US2506546A - Circuit breaker - Google Patents

Description

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Patented May 2, 1950 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CIRCUIT BREAKER Fred Farrell, Cedar Rapids, Iowa, asslgnor to Electrical Engineers Equipment Company, Melrose Park, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application November 20, 1943, Serial No. 511,019

17 Claims. 1

The present invention relates to a circuit breaker and more particularly to a circuit breaker of the automatic opening and reclosing type.

There has been a long felt need in the art for an electric switch possessing the following advantages: (1) A switch which may be removed from the line without interruption of the service for purposes of adjustment and inspection, and which may be reinserted in the line without subjecting the operator to danger by close proximity of the line; (2) a switch of the automatic reclosing type having means providing for adjustment over a range Of a predetermined number of successive opening and closing operations of the switch before lock-out of the switch in open position; and (3) a switch which is adapted to be automatically tripped. by electromagnetic means having an adjustable time delaying action means providing a time delay before the electro-magnetic means is effective to trip the switch, but in which instantaneous tripping action may be superimposed upon the time delay means to trip the switch instantaneously i. e. independently of time delay, when the line current reaches a predetermined magnitude in excess of the current at which the switch was set to trip. So far as I am aware none of the switches of this character of the prior art possess the above noted advantages. It is an object of my invention to provide an automatic reclosing switch of suiilciently light weight to be handled manually and which may be constructed at small cost and yet reliably obtain the above noted advantages.

A switch of the above type should be readily and safely removable from service or be replaced in service without deenergizing the line and without subjecting the operator to the hazard of too close proximity to a dangerous electric circuit, so that the switch contacts and associated controlling mechanism requiring repair or adjustment, due to wear on the various parts and stresses occasioned by service may be readily attended to by a repairman. It is a further object of my invention to provide an automatic reclosing switch comprising a mounting means having suitably associated insulators comprising the stationary part or section of the switch for incorporation in the line, and a removable housing section comprising the switch contacts and associated controlling mechanism in which the size and weight of the removable housing section are sufficiently small to be within the physical scope of an operator or repairman to manually remove or replace by the use of an in-- sulated hook stick or pole.

Another object of my invention is to provide an automatic reclosing switch in which the number of reclosing operations before lockout may be adjusted over a predetermined range for a predetermined number of successive operations before locking out.

A further object of my invention is to provide an automatic reclosing circuit breaker having mechanical tripping means responsive to the action of an electromagnetic means provided with an adjustable time delay means which can be adjusted to respond only after a predetermined time has elapsed after line current reaches a predetermined magnitude, and which also provides an adjustable means to allow an instantaneous tripping action, independent of time delay, when the line current reaches a predetermined magnitude in excess of the current at which the tripping mechanism was adjusted.

In order to attain the aforesaid objects, I propose to provide a stationary mounting means which consists primarily of a base member or frame for insertion in line at the desired place of service, and which has suitably assembled thereto suitable supports of insulating material, such as the common form of porcelain insulators. The insulators preferably are mounted on the base or frame at a sufiicient distance apart to form a gap in the line for safe operation at the voltage on which the switch is to operate. An electrical contact member is mounted on the outer end of each of these insulating supports and are used to form electrical contacts with and to mechanically support, the removable housing section containing the operating mechanism of the circuit breaker. Suitable connections are provided on the electrical contact members of the stationary mounting means for attaching the line wires thereto. Preferably, a pair of conducting links are pivotally mounted one each on the contact members in such a manner that the links may be manually moved into or out of engagement with each other by use of aninsulated hook stick or pole to close or open the gap between the insulators which is spanned by the removable housing section of the automatic circuit breaker. A third insulator is fixed to the base of the stationary mounting means and the outer end of it is provided with a threaded stud to engage a projection on the removable housing section to hold the removable section in rigid assembly with the stationary mounting means. The end of this threaded stud is formed to be engaged by an insulated hook stick or pole so that the stud may be tightened manually while the electric circuit is en erglzed.

The removable housing section containing the operating mechanism preferably consists of a housing assembly comprising two arcing chambers, one at either end of the assembly, each of which contains a fixed contact and a movable current carrying switch arm in order to provide a double break in the electric circuit when the switch is opened, and, with the housing section between these t "o arcing chambers containing the mechanical power supply means for a plurality of switch operations, and associated mechanical and electrical apparatus and means for automatically controlling the opening and closing of the switch contacts. In the preferred form of the invention the energy for actuating the switch to open and closed positions is obtained by means of an energy storing means in the form of a wound spring for driving a shaft assembly carrying the current carrying switch arms. The removable housing section is also provided with a suitable fitting adapted to be engaged by the end of an insulated hook stick or pole for manual removal or replacement of the removable housing section into and out of assembly with the stationary mounting means. Suitable trip levers and spring winding elements and the like are also carried by the removable housing section and are adapted to be engaged with an insulated hook stick or pole for manual operation of the various switch functions.

The principal function of .a switch of the character to which my present invention is directed is for automatically opening the electric circuit when faults occur on the line, and to thereby terminate the flow of fault current by deenergizing the section of line on which the fault has occurred, and then to reclose, after a predetermined tirne to re-establish service. It sometimes may be necessary to open the circuit a plurality of times to eliminate the flow of fault current, and if the fault current continues after a predetermined number of switch openings and closings, within a predetermined time, it must then be assumed that the fault is of such a nature as to render the line inoperable and the switch should then become locked in open position until the necessary line repair has been made to remove the fault.

Such a switch should also function so that if the fault on the line should clear during successive opening and closing operations of the switch within the predetermined time, and with a fewer number of operations than at which the switch was set to lockout, and remain closed for a predetermined length of time, the switch should automatically re-set to perform through another complete operating cycle.

to a train of speed increasing gears of which the last or end gear is provided with a cam or eccentric having engagement with a pendulum arm, whereby each revolution of the cam imparts an oscillatory movement to the pendulum arm. The pronged wheel is arranged in relation to the shaft assembly carrying the current carrying arms for controlling rotation thereof. The oscillating speed of the pendulum arm is controlled by a weight adjustable thereon to increase or decrease the speed at which the cam is allowed to revolve under its driving force. The speed of rotation of the pronged wheel is governed by the train of gears and pendulum arm, and the pronged wheel in turn governs rotation of the shaft assembly of the switch to provide for controlling of the time required between opening and closing of the switch.

It is common for the current in the lines of an electric distribution system to continually fluctuate to some degree, and sometimes momentary surges of a heavy current occur due to disturbances on the system by the action of a heavy From the above it will be observed that it is machinery load or the like. When a switch having no time delay means is used in such a system it is necessary to provide a trip mechanism which will prevent tripping of the switch during these momentary periods of heavy current flow. However, the disadvantage of using a switch with no time delay before tripping is that dangerous overloads may occur for a considerable time which are not quite large enough to operate the tripping mechanism, and the distribution system is therefore subject to this overload without release. time delay mechanism, the tripping mechanism is usually set to operate at a slightly larger current load than the normal load requirements of the circuit. An adjustment is provided for the time delay mechanism to prevent the switch from tripping for a sufficient length of time to allow momentary heavy surges to recede to normal without allowing the switch to trip. However, when extremely heavy or destructive fault currents occur on the system, it is of great advantage to have the switch trip open immediately without delaying the action of the switch by the time delay feature. It is a further feature of my invention to provide a construction comprising means whereby an adjustable time delaying action may be imposed upon the tripping mechanism and an additional action may be superimposed upon the time delay to allow instantaneous tripping of the switch independently of the time delay, when line current reaches a predetermined magnitude in excess of the current at which the switch was set to open. The tripping mechanism of my invention generally comprises a U-shaped electromagnet having a plurality of coils wound thereon through which the line current passes, and a movable magnet bar which is urged to move the tripping member for the switch into tripping position by magnetic attraction of the U-magnet, when line current reaches a predetermined magnitude. The time d-elay means comprises a train of gears which must be rotated through a predetermined angular extent by motion of the magnet bar before the tripping member is allowed to reach tripping position, the amount of power being delivered by motion of the magnet bar determining the rate at which the train of gears is forced to rotate. The means whereby instantaneous tripping action is allowed to take place, independent of the time delay feature, but only after line current has reached a predetermined magnitude in excess of that for In switches of the prior art having a bar and movable therewith, and which may be adjusted into, or out of position, to trip the switch by direct motion of the magnet bar.

