Vacuum switch operating mechanism with plural dashpot controller means

Claim 2

An operating mechanism for a vacuum switch, comprising: a vacuum switch having normally closed first and second contacts; an axially slidable operating shaft connected to one of the contacts of said vacuum switch; support means disposed to support and guide said axially slidable operating shaft in a straight line; first means for axially moving said operating shaft relative to said support means, when it is desired to separate the contacts of said vacuum switch, said first means initiating the axial movement of said operating shaft with a force predetermined to break contact welds, continuing the axial movement until the contacts of said vacuum switch have separated by a predetermined dimension, and restraining the operating shaft to maintain the contacts of said vacuum switch in their open position; first dashpot means having a piston coaxially fixed to said operating shaft for controlling the axial speed of said operating shaft when moved by said first means; means for removing the restraint of said first means on said operating shaft when it is desired to allow the conTacts of said vacuum switch to close; and second dashpot means having a piston coaxially fixed to said operating shaft for controlling the axial speed of said operating shaft when the contacts of said vacuum switch are closing.

Claim 3

The operating mechanism of claim 1 wherein the first means engages the piston of the first dashpot means to axially move the operating shaft and open the contacts of the vacuum switch.

Claim 4

An operating mechanism for a vacuum switch, comprising: a mounting base; an axially slidable operating shaft disposed on said mounting base, adapted for connection to a contact of the vacuum switch; a control shaft adapted for connection to reversible drive means; an operating arm assembly pivotally disposed on said control shaft, said operating arm assembly including means for engaging said operating shaft when said operating shaft assembly pivots about said control shaft in a predetermined direction; a spring having one end restrained by said operating arm assembly; a toggle assembly having set and collapsed positions, said toggle assembly including first and second cooperative arm members pivotally mounted on said mounting base and on said operating arm assembly, respectively, said second arm member including a cam follower and means for storing energy in said spring in response to the cam follower; first cam means disposed on said control shaft which cooperates with the cam follower of said toggle assembly, to set the toggle assembly and store energy in said spring; trip means disposed on said mounting base, said trip means including means for releasably engaging said operating arm assembly, and a cam follower; and second cam means disposed on said control shaft for cooperating with the cam follower of said trip means, to release the trip means from said operating arm assembly, whereby the stored energy in said spring is released, collapsing the toggle mechanism to pivot said operating arm assembly about said control shaft and engage and move said operating shaft in a direction which separates the contacts of the vacuum switch, and to restrain the operating arm assembly at the end of its pivotal movement to maintain the separation of the vacuum switch contacts.

Claim 5

An operating mechanism for a vacuum switch, comprising: a mounting base; an axially slidable operating shaft disposed on said mounting base, adapted for connection to a contact of the vacuum switch; a control shaft adapted for connection to reversible drive means; an operating arm assembly pivotally disposed on said control shaft, said operating arm assembly including means for engaging said operating shaft when said operating shaft assembly pivots about said control shaft in a predetermined direction; a spring having one end restrained by said operating arm assembly; a toggle assembly having set and collapsed positions, said toggle assembly including first and second cooperative arm members pivotally mounted on said mounting base and on said operating arm assembly, respectively, said second arm member including a cam follower and means for storing energy in said spring in response to the cam follower; first cam means disposed on said control shaft which cooperates with the cam follower of said toggle assembly, to set the toggle assembly and store energy in said spring; trip means disposed on said mounting base, said trip means including means for releasably engaging said operating arm assembly, and a cam follower; and second cam means disposed on said control shaft for cooperating with the cam follower of said trip means, to release the trip means from said operating arm assembly, whereby the stored energy in said spring is released, collapsing the toggle mechanism to pivot said operating arm assembly about said control shaft and engage and move said operating shaft in a direction which separates the contacts of the vacuum switch, and to restrain the operating arm assembly at the end of its pivotal movement to maintain the separation of the vacuum switch contacts.

Claim 6

The operating mechanism of claim 3 wherein the first and second cam means each include first and second spaced portions arranged to set the toggle assembly and store energy in the spring, and release the trip means, respectively, for predetermined rotational movements of the control shaft, regardless of the initial direction of rotation.

Claim 7

The operating mechanism of claim 3 wherein the first arm member of the toggle assembly is releasably engaged with the second arm member, and wherein the first member includes a cam follower, the first cam means cooperating with said cam follower of the first arm member to release the first arm member from the second arm member of the toggle assembly to remove the restraint on the operating assembly, after the toggle has collapsed, the first arm member of the toggle mechanism reengaging the second arm member of the toggle to set the toggle when the second cam means moves the cam follower of the second arm member of the toggle mechanism to a predetermined location.

