S&c Electric Company

Edward J Rogers

Leonard V Chabala

Joel A Ramos

Thomas J Tobin

David M Evans

David H Devonald, Iii

Chester H Lin

Henry W Kowalyshen

Buddy B McGlone

James K Niemira

Walter J Hall

Edward A Steele

James A Hansen

David H Devonald

Buddy B Mcglone

Roy T Swanson

John C Opfer

Edmund S Dizon

Thomas O Fanta

Peter J Meyer

John Urbanek

Norman J Stranczek

Michael P O'Dell

Robert H Harner

Gary J Zvanut

Harner Robert H

An operating mechanism that provides multiple operational output states at a first output and additional operational output states at a second output that are synchronized with the first output to provide a predetermined sequence of control. The operating mechanism includes an output lever that is pivoted by the stored energy in a spring and latch levers that are selectively operated to release the output lever. When the output lever is moved between operational positions, the output lever is stopped in its pivoting movement via the latch levers.

Operating mechanism for switches and fault interrupters

A switchgear module is provided that is assembled from one or more molded housing portions to provide a gas-tight volume for the housing of electrical components. The switchgear modules include provisions for assembly of various combinations of switchgear modules into a variety of electrical circuit configurations while maintaining a gas seal of the switchgear modules. In a preferred arrangement, the switchgear module includes bus conductors that are integrally incorporated during the molding of the switchgear module housing and that are accessible from opposite sides of the module. Further, the switchgear module includes integrally molded features for providing access to make electrical interconnections between the bus conductors of adjacently positioned switchgear modules. Thus, the finally assembled and tested switchgear modules with pressurized internal volume may be configured to provide a variety of different electrical circuit combinations of the internal components and are also capable of being reconfigured as desired into different configurations or lineups without the loss of the seal of the interior volume of the switchgear modules. The switchgear module includes a complete internal and integral system to satisfy desirable operating practices to deenergize, test and ground the circuit before working thereon. Specifically, the switchgear module includes an integral indicator with test feature, a visible open gap in the circuit which is readily observable externally to the module, and a ground position for the internal switch to ground the circuit. In a preferred arrangement, an operating mechanism is internal to the module and controls the position of either a loadbreak switch or a disconnect switch between three operable positions, close, open, and ground. The operating mechanism is charged and operated by an operating train that is connected to an operator control.

Switchgear module and configurations, and method of fabrication and

Operating mechanism for electrical switches and fault interrupters

Electrical switchgear module for power distribution systems

Insulating through-bushing for an electrical conductor

A multi-pole group-operated switch is provided for electrical power distribution circuits. The switch is self-contained and suited for ease of use with various line spacings and arrangements of the distribution lines; e.g., side-by-side (horizontal plane), phase-over-phase, and cable drops. The switch includes a plurality of switch-pole units carried at desired spacings by a base support and drive arrangement. Each of the switch-pole units includes a housing, interrupting contacts, and disconnect contacts. The housing that encloses the interrupting contacts in movable to perform the disconnect function. The base support and drive arrangement encloses a high-speed interrupting linkage for operation of the interrupting contacts of each of the switch-pole units and carries an operating mechanism that is connected to the interrupting linkage internal to a base support member of the base support and drive arrangement. The switch also includes a disconnect linkage to move the switch-pole housings. For manual operation of the disconnect function, an operating handle is provided. The operating handle and the operating mechanism are oriented and positioned relative to the switch in various predetermined locations that are desirable for the particular mounting configuration of the switch with respect to the line layout and the equipment pole. In a preferred embodiment, the switch includes integral dead-ending connection provisions and also includes integral line- parameter sensing and power-supply provisions incorporated within one or more of the switch-pole units.

