arms 64 fixed on a shaft 65 mounted in bearings 66 on the casting 11. The connections between the rods 63 and their arm 64 are such that the rods may be turned on their axes by their handles 67, for

shaft 65 by any suitable mechanism. The

lower ends of the rods 63 extendthrough holes in and are guided by a bar 70 of some suitable insulating material, such as wood, supported on two of the rods 14, and on the threaded lower portions of the rods 63, just above the bar 70, are nuts 71. Slotted guides 72, supported on the bar 70 and engaging fingers projecting from the nuts 71, prevent such nuts from turning when the rods 63 are turned, so, that turning one of inch rods raises or lowers its associated nut 1. normally rest on the nuts 71. By adjustment of the handle 68 the normal positions The cores 73 of the overload coils 21 of these cores may be adjusted collectively,

while by rotation of the handles 67 the normal positions of the individual cores 73 may be adjusted separately. When any core 73 is lifted by its associated coil 21, the upper end of the core strikes the lower end of a spool-shaped sleeve 74, on the upper end of which the free ends of one of the arms 62 rest, and motion of.the core is communicated through such sleeve and the arm 62 to the shaft 57 to rotate the latter i'n-a counter-clockwise direction 1) ,to strike the arm 53. .The upper and. lower' counter-clockwise direction, and the-roller 60 on the hammer 59 strikes-the upper end of the arm 53 and moves'the roller 52 out A now be moved to the position shown in Fig.

3, the push button beingfirst depressed so that the latch 49 will allow such movement. This movement of the handle 47 is communicated through the link 46, the beam 43, the links 41 and 42, the toggles 39 and 40, and the arms 37 and 38 to the rods 31 and 32, turning them both in a counterclockwise direction to the position shown in Fig. 3. This brings the rod 32, with its associated arms 34, into its closed position, or

the same position in which it is shown in Fig. 1, in which position it is immediately latched by the engagement of the roller 52 I with the notch in the end of thearm 54.

But this does not close the circuit through the circuit-breaker; for at the same time the rod 31 with its arms 33 is so moved that the circuit remains broken at both the upper and lower ends of such arms. To close the circuit through the switch, the handle 47 must now be moved to the position shown in Fig. 1, this movement being communicated to the rod 31 and the arms 33 to move them in a clockwise-direction to the position. shown in Fig. 1 and putting the spring 48 under tension. This closing movement of the handle 47 does not aifect the rod 32 and its associated arms 34 because of the lost motion permitted by the slot in the link 42. The rod 32 and 'its'arms 34 are held in closed position by the engagement ofthe roller 52 with the notch in the end of the which case they are immediately tripped in the manner described above. It is. thus impossible to maintain the circuit-breaker plosed during the continuance of an overoad.

To open the switch manually the push button 50 is depressed, whereupon the spring 48 moves the rod 31 and the .arms 32 to a position such as shown in Fig. 3. When the.

parts are'in this open position, "and .then only, the removable switch unit may be removed or replaced, Fig. 3 showing it f partly removed, Upon such removal, the

parts carried by the cover 24 all pass upward through the opening in the casting 11. The switch contacts 29 and 30 are separated from the switch terminals 17 and 17 respectively, which remain in place. The operating mechanism also remains behind, the separation taking place in the manual operating mechanism where the pin 44'en-' gages the notch 45 and in the overload tripping mechanism between the roller and thearm 53. The removal of the removable switch unit is prevented except when the parts are as shown in Fig. 3, as then only can the pin'44 pass through the notch in the-inwardly extending flange 76 on the casting 11. At other times, such flange, by its engagement with the pin 44, will prevent the upward movement of the cover 24 and the parts carried thereby. If desired, there may be a flange 76 with its notch 75 at each end of the casting 11, the beam 43 then being mounted on one end of a shaft 77, on the other end of which is an arm 7 8-similar to the arm 43 and carrying a. pin'7 9 similar to the pin 44. The pin 79 cooperates with one of the flanges 76 and its notch 75. When the-removable unit is put back in place, it may be fastened there by means of swing bolts 80 which engage forked lips 81 on the edges of the cover 24.

With the arrangement described above it is impossible to maintain the circuit closed during the continuance of an overload. When the switch is tripped to open the circuit as shown in Fig. 2, it is necessary for the switch parts first to passinto the 'position shown in Fig. 3 (save for the elevation of the removable switch unit), and then to r be brought to the position shown in Fig. 1. If the'overloa'd still continues, the switch will immediately be tripped to bring the parts again to the-position shown in Fig. 2.

Many modifications in the precise arrangement shown and described may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and all such I aim to cover in the following claims.

What I claim as new is: i

1. A switch comprising two movable toggle operated switch arms which are in arm 54, unless an overload still exists; in is closed and are-disconnected from each other when the switch is open, means. for

2. In a switch, he combination of two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end engaging each other and being in series" when the switch is closed, means responsive to an abnormal cond1t1on for causlng the movement of one of said arms out of its engaging position, and means for restoring said arm to its engaging position only by moving the other arm out of the position in which it would engage the first.

3. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end being in series and in engagement with each other when the switch is closed and disconnected from each other when the switch is open, means tending to move one of said arms to open the switch, a latch for normally preventing such movement, means for tripping said latch upon the occurrence of an overload, and means for resetting the arm which moved upon such tripping only by moving the other arm out of its closed position.

4. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end enga 'ng each other and being in series when the switch is closed, means tending to move one of said arms out of engagement with the other, a latch for preventing such movement, means for tripping said latch upon the occurrence of a predetermined abnormal condition, and means for resetting the arm which is moved upon such tripplng only by moving the other arm out of its engaging position.

5. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end being in serieswhen the switch is closed and being disconnected from each other when the switch is open, means for causing one of said arms to move from its closed position upon the occurrence of a predetermined abnormal condition, means for restoring said arms to its closed position only by simultaneously moving the other arm from its closed position.

6. In combination, a receptacle, a switch comprising fixedand movable parts mounted in and removable from said receptacle, means tending to separatesaid switch parts when the same are in engagement, means for holding said switch parts in engagement against the tendency of said separating means, and automatic means mounted in fixed relation to said receptacle for actuating said holding means to permit the separation of said switch parts, said switch parts being separable from said automatic means.

7, In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms which are in series with each-other when the switch is closed and are disconnected when the switch is open, means tending to move both of said arms to open said switch a latch 'for preventing the opening movement of one of said arms and automatic means for operating said latch means for moving the other switch arm to closed position, and a latch for: holding the latter arm against movement from closed position.

8. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms which are in series with each other when the switch is closed and are disconnected when the switch is open, a spring bearing at each end on one of said arms and tending to move both of said arms to open said switch, two separate latches for preventing the opening movements of the two arms respectively, means for tripping one of said latches automatically and the other manually,.and means for resetting the automatically tripped arm after it has been opened only by moving the other arm to open position.

9. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms which engage when the switch is closed, means tending to move both of said arms out of engaging position, a latch for preventing movement of one of said arms and automatic means for operating the same, means for positively operating said switch arms,'and a latch for retaining said operating means to hold the second switch arm in closed position.

10. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms which engage when the switch is closed, means tending to move both of said arms out of engaging position, a latch for preventing movement of one of said arms and automatic means for operating the same, means for positively operating said switch arms, and a latch for retaining said operating means in position to hold the second ,switch arm in closed position, said operating means acting to reset the automatically tripped arm after it has been opened only by moving the. manually tripped arm to open position.

11. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end being in series andin engagement with each other when the switch is closed and disconnected when the switch is open, means for causing the mov'ethe switch is closed but disengaged when the switch is open, means for causing the movement of one of said arms out of its engaging-position upon the occurrence of a predetermined abnormal condition, and means which permits such movement while the other arm is in position for engagement but restores the first arm to its engaging position upon the movement of the second arm out of its engaging position.

13L A switch comprising two movable switch arms havin contacts at both ends, the

contacts at one on being in series and in engagement with each other when the switch is closed and being disconnected from each other when the switch is open, means for causing one of said arms to move from its closed position upon the occurrence of a predetermined abnormal condition, operatin mechanism, and connections between said operating mechanism and said arms whereby an initial movement of the operating mechanism restores to closed position the arm which was moved from closed position and also moves the other arm away from closed position, and a later movement of the operating mechanism restores said latter arm to closed position.

14:- In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end engaging each other and being in series when the switch is closed, means responsive to an abnormal condition for causing the movement of one of said arms out of its engaging position, and operating mechanism for moving the second arm out of engaging position and restoring the first arm to engaging position and for later restoring the second arm to engaging position.

15. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end being in series and in engagement with each other when the switch is closed and being discon nected from each other when the switch is open, means tending to move one of said arms to open the switch, a latch for normally preventing such movement, means for tripping said latch upon the occurrence of an overload, operating mechanism, and connections between said operating mechanism and said two arms whereby the former resets the switch in closed position by first moving the second arm out of closed position and moving the first arm into closed position and then moving the second arm back to closed position.

16. In a switch, the combination of two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end engaging each other and being in series when the switch is closed, means tending to move one of said arms out of engagement with the other, a latch for preventing such movement, means for tripping said latch upon the occurrence of a predetermined abnormal condition, operating mechanism which when in closed position permits an opening movement of one of the arms when said latch is tripped, and by movement from closed position to open position and back to closed position first moves the second arm to open position and the first arm to closed position and then moves the second arm back to closed position.

17. A switch comprising two movable switch arms having contacts at both ends, the contacts at one end being in series and in engagement with each other when the switch is closed and being disconnected from each other when the switch is open, means for causing one of said arms to move from its closed position upon the occurrence of a predetermined abnormal condition, and means for closing the switch by first moving the other arm out of closed position and the first arm back to closed position and then moving the other arm back to closed position.

18. In a circuit breaker, a pair of oppositely disposed fixed contacts, a pair of oppositely disposed movable contact members, each of said movable contact members having a contact portion to engage one of said fixed contacts and a contact portion to engage a corresponding contact portion of the other movable member, a latch for holding one of said members against movement from the position in which it engages the other member, and automatic means for tripping said latch.

19. In a circuit-breaker, a pair of fixed contact members, a pair of movable contact members, each of said movable members being pivoted intermediate its ends and having at one side of said pivot a portion to engage a corresponding contact portion onthe other member and at the other side of said pivot a portion to engage the corresponding fixed contact member, a latch for holding one of said members against movement from the position in which it engages the other member, and automatic means for trlpplng sa1d latch.

20. In combination, a receptacle, a switch mounted therein and comprising a movable contact member and a cooperating contact member to be engaged by said movable member, a latch for holding said contacts in engagement, and automatic means within said receptacle for tripping said latch, said means being mounted in fixed relation to minals, means for holding said contact parts in engagement, and automatic means fixed in position for actuating said holding means to permit the separation of said contact parts, said switch unit being movable into and out of position wherein it cooperates with said switch terminals and said automatic means.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature, in the presence of two witnesses.

BRADLEY HASKINS.

Witnesses G. B. ScHLEY, CHAS. L. BYRON.

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