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. The switches are each pre-mounted on a transverse beam which is operatively attached between two oppositely disposed longitudinal parallel beams forming a unitized switch assembly with a common base structure with a transformable parallelogram outer perimeter which may be attached in the field to a support structure. The outer perimeter of the common base structure of the unitized assembly transformable common base can be transformed with a power actuator from a rectangular configuration to a rhomboid configuration that permits the width of the unitized assembly to be reduced so that the assembly can be transported by truck to an installation site and then the switch assembly may be transformed back to the rectangular configuration with the final width for installation at the site.

Abstract: A sensor assembly system and method for providing good voltage accuracy for monitoring a three phase high voltage power line without connecting to ground. The sensor assembly system comprises three sensor assemblies having reference point ends not connected to ground. All three sensor assemblies are connected together at the reference point ends to create a neutral common reference point not connected to ground potential that is at zero volts when all of the three phases are at the same line voltage.

Abstract: A sensor assembly system and method for providing good voltage accuracy for monitoring a three phase high voltage power line without connecting to ground. The sensor assembly system comprises three sensor assemblies having reference point ends not connected to ground. All three sensor assemblies are connected together at the reference point ends to create a neutral common reference point not connected to ground potential that is at zero volts when all of the three phases are at the same line voltage.

Abstract: A high voltage motor operated in-line double break disconnect switch suspended by an electric power line conductor wherein the switch includes a horizontally rotating switch blade, that is suspended by a motor output shaft attached to the midpoint of a blade of the switch blade to balance the blade. A communication system for controlling the motor including a switch mounted radio which may be controlled by another radio located at a distance and powered by a solar charged battery or alternatively controlled by a hand-held controller. The motorized in-line double 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 double 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 communication system controlled motorized in-line high voltage air break disconnect switch with a lock out system including a communication device remote controlled lock out. Also a mechanical lock out is provided if a battery that powers the remote controlled lock out is not functioning or other unforeseen problems cause a failure of the switch or the remote controlled lock out to operate. The remote controlled lock out when operative can prevent the switch from operating the motor when the remote controlled lock out is actuated. The motorized switch typically includes the motor having a worm drive shaft carrying a hookstick eye ring. The remote controlled lock out includes a locking gear mounted on the drive shaft. A lockout lever having a locking tooth is provided that engages or disengages the locking gear when appropriately actuated by the remote control to lock or unlock the switch blade drive motor.

Abstract: A communication system controlled motorized in-line high voltage air break disconnect switch with a lock out system including a communication device remote controlled lock out. Also a mechanical lock out is provided if a battery that powers the remote controlled lock out is not functioning or other unforeseen problems cause a failure of the switch or the remote controlled lock out to operate. The remote controlled lock out when operative can prevent the switch from operating the motor when the remote controlled lock out is actuated. The motorized switch typically includes the motor having a worm drive shaft carrying a hookstick eye ring. The remote controlled lock out includes a locking gear mounted on the drive shaft. A lockout lever having a locking tooth is provided that engages or disengages the locking gear when appropriately actuated by the remote control to lock or unlock the switch blade drive motor.

Abstract: A high voltage motor operated in-line double break disconnect switch suspended by an electric power line conductor wherein the switch includes a horizontally rotating switch blade, that is suspended by a motor output shaft attached to the midpoint of a blade of the switch blade to balance the blade. A communication system for controlling the motor including a switch mounted radio which may be controlled by another radio located at a distance and powered by a solar charged battery or alternatively controlled by a hand-held controller. The motorized in-line double 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 double 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 vacuum interrupter for a high voltage air break switch is disclosed. The interrupter has a plurality of load interrupter contacts enclosed in axially aligned vacuum bottles, each bottle containing a fixed contact and a second contact movable axially away from the fixed contact to open position and toward the fixed contact to closed position. The bottles are positioned in an tubular housing of dielectric material having a top end member and a bottom end member. The vacuum bottles are mechanically coupled to one another in a stack with the top bottle supported by the top end member. At least one air permeable hydrophobic vent member is operatively disposed in the top end member and/or bottom end member and/or tubular housing to prevent condensation in the housing. The stack of vacuum bottles are axially supported at the bottom by a cushion spring assembly keeping the bottles in compression to prevent tension loads on the braze joints of the bottles.

