S-b Power Tool Company

Appleton Electric Company

Charles Jeffrey Spencer

A fuse shield plate is pivotally mounted over the fuses which are electrically associated with a disconnect switch. The switch operating lever is connected to an interlock rod which extends to a dead front receptacle. Interfitting elements on the fuse shield and the interlock rod prevent the fuse shield from being opened when the operating lever has been moved to close the switch contacts. When the fuse shield is opened to expose the fuses, the interfitting elements prevent the operating lever from being moved to close the switch contacts.

Protective fuse shield for disconnect switches

An actuator shaft has an external end mounting a handle adjacent the dead front receptacle and an internal end contained within the fixture housing. An actuator arm is mounted on the inner end of the actuator shaft. A spring urges the actuator shaft in a first rotary direction from a first position to a second position. When the actuator shaft is in its first position, the actuator arm is in an interfering relationship with an interlock rod thus preventing the disconnect switch from being turned on. A slider has one end thereof projecting into the cylindrical opening of the dead front receptacle. The other end of the slider includes an opening receiving the actuator shaft in the vicinity of a first slot; the slider opening defines cam follower formations engageable with a planar surface defined by the first slot. Insertion of a plug causes the slider to move such that the actuator or shaft may rotate under the influence of the spring from its first position to its second position. This rotation of the actuator shaft causes (1) a locking pin to be engaged with an aperture in the plug thus preventing removal of the plug and (2) the actuator arm to be moved out of interfering relationship with the interlock rod.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Charles Jeffrey Spencer