US1029366A - Electric switch. - Google Patents

Description

E. M. HEWLETT.

ELEGTRIG SWITCH.

urucnxon FILED SEPT. 15, 1909.

June 11, 1912.

Patented 2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 mva: NTE! R:

Emu/ma PI. HEVVLETT E. M. HEWLETT.

ELECTRIC SWITCH.

APPLICATION FILED $21 115, 1909.

1,029,366, iat-entefi 11, 1912.

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q\\\ -;-\w- WETNEE EJEZTI \NVENTEIRI EDWARD F1. HEWLETT AT TY.

riisiilsir: smi es ELECTREC GOMLFAl NEfiTADY, ll'EW' YORK, ASSIGNGB T8 GENERAL 1, A CGRPOEATIDN 033 NEW YORK.

ELECTRIC SYi ITGIi in (If-Z u 720m it may; concern:

it known that l Eowiuio M, HEWLETT, citizen of the Unitel States resitiui at ticheucctznly, county of Sciienecl'lurly )lllti? of cw rorli have invented certain new uncl useful improvements in Electric Switches, of whicu the following is {L specili cs t-ion grounded; in which the o crating meehunis-n: of ilie switch is unitary structure which may be easily and quickly removed and glucml without disturbing the connections or oi parts of the e itch and in i i the oinrleu uion oi inois ire on the 27101 or the turn; is greatly lun- (lcrcc and in most cu prevented.

In carving out my invention operating contacts of the switch steel by means of the coare opera fluid .prexure motor which. is thoroup' insulated from ground and to which pre or is cleliverefl through column of insulating fluid such oil 7 coin/allied in an insulating tube or holder and of "h to msulzite e motor mec i i l 0 pressure on. the luztl uiuv be varied operuiiizg the liuill thereh operating the a preferred construction a thoroughly stem of metallic piping lo one e liunl ulul ill. pressed uni the pressure ol the coin- 1 nutteil througg'l' n re fluid is trans- 1 the insulating fluid to the fluid pressure motor.

in the I'H'Glti'lib. construction the insulating fluid is COAL lined in u tubular insulator which support? the motor mechanism and also iiisulules it from ground the compressecl air "le pressure fluid other sol coi'upressecl air or other iiluicl tilt column of insulating.

Specification o1" Latter Serial No. 517.618.

in" m n utor through any suitable system of reel construction all the oper 1e sw'tcii are submerged in l the trail, which is pro idecl wuicli the various parts ofthe switei :i: suspended and in order to enable the operating mechanism of the l and inspected without swiich to he reiiio" one of the switch or i the operating mesh-- "no member or fist-e 1; iii the top the lie entire out withr removing th I is which conother 35! hog fluid for transmitting p essure to the fluid pressure mechanism sus ei de-cl from the removable cap niemoeifor base plate and the fluid pressure motor is mounted. on the lower ends of the tubular insulators, the entire mechanism being so proportioned that ii; can al be lifted through the opening" in the over the tank.

W here switches proyicled with metallic oil tanks are exposed to changes of temperature, it has been found that water collects on the interior of the tanlr eh rethe surface of the oil and eventually drops from the cover into the oil, thereby clecreusing the in- "'19; value of the oil, iiicl in order to tain the oil or preventing-deterioration of the oil due to the presence of water.

My invention will best be understood in connection with the accompanying drawings, which show merely for purposes of illustration one of the various forms in which the invention may be embodied and- "to stand on the floor of the station and to contain and support all the parts of the oil .switch, the tank being preferably, though not necessarily, provided with an insulating lining 2. The tank is filled with oil to the level of the line 3 and has a cover 4 which, in the specific form of switch shown in the drawings, is provided with two openings 5 having upturned flanges which fit inside of cover plates 6 whichin turn carry insulators 7 with their lower ends projecting into the oil tank and provided with terminals 8 by means of which connection may be made with the circuit controlled by the switch.

The cover 41 therefore acts not only as a closure for the tank but also as a horizontal support for the insulators 7. Each insulator 7 carries at the bottom,beneath the surface of the oil in the tank 1, a stationary or fixed contact 9 in electrical connection with the terminal 8 at the top of the insulator, the circuit being closed between the two fixed contacts 9 by means-of a bridging contact 10 which, in the specific form of switch shown in the drawings, is composed of two pivoted blades electrically and mechanically connected by means of links 11 and pivotally ,mounted on arms or supports 12 ,which in turn' are secured to the plate 13 supported on andinsi' ated from the cover 4: of the switch. When the bridging contact 10-is 'in the position shown in Fig. 1, the circuit between the fixed contacts 9 is closed. The bridging contact 10 may be operated by means of any suitable fluid pressure motor which is preferably mounted on the plate 13 and is therefore insulated from the cover 4 of the tank and from ground. In the preferred construction as shown inthe drawing the fluid pressure motor comprises a casing or cylinder 14 mounted on the plate 13 and provided with a movable member or piston 15 which is connected through the rod 16 to the links 11 and thereby actuates the bridging contact 10. In the preferred conss'ruetion, as shown in Fig. 1, the plate 13 is meihanically supported on and electr caily insulated from the cover 4b means of two tubular insulators 18 and 19', each of -,v'nich is partially filled with insulating fluid 20, preferably some liquid such as oil, which has a high insulating-value.

One end of the casing or cylinder 14 is connected to the interior of the insulator 18 through the pipe 21, while the interior of the other insulator 19 is connected to the other end of the cylinder 14 through the pipe 22, so that the piston or movable member 15 forms a movable partition between the insulating fluid in the two tubular insulators. Each insulator is firmly closed at the lower end by means of a clamp 23 which holds it in oil tight relation to the plate 13 and each insulator is secured at its upper end by means of a similaiuclamp 24 to supporting plates 25, each of which fits over the flange 26 of a flanged opening in the cap member or cover plate 27, which in turn bridges and preferably closes the compara 'tively large opening 28 in the cover 4, the

outer edge of the cap member or cover plate 27 fitting over the rim or flange of the open ing 28, as shown in Fig. 1. As a result of -this construction, each tubular insulator18 and 19 has a cover or cap at the top and at the bottom and in addition the twov insulators as well as the operating mechanism secured to the plate 13 and the bridging contact 10 are carried upon the cap member or cover plate 27 which in turn is carried by the cover 4.

As clearly shown in Fig. 1, the plate 13 is smaller than the cover plate 27 and will easily pass through the opening 28, whilev the bridging contact 10 is so pivoted on the plate 13 that when the piston 15 is at the upper end of its strokeand the two blades which form the bridging contact are substantially vertical, asshown in dotted lines. in Fig. 1, the entire operating mechanism consisting of the tubular insulators 18 and 19 and all the parts supported by them can be lifted out. through the opening 28 without in any way disturbing the fixed contacts 9 or the connections of the leads of the ter-' minals 8.

In order. to actuate the bridging contact, pressure is transmitted to the movable member or piston 15 of the motor mechanism through the insulating fluid 20 contained in the two tubular insulators. Since in the particular form of switch shown in the drawings the insulators are vertical and the operating mechanism and movable contact are mounted on the lower end of the insulators, the pressure for operating the switch is applied to the upper end of the insulating fluid contained in each insulator. This pressure may be applied in any desired way, but preferably bymeans of a pressure fluid" of a less density than the insulating fluid 20. Wherethe parts are arranged as shown inFig. 1 and the density of the pressure fluid is less than'the density of the insulating fluid 20 there is no tendency for the pressure fluid to'settle down through air under pressur insane" fluid is compressed air which is delivered to i the interior of they insulators l8 and 19 through pipes 29 and 30, passing through the supporting plates 25 opening into the interior of the tubular insulators. iilince these pipes are sepa ated from the bridging cont-act and the op niechan sin insulators i8 and and 7} fluid 20 the .y be groun causing a ground on the circuit switch is connected and therefore the pipes may be made of iron and connected in suitable my to the controlling valve 31, which is mounted in any suitable position, as shown in Fig. 2, and supplied with compressed air or other suitable pressure liuid through a supply pipe 32, which forms the outlet of the tanlt of sutiicient size to operate the switch several times, even though no more air is supplied to it. A pipe having a check Valve 34- therein supplies the tank 83 from the reservoir 35 which in turn supplied with air at any desired pressu from the compressor 36 driven by any su able motor 3?.