Abstract: A high voltage folding disconnect switch including a folding switch blade that folds as it opens or closes and which is divided into a fixed blade portion attached to a rotating insulator and a folded blade portion having an electric contact surface engaging a break jaw contact surface. A trigger lever-locking bar is mounted to the fixed blade portion. The trigger lever-locking bar includes a trigger finger for contacting a trigger surface mounted on a stationary insulator. The trigger lever-locking bar has a cam slot for interaction with a cam follower pin that locks the movement of the folding blade so that premature straightening of the blade is prevented until any ice build-up on the switch has been alleviated.

Abstract: A blade position detector and rollover indicator is operatively attached to an elongated movable switch-blade assembly of a horizontally mounted high voltage vertical break disconnect switch. The blade position detector and rollover indicator is gravity responsive and attached in predetermined position to the elongated disconnect blade assembly that reacts when the proper angle of closure of the blade is obtained in an intermediated closed switch position and finally when the proper angle of blade rollover is obtained in a fully closed switch position to provide a visual indication of full closure of the disconnect switch.

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: A double break disconnect switch including a bearing arrangement carrying a switch blade assembly is mounted on a drive arrangement. The switch blade assembly is rotatable longitudinally during initial opening and final closing of the switch and transversely for final opening and initial closing. The switch blade assembly is hinged for rotation about a hinge axis offset from the center of gravity of the switch blade for initial opening and for final closing. A blade bearing is provided of very small in diameter. The drive assembly uses the weight of the blade to keep the blade from rotating longitudinally and uses a cam arrangement including a roller riding in a slot of a blade drive plate that is spring loaded on one end and pivotally attached at the other end to rotate the blade longitudinally providing greater force to rotate the blade as contacts engage.

Abstract: A double break disconnect switch with a novel drive mechanism that swings the blade open and closed in a conventional manner but the rotation with respect to its longitudinal axis is unique. This mechanism uses a unique cam to rotate the blade about a hinge axis. The blade bearings are of very small diameter to reduce friction and are offset from the blade center of gravity so as to use the blade's weight to keep the blade in disengagement with the break jaw contacts when the switch is opened. The blade bearings are not around the diameter of the blade, the friction does not increase as current rating increases. A camming mechanism is profiled to give maximum rotational torque to the blade as it compresses the contact fingers as the switch closes to its final position.

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: A switch has respective open-assist bars fixed to switch blades near the switch contacts. The bars are arranged so that, as the blades are turned by rotation of their supports, the bars come together and serve as a fulcrum mechanism that provides a prying action helping reduce the required opening force. The action of the fulcrum mechanism overcomes friction between the contacts that may otherwise tend to cause bowing of the supports with appreciable increase in the required opening force.

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: A high voltage ground blade assembly which has a folding member to aid in breaking ice and lowering the force to operate the blade assembly in combination with an electric coil which creates an electromagnetic force to prevent the folding member from moving when the blade assembly is in closed position and the blade assembly is conducting very high short-circuit current.

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 simple adjustment device is provided for each of several disconnecting switch structures enabling an independent positioning of the blade-assemblies in the open and closed positions, by an adjustment of a tongue-member, which is incorporated in the operating arm assembly by adjustment bolts. Inward and outward movement of the tongue-member in the operating crank-assembly will effect only the closed position of the switch-blade assembly. Once this is made, right and left adjustment of the same tongue-member will correspondingly effect only the open position of the blade-assemblies. The aforesaid tongue-member is pivotally connected to the link-member interconnecting the blade-assembly, and it is provided with one or more elongated adjustment slots to permit the aforesaid adjustment movement in or out, and to the right or left for independent adjustment of both the open and closed circuit positions of the several blade-assemblies.