Switch operating device with spiral spring charging means and cam release means

Claim 2

In an operating device for operating a disconnect switch having at least one pair of separable contacts and a handle structure movable to open and close said contacts; a frame; an output shaft rotatably supported by said frame; an actuating rod oPerably connected to said output shaft and to said disconnect switch handle structure for effecting the movement of said contacts; a cam disc secured to said output shaft to rotate with it, said cam disc having two diametrically disposed stop surfaces; a releasable stop lever pivotally supported by said frame and having a roller which rolls on the peripheral surface of said cam disc into abutting engagement with one or the other of said stop surfaces to thereby restrain said output shaft against rotation; drive means including a housing mounted on said output shaft for rotation relative to said shaft; a spiral spring coiled within said housing and having one end connected to said output shaft and its opposite end connected to said housing, said spiral spring being operable to constantly urge said output shaft in a direction to operate said handle structure; a gear motor operably connected to effect the rotation of said housing relative to said output shaft for recharging said spiral spring; and, a signal responsive solenoid operably carried by said frame in position to move said stop lever to disengage said roller from said cam disc stop surface, thereby releasing said output shaft for rotation under the influence of said spiral spring for operating the handle structure of said disconnect switch.

Claim 3

An operating device according to claim 1 wherein there is provided a first control switch operable when actuated to effect the operation of said gear motor to recharge said spiral spring, and a means for actuating said control switch including a screw and nut arrangement operatively connected for rotation relative to each other, wherein the rotation of said output shaft effects relative rotation between said screw and nut to move the nut into actuating engagement with said control switch, and rotation of said housing under the influence of said gear motor for recharging said spiral spring will effect relative rotation of said screw and nut to return said nut to its initial position; and, there is provided a second control switch operable when actuated to interrupt the operation of said gear motor, said second control switch being disposed in a position wherein it is actuated by said nut when said nut is returned to its initial position.

Claim 4

In an operating device for operating a disconnect switch having at least one pair of separable contacts movable to open and close positions; a frame; an output shaft rotatably supported by said frame and operably connected to effect the movement of said contacts; a cam disc secured to said output shaft to rotate with it, said cam disc having two diametrically disposed stop surfaces; a releasable stop lever pivotally supported by said frame and having a roller which rolls on the peripheral surface of said cam disc into abutting engagement with one or the other of said stop surfaces to thereby restrain said output shaft against rotation; a housing mounted on said output shaft for rotation relative to said shaft; a spiral spring coiled within said housing and having one end connected to said output shaft and its opposite end connected to said housing, said spiral spring being operable to constantly urge said output shaft in a direction to operate said contacts; a gear motor operably connected to effect the rotation of said housing relative to said output shaft when energized for recharging said spiral spring, said gear motor being also operable when deenergized to restrain said housing from rotating; and, a signal responsive solenoid operably carried by said frame in position to move said stop lever to disengage said roller from said cam disc stop surface, thereby releasing said output shaft for rotation under the influence of said spiral spring for operating the contacts of said disconnect switch.

Claim 5

In an operating device for operating a disconnect switch having at least one pair of separable contacts movable to open and close positions; a frame; an output shaft rotatably supported by said frame and operably connected to effect the movement of said contacts; a cam disc secured to said output shaft to rotate with it, said cam disc having two diametrically disposed stop surfaces; a releasable stop lever pivotally supported by said frame and having a roller which rolls on the peripheral surface of said cam disc into abutting engagement with one or the other of said stop surfaces to thereby restrain said output shaft against rotation; a housing mounted on said output shaft for rotation relative to said shaft; a spiral spring coiled within said housing and having one end connected to said output shaft and its opposite end connected to said housing, said spiral spring being operable to constantly urge said output shaft in a direction to operate said contacts; a gear motor operably connected to effect the rotation of said housing relative to said output shaft when energized for recharging said spiral spring, said gear motor being also operable when deenergized to restrain said housing from rotating; and, a signal responsive solenoid operably carried by said frame in position to move said stop lever to disengage said roller from said cam disc stop surface, thereby releasing said output shaft for rotation under the influence of said spiral spring for operating the contacts of said disconnect switch.

