Composite groundable barrier for switchgear and grounding apparatus

Switchgear apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a grounded metal enclosure;
• (b) a stationary electrical contact disposed within said enclosure for being contacted within said enclosure from a point within a limited three-dimensional angular range;
• (c) movable electrical apparatus including contact means for being selectively disposed in a disposition of engagement with said stationary contact or not, said engagement coming from a point within said range;
• (d) movable composite barrier means movably disposed within said enclosure means for being actuated to a first position to insulate said stationary contact from any point within said range when said contact means of said movable electrical apparatus is not in a disposition of engagement with said stationary contact, and for being actuated to a second position to allow said engagement of said stationary contact with said contact means of said movable electrical apparatus, said composite means comprising electrically insulating material for that portion thereof which is closest to said stationary contact when said barrier means is in said first position and electrically conducting material which is spaced from said stationary contact by said insulating material, said electrically conducting material having a contact thereon for being grounded when said barrier is in said first position to thus interpose the electrical potential of ground between said stationary contact and any point in said range, said electrically conducting material being ungrounded when said barrier means is in said second position to thus reduce the tendency to interact electrically with said engaged stationary contact and said electrical apparatus;
• (e) actuating means for moving said barrier means;
• and
• (f) grounding means including an electrical conductor and an actuating-means-actuated contact means for connecting said support means to said grounding means at a time which is concurrent with said contact on said barrier means being connected to said grounding means for grounding said conducting material when said barrier means is in said first position, said latter two separate connections both being disconnected when said barrier means is in said second position.

Switchgear apparatus, comprising:

• (a) a grounded metal enclosure;
• (b) a plurality of horizontally aligned stationary electrical contacts disposed within said enclosure each of which is capable of being contacted within said enclosure from points within a limited three-dimensional angular range;
• (c) movable electrical apparatus including a plurality of contacts means, each of which is capable of being selectively disposed in a disposition of engagement with said stationary contact or not, said engagement coming from points within said range;
• (d) movable composite barrier means movably disposed within said enclosure for being actuated to a first position to insulate said stationary contacts from any point within said range when said contact means of said movable electrical apparatus are not in a disposition of engagement with said stationary contacts, and for being actuated to a second position to allow said engagement of said stationary contacts with said contact means of said movable electrical apparatus, said composite means comprising electrically insulating material for that portion thereof which is closest to said stationary contacts when said barrier means is in said first position and electrically conducting material which is spaced from said stationary contact by said insulating material, said electrically conducting material having a contact thereon for being grounded when said barrier means is in said first position to thus interpose the electrical potential of ground between said stationary contacts and any point in said range, said electrically conducting material being ungrounded when said barrier means is in said second position to thus reduce the tendency to interact electrically with said engaged stationary contacts and said electrical apparatus;
• (e) actuating means for moving said barrier means;
• and
• (f) grounding means including an electrical conductor and an actuating-means-actuated contact means for connecting said support means to said grounding means at a time which is concurrent with said contact on said barrier means being connected to said grounding means for grounding said conducting material when said barrier means is in said first position, said latter two separate connections both being disconnected when said barrier means is in said second position.

Electrical apparatus, comprising:

• (a) support means electrically maintained at generally ground electrical potential;
• (b) first contact means supported by said support means but electrically insulated therefrom;
• (c) second electrical contact means disposable in either of two dispositions relative to said first contact means, the first of said two dispositions being one of electrical continuity between said first and said second contact means, the second of said two dispositions being one of non-electrical continuity between said first and said second contact means;
• (d) electrically insulating barrier mean insertable to a disposition between said first contact means and said second contact means when both said later contact means are in said second disposition, said barrier means having electrical conductor means thereon for providing an electrical ground potential between said first and second contact means when said first and second contact means are in said second disposition;
• and
• (e) grounding means actuable by the movement of said barrier means towards said barrier-means-disposition between said first and second contact means for making separate electrical contact with said electrical conductor means on said barrier means and a conductor on said support means, said grounding means being actuable by movement of said barrier means from said barrier-means-disposition between said first and said second contact means for breaking said separate electrical contact between said electrical conductor means on said barrier means and said conductor on said support means.

Electrical apparatus, comprising:

• (a) support means electrically maintained at generally ground electrical potential;
• (b) first electrical contact means supported by said support means;
• (c) second electrical contact means disposable in either of two dispositions relative to said first contact means, the first of said two dispositions being one of electrical continuity between said first and said second contact means, the second of said two dispositions being one of non-electrical continuity between said first and said second contact means;
• (d) electrically insulating barrier means insertable to a disposition between said first contact means and said second contact means when both said later contact means are in said second disposition, said barrier means having electrical conductor means thereon for providing an electrical ground potential between said first and second contact means when said first and second contact means are in said second disposition;
• and
• (e) grounding means actuable by the movement of said barrier means towards said barrier-means-disposition between said first and second contact means for making separate electrical contact with said electrical conductor means on said barrier means and a conductor on said support means, said grounding means being actuable by movement of said barrier means from said barrier-means-disposition between said first and said second contact means for breaking said separate electrical contact between said electrical conductor means on said barrier means and said conductor on said support means.

Electrical switchgear apparatus, comprising:

• (a) support means electrically maintained at generally ground electrical potential;
• (b) generally fixed contact means supported by said support means but electrically insulated therefrom;
• (c) movable circuit interrupter apparatus with circuit interrupter electrical contact means disposable in either of two dispositions relative to said fixed contact means, the first of said two dispositions being one of electrical continuity between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means, the second of said two dispositions being one of non-electrical continuity between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means;
• (d) electrically insulating barrier means insertable to a disposition between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means when both said later contact means are in said second disposition, said barrier means having electrical conductor means thereon for providing an electrical ground potential between said fixed contact means and circuit interrupter contact means when said fixed and circuit interrupter contact means are in said second disposition;
• and
• (e) grounding means actuable by the movement of said barrier means towards said barrier-means-disposition between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means for making separate electrical contact with said electrical conductor means on said barrier means and a conductor on said support means, said grounding means being actuable by movement of said barrier means from said barrier-means-disposition between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means for breaking said separate electrical contact between said electrical conductor means on said barrier means and said conductor on said support means.

Electrical switchgear apparatus, comprising:

• (a) support means electrically maintained at generally ground electrical potential;
• (b) generally fixed contact means supported by said support means;
• (c) movable circuit interrupter apparatus with circuit interrupter electrical contact means disposable in either of two dispositions relative to said fixed contact means, the first of said two dispositions being one of electrical continuity between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means, the second of said two dispositions being one of non-electrical continuity between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means;
• (d) electrically insulating barrier means insertable to a disposition between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means when both said later contact means are in said second disposition, said barrier means having electrical conductor means thereon for providing an electrical ground potential between said fixed contact means and circuit interrupter contact means when said fixed and circuit interrupter contact means are in said second disposition;
• and
• (e) grounding means actuable by the movement of said barrier means towards said barrier-means-disposition between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means for making separate electrical contact with said electrical conductor means on said barrier means and a conductor on said support means, said grounding means being actuable by movement of said barrier means from said barrier-means-disposition between said fixed contact means and said circuit interrupter contact means for breaking said separate electrical contact between said electrical conductor means on said barrier means and said conductor on said support means.