Quick-break attachment for a pole-top air-break switch

An improved quick-break attachment for a pole-top air-break switch which includes a fixed switch arm and a movable switch arm in normally adjacent switch-closed relation, the movable switch arm being swingable in a direction away from the fixed switch arm to open the switch;

• the quick-break attachment comprising a flexible but resilient whip, means pivotally mounting the whip at its inner end and in connection with and projecting from the fixed switch arm, a catch including a cradle, means fixedly mounting the catch in connection with and projecting from the movable arm, the whip being engaged with the catch cradle when the switch is closed, a spring, and means connecting the spring between the whip and the fixed switch arm, the spring yieldably resisting movement of the whip by the catch, the whip against the resistance of the spring being swung, bowed, and spring-loaded by the catch cradle, progressively sliding towards its tip on the catch cradle, and thence snap-disengaging at the tip from the catch cradle, all upon and in response to the movable switch arm swinging in said direction to open the switch;
• characterized by the inclusion of an elongated finger which projects from the catch cradle in a position intersecting the path of the whip beyond the point of its snap-disengagement from the catch cradle whereby after said snap-disengagement the whip spring-unloads, straightens, and engages and rides said intersecting finger, and hence prolongs electrical contact until the whip escapes said finger.

An improved quick-break attachment for a pole-top air-break switch which includes a fixed switch arm and a movable switch arm in normally adjacent switch-closed relation, the movable switch arm being swingable in a direction away from the fixed switch arm to open the switch;

• the quick-break attachment comprising a flexible but resilient whip, means pivotally mounting the whip at its inner end and in connection with and projecting from the fixed switch arms, a catch including a cradle, means fixedly mounting the catch in connection with and projecting from the movable arm, the whip being engaged with the catch cradle when the switch is closed, a spring, and means connecting the spring between the whip and the fixed switch arm, the spring yieldably resisting movement of the whip by the catch, the whip against the resistance of the spring being swung, bowed, and spring-loaded by the catch cradle, progressively sliding towards its tip on the catch cradle, and thence snap-disengaging at the tip from the catch cradle, all upon and in response to the movable switch arm swinging in said direction to open the switch;
• characterized by the spring being of compression type, and the connecting means for said compression spring including a cylinder, a structure fixing the cylinder in connection with but spaced from the fixed switch arm, the cylinder axis extending in the plane of said direction, the compression spring being disposed in the cylinder in engagement between the head thereof adjacent the whip and a stop disc in the cylinder, a pull rod extending from the stop disc and through said cylinder head, and a link pivotally connected between the exterior end of the pull rod and the whip at a point on the latter spaced outwardly of the axis of pivotal movement thereof;
• and further characterized by the inclusion of an elongated finger which projects from the catch cradle in a position intersecting the path of the whip beyond the point of its snap-disengagement from the catch cradle whereby after said snap-disengagement the whip spring-unloads, straightens, and engages and rides said intersecting finger, and hence prolongs electrical contact until the whip escapes said finger.

An improved quick-break attachment for a movable switch arm in normally adjacent switch-closed relation, the movable switch arm being swingable in a direction away from the fixed switch arm to open the switch;

• the quick-break attachment comprising a flexible but resilient whip, means pivotally mounting the whip at its inner end and in connection with and projecting from the fixed switch arm, a catch including a cradle, means fixedly mounting the catch in connection with and projecting from the movable arm, the whip being engaged with the catch cradle when the switch is closed, a spring, and means connecting the spring between the whip and the fixed switch arm, the spring yieldably resisting movement of the whip by the catch, the whip against the resistance of the spring being swung, bowed, and spring-loaded by the catch cradle, progressively sliding towards its tip on the catch cradle, and thence snap-disengaging at the tip from the catch cradle, all upon and in response to the movable switch arm swinging in said direction to open the switch;
• characterized by the spring being of compression type, and the connecting means for said compression spring including a cylinder, a structure fixing the cylinder in connection with but spaced from the fixed switch arm, the cylinder axis extending in the plane of said direction, the compression spring being disposed in the cylinder in engagement between the head thereof adjacent the whip and a stop disc in the cylinder, a pull rod extending from the stop disc and through said cylinder head, and a link pivotally connected between the exterior end of the pull rod and the whip at a point on the latter spaced outwardly of the axis of pivotal movement thereof;
• and further characterized by the pivotal mounting means for the whip including transversely spaced, support arms projecting toward the fixed switch arm from the head of the cylinder on opposite sides of the pull rod and connected link, a cross shaft spanning between the free ends of the support arms, a sleeve turnable on the cross shaft, and the lower end of the sleeve being attached in connection with said turnable sleeve.