S&c Electric Company

Joel A Ramos

Edward J Rogers

Thomas J Tobin

Leonard V Chabala

Roy T Swanson

David M Evans

Henry W Scherer

Bruce A Biller

Thomas O Fanta

Walter J Hall

Chester H Lin

Joseph P Moninski

Peter J Meyer

James Fargo

James F Fargo

An arrangement is provided for the overall handling of removable controls for an electrical device including the installation and removal of controls from a base or other housing portion of the overall device, e.g. an overhead switch utilized in electrical power distribution/transmission. The arrangement includes facilities for selectively securing or releasing the controls with respect to cooperating housing portions of the device. An operating member is provided with provisions for cooperating with the controls for securing and releasing the control with respect to the operating member. In a preferred arrangement, the controls have separate control functions.

Arrangement for removable control elements

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

An arrangement for locking the disconnect linkage of a high-voltage switch is provided that includes two relatively movable locking members that are each moved between locked and unlocked positions in response to operation of the disconnect linkage. As the disconnect linkage is moved to an opened position, the two locking members are moved into relative overlapping alignment to receive a blocking member to prevent movement of the disconnect linkage. One locking member is carried by the disconnect linkage and the second member is carried by a pivotally mounted support arm that is affixed to the disconnect linkage so as to move therewith. Accordingly, the second locking member does not encroach on the space adjacent the disconnect linkage except when it is moved into alignment in the opened position. The support arm that carries the second locking member is arranged to guide the disconnect linkage and prevents undesirable movement of the disconnect linkage due to transverse forces on the disconnect linkage during movement between the opened and closed positions.

Locking arrangement for disconnect switch

A durable polymeric bearing is provided for a rotatable support insulator. The bearing is of sufficient conductivity to permit the flow of leakage current and capacitive charging current through the bearing. Thus, tracking across and/or deterioration of the bearing is avoided since insufficient voltage is developed across the bearing to cause any deleterious effects.

Support arrangement for a rotatable insulator

A multi-pole group-operated switch configuration is provided for electrical distribution circuits. The switch configuration includes integral arrangements for sensing circuit parameters and supplying power for a switch operator of the switch configuration. The switch configuration includes a plurality of switch-pole units. In accordance with desired characteristics and features, one or more of the switch-pole units includes an integral current-sensing device, an integral voltage-sensing device, or an integral combination voltage and current-sensing device. The voltage-sensing device also provides operating power to power a switch operator and charge the batteries of the switch configuration.

Switch configuration with integral sensing and power supply apparatus

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

Interrupter switch with selective circuit-isolating feature

Design for an interrupter switch with current-sensing feature

Interrupter switch with circuit-parameter sensing features

A switch operator is provided that is capable of field retrofit installation by being affixed to manually operable switchgear to provide power operation thereof. The switch operator includes provisions for connecting the drive output of the switch operator to a switch-operating shaft of a manually operable switch within the switchgear. The drive output provisions of the switch operator include a selectively operable decoupling arrangement which is operable without the need for tools. The switch operator also provides for manual operation without the need for decoupling or the disconnection of parts. The drive output of the switch operator is defined at an output shaft of a motor/gear train. Two coaxially arranged levers, an operator drive lever and a switch drive lever, are selectively coupled to transmit the drive output of the switch operator to the switch-operating shaft. A manual drive connection is affixed to the output shaft which is rotatable to provide manual operation via a handle. The handle may be the same handle that is utilized for manual operation of the switch without the provision of the switch operator.

Switch operator for switchgear

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.

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 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

A manual operating handle assembly for an enclosed switch includes a walled frame which resides within the switch enclosure and rotatably mounts a shaft. A sprocket on the shaft turns therewith to move a chain coupled to another sprocket which operates the switch or a stored-energy operator therefor. A pair of arms keyed to the shaft mounts a handle for longitudinal sliding movement toward the shaft and into the frame, and away from the shaft and out of the frame. Rotation of the handle between extreme rotative locations rotates the arms and the shaft. A contoured surface within the frame interferes with the handle in its extreme rotative locations when it is within the frame to prevent rotation thereof. Only if the handle is first slid out of the frame does it clear the surface for rotation between its extreme rotative locations. When the handle is between its extreme rotative locations, it cannot be slid into the frame due to interference of the contoured surface. The handle may be locked when it is in either extreme rotative location and within the frame, whereat it presents a low profile, is shielded from the elements, and is virtually pryproof and vandal-proof.

Growing community of inventors

Chicago, IL, United States of America

Joel A Ramos