Ithes been found in practice that with an iron oil tank provided with an iron cover. moisture "will condense on the cover as l temperature of the air surrounding team changes and drops of water will form which eventually fall into the oil and impair its insulating value. In order to greatly hinder this action and in most cases prevent it they, I line the metallic surfaces of the tank above the surface of the oil, with some lining which will greatly hinder the con densetion of moisture. lt has been found that most of the eondenseti takes place around the edges oi" the cover and in nocordance with invention, 1 line the cover, near the edge, with a thing 38 of asbestos or some similar non-metallic fibrous material for the purpose of preventing the condensution iif moisture and the 1 nting deteriorutiowof oil due to the ,sence of water.

The operation of the s itch shown 1'' drawings is as follows: lVith the in the position shown in Fig. 1, the switch is closed and if t is desired to open the snitch, c is admitted through the pipe 29 by means the control relve 31 While at the same time the pipe 30 is opened to the atmosphere. Compressed air entering throughpipe 2f) exerts a pressure on the upper surface of the insulating fluid or oil i l 1 l l l l l l l 1 l l l l l l l I l 5 l l l l suit is opened. ffhen it is desired to close the circuit, the control valve 81 moved into e position where the pipefi) is opened to the atmosphere and compressed uir is admitted through the pipe 36 to the interior oft-he insulator 19 above the insulating iiuid or oil. The pressure upon the oil the piston 15 downward into the po 'on shown in Fig. 1, thereby swingii'ig the hridg' ing contacts up into the .full iine position engagement wi h the stetionorycontscts case it red, "for any reason, to

examine the operating mechanism and the the cap member or COYQ]? 2? loosened (3 then the hose gcther with the insulators all tie ports supported by them may he lifted up through the opening 28 without in any Way disturbing or affecting the irisulutors T or the connections of the-terminals 8 to the leads of the circuit, and thereby inspection and repair of the switch is greatly facilitated.

My invention may be embodied i other torn an that described and tore do no limit my invention to the pret'ie arrangement herein disclosed, but aim i the appended claims to cover all modifice- "ens ithin the spirit and scope of my in x'ention.

ll'hzn' l claim new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is,-

1.. An electric switch comprising a inorohlc (1)Zlil0l', a fluid pressure motor mechanism connected to said contact to actuate it. an insulating conduit connected to said motor mechanism and containing an insulating fluid, a pressure conduit connected to said insulating conduit and containing a pressure fluid of a density different from that of said insulating iluitl, and means for at will the pressure of the pressure it Sillll pressure conduit. 1

An electric switch :VHIPIiSlYlQ u move'ole contact and a tlun'l pressure motor mechanism connected to Hold Contact, :2. pipe containing pressure fluid, means it tur -Jim; at will the pressure of said fluid in said pipe, and an insulating conduit coir lltlfitil to said pipe and to said motor meehd nism and containing instituting fluid of :1 density different from the density of said pressure fluid, said insulating conduitbeing mounted in :1 position to cause said lllSll'lnr ing fluid to separate said motor mechanism and said pressure fluid.

3. An electric switch compo 1g 2 moveble coutaot. u iiuidlpressure motor inet ni in for actuating said Contact, rhesus i'u -qing pressure fluid to actuate said truism, and an insulating conduittor meet emanated to motor mechenisn end to said means and containing insulating fluid which forms an insulating movable partition between the pressure fluid and said motor mechanism.

at. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a fluid pressure motor mechanism connected to said contact to actuate it, a pipe for supplying pressure fluid to actuate said motor mechanism, means for varying at will the pressure of the pressure fluid in said pipe, and an insulating conduit between said pipe and said motor'mechanism containing insulating fluid of a different density than the pressure fluid and mounted in a position to cause the insulating fluid to remain in said insulating conduit.

3.- An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a hollow insulator containing insulating fluid, a support for said insulator, a fluid pressure motor mechanism for actuating said movable contact, said mechanism being mounted on said insulator and in communication with the interior of said insulator near one end thereof, and means connectcd to the interior of said insulator near the other end for varying at will the pres sure of said insulating fluid and thereby op erating said motor mechanism.

