Abstract: Endoprosthetic metacarpal phalangeal joint devices are well known in various forms including unitary flexible structures for connection between the bones, and others with separate phalangeal and metacarpal components for respective bone connection and inter-engagement or connection for mutual articulation in a hinge action. All such devices are applied individually to respective joints and can tend to fail due to conditions leading to ulnar drift. It is now proposed that this tendency be obviated by mechanically interconnecting a plurality of devices of the latter form in the hand, suitably by use of a common hinge pin. The pin preferably has slight longitudinal curvature to pass through the natural joint centers. The phalangeal components preferably each have a socket for bone connection and a stem for axle connection, the stem being slidably and rotatably received in the socket to accomodate torsional loading.

Abstract: Apparatus for preventing two switches from being simultaneously closed. A pair of rollers are each movable in, and between the ends of, respective curved tracks. The rollers are each linked to a respective switch so that when its switch is closed, each roller is at the bottom of its track, and when its switch is open, each roller is at the top of its track. Each switch cannot operate if its roller cannot move. A yoke maintains the rollers a fixed distance apart so that each roller may be at the top of its track, one roller may be at the top of its track while the other roller is at the bottom of its track, and vice versa, but one roller cannot move away from the top of its track if the other roller is not at the top of its track and vice versa. If one switch attempts to close while the other switch is closed, the roller of the closed switch is pulled into a detent at the bottom of its track; the roller remains in the detent as long as the other switch attempts closure.

Abstract: Disclosed in a high voltage switch operating mechanism which utilizes energy stored in a spiral spring to drive the high voltage switches from either the open to the closed or the closed to the open position. The spring can be charged either by a manual tool or by an electric motor. The switch can be tripped by either electric or manual trip mechanisms. Manual and electric trip interlock assemblies are provided to prevent the switch operating mechanism from being tripped either manually or electrically while the spring is being charged. A mechanism is provided to prevent the charging of the spring by the electric motor when the manual tool is used to charge the spring. Another mechanism is provided to decouple the operating mechanism from the switch. To allow testing of the operating mechanism without change of the switch state. The decoupling mechanism locks the switch to its present position before the decoupling is complete allowing the energy in the operating spring to be dissipated.

Abstract: A manual operating handle assembly for an enclosed switch includes a walled frame which resides within the switch enclosure and rotatably mounts a shaft. A sprocket on the shaft turns therewith to move a chain coupled to another sprocket which operates the switch or a stored-energy operator therefor. A pair of arms keyed to the shaft mounts a handle for longitudinal sliding movement toward the shaft and into the frame, and away from the shaft and out of the frame. Rotation of the handle between extreme rotative locations rotates the arms and the shaft. A contoured surface within the frame interferes with the handle in its extreme rotative locations when it is within the frame to prevent rotation thereof. Only if the handle is first slid out of the frame does it clear the surface for rotation between its extreme rotative locations. When the handle is between its extreme rotative locations, it cannot be slid into the frame due to interference of the contoured surface.

Abstract: A circuit interrupting device is disclosed. A stationary contact is mounted within a stationary hollow insulator and connected to one side of an electrical circuit. A movable contact normally engages the stationary contact and is mounted for movement within the stationary hollow insulator. The movable contact is connected by a contact rod that extends through an opening in the insulator to a set of spring detent fingers. The spring detent fingers electrically and mechanically engage the end of a movable conductive element, such as a power fuse or disconnect switchblade, which is connected to the other side of the electrical circuit. A spring biases the movable contact toward engagement with the stationary contact. When the movable conductive element is moved away from the device, the spring detent fingers grip the element and cause the movable contact to move to disengage the stationary contact.

Abstract: Disclosed is an improved high voltage switch operating mechanism which utilizes energy stored in a spiral spring to drive high voltage switches from either the open to the closed position or the closed to the open position. A spiral spring interconnects a rotatably mounted drive lever, which can be rotated to charge the sprial spring, and an output lever, which drives the switch either open or closed when the switch operating mechanism is tripped. A gearbox assembly reduces the torque required to charge the spiral spring when supplied either manually with a crank or electrically through a motor. The output lever is held in the switch-closed or the switch-opened position by improved first or second output lever latch assemblies, respectively, while the drive lever is rotated to charge the spring. Once the spiral spring is charged, first and second main latches engage the drive lever holding it in a spring charged position.

Abstract: An indicator is disclosed for a high voltage circuit interrupter having a stored-energy mechanism for biasing the contacts open.The interrupter has a shunt trip mechanism to open the contacts in response to either circuit conditions or a remote command, and a manual mechanism to trip the store-energy mechanism and to recharge and reset the store-energy mechanism. The indicator mimics the operation of the circuit interrupter and provide three signals indicating that the contacts are closed and the manual mechanism are between home and trip position, that the contacts open and the manual mechanism is either in the home or trip position, and that the contacts are open and the manual mechanism is between the trip and reset position or at the reset position. The indicators are preferably two lights with either light on or with both lights out.

Abstract: An improved support assembly for a circuit-interrupting device is disclosed. The device is of a type having first and second end fittings which define a major axis and which are selectively engageable and disengageable from matching first and second mountings spaced apart in the assembly in insulated relation. The device can be manipulated by a hookstick selectively attachable to the first end fitting and held by a human operator, and so manipulated as to selectively engage and disengage the end fittings and their respective mountings and to open and close the device. The second mounting has a noncircular pin which can be slideably received in a slot in the second end fitting only when the second end fitting and the device are in one particular orientation. The slot contains an enlargement which permits the second end fitting to rotate in the second mounting once the pin enters the enlargement.

Abstract: A three-phase, high voltage switch arrangement is operated through a connected drive shaft by a switch operating mechanism that can be either driven by motor power or manually operated. When manual operation is desired, a crank handle is folded out of a stored position to an operating position. An improved mechanism is provided to prevent the crank handle from operably engaging the switch operating mechanism until stored torsional energy (i.e., the potential energy due to torsional strain) in the drive shaft has been released thereby avoiding improper operation, such as unexpected whipping of the handle. In addition, when the crank handle is folded out to its operating position, the motor is disabled so that the motor can not be operated while the handle is engaged with the mechanism so that the handle cannot be driven by the motor.

Abstract: Disclosed is a switch suitable for use in power systems. The switch is of the vertical break type, having two stationary support insulators and one reciprocatory, insulative push rod, wherein movement of a switch blade takes place in a plane which also includes the insulators and the push rod. The two insulators are mounted on a base, one insulator supporting a switch blade hinge assembly, and the other insulator supporting a contact assembly for the switch blade. A novel linkage mounted to the hinge assembly connects the blade to the push rod and permits at least 90.degree. of movement of the blade without adversely affecting dielectric clearances between the push rod and the insulators. The insulators remain stationary when the switch operates, only the push rod and the novel linkage moving to provide motive force to the blade. The push rod may be reciprocated by interconnection to a rotatable shaft via a lever.

Abstract: A fuse safety tester apparatus utilizing a pair of neon light bulbs to test the wiring connections of a fuse receptacle in the active power circuit of a unit under test.

Abstract: A high voltage circuit interrupter is enclosed within an integral insulating housing that includes an operating mechanism enclosing portion, an insulator portion, and a muffler portion. The integrally formed insulating housing is formed to provide a groove in one interior wall of the operating mechanism enclosing portion and a similar groove is formed on the housing cover immediately opposite the groove in the wall so that a portion of the operating mechanism can ride in the grooves thereby eliminating certain internal metallic components. The operating shaft of the interrupter is hexagonal in cross section thereby eliminating the need for special machining, keys, and cross pins to attach operating levers to the shaft. Operating triggers having round bearing surfaces are inserted over the ends of the hexagonal shaft to provide a smooth running bearing fit with openings in the housing wall. A unique locking arrangement is utilized to lock the lever arm of the operating mechanism to the hexagonal shaft.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for restricting access to the electrically charged portions within metal enclosed high voltage switchgear. The apparatus is adapted for use with a tool that can be inserted into the enclosure to open a tap switch and remove a series connected high voltage fuse. Normally, access ports into the metal enclosure are closed by pivotably mounted covers to restrict access. Insertion of the tool into a receptacle around the access port opens the covers so that a portion of the tool can be inserted into the enclosure to open the tap switch thereby isolating the fuse and to engage the fuse so that it can be removed. The tool engages a ring member mounted around the access port so that operation of the tool moves the ring member. Operably connected to the ring member is an indicator member that moves in response to movement of the ring member to align an appropriate message in front of a window in the enclosure so that the condition of the switchgear is indicated.

Abstract: A spiral spring interconnects a pivotably mounted drive lever that may be pivoted either by hand or by a motor, and a pivotably mounted toggle lever that is operably connected to a switch. The toggle lever is held in the switch-closed or the switch-opened positions by main latches which hold the toggle lever in position while the drive lever is pivoted to bias the spring. Once the spring is biased, stop latches engage the drive lever holding it in a spring biased position. The main latches may then be either manually operated or operated by solenoids connected to control circuitry to release the toggle lever so that the spring will react against the toggle lever to either open or close the switch depending on the position of the switch at the initiation of operation. Once the switch has either opened or closed, the spring may be either recharged automatically by the motor, or if manual operation is desired, the motor can be disabled so that the spring can be biased by manual rotation of the drive lever.

Abstract: Disclosed is a tool for removing and installing fuses in metal-enclosed switchgear. The switchgear includes one or more fuses and one or more isolating switches and operating mechanisms for isolating the fuses from a high voltage supply circuit. The fuses are mounted between disengageable contacts that connect the fuse between the supply circuit and a load circuit. Access ports are provided through a front panel of the switchgear and are aligned with the fuses for providing access to the fuses. A tool receiving receptacle is mounted on the front panel around the access ports. The tool comprises a hollow metal housing having a hollow interior and having a flange on one end for being received and retained by the receptacle. The receptacle aligns the hollow interior of the metal housing with the access port, and makes grounding connection from the housing to the front panel. The tool also comprises an operating portion including a handle mounted on one end of an insulator.