US2693514A - Safety lockout for automatic reclosing switch gears - Google Patents

Description

Nov. 2, 1954 R. M. SMITH 3,

SAFETY LOCKOUT FOR AUTOMATIC RECLOSING SWITCH GEARS Filed March 22, 1951 8 Street s-Sheet l INVENTOR. Roy 0;. s ur/i R. M. SMITH Nov. 2, 1954 SAFETYLOCKOUT FOR AUTOMATIC RECLOSING SWITCH GEARS 8 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed March 22, 1951 INVENTQR. Pay m. 607 77,

Nov. 2, 1954 R. M. SMITH 2,693,514

SAFETY LOCKOUT FOR AUTOMATIC RECLOSING SWITCH GEARS Filed March 22, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR. Roy 01. Jm/IW R. M. SMITH Nov. 2, 1954 SAFETY LOCKOUT FOR AUTOMATIC RECLOSING SWITCH GEARS 8 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed larch 22, 1951 INVENTQR. 7 6m T/f Nov. 2, 1954 R. M. SMITH 2,693,514

I SAFETY LOCKOUT FOR AUTOMATIC RECLOSING SWITCH GEARS Filed March 22, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 6 INVENTOR. Roy m. 601/77! 2% Nov. 2, 1954 R. M. SMITH 2,693,514

SAFETY LOCKOUT FOR AUTOMATIC RECLOSING SWITCH GEARS Filed March 22, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 7 mmvro; 7807 m. 6m rr/r' A-TT'OR ME KS Nov. 2, 1954 R. M. SMITH 2,693,514

SAFETY LOCKOUT FOR AUTOMATIC RECLOSING SWITCH GEARS Fiied March 22, 1951 8 Sheets-Sheet 8 .4- rrolems yd United States Patent Office SAFETY LOCKOUT FOR AUTOMATIC RECLOS- ING SWITCH GEARS Roy M. fimiiln, Jeannette, Pa., assignor, by mesne assigmnents, to I-T-E Circuit Breaker Company, Philadelphia, Pa., a corporation of Pennsylvania My present invention relates to automatic reclosers, that is, the type of electrical switchgear arranged to open and reclose a number of times on fault current and to lock open after a predetermined number of openings within a limited period of time.

More particularly, my invention is an improvement on the structure shown in Patents Nos. 2,118,355; 2,167,665; Re. 22,872; and 2,443,260, and is especially an improvement on the structure shown in application Serial No. 113,371 filed August 31, 1949.

Reclosers are normally installed to give protective action to the circuits on which they are located. The automatic recloser provides this protective action by a series of time delayed opening and closing operations until the fault current source is isolated from the circuit. After a predetermined number of interrupting and closing operations, the reclosers will lock open if the trouble cannot be isolated.

Frequently high voltage lines are serviced by operating crews with the circuit operating under normal conditions; that is, the lines are worked hot and due precaution must be taken by the operating personnel due to the danger caused by their proximity to these high voltage conductors.

As a safety feature, it is desirable that the reclosers be easily adjusted so that they will not perform their complete cycle of operations in case of a fault. For example, a lineman may wish to do some repair work on the line without interrupting the circuit and be able to easily adjust the recloser so that it will only open once and stay in the open position in case of a fault. This safety adjustment would be of great value to the lineman because in case of some accident on the energized circuit, they would be reassured that once the circuit was interrupted by the recloser, it would not close back in and re-energize the circuit without giving the lineman an opportunity to disengage himself from the circuit. For example, the lineman might accidentally drop a wrench or other tool on an energized circuit below him, causing a fiashover. With the first interruption of the recloser, occurring very quickly, the lineman might escape injury and could then extricate himself as soon as the circuit became de-energized. However, if the recloser were allowed to continue its complete cycle of operations, he would be exposed to several additional arcs of long duration with great hazard to himself.

An object of my invention is to add an attachment to the exterior of the housing of the recloser, which can be put in the operable position by the lineman previous to his working on the circuit. After the work is completed, the attachment can then be returned to the nonoperable position so that the recloser will be restored to its normal operating dutycycle.

The structure of the recloser shown in application Serial No. 113,371 filed August 31, 1949, has a lockout latch to hold the recloser in open position when the recloser is opened manually by a force downward on the pull ring. When the pull ring is moved downward, it causes both contact separation and clockwise rotation of the latch. The latch prevents counterclockwise rotation of a pin connected to the internal mechanism and thus holds the internal mechanism in the open position. The latch and pull ring are normally held in an up position by a friction washer and friction spring, respectively, and hold these units in any position.

When the recloser is locked open electrically, that is due to a fault current; the pin moves in a clockwise 2,693,514 Patented Nov. 2, 1954 direction but the latch is not operated, and therefore stays by friction in its upper position. Thus the recloser lock-out latch does not prevent counterclockwise rotation of the pin unless the pull ring is forced downward causing the lock-out latch to move also.

An object of my invention is to add a spring suitably connected to the lock-out latch which normally would be ineffective to move the latch. When this spring is extended, however, and fastened over a suitable hook, tension would be exerted on the latch to cause it to move in a clockwise direction. Actually it could not move under normal conditions due to an interference between the latch and pin. As soon as the recloser opened, the pin on the arm would travel in a clockwise direction, and the spring on the lockout latch would cause it to move down with the pin to prevent pin return in its counterclockwise direction and thus hold the recloser in the open position.

If the recloser did not operate while the lineman was working on the circuit, then the spring would be returned to its normal free position and the recloser would be returned to perform automatic opening and closing delayed operations on the occurrence of fault currents.

Another object of my invention is to provide a spiral spring to cause clockwise rotation of lock-out latch, but this force to be overcome by a second spring of equal and opposite force. The lineman could unhook the second spring so that the lock-out latch could operate, as described above, under the influence of the spiral spring.

A further object of my invention is to provide a leaf spring which would restrain movement of the lock-out latch and a tensioned spring which would tend to cause clockwise rotation of the lock-out latch.

A mounting, with operated and unoperated position, is moved by the lineman to the operating position and removes the restraint of the flat spring. The lock-out latch would then rotate into locked-open position under the influence of the tensioned spring, when the recloser opens on a fault current. The hook ring assembly is provided with a wedge means to remove the restraint of the leaf spnng when the switch stick urges the hook ring down. Thus manual open operation by means of the pull ring is still possible in spite of the leaf spring restraint.

Thus a primary object of my invention is the provision of means to lock-open the automatic recloser on occurrence of fault current.

The foregoing and many other objects of my invention will become apparent in the following description and drawings in which:

Figure 1 is an exploded schematic View in perspective of those operating elements of the novel automatic circuit recloser which are contained within the operating section of the housing of the circuit recloser.

Figure 2 is a schematic view in perspective exploded in two directions of those operating and indicating elements of the novel circuit recloser which are contained outside the housing, and the directly connected element on the inside of the housing.

Figure 2A is a view in perspective corresponding to that of Figure 2 showing the elements of Figure 2 connected together in order to show the relationship of the various parts.

Figure 3 is a circuit diagram showing the circuit connections between the operating elements of the novel automatic circuit recloser.

Figure 4 is a side view of the control elements shown schematically in Figure 1 contained in the control housing with the exterior operating elements of Figures 2 and 2A included.

Figures 5 to 12 are schematic views showing the successive positions of the latching mechanism in association with the timer mechanism. Figures 5 to 8 are relative to opening operation of the contacts, whereas Figures 9 to 11 are descriptive of reclosing and time delayed opening operations. Figure 12 schematically shows the position of these control elements in the lock-out condition after a specific number of openings and reclosures have occurred. Figure 8 is also descriptive of the position of the latches and associated mechanism for release after lock-out to permit reclosure.

Figures 13 to 15 are schematic views showing the positions of the external operating elements of Figure 2 for 'difierent conditions of the automatic recloser.

Figures 16 to 18 are additional views showing the position of the indicator and the principal operating arm of the plunger at positions corresponding, respectively,'to the positions of Figures 13 to 15.

Figure 19 is a side view with a part of the cover removed of the timing mechanism for use in connection with the control elements of my-novel automatic circuit recloser.

Figure 20 is a view of the timing mechanism of Figure 19 taken from line 20-20 of Figure 19.

Figures 21 and 22 illustrate schematically the operation of the time delay ratchet.

Figures 23 and 24 illustrate schematically the operation of the look-out ratchet.

