Power driven group operated circuit disconnect apparatus for overhead electric power line

Claim 2

In an electric circuit disconnect apparatus which has a base rotatable shaft means on said base, and a disconnect switch blade moved between closed and open positions by rotation of said shaft means, a power drive for rotating said shaft means comprising, in combination: a power unit which has a reversible rotary shaft; a crank arm on said shaft means; a driving connection between said reversible rotary shaft and said crank arm, said driving connection including, a drive screw rotated by said reversible rotary shaft, a member pivotally connected to the crank arm, said member having a threaded mounting on said drive screw so that it is linearly reciprocated by rotation of the drive screw, and connecting means between said reversible rotary shaft and said drive screw which permits the latter to pivot in the plane of movement of the crank arm so as to compensate for the difference between the linear reciprocation of said pivotally connected member and the arcuate movement of the crank arm; power control means for starting said power unit; and additional power control means for automatically stopping said power unit effectively simultaneously with arrival of the switch blade at fully closed position and at fully open position.

Claim 3

The combination of claim 1 in which the additional power control means includes spaced power control devices, actuating means for said devices, and means for reciprocating said actuating means in timed relationship to the reciprocation of the pivotally connected member.

Claim 4

The combination of claim 2 in which the actuating means for the power control devices comprises a threaded traveler, and the means for reciprocating the actuating means comprises a threaded shaft rotated by the reversible rotary shaft and operatively engaging said threaded traveler.

Claim 5

The combination of claim 1 in which the base is a box-like housing, the axially rotatable shaft means extends through said housing, and the following elements of the combination are enclosed within the housing: (1) the power unit, (2) the crank arm, (3) the driving connection, (4) the additional power control means, in which an electric terminal block is also mounted in the housing for connection between an energizing circuit and the power unit and between said additional power control means and said energizing circuit, and in which the power control means for starting the power unit is in said energizing circuit remote from said housing.

Claim 6

The combination of claim 4 in which the housing has two open ends, removable end walls close said open ends, the driving connection has a manually detachable part immediately inside one of said open ends, and a subassembly is removable through the other of said open ends, said subassembly including: (1) the power unit, (2) the driving connection other than said manually detachable part, (3) the additional power control means, (4) the electric terminal block.

Claim 7

The combination of claim 1 in which the connecting means is a universal joint.

Claim 8

In a group operated electric circuit disconnect apparatus for a plurality of overhead electric power distribution lines carried on poles of a type which includes a box-like housing adapted to be mounted adjacent the top of a pole, said housing having opposite ends which are open, a removable closure for each of said open ends, a first disconnect switch surmounting the housing, second and third disconnect switches mounted at opposite sides of the housing, an upright shaft means journalled on and extending through said housing, said upright shaft means being operatively connected to said first switch so that axial rotation of the upright shaft means opens and closes the first switch, transverse shaft means journalled on and extending through said housing, said transverse shaft means being operatively connected to said second and third switches so that axial rotation of said transverse shaft means opens and closes said second and third switches, and a mechanical connection between said upright shaft means and said transverse shaft means within said housing so that axial rotation of one of said shaft means causes axial rotation of the other of said shaft means, the improvement comprising, in combination: a subassembly in the housing which is removable through one of said open ends, said subassembly including: (1) a reversible electric motor having a rotatable shaft, (2) a first part of a driving connection between said electric motor shaft and one of said shaft means for axially rotating said one of said shaft means from said rotatable shaft to selectively open or close the three disconnect switches, (3) an electric terminal block for connection between an energizing circuit and said electric motor, (4) power control means for automatically stopping the electric motor simultaneously with arrival of the disconnect switches at fully closed position and at fully open position; a second part of said driving connection which is immediately adjacent the other of said open ends and manually detachable from said first part; and a motor start switch in said energizing circuit remote from said housing.