Claim 8

The operating mechanism of claim 3 wherein the first and second cam means are disposed to actuate the trip means to release the operating arm assembly, collapse the toggle and reset the toggle mechanism with a predetermined to-and-fro rotational movement of the control shaft.

Claim 9

The operating mechanism of claim 6 wherein the first and second cam means are arranged to actuate the trip means and collapse the toggle, and reset the toggle mechanism, respectively, regardless of the starting direction of rotation of the control shaft.

Claim 10

The operating mechanism of claim 3 including stop means disposed on the mounting base for limiting the rotational movement of the operating arm assembly in the direction opposite to that in which The operating arm assembly is pivoted when the toggle mechanism collapses, and including means for removing the first toggle arm from engagement with the second toggle arm of the toggle mechanism to remove the restraint on the operating arm assembly, means for pivoting the operating arm assembly against said stop means when the restraint is removed therefrom, and means reengaging the trip means with the operating arm assembly when the operating arm assembly is moved against the stop means, whereby the operating shaft is free to move axially back to its initial position when the operating arm assembly is pivoted towards the stop means.

Claim 11

The operating mechanism of claim 3 including means for controlling the axial speed of the operating shaft as it is moved by the operating arm assembly when the toggle mechanism collapses.

Claim 12

The operating mechanism of claim 9 wherein the means for controlling the speed of the operating shaft is a dashpot disposed on the operating shaft.

Claim 13

The operating mechanism of claim 3 including means for controlling the axial speed of the operating shaft as it is moved by the operating arm assembly when the toggle mechanism collapses, means for returning the operating arm assembly to its starting position allowing the operating shaft to return to its initial position, means including atmospheric pressure for returning the operating shaft to its initial position, and means for controlling the speed of the operating shaft as it returns to its initial position.

Claim 14

Tap changer apparatus comprising: a main conductor; divided reactor means having first and second winding portions; a tap selector switch having first and second movable contact arms selectively movable between a plurality of fixed contacts; a bypass switch having first, second and third terminals, said bypass switch being actuable to connect the third terminal to either one or both of the first and second terminals, the third terminal of said bypass switch being connected to said main conductor; means serially connecting said first movable contact arm and said first winding portion to the first terminal of said bypass switch; means serially connecting said second movable contact arm and said second winding portion to the second terminal of said bypass switch; a vacuum switch having fixed and movable contacts, connected between the first and second terminals of said bypass switch; and means for operating said bypass switch, said vacuum switch, and said tap selector switch, when the main conductor is to be connected in a different tap arrangement, said means including a vacuum switch operator mechanism which includes an operating shaft connected to the movable contact of said vacuum switch, and a control shaft connected to reversible drive means, said means sequentially operating said bypass switch, said vacuum switch, said tap selector switch, said vacuum switch, and said bypass switch, during a predetermined to-and-fro rotational movement of said control shaft, for either starting direction of rotation of said control shaft.

Claim 15

Tap changer apparatus comprising: a main conductor; divided reactor means having first and second winding portions; a tap selector switch having first and second movable contact arms selectively movable between a plurality of fixed contacts; a bypass switch having first, second and third terminals, said bypass switch being actuable to connect the third terminal to either one or both of the first and second terminals, the third terminal of said bypass switch being connected to said main conductor; means serially connecting said first movable contact arm and said first winding portion to the first terminal of said bypass switch; means serially connecting said second movable contact arm and said second winding portion to the second terminal of said bypass switch; a vacuum switch having fixed and movable contacts, connected between the first and second terminals of said bypass switch; and means for operating said bypass switch, said vacuum switch, and said tap selector switch, when the main conductor is to be connected in a different tap arrangement, said means including a vacuum switch operator mechanism which includes an operating shaft connected to the movable contact of said vacuum switch, and a control shaft connected to reversible drive means, said means sequentially operating said bypass switch, said vacuum switch, said tap selector switch, said vacuum switch, and said bypass switch, during a predetermined to-and-fro rotational movement of said control shaft, for either starting direction of rotation of said control shaft.

Claim 16

The tap changer apparatus of claim 12 wherein the operating shaft includes dashpot means for controlling its axial speed while moving the movable contact of the vacuum switch.

Claim 17

The tap changer apparatus of claim 12 wherein the bypass switch is mounted on the control shaft.