Further objects, advantages and features of my invention will appear from the detail description.

Now, in order to acquaint thos skilled in the art with the manner of constructing and operating an automatic circuit breaker in accordance with my invention, I shall describe in conjunction with the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment of the same.

Figure 1 is a side elevational view of a circuit breaker constructed in accordance with my invention; a

Figure 2 is a plan view of the circuit breaker of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a bottom view of the circuit breaker shown in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 is a front elevational view of the operating mechanism of the automatic circuit breaker of Figure 1 with the removable housing therefor in section;

Figure 5 is a rear elevational view of the operating mechanism contained within the removable housing of the circuit breaker of my invention and showing a portion of the housing in section;

Figure 6 is a plan view of the operating mechanism contained within the removable housing with a part of the housing being shown in sec-- 7 tion;

Figure 7 is a detail vertical sectional view taken on line i'! of Figure 2 looking in the direction indicated by the arrows and showing the switch in closed position;

Figured is a view corresponding to Figure 7 but showing the switch in its open position;

Figure 9 is a detail verticalsectional view taken substantially on the line 9-9 of Figure 4 looking in the direction indicated by the arrow;

Figure 10 is an isometric view of the left hand portion of the mechanism contained within the removable housing as viewed from the front with the parts being suitably spaced for clarity of illustration and corresponding to the left hand portion of the front elevational view of Figure 4 Figure 11 is an isometric view of the operating mechanism of the right hand portion of the mechanism contained with the removable housing as viewed from the front, and corresponding to the right hand portion of the front elevational view of Figure 4;

Figure 12 is a detail side elevational view of the look-out timer mechanism associated with certain of the mechanism shown in' Figure 10, the iatter not being included in the figure last referred to; and

Figure 13 is a schematic diagram of a hypothetical distribution circuit in which a plurality of circuit breakers of the instant invention have been incorporated.

The switch shown in the drawings is designed for operation on circuits up to amperes at 7500 volts, and the parts as shown on Figures 10 and 11 are drawn on a scale of slightly less than half the size of an automatic circuit breaker constructed as shown in the drawings which was found to operate satisfactorily in the range above noted. The drawings of Figures 4, 5 and 6 are full scale drawings of the switch constructed. A description of the salient elements of the invention will be more readily understood from 6 Figures 9, 10, 11, and 12 to which reference may now be had. Inthis connection reference may also be had to Figures 4, 5 and 8 which are full size front, rear and plan views, respectively, of the switch shown in the figures first referred to. Figures 4, 5, and 6 will be described in greater detail hereinafter. It is believed that a ready understanding of the operation of the circuit breaker of my invention may be obtained from Figures 9, i0, 11 and 12, and hence a description of the elements therein shown and the manner in which they operate will facilitate a better understanding of the other drawings. For convenience of examination, Figure 11 may be arrangedat the right hand end of Figure 10.

The removable housing section of the switch comprises a shaft assembly formed by two horizontally extending shafts I and 2 of electrical conducting material which are coupled rigidly together with their adjacent ends Spaced from each other by a coupling 3 of insulating material. Two current carrying arms 23'! of the switch, described in detail hereinafter, are fixed one to each of the outer ends of this shaft assembly and are enclosed within suitable arcing chambers 9 and ill formed of insulating material. Current carrying sleeves l and 5 to which are connected suitable current carrying members are assembled one at each end of the shafts i and 2, respectively, opposite their coupled ends and provide a mechanical bearing support for the shaft assembly. The sleeves 4 and 5 for the shafts l and 2 have suitable electrical connection with an electromagnet means E to be described in detail hereinafter to pro! videan electric circuit therethrough, together with the base 249 of the switch shunting the insulating coupling 3.

Opening and closing of the switch is accomplished by revolving the shaft assembly formed by the parts I and 2 and the insulating coupling 3. Fixed electricalcontacts 1 and 8 are carried by the insulating arcing chambers 9 and I0, respectively, so that as the shaft assembly is rotated the current carrying arms 231 are brought into and out of contact with the fixed contacts 7 and 8. The means provided for holding the shaft in either opened or closed position will be described in detail hereinafter.

Rotation of the shaft assembly is accomplished by energy adapted to be stored in a coil spring I! one end of which is fixed to the shaft i and the other end of which is fixed toa spring barrel l2 disposed coaxially of the shaft assembly. Energy sufficient to provide a plurality of switch operations is stored in the spring if by rotation ofthe spring barrel i2 to wind the spring by means of worm shaft 13 arranged for rotation about a vertical axis and positioned so that the worm thereof engages the teeth in the periphery of one side edge of the barrel The spring II is retained in wound condition by a, ratchet l4 engaging a toothed wheel fixed to shaft I 3.

The shaft assembly comprising the shafts I and 2, and the insulating sleeve 3 is held in stationary position against the rotational urge of the coil spring II, when the contact current carrying arms are in contact position with the fixed contacts 1 and 8, by means of a controlling member i5 rigidly fixed or keyed to the shaft 1 of the shaft assembly for rotation therewith. The current carrying arms 231 which are fixed to each end of the shaft assembly are of dual construction, that is, duplicate arms are extended at right angles to the shaft, 180 apart at each end of the shaft assembly so that the current carrying arms at each end of the shaft assembly are brought into electrical contact with the fixed contacts 1 and during each 180 revolution of the shaft assembly. For this reason the controlling member l should preferably be of dual construction, namely, each 180 of revolution of the controlling member must consist of duplicate design features. In the subsequent description of these various dual features of the controlling member I5 I have identified them with the sufiixes a and b, that is all elements thereof numbered with suflix a perform the same function for 180 revolution of the controlling member l5 as like elements having the same number but identified with the suflix b performed during the other 180 revolution of the controlling member I 5.

When the shaft assembly I, 2 and 3 is revolved to a position where the current carrying arms 231 are in electrical contact with the fixed contacts 1 and 8, the projection |6a on the periphery of 'the controlling member I5 strikes a projection 20 of a lever arm 2| of a latch mechanism controlling opening and closing of the switch. The lever arm 2| is mounted for pivotal movement about a fixed pivot 22 and when its projection 20 is in engagement with the projection IGa of the controlling member l5 it is prevented from turning by the levers 23 and 24 of the latch mechanism which are assembled in suitable relation with respect to each other to reduce torsional stress. These several levers are held against the turning force of spring exerted through the controlling member I5 by the engagement of a projection 26 at one end of a toggle release latch 21 for a toggle formed by levers 23 and 24 and which latch 21 is adapted to be engaged under projection 25 of the lever 24.

