Operating mechanism for throwing toggle switches
AssigneeCooper Industries, Inc.
InventorsAnthony W. P. Chan, Richard M. Phillips
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A mechanism is provided for throwing several toggle switches together, especially toggle contact breakers, which are enclosed in an explosion proof container. A link between the toggles distributes manual toggling force over all of them from a single manual throw switch. The single manual throw switch may be located outside the explosion proof container and be connected to the link to the toggles through a wall, e.g., a moveable wall such as a door. In one practical embodiment, the link is an elongate tie bar for the toggles, and the manual throw switch is connected to the spaced apart forks which are geared together.
Claims25
An electrical switch comprising:
- at least two toggle circuit breakers at spaced apart locations and united by a common tie bar;
- and
- a mechanism for operating the toggle circuit breakers, and wherein the mechanism comprises:
- first and second forks each adapted to engage the tie bar, the forks being cooperatively movable between at least first and second respective fork positions to move the tie bar laterally between corresponding at least first and second tie bar positions, whereby the at least two toggle circuit breakers are toggled by lateral movement of the tie bar between its at least first and second positions;
- manually operable means to move the first fork;
- and
- gear means associated with said first fork to gear the second fork to move synchronously with said first fork.
A switching mechanism for use with a plurality of toggles connected by a tie bar for simultaneous movement between first and second positions by lateral movement of the tie bar, the switching mechanism comprising:
- first and second forks at spaced apart locations, each for engagement of the tie bar as it moves between the first and second tie bar positions;
- manually operable means to move the first fork;
- and
- gear means operably connecting the forks for synchronous movement between first and second postions of each fork, first and second fork positions corresponding to the first and second tie bar positions.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.