Figure 25 is a schematic view showing another embodiment of the external operating elements of Figure 2.

Figures 26, 26A and 26B are schematic views showing a-second embodiment of the external operating elements of Figure 2.

Referring to the figures, the operating mechanism which controls the opening-movement and also time delays the reclosure and 'which mechanically defeats the closing spring after a predetermined number of reclosures isall shown schematically in Figure l.

-All of the elements of Figures 1 and3, except of course the'external terminals and 23 as well as otherelements, are-contained within a casing of the type shown in Figure 4, the operating elements of Figure 1 being located in -the operating chamber of the casing and the moving contact plunger of the stationary main contact and the operating cell being positioned in a lower chamber below thempper operating chamber.

=Duringnormal operations, the electrical-elements of the recloser areconnected in series with the power line at terminals 10,23 which is to be protected by the recloser. This circuit extends from terminal 10, conductor 11, connector 34l, through winding 12 of the control magnet conductors 14, connector 15, contacts 45 and 44 bridged by switch operating member 537, conductor 354A to-connector 1'72 and pigtail 18, to rod 20, stationary contact 21, 22 to the power line terminal 23.

It will be noted that with contact 537 bridging the contacts 44, 45, the winding of operating magnet 24 is bypassed so that normally substantially no current flows through, and therefore there is substantially no loss due to current flowing in this winding. -However, the windingsof' control magnet 12 are connected in series with the power line and are therefore energized by line current. On predetermined energization of the control magnet 12, in response to a fault current in the power line, lever 40 which carries contact 537 is moved, as willhereinafter be-ldescribed, to' open thebridge across contacts 44,45, thereby inserting the winding of operating magnet 24 inseries with the winding of control magnet 12 and the power line. Magnet 24 is now'energize'd in'response to thefault current to operate its rod to' contact'disengaged position.

Following separation of the main contacts 21 and 20A, the are which is formed on'the'opening of the circuit at that point is extinguished and results in de-energization ofthe operating coil 24. Thereupon the closing spring hereinafter described drives the plunger 20 down to reestablish current carrying connections-between the main movable contact 20A and the main stationary contactZl.

The 1 operating mechanism shown schematically in Figure 1*is designed to provide appropriate controls for circuit opening operations and for the reclosing operations, so that'successive reclosing operations may take place with a desired'time delay interval between them and so that the plunger 20 may be locked in the'upzor disengaged position after a predetermined number of reclosing operations.

The control coil 12 is arranged so that in'response to a fault current of predetermined value in the circuit which is protected, control coil will be sufiicientlyenergized to move solenoid-armature connected to the control switch 16 and thus to open the control switch.

The control coil 12, therefore, is the initial operating coil of the entire system. Control coil 12 is essentially a'solenoid coil surrounding the armature 25 which is normally biased above the coil by compressionspring 26 in the manner hereinafter described.

The armature i25 isspreferably: atlaminated iron structure, a portion of which forms together with the laminated magnetic rectangular plates 27:: and 27b and with 27a and 27c, magnetic paths for the flow of flux in response to energization of the control coil 12.

The magnetic path 27 includes the additional armature 28 which is secured to therotatable shaft 29 so that portion 30 thereof is in engagement with the top leg 27b of the magnetic'flux path.

For ordinary current valuesflowing through control coil 12, magnetic flux through the legs 27a, 27b, 27:! and 270 of the magnet is not sufiicient to attract the armature '28.

However, where apredeter-rninedcurrent value is-exceeded, i..e., a fault current flows in the line, section 27hr of the leg 27b of the magnet becomes saturated and the resultant magnetic flux passing from leg 27!: through the armature 28 and across the air gap 31a results in attrac tion of the armature 28 toward the magnet 27. This results in rotation of the shaft 29 and the curved timer-adjustment fork '31 mountedon shaft 29.

Thus, the control coil 12 has 'two immediate functions when-energized tma predetermined value in: excessof normal current value: (1) it attracts the'arrna-tureZS against the bias of. compression.- spring26 and (2) it attracts thearmature28 against the bias of the spring assembly 32 of armatureaZS, which spring assembly is also hereinafter described.

The upper end of armature '25 is connected by. pin 33 to-the lever '34 whichxis pivotallyrmounted on the stationary pivot 35. The oppositevend -ofthelever34 is connectedbypivot. 36 to ztheconnecting rod 37. :The lower end ofconnecting rod 37 is *connectedby pin .3810 the control switch operatingz lever 40.

Control switch operatingslever 40 is pivotally mounted on thepivot 41. .Compressionspring 26. compressed between the stationary collar 42 and the-end of lever 40 at pivot 38 surrounds the; connecting rodv37.

Compression spring 26:-drivesthe loweriend of connecting rod.37 vand,.therefore, the left-hand end of .control switch lever 40"downwardly,:thereby pulling-down the right-hand end of "lever 34, lifting up'the left-hand end of lever 34 and exerting an upward. initial bias on pin .33 andxarmaturelZS. Spring .26 bythis means-normally maintainstheaiarmature in the raised-position partly outside or the controlcoil 12 as shown in Figure l.

.The.'right-hand-- end of the'controlswitch lever 40 is provided with the tcontact section 43 normally bridging the stationary contacts 44, '45 of-theucontrohswitch 16 and .being held in bridging engagement therewith by the compression spring 26 which. drives the left-hand end of lever 40 down aspreviously described.

"On energization of control coil 12 to'a sufficient value, armature .25 is moved, rotating lever-34|in a counterclockwise direction around pivot 35' and raising the connecting'rod 37 upwardly against the-bias of compression springx26.

zT-his results in a'clockwise rotation of lever 4t) and the movement ofthe bridging contact '43 away" from thestationary1contacts 44 :and 45 of the control switch16.

:Accordingly, 'the'current value atwhich the control coil.1-2- will beenergized sufficiently to attract the armature z25may be determined by the compression'of compression-'springf26 and: may,- if desired, '(but not preferably) be calibratedby makingcollar-'42 adjustable.

The drop: out characteristic of the control "relay-is important. .Itis desirable for reclosers to have this feature in order to protect the normallyshunte'd operating co'il'from carrying load currents which would burn them out. lncase' that a-"fault' clears from-a line (such as by self-clearing'orby the blowing of a distr'ibu'tion transformer primary fuse) before the-power contacts have had time to open but after the'control' contacts have opened, the load current returns to. normal.

-Unlessa highdropi'out value is afforded, the control armatureistays inthe fully attracted positionrby the: load current, thereby holding thecontrol contacts open. This causes 'the loadxcurrent to pass'through the'operating coil which-is normally shunted. The drop 'out value should be at least 80'%'of'*the' full-loadrating- The present recloser provides suitable drop out by including a non-magneticplate-which "prevents the armature -from scaling in against :the magnetic pole face.

However, a =simpler and more accurate degree of adjustment is provided by theopening latchSO keyed to and mounted on the-rotatable pin 51, "the opening 'latch50 being spring biased in a clockwise direction with respect to Figure 1 toward latching position by the coil spring 52.

Pin or shaft 51 carries the lug 53 secured thereto and rotatable therewith, which lug carries at its outer end the pick-up calibrating screw 54 which is adjustably mounted in the lug 53 for upward and downward movement on rotation of the screw 54 and which may be locked in the adjusted position by the lock nut 55.

The lower end of the pick-up calibrating screw 54 bears against the forward end 56 of the timer arm 57. The opening latch 50 is provided with the latching detent 60 so arranged that it provides a detent or ledge against which the roller 61 at the end of lever 62 may bear.

Lever 62 is pivotally mounted on the stationary pin 63. The end thereof opposite the roller 61 is in toggle relation with the link 64, being connected thereto by the knee pin 65. The opposite end of toggle 626564 is connected by pin 66 to the upwardly extending arm 67 of the lever 34.

When, therefore, the armature is attracted downwardly by energization of the control coil 12 to rotate the lever 34 in a counterclockwise direction, it not only must compress the spring 26 but also must operate against the holding force of the latch 50 so that the toggle 62- 65-64 may collapse to the position shown.

The armature 25, therefore, cannot be pulled down by coil 12 unless the roller 61 bearing against the latching detent 60 displaces the opening latch 50 in a counterclockwise direction with respect to Figure l.