In the 50 ampere-7500 volt switch constructed in accordance with the present disclosure the coil spring II was of a strength exerting a force of approximately inch-pounds with the switch held in closed position. Therefore the series of lever arms 2|, 23 and 24 are assembled; in the manner shown to proportionately reduce the torsional stress at the projection 25 of lever 24, when the same is engaged with the projection 26 of the toggle release latch 21, to a magnitude sufficiently small to make possible the disengagement of the toggle release latch 21 by a comparatively small electromagnetic means E. This reduction -of torsional stress on projection of the lever arm 2| to the projection of lever arm 24 determines the magnitude of the magnetic thrust which must be built into the tripping mechanism of the electromagnetic means E for tripping the switch.

In the embodiment of the invention shown on the drawings, the magnet coils of the electromagnetic means E for tripping the switch are in series with the line current and these coils must be of suflicient cross sectional area to carry 50 amperes continuously without undue heating, and must also withstand fault current up to 1000 amperes for a period of two seconds without fusing. For economical utilization in its field of service, such a switch should also be adjustable to be able to trip open on line current fault as low as 3 amperes. Therefore, by the torsional stress reduction from lever arm 2| to lever arm 24 it is possible to release latch 21 by an electromagnetic meanshaving comparatively large conductor size and proportionally small number of turns, but which has suflicient magnetic urge to overcome the small frictional engagement of the projection 28 with the projection 25. The use of magnet coils having a small number of turns is important in reducing manufacturing cost,

weight and space in the switch assembly. It is also important in reducing reactional electrical stresses on the coils during heavy fault current on the line which would be occasioned on coils having a much larger number of turns.

It will be observed from the structure thus far described that the switch may be tripped open either by action of the electromagnetic means or by manual actuation of a trip lever 35. When being tripped by the electromagnetic means E the magnetic thrust of the rod 1 of the tripping mechanism is brought to bear against the toggle release latch 21 upon'the arm 28 thereof. The toggle release latch 21 is pivoted about a fixed pivot at 29 and rests bygravity against the fixed stop peg 48, and the stress of the rod I11 disen gages the projection 26 of the toggle release latch 21 from projection 25 of lever 24, allowing levers 2|, 23 and 24 to respond to the torsional stress being exerted on projection 20 of lever 2| by projection |6a of the controlling member I5, thereby allowing the controlling member I5, together with the associated shaft assembly and current carrying arms to revolve under urge of the spring The current carrying arms are thus rotated out of electrical contact with the fixed contacts 1 and 8 and the circuit is opened.

The action of lever arms 2|, 23 and 24 is as follows, as viewed in the isometric illustration on the drawing shown in Figure 10: When the projection 26 of toggle release latch 21 is forced out of engagement with projection 25 of lever 24 by action of the electromagnetic means E, lever 2| is allowed to revolve clockwise about its fixed pivot 22. The lever 2| is provided with a notch 31 in which the prong 34 at one end of the lever 23 is in engagement. This engagement of the levers 2| and 23 forces the latter to rotate about its fixed pivot 30 in a counterclockwise direction upon clockwise rotation of lever 2|, and a peg 32 fixed in the end of lever 23 opposite the prong 34 engages in a slot 33 of lever 24 forcing the latter to revolve clockwise about its fixed pivot 3|. When the peg 32 has reached the end of slot 33 adjacent the projection 25, lever 23 has revolved a suflicient distance to permit the prong 34 thereof to pass out of engagement with the notch 31 of the lever 2|, and lever 2| is then free to rotate about its pivot 22 permitting projection |6a of the controlling member I5 to escape from engagement with the projection 20 of the lever 2|.

The switch may also be tripped open by man ual thrust on the trip lever 35, which is pivotally mounted at 38 intermediate its ends. The end of the lever opposite the handle thereof carries a leaf spring I22 which rests against a lever 39 at the end 40 thereof. The lever 39 is pivoted about a fixed pivot 4| disposed intermediate its ends and transmits the thrust imparted by tripping of the lever 35 against a peg 42 carried by the toggle release latch lever 21 at the end thereof in which the projection 26 is formed to force the latter lever out of engagement with lever 24. The subsequent action and motion of lever 2|, 23 and 24 is then the same as if tripped by the rod I11 of the electromagnetic means E engaging the arm 23 of the latch release lever 21 previously described. In order to hold the lever 39 in a normally inoperative position, and to have it respond only to manual thrust on the trip lever 35, a leaf spring 42a is fixed at pivot 4| with its opposite free end disposed at one end to the lever 39 under a fixed stationary peg 43. The tripping force on lever 35 must be sufficient to overcome the force of spring 42a before lever 39 can be moved to trip position. The spring action of the leaf spring 42a being exerted at the fixed pivotal mounting 39 at the pivot 4| is transmitted to the trip lever at the end 40 thereof and holds the trip lever 35 normally in inoperative position against the stationary peg I25, which is positioned to engage the lever 35 below its pivotal mounting 38.

After the switch has been tripped into open position it is necessary to reset levers 2I, 23 and 24 together with the toggle release latch 21, such that the projection 20 of lever 2| will engage projection I6b of controlling member I without yielding when the switch comes into the next closed position. This is accomplished by means of a retrieving spring 44, one end of which is assembled on peg 22 and which is flexed between a fixed peg 46 and a peg 41 carried by the lever 2!. When the switch is tripped, and lever 2i is caused to turn clockwise by the torsional stress of the spring II actin through the controlling member IS, the spring 44 is flexed by motion of the peg 41 traveling with the lever 2|. When the controlling member I 5 has revolved far enough to be disengaged from lever 21, the lever 2i is then revolved in a counterclockwise direction by the spring 44. When the projection formed by the notch 37 at the lower end of lever 2! comes into engagement with prong 34 of lever 23, the lever 23 is caused to rotate in a clockwise direction, and the peg 32 which travels in the slot 33 of lever 24 causes the latter to revolve counterclockwise to position projection 25 of the latter lever over projection 26 of the toggle release latch lever 25. As described above, the toggle release latch lever 2'! is pivoted about a fixed pivot 29, and rests by gravity against a stationary peg 48 and consequently responds by gravity to cause the projection 25 to be engaged by the projection 26. The levers just described are now in a position to receive and withstand the force of the shock of engagement of projection IBb of the controlling member I5 with the projection 20 of lever 2i as the switch reaches the next closed position.

In the embodiment of the invention disclosed the retrieving spring 44 is designed to reset levers 2I 23 and 24 to latched position in approximately second, and the time element interposed for this design between tripping and reclosing is adjustable, by means to be hereinafter described, through a predetermined range of 1 to 3 seconds. This relative time required between'latching of levers 2!, 23 and 24 and reclosing of the switch assures latching of the levers before the switch reaches the next closed position. When the switch trips into open position, the line current is interrupted, and the rod I'i'I of magnetic tripping mechanism E moves away from arm 28 of the toggle release latch 21 freeing levers 2|, 23 and 24 to respond to the action of the retrieving spring 44, as described.