Claim 18

An operating mechanism for a vacuum switch, comprising: a mounting base; an axially slidable operating shaft disposed on said mounting base, adapted for connection to a contact of the vacuum switch; dashpot means for controlling the axial speed of said operating shaft; a control shaft adapted for connection to reversible drive means; an operating arm assembly pivotally disposed on said control shaft, said operating arm assembly including means for engaging said operating shaft when said operating shaft assembly pivots about said control shaft in a first predetermined direction; means urging said operating arM assembly in a direction opposite to the first direction; a spring having one end restrained by said operating arm assembly; a toggle assembly having set and collapsed positions, said toggle assembly including first and second cooperative toggle arm members pivotally mounted on said mounting base and on said operating arm assembly, respectively, said first toggle arm member including a cam follower said second toggle arm member including a cam follower and means for storing energy in said spring in response to the cam follower, said first and second toggle arm members being releasably engaged; trip means disposed on said mounting base, said trip means including means for releasably engaging said operating arm assembly, and a cam follower; first cam means disposed on said control shaft which cooperates with the cam follower of said toggle assembly, to set the toggle assembly and store energy in said spring; and second cam means disposed on said control shaft for cooperating with the cam follower of said first toggle arm member and the cam follower of said trip means, to release the trip means from said operating arm assembly, whereby when said trip means is in engagement with said operating arm assembly, said toggle assembly is set, and energy is stored in said spring, a predetermined to-and-fro rotational movement of said control shaft, for either starting direction of rotation, will sequentially: a. actuate the cam follower of said trip means with said second cam means to release the trip means from said operating arm assembly, which releases the stored energy in said spring and collapses said toggle assembly, to pivot said operating arm assembly about said control shaft and engage said operating shaft to axially move it in a direction which separates the contacts of the vacuum switch; b. actuate the cam follower of said first toggle arm member with said second cam member, to disengage said first and second toggle arm members and remove the restraint on said operating arm assembly, allowing said urging means to return said operating arm assembly to its starting position and reengage said trip means, said operating shaft returning to its starting position, at least partially under the influence of atmospheric pressure, when said operating arm assembly is disengaged therefrom and returned to its starting position; and c. actuate the cam follower of said second toggle arm member, to reengage said first and second toggle arm members, compress said spring, and set said toggle assembly.

Claim 19

An operating mechanism for a vacuum switch, comprising: a mounting base; an axially slidable operating shaft disposed on said mounting base, adapted for connection to a contact of the vacuum switch; dashpot means for controlling the axial speed of said operating shaft; a control shaft adapted for connection to reversible drive means; an operating arm assembly pivotally disposed on said control shaft, said operating arm assembly including means for engaging said operating shaft when said operating shaft assembly pivots about said control shaft in a first predetermined direction; means urging said operating arM assembly in a direction opposite to the first direction; a spring having one end restrained by said operating arm assembly; a toggle assembly having set and collapsed positions, said toggle assembly including first and second cooperative toggle arm members pivotally mounted on said mounting base and on said operating arm assembly, respectively, said first toggle arm member including a cam follower said second toggle arm member including a cam follower and means for storing energy in said spring in response to the cam follower, said first and second toggle arm members being releasably engaged; trip means disposed on said mounting base, said trip means including means for releasably engaging said operating arm assembly, and a cam follower; first cam means disposed on said control shaft which cooperates with the cam follower of said toggle assembly, to set the toggle assembly and store energy in said spring; and second cam means disposed on said control shaft for cooperating with the cam follower of said first toggle arm member and the cam follower of said trip means, to release the trip means from said operating arm assembly, whereby when said trip means is in engagement with said operating arm assembly, said toggle assembly is set, and energy is stored in said spring, a predetermined to-and-fro rotational movement of said control shaft, for either starting direction of rotation, will sequentially: a. actuate the cam follower of said trip means with said second cam means to release the trip means from said operating arm assembly, which releases the stored energy in said spring and collapses said toggle assembly, to pivot said operating arm assembly about said control shaft and engage said operating shaft to axially move it in a direction which separates the contacts of the vacuum switch; b. actuate the cam follower of said first toggle arm member with said second cam member, to disengage said first and second toggle arm members and remove the restraint on said operating arm assembly, allowing said urging means to return said operating arm assembly to its starting position and reengage said trip means, said operating shaft returning to its starting position, at least partially under the influence of atmospheric pressure, when said operating arm assembly is disengaged therefrom and returned to its starting position; and c. actuate the cam follower of said second toggle arm member, to reengage said first and second toggle arm members, compress said spring, and set said toggle assembly.