The pick-up calibrating screw 54 bearing against the forward end 56 of the timer arm 57 determined the angular position of the pin 51 and the opening latch 50 thereby determining the degree to which the latching detent 60 of the opening latch 50 underlies the roller 61 at the end of toggle 6265-64. Pin 63A bearing on the top surface of lever 62 ensures that roller 61 will ride in latching detent 60.

The degree to which the detent 60 underlies the roller 61 determines the initial force required to displace the opening latch 50 in order to permit the armature 25 to be moved down by coil 12. The greater the displacement of the opening latch 50 in a counterclockwise direction (with respect to Figure 1) the less force required to push the roller 61 off the latching detent 60 to rotate the opening latch 50.

The greater the adjustment of the latch 50 in a clockwise direction with respect to Figure l, the greater the force required for this displacement.

Accordingly, the adjustment of pick-up calibrating screw 54 which determines this initial angular displacement of the opening latch 50 determines the force and hence the over current condition required before initiation of operation of the apparatus.

When, however, this displacing force is reached, armature 25 is pulled down by control coil 12; roller 61 of toggle 6265-64 rolls off the latching detent 60 and against the side of the opening latch 50; the opening latch 50 is rotated in a clockwise direction while toggle 62 65-64 collapses; the connecting rod 37 is raised; switch operating lever is rotated, and bridging contact 43 moves out of engagement with the stationary contacts 44 and of the control switch 16.

With the control switch 16 thus opened, the full current passes through the operating coil 24 which attracts the plunger 20, pulling it upwardly and separating the main movable contact 21 from the main stationary contact 22 to open the circuit.

The upper end of the plunger 20 is connected to the operating arm 70 by the yoke connection 71 in such manner that the upward movement of plunger 20 must necessarily result in upward rotation of operating arm 70 and downward movement of the plunger 20 must necessarily result in downward rotation of the operating arm 70 and vice versa.

The structure of the operating arm 70 will be more fully understood in connection with the description of Figures 1 and 2. For purposes, however, of review of the entire operation, it is sufiicient to point out for the present that operating arm 70 is rotatably mounted on the stationary pivot 75 at the end opposite its connection at 71 to plunger 20.

Operating arm 70 carries intermediate its ends and extending transversely with respect thereto the pin 76 on which are rotatably mounted the main latch roller 77 and the pawl 78. Pawl 78 is essentially a bell crank lever O in form having a timer arm engaging leg 79 for engagement with arm 57 in the manner hereinafter described and a downwardly extending positioning leg 80.

In the normal at rest position of the operating arm 70, shown schematically in Figure 5, the positioning leg 80 of pawl 78 is driven by coil spring 82 against the stop pin 81 carried by the operating arm 70.

The timer arm 57 as is shown in Figure 1 is provided with a slotted pin 85 receiving the end 86 of coil spring 87. Coil spring 87 is wound around the slotted pin 85 and the outer end 88 thereof is connected to the stationary pin 90 carried (see Figure 1) in the lug 91 extending from the side of the timing mechanism housing 92.

Coil spring 87 is so adjusted that the timer arm 57 in the normal closed circuit position of the apparatus is substantially horizontal. When the timer arm 57 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction with pin 85 being the pivot with respect to Figure 1 and clockwise with respect to Figure 5, the coil spring 87 is tensioned tending to rotate the timer arm 57 back toward the substantially horizontal position.

Timer arm 57 has a rearward extension 95 with a rounded under surface 96 which will be engaged by the upper surface of leg 79 of pawl 78 when the operating arm 70 begins to rise (compare Figures 5 and 6) during the upward movement of the plunger 20.

Thus, as the operating arm 70 rises, the pawl 78 lifts the rear end 95 of the timer arm 57 rotating the timer arm as above described and thereby lifting the time delay pawl lever 100 which is connected by the pin 101 to the timer arm 57 between the pin 85 and the end 95 of the timer arm 57.

Time delay pawl lever 100 is biased in a clockwise direction toward the time delay toothed ratchet 102 by the coil spring 103. Time delay pawl lever 100 is provided with the pawl tooth 104 which bears against the time delay circular ratchet 102.

Lever also is provided with the extension 105 below the pawl tooth 104 having a cammed surface which bears against the pin 106 carried by the housing 92 of the timer mechanism and which in the normal at rest position of the operating mechanism with the switch contacts closed maintains the pawl tooth 104 out of engagement with the surface of the time delay ratchet 102 as shown in Figure 5.

Pin 106 is rotatable and is cam-shaped to provide adjustment of the disengaging point of pawl 100. This is shown in Figure 23.

When, however, the operating arm 70 is raised about its pivot 75 owing to the lifting up of the plunger 20 by the operating solenoid coil 24 and pawl 78 thus lifts the end 95 of the timer arm 57, the time delay pawl lever 198 is lifted; and as soon as its extension 105 clears the pin 06, coil spring 103 drives the pawl tooth 104 against the surface of the time delay ratchet 102.

This is shown diagrammatically by a comparison of Figures 6 and 7.

The pawl tooth 104 of the time delay pawl lever 100 rides up the surface of the time delay ratchet 102 without rotating the same owing to the curvature of the teeth 107 of the ratchet 102 (see also Figures 21 and 22) and also owing to the fact that certain portions 108, 109 may be made smooth and without the teeth 107 for purposes hereinafter more specifically described.

From the description thus far, it will be apparent that in response to a predetermined fault current, control magnet 12 was energized, opening the shunt switch around operating magnet 24. Magnet 24 was then energized in response to the fault current and the circuit breaker contacts opened instantaneously. The contacts are iatc..ed in open position. At the same time, energy was stored in a spring 512 which, now under control of a time delay mechanism, operates to release the principal latch '77, 112.

As will be described more fully hereinafter, contacts 21, 22 are opened in an arc chamber in which the resultant are following circuit interruption is extinguished. The operating magnet 24 is de-energized and the plunger 20 is now operable under action of a biasing spring 512 to reclose contacts 21, 22 as soon as the time delay releases the latch.

The ratchet 102 is keyed to the timer shaft 110 which is under the control of the timing mechanism within the timing mechanism housing 92. Assuming that the first reclosure is to be delayed, then the teeth 10712 (Figure 21)tof rat chet 102: are r so positioned, also in=a manner hereinafter described, that the pawl tooth 1'04 w ill engage the teeth 10% at theupper limit ofrmovement of the timer arm :57, lever 100 and pawl tooth104 as shown in Figu're"9.

Figure -8 shows thefully open position before reclosure starts. Timer arm 57 is held up by pin 121a.

.-'At"this time, the leg 79 of pawl 78 'has been moved through a suflicient'arc by rotation on pin'76 todisengage the curved under-surface 96 of the rear extension95 of the timer arm 57 (Figure 7) and the end 95 of the timer arm'ST'is released to move downward-and hence the time delay pawl: lever'ltltt begins to descend asindicated in Figure'9.

This descent is, however, delayed by the timingmechanism 260;in timing mechanism'housing"92=which controls: the rotation of shaft 110v and timing arm 57 cannot move instantaneously back to its original position under the-influence of coil spring '87Ibut'returns with a timed movement determined by the speed'at which the timing mechanism in housing 92 permits the'gpawl' tooth 184 to drive the time delay ratchet102.

The main. latch roller 77 seats in the latching detent 112 'justxprior to the disengagement of pawl end78 from timer" arm end '96 as shown in 'Figure 7. The principal latch .113 constitutes a .lever'arm pivotally mounted on thestationary pm 114 and biased toward the main latch roller 77 by the coil spring 115.

Whenthemain'latch roller 77 carried by 'theoperating arm 70 which'is connected at 71 to the plungerZO, therefore, seats in the latching detent 112, the operating arm 70 and the connected plunger 20 are locked. in the up position as shown in Figure 9.

'.'This -latching operation is accomplished by making the up stroke of plunger20 and arm 70 sufficient to lift lat'ch roller77 above latching detent 112 *high enough to ensure that pawl 78 will disengage the timer arm 57. Latch roller 77 then moves down slightly with arm 70 and plunger 20 to rest on detent112.

.As previously. pointed out, a'compression spring 512 hereinafter described has been compressedby the upward movement of plunger 20 to bias the plunger 20 downwardly to the position in which contacts 21 and 22 will engage. This compression spring is, however, defeated byrthe-interengagement of the main latch roller 77 with thelatching detent 112 of the principal latch 113.