When the shaft assembly has been caused to rotate either by action of the hereinafter described electromagnet means E acting upon the arm 28 of the lever 21, or bymanually tripping of the trip lever 35, the shaft assembly carries the current carrying arms 23'! out of electrical contact with the stationary contacts I and 8. The breaking of contact between arms 23! and the stationary contacts I and 8 is rapid as the spring II is allowed to exert its full energy without retardation. This rapid action occurs through 45 revolution of the shaft assembly, whereupon the shaft assembly comes into engagement with adjustable mechanical reclosing timing means RT for slowing down the speed of revolution of the shaft assembly and thereby inserting an adjustable time delaying action to the succeeding of revolution of the shaft assembly. When the shaft assembly escapes out of engagement with the reclosing timing means RT it is free to revolve unretarded through the next succeeding 45 of. revolution providing for quick closing of the contacts between the current carrying arms 231 with the stationary contacts 7 and 8. In the description of the switch thus far in this closed position the projection IBb of the controlling member I5 comes into mechanical engagement with the projection 20 of lever 2i thereby holding the switch in the next closed position until tripped by the electromagnet means E or by manual actuation of trip lever 35 above described. The controlling member I5 has fixed thereon adjacent its periphery four pegs Ila, I'Ib, I8a and I8?) extending from the face of the controlling member toward the coil spring housing I2 and in parallel alignment with the shaft assembly I, 2 and 3. The pegs Ila and I8a perform the same function through one operating cycle of the switch, that is, through revolution of the shaft as sembly, as the pegs Ill) and I8?) perform during the next succeeding operating cycle of 180 shaft revolution. Therefore the peg I'Ia is fixed in controlling member I5 diametrically opposite the peg ill), or 180 apart, peg I8b is diametrically opposite peg I812, or 180 apart.

The reclosing timing mechanism RT comprises a pronged wheel 49 havin projecting prongs 50, 5I, 52, 53, 54 and 55 which are all of the same substantially triangular shape and spaced equally around the circumference of the wheel 49. The prong wheel 49 is rigidly fixed to a horizontally extending shaft 56 to which also a gear wheel 51 is rigidly fixed. The shaft 55 is free to rotate in suitable bearings supported in wall or partition members to be described in greater detail hereinafter. The gear wheel 51 is in meshing engagement with a smaller gear wheel 58 fixed to a horizontally extendin shaft 59. The opposite end of shaft 59 has fixed thereto a larger gear wheel 50. The gear wheel 68 is in meshed engagement with a small gear wheel 6i carried on a horizontally extending shaft 62 to which is also fixed a cam or eccentric 63. The shafts 59 and B2 are suitably supported for rotation about horizontal axes in a manner to be hereinafter described. A pendulum arm 64 is pivoted upon a horizontal shaft 65 and has a fork 66 at its upper end which is in engagement with the cam or eccentric 63 in a manner so that revolution of the cam 63 will impart oscillating movement to the pendulum arm 64. A weight 61 is attached to and adjustable lengthwise on the pendulum arm 84 to the side of the pivot 65 opposite the forked end 66. The weight provides for adjustment to either increase or decrease the speed at which the cam 63 can rotate.

When the switch is in closed position, the pronged wheel 49 is stationary with one of its prongs 50 through 55 so located that upon tripping of the switch into open position the controlling member I5 is allowed to rotate freely through 45. In the position of the parts shown in the drawing, the peg Ila will engage the prong 50 when the latch mechanism is tripped. Upon tripping the energy of the spring H is exerted through peg Ila in a gear-like motion to the pronged wheel 49 and thence through the train of gears 51 through 62 to the cam 63. The pendulum arm 64 responds with oscillating motion to the force of spring ll. Before peg "a has revolved far enough to become disengaged from prong 58, the peg l8a has mechanically engaged with the next succeeding prong SI and continues a gear-like transmission of motion to the pronged wheel 49 which was originally imparted by peg I 'la. When the controlling member l has rotated 90 from the point at which the peg lla came into engagement with the prong 58, the peg l8a escapes out of mechanical engagement with prong 5| allowing the shaft assembly to rotate freely through the next succeeding 45 into closed position of the switch, at which point the projection l6b of controlling member l5 Comes into engagement with the prong 20 of lever 2| holding the switch in closed position until again tripped by the electromagnet means E or by manual tripping of the trip lever 35, as previously described. During this 90 rotation of the controlling member 15, that is from the time the peg Ila engages pron 50 to the time that peg 18a is disengaged from prong 5|, the speed of revolution of controlling member l5 and its associated shaft assembly is under control of the pendulum 64, and when peg I8a is disengaged from prong 5| there is no further motion of the pronged wheel 49 with its associated train of gears until the switch is again tripped out of closed position. Prong 52 in the position of the parts shown in the drawings then rests in a position to be engaged by peg ill) for the next operation of the switch.

Referring now to Figures 9, and 12, there is shown a lock-out time mechanism LT the function of which is to lock-out the switch in open position under certain circumstances. The mechanism LT is operative to lock out the switch in open position if after a predetermined number of successive opening and closing operations a fault should reoccur within a predetermined time after the last reclosure. The member of the times the switch is allowed to trip open without remaining closed for this predetermined time, without locking out, is adjustable through a plurality of switch operations and is controlled by the recycling disc 68 shown in detail in Figure 9. For clarity of illustration, the view of the recycling disc 68, that part of the structure shown in Figure 9 has been omitted from the isometric illustration of Figure 10. In order to facilitate an understanding of the lock-out timer mechanism LT, I will explain the action of the lockout timer as it would operate if no recycling disc such as the disc 68 was used, and thereafter will explain the manner in which the recycling disc I58 functions in the look-out timer mechanism to provide for adjusting the number of switch operations before conditioning that mechanism to provide for lock-out of the switch in open position if a fault reoccurs within a predetermined time, which time is also adjustable.

When the switch has tripped into open position and the controlling member I5 is rotating with its associated shaft assembly I, 2 and 3 under control of the reclosing timer RT, the peg l9a, in the position shown in the drawings, which is fixed in the controlling member l5 and extends horizontally in a direction opposite the pegs lla, l'lb, [8a and lb, comes into mechanical engagement with a lever arm 69 fixed to a horizontally rotatable extending shaft 78. The shaft 10 is adapted to be rotated in a clockwise direction as the controlling member l5 rotates under the urge of the spring II. A coil spring 13 (see Figure 9) is fixed at one end by stationary pin 16 and the other end of the spring 13 is fixed to the shaft l9 so that the spring 13 is adapted to be flexed or energized by clockwise rotation of the shaft Hi. When the peg We and controlling member l5 have rotated a sufficient distance to escape out of mechanical engagement with lever arm 69. there is no further clockwise rotation of shaft 18 and the energy thus stored in the spring 13 is effective to rotate the shaft 18 in a counterclockwise direction. A ratchet wheel H is fixed to the shaft 10 and is held in engagement against counterclockwise rotation with a gear 16 of a train of gears. The gear I6 is rotated in a counterclockwise direction by the energy thus expended by spring 13, and this energy is transmitted from gear 16 to the subsequent train of gears TI, 18 and 19 to the escapement wheel 88.

An escapement fork BI is pivoted about a fixed pivot pin 82, and has a forked end for engagement with the escapement wheel and below its pivotal mounting it is formed to extend into a pendulum arm portion 83. A balance wheel 86 is free to rotate about a pivot Bl carried by an arm 88 so located that a peg fixed in the balance wheel 86 is engaged in a slot 54 of the pendulum arm portion 83.

