S&c Electric Company

Walter J Hall

Edward J Rogers

Leonard V Chabala

Raymond P O'Leary

Thomas J Tobin

John C Opfer

Joel A Ramos

John M Jarosz

Chester H Lin

Norman J Stranczek

Robert H Harner

Harner Robert H

A door latching arrangement is provided for an enclosure that stores energy at each position in a range of opening positions such that if the door is manipulated to permit opening, sufficient energy is available to permit the automatic latching of the door upon closing. The door latching arrangement includes a movable latch arm which in a specific arrangement is carried by the door. The latch arm is biased to engage a projection or hasp of the enclosure when the door is closed. A latch retaining member carried by the door is arranged to interact with the latch arm to prevent the engagement of the latch arm by the hasp. Movement of the latch arm to disengaged the hasp, coupled with the opening of the door to separate the hasp and the latch retaining member, results in the latch retaining member moving to a position to interact with and retain the latch arm. When the door is closed, the hasp conditions the latch retaining member out of interaction with the latch arm, permitting the latch arm to automatically re-engage the hasp. In a specific arrangement, the latch retaining member and the latch arm include a pawl and ratchet combination that is operative upon movement of the latch arm out of engagement with the hasp and as the door is opened to separate the hasp and the latch retaining member.

Door latching arrangement for an enclosure

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

An arrangement including an insulative support column provides independent rotary and linear drive outputs for the operation of electrical switches, circuit interrupters and/or disconnects or the like. A first, linear drive linkage provides translating motion at a first output in response to linear translating motion at a first input. The linear drive arrangement is provided by an elongated, insulative operating member that is disposed within an elongated bore of the insulative support column, with the operating member extending through the top and bottom ends of the column. A second, rotary drive output is provided by rotation of the support column. The column fixedly carries a lower base member which is rotatably supported within a base housing. The operating member extends through and exits the base member and cooperates with a bearing carried by the base member. The lower end of the operating member is coupled to the linear drive linkage input. The support column is rotated by means of a suitable drive linkage attached at the lower end of the column. A tubular shaft is fixedly carried at the top of the column, the operating member extending therein. Rotation of the tubular shaft is coupled through suitable linkage to drive a disconnect or the like. For interrupters that are mounted generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support column, the cylindrical wall of the tubular shaft is cut away to provide for the output connection of the operating member to a transfer linkage without interference from the rotation of the tubular shaft.

Arrangement for providing independent rotary and linear drive outputs

A female interrupting contact for a current-interrupting unit includes a smoothly contoured, apertured pressure ring which is held in a groove formed in the wall of a bore through a contact body. A spring in the groove maintains the ring to one side of the bore so that the aperture is normally misaligned with the path of a male contact through the bore. When the male contact enters the aperture, it moves the ring against the action of the spring to align the aperture with its path. This alignment effects intimate sliding engagement between the male contact and both the ring and the wall of the bore, one or both of the latter of which are conductive so that a reliable electrical path through the contacts and the interrupting unit is established.

Electrical contact for use in a current-interrupting unit

A high-voltage circuit-interrupting device includes a replaceable container of pressurized arc-extinguishing fluid. A fluid port of the container is closed by a puncturable seal. When an overcurrent occurs in the circuit, the seal is punctured before interrupting contacts of the device open so that the fluid is already flowing when an arc forms between the contacts. Overcurrents are sensed by either a fusible element or a current transformer. Fluid flow before contact opening is achieved by mechanical facilities responsive to the melting of the fusible element or the output of the transformer. The entire device--including the container, the overcurrent sensor and the mechanical facilities--is at the voltage of the circuit.

Circuit interrupting device

In high-voltage switchgear, apparatus for preventing two switches from being closed at the same time to prevent their being electrically paralleled relative to a common bus. The position of each switch is mimicked by a rotatable cam having a notch. When either switch closes while the other switch is fully open, its cam moves a member into the path of the notch in the other cam which is blocked from rotating, preventing the other switch from closing. If both switches attempt to close simultaneously, the member either blocks both cams or blocks one while permitting the other to rotate. If one switch attempts to close while the other switch is closed, and if the one switch continues to attempt closure through the time the other switch opens, its cam continues to be blocked until the one switch is returned to full open.

Anti-paralleling apparatus for high-voltage gear

A pre-insertion resistor mechanism for a circuit interrupting device of the type which has a pair of normally-engaged contacts. One of the contacts is movable relative to the other contact in an arc-extinguishing environment to selectively separate the contacts to open a gap therebetween to effect circuit interruption. The contacts are continuously, electrically connected to respective, opposed circuit-connectable terminals on the device. The pre-insertion resistor mechanism includes a pre-insertion resistor electrically connected at one end to one of the terminals. The other end of the resistor carries a stationary electrode. A movable electrode assembly which is electrically connected to the other terminal is mechanically coupled to the movable contact so that upon movement thereof to open the gap, the movable electrode simultaneously separates from the stationary electrode. After a predetermined amount of the movement of the electrode has taken place, a latch assembly uncouples the movable electrode assembly from the movable contact permitting the movable electrode assembly to move back toward the stationary electrode. In this way, when the contacts are subsequently re-engaged, the movable electrode assembly leads the main movable contact so that the movable electrode assembly re-engages the stationary electrode prior to the engagement of the contacts. Thus, the circuit is first made between the electrodes, whereat some arcing occurs, with the resistor in parallel with the gap between the main electrodes. When the contacts re-engage, they again carry most of the current through the interrupting device.

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Evanston, IL, United States of America

Walter J Hall