The principal latch 113 has a U-shaped extension 117 arranged .in the .path of movement of roller 118 carried on pin119 at the rear end-95 ofthe timer arm 57.

As .the timer arm 57 returns toward its original position under the influence of coil spring 87 and delayed by the time delay mechanism in housing 92 which acts through the time delay pawl lever 109 on timer arm 57, a device such as roller 11S engages the end of the U.shaped extension 117 of the principal latch 113 and pushes the latch 113 back far enough so that the latching detent .112 moves out from under the-main latching roller 77 .permittingthe reclosing spring 512 to drive the plunger 20 .and the operating arm 70 down to effect re-engagement of contacts 21, 22 (see Figure 10).

Accordingly, it is thereturn movement of the timing armt57zwhich. disengages' latch 113 from the'main latching roller 77 and the time delay which operates on the timer arm 57 determining the. degree to which reclo'sure will 'be delayed.

-The timing mechanism may, therefore, be adjusted to awdesired. speed" and this adjusted speed will be effective to control the return movement of the'timing arm57, which in turn will control the unlatching of the operating arm 70 and the plunger 20.

After. the completion of the clockwise rotation of timer arm 57, the curved extension 105 of the 'reclosing time delay pawl lever 100 moves against the pin .106 to .move thepawl tooth104 out'ofengagementwith the teeth 107 or 107avof the time delay ratchet asthe case may be (Figure. .21

At this time, the timing mechanism which waswound up by therotation of ratchet 192 by timerarm 57 in a clockwise direction with respect to Figures 1, -12 and 21 will now be free to rotate the time delay ratchet 102 and its'shaft 110'. backito'the original or neutral position.

Thisreturn movement of thetimer shaft 110 and the time delay ratchet 102 will,'=however, be under the control of the timing mechanism. The time for the return of the time delayratchetlOZ-will *not'necessarily be the same as was required for the original movement. In the first placefthe spring STWhich causes the forward movement and the spring-in the timer hereinafter described which causes the return movement are of different lengths and,-inaddition, thereturn movement is always at the same rate, which is'theslowest-speed of operation of the timer.

- On the otherahand, the forward movement which consists of two parts is at-a'slow rate for thefirst portion of its'trav'el. This rate is notnecessarily the same-as under the-return portion since a much heavier" spring is operated. "In addition, the second portion of travel inthe forward 'direction is under the influence ofthe heavier spring and at a variablerateiof operation depending'on the magnitude'of the short'circuit current as hereinafter described.

If this return movement is completed beforethenext opening operation, then the next opening operation .occurs as if it were the first opening operation of a series and the first and subsequent reclosureswilloccur as'if they were the first of a series.

'If; however, this return movement'has not been completed 'beforethe next opening operation, then on the next opening operation, pawl"104 willengage teeth'107 of the time delay ratchet102 at a'position angularly displaced'from the first engagement. .The main latch roller 77 will be engaged and held by. the latch113 and the timer arm 57 will again descend under the control, however, of the timing .mechanismin housing 92 translated to the timer arm through the timer shaft 110, ratchet .102, and lever 100. I

.If the next opening of the circuit breaker occurs before the timingmechanism. in housing 92 hashaidan-opportunity tolbegin to. return the ratchet 102 and.shaft'.110 back toward the'ini'tial position, then the return of the timing arm 57 under .thecontrol ofthe time delay mechanism willa'dd cumulative angular rotation to ratchet .102 and shaftlllt).

.Thetime 'delay mechanismis adjustable as to the speed of operation by adjustment of :st0p:.3I5- (Figure.l9).in 510L316 by clamping screw32t) asdescribe'd below in connection with thespecific description of the timing mechanism (Figures 19 and '20) in order to manually adjust themechanismfor faster .or slower reclosing =as conditionsmay require.

It is essential in the operationof the 'novel .circuit recloser thatthe contacts be locked open after -a predetermined number of reclosing operations.

Thus, in the eventthe initial cause. for opening of: the

contacts 'wassome transientfault in the .line, the recloser may close and remain closed. .Anexample is the case of some. accidentally maintained'arcing over at an insulator on the line owing to an unusual transient conditiomin which case momentaryninterruption. of current occasioned by one opening-and reclosure of theecontacts will: result in extinguishment ofthearcwhich'wilbnot-then ordinarily reigniteowing to .the.=fact:.that the ionizedgases would' normally be blown awayv or otherwise. cooled. This willalsotbe the case if wires have-accidentally-swung together in a high wind.

' Moreover, if some relatively high resistance member has caused thefault, the first or second 'reclosure of'the automatic recloser'mayserve toburn away the cause of the fault and the automatic recloser'contacts' should then remain closed to maintain the circuit after the fault has been burned away.

If, however, the. opening of the contactsresulted from a true shortcircuit. condition which will not be-cleared by repeated openings 1 and closings of. the automatic recloser, it then becomesessential to lock the automatic recloser open. This is the principal reason for-making the angular movements ofathe time :delay ratchet i102 and-the timer. shaft cumulative on rapidly'repeated reclosures.

*After a predetermined wnumber of such reclosures as after the second orthird reclosure, this cumulative rotation of the reclosin-g timezdelayv ratchet102 and the timer shaft 110 may be utilized to bring a-lock-out mechanism into operation.

The lockout mechanism comprises avlock-outratchet 12% on. the timershaft 110 co-axialwith but. spaced from the reclosing time delay ratcheti102- .and a lock-.outpawl 9 lever 121 having a pawl tooth 122 and connected at its opposite end by pin 123 to the principal latch 113.

A coil spring 125 biases the lock-out pawl lever 121 upwardly so that the pawl tooth 122 bears against the surface of the lock-out ratchet 120. The lock-out ratchet 120 as is seen in Figures 23 and 24 is smooth at 126 over a substantial portion of its surface and is provided with teeth 127 over another portion of its surface.

In the original condition of the elements, after a first opening the pawl tooth 122 engages the smooth section 126 of the surface of the lock-out ratchet 120 whenever the latch 113 is in latching engagement with the roller 77.

After a repeated number of reclosures, however, resulting in cumulative rotation of the timer shaft 110, time delay ratchet 102 and lock-out ratchet 120, the teeth 127 of the lock-out ratchet 120 moveinto position to be engaged by the pawl tooth 122 on the next opening opera tion when the latch 113 next moves to a position where it receives and holds the latch 7 7.

When on an opening operation the latch 113 engages the roller 77 to lock the operating arm 70 and plunger 20 in the up position and when the pawl tooth 122 engages the teeth 127 of the lock-out ratchet 120, remembering that the ratchets 102 and 120 are rotated in a clockwise direction with respect to Figures 21 and 23 as the timer arm descends, the teeth 127 are so curved that they will be locked by the pawl tooth 122 for such clockwise rotation and the pawl tooth 122 on the lock-out pawl lever 121 will prevent such further rotation by the timer shaft 110 and ratchets 102 and 120.

Hence, the timer arm 57 and its pawl lever 100 cannot now descend and the automatic recloser mechanism is now locked out as shown in Figure 12. This is true since, as pointed out above, it is the descent of the timer arm that is necessary to push the principal latch 113 away from the latching roller 77; and the timer arm cannot now descend.

The lock-out ratchet 120, as hereinafter described, may be made angularly adjustable about the shaft 110 so that the angular position of shaft 110 at which the teeth 127 move into conjunction with the pawl tooth 122 may be determined or set in accordance with the number of reclosures to be had before the look-out position is reached.

The interlock arrangement definitely does not permit lockout With the main contacts closed. Pin 121a holds lockout pawl 122 away from lockout ratchet 120.

The dashpot unit 130 pivotally mounted on pin 131 and connected to pin 119 of timer arm 57 may provide a time delay on the first reclosure of about thirty cycles rather than the six cycles which may be obtained without the dashpot unit. The reason that the device would operate so fast (six cycles) without the dashpot is that the timer does not function at all on the first reclosure because of the flat spot on the time delay ratchet 102, as described previously. The dashpot is utilized where it is desired to increase this time delay from six to thirty cycles.

By adjusting stop 330 (Figure 19) by means of screw 332, it is possible to relocate the normal or reset portion of the timer and, therefore, the time delay ratchet 102. If this is done, the flat spot is moved in a counterclockwise direction (Figure 22) as shown in Figure 21, and then the detent 104 engages with a tooth and thus provides the full five seconds delay on the first reclosure due to the influence of the timer.