Claim 9

In a group operated electric circuit disconnect apparatus for a plurality of overhead electric power distribution lines carried on poles of a type which includes a box-like housing adapted to be mounted adjacent the top of a pole, said housing having opposite ends which are open, a removable closure for each of said open ends, a first disconnect switch surmounting the housing, second and third disconnect switches mounted at opposite sides of the housing, an upright shaft means journalled on and extending through said housing, said upright shaft means being operatively connected to said first switch so that axial rotation of the upright shaft means opens and closes the first switch, transverse shaft means journalled on and extending through said housing, said transverse shaft means being operatively connected to said second and third switches so that axial rotation of said transverse shaft means opens and closes said second and third switches, and a mechanical connection between said upright shaft means and said transverse shaft means within said housing so that axial rotation of one of said shaft means causes axial rotation of the other of said shaft means, the improvement comprising, in combination: a subassembly in the housing which is removable through one of said open ends, said subassembly including: (1) a reversible electric motor having a rotatable shaft, (2) a first part of a driving connection between said electric motor shaft and one of said shaft means for axially rotating said one of said shaft means from said rotatable shaft to selectively open or close the three disconnect switches, (3) an electric terminal block for connection between an energizing circuit and said electric motor, (4) power control means for automatically stopping the electric motor simultaneously with arrival of the disconnect switches at fully closed position and at fully open position; a second part of said driving connection which is immediately adjacent the other of said open ends and manually detachable from said first part; and a motor start switch in said energizing circuit remote from said housing.

Claim 10

The combination of claim 7 in which the first part of the driving connection comprises a universal joint, means fixedly connecting said universal joint to the motor shaft, a drive screw fixedly connected to said universal joint, a drive nut on said screw, and said manually detachable second part operatively connects said drive nut to said one of said shaft means.

Claim 11

The combination of claim 8 in which the means fixedly connecting the universal joint to the motor shaft includes a threaded shaft, the power control means comprises first and second normally closed limit switches mounted immediately adjacent said threaded shaft, and a threaded traveler carried on said threaded shaft actuates said limit switches.

Claim 12

The combination of claim 7 in which the first part of the driving connection comprises a drive screw operatively connected to the shaft of the electric motor, a drive nut on said screw, and the manually detachable second part of said driving connection is between said drive nut and said one of the shaft means.

Claim 13

The combination of claim 10 in which the drive nut is provided with trunnions, the manually detachable second part of the driving connection comprises a crank arm on said one of the shaft means which pivotally receives said trunnions, and means for accommodating the travel of the drive nut relative to said one of said shaft means and the swing of the crank arm relative to the drive nut.

Claim 14

The combination of claim 11 in which said means for accommodating comprises a universal joint, means fixedly connecting the universal joint to the motor shaft, and means fixedly securing one end of the drive screw to the universal joint, the other end of the drive screw being supported only by the drive nut and the operative connection between the drive nut and said one of the shaft means.

Claim 15

In a group operated electrical circuit disconnect apparatus for a plurality of overhead electric power distribution lines carried on poles of a type which includes a base adapted to be mounted adjacent the top of a pole, a first disconnect switch surmounting the base, second and third disconnect switches mounted at opposite sides of the base, an upright shaft means journalled on said base, said upright shaft means being operatively connected to said first switch so that axial rotation of the shaft means opens and closes the first switch, transverse shaft means journalled on said base and operatively connected to said second and third switches so that axial rotation of said transverse shaft means opens and closes said second and third switches, and a mechanical connection between said upright shaft means and said transverse shaft means so that axial rotation of one of said shaft means causes axial rotation of the other of said shaft means, the improvement comprising, in combination: a power unit which has a reversible rotary shaft; a crank arm on one of said shaft means; a driving connection between said reversible rotary shaft and said crank arm, said driving connection including, a drive screw rotated by said reversible rotary shaft, a member pivotally connected to the crank arm, said member having a threaded mounting on said drive screw so that it is linearly reciprocated by rotation of the drive screw, and connecting means between said reversible rotary shaft and said drive screw which permits the latter to pivot in the plane of movement of the crank arm so as to compensate for the difference between the linear reciprocation of said pivotally connected member and the arcuate movement of the crank arm; power control means for starting said power unit; and additional power control means for automatically stopping said power unit effectively simultaneously with arrival of the switch blade at fully closed position and at fully open position.

