US688583A - Electric knife-switch. - Google Patents

Description

No. 688,583. Patented Dec. m, I901.

w. F. BUSSERT.

ELECTRIC KNIFE SWITCH.

(Application filed May 20, 1901.)

2 Sheets-Sham I.

(No Model.)

INVENTOR.

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No. 688,583. Patented Dec. 10, IQUI. W; F. BDSSERT.

ELECTRIQ KNIFE SWITCH. (Application filed May 20. 1901., (No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OEEioE. I

WILLIAM F. BOSSFIRT, OF UTIOA, NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC KNIFE-SWITCH.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 688,583, dated December 10, 1901.

Application filed May 20, 1901.

To aZZ whom, it may concern.-

Be it known that I, WILLIAM F. Bossnnr, residing at Utica, in the county of Oneida and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements in Electric Knife Switches, of which the following is a specification.

The present invention relates to improvements in large knife-switches adapted for the control of powerful currents, such as are employed for arc-lighting and motor service, and has special reference to electric switches which employ main switch-blades and auxiliary switch-blades, one or more of each, the former of which are provided with an operating handle in order that in opening the circuits the main blades may be separated from their clips first, and afterward the auxiliary blades are. automatically made to follow the main blades quickly and complete the opening of the circuits and, so far as may be, obviate all arcing at the points of separation.

In the common quick-break switches provided with an auxiliary blade, the spacing or 'distance between the main blade and clips, when separated in opening the circuit, is not regulated and no means are provided for such regulation, before the auxiliary blade is to be separated from its clips, as the friction of the auxiliary blades and clips and the strain on the springs are depended upon to regulate said spacing or distance. This, however, is an uncertain factor, as the constant working 'of the switch imbalances the equilibrium of these parts, and after a time the auxiliary blades leave the clips under the influence of its springs before a sufficient space has been traversed by the main blades and the objectionable sparking takes place.

In the invention I provide means whereby the auxiliary blades do not separate from the clips until the main blades have become separated from the clips a predetermined space or distance and when the retracting-springs have been sufficiently compressed or acquired the requisite tension to insure a quick and positive action to open the circuit, and to this end the auxiliary blade is held locked to the clips until the predetermined point is reached, when it becomes unlocked and the springs, which by the previous movement of the main blades have been placed under ten Serial No. 60,977. (No model.)

sion, suddenly react and pull the auxiliary blades away from the clips.

The invention also relates to various details which will be referred to hereinafter.

In the drawings forming apart of andillustrating the invention, Figure 1 is a one-half plan view ofa double-pole single-throw switch. Fig. 2 is a side elevation thereof. Fig. 3isa section on line to w of Fig. 2. Figs. 4 and 5 are sections on lines a: so and y y of Fig. 3, respectively. Fig. 6 is a one-half plan view of a four-pole double-throw switch. Fig. 7 is a side view of the foregoing. Fig. 8 is a crosssection on line .2 zof Fig. 6. Fig. 9 is an end view of the hinge-post shown in Fig. '7, and Fig. 10 is a detail of the switch.

Referring to Figs. 1 to 55, inclusive, of the first sheet of drawings, it will be understood that Fig. 1 represents but one-half of the switch, and the unshown half is a duplicate of the figure. a is an insulating-base, of marble or slate, secured to which are the hinge.- post I? and the clip 0. The blades which com; plete the connection between the hinge-post and the clip consist of the two main outer blades d d and the central auxiliary blade 6. The three blades are pivoted to the hinge-post by the boltf, provided with nuts and washers on each end, and the said blades are located between the arms g g of the post. The blades are separated from each other by a suitable space to permit the upright ends of the clip 0 to pass between them and make rubbing contact with their surfaces. At the hingepost I) the spaces on each side of the auxiliary blade 6 are filled by the disks 7 7 whose peripheries on the ends are cut away, as des ignated by 11, forming a path for the pin 10, which is secured in the end of the blade 6 and projects on either side thereof into said path. A hole 20 is made in the end of the blade 6, in which is located the cam or eccentric 8, through which passes the pivot-bolt f. The disks 7 7 and the cam 8 are secured together and to the-blades d d by the pin 12, which extends through them all. In. the under side of the blade 6 is a slot 17, into which extends the end of a spring-impelled pin 14. when the blade is connecting the hinge-post with the clip. The pin 14: is supported in a hollow case 15, whose end is screwed into the base 16 of the hinge-post between the extensions g g. The pin is provided with a collar 18, between which and the plug 21 (which is screwed into the case 15) is the helical spring S. In each disk 7 are slots 9 to receive one end of the volute springs s s, which are coiled about the disks, and their opposite ends are formed into loops, which are secured to the ends of the pin 1, which extends on each side of the blade 6.