As seen now in Figures 2, 2a, 4 and 13 to 18, the plate 170 of operating arm 70 is provided with a downwardly directed extension 192 carrying the pin 193 to which is connected the link 194. The opposite end of link 194 is connected by pin 195 to the crank 196.

in Figures 2 and 2a, the position of link 194 and crank 196 is shown for connection to the exterior parts in the exterior housing. As may best be seen in Figure 4, the exterior housing 200 comprises a substantially U-shaped bracket member 201 set in a recess of the annular wall 202 of the operating chamber 173. Wall 203 forms a common boundary between the exterior housing 200 and the inner operating chamber 173. The exterior operating shaft 205 passes through a bearing 206 in wall 203 (Figure 2a). The end of the shaft 205 within the chambe: 1.73 is provided with the extended key 207 registering in the key way 208 at the end of the crank 196 opposite the pin 195. A bolt 209 passing through an opening 210 in the end of crank 196 also enters a threaded opening 211 in the inner end of the exterior operating shaft 205.

Thus, the exterior operating shaft 205 is connected to the operating arm in such manner that when the operating arm 70 and plunger 20 are raised, thus rotating the shaft 205 in a clockwise direction with respect to Figures 2 and 2a and also with respect to Figures 16 to 18.

The bottom 212 (Figure 4) of the exterior housing 200 is open, and the side 213 opposite the common wall 203 is made of transparent material (see also Figures 2 and 2a). The transparent side wall 213 is secured to the bracket 201 by screws 214 (Figure 4) passing through appropriate openings 215 in the transparent side wall 213 and entering into appropriate tapped lugs carried by the bracket 201.

The outer end of shaft 205 has a section 217 to which pointer 221 is fastened. Pointer 221 is secured in any suitable manner as by the screw 222 (Figure 4) to the end of section 217 of shaft 205 and cooperates with the closed legend 223 and the open legend 224 on the transparent side wall 213 of exterior housing 200 to indicate the condition of plunger 20.

Thus, in the closed position the pointer 221 occupies the position shown in Figures 2, 2a, 4 and 16. In the open position of plunger 20, whether locked out or momentarily open before a reclosing, the pointer occupies the position shown in Figure 18 where it registers with the open indicia 224.

Thus, the open or lock-out position condition of pointer 221 registering with legend 224 as in Figure 18 will indicate that the automatic circuit recloser is locked open.

A counter 225 is secured in any suitable manner as by the screws 226 and spacers 227 to the interior of transparent side wall 213, the indicia face 228 being downwardly directed so that it may be visible from below. An operating lever 229 extends upwardly in the path of pin 230 carried by crank arm 231 of the exterior operating shaft 205.

As seen in Figure 13, the pin 230 moves the operating lever 229 to the right during the closed position of the automatic recloser. Each time the pin 230 moves down in response to an opening movement, a spring, not shown, in the counter 225 causes the operating lever 229 of counter 225 to move toward the left with respect to Figure 13 to the position of Figure 15, and each time the pin 230 rises once more in response to a closing movement of plunger 20, it lifts the operating lever 229, thereby adding a unit to the indicia carrying face 228 of the counter 225 and indicating the total number of times that the automatic recloser has been operated.

After the automatic recloser has been locked open in a manner previously described by operation of the lockout ratchet in cooperation with the lock-out pawl lever 121, it becomes necessary to reset the automatrc recloser so that it may close after the fault which caused the locking open has been repaired.

For this purpose, a reset link 235 terminating in the ring 236 is provided, the said reset lever being rotatably mounted on the pin 237 and being secured in place by cotter pin 238. Pin 237 extends from the crank arm 240 which is an extension of cross arm 241 mounted on the sleeve 242.

Sleeve 242 is in turn rotatably mounted on section 243 of reduced diameter of the exterior operating shaft 205. Cross arm 241 of the sleeve 242 extends above the crank arm 231 and crank arm 240 of cross arm 241 extends above pin 245, which pin may be an extension of pin 230 on the opposite side of crank arm 231.

A coil spring 246 maintains the crank arm 240 and the reset link 235 in the up position even through shaft 205 is rotated so that crank 231 moves down as shown in Figure 15.

When now after a lock-out of the automatic reclosing mechanism as shown schematically in Figure 12 after the desired number of reclosures has occurred, it becomes necessary to reset the mechanism. The end of a hooked stick is inserted in ring 236 of the reset link 235 and the reset link 235 is pulled down. This pulls down the crank 240 in the cross arm 241 causing the sleeve 242 to rotate about section 243 of exterior operating shaft 205.

The crank 240 bearing on pin 245 pulls down the crank 231 rotating the shaft 205 further in a clockwise direction and lifting the plunger 20 and the operating arm 70 from the lock-out position of Figure 12 to the lock-out release position of Figure 8. This lifts the latch roller 77 off'the latching detent 112 in the principal latch 113 and up to the recessed portion 250 of the principal latch 113.

When the recloser is released from lock-out by pulling down on ring 236,- the latch roller 77 is lifted up off of latching detent 112 to the upper portion of principal latch 113. However, the principal latch 113 does not move forward during this operation since the upper section has a contourwhich is a radius from pivot 75 so that the latch roller merely rolls up the radius section. This construction is desirable so that the principallatch 113 will not move when the latch roller moves back down towards detent 112. This construction assures more positive latching action. When the recloser is reset from lock-out, the detent 3'70 strikes against the upper portion 37-1 of pawl 100, causing it to retate in a counterclockwise direction around its pivot 101 (Figure 12) which disengages the detent 104- from the teeth of the time delay ratchet 102. The time delay ratchet 102 and lock-out ratchet are then free to return to their normal reset position under the influence of reset spring 271 (Figure 20). This action is possible because pawl 100 has been disengaged from time delay ratchet 102 and the teeth on lock-out ratchet 120 are so shaped that they will slip by detent 122 on lockout pawl 121 in the reset direction.

The end 95 of the timer arm 3'7 is provided with the projection 370 which in the loch-out release position shown in Figure 8 will bear against the upper end 371 of the reclosing time delay pawl lever 160 to drive the reclosing time delay pawl lever 100 away from the reclosing time delay ratchet 102 in order to permit resetting of the timing mechanism back to its original position.

The timing mechanism is now released so that it may return the timer shaft 110 carrying the reclosing time delay ratchet 102 and the lock-out ratchet 120 back to the original position of Figure 23 or 24 as the case may be.

T he hooked stick inserted in the ring 236 of the reset lever 235 must be held down a suflicient length of time to permit the reset of the timing mechanism and of the timer shaft 110 to occur.

When the pull ring 23-6 is pulled in the downward position, it not only raises rod 20 and releases the time delay pawl 100, as described previously, but also it latches the recloser in the open position mechanically. This is accomplished by detent 254'; of latch 251 engaging with pin 245 as shown in Figure 2a. Vfhen pull ring 236 is pulled down, the extension of pin 237 beyond the upper end of pull ring 236 engages with the upper surface of the lower leg of lock-out latch 251 (see Figure 14), causing it to be rotated around its pivot 252 and against the friction of friction washer 253. The detent 254 is then positioned to engage with pin 245 on arm 231 and thus hold the mechanism in the open position. It will be noted that previously, due to the friction washer 253 of the look-out latch 251, the latch 251 was held in the up position even though the force of gravity was in the down or clockwise direction. v

The recloser is then finally released from lock-out by releasing the latch 251 by means of a switch stick pushed up against the under surface or against the extension 255.

When it is desirable to open the recloser manually and cause it to stay open, a switch stick is inserted in ring 236 and it is pulled down. The recloser is then latched open by means of detent 254 of latch 251 as described above. The recloser can then be reclosed by pushing up against latch 251 and unlatching detent 254 from pin 245.

It should be noted that the main difference in reclosing the recloser is that when it is latched open mechanically from the outside, it is only necessary to unlatch the recloser by pushing up on latch 251.

However, when the recloser locks open electrically on the inside, the reclosing operation consists of two parts. First, the pull ring is pulled down and held for several seconds so that the timing mechanism will allow the lock-out ratchet to reset, and second, to push up on latch 251 to release the mechanical latch, which was operated during the first part of the resetting action.

The function of the timing mechanism in housing 92 has already been referred to. It is sufficient here to point. out once more that it controls the rotation of the timer shaft by the timer arm 57 in one direction to delay the return of the timer arm 57 back to its original position.