The rotation of the escapment wheel 80 transmits an oscillating motion to the pendulum arm 83. and this oscillating motion is transmitted to the balance wheel 86 which acts as a pendulum weight to control the speed at which pendulum arm 83 is allowed to oscillate. The arm 88 which supports the balance wheel 86 is pivoted about the fixed pivot 14, and the angular position of the arm 88 is adjustable on a quadrant scale Si by means of a screw 89 fitting in a slot 98 of the quadrant 9| so that the length of stroke of pendulum arm 83 may be adjusted, and thereby control the time required for the energy of spring I3 to rotate the shaft 18 counterclockwise to its normal position in which the lever arm 69 engages against a stationary stop peg 93 shown in Figures 9 and 10. The lever arm 69 is then in position to be mechanically engaged by peg i917 carried by controlling member l5 diametrically opposite the peg l9a at the next operation of the switch. It will be seen that the motion of the shaft 10 consists of approximately degree rotation clockwise under urge of the peg i9a carried by controlling member l5, while the controlling member I5 is under control of the reclosing timing mechanism RT previously de-- scribed, and then a counterclockwise rotation of the same angular extent under control of the look-out timer mechanism LT.

Referring now to Figures 9, 10 and 12, it will be seen that the shaft 10 has fixed thereto a collar 94 for rotation therewith, the collar having an arm 95 projecting axially of the shaft. A second collar 96 is loosely mounted on the shaft iii in a position so that the arm 85 of the collar 84 is disposed between the prongs 91 and 98 of a fork formed in the collar 96. The prongs 91 and 88 are spaced a sufiicient angular distance apart as to allow the arm 95 of the collar 94 to rotate approximately 90% of its angular rotation before transmitting a rotating motion to the loosely mounted collar 96. As the shaft i0 is rotated clockwise under urge of the peg lBa against lever 69, the arm 95 of collar 94 comes into engagement with projection 90 of the collar 99, and the point end 99 of the collar opposite its projections 9'! and 90, is forced against the diagonally extend-= ing free end of a resilient leaf spring member I03. The resilient member I03 is rigidly fixed at its opposite end to a lever arm I which is pivoted at one end about a fixed pivot pin Hit and rests by gravity in the position shown in Figure 10. When the pointed end 99 of collar 99 is rotated against the diagonally extending and of the spring member I03, a clockwise rotating motion is transmitted to the spring I03 and the lever I0t about its pivot IOI. The pointed end 99 of the collar 96 is forced into a notch I 04 at the diagonally extending free end of the spring member I03 when the shaft 10 has rotated to its extreme clockwise position under the influence of the peg Its. A peg tI I is fixed in lever arm I 00 at its end opposite the pivot pin I0i in a position to be directly below a lever locking dog I02. The locking dog lever I02 is pivoted about a fixed pivot pin I 05 and rests by gravity with its notched end I06 resting on a stationary peg I08. In this position the locking projection I 09 of lever I02 will not be in position to engage any of the prongs 50 through 55 of the pronged wheel 49, when the prong wheel 49 is being revolved by pegs I'Ia and I911, or no and I8b of controlling member I5 when the switch is operating from open position to closed position under control of the reclosing timer mechanism RT.

When the pointed end 99 of'collar 96 is being forced into the notch I09 of the resilient spring member I 03, by the clockwise rotation of shaft 10, and a clockwise rotational movement is thereby being transmitted to lever arm I00, the peg II I in lever arm I00 describes an arc in a general upward direction thereby lifting the adjacent end of locking dog lever I02 until the prong I01 of locking dog lever I02 comes into mechanical contact with a stationary peg I 08. This peg prevents any further upward or clockwise motion of looking dog lever I02. In the assembly the locking dog lever I02 is placed in the same plane as the pronged wheel 49, so that when locking dog lever I02 has been moved to its extreme clockwise position and is stopped by the prong I07 engaging against the rigid or stationary peg I08, the locking nose I09 of locking dog lever I02 is then in the position shown in dotted lines on Figure 10 in which position it will mechanically engage any one of the prongs through of the prong wheel 49.

If the switch should be tripped open while looking nose I 09 is in the dotted line position, the controlling member I5 with its associated shaft assembly I, 2 and 3, and current carrying arms 2-31 would rotate freely through 45 to open the circuit, and the peg I'Ia of controlling member I5 would then engage prong 50 of the pronged wheel 49 and thereby transmit a clockwise rotational movement to the member 49, the speed of this movement being under control of the reclosing timing mechanism RT, and the prong 54 of pronged wheel 59 would then be brought into mechanical engagement with locking nose I09 thereby preventing any further rotation of controlling member I5 and its associated shaft assembly. The switch would then be held or locked in open position.

In the embodiment of the invention shown, the allowable rotation of controlling member I5 and its associated shaft assembly I, 2 and 3, when tripping open with the locking dog lever I02 in the locking position indicated in dotted lines wise rotation of the shaft is 60, 45 being free motion and the additional 15 taking place after the reclosing timer RT has beenset in motion and the pronged wheel 49 is rotated a sufllcient angular distance to engage prong 5 with the locking nose I09 in the posi tion indicated in dotted lines. This allowable rotation of controlling member I5 and associated shaft assembly is a design feature and may be increased or decreased without limiting the scope of my present invention.

It will further be observed that resilient spring member I03 must be of sufficient rigidity tc transmit the necessary lifting force against graviiy to the lever arm I00 and lock-out dog lever I02 without flexing, and yet of a character so that it may flex, and have energy stored therein. by unge of the pointed end 99 of the collar member 96 if rotary motion of the lever I00 and look ing dog lever I02 is prevented.

It will therefore be seen that when the locking nose I09 of the locking dog lever I02 is in its dotted line position it will be in position to lmi: the switch in open position if the switch should trip open. The locking dog lever will be held in this position as long as the pointed end 99 of the collar 96 is in engagement with the notch III of the resilient leaf spring member I03.

The locking dog lever I02 cannot drop to its inoperative position until the pointed end 99 of the loosely mounted collar 96 has been forced out of engagement with the notch I04 of the resilient leaf spring member I03 by counterclock- 10. The counterclockwise rotational speed of the shaft I0 is under control of the lookout timer assembly as in connection with Figure 9, and as previously set out is adjustable by the relative position of the balance wheel 86 and pendulum arm 83 on the quadrant scale 9I. As the shaft I0 is rotated counterclockwise by the energy stored in the spring 13 by the clockwise rotation of the shaft I0 and after it has rotated approximately 90% of its allowable angular return motion, the arm or collar 94 is brought into mechanical engagement with the prong 91 of the collar 96 and the pointed end 99 of collar 96 is then forced out of the notch I04 of the resilient leaf spring I03 during the subsequent 10% of the allowable rotation of the shaft I0. Thus, when the end 99 of the collar 96 has been forced out of the notch I04, the locking dog lever I02 drops by gravity to its unlocked position with prong I06 resting on the stationary peg I08 in the present embodiment. In the embodiment of the invention disclosed, I have provided a construction of lock-out timer so designed that the time required for the shaft I0 to revolve counterclockwise and allowing the lookout dog lever I 02 to drop to inlocked or inoperative position may be adjustable to a maximum of 45 seconds or a minimum of 15 seconds or may be adjusted for any time therebetween. It will therefore be seen that one operation of the switch consisting of one opening and closing operation, will place the locking nose I09 in the position indicated in dotted lines, and the nose I09 will be heldin this position by the pointed end 99 of the collar 96 engaging in the notch I04 of resilient leaf spring I03 until the pointed end 99 has been forced out of the notch by counterclockwise rotation of the shaft I0. If the switch should be tripped open while the looking nose is in the position indicated in dotted lines, the switch will be locked in open position. However, if the switch should remain closed, after tripping and subsequent reclosing for the allotted time for which the lock-out timer LT is adjusted the pointed end 99 will be forced out of the notch I04 of the spring I03, and the locking dog lever I02 and lever arm I and their associated parts will drop by gravity into their inoperative or unlocked positions. The lock-out timer LT, therefore, allows the switch to open and reclose but will lock the switch'in open position if a second trip-out occurs within the allotted time to which the lock-out timer has been adjusted.