A represents one of the pole-switches, the main blades (1 d of which are connected to similar main blades of the second pole-switch (not shown) by the insulating-bar 6, which is provided with the handle 72, and the auxiliary blade e of the switch A is connected to the complementary blade of the said second switch by the insulating-bar 2, which is located parallel with the bar 6 and is provided with extensions 4, to which the blades 6 are secured by the screws 3 3.

In the operation when the handle it is raised it turns the cam 7 and winds up the spring 3 until the abutment 22 strikes the starting-pin 10, when the auxiliary blade 6 is moved from the clip 0, whereupon the spring 3 reacts and brings the said blade out sharply from the clip and bar 2 comes against the bar 6 with a snap. a

Fig. 2 shows the auxiliary blade e upon the clip '0, and the main blades are raised away from the clip. Their position when down is represented by the dotted lines.

The principle or mode of operation of the invention is similar to the previously-invented switches of this classi. a, when the handle h is raised and the main blades d d are separated from the clip a the auxiliary blade 6 remains upon the clip; but in my invention the rise of the auxiliary blade is not dependent upon the springs s s overcoming the friction of the blade with the clip, but the space or distance which the main blades are to be raised is predetermined. As the handle is raised the disks 7 7 andthe cam 8 are rotated until the abutment 22 on the disks strikes the pin 10, at which point the cam has raised the end of the blade 6 off from the end of the pin 14, and as the pin 10 is rotated by the abutment 22 it carries the auxiliary blade away from the clip, and the springs s s (which have been wound up upon the disks 7 7) react and bring the auxiliary blade upward with a quick movement, so that the bar 2 snaps against the bar 6. When the handle is depressed, the reverse movement takes place, and as the blades are pressed upon the clip the pin 14 is forced downward against the pressure of spring S until the slot 17 comes opposite the end of the pin, which thereupon is forced upward into the slot.

Figs. 6 to 10, inclusive, refer to a four-pole double-throw switch constructed to operate the same as the switch just described when the switch opens or closes with the clips on each side of the hinge-post, and to efiect this result two auxiliary blades are employed in avery novel manner. The main blades 01 d are arranged the same as in the switch previously described. The auxiliary blades e e are placed so that when they are closed to the clips 0 on the right-hand side or the clips 0 on the left-hand side they will both enter the same cleft of the clips, and to eifect this result the said blades are of one half the breadth of the main blades and are both in the same plane one upon the other except atthe hinge-posts, where their ends are bent to opposite sides, so as to be in separate planes. The blade 0 has its locking-slot c on one side and the blade e has its slot 1; on the opposite side. When the blade 6 of each switch is in the right-hand clip 0, the locking-pin 14 is in the slot 1;, (the pin being of sufficient width to enter the slot of either auxiliary blade e or e as it is presented,) and it will be readily seen that in operation the auxiliary blades 6 and e are independent of each other. When the auxiliary blade 6 of a switch is in the clip 0 and the handle his pushed over to the left, it carries the unlocked auxiliary blade 2 with the main blades, and the auxiliary blade 6, being locked by the spring pin or bolt 14, will remain so until a predetermined space or distance has been traversed by the handle 7b, when it becomes unlocked and the said blade is brought over by the spring 3, and when the handle is pushed over to the right the auxiliary blade 8 of each switch is carried over with the main blades and the blade 6 remains in the clip 0 until the predetermined time, when it becomes unlocked and its spring 8 causes it to leave the clip and open the circuit, both operations being the same in reversed directions. Each blade 6 and e is provided with a spring .9, as indicated in Fig. 7, where the spring 5 of the blade e is shown in full lines, while the spring 3 of blade e is represented in dotted lines. Starting-pins 10 are employed, as in the single-throw switch previously described, to bring the auxiliary blades from the clips. 7

Having described the invention, I clai1n- 1. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating-base, a hinge-post and a clip, main and auxiliary blades for completing con nection between the postand the clip, a spring linking the main blade and the auxiliary blade adapted to be placed under tension by the upward movement of the main blade and to raise the auxiliary blade automatically from its clip to meet the main blade, with a spring-bolt for locking the auxiliary blade to the hinge-post and means for unlocking the same when the main blade is raised a predetermined space or distance consisting of a cam operated by the main blade to raise the pivoted end of the auxiliary blade from the spring-bolt, and to lower the said blade end again upon the said bolt.

2. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating-base, a hinge-post and a clip, main and auxiliary blades for completing connection between the post and clip, a spring linking the main blade with the auxiliary blade adapted to be placed under tension by the upward movement of the main blade and to raise the auxiliary blade to meet the main blade, with a device for locking the auxiliary blade to the hinge-post, consisting of a springactuated bolt located upon or adjacent to the hinge-post adapted to enter a slot near the end of the auxiliary blade, and means for unlocking the same when the main blade is raised a predetermined space or distance.

3. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating-base, a hinge-post and a clip, main and auxiliary blades for completing connection between the post and clip, a volute spring linking the main blades with the auxiliary blade adapted to be placed under tension by the upward movement of the main blades and to raise the auxiliary blade to meet the main blades, with a device for locking the auxiliary blade to the hinge-post, consisting of a spring-actuated detent located upon or adjacent to the hinge-post adapted to coincide with .a depression near the end of the auxiliary blade, and means for unlocking or separating the said detent from the said depression when the main blades are raised to a predetermined space or distance.

4. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating-base, a hinge-post and a clip, main and auxiliary blades for completing connection between the post and clip, a volute spring linking the main blades with the auxiliary blade adapted to be placed under tension by the upward movement of the main blades and to raise the auxiliary blade to meet the main blades, with a device for locking the auxiliary blade to the hinge-post, consisting of a spring-actuated detent located upon or adjacent to the hinge-post adapted to coincide with a depression near the end of the auxiliary blade, and means for unlocking the said auxiliary blade by raising its pivoted end from the said detent when the main blades are raised to a predetermined space or distance.

5. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating-base, a hinge-post and a clip on both sides thereof, main and auxiliary blades for completing connection between the hinge-post and the said clips alternately, springs linking the main blades and the respective auxiliary blades adapted to be placed under tension by the upward movement of the main blades and to raise the auxiliary blade from its clip to meet the main blades and the second auxiliary blade, with a device for locking the auxiliary blade left in the clip to the hinge-post, and means for unlocking the same when the main blades are raised a predetermined space or distance.

6. In an electric switch, the combination of an insulating-base, a hinge-post and a clip on each side thereof, two main and two auxiliary blades for completing connection between the hinge-post and the said clips alternately, a spring linking each main blade with an auxiliary blade, each adapted to be placed under tension alternately by the upward movement of the main blade in the proper direction and to raise its associated auxiliary blade from its clip to meet the main blades and the second auxiliary blade, with a device for locking the said auxiliary blade while in its clip, and means for unlocking the same when the main blades and the second I blade to the hinge-post and means for unlock o ing the same when the main blade is raised a predetermined space or distance.

8. In an electric switching appliance, the combination of a plurality of knife-switches upon an insulating-base, each consisting of a hinge-post and a clip on each side thereof, two main and two auxiliary blades for completing connection between the hinge-post and the said clips alternately, a spring link= ing each main blade with an auxiliary blade each adapted to be placed under tension alternately by the upward movement of the main blade in the proper direction and to raise its associated auxiliary blade from its clip to meet the main blades and the second auxiliary blade, with a device for locking the said auxiliary blade while in its clip, and means for unlocking the same when the main blades and the second auxiliary blade are raised a predetermined space or distance.

9. In an electric switching appliance, the combination of a plurality of knife-switches upon an insulating-base, each consisting of a hinge-post and a clip on each side thereof, two main and two auxiliary blades for completing connection between the hinge-post and the other clip,the auxiliary blades being oneabove the other in the same vertical plane where they come in contact with the clips but in different planes where pivoted to the hinge-post, a spring linking each main blade with an auxiliary blade each adapted to be placed under tension alternately by the upward movement ofthe main blade in the proper direction and to raise its associated auxiliary blade from its clip to meet the main blades and the second auxiliary blade, with a device for locking the said auxiliary blade while in its clip, and means for unlocking the same when the main blades and the second auxiliary blade are raised a predetermined space or distance.

10. In an electric switching appliance, the combination of a plurality of knife-switches upon an insulating-base, each consisting of a &

hinge-post and a clip on each side thereof, two main and two auxiliary blades for completing connection between the hinge-post and the other clips, the auxiliary blades being one half the width of the main blades and in the same vertical plane where they come in contact with the clips, but in different planes where pivoted to the hinge-post, a spring linking each main blade with an auxiliary blade, each adapted to be placed under tension alternately by the upward movement of the main blade in the proper direction and to raise its associated auxiliary blade from its clip to meet the main blades and the second auxiliary blade, with a device for locking the said auxiliary blade while in its clip, and means for unlocking the same when the main blades and the second auxiliary blade are raised a predetermined space -or distance.

11. In an electric switch, consisting of a hinge-post and a clip on each side thereof, two

main blades and two auxiliary blades for 00111- pleting connections between the hinge-post and the said clips alternately, the auxiliary blades being one above the other in the same vertical plane where they come in contact with the clips but in different planes where pivoted to the hinge-post, a spring linking each main blade with an auxiliary blade adapted to be placed under tension alternately by the upward movement of the main blade in the proper direction and to raise its associated auxiliary blade from its clip to meet the main blades and the second auxiliary blade;

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses, this 16th day of WVILLIAM F. BOSSERT.

May, 1901.

Witnesses:

FRANK G. SOOFIELD, FRED T. FORMBERGER.

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