After reclosure has occurred, it returns the timer shaft 110 and its associated ratchets 102 and back to their original position with a time delay period determined by the relative strength of spring 271 hereinafter described, restoring the timer shaft 110 and its associated elements backto their originalposition if the automatic recloser remains closed following its reclosure.

The housing 92 for the timing mechanism 260 (Figures 19 and 20) comprises essentially a pair of parallel plates 261 and 262 connected by bolts 263 and nuts 264 and spaced by spacers 265 surrounding the bolts 263 and captured between the plates 261 and 262.

The main operating shaft 270 of the time mechanism 260 rotates in appropriate bearings in plates 261, 262 extending transversely thereto.

A main spring 271 located outside of the plate 262 is connected at one end to the stationary bolt 272 carried by plate 262 and at the other end to the main operating shaft 270. A guide plate 2'73 carried by the main operating shaft 270 confines the turns of the main spring 271. The portion of the main operating shaft 270 extending through plate 261 carries the connecting pin 275 extending through the hexagonal member 276 mounted on the shaft 270 and through registering openings in the hexagonal member 276 and the shaft 270 so that rotation of the main operating shaft 270 will result in angular movement of the main operating pin 275 and vice versa.

Gear 280 on the main operating shaft 2'70 is connected to pinion 281 on the arbor 232 carried between plates 261 and 262. Gear 283 on the arbor 232 is connected to pinion 23-4 on arbor also carried between plates 261 and 262. Gear 286 on arbor 285 is connected to pinion 287 on cam shaft 288. Cam shaft 238 is the escapement shaft of the timing mechanism. Cam shaft 208 carries at its inner end the disc 239 connected by the eccentric transverse cam pin 2% to the disc 291, which in turn is connected to the opposite end of the cam shaft 288a.

As the cam shaft 233, 283a is rotated by the gear train 280281-233284-286237, the cam pin 2% describes a circle at a radius from the main axis of the cam shaft 2055, 283a. The escapement lever 295 is provided at its upper end with an escapernent pin 2% registering in the escapement slot 297 of the escapement Wheel 298.

The escapeinent wheel 2% is mounted on arbor 299 which is rotatable in appropriate bearings between plates 261 and 262. The fulcrum of escapement lever 295 is the pin 300 carried by the timer adjusting arm 135. The lower end of the escapement lever 295 is provided with a flaring slot 305 wider toward its lower end at 306 and narrow at 307 at its upper end, the axis of the slot 305 extending along a line through the fulcrum 300 and the escapement pin 296.

Slot 305 surrounds the cam pin 290. As the main operating shaft 270 of the timer is rotating in one direction, it winds up the main spring 271. At the same time, through the gear train 280, 281, 283, 234, 236, 287, it rotates the cam shaft 283 and the cam pin 290. With the cam pin 290 resting in the narrow portion 307 of the flaring slot 305, the escapement lever 295 is rotated back and forth around the fulcrum 300.

The escapement pin 296 of the escapement lever 205 entering the escapernent slot 297 of the escapement wheel 298 causes the escapement wheel 2% to oscillate back and forth.

The time delay thus obtained is a function of the inertia of the escapement' Wheel 2955 and the escapement lever 295 which, owing to the eccentric movement of the cam pin 200, must move in one direction, come to rest, move in an opposite direction, come to rest once more, and repeat this operation continuously as the main operating shaft 270 of the timing mechanism is rotated.

The inertia of these elements thus provides the time delay. Similarly, when the exterior rotative force on the main operating shaft 270 of the timing mechanism is released, the main spring 221 rotates the elements in an opposite direction to reset the operating shaft 270 back to its original position, being delayed, however, by the escapernent lever 295 and the escapement wheel 2%, the inertia of which owing to constant change of direction of movement must be overcome at each change of direction of movement.

It will be obvious that the longer the period of each oscillation of escapement lever 295 and escapement wheel 298, the greater the time delay and the shorter the period of oscillation, the smaller the time delay.

For this purpose, the fulcrum 300 is made shiftable vertically. With the fulcrum 300 in the lower position as shown in Figures 19 and 20, full time delay is achieved.

As the fulcrum 300 is raised, the flared portion 306 of the slot 305 moves into registry with the cam pin 290 so that the cam pin 290 oscillates the lever 295 only at the right and left extreme position, its rotation thereby oscillating it through a shorter period. This period decreases as the flared portion 306 of the slot 350 which registers with the cam pin 290 is widened by raising of the fulcrum 300 of the escapement lever 295.

In addition to the decreased period of oscillation, the power ratio of escapement pin 296 with respect to escapement wheel 298 is increased since as the fulcrum 300 of the escapement lever 295 is raised, the escapement pin 296 rises in slot 297 of the escapement wheel to an increased distance away from the pivot 299 of the escapement wheel.

Consequently, the net inertia of the escapement wheel 298 is decreased or rather the net effect of inertia owing to the increase in the power ratio above referred to is decreased.

When the fulcrum 300 is raised to a point where the full flared portion 306 of the flaring slot 305 registers with the cam pin 290, the cam pin 290 does not engage the escapement lever at all during its rotation and operating shaft 270 may rotate even in response to external force or in response to its spring 271 free of the time delay effected by the escapement lever 295 and escapement wheel 298.

To accomplish the shift in fulcrum 300 which varies the time delay afforded by the timing mechanism 260, the timer adjustment arm 135 which carries the fulcrum 300 is pivotally mounted on the cross pin 310 carried between plates 261 and 262. A coil spring 311 biases the end of the timer adjustment arm which carries the fulcrum 300 downwardly. The outer end of timer adjustment arm 135 has the reduced diameter section 312 which receives the slot 156 of the timer adjustment fork 31.

As the timer adjustment fork 31 operates in response to rotation of armature 28 in a manner previously described to move the end 312 of the timer adjustment arm 135 down, the fulcrum 300 of the escapement lever 295 is raised to decrease the time delay afforded by the timing mechanism 260.

If timer adjustment fork 31 is not rotated to pull down the timer adjustment arm 135, then the condition shown in Figures 19 and 20 prevails, in which full time delay is achieved.

An adjustable stop member 315 riding in slot 316 is provided against which the inner end 317 may rest to predetermine the maximum time delay. The higher the adjustable stop 315 is raised, the shorter the maximum time delay period and, therefore, the faster the reclosing operation.

The adjustable stop rides on the inside of plate 262, being guided in slot 316 and a clamping screw 320 extending through the slot 316 into the adjustable stop 315 is provided, the said clamping screw having a wider portion which may engage the portion of the exterior surface of the plate 262 defining the slot 316, the material defining the slot 316 being thus captured between the stop 315 and the clamping screw 320. The clamping screw 320 has an extension 321 passing to the left of the adjustable stop 315 with respect to Figure 20 on which the end 317 of the timer adjustment arm 135 rests.

Thus, the stop 315 and particularly extension 321 of clamping screw 320 determines the maximum time delay of the timing mechanism 260, while fork arm 31 on operating arm 135 in response to the attraction of armature 28 determines the variations from this maximum time delay in the manner previously described.

The screw 320 is readily accessible in order to raise and lower the stop 315 and the extension 321 to adjust the maximum time delay. If, for any reason, it should be desired that no variation in the time delay should occur, irrespective of the degree of energization or attraction of armature 28, then extension 321 320 may be anchored into slot 322 timer adjustment arm 135.

This will prevent movement of the timer adjustment arm 135 and of the fulcrum 300 away from its adjusted position.

By this means, therefore, a simplified timing mechanism is provided which will time delay the rotation of operating shaft 270 in one direction by an exterior force and which will correspondingly time delay the return of operating shaft 270 to its original position under the influence of the main spring 271.

As previously described in connection with the schematic view of Figures 1, 5 to 12 and 21 to 24, the timing mechanism controls the rotation of the timer shaft which carries the reclosing time delay ratchet 102 and the lock-out ratchet 120.

The connecting pin 275 carried by the main operating shaft 270 of the timing mechanism engages the fork 325 in the crank arm 326 carried by the timer shaft 110. The timer shaft 110, as previously described, carries the reclosing time delay ratchet 102, being connected thereto in any suitable manner.