With the switch locked in open position by any one of the prongs 50 through 55 of the pronged wheel 49 being engaged with the locking nose I09,

the frictional engagement of the locking nose with the particular prong, due to the force exerted by coil spring I I tending to close the switch, is sufficient to prevent locking dog I02 from dropping by gravity to unlocked or inoperative positions when the pointed end 99 is forced out of engagement with notch I04 of the spring I03 at the expiration of the lock-out timer operation, and the switch will then remain in locked open position until the trip lever 35 is manually tripped.

It is'desirable to latch the switch in open position during shipping and handling thereof and the like, and I therefore provide a latching lever H2 pivoted intermediate its ends about a horizontally extending pivot pin H3. The lever H2 and pivot pin H3 are arranged in, the assembly so that the prong H4 at the upper end of the lever is adapted upon clockwise rotation of lever H2 to bring the prong H4 into mechanical engagement with the end .portion I01 of the locking dog lever I02 opposite the locking nose I09 to transmit a lifting motion to the locking dog lever I02 thereby bringing the locking nose I09 into the dotted line position. If the switch is then tripped to open position it will be locked out due to engagement of one of the prongs of the pronged wheel 49 with the locking dog lever. The lower end of lever H2 is extended to form an arm H5 which is disposed between a pair of radially spaced prongs H6 and H1 of a suitable collar H8. The collar H8 is fixed to a vertically extending rotatable shaft H9 rotary movement of which will cause pivotal movement of the lever H2 about its pivot and thereby move the prong H4 of the lever H2 into or out of engagement with the portion I01 of the locking dog lever I02. When the lever H2 is engaged with the locking dog lever I02, the latter cannot move to unlocked position until the shaft I I9 is rotated in the opposite direction to disengage the prong I I4 from the locking dog lever I02. Indicator member I20 is fixed to the shaft I I9 and indicates on a dial I2I the position of the lever H2. The outer end of shaft H9 is suitably formed to be engaged by the recessed end of a suitable insulated hook stick so that the shaft I I9 may be safely manipulated by an operator with the switch in position in a live line.

When the switch is in service and has become locked in open position by act'on of the lockout timer LT, it must be assumed that some electrical fault exists on the circuit under the control of the switch, and the operating procedure would, therefore, be to first make the necessary repairs on the circuit to remove the fault and then allow the switch to close and restore service. Closing of the switch as before mentioned is accompllshed by manual trippingof the trip lever 35 which disengages the locking action of locking dog lever I02 from the pronged wheel 49, thereby allowing the controlling member I5 with its associated shaft assembly and current carrying arms to rotate to closed position. Referring again to the 16 trip lever 35, it will be seen that the spring mem ber I22 is fixed on one end thereto and is so located in the assembly with relation to the looking dog lever I02 that when trip lever is in its inoperative position resting against the peg I25 and locking dog lever I02 is in locked position, the rigid extension arm I23 of locking dog lever I02 is immediately adjacent to the spring member I22. Thus, in tripping of lever 35 force will be transmitted by the spring member I22 to the extension I23 of the lockout dog lever to force the latter out of engagement with the pronged wheel 49. The spring member I22 is of sufiicient rigidity to overcome the frictional engagement of. the locking dog lever I02 with the pronged wheel 49 without flexing. However, if the lever 35 should be tripped while the locking dog lever I02 is being held in lo:ked position by engagement of the prong H4 of the lever arm H2 with looking dog lever I02, the flexible member I22 would flex without distortion, and any further motion of lever 35 would be prevented by the latter coming into engagement against a rig d peg I24 positioned opposite the peg I25 and to the other side of the lever 35.

When the switch is locked in open position and the trip lever 35 tripped to disengage the locking dog lever I02 from the pronged wheel 49,

the motion of trip lever 35 also transmits movement to the manual trip lever 39 through the spring I22 by its engagement with the end portion 40 of lever 39, and the locking nose 26 of the toggle release latch 21 will be moved out of its locking position with the prong 25 of lever 24 by engagement of the manual trip lever 39 with the peg 42 fixed in lever 21. However, no movement of levers 2|, 23 or 24 takes place as they are held in stationary position by the retrieving spring 44. Also, the projection 25 of lever 24 is not under stress to engage projection 26 of toggle release latch 21 until the switch has rotated under control of the recloslng timer to its closed position.

The action of the lookout timer LT, as so far described, will lock the switch open after the second trip-out, if the second trip-out occurs within the time which the lockout timer is adjusted to release the locking mechanism to unlocked of inoperative position. Terminology of the art would designate this action as two shot.

In order to provide for a number of successive trip-outs before lock-out to be adjustable, and for a plurality of switch operations greater than two, I have provided a recycling disc 68, the mechanical function of which is to prevent the peg III in lever I00 from lifting locking dog lever I02 into locking position until a predetermined number of switch operations have occurred.

It will be seen that the recycling disc 69 is pivotally' mounted about a. pivot pin I26, and is provided with a substantially radially extending arm I38 terminating in a pointed end I40. A quadrant I41 is arranged in the assembly of the lockout timer LT with its radial center at the pivot I26 for the recycling disc 68. A movable lug MI is adjustable on the quadrant I41 and acts to hold the arm I38 of the recycling disc 98 with the pointed end I40 thereof in any of the positions indicated at I42 to I48 on the quadrant I41 against a' counterclockwise rotation by gravity of the recycling disc 68. The recycling disc 68 is designed so that its center of gravity will normally tend to cause the disc to rotate counterclockwise about its pivot I26 when the pointed end I40 of the arm I38 is in any angular 7 deep notch I32 and with a plurality of smaller notches I33 through I31, these smaller notches also being placed 30' apart. The recycling disc 03 is suitably mounted in the assembly of the lockout timer LT in a position relative to the controlling member I5 such that if the switch was tripped open when the arm I38 was resting against the adiust'abl elug I with the pointed end I40 thereof at positiorTIii'onqifii'drant I 41, the peg II!!! in controlling member I5 would come into mechanical engagement with prong I3I of the disc 68 after the controlling member I5 had rotated 45 freely and an additional 5 under control of the reclosing timer RT. In this manner a clockwise rotation is imparted to recycling disc 68, and the continued rotation of controlling member I5 will cause the peg I9a to pass out of engagement with prong I3I of the recycling disc when the latter had rotated 30 in a clockwise direction. The recycling disc 68 would then rotate counterclockwise by gravity to its original position with the pointed end I40 thereof at position I 46 on quadrant I41. The continued rotation of controlling member I5 in moving toward closed position would then bring peg I9a into engagement with lever 69 and thereby force the pointed end 99 of the collar 96 into the notch I04 of the resilient leaf spring member I03, and transmit a lifting motion to the lever I as previously described.

The lever I00 has a recycling peg I39 fixed in the free end thereof and in such relative position with respect to the recycling disc 68, that clockwise motion of the lever I00 about its pivot I M will bring the recycling peg I39 into engagement with the notch I31 of the recycling disc. 68 and prevent lever I00 from moving a sufficient distance to allow the peg III to lift the locking dog lever I02 into locking position. The recycling peg I39 will remain in notch I31 under flexing stress of the resilient spring member I 03 until the pointed end 99 of the collar 96 has been forced out of notch I04 of the spring member I03 by counterclockwise rotation of the shaft 70 under control of the lockout timer LT.