(3. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, av tubular insulator containing insulating fluid, a motor mechanism mounted near one end of said insulator in communication with the interior thereof and connected to said contact, a conduit opening into the interior of said insulator near the other end, and means for supplying elastic fluid under pressure to the interior of said insulator through said conduit.

7. An electric switch comprisinga movable contact, a tubular insulator containing an insulating fluid, a fluid pressure motor mechanism mounted on said insulator in communication with theinterior thereof and connected to said contact, a metallic pipe connected to the interior of said insulator, a control valve in said pipe, and means for supplying compressed air to said pipe.

8. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a tubular insulator provided with a cap at each end and containing insulating fluid, a fluid pressure motor mechanism connected to said contact and mounted on one cup in communication with the interior of said insulator, a pipe in communi cation with the interior of said insulator through the other cap, and means for supplying fluid under pressure to said pipe to vary the pressure on said insulating fluid and thereby actuate said motor mechanism.

9. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a fluid pressure motor mechanism connected to said contact to actuate it, an insulating conduit containing insulating fluid and connected to said motor mecha- 'nism with one end above said mechanism,

and means connected to the upperend of said conduit for introducing into Said conduit under pressure a fluid of less density than said insulating fluid and thereby actutluid,a fluid pressure motor mec anism connected to said contact and mounted on the lower end of said insulator in communication with the interior thereof, and means connected to the upper end of said insulator for introducing into said insulator under pressure a fluid of less density than said insulating fluid.

11. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a rigid tubular insulator vertically mounted and containing oil, a fluid pressure motor mechanism connected to said contact and mounted on the. lower end of said insulator in communication With the interior thereof, and means for supplying air under pressure to .the interior of said insulator atthe upper end thereof and thereby actuating said motor mechanism by pressure transmitted through the oil.

12. An electric switch comprising a horizontal support, a fixed contact mounted beneath and insulated from said support, a rigid tubular insulator connected atits upper end to said support and containing insulating liquid, a movable contact mounted on said insulator to cooperate with said fixed contact, a fluid pressure motor mechanism connected to said movable contact and mounted on the lower end of said insulator in communication with the interior thereoff and means for supplying air under pressureto the interior of said insulator at the upper end thereof, whereby the pressure on said insulating liquid is varied and said motor mechanism is operated.

13. An electric switch comprising a mov able contact, a fluid pressure motor mechanism having a movable member connected to said movable contact, two insulating conduits connected to said mechanism on opposite; sides of said member and containing insulating fluid in contact with said member, means for supplying to said conduits pressure fluid which differs in density from the insulating fluid and thereby maintains the insulating fluidinsaid conduits, and means for varying the pressure of the pressure fluid in said conduits to actuate said member.

H. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, a fluid pressure motor mechanism having a movable member connected to said movable contact, two vertically disposed insulating conduits connected to said mechanism on opposite sides of said membar and containing insulating liquid in 0011- rescues mechanism connected to one of said contacts and mounted on said tubular insulator in communication with the interior thereof, and means for varying at will the pressure of the insulating fluid in said tubular insulator to operate said motor mechanism.

16. In an electric switch, the combination of a support, two insulators mounted on said support to project therefrom parallel o each, one of said insulators being tubular and containing insulating fluid, cobpeating contacts mounted on said insulators, means for varying at will the pressure oi the insulating fluid in said tubular insulator, and a fluid pressure motor mechanism mounted on one end of said tubular insulator and connected to one of said contacts, said motor mechanism coin snug a casing in communication with the interior of insulator and an actuating, member connectedto one of said contacts and movable in said casing in response to variations in pressure of the fluid in said insulator.

17. An electric switch comprising a support, two insulators mounted on said sup; port side by side, one of said insulators be ing tubular and containing insulating fluid, a contact clip on one insulator, a cotipcrat ing cont-act blade pivoted on said tubular insulator, means for varying at will the pressure of the insulating tluid in said tubular insulator, and a fluid pressure motor .Inechanism mounted on said tubular insulator, said motor mechanism comprising a cylinder in communication with the interior of said insulator and a piston connected to said blade to swing it about its pivot.