Claim 16

In a group operated electrical circuit disconnect apparatus for a plurality of overhead electric power distribution lines carried on poles of a type which includes a base adapted to be mounted adjacent the top of a pole, a first disconnect switch surmounting the base, second and third disconnect switches mounted at opposite sides of the base, an upright shaft means journalled on said base, said upright shaft means being operatively connected to said first switch so that axial rotation of the shaft means opens and closes the first switch, transverse shaft means journalled on said base and operatively connected to said second and third switches so that axial rotation of said transverse shaft means opens and closes said second and third switches, and a mechanical connection between said upright shaft means and said transverse shaft means so that axial rotation of one of said shaft means causes axial rotation of the other of said shaft means, the improvement comprising, in combination: a power unit which has a reversible rotary shaft; a crank arm on one of said shaft means; a driving connection between said reversible rotary shaft and said crank arm, said driving connection including, a drive screw rotated by said reversible rotary shaft, a member pivotally connected to the crank arm, said member having a threaded mounting on said drive screw so that it is linearly reciprocated by rotation of the drive screw, and connecting means between said reversible rotary shaft and said drive screw which permits the latter to pivot in the plane of movement of the crank arm so as to compensate for the difference between the linear reciprocation of said pivotally connected member and the arcuate movement of the crank arm; power control means for starting said power unit; and additional power control means for automatically stopping said power unit effectively simultaneously with arrival of the switch blade at fully closed position and at fully open position.

Claim 17

The combination of claim 13 in which the base is a box-like housing, the upright and transverse shaft means extend through the housing, and the following elements of the combination are enclosed within the housing; (1) the mechanical connection between the shaft means, (2) the power unit, (3) the crank arm, (4) the driving connection, (5) the additional power control means, in which an electric terminal block is also mounted in the housing for connection between an energizing circuit and the power unit and between said additional power control means and said energizing circuit, and in which the power control means for starting the power unit is in said energizing circuit remote from said housing.

Claim 18

The combination of claim 14 in which the housing has two open ends, removable end walls close said open ends, the driving connection has a manually detachable part immediately inside one of said open ends, and a subassembly is removable through the other of said open ends, said subassembly including: (1) the power unit, (2) the driving connection other than said manually detachable part; (3) the additional power control means, (4) the electric terminal block.

Claim 19

The combination of claim 13 in which the connecting means is a universal joint.

Claim 20

The combination of claim 13 in which the additional power control means includes spaced power control devices, actuating means for said devices, and means for reciprocating said actuating means in timed relationship to the reciprocation of the pivotally connected member.

Claim 21

The combination of claim 17 in which the actuating means for the power control devices comprises a threaded traveler, and the means for reciprocating the actuating means comprises a threaded shaft rotated by the reversible rotary shaft and operatively engaging said threaded traveler.

Claim 22

In an electric circuit disconnect apparatus of a type which includes a box-like housing having opposite ends which are open, a removable closure for each of said open ends, an axially rotatable shaft means journalled on and extending through said housing, and a disconnect switch blade moved between closed and open positions by rotation of said shaft means, the improvement comprising, in combination: a subassembly in the housing which is removable through one of said open ends, said subassembly including: (1) a power unit, (2) a first part of a driving connection between said power unit and said shaft means for axially rotating said shaft means from said power unit to selectively open or close said disconnect switch blade, (3) power control means for automatically stopping the power unit effectively simultaneously with arrival of the disconnect switch blade at fully closed position and at fully open position, (4) an electric terminal block for connection between an energizing circuit and said power control means; a second part of said driving connection which is immediately adjacent the other of said open ends and manually detachable from said first part; and a power unit start switch in said energizing circuit remote from said housing.

Claim 23

In an electric circuit disconnect apparatus of a type which includes a box-like housing having opposite ends which are open, a removable closure for each of said open ends, an axially rotatable shaft means journalled on and extending through said housing, and a disconnect switch blade moved between closed and open positions by rotation of said shaft means, the improvement comprising, in combination: a subassembly in the housing which is removable through one of said open ends, said subassembly including: (1) a power unit, (2) a first part of a driving connection between said power unit and said shaft means for axially rotating said shaft means from said power unit to selectively open or close said disconnect switch blade, (3) power control means for automatically stopping the power unit effectively simultaneously with arrival of the disconnect switch blade at fully closed position and at fully open position, (4) an electric terminal block for connection between an energizing circuit and said power control means; a second part of said driving connection which is immediately adjacent the other of said open ends and manually detachable from said first part; and a power unit start switch in said energizing circuit remote from said housing.

Claim 24

The combination of claim 19 which includes a crank arm on said shaft means which has an outer end that moves arcuately with axial rotation of the shaft means, the manually detachable second part of the driving connection includes one element pivotally connected adjacent said outer end of said crank arm, a second element, means manually detachably connecting said first element to said second element, and an operative connection between said second element and the power unit.