If the switch is tripped open again before the lockout timer has released the frictional engagement of recycling peg I39 from notch I31, the peg I9b of controlling member I will next come into engagement with prong I3I of the recycling disc 68 during the next switch operation and thereby rotate the recycling disc 68 in a clockwise direction 30 before escaping from the prong i3I. The recycling disc 68 will then have been advanced in a. clockwise direction to a position with the recycling peg I39 engaged in notch I36 and with prong I30 in the position previously occupied by prong I3I. The pointed end I40 of arm I39 will then be in the position indicated at I45 on the quadrant scale I41. The force being exerted by spring II during operation of the switch is sufllcient to overcome the frictional engagement of peg I39 from any of the notches I 33 to I31 while recycling disc 83 is being engaged by peg I9a or I9b of controlling member II, but the frictional engagement of recycling peg I33 with any of the notches I33 to I31 is sufficient to prevent recycling disc 63 from rotating counterclockwise by gravity.

It will therefore be observed that each successive operation of the switch, if occurring within the time allowed for the lockout timer. LT to release the frictional engagement of recycling peg I39 from the recycling'disc 68, will advance the recycling disc 68 an angular distance of 30 in a clockwise direction, and, that after five successive opening and closing operations of the switch, recycling disc 68 will have been advanced to a'position with recycling peg I39 engaged in'notch I33 and with the pointed end I44 of the arm I38 registering at the position indicated at 'I 42 on the quadrant I41, and with the prong I21 now in the position originally occupied by the prong I3I; the switch should now be tripped a sixth time without recycling disc 38 having been released by the lookout timer, the prong I21 would be engaged by peg I9a or controlling member I5, and the notch I33 would be forced out of engagement with the recycling peg I39, whereupon peg I39 would immediately move into the deep notch I32 by the spring I03 acting on lever I00, thereby allowing lever I00 to move upward causing the peg III carried by lever I00 to lift the locking dog lever I02 into locking position and the switch would then become locked in open position,

Thus, it will be seen that when the adjustable stop lug MI is positioned on the quadrant I41 to hold the pointed end I40 of the arm' I38 in position indicated at I46, the switch would lock open after being tripped open six successive tripouts and this locking adjustment in the terminology of the art would be called six shot. If it should be desired to have the switch lock open after five successive tripouts in the modification of the invention disclosed, the lug I4I would be adjusted on the quadrant I41 to hold the pointed end I40 of disc 68 in the position indicated at I45, and all features and operations of the recycling disc 68 would then have been advanced one operation closer to the position where the recycling peg I39 can move into notch I32 and allow the locking action to take place.

Adjusting of the stop lug I4I to the position indicated at I 44 on the quadrant I41 would advance the recycling disc 68 still another operation toward lockout position, and the switch would look open after four successive tripouts. Using position I43 on quadrant I41, the switch would be locked open after three successive tripouts, and by positioning the lug I4I at the position indicated at I42 on the quadrant, the switch would lock open after two successive tripouts.

However, if the switch should remain closed after any operation, for the length of time required for the lockout timer to end 99 of the loose collar member 96 out of engagement with the notch I04 of the leaf spring member I03, the frictional engagement of recycling peg I39 with the cycling disc 68 would be released and recycling disc 68 would then revolve counterclockwise by gravity into the position at which it was set on quadrant I41 and a new complete lockout cycle would be started when the switch was again tripped.

When the switch has been locked open from successive openings and closings therecycling peg I39 rests in notch I32 of the recycling disc} 68 until released by the lookout timer forcing the pointed end 99 of the collar 99 out of notch I 04 contr Of the leaf spring member IOI.- However, the prong I21 of the recycling disc 68 remains engaged with either peg l9a or I9b of controlling member I in the position where rotation of the controllingmember l6 was caused to be stopped by locking engagement of the lookout dog lever I92 with the pronged wheel 48. In this locked position, the recyclingdisc 66 has been advanced in a clockwise direction from the position indicated at I42 on the quadrant I41 by the clockwise motion transmitted to the recycling disc 68 by the pegs l8a on I9b moving against the prone I21, before the locking action took place, and the recycling disc 68 is held in this 15 advance position against counterclockwise rotation by gravity by the prong- I21 remaining engaged with either the peg l9b or peg I9a of the controlling member I5.

When the locking, action of the locking do olling member I5 is then permitted to continue rotation into closed position, and the pegs I9a or I9b, whichever is engaged with the prong I21,'will impart an additional 15 clockwise rotation to the recycling disc 68 before'passing out of engagement with prong I21, and recycling disc 68 will then drop counterclockwise to the set position on quadrant I41.

It will therefore be observed that if the switch should be put into closed position by tripping of lever 35, after having been locked operi by the lockout timer, and a fault should still exist on the circuit of sumcient magnitude to trip the switch successively until it is again locked open, that the number of tripouts occurring hefore locking open would be one less than the number at which the recycling disc 68 was set. However, if there was no fault on the line, and the switch was closed by tripping of lever 35, and if the switch remained closed for the time necessary for the lookout timer to release the locking dog lever to its normal or inoperative position, the switch would then again operate through the same number ,of operations for which it was 'set before looking out. This feature is of advantage it will be seen that such that ,the time delay becomes understood that the design may be extended to i provide for more than six operations without effooting the scope of my present invention.

The function of the electromagnetic overload trip mechanism E shown in Figure 11 is to provide a means whereby the current passing through the switch is used to produce magnetic action to release the latch member 21, which holds the switch in closed position, when line current reaches a predetermined magnitude, and 7 thereby allow the switch to trip into open position. Means are also incorporated in the electromagnet mechanism E to impose an adjustable time delay action upon the tripping mechanism such that the time required to elapse before tripping is inversely proportional to the magnitude of the line current in excess of that for which a the tripping mechanism was set to operate. Also, further means are provided to limit the inverse proportional characteristics of the time delay a predetermined line current has been reached, regardless of this increased magnitude of line current. Adjustable means are also provided such that an instantaneous tripping action may be superimposed uppn the time=delay to trip the= switch when line current reaches a predetermined magnitude in excess of the current at which the tripping mechanism was set to operate.

In the embodimenthshown in Figure 11, the electromagnetic means E comprises six coils I50 through I connected in series such that current passing through the coils will produce an accumulated magnetic effect of ampere turns in the U-shaped magnet I49 in proportion to the current and the number of turns, and the magnet bar I64 is so located in the assembly in relation to the U-shaped magnet I49 that the magnet bar I64 will not respond to the U-shaped magnet until a magnetic urge produced by approximately level the pronged Wheel has been leampere turns on the U magnet has i becn reached. I x

The incoming lead of the coil I50 is connected electrically to the contactsleevet thencethrough shaft 2, and thence through the associated current carrying arm 231 to the contact 1, the other end of coil I50 being connected to a terminal lug The incoming lead of coil I5I is connected to terminal lug I56 and the outgoing lead thereof is connected to, a terminal lug I51. The several coils I52, I53, I54 and I55 are connected in the same progressive manner to the several contact lugs I51 through I6I. The contact lugs I56 to I6I inclusive, have threaded tap holes therein, and are mounted rigidly in a suitable insulated support in the assembly so that the several lugs register coaxially with holes in the flexible fingers of the member I62. The plate member I62 is of electrical conducting material and is rigidly mounted in the assembly in such a position that the fingers, when unfiexed, are not in contact with any of the contact lugs I56 to I6! inclusive. The member I62 is connected electrical y to the metal base plate 249 of the switch structure and thence through contact sleeve 4 to shaft I and then through the current carrying arm to the fixed electrical contact 8. A threaded stud I63 is provided for making electrical contact with any one of the terminal lugs I56 to I6 I, inclusive, with its corresponding finger of the plate member I62 by engaging the stud in the selected threaded hole and its associated terminal lug,

"thereby flexing the selected finger of plate member I62 into contact with its associated terminal lug. It will therefore be seen that the number of turns which become magnetically effective on the U-shaped magnet I49 by current passing through the switch is determined by the particular terminal lug which is brought into electrical contact with an associated finger therefor of the plate member I62. In the switch described herein the number of turns per coil is such as produce approximately 750 ampere turns on the U-shaped magnet I49, when five amperes passes through terminal lug IBI, ten amperes through lug I60, 15 amperes through lug I59, 20 amperes through the lug I58, 30 amperes through the lug I51, and 50 amperes through the terminal lug I56.

