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US 9,099,266 B2Granted
Air break electrical switch having a blade toggle mechanism
AssigneeHubbell Incorporated
InventorDavid A. Rhein
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electrical switch includes a pivotally supported blade, a toggle mechanism, and an operating mechanism. The operating mechanism is drivable in a first direction to pivot the blade about a first axis and toward a closed blade position. When pivoting toward the closed blade position, the toggle mechanism inhibits the blade from pivoting about a second axis. Upon reaching the closed blade position, continued motion of the operating mechanism in the first direction causes the toggle mechanism to pivot the blade about the second axis toward a closed contact position. In the closed contact position, the blade contacts at least one blade contact to electrically connect the blade and a first electrical terminal.
Claims21
An electrical switch, comprising:
- a frame configured to connect to a utility structure;
- a first electrical terminal electrically insulatively supported by the frame, the first electrical terminal including at least one blade contact;
- a blade support housing electrically insulatively supported by the frame and disposed apart from the first electrical terminal, the blade support housing being pivotally supported so as to be pivotable about a first axis relative to the frame;
- a blade pivotally supported by the blade support housing so as to be pivotable about a second axis relative to the blade support housing;
- a toggle mechanism including:
- a first toggle member fixedly connected to the blade;
- a second toggle member movably supported by the blade and pivotally fixed relative to the blade support housing;
- a biasing member forcing the second toggle member to engage the first toggle member;
- an operating mechanism connected to the blade through the first toggle member;
- and
- wherein the operating mechanism is drivable in a first direction to pivot the blade support housing and the blade about the first axis and toward a closed blade position, in the closed blade position the blade being disposed proximate and engageable with the first electrical terminal, when pivoting toward the closed blade position the second toggle member engaging the first toggle member to inhibit the blade from pivoting about the second axis relative to the blade support housing, upon reaching the closed blade position continued motion of the operating mechanism in the first direction causing the first toggle member to slip relative to the second toggle member and thereby pivot the blade about the second axis toward a closed contact position, and in the closed contact position the blade contacts the at least one blade contact to electrically connect the blade and the first electrical terminal.
8 more elements
An electrical switch, comprising:
- a frame configured to connect to a utility structure;
- a first electrical terminal electrically insulatively supported by the frame, the first electrical terminal including at least one blade contact;
- a blade support housing electrically insulatively supported by the frame and disposed apart from the first electrical terminal, the blade support housing being pivotally supported so as to be pivotable about a first axis relative to the frame;
- a blade pivotally supported by the blade support housing so as to be pivotable about a second axis relative to the blade support housing;
- an over-center mechanism disposed within the blade support housing and including:
- a first over-center member fixedly connected to the blade;
- a second over-center member pivotally and translatably supported by the blade and pivotally fixed relative to the blade support housing;
- a compression spring forcing the second over-center member to engage the first over-center member;
- an operating mechanism connected to the blade through the first over-center member;
- wherein the operating mechanism is drivable in a first direction to pivot the blade support housing and the blade about the first axis and toward a closed blade position, in the closed blade position the blade being disposed proximate and engageable with the first electrical terminal, when pivoting toward the closed blade position the second over-center member engaging the first over-center member to inhibit the blade from pivoting about the second axis relative to the blade support housing, upon reaching the closed blade position continued motion of the operating mechanism in the first direction causing the first over-center member to slip relative to the second over-center member and thereby pivot the blade about the second axis toward a closed contact position, and in the closed contact position the blade contacts the at least one blade contact to electrically connect the blade and the first electrical terminal;
- and
- wherein the operating mechanism is drivable in a second direction when the blade is disposed in the closed blade position and the closed contact position to cause the first over-center member to slip relative to the second over-center member and thereby pivot the blade about the second axis away from the closed contact position and toward an open contact position, upon reaching the open contact position continued motion of the operating mechanism in the second direction causing the blade support housing and the blade to pivot about the first axis and toward an open blade position, in the open blade position the blade being disposed apart from the first electrical terminal to electrically isolate the blade and the first electrical terminal.
9 more elements
An electrical switch, comprising:
- a frame configured to connect to a utility structure;
- a first electrical terminal electrically insulatively supported by the frame, the first electrical terminal including at least one blade contact;
- a blade support housing electrically insulatively supported by the frame and disposed apart from the first electrical terminal, the blade support housing being pivotally supported so as to be pivotable about a first axis relative to the frame;
- a blade pivotally supported by the blade support housing so as to be pivotable about a second axis relative to the blade support housing;
- a toggle mechanism including:
- a first toggle member fixedly connected to the blade;
- a second toggle member movably supported by the blade and pivotally fixed relative to the blade support housing;
- a biasing member forcing the second toggle member to engage the first toggle member;
- an operating mechanism connected to the blade through the first toggle member;
- and
- wherein the operating mechanism is drivable in a first direction by applying a first torque to the operating mechanism, the first torque pivoting the blade support housing and the blade about the first axis and toward a closed blade position, in the closed blade position the blade being disposed proximate and engageable with the first electrical terminal, when pivoting toward the closed blade position the second toggle member engaging the first toggle member to inhibit the blade from pivoting about the second axis relative to the blade support housing, upon reaching the closed blade position the operating mechanism is drivable in the first direction by applying a second torque greater that the first torque to the operating mechanism, the second torque causing the first toggle member to slip relative to the second toggle member and thereby pivot the blade about the second axis toward a closed contact position, and in the closed contact position the blade contacts the at least one blade contact to electrically connect the blade and the first electrical terminal.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.