Self-contained switch for electrical distribution circuit

An arrangement is provided that includes a coordinating input for a mechanism of an interrupter switch; the coordinating input being derived from sensed movement of an element away from a first position and toward a second position. The coordinating input is utilized to trip the interrupters if they are closed. In a specific arrangement, a stored-energy mechanism is tripped to provide opening and closing of the interrupters via a high-speed interrupter drive train. The tripping arrangement is operable via a first input to cause movement of a latch member to release the stored-energy mechanism to operate the interrupter drive train. The first input may be actuated via open or close instructions, including both local and remote capabilities. The latch for the stored-energy mechanism is reset after each actuation. An output shaft of the mechanism is connected to drive the interrupter drive train. Both opening and closing are accomplished via rotation of the output shaft in the same direction. An open/close sensing input for the interrupter drive train is derived from the position of the output shaft. In a specific embodiment, the sensed movement of the element corresponds to the movement of a disconnect linkage away from a closed position. The input from the disconnect linkage is utilized to release the latch member only if the open/close sensing input is in the closed position.

Interrupter switch with coordination of disconnect and interrupter

An interrupting unit for a switch is provided that includes the efficient combination of a molded housing and a shunt current path therethrough. The shunt current path includes easily assembled components that provide positive contact at a point in the current path at which the components are relatively movable with respect to each other. The interrupting unit includes an operating mechanism with movable linkage components that operate the shunt interrupting contacts. The linkage components also provide a portion of the shunt current path. The shunt current path also includes a stationary auxiliary contact which extends outside the molded housing and which is cooperable with a moving auxiliary shunt contact of an overall interrupting switch. The molded housing includes a cover portion having a section that extends beyond the main integrally molded housing portion. The stationary auxiliary contact is a protruding member or stud disposed from the extending section of the cover portion. The cover portion of the molded housing carries integrally molded conductive provisions for connecting the externally disposed stationary auxiliary contact to the movable linkage portions of the operating mechanism internal to the molded housing. The provisions in the shunt current path that connect the externally disposed stationary auxiliary contact and the movable linkage portions of the operating mechanism also includes a depending resilient contact or wiper arm which engages a movable wiper contact surface or hub of the movable linkage to provide appropriate contact engagement.

Interrupting unit with molded housing and shunt current path therethrough

Design for an interrupter unit for a switch assembly

An interrupter switch is provided that includes an interrupter housing that is integrally formed from insulating material. The interrupter housing defines structure to house the interrupting contacts and the operating linkage for the interrupting contacts. The interrupter housing is selectively movable after circuit interruption to perform a visible, circuit-isolating function; the interrupter housing functioning as a movable switching member and carrying a disconnect contact that cooperates with a stationary disconnect contact at a first circuit terminal. A second circuit terminal is defined at a swivel or hinge contact carried by the interrupter housing. The interrupting contacts are connected between the movable disconnect contact and the second circuit terminal. The operating linkage includes a rotatable operating member which extends from the interrupter housing. The interrupter housing is filled with an insulating gas. Seals are provided between the interrupter housing and the operating member. The interrupter housing is rotatable about a predetermined axis through the first portion to perform the circuit-isolating, disconnect function. In a multi-pole arrangement in an electrical power distribution circuit, a plurality of circuit interrupters are provided with a common circuit-interrupter drive train and a common disconnect drive linkage. An arrangement is provided to ensure that the circuit interrupter is operated to open the interrupting contacts before the selective circuit-isolating function is provided. Also in the preferred arrangement, the integrally molded interrupter housing defines a pump cylinder for cooperation with the movable interrupting contact which carries a puffer piston.

Interrupter switch with selective circuit-isolating feature

Interrupter switch

A clamping arrangement is provided that clamps a switch pole-unit (or portion thereof) to a support member. In a preferred embodiment, the clamping arrangement includes a first member that functions as a pole-unit base to support the switch pole-unit, a second member, and facilities for clamping the first and second members about the support member. The first member includes notches that each have a length that is greater than or equal to the dimension of a predetermined portion of the support member that is assembled to the first member. The clamping arrangement further includes provisions operative during or after that apply a force to secure the support member in the notches so as to prevent any movement of the support member relative to the notches of the first member; e.g., by forcing the support member into engagement with a first end of each of the notches. The force-applying provisions in one arrangement include tangs which extend from the first member and are positioned so as to extend adjacent to the second end of each of the notches. The tangs are effective to accommodate a predetermined range of dimensions for the support member and also provide self-alignment of the clamping arrangement during assembly. In a preferred arrangement, the second member also includes a notch that is dimensioned to accommodate a predetermined portion of the support member that is assembled to the second member.

