Abstract: An improved insulating material is provided. The insulating material is a mixture of an insulating fluid and solid insulative bodies. The insulating material exhibits desirable insulating, conformal coating, surface adhesion, and low-viscosity characteristics. For example, when the insulating material is used to fill the cavity of a hollow insulator, the insulating material prevents any moisture that enters the insulator from adhering to the walls that define the cavity; thus maintaining the insulating qualities of the insulator. In the event that some of the fluid is lost through leakage, the insulating material also aids in preserving the insulating qualities of the insulator.

Abstract: An arrangement including an insulative support column provides independent rotary and linear drive outputs for the operation of electrical switches, circuit interrupters and/or disconnects or the like. A first, linear drive linkage provides translating motion at a first output in response to linear translating motion at a first input. The linear drive arrangement is provided by an elongated, insulative operating member that is disposed within an elongated bore of the insulative support column, with the operating member extending through the top and bottom ends of the column. A second, rotary drive output is provided by rotation of the support column. The column fixedly carries a lower base member which is rotatably supported within a base housing. The operating member extends through and exits the base member and cooperates with a bearing carried by the base member. The lower end of the operating member is coupled to the linear drive linkage input.

Abstract: Apparatus for making electrical connection to a ceramic capacitor so that electrical stress concentrations at the edge of each capacitor electrode are minimized. The apparatus includes a conductive elastomer pad which is larger than the electrode and a conductive body which presses the pad against the electrode. This pressing slightly deforms the pad over, and into good electrical and mechanical contact with, the edge of the electrode to minimize electrical stress thereat. Preferably, the conductive body is as large as the electrode. The conductive body may be an adjacent capacitor; in this way an electrical stress-free stack of capacitors may be formed and used to construct a device such as a voltage divider.

Abstract: A high-speed switch usable at high voltage includes a pair of contacts movable apart along a fixed line. When the contacts are normally interconnected, at least one of them contributes to the definition of an enclosed chamber. Pressurizaton of the chamber by the ignition of a power cartridge therein rapidly drives the contacts apart, forming a first gap between them. When the contacts are interconnected, a first one of them is electrically connected to a terminal. As the contacts move apart, a second gap forms between the first contact and the terminal. The second gap is electrically insulated and may both be shielded from the ignition products of the cartridge and have any arc forming therein constricted and subjected to arc-extinguishing gas. The contacts may be shunted by a fuse to which current is commutated after the contacts move apart.

Abstract: A pressure- and weather-resistant fuse tube having fiberglass reinforcement which cannot interfere with arc-extinguishment and which does not require an insert or liner of arc-extinguishing material. The fuse tube is molded from a thermosetting material which includes an effective amount of an arc-extinguishing material. The fuse tube includes an inner bore-defining portion and an outer weather-resistant portion which are simultaneously molded along an interface at which is located a layer of porous fiberglass cloth, or filament. The fiberglass is sufficiently porous to permit the material of both portions to pass through and thoroughly impregnate it, thereby locking both portