US2435486A - Operating mechanism - Google Patents

Description

Feb. 3, 1948. E. wlLLxAMs y OPERATING MECHANISM Filed Aug. 7, 1946 All/ Iventor:

lniams,

Ernes't Wi I Patented F eb. 3, 1948 2,435,486 OPERATING MECHANISM Ernest Williams, Pittsfield, Mass., assignor to General Electric Company, a corporation of New York Application August 7, 1946, Serial No. 688,884

My invention relates to improvements in operating mechanisms and especially operating mechanisms for electric switches and the like and particularly for electric switches used in connecting transformers and the like to a source of alternating electromotive force.

When a transformer winding is connected to an energizing source of alternating electromotive force, there is a sudden or transient inrush of magnetizing or exciting current. For a few cycles, this current may be greater than the usual load current. For economy in switching costs, manually operated switches are often provided with only sufficient interrupting capacity to take care of the normal or static magnetizing current. In such cases, if an operator were to close the switch on a, transformer and then suddenly open the switch before the subsidence of the transient inrush current, the switch would in all probability be seriously damaged, if not destroyed, and even the operator might suffer personal injury.

An object of my invention is to provide for electric switches and the like an improved operating mechanism such that when a switch is operated to the closed circuit position it cannot be opened until a desired time interval after the closing. Another object of my invention is to provide operating mechanism which can readily be mounted in convenient locations on transformer tanks, radiators and the like. A further object of my invention is to provide an operating mechanism which is economical and simple in both construction 4and operation and which requires minimum maintenance. These and other objects of my invention will appear in more detail hereinafter.

In accordance with my invention, I provide especially for electric switches and the like an operating mechanism comprising amovablymounted member and means adapted to be operated to move the member in one direction and then to move the member in therreverse direction but only after a desired time interval. Also in accordance with my invention, this means comprises an element secured to the member for movement therewith and an operating lever mounted on the member for movement relatively thereto. Further, I provide means supported on the lever for movement Ainto and out of engagement with one side or the other of `a portion of the element and adapted to be moved relatively to the element and the lever to permit movement of the lever independently of the element and then to be moved in the opposite direction tov engage the element upon reversal of movement of the lever.

5 Claims. (Cl. 'Z4-504) My invention will be better understood from the following description when considered in connection with the accompanying sheet of drawings, and its scope will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying sheet of drawings, Fig. 1 is a vertical elevational view of an operating mechanism embodying my invention with the operating lever shown in one position; Fig. 2 is a sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is an elevational view similar to Fig. 1 showing the operating leverin a different position; and Fig. 4 is a part sectional view to a larger scale on the line 4 4 of Fig. 1.

In the illustrated embodiment of my invention, I have shown an operating mechanism comprising a movably mounted member such as a shaft l which may be arranged to operate a circuit controlling member directly or through suitable driving mechanism. The shaft I is suitably journaled in a supporting structure 2 which can readily be attached to the pipes of a transformer radiator, for example, by bolts and a backing plate, not shown, or otherwise as will be apparent to those skilled in the art.

In accordance with my invention, I provide means adapted to be operated to move the shaft l in lone direction and then Vto move the shaft in the reverse direction but only after a desired time interval. As shown, this means comprises an'element such as a crank arm 3 which is secured to the shaft I for rotation therewith as by means of a pin 4, for example. For actuating the shaft I, I provide an operating lever 5 which is mounted on the shaft for movement relativei. ly thereto so as'to turn about the same axis as the shaft and the arm3. In the illustrated arrangement, the operating lever 5 is secured to the shaft l against longitudinal movement by suitable means such as a retaining washer 6 and a stud 1. The operating lever 5 includes a handle portion 8 which, Ias shown, is suitably curved for gripping and also offset to provide clearance between the support 2 and the operators hand.

In the particular embodiment of my invention illustrated, it is assumed that the mechanism may be operated to actuate a switch for connecting I a transformer, for example, to either of two sources of alternating electromotive force indicate'd as Line No. 1 and Line No. 2 and intermediate these positions is a switch open position indicated by Openf Since it is frequently desired for safety purposes to prevent loperation of adswitch from a predetermined position, the arm 3 may be provided with a notched segmental upon reversal of movement oftthelever, As shown, this means comprises a pin I4. in threadediengage.- ment with the lever as by a screw I5. The pin I4 is slidably mounted in the element 3. Thus, by the screw I5 associated with the lever 5 and the pin I4, the pin can be moved out ofthe., opening I 6 sufficiently to abut. oneV edge. '.or.,` thl'otflier 4of the arm 3 so that moveme t fthe, operatinglever 5 in one direction `veffects"moi/ernent. of! the arm in the same direction, but movement ofthe oper: ating lever inthe reverse, direction will `not cause movement of the arm,` Thusgbefore... al .reverse movement oifthearm 3 can Abe` e,if ected thepin I4. must be retracted into ythe openinglthe oper. ating' lever 5 moved past' the a'rm .Bin the.r direction the arm was last moved, and .then thepin.` M must of" engagement with, portionofthe element .3

element and then tobemoveg. in the opposite direction to engage the element screw I5 must be turned in a direction to retract the pin I4 to permit further clockwise movement of the operating lever past the crank arm 3 to the broken line position indicated in Fig. 3. After this has been done, the screw l5 can be turned in the opposite direction to project the pin M sufficiently to abut the crank arm 3 on the far edge, whereuponpthecijank arm can be moved counterclockwise from theposition shown in Fig. .3. Operation from the Line No. 2 position is accomplished in asimlar manner.

an opening I6 ,in the.. lever 5 ydirected toward the plane 'of rotation ofV turning the headg'liflwof;

therewith, an operating leven; mounted on 1 said.:

be suiliciently. projected from the 'openingf I 6.

rmly to engage the arm 3 when'. the. movement of the cpereting iever is reversed; The time required i to perform this in and V.out,"ir'ik)vement.orthepin I 4 is suiicie'nt forfthe decay of a ,transient -inrush operator after closing'ftheI switcl to energize the transformer cannotv immediately thereafter .open

the switch :on awcurrent"abve,'.its interrupting capacitylasV in case rush current..

In some cases, it is desirabletodelaythe moi/ef.A

eopenif pc.l

ment of .the crank 'arm i3 ,threjignth sition. In such cases', the mech vided with an intermediate st p.

marbeprof devicewhich, as shown, comprises anotchedlever i ported on vthe lower'extensicinl 9' of as s howninore crank arm `3 is provided w`itli' .aprojection.suchy as,

cleailyin. Fig'Q., In this case, Qthe Y a pin 20 which engages the rictcnl onfthe1ever, V I8 thereby preventing niovement'of. the arm and' the lever in one direction; clockwise as shown in,..

Fig. 1. Before furtherclockwise movement'can be...

effected from. the .Open"po sitin,to the Line No. l position, the lever clockwise I 8', be .turned counter- 'aroundit's pivtalfaxis whichis in in" eensiderebie detail, I de totheexact. arrangements shown, but seek to :cover-'iin 'the'. appended claims all those modificadescribed my invention .VihilelL have shown and not desire to be limited tions that-falliwit-hinl the true spirit and scope of mieirivelatimi.Y

i hat' I claim asinew and desire to secure by `.Lettersatent of the United States is:

1. An operating mechanism for actuating a movably mounted member of anA electricswitch andthe .likeineone ectionandthen actuating-fV the member. inthe.. averse; direction but only: after aide.. redf time interval comprising adele-..1 ment. Secured; te Seid .member for movement@ member. fOr; movement. .relatively vthereto.-Y engagingmeanssupported o n saidleverformoveel mentinto and out of engagement .with oneside.. cr tl' i e other of -fa,porti on.,of said element andi.Y adapted to .be movedg relatively. to the element and the ,lei/er, togpermitmovement of .the lever f independently .of .the element and then1 to be a. moved in .the ...opposite direction to engage-'the element upon-reversal,of-movement of thelever,...

and .means Vfonretarding `the .movement oi-said engagingsmeans relatively to said .lever whereby# t0 permitethereversemovement oi-:the member.: onlyafter. a desired. time interval..

rotatably .mounted member of an.-.electric switchiandthelike in onedirectionandthen actuating the memberin the. reverse direction but only`` after, a desired timeinterval comprising acrank.

5 elementrigidly e secured to the member, an. opere atingv levensupported .on-said memberfor rota-w.

tion relatively thereto, means .comprising a prof jection. supported Onsaid. lever ior4 movement into and out of. abutting vengagement withonev` S#edge .onthe other of..I said element and-aclapted-A to bemovedrelatively tothe leverto clear said element .wherebygto permit rotation. of the -lever past` the elementandthentobe movedvinr the reverse direction .toerigage the elementupon re-f .',versal Vof rotation Jofthe leverwherebyfto move- Y the member in thel reverse directionrandcooperv line'withthepin 20A whereupo r1 ltle pin 20`is free N' iormovement in l crankarm. For holdingQtheblocking `lever I8 'the clockwise.'v direction .of`the'..

in either one of its blocking positions, theextene sion I5 is provided with;stop pins 22 which are arranged to seat ina i(lepresesion,2544 .thelilriclririg'l u lever.

Assuming that theoperating lever-5 has been moved clockwise Vfrom' the"""Line'- No. 2". positionv to the .Ope`n positionshownligl andthen that the locking lever vI clockwise from the position" sliwn-in'Fig. '1' tothe..

position shown vin lig."3ftlienlfthev crank arm y 3 in Fig. 3 by further" clockwise. movement bf the,

operating lever 5.'.v Howevendf ...it is. desired to,

position or to tnefti-neno.,215.posities..een.the.l

ating-means onsaid--lever and said projection or -retardingthe-movementl Vorthe projection"-VL IVV relativelyv to vthe leverewherebyto permitthe -re'v verse .movement of. thememberonly aft-r ade sired time interval. -f y Y Y f 3. An'operating .mechanismior-turning a s hafte'f in `one direction-andthen-turning the shaft i'njthreaded means .associated withv said pin andsaid.,. lever andy adaptedtqbe,operatedto move s aid pi out ofrf Sa'd. ppenirie. .for .engagement with...1one

2; An oper-ating mechanism for actuating 1 ai..

the reverse" direct-ionbutl only-aiter a desired* 'time interval comprisinga crank `arm rigidly se cured/(to V the shaft a handle lever rotatablydr mounted. Oil .thehait .and .provided .withyan .f opening .toward .the plane of .rotation of'said arm,.... a pin slidably .y mountedin. said opening.. ancl ing to clear the arm whereby to permit rotation of the lever independently of the arm.

4. An operating mechanism for turning a shaft in one direction through a predetermined angular range from one position to another position and then turning the shaft in the reverse direction to said one position but only after a desired time interval comprising a. crank arm rigidly seeured to the shaft, a handle lever rotatably mounted on the shaft and provided with an opening toward the plane of rotation of said arm, a pin slidably positioned in said opening, means adapted to be operated to project said pin from said opening for abutting engagement with one edge or the other of said arm upon rotation of said lever and to retract said pin into said 'opening to clear the arm whereby to permit rotation of the lever independently of the arm, and cooperating means on said pin and said lever for retarding said projecting and retracting movements of the pin whereby to permit a change in direction of the movement of said member only after a desired time interval.

5. An operating mechanism for turning a shaft in one direction and then turning the shaft in the reverse direction but only after a desired time interval comprising a crank arm rigidly secured to the shaft, a handle lever supported onY REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date '772,067 Sundh Oct. 11, 1904 1,312,410 Miller et al Aug. 5, 1919 1,718,513 Wyman June 25, 1929

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