Claim 6

In an operating device; a frame; an output shaft supported by said frame for rotation between a first and second position which is 180 degrees aparT; a housing mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft; a spiral spring coiled about said shaft and disposed within said housing, said spiral spring having one end secured to said housing and its other end secured to said shaft; a gear motor carried by said frame and operably connected to rotate said housing in one direction relative to said shaft, said gear motor being operable when deenergized to maintain said housing stationary; a lever pivotally supported by said frame in position to normally interfere with the rotation of said shaft; a solenoid carried by said frame in position to effect pivotal movement of said lever to a noninterfering position to thereby release said shaft for rotation; switch means carried by said frame and operably connected to selectively effect deenergization of said gear motor and said solenoid; a threaded member mounted on said shaft and connected to rotate with said housing; a nut threadedly engaged on said threaded member for axial movement therealong; means operably connected to effect energization of said gear motor and said solenoid selectively; a drive connection between said shaft and said nut to effect rotation of said nut on said threaded member when said shaft rotates, said nut operating after a predetermined number of revolutions of said shaft to actuate said switch member and thereby effect energization of said gear motor for recharging said spiral spring, said nut being moved in the opposite direction a predetermined distance upon rotation of said housing to thereby actuate said switch means to deenergize said gear motor; and, means operably connected to effect energization and deenergization of said solenoid selectively.

Claim 7

In an operating device; a frame; an output shaft supported by said frame for rotation between a first and second position which is 180 degrees aparT; a housing mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft; a spiral spring coiled about said shaft and disposed within said housing, said spiral spring having one end secured to said housing and its other end secured to said shaft; a gear motor carried by said frame and operably connected to rotate said housing in one direction relative to said shaft, said gear motor being operable when deenergized to maintain said housing stationary; a lever pivotally supported by said frame in position to normally interfere with the rotation of said shaft; a solenoid carried by said frame in position to effect pivotal movement of said lever to a noninterfering position to thereby release said shaft for rotation; switch means carried by said frame and operably connected to selectively effect deenergization of said gear motor and said solenoid; a threaded member mounted on said shaft and connected to rotate with said housing; a nut threadedly engaged on said threaded member for axial movement therealong; means operably connected to effect energization of said gear motor and said solenoid selectively; a drive connection between said shaft and said nut to effect rotation of said nut on said threaded member when said shaft rotates, said nut operating after a predetermined number of revolutions of said shaft to actuate said switch member and thereby effect energization of said gear motor for recharging said spiral spring, said nut being moved in the opposite direction a predetermined distance upon rotation of said housing to thereby actuate said switch means to deenergize said gear motor; and, means operably connected to effect energization and deenergization of said solenoid selectively.

Claim 8

In an operating device for operating a disconnect switch; a frame; an output shaft rotatably supported by said frame and operably connected to effect the operation of said disconnect switch in a closing movement and in an opening movement; a housing supported on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft; a spiral motor spring coiled about said shaft and enclosed within said housing, said motor spring having one end connected to said housing and its other end connected to said shaft, the arrangement being such that rotation of said housing in one direction operates to charge said motor spring and said charged motor spring is operable to rotate said shaft in one direction for operation of said disconnect switch between an open or a closed position; a gear mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft, said gear being secured to said housing for effecting its rotation in the one direction for charging said motor spring; a gear motor carried by said frame and operably connected to drive said gear when energized to thereby rotate said housing for charging said motor spring, said gear motor being operable when deenergized to hold said gear and thereby said housing from rotating relative to said shaft; a restraining lever pivotally carried by said frame in position to have one end thereof in interference with the rotational movement of said shaft; a solenoid carried by said frame and operable when energized to effect the pivotal movement of said lever to a noninterfering position to free said shaft for rotation for operating said disconnect switch; a biasing spring operably connected to return said lever to shaft interfering position to prevent further rotation of said shaft after said shaft has rotated an angular distance sufficient to operate said disconnect switch; and means operably connected to supply a signal to said solenoid.

