US1612348A - Switch box - Google Patents

Description

H. G. BAXTER SWITCH BOX Filed Sept. 25, 1919 Dec. 28 1926.

H Af A ATTORNEY Patented Dec. 28, 1.926.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD G. BAXTER, OF BALDWIN, NEW YORK. ASSIGNOR. BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC 85 MANUFACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

SWITCH BOX.

Application filed September 25, 1919. Serial No. 326,217.

My invention relates to switch boxes and particularly to safety switch boxes.

One object of my invention is to provide a safety switch box that shall have means b for ensuring that the fuses may be replaced with safety, irrespective of the connections of the box to the circuit.

Another object of my invention is to provide a simple, eii'ective and inexpensive interlockino' device for a switch box of the above indicated character. In practicing my invention, I provide a base portion and an outwardly extending front portion of rectangular shape. A receptacle is slidably mounted in the outwardl extending portion and has, on the inner ce thereof, contact members for co-operating with stationary contact members in the base portion of the switch box. Fuses are mounted in the receptacle in such positions as to be exposed when the door to t-he outwardly extending portion is open. A lever arm is provided for moving the receptacle to the open-'circuit position of the switch, and the door is provided with a cam member that is adapted to extend through two registering openings in the outwardly extending portion and the receptacle only when the receptacle is in the open position of the switch. In other words, the door may be opened only when the switch is open to permit thefuses to be replaced with safety. It will be seen that, since the fuse is entirely disconnected from the circuit when the switch is opened, it may be replaced with safety, irrespective of the connection of the switch box to the circuit. With this form of construction, the switch cannot be closed so long as the door is open, and the door cannot be opened so long as the switch is closed.

Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings is a side.view, partially in section and partially in elevation, of a switch box embodying my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the switch box shown in Fig. 1, and Fig. 3 is a side view, partially in elevation and partially in section, of the switch box shown in Fig. 1, in the open. position of the switch. A switch box 1 comprises, in general, a base portion 2 of rectangular shapev having a cover 3 that is so formed as to constitute, at its central portion, an outwardly extending portion 4 of rectangular shapel The outwardly extending portion 4 is provided with a door 5 and contains a receptacle 6 that is slidably mounted therein.

Two lever arms 7-7 are pivotally mounted ou the cover 3 at the respective sides of the portion 4 and are provided with a handle 9 for actuating the same. The portion 4 has slots 1() in the sides thereof through which pins 11, that are mounted in the sides of the receptacle 6, extend to the lever arms 7. The lever arms 7 are provided `with slots 12 to permit a lost-motion connection to the pins 11. By this arrangement, the receptacle 6 may be moved in the outwardly extending portion 4 of the switch box.

An insulating member 13 is disposed in the base portion oi. the switch box 2 and is provided with stationary Contact members 14 that are connected to load conductors 15 and 16. An insulating member 17 is disposed in the base of the receptacle 6 and hasV contact members 18 on one face thereof and fuses 19 on the other face thereof. The fuses are connected between the respective contact members 18 in order that. when the contact members 18 are in engagement with the Contact members 14, the fuses 19 may be connected in circuit with the conductors 15 and 16. In order to open or close the circuit, it is merely necessary to actuate 'the handle 9 to thus actuate the receptacle 6.

The door 5 of the portion 4 is provided with a cam portion 2O at its hinged end. The outwardly-extending portion 4 -is provided with an opening 21 and the receptacle 6 is also provided with an opening 22 that are adapted to register only when the contact members 14 and 18 are separated and the receptacle 6 is in the position shown in Fig. 3. In this position, the cam member 20 is adapted to pass through the re 'stering openings 21 and 22 to permit the oor 5 to be opened. When the door 5 is in its open position, the contact members 14 and 18 cannot be closed and, when the contact members 14 and 18 are engaged, the door 5 can- 100 not be opened. A projection 23 is mounted on the lever arm 7, and a corresponding projection 24 is mounted on the side of the portion 4. These projections have openings 25 therein to receive a padlock to lock the 105 switch in its open position when desired.

The outwardly-extending portion 4 is provided with a projection Q6 that extends through an opening 27 in the door 5 to receive a seal 28 when it is desired to seal the door 5 in its closed position.

