Abstract: Switch gear for interconnecting a plurality of power transmission lines including a number of high voltage switches arranged in three phase unitized relationship for routing power in one or multiple directions. The switches are pre-mounted on a beam to form a unitized assembly which is attached in the field to a vertical support structure or substation structure. The unitized assembly includes a telescoping base design that permits the width of the unitized assembly to be reduced so that the assembly can be transported by truck to the installation site and then the switch assembly may be extended to the final width for installation at the site. The telescopic base design is preferably cantilevered and includes free rolling capability for easily manually reducing or expanding the width of the unitized assembly when the beam is lying on a ground surface.

Abstract: A high voltage in-line air break disconnect switch suspended by an electric power line conductor wherein the switch includes a rotating switch blade that is operated by a communication system controlled motor that may include a switch mounted radio which may be controlled by another radio located at a distance and powered by a solar charged battery. The communication system controlled motorized in-line air break disconnect switch may also be arranged in a three phase installation in a two-way or three-way switching arrangement attached to a utility pole or other structure. The communication system controlled motorized in line air break disconnect switch may in addition be arranged in a phase over phase switching arrangement supported by a utility pole or other structure.

Abstract: A high voltage in-line air break disconnect switch suspended by an electric power line conductor wherein the switch includes a rotating switch blade that is operated by a communication system controlled motor that may include a switch mounted radio which may be controlled by another radio located at a distance and powered by a solar charged battery. The communication system controlled motorized in-line air break disconnect switch may also be arranged in a three phase installation in a two-way or three-way switching arrangement attached to a utility pole or other structure. The communication system controlled motorized in line air break disconnect switch may in addition be arranged in a phase over phase switching arrangement supported by a utility pole or other structure.

Abstract: A high voltage in-line air break disconnect switch suspended by an electric power line conductor wherein the switch includes a rotating switch blade that is operated by a communication system controlled motor that may include a switch mounted radio which is controlled by another radio located in a hand-held portable controller that is battery powered to provide a secure way to open and close a switch without traditional padlockable manual operators that are vulnerable to terrorist attacks. The communication system controlled motorized in-line air break disconnect switch is battery operated and solar charged.

Abstract: Switch gear for interconnecting a plurality of power transmission lines including a number of high voltage switches arranged in three phases for routing power in multiple directions. The switches are pre-mounted on a beam to form a three phase unit as a unitized assembly which is attached in the field to a vertical support structure. Each phase includes a vertical break switch and two side break switches for a three-way switch. For a two-way, each phase includes two side break switches. The vertical break switch and the two side break switches for each phase are operatively and electrically connected to a common electric power interrupter. The unitized assembly for each phase has the insulators and power interrupter arranged in cantilevered horizontal relationship with the beam which is attached to the vertical support structure. Operating links between phases are operatively connected in a push-pull relationship with the high voltage outdoor electric switches.

Abstract: Rapid arc extinguishing devices for air break switches have a whip with at least an end portion of nonmetallic material such as fiber reinforced plastic with a conductive path on its surface. The nonmetallic material is a single tapered rod or an assembly of a plurality of rods successively inserted into an outer rod. The conductive path on the whip is of various individual and combination forms of which some include a metal braid, foil, sheath or wound wire. Particular forms of the conductive path on the rod have enhanced durability and arc resistance at the areas of the whip most likely to be subject to arcing with a latch of the device upon switch opening or closing. Further forms of the whip are a combination in which an end portion as described is attached to an all metal base portion that is arranged to include a portion of the whip subject to arcing on switch closing. Another form of device has a latch engaging a whip at a rotating wheel on the latch.

Abstract: Rapid arc extinguishing devices for air break switches have a whip with at least an end portion of nonmetallic material such as fiber reinforced plastic with a conductive path on its surface. The nonmetallic material is a single tapered rod or an assembly of a plurality of rods successively inserted into an outer rod. The conductive path on the whip is of various individual and combination forms of which some include a metal braid, foil, sheath or wound wire. Particular forms of the conductive path on the rod have enhanced durability and arc resistance at the areas of the whip most likely to be subject to arcing with a latch of the device upon switch opening or closing. Further forms of the whip are a combination in which an end portion as described is attached to an all metal base portion that is arranged to include a portion of the whip subject to arcing on switch closing. Another form of device has a latch engaging a whip at a rotating wheel on the latch.

Abstract: Rapid arc extinguishing devices for air break switches have a whip with at least an end portion of nonmetallic material such as fiber reinforced plastic with a conductive path on its surface. The nonmetallic material is a single tapered rod or an assembly of a plurality of rods successively inserted into an outer rod. The conductive path on the whip is of various individual and combination forms of which some include a metal braid, foil, sheath or wound wire. Particular forms of the conductive path on the rod have enhanced durability and arc resistance at the areas of the whip most likely to be subject to arcing with a latch of the device upon switch opening or closing. Further forms of the whip are a combination in which an end portion as described is attached to an all metal base portion that is arranged to include a portion of the whip subject to arcing on switch closing. Another form of device has a latch engaging a whip at a rotating wheel on the latch.

Abstract: Rapid arc extinguishing devices for air break switches have a whip with at least an end portion of a metal matrix composite (MMC) material. The MMC whip is applied in embodiments similar to those of prior disclosed fiber reinforced plastic (FRP) whips without need for application of another conductor on the surface for conductivity from end to end.