Clamping arrangement

An operator is provided that includes a common drive for charging an operating mechanism and for driving a functional accessory device in predetermined coordinated relationship. The common drive in a specific embodiment is provided as a drive shaft at the output of a drive train. The operating mechanism is charged as the drive shaft is rotated from a first to a second predetermined position. The functional accessory device is also driven via the drive shaft; the functional accessory device being operated from a first predetermined operational state to a second predetermined operational state in response to the rotation of the drive shaft between the predetermined positions. When desired, the functional accessory device is operated from the second predetermined operational state to the first predetermined operational state by subsequent rotation of the drive shaft to the first predetermined position. The operating mechanism is controlled thereafter to close the contacts of one or more interrupting units. The operating mechanism is capable of immediately opening the contacts of the one or more interrupting units after closing. After opening of the contacts of the interrupting unit and when desired, the drive shaft is rotated from the first to the second predetermined position to again charge the operating mechanism and drive the functional accessory device to the second predetermined operational state. In one embodiment of the operator, a charging cam is carried by the drive shaft for charging the operating mechanism. The charging cam, in a specific embodiment, includes a predetermined cam surface that cooperates with the operating mechanism to inhibit movement of the drive shaft and thus inhibits operation of the functional accessory device when the motor of the drive train is deenergized. In one arrangement, the functional accessory device is one or more disconnects with a disconnect being connected in series circuit with each interrupting unit.

Operator for interrupters and disconnect mechanisms

A decoupling arrangement that includes a manually operable latch member is provided between an output shaft of a drive source and a power train. In a first coupled position, the latch member cooperates with slots in a tubular member that is arranged to be rotated by the drive source. A driven member is arranged coaxially with the tubular member and pivotally carries the latch member. To accomplish decoupling, the latch member is pivoted out of the coupled position. The decoupling arrangement includes provisions to prevent decoupling movement of the latch member except when the power train is at one or at one of a plurality of predetermined operative positions. The decoupling-preventing provision also serves to restrain the power train against movement when the latch member is moved out of the coupled position. In a preferred arrangement, the driven member and the tubular member each include two diametrically opposed slots and the latch member in the coupled position is received by the aligned slots thereby assuring coupling only in the predetermined synchronized relationship of the tubular member and the driven member.

Decoupling arrangement between drive source and power train

A linear operating mechanism is provided for operating one or more electrical switches or interrupters, the mechanism selectively closing the switch via movement of a switch operating member and immediately thereafter being capable of opening the switch as required. The operating mechanism includes a carriage that is movable over a linear path to charge an opening spring and a closing spring. The switch operating member is movable along an axis parallel to or coincident with the path of the carriage. The opening spring and the closing springs are disposed about a common axis parallel to the movement of the carriage and the switch operating member. A first latch arrangement is provided for preventing switch-closing movement of the switch operating member when the switch is open and the first latch arrangement is engaged. A second latch arrangement is provided for preventing movement of the carriage opposite to the direction of charging movement after the springs are charged and when the second latch arrangement is engaged. The latch arrangements each include a gapped, latch ring that cooperates with a latch member that is received within the gap of the latch ring. The carriage and the switch operating member each carry one of the latch rings. The latch members are slidable and pivotal with respect to the plane of the latch rings to accomplish latching and trip release movement. When it is desired to close the switch, the switch operating member is released and the closing spring drives the switch operating member to close the switch. Thereafter, when it is desired to open the switch, the carriage is released and is driven by the opening spring to move the switch operating member to open the switch. Orientation control arrangements are provided to control the orientation of the carriage and the switch operating member with respect to the latch member and to control orientation of each latch ring with respect to the carriage or the switch operating member which carries the respective latch ring.

Linear operating mechanism for electrical switches

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Edward J Rogers