The lock-out ratchet is provided with a plurality of openings 327 and securing screws 328. The reclosing time delay ratchet is provided with a pair of eccentric openings 329. The lock-out ratchet 120 is carried by the reclosing time delay ratchet 102, the angular position of the lock-out ratchet 120 being shiftable with respect to the reclosing time delay ratchet 102 and the timer shaft 110 in order to predetermine the number of reclosures before a lock-out may occur.

This shift of the lock-out ratchet 120 is obtained by lining up appropriate openings 327 in the lock-out ratchet 120 with the openings 327 in the reclosing time delay ratchet 102 and interconnecting the ratchet 120 and 102 by screws 328 and appropriate bolts.

As previously pointed out, whether or not the time delay on first reclosure will be obtained is determined by the initial angular position of the reclosing time delay ratchet 102 as shown in Figures 21 and 22.

For this purpose, gear 280 on main operating shaft 270 of the timer is provided with a pin 329 and the wall 262 of the timing mechanism carries the latch 330 pivotally mounted on the lower right-hand bolt 263 with respect to Figure 19.

Latch 330 carries the clamping screw 331 passing through the slot 332 in wall 262. The latch member 330 may be adjusted either to the position of Figure 21 or to the position of Figure 22.

When it is adjusted so that pin 329 rests in the detent 333, then the angular position of the main operating shaft 270 and the timer shaft 110 is adjusted so that the first reclosure is time delayed.

When it is adjusted so that pin 329 rests against the end 334 of latch 330, then the angular position of the main operating shaft 270, timer shaft 110 and the reclosing time delay latch 102 is adjusted so that the first reclosure is instantaneous.

After the first full reclosure occurs, the engagement of pawl tooth 104 against teeth 107a will provide the short time delay between the reclosing of the contacts of the automatic recloser (disengagement of latch roller 77 from latch 113) and the full resetting of the timer arm 57 which permits reopening to occur.

As shown in'Figures 23 and 24. the angular position of teeth 127 of the lock-out ratchet 120 determines the number of reclosures after which a lock-out will occur. Where the lock-out ratchet 120 is secured to the ratchet 102 so that the teeth 127 are closer to the pawl tooth 122, then the lock-out will occur after relatively fewer reclosures.

When the teeth 127 are adjusted so that they are relatively further from pawl tooth 122, then lock-out will occur after. a relatively larger number of reclosures.

The setting of Figure 23 shows the position of the lock-out ratchet 120 for a lock-out after two reclosures and the setting of Figure 24 shows the position of lockout ratchet 120 for a lock-out after three reclosures.

If no lock-out at all is desired, then the lock-out ratchet 120 need merely be removed by removal of screws 323.

Figures 2, 2a, 4, l3, l4 and 15 show one adaptation of my present invention to the recloser shown in application Serial No. 113,371, filed August 31, 1941.

of clamping screw at the end 317 of Lock-outlateh 251'. is provided with a biasingcspring 901 attached at point 904. The biasing =springt901 518 provided with a pull ring 902-which is adapted to engage hook 903. Ring hook 903 is rigidly mounted on the recloser housing 340 as noted in Figure '8.

In the position of Figures 2a and 4, the biasing spring 901 is mounted on latch 251 and hangs downwardly under the=force of gravity. in this position it exerts no force on the lookout latch 251 since the hook ring 902 is not attached. It is only-when the ring 902 is in engagement with hook 903 that the spring 901 is tensioned to exert a clockwise bias on the lock-out latch 251.

When it is desired to have the recloser adjustedso that on the occurrence of a fault current the recloser will be locked open on first opening, the operatorwill pull hook ring 902 over hook ring 903. This operation will have no effect on the position of the various components of the recloser when it is -in a closed position as observed in Figure 2a The latch 251 is held in its up position due to the contact between pin 245 and detent arm 254. On the occurrence of a fault .current, contact separation will cause clockwise rotation of the shaft 205, rigidly mounted crank arm 231 and its associated pins 230,245.

Since the detent arm 254 is urged against pin 245, the latch 251 will rotate in a clockwise direction under the influence of lock-out spring 901. Thus, when the recloser has reached its contact open position, the detent 254 of latch 451 will be in engagement with thepin 245 which'will lockthe circuit breaker in an open position.

Thus, the desired protection for the lineman has been achieved since further operation of the recloser is prevented by this latching operation.

It should be noted that the recloser may be returned to a closed position in the same manner as heretofore described in connection with a manually opened recloser, that is, when the locked open condition is a result of the mechanical latch between detent 254 and pin 245.

This should be distinguished from the case heretofore mentioned whereby lock-out occurs as a result of rotation of timer shaft 110 to a position where lock-out pawl 121 engages the teeth 127 of lock-out pawl 120. In this case the spring ring 901 is not in engagement with the ring hook 903.

As a result of this condition, the recloser can only be manually closed by first pulling down on the reset ring 235 to permit timer mechanism 42 to rotate timer shaft 110 and then lifting latch extension 255 to release latching of detent 254 and pin 245 so that spring 512 can drive the contacts closed.

As hereinbefore'mentioned, the adaptation of my present invention serves to protect a working lineman from a multiplicity of flash-overs during the continued opening and reclosing operations which occur on fault currents.

' Thus, the lineman has only to engage his hook stick in ring 902 and engage it with hook 903 to protect himself while working on a live line. If no fault or short circuits should occur while he is working, upon the completion of his job he may again use his hook stick to release the ring 902 from hook 903 and return the recloser to the normal condition. The recloser is then again in condition to perform its predetermined number of open and close operations on the occurrence of fault current.

When a fault current occurs after the lineman has engaged hook ring 902 over hook 903, the initial clockwise rotation of the lock-out latch 251 from the position of Figure 13 to the position of Figure 15 will be due to the pull of spring 901. The recloser is locked open as shown in Figure l5 and lock-out latch 251 is held in position by means of the latch with pin 245.

The ring 902 may be disengaged from the hook 903 and the recloser will remain in a locked-open position. After fault current subsides, the recloser may be returned to its closed position by pushing up on the extension 255 of latch 251. The recloser will now be prepared to perform a predetermined number of opening and closing operations on the occurrence of a fault current.

- 'It will be observed that if a lock-out occurs while ring 902 is engaged with hook 903, it is not necessary to disengage these two elements before resetting the recloser to closed position.

To close the recloser contacts, the extension 255 can be 'pushed up, overcoming the force of spring 901, to the closed position. The recloser will now be in acondition forinstantaneous opening to a locked-open position on the occurrence of a fault current.

Figure 25 shows a modification of my present inven tion. Mounted over the belleville washer or friction spring 253 is a spiral spring 905 which tends to bias the latch 251 in a clockwise direction.

counteracting the clockwise bias of spring 905 is ten= sion spring 906 which is attached by a ring 907 to the hook 914 rigidly mounted on housing 200. Spiral spring 905'and tension spring 906 are of equal and opposite force when the latch 251 is in the closed position noted I in Figure 2a.

This arrangement of counteracting springs will permit the operation of thevrecloser with all the time delay features heretofore mentioned.

When the lineman wishes to adjust the recloser so that itwill lock open after the first instantaneous opening, the ring 907 of tension spring 906 is removed fromitsassociated hook 914 on housing 200. This will not affect the. position of latch 251 because of the continued en gagement between latch arm 254 and pin 245.

On the occurrence of a fault current, shaft 205 will be rotated in a clockwise direction and will carry with it the crank 231 and crank pin 245. Under the influence of spiral spring 905, the latch 251 will rotate clockwise so that continuous engagement between the latch hook 25.4 and extension 245 is ensured.

This operation will permit the mechanical lock-out of the recloser following a first instantaneous opening ,and will be entirely independent of the timer mechanism 92.

It should be noted that when the latch 251 has been mechanically rotated clockwise to its open positionan Imbalance exists between the stretched tension spring 906 and the relaxed spiral spring 905. The detent 254 and pin 245 are so constructed that the latch holdiwill be sufficient to counteract this unbalanced force and maintain the latch 251 in the open position.

When the lineman has completed repair work to the power lines andwishes to place the recloser in the closed contact position, the latch 251 is lifted by means of extension 255 upward as heretofore mentioned.

A further modification of my invention to permit lockout following first instantaneous opening is illustrated. in Figures 26, 26a and 26b. 1

The latch 251 is provided with a belleville washer 253 as was previously noted. However, an additional recess 910 must be provided in the latch 251 for this modification. The small recess 910 is provided to receive the extension 911 of the leaf spring 909. Leaf spring 909 may be rigidly mounted at its end 913 to the housing 200 or any other suitable location.

