Abstract: A terminal reversing block mounts to a standard electrical disconnect device such as a circuit breaker or a pullout switch. The disconnect device has a housing which defines a cavity that faces in one direction for receiving a cable. Front and rear contacts are in the housing, one of which extends into the cavity for engagement with a cable. A terminal reversing block has a housing with at least one pocket which faces in a direction other than the opposite of the direction in which the disconnect device's cavity faces. A terminal collar disposed in the terminal reversing block pocket is engageable with a cable inserted into the pocket. A terminal in the reversing block has a mating portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portion engages the terminal collar. The mating portion engages one of the front and rear contacts of the electrical disconnect device.

Abstract: A terminal reversing block mounts to a standard electrical disconnect device such as a circuit breaker or a pullout switch. The disconnect device has a housing which defines a cavity that faces in one direction for receiving a cable. Front and rear contacts are in the housing, one of which extends into the cavity for engagement with a cable. A terminal reversing block has a housing with at least one pocket which faces in a direction other than the opposite of the direction in which the disconnect device's cavity faces. A terminal collar disposed in the terminal reversing block pocket is engageable with a cable inserted into the pocket. A terminal in the reversing block has a mating portion and a connecting portion. The connecting portion engages the terminal collar. The mating portion engages one of the front and rear contacts of the electrical disconnect device.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for a manually operated load break switch having an over center spring drive moved by an operating handle to open and close the switch. The operating mechanism includes a shaft rotatable by the operating handle, a follower rotatably mounted on the shaft, an elongated forked plate pivotally mounted intermediate its length to the follower at a location radially outwardly of the shaft, an operating lever for the switch pivotally mounted on the shaft and movable by engagement with the follower and a driver affixed to the shaft for rotation therewith and positioned to engage and rotate the follower and the forked plate. An over center spring drive is pivotally connected to the forked plate at a location radially outwardly of the pivotal mounting of the forked plate to the follower.

Abstract: A linear actuator powered closing mechanism for a trip-free operating mechanism of a high current, low voltage, load break switch of the type having an operating shaft and a follower affixed to the operating shaft for rotation therewith. A lever is mounted on the operating shaft for rotation therewith. A spring connects the follower and the operating lever to bias them toward each other when the spring is energized. The closing assembly includes a linear actuator having an extendible and retractable tube. A drive rod is connected to the operating shaft to rotate the operating shaft in a spring energizing direction upon longitudinal movement of the drive rod in one direction. A mechanism connecting the actuator tube and the drive rod so that movement of the actuator tube in one direction will move the drive rod in its spring energizing direction while movement of the actuator tube in the opposite direction will not result in opposite movement of the drive rod.

Abstract: A trip-free operating mechanism for a load break switch of the type having a fixed contact engageable by a movable contact between a fully closed position and a fully open position. The operating mechanism includes an operating lever connected to the movable contact and rotatable about a shaft to move the contact between its open and closed positions. A follower rotates with the shaft into and out of contact with the operating lever. A closing spring biases the operating lever and the follower towards each other. An opening spring drive connects to the follower to drive the follower to its switch contact open position. A first latch holds the operating lever and follower apart against the force of the closing spring when the operating lever is in its switch contact closed position.

Abstract: A dual switch actuator for coordinated actuation of two high-current switches, each having a switch operator with a shaft. The switch operator shafts are aligned paraxially with a main shaft of the actuator. A Geneva drive plate having an arcuate bearing surface and two drive pins is affixed to the main shaft. A modified Geneva follower plate is affixed to each of the switch operator shafts. Each follower plate has a drive slot for receiving a drive pin and a bearing surface complementary to the drive plate bearing surface. In a neutral position of the main shaft, each drive pin is positioned at a follower plate drive slot entrance and both follower plates bearing surfaces engage the main drive plate bearing surface. Rotation of the main shaft in either direction from neutral causes one guide pin to move inwardly of the follower plate drive slot, rotating the follower plate and its associated switch operator shaft to actuate one switch without actuation of the other.

Abstract: A turn prevention electrical connection assembly to prevent cable or other conductor connection lugs from turning on an electrical bus includes a turn prevention member, usually of cross-like configuration and having at least as many arms as there are connection lugs on one side of the bus. The turn prevention member is mounted on the bus in nested alignment with the connection lugs so that each connection lug is aligned closely adjacent to at least one arm of the turn prevention member. The turn prevention member and the connection lugs interact with each other to preclude turning of the lugs from their preset alignment.

Abstract: A multi-pole load break switch having two sets of contacts in each pole connected in series to isolate its fuse. Also disclosed is a circuit incorporating the switches of the invention in a double-ended switch board having two power supplies normally isolated from each other.