Claim 25

The combination of claim 20 in which the first element is fixedly pivotally connected to the crank arm, the operative connection between the second element and the power unit imparts linear reciprocation to said second element, and there is means remote from the crank arm to accommodate said linear reciprocation and said arcuate movement of the crank arm.

Claim 26

The combination of claim 21 in which the power unit is a reversible electric motor having a rotatable shaft.

Claim 27

The combination of claim 22 in which the first part of the driving connection comprises a universal joint which provides said means remote from the crank arm, means fixedly connecting said universal joint to the motor shaft, a drive screw fixedly connected to said universal joint, and a drive nut on said screw which is said second element of said manually detachable second part of the driving connection.

Claim 28

The combination of claim 23 in which the means fixedly connecting the universal joint to the motor shaft includes a threaded shaft, the power control means comprises first and second normally closed limit switches mounted immediately adjacent said threaded shaft, and a threaded traveler carried on said threaded shaft actuates said limit switches.

Claim 29

The combination of claim 22 in which the first part of the driving connection comprises a drive screw operatively connected to the shaft of the electric motor, a drive nut on said screw which is said second element of said manually detachable second part of the driving connection.

Claim 30

The combination of claim 25 in which said means to accommodate comprises a universal joint, means fixedly connecting the universal joint to the motor shaft, and means fixedly securing one end of the drive screw to the universal joint, the other end of the drive screw to the universal joint, the other end of the drive screw being supported only by the drive nut and the means detachably connecting the drive nut to the first element.

Claim 31

In a group operated electric circuit disconnect apparatus for a plurality of overhead electric power distribution lines carried on poles of a type which includes a box-like housing adapted to be mounted adjacent the top of a pole, said housing having opposite ends which are open, a removable closure for each of said open ends, a first disconnect switch surmounting the housing, second and third disconnect switches mounted at opposite sides of the housing, an upright shaft means journalled on an extending through said housing, said upright shaft means being operatively connected to said first switch so that the axial rotation of the upright shaft means opens and closes the first switch, transverse shaft means journalled on and extending through said housing, said transverse shaft means being operatively connected to said second and third switches so that axial rotation of said transverse shaft means opens and closes said second and third switches, and a mechanical connection between said upright shaft means and said transverse shaft means within said housing so that axial rotation of one of said shaft means causes axial rotation of the other of said shaft means, the improvement comprising, in combination: a subassembly in the housing which is removable through one of said open ends, said subassembly including: (1) a power unit, (2) a first part of a driving connection between said power unit and one of said shaft means for axially rotating said one of said shaft means from said power unit to selectively open or close the three disconnect switches, (3) power control means for automatically stopping the power unit simultaneously with arrival of the disconnect switches at fully closed position and at fully open position; (4) an electric terminal block for connection between an energizing circuit and said power control means; a second part of said driving connection which is immediately adjacent the other of said open ends and manually detachable from said first part; and a power unit start switch in said energizing circuit remote from said housing.

Claim 32

In a group operated electric circuit disconnect apparatus for a plurality of overhead electric power distribution lines carried on poles of a type which includes a box-like housing adapted to be mounted adjacent the top of a pole, said housing having opposite ends which are open, a removable closure for each of said open ends, a first disconnect switch surmounting the housing, second and third disconnect switches mounted at opposite sides of the housing, an upright shaft means journalled on an extending through said housing, said upright shaft means being operatively connected to said first switch so that the axial rotation of the upright shaft means opens and closes the first switch, transverse shaft means journalled on and extending through said housing, said transverse shaft means being operatively connected to said second and third switches so that axial rotation of said transverse shaft means opens and closes said second and third switches, and a mechanical connection between said upright shaft means and said transverse shaft means within said housing so that axial rotation of one of said shaft means causes axial rotation of the other of said shaft means, the improvement comprising, in combination: a subassembly in the housing which is removable through one of said open ends, said subassembly including: (1) a power unit, (2) a first part of a driving connection between said power unit and one of said shaft means for axially rotating said one of said shaft means from said power unit to selectively open or close the three disconnect switches, (3) power control means for automatically stopping the power unit simultaneously with arrival of the disconnect switches at fully closed position and at fully open position; (4) an electric terminal block for connection between an energizing circuit and said power control means; a second part of said driving connection which is immediately adjacent the other of said open ends and manually detachable from said first part; and a power unit start switch in said energizing circuit remote from said housing.