A further addition in construction is noted in Figures 26 and 26b where the beveled extension 912 is rigidly attached to the ring pin 237. A permanently attached tensioned spring 914 is attached between annular wall 202 and the lock-out latch 251 and tends to. bias latch 251 in a clockwise direction.

V-lever structure 917 is added to this embodiment. V-lever 917 is pivoted at 916 and has a friction spring 915 which holds the lever in any position due. to the friction of the spring against the lever. The shaft at pivot 916 is rigidly mounted to the annular wall 202.or any other suitable location.

Arm 918 is provided with a ring 920 which may be engaged and moved by means of a hook stick. The other arm 919 of V-lever 917 is provided with a beveled surface to wedge between latch 251 and leaf spring 909 when the ring 920 is pulled down.

When the unit is to be operated as an automatic recloser with a predetermined number of openingand closing operations with proper time delay, the V-lever 917 is in the position noted in Figure 26. The operation of the recloser in this position is as heretofore described.

The extension 911 of the leaf spring 909 is in engagement with the recess 910 of the latch 251, locking the latch 251 in position to prevent its rotation under the influence of spring 914.

As a result of this locking action, there is no movement of the lock-out latch 251 during the automatic opening and closing operations.

After the automatic recloser has locked open, the contactsmay be mechanically closed by the same procedure as heretofore mentioned. An extension stick is inserted in ring 236 and pulled downward so that the reset lever 235, pin 237 and crank ar.1 i 240 are all pulled downward. The beveled extension 912 on pin 237 is thus wedged between the latch 251 and the leaf spring 909 by this movement of the ring 236 as noted in Figure 2611.

Thus, the leaf spring 909 is moved away from the latch 251 which permits extension 911 to be removed from the recess 910. This unlocks the latch 251 and permits it to rotate clockwise under the influence of the force exerted by the pin 237 of the reset lever 235 which is being pulled down by the operator.

As previously described, this procedure locks the controls open due to the engagement between pin 245 and extension 255 and permits the timer mechanism 92 to rotate shaft I to proper position.

By pushing up the extension 255, the contacts are again closed and extension 911 of leaf spring 909 again engages the recess 910 to lock the latch 251 in the up position of Figure 45a.

When the recloser is to be arranged for lock-out following the first instantaneous opening, the V-lever 917 is rotated clockwise by inserting a stick in ring 920 and pulling downward. This permits the beveled arm 919 to wedge between the latch 251 and leaf spring 909. This permits the extension 911 to be removed from the recess 910 as noted in Figure 26a.

Although the latch 251 is being biased clockwise by the tensioned spring 914, it is held in the position of Figure 26 due to engagement of latch arm 2:55 and pin 24:3. Occurrence of a fault current will cause downward movement of pin 245. Latch 251, under the influence of the force from bias spring 914, will rotate clockwise to fol w this downward movement and cause a lock-out due to the engagement of detent 254, latch 255 and pin 2455 in a down or clockwise position.

At the discretion of the operator, the V-lever 917 may be returned to its normal position (see Figure 26) either before or after the mechanical closing operation.

In summary, it will be observed that the modifications noted in Figures 2a, 25 and 26 all provide for two types of reclosure operation. When the hook ring 902 of Figure 2a is not engaged, when the hook ring 907 of Figure 25 is engaged, when pull ring 920 is not pulled down (Figure 26), the recloser will operate with all the time delay features a predetermined number of openings and closings and with all of the advantages previously noted.

It is only when the lineman wishes to protect himself against exposure to several occurrences of arcing of long duration with great hazard to himself that the hook ring 902 is latched with hook latch 903 of Figure 2a, ring 907 is disengaged from the hook of the modification in Figure 25 or pull ring 920 of Figure 26 is pulled down. Thus, under this condition instantaneous opening and lock-out will occur during fault current flow, thus preventing the lineman from being exposed to continuous arcing.

In the foregoing I have described my invention solely in connection with specific illustrative embodiments thereof. Since many variations and modifications of my invention will now be obvious to those skilled in the art, I prefer to be bound not by the specific disclosures herein contained but only by the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a reclosing circuit breaker having a pair of cooperable contacts, at least one of said contacts being normally automatically operable in response to overloads to open and closed position a predetermined number of times, manual switch opening means, operating means connected to and controlled by said manual means to move and latch said one contact in open position, said operating means including a member movable with each automatic opening and closing of said contact and having a latch engaging means movable therewith, the connection of said manual opening means with said operating means being a one way connection normally inefiective during the automatic operation of the one contact, a latch movable with said manual opening means engageable with said latch engaging means upon operation of said manual opening means, means connecting said latch with said latch engaging means and positionable to bias said latch into engagement with said latch engaging means upon an automatic operation of said operating means, said means connecting said latch with said latching engaging means being readily disconnectable so as to render said latch inefiective to latch open an automatic opening movement of said one contact.

2. In a reclosing circuit bzeaker for protecting an electric circuit having a pair of cooperable contacts, means for biasing said contacts into engagement, electromagnetic means responsive to a fault current condition in, the electric circuit for operating at least one of said contacts into disengagement against the action of said biasing means, a first latch for automatically latching said contacts in disengaged position, means controlled after the disengagement of said contacts for removing said first latch, said contacts being thereupon operated into engagement by said biasing means when said fault current circuit is opened, means operative after disengagement and engagement of said contacts has been repeated a predetermined number of times for rendering said first latch removing means ineffective to release said latch for thereupon locking said contacts in disengaged positions, and manual switch opening means, operating means connected to and controlled by said manual means to move and latch said one contact in open position after one automatic opening operation, said operating means including a member movable with each automatic opening and closing of said contact and having a latch engaging means movable therewith, the connection of said manual opening means with said operating means being a one way connection normally ineffective during the automatic operation of the one contact, a second latch movable with said manual opening means engageable with said latch engaging means upon operation of said manual opening means, means connecting said second latch with said latch engaging means and positionable to bias said second latcn into engagement WILD said latch engaging means upon an automatic operation or said operating means, said means connecting said second late-n with said late-n engaging means being readily disconnectaoie so as to render said latch mertective to latch open an automatic opening movement or said one contact.

3. In a reclosing circuit breaker for protecting an electric circuit having a pair or cooperaoie contacts, means for biasing said contacts into engagement, electromagnetic means responsive to a fault current COflClltlOfi in the electric circuit Ior operating at least one or said contacts into disengagement against the action or said biasing means, a hrst latch tor automatically latching said contacts in disengaged position, means controlled after the disengagement or said contacts for removing said first latch, said contacts being thereupon operated into engagement Dy said biasin means when said i'ault current circuit is opened, means operative after disengagement and engagement of said contacts has been repeated a predetermined number of times for rendering said first latch removing means inli'ective to release said first latch for thereupon locking said contacts in disengaged positions, and manually operable means for effecting latching of said contacts in disengaged position by a second latch after the first automatic disengagement of said contacts, a manual operable member for operating said second latch to latch said contacts in disengaged position by said second latch after manual disengagement of said contacts.

4. In a reclosing circuit for protecting an electric circuit having a pair of cooperable contacts, means for biasing said contacts into engagement, electromagnetic means responsive to a fault current condition in the electric circuit for operating said contacts into disengagement against the action of said biasing means, a first latch for latching said contacts in disengaged position, means controlled by the disengagement for removing said first latch, said contacts being thereupon operated into engagement by said biasing means when said fault current circuit is opened, means operative after disengagement and engagement of said contacts has been repeated a predetermined number of times for rendering said first latch removing means ineffective to release said first latch for thereupon locking said contacts in disengaged positions, and manually operable means for effecting latching of said contacts in disengaged position by a second latch after the first automatic disengagement of said contacts, a manual operable member for operating said second latch; an operating member movable with each automatic opening and closing of said one contact, a one way connection from said manual member to said operating member normally inefiective during the automatic operation of said one contact, said second latch being movable by said manual operable member to maintain said one contact latched open after the first manual operation thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent Number UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Valkenburg Oct. 26, 1926 Wallace June 20, 1944 Lincks et a1. Jan. 21, 1947 Wallace et a1. Oct. 4, 1949 Thumim June 3, 1952

Images