Claim 9

In an operating device for operating a disconnect switch; a frame; an output shaft rotatably supported by said frame and operably connected to effect the operation of said disconnect switch in a closing movement and in an opening movement; a housing supported on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft; a spiral motor spring coiled about said shaft and enclosed within said housing, said motor spring having one end connected to said housing and its other end connected to said shaft, the arrangement being such that rotation of said housing in one direction operates to charge said motor spring and said charged motor spring is operable to rotate said shaft in one direction for operation of said disconnect switch between an open or a closed position; a gear mounted on said shaft for rotation relative to said shaft, said gear being secured to said housing for effecting its rotation in the one direction for charging said motor spring; a gear motor carried by said frame and operably connected to drive said gear when energized to thereby rotate said housing for charging said motor spring, said gear motor being operable when deenergized to hold said gear and thereby said housing from rotating relative to said shaft; a restraining lever pivotally carried by said frame in position to have one end thereof in interference with the rotational movement of said shaft; a solenoid carried by said frame and operable when energized to effect the pivotal movement of said lever to a noninterfering position to free said shaft for rotation for operating said disconnect switch; a biasing spring operably connected to return said lever to shaft interfering position to prevent further rotation of said shaft after said shaft has rotated an angular distance sufficient to operate said disconnect switch; and means operably connected to supply a signal to said solenoid.

Claim 10

In an operating device for operating a disconnect switch in an opening and a closing movement for protecting a distribution system of which the disconnect switch is a part; a frame; an output shaft supported by said frame for rotational movement in one direction between a first position and a second position; a housing mounted on Said output shaft for independent rotation relative to said shaft; a motor spring coiled around said output shaft and disposed within said housing, said motor spring having one end connected to said output shaft and its opposite end connected to said housing, the arrangement being such that rotation of said housing in one direction relative to said output shaft will operate to charge said motor spring and said housing also operates as a protective casing for confining said motor spring therein in case of structural failure thereof to afford personal protection; a cam disc secured to said output shaft and presenting a pair of diametrically disposed stop abutments representative of the open and closed positions of said disconnect switch; releaseable stop means supported by said frame in position of engagement with one or the other of said cam disc stop abutments to prevent operation of said output shaft; a solenoid carried by said frame in position to release said stop means when energized; and electrical means connecting said gear motor to the system said disconnect switch is arranged to protect, said electrical means including a pair of switches, one of which is actuated after said motor spring has operated said disconnect switch in three movements in sequence to effect the energization of said gear motor to recharge said motor spring, and the other of which is actuated to deenergize said gear motor after said motor spring has been fully charged for a subsequent series of disconnect switch operations.

Claim 11

In an operating device for operating a disconnect switch in an opening and a closing movement for protecting a distribution system of which the disconnect switch is a part; a frame; an output shaft supported by said frame for rotational movement in one direction between a first position and a second position; a housing mounted on Said output shaft for independent rotation relative to said shaft; a motor spring coiled around said output shaft and disposed within said housing, said motor spring having one end connected to said output shaft and its opposite end connected to said housing, the arrangement being such that rotation of said housing in one direction relative to said output shaft will operate to charge said motor spring and said housing also operates as a protective casing for confining said motor spring therein in case of structural failure thereof to afford personal protection; a cam disc secured to said output shaft and presenting a pair of diametrically disposed stop abutments representative of the open and closed positions of said disconnect switch; releaseable stop means supported by said frame in position of engagement with one or the other of said cam disc stop abutments to prevent operation of said output shaft; a solenoid carried by said frame in position to release said stop means when energized; and electrical means connecting said gear motor to the system said disconnect switch is arranged to protect, said electrical means including a pair of switches, one of which is actuated after said motor spring has operated said disconnect switch in three movements in sequence to effect the energization of said gear motor to recharge said motor spring, and the other of which is actuated to deenergize said gear motor after said motor spring has been fully charged for a subsequent series of disconnect switch operations.