Since the contact members 18 are mounted on a slidable member which is accurately positioned in the outwardly-extending portion of the box, it will be seen that accurate alineme-nt of the contact members may be easily effected and, since, with this construction. it is necessary to use only the simple interlock 20, it will be understood that the switch box may be inexpensive to construct and effective in its operation.

While I have shown a preferred form ot myvinvention, it will be understood that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit'und scope of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

l claim as my invention 1. The combination with a casing having a base portion and an outwardly extending portion havin@ an opening therein, of a receptacle slidably mounted in the outwardly extending portion and closing access to the base portion, an insulating member in the bottom of the slidable receptacle, switch members mounted in the base portion ot' the casing, co-operating switch members mounted on one side of the insulating member, a fuse mounted on the other side ot the insulating member, a door for the outwardly extending portion of the casing, means for sliding the receptacle outwardly, and means mounted on the door for interlocking with the sliding receptacle.

2. The combination with a casing having a base portion and an outwardly extending portion, of a slidable member in the outwardly extending portion, contact members mounted on the base portion and on one side of the slidablel member, a fuse mounted in the slidable member, a door for the outwardly extending ortion having a cam portion that exten s through openings in the casing and the slidable member when the contact'members are separated.

3. The combination with a casing having u base portion and an outwardly extending portion, of a slidable member in the outwardly extending portion, contact members mounted on the base portion and on one side of the slidable member, a fuse mounted in the slidable member, a door for the out-4 wardly extending' portion having a cam portion that extends through openings in the casing and thci slidable member only when the slidable member is in such position that the contact members are separated.

4. A switch box comprising a easing having a base and an outwardly extending front portion, a slidable receptacle disposedin the front portion, a switch disposed between the base and the unexposed side ot the slidable receptacle, a fuse within the receptacle, a door .for the front portion ot' the casing buv ing a projection thereon that is adapted to extend through' two registering openings in ,between the slidable member and the base portion, a fuse disposed on the slidable member, vmeans tor actuating the slidable member to open the switch, and a door. for the front portion adapted to be held in its closed position so long as the slidable member is in the closed position of the switch.

6. A switch box comprising a casing hav- .ing a base portion and an outwardly extending front portion of reduced cross-sectional area, a closely fitting slidable member disposed in the front portion, a switch disposed between the slidable member and the base portion, a fuse disposed on the slidable member, means for actuating the slidable member to open the switch, and a door for the front portion to permit access to the fuse only when the slidable member is in the open position of the switch.

7. A switch box comprising a casing hav#` ing a base portion and an outwardly extending front portion `of reducedcross-sectional area, a closely fitting slidable member disposed in the front portion, a switch disposed between the slidable member and the base portion, a fuse disposed on the slidable member, means for actuating the slidable member to open the switch, a door for the front portion, and means mounted on the door for preventing the closure of the switch so long as the door is open.

8. A switch box comprising a housing, switch members adjacent the bottom thereof, a detachable cover for the housing having a compartment opposite the switch members, a fuse carrier slidably mounted in the compartment and movable toward the said switch member and means mounted upon the cover for moving the said carrier.

9. The combination with a housing having switch members adjacent the bottom thereof, of a cover for the housing having a compartment opposite the switch members and provided with an opening, a fuse carried within the compartment and having a switch terminal on the inner side and a fuse on the outer side of the carrier and being movable to closed position in a direction toward the bottom ot the housing, a second cover for the compartment and means for interlocking the second cover with the carrier whereby opening movement of the second cover is precluded so long as the carrier is in closed position.

10; The combination with a housing having switch members adjacent the bottom thereof, of a cover for the housing having a compartment opposite the switch members and provided with an opening, a fuse carried within the compartment and having a switch terminal on the inner side and a fuse on the outer side of the carrier and being movable to closed position in a direction toward the bottom of the housing, a second cover for the compartment and means for interlockingr the second cover with the carrier whereby closing movement of the carrier is precluded so lonag` as the second cover is in open position.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this thirtieth day of August 1919.

HAROLD G. BAXTER.

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