18. An electric switch comprising a hori zontal support, insulators depending from said support adjacent each other, one of said insulators being tubular and containing insulating fluid, cooperating relatively movable contacts mounted on said insulators, a fluid pressure motor mechanism mounted on the lower end of said'tubular insulator in COIDD'itflilCiltlOIl with the interior thereof and connected to one of said contacts to actuate it, and means for varying the pressure of the insulating fluid in said insulator.

19. An electric switch comprising a hori-' zontal support, a tubular insulator dcpending from said support and containing oil, a

movable contact mounted 321 the lower end of said insulator, a fluid pressure operating mechanism connected to said contact and mounted on the lower end of said insulator in communication with the interior thereof. and means for supplying elastic lluid under pressure to the upper end of said insulator to vary the pressure of the oil in said insulater.

20. An electric switch comprising a movable contact, two tubular insulate s mounted adjacent each other and containing insulating fluid, a fluid pressure motor mounted on said insulators and comprising a movable member connected to said contact and arranged to form a movable partition between the interiors of said insulators, and means for at will increasing the pressure of the fluid in one insulator and deu'casing the pressure of the liuid in the other insulator to operate said member and thereby actuate said contacts.

:21. An electric switch comprising two fixed contacts, two tubular insulators containing insulating fluid and mounted side by side betweensaid fixed contacts, a plate secured to both said insulators, a bridging contact movably mounted on said plate to coiiperate with said fixed contacts, a fluid pressure motor mechanism mounted on said plate comprising a casing, with its opposite ends in communication witlrthe interiorof said tubular insulators and a movable member mounted in said casing to form a partition between said insulators and connected to said bridging contact to actuate it, and means for varying at will the pressure of the insulating fluid in said insulators to move said member and thereby actuate said bridging contact,

An electric switch comprising port, two fixed con mounted on and insulated from sa support, two tubular insulators contairng insulating tluit and mounted side by side between said lined contacts, a fluid pressure motor n .chanism mounted on tlli adjacent ends of said tubular contacts and in communication with the interior thereof, electrically connected contact blades pivotally mounted on said insusup 'lators to cooperate with said fixed contacts and con ected to said motor mechanism to pivwith the interior of one insulator and the other end in communication with the interior of the other insulator, a piston in said cylinder connected to said pivoted blades, and means for varying the pressure on the insulating fluid in said insulators to move said piston and thereby actuate said blades. v

24. An electric switch comprising a horizontal support provided with an opening, a ca for closing said opening, two tubular insu ators containing insulating fluid and vertically suspended from said cap, a conducting plate smaller than said opening secured to the lower ends of said insulators, two switch blades pivotally mounted on said plate within the periphery thereof, a fluid pressure motor mechanism mounted on said plate in communicationwith the interior of said insulators and connected to said blades v to operate them, and means connected to said cap for varying the pressure on the upper surface of the insulating fluid in said insulators and thereby actuating said switch blades.

25. In an electric switch, the combination of a horizontal support having a central opening through it, a cap member secured to said support to bridge said opening, fixed contacts mounted on said support on opposite sides of said opening, a bridging contact mounted on said cap member in position to cooperate with said fixed contacts, and constructed to pass through said opening, and actuating mechanism for said bridging contact mounted on said cap member.

26. In an electric switch, the combination of a horizontal support having a ,central opening through it, fixed contacts mounted opening, a cap member detachably on the said support on opposite sides of said opening and beneath said support, a cap member detachably secured to the upper side of said support to bridge said opening, a bridging contact mounted on said cap member beneath said support to cooperate with said fixed contacts and constructed to pass through said opening, and operating 3 a tank, and a bridging contact capable of passing through said opening and mounted on said cap member to cooperate with said fixed contacts.

28. In an electric switch, the combination.

with a tank, a cover provided with a central secured to said cover' to bridge said opening, fixed contacts mounted on said cover on oppo. site sides of said opening, a bridging contact mounted on'said cap member 'to cooperate with said fixed contacts and constructed to pass through said opening, and operating mechanism controlled from outside of said tank mounted on said cap member and connected to said bridging contact. In witness whereof, I have hereunto set my hand this 14th day of September, 1909.

EDWARD M. HEWLETT. Witnesses:

BENJAMEAL B.' HULL, THOMAS .W. NOONAN.

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