Abstract: Rapid arc extinguishing devices for air switches are provided with a whip element of strong nonmetallic material, such as of a fiber reinforced plastic or polymer material, with a conductive path, e.g., by metalizing. The whip element can replace the formerly used metal whip in quick break devices for faster separation with less chance of arc restriking and facilitates achieving higher current and voltage ratings.

Abstract: An improved switch-jaw construction is provided for a disconnecting switch having a tie-rod assembly interconnecting the free ends of the confronting switch jaw contacts. The tie-rod assembly includes preferably a metallic tubular member having its outer interior surfaces threaded to accommodate mounting bolts and the tie-rod assembly passes through apertures provided adjacent the free ends of the inwardly-turned switch-jaw contacts. Preferably mounting bolts are threaded into the interior threads of the tubular tie-rod within insulating bushings to prevent current flow into the tie-rod assembly, which would otherwise heat the compression springs and thereby cause them to loose their temper.

Abstract: An improved bearing and journal construction is provided for a high-voltage disconnecting switch of the type having supporting insulators and a rotatable crank-arm arrangement, with the operating thrust of the crank-arm being supported by simplified bearing discs running in a journal, the improvement residing in the fact that the hinge member about which the switch-blade pivots is separate from the journal member which bridges the hinge supporting insulator to the rotating insulator, and that the foregoing separation allows the journal member to be stamped out of plate material resulting in considerable economy over the cast construction known to prior art. A preferred bearing arrangement locates the discs under the crank-arm so that traditional machining of a bearing race on the crank-arm is eliminated for further economy.

Abstract: An improved disconnecting switch is provided having an improved hinging structure which provides the traditional movements of a vertical break disconnect switch-blade in a simple and unique way. The switch-blade rotates about its longitudinal axis on a blade plug which is supported by a hinge pin that passes at a right angle through slots provided in the blade and a hole in the blade plug. The slots define the amount of rotation and prevent the switch-blade from sliding along the longitudinal axis. The structure also allows the switch-blade to pivot open on the axis of the hinge pin. The switch-blade contact on the hinge end of the switch may be used as the supporting member for the hinge pin.

Abstract: An improved shaft-clamping device is provided utilizing a loop-bolt which wraps spirally around the shaft, or pipe to be clamped to another member, and such member is provided with a pair of spaced mounting apertures, through which the legs of the loop-bolt project, and have fastening means secured thereto, such as nuts, for example.Preferably, to increase the friction between the loop-bolt, or shaft-clamping device to the shaft, or pipe, the loop-bolt is threaded. This not only increases the frictional relationship between the shaft, or pipe and the other member, to which the shaft, or pipe is to be clamped, but, additionally, the threaded condition of the legs of the loop-bolt allow the clamping nuts to be threadedly secured thereto without further manufacturing operations. Heat treatment of the threaded loop-bolt brings the best result since the biting action is increased and the loop-bolt can be reused without flattening the threads.

Abstract: An improved circuit-interrupter is provided using rectangular bars for the power conductor assemblies, and having the material of the bars, and the number and thickness thereof, determine the current-rating capability of the equipment, for example, 1200 amperes, 2000 amperes or 3000 amperes, for example. Standoff insulating insulators, such as porcelain insulators, are preferably utilized for supporting the power conductor-assemblies, or power bus-bar assemblies, in spaced-apart relationship within the equipment.The movable contact-bridging assembly comprises spaced conducting contact-blades with the number thereof, and material dependent upon the current rating of the device. The configuration of the contact blades, comprising the movable bridging contact assemblies, is preferably such that slight lateral width of the movable contact assembly is necessary, for accommodating the usual operating-rod when rotation of the movable assembly is desired to effect the movement thereof from the operating mechanism.

Abstract: Vacuum "bottles", or vacuum-type circuit interrupters are provided having heat pipes, or reflux condensers provided in the contacts and contact-stems thereof, to remove the generated heat from the interior of the vacuum-interrupter envelope at the contacts to the external parts of the interrupter, and thereby means of heat-dissipating fins, or other heat-dissipator structures disposed at strategic locations, permit the generated heat to be dissipated to the surrounding atmosphere.By the use of such heat pipes, or reflux condensers, associated with the contact structures of vacuum interrupters, the current ratings of the vacuum interrupters may thereby be increased, and the attained maximum temperatures are considerably reduced, over the situation which would exist if no heat dissipator were employed.

Abstract: An improved supporting means for the power conductor assemblies in circuit breakers is provided including one or more pairs of side-by-side post-insulators for insulatingly supporting one or more of the power conductor assemblies of the circuit breaker. Additionally, another pair of side-by-side post-insulators may be utilized to support one of the power-conductor assemblies from the grounded frame structure of the circuit breaker. Improved strength is provided by utilizing pairs of side-by-side post-type insulators and also cost reduction is remarkably achieved. Mounting bolts may be cast into the ends of the post-type insulators, such as formed of porcelain, for example, to support suitable hardware, such as metallic channel members, for example, to accommodate the power-conductor assemblies.

Abstract: An improved circuit-breaker is provided utilizing generally flat, horizontal, vertically-spaced power-conductors, which cooperate with the ends of pairs of post-type insulators to result in facilitated cooling and a desirable increase in the current-carrying capacity of the circuit-breaker. Higher continuous currents are achieved by the use of vertically-spaced, horizontal conductor-assemblies, which expose large surface areas to the air, in conjunction with high-strength post-insulators of novel construction. Additionally, the flat, rectangularly shaped, power conductors offer a useful available mounting surface for a vacuum-interrupter unit, when the latter is used as the interrupting means.