A magnet bar I64 is arranged adjacent the end of the U-shaped magnet I49 and is hinged at one end upon a :pivot pin I65 to yieldingly support a supporting member I66 of non-magnetic material. The member I66 is rigidly fixed in the assembly at its forked ends I61 and I68 to the base definite after 249 with its opposite end flexed upon the edge of 21 7 an eccentric dial member I69. The dial member I69 is pivoted about a fixed pivot pin I18 in such manner that the dial member I69 can be rotated by manually overcoming the friction of the dial member I69 with its pivot pin I18. Various positions to which the member I69 may be positioned are indicated on a scale I" fixed to base 249 in juxtaposition of the member I69. Movement of the arm I69 into any of the several positions on the scale I'II changes the magnetic gap between the U-shaped magnet I49 and the magnet bar I64 by raising or lowering the ends of the nonmagnetic member I66 which carries pivot pin I66 to which bar I64 is pivoted. The dial member I69 is provided with a cam surface engaging the free end of member I66 and the parts are so designed so that upon setting of the arm at the position marked 0.7 on the scale "I, the magnetic gap between the U-magnet I49 and the magnet bar "I64 will be such that the bar I64 would be set into motion by a magnetic force occasioned by 1 6 of 750 ampere turns in the particular embodiment of the invention disclosed. In like manner, setting of the arm I69 of scale I1I at the position shown as 1.1 would increase.

the magnet gap such that 1 times 750 ampere turns would be required to actuate magnet bar I64. It will therefore be seen that the various positions at which the arm I69 may be set with respect to the scale I1I indicates the decimal multiplier applicable to any of the terminal lugs I56 to I6I inclusive, which may be caused to contact the member I62, in determining the ampere load at which the switch will trip. In the description of my invention to follow, the action of the magnet bar I64 will be predicated on the assumption that the arm I69 is set in position 1.0 on scale I1I, in which position the magnetic bar I64 will be attracted by 750 ampere turns.

A leaf spring I12 is fixed rigidly at one end adjacent the hinged end of magnet bar I64, and the free end of the spring member is flexed over a roller I13 carried on a peg rigidly fixed in one end of an arm member I14. The arm member I14 is free to rotate about the shaft I15, but its clockwise rotation is limited by engagement against a rigidly fixed peg I16. The force of the spring I12 occasioned by its engagement with roller I13, with the arm I 14 resting against the peg I16, holds the magnet bar I 64 in a position where the arm I18 carried at the end of the magnet bar I64 opposite its pivoted end is in engagement with the trip arm I11 carried by and rigidly fixed in the end of arm I14 opposite the end carrying peg I13. The magnet bar IE4 is held in this position by the leaf spring I12 against any magnetic stress occasioned in the magnet bar 149 by less than 150 ampere turns.-

A coil spring I19 is attached at one end to the trip arm I11, and the other end of the spring is attached to the adjacent end of the magnet bar I64 by an adjustable screw I88. The screw I80 provides for adjustment of the tension of the spring I19, and it will be seen that if spring I19 was not used, that magnet bar I 64 would overcome the tension of spring I12 and be moved directly against the ends of the U-magnet I49 when 750 ampere turns are carried in the electric circuit. However, with the spring I19 assembled as shown and described, the motion of magnet bar I64 is transmitted by spring I19 to the arm I 14 thereby moving the arm I14 counterclockwise about the shaft I15 and away from the peg I16. The roller I13 carried by arm, I14 is thus moved in a counterclockwise direction 'mitted to arm I14 about the shaft I15.

in an are around shaft I15.

, 22 thereby producing an additional flexing stress in spring I12. This additional flexing stress on spring I12 occasioned by counterclockwise motion of the peg carrying roller I13 while magnet bar I64 is being moved toward the U-magnet I49, counteracts and balances the accumulative increase which occurs in the magnetic urge on 'magnet bar I64 due totheprogressive shortening of the magnetic gap between the bar I64 and the ends of the magnet I49 as the magnet bar I64 approaches the U-magnet I49. when the magnet bar I64 has been brought against the U- shape magnet I49, the trip bar I11, if unretarded. would have been carried therewith by the urge of spring I19 holding the trip arm I11 against the arm I18 and in this position trip arm I11 would engage the arm 28 of the toggle release latch 21 and allow the switch to trip into open position. It will therefore be seen that if the free motion of lever arm I14 was not controlled by a retarding means, that the switch would trip open immediately when 750 ampere turns were impressed on the U-magnet I49.

In order to provide a means for interposing a time delay action to the motion of the trip arm I11, it will be observed that I provide an arm I8I which is rigidly fixed at one end to the arm I14. A trunnion I82 is carried by the other end of ISI and in parallel alignment with the shaft I15 so that rotating motion of the arm I14 about shaft I15 will cause the axial line of trunnion I82 to describe an are around the shaft I15. A latch I83 is assembled on the trunnion I82 for rotation relative thereto, and it is assembled in rotational alignment with the rotational plane of a first gear I89 of a gear train. A ratchet prong I84 formed as part of the latch i83 normally rests by gravity in the teeth of the gear I89. The gear I89 is free to rotate counterclockwise around the fixed shaft I 15, but it is in mesh with a gear I90 of a train of speed in creasing gears I90, I92, I93, I and I96, which are assembled in conventional manner on fixed shafts I9I, I94 and I91. These shafts are free to rotate in suitable bearings. When the magnet bar- I64 responds to magnetic urge of the U- magnet I49, the motion of magnet bar I64 is transmitted through the spring I19 to trip arm I11 and a counterclockwise rotation is trans- This causes trunnion I82 to move counterclockwise Since the ratchet member I84 is engaged between the shaft 182 and the gear wheel I89, the gear 39 and the train of gears 198 through I96 are caused to be driven. The speed at which trip arm I11 is allowed to approach the toggle release latch 28 is proportional to the rate at which the magnetic urge of magnet bar I64 can transmit acceleration through the spring I19 to the train of gears. To provide a means of adjusting the extent to which the train of gears is allowed to control the motion of trip arm I11, a pointer arm i 86 is assembled on a shaft I15 having a peg I81 rigidly mounted therein. The pointer arm I86 is adjustable to various positions on a scale member 588 adjacent the arm I86 and is so located in the assembly that the lip I85 of the member I83 will engage the peg I81 and thereby lift the ratchet arm I84 out of engagement with the teeth of the gear I89. This will occur when the gear 189 has rotated to the angular position where the lip I85 engages with the peg I81 which is determined by the setting of pointer arm I 86 with respect to the scale I88.

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