Abstract: Assembly systems for compact N-pole fusible pull out switches of different ratings use the same two part insulator bases and the same insulator pull out heads in all switches. In one system, for switches of a given current rating but two different voltage ratings, there are two types of fixed contacts in the base but the contacts are the same for both voltage ratings; the fuseholder/stab contact members in the head are all the same for both switch ratings, and all mounting hardware and incidental hardware is the same for all switches. The voltage ratings are differentiated from each other only by different base terminals and by different insulator barriers over the base contacts.

Abstract: A plural phase high current low voltage load break switch with built-in ground fault sensing comprises an insulator base and a plurality of individual phase circuits mounted on and extending across the base in parallel spaced relation to each other, each phase circuit including, in series, an input connector, a fixed switch contact, a movable switch contact, a fuse, and an output conductor; a neutral conductor is mounted on and extends across the base in parallel spaced relation to the phase circuits. A switch operator mechanism mounted on the base is connected to all of the movable switch contacts for opening and closing these contacts simultaneously; that mechanism includes an electrically operated trip actuator for actuating the operator mechanism to open the switch contacts. A zero sequence ground fault sensor coil is disposed in encompassing relation to all of the phase circuits and the neutal conductor; the sensor coil is aligned with the movable switch contacts.

Abstract: A high-current, low-voltage load-break switch of the type having a plurality of fixed contacts and a plurality of movable contacts. Each of the movable contacts moves between a closed position in bolted pressure contact with one of the fixed contacts and a open position which is displaced from its fixed contact. An actuating bar connects the movable contacts for movement of the contacts in unison. A switch-operator mechanism is provided for rapidly closing the switch by driving the movable contacts to their closed positions and also to their open positions. An electrically non-conductive operating rod assembly is provided for connecting the actuating bar and the switch-operator mechanism. This rod assembly includes an elongated metal rod having threads at its opposite ends. One end of the rod is threaded to a first metal yoke which is pivotally connected to one end of an insulator link. The insulator link is pivotally connected to an operating lever formed as part of the switch-operator mechanism.

Abstract: An operating mechanism for opening and closing the movable contacts of a load break pressure contact switch which is operable from a side of a switch enclosure and has an optional door safety interlock. The operating mechanism comprises a main shaft with a handle attached thereto for rotating the shaft in opposite directions between switch-open and switch-closed positions. An operating lever which is connected to the movable switch contacts is driven by an overcenter toggle spring means which is operated by the main shaft through a lost motion connection mechanism. An optional interlock is provided for the switch enclosure access door and includes a latch to hold the access door closed when the switch contacts are in their closed position and a mechanism to prevent movement of the switch contacts to their closed position when the access door is open. The interlock is operatively actuatable through cam surfaces and stop surfaces on the lost motion connection mechanism.

Abstract: A high current, low voltage, load-break switch of the type which is installed in a housing having an access door. The switch comprises a fixed contact, a movable contact which is movable between a closed position in bolted pressure contact with the fixed contact and an open position which is displaced from the fixed contact. A mechanism is provided for rapidly opening and closing the switch by driving the movable contact to its closed position and also to its open position. A transparent shield is supported across the front of the switch contacts to visually expose the switch contacts when the access door to the housing is open while providing protection in the event of electrical arcing and mechanical failure of the switch contacts.

Abstract: A dual switch actuator mechanism for coordinated actuation of two high-current switches, each of which includes a switch operator mechanism for opening and closing the switch in response to rotation of a switch operator shaft. The switches are mounted adjacent to each other with their switch operator shafts in aligned paraxial spaced relation. The dual switch actuator mechanism includes a rotatable main shaft positioned between and in aligned paraxial relation to the switch operator shafts. A Geneva drive plate having an arcuate bearing surface is affixed to the main shaft; two drive pins are mounted on the drive plate. Two modified Geneva follower plates are provided, each affixed to one of the switch operator shafts. Each follower plate has a drive slot for receiving one of the drive pins and an arcuate bearing surface which is complementary to the drive plate bearing surface.

Abstract: A combination mounting device and instrument tap for a terminal of a high amperage switch, comprising a knurled cylindrical steel insert press-fit into a punched hole in a switch terminal flange. The insert has a head overlapping the punched hole and fixedly mounting an instrument connection terminal in firm electrical contact with the switch terminal flange. A fastener bolt is threaded through a tapped opening in the insert to mount the switch terminal on an insulator base.

Abstract: A motor assembly for the switch operator mechanism of a high-current low-voltage bolted-pressure load-break switch; the switch operator mechanism includes spring drive means for rapidly driving the movable contact of the switch to its closed and opened positions, a main drive shaft, a drive linkage between the main drive shaft and the spring drive means, and trip means for actuating the spring drive means to open the switch. The motor assembly includes an electric motor, an operating shaft and a first transmission means including a mutilated ratchet element drivingly connecting the motor to the operating shaft. A second transmission means couples the operating shaft to the main drive shaft of the switch-operating mechanism for closing the switch. An electrical circuit is provided for automatically de-energizing the motor during switch closure.