High voltage switch with enclosed preinsertion resistor

Claim 2

In a resistor-inserting swiTch construction having an insulator stack pivotally mounted at one end about a longitudinal axis, a switch blade at the other end of said insulator stack for movement therewith into and out of switch closed position, said switch construction being characterized by: a resistor assembly mounted on said other end of said insulator stack and connected in series circuit relation with said switch blade; contacts connected across said resistor; and operating means interconnecting said contacts and said insulator stack for opening said contacts during a portion of the closing movement of said switch blade to limit the inrush current in a circuit in which the switch construction is connected and then closing said contacts during the final closing movement of said switch blade.

Claim 3

The resistor inserting switch construction according to claim 1 wherein: aid operating means includes: a contact-operating mechanism; and link means interconnecting said contact-operating mechanism and said insulator stack; and housing means encloses said resistor, contacts and contact-operating mechanism to protect them from atmospheric contamination and from the weather.

Claim 4

The resistor-inserting switch construction according to claim 2 wherein: said housing means includes: an insulating housing containing said resistor and contacts; and a metallic housing containing said contact-operating mechanism and providing a current carrying connection between said switch blade and said contacts and resistor.

Claim 5

The resistor-inserting switch construction according to claim 3 wherein: said contacts include relatively stationary and movable contacts; and said contact-operating mechanism includes: a shaft pivoted in said mechanism housing; an operating arm pivoted on said shaft and connected near its distal end to said movable contact; spring means connected between said mechanism housing and said operating arm and biasing said movable contact toward open position; latch means on said mechanism housing for holding said operating arm and said movable contact in closed position; an unlatching finger movable with said arm for unlatching said latch to permit said springs means to move said movable contact to open position; a spring recocking and contact closing arm secured to said shaft and cooperating with said operating arm to recock said spring and reclose said movable contact; a driven arm secured to said shaft and connected at its distal end to said link means; and a drive arm secured to said insulator stack and connected at its distal end to said link means.

Claim 6

A high voltage center break switch comprising: first and second pivotally mounted insulator stacks in parallel spaced relation; first and second switch blades mounted on one end of said first and second insulator stacks respectively for contact engagement at their distal ends in circuit closed position; a circuit interrupter mounted on said first insulator stack and connected in series circuit relation with said first switch blade; operating means interconnecting said circuit interrupter and said first insulator stack for operating said circuit interrupter to open position before said switch blades disengage at their distal ends and to closed position before said switch blades reengage at their distal ends; a resistor assembly mounted on said second insulator stack and connected in series circuit relation with said second switch blade; contacts connected across said resistor; operating means interconnecting said contacts and said second insulating stack for opening said contacts during a portion of the closing movement of said second switch blade to limit the inrush current in a circuit in which the switch is connected and then closing said contacts during the final closing movement of said second switch blade; and driving means connected to the other ends of said first and second insulator stacks for pivoting them bEtween closed and open positions of said first and second switch blades.

Claim 7

A high voltage center break switch comprising: first and second pivotally mounted insulator stacks in parallel spaced relation; first and second switch blades mounted on one end of said first and second insulator stacks respectively for contact engagement at their distal ends in circuit closed position; a circuit interrupter mounted on said first insulator stack and connected in series circuit relation with said first switch blade; operating means interconnecting said circuit interrupter and said first insulator stack for operating said circuit interrupter to open position before said switch blades disengage at their distal ends and to closed position before said switch blades reengage at their distal ends; a resistor assembly mounted on said second insulator stack and connected in series circuit relation with said second switch blade; contacts connected across said resistor; operating means interconnecting said contacts and said second insulating stack for opening said contacts during a portion of the closing movement of said second switch blade to limit the inrush current in a circuit in which the switch is connected and then closing said contacts during the final closing movement of said second switch blade; and driving means connected to the other ends of said first and second insulator stacks for pivoting them bEtween closed and open positions of said first and second switch blades.

Claim 8

The high voltage center break switch according to claim 5 wherein: said operating means interconnecting said contacts and said second insulating stack includes: a contact-operating mechanism; and link means interconnecting said contact-operating mechanism and said second insulator stack; and housing means encloses said resistor, contacts and contact-operating mechanism to protect them from atmospheric contamination and from the weather.

Claim 9

The high voltage center break switch according to claim 6 wherein: said housing means includes: an insulating housing containing said resistor and contacts; and a metallic housing containing said contact-operating mechanism and providing a current carrying connection between said second switch blade and said contacts and resistor.