Double break disconnect switch

A double break disconnect switch comprising:

• a drive arrangement including a rotatable support assembly including at least one rotatable insulator and a lever for imparting rotation to the at least one rotatable insulator,
• a bearing arrangement mounted on the drive arrangement, said drive arrangement via the lever in relative movement relationship with respect to the bearing arrangement, a switch blade assembly including a switch blade supported by the bearing arrangement and rotatable with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof for initial opening of the double break disconnect switch and for final closing of the double break disconnect switch and the switch blade assembly arranged for a transverse swinging movement for final opening and initial closing of the double break disconnect switch,
• a contact terminal affixed at each end of said switch blade, a pair of spaced resilient contact jaws for receiving each contact terminal, each contact terminal engageable with one of the contact jaws in a pressure contact relationship during final closing of the switch blade assembly and disengageable from one of the contact jaws when the switch blade assembly is initially opened,
• the bearing arrangement including means for hinging the switch blade assembly for rotation of the switch blade with a predetermined minimum torque about a hinge axis positioned outside the outer surface of the switch blade and parallel to the longitudinal center axis of the switch blade and offset from the center of gravity of the switch blade assembly for initial opening of the double break disconnect switch and for final closing of the double break disconnect switch,
• the bearing arrangement including a switch blade support member mounted on the rotatable support assembly for co-rotatable transverse movement therewith during the transverse swinging movement of the switch blade, the bearing arrangement including a cam means for imparting the transverse swinging movement to the switch blade assembly and for imparting a rotational movement thereto with respect to the hinge axis of the switch blade during final closing or initial opening of the double break disconnect switch,
• the cam means including a switch blade pivot component affixed to the switch blade in predetermined position offset from the at least one switch blade bearing support attachment piece, a blade guide pin operatively mounted to the switch blade pivot component, the blade guide pin having an axis extending parallel to the longitudinal axis of the switch blade, the blade guide pin including a grooved roller mounted in rotatable and slidable relationship therewith,
• a blade drive plate having a proximal end and distal end, the blade drive plate including a slot therein for receiving and maintaining the grooved roller of the blade guide pin in movable relationship therewith, the blade drive plate including camming surfaces proximate opposite sides of the slot for contacting the grooved roller, a swiveling blade drive plate support bracket including upper and lower flange portions, a cam means support bracket operatively affixed to the switch blade support member, the upper flange portion of the swiveling blade drive blade support bracket operatively attached to and in swiveling relationship with the cam means support bracket, the lower flange portion of the swiveling drive blade support bracket operatively attached to and in swiveling relationship with the switch blade support member, a spring energy reservoir for providing a predetermined opposing force in relation to the roller and the camming surfaces of the blade drive plate, the spring energy reservoir in operative attachment with the distal end of the blade drive plate,
• each of the contact terminals having a longitudinal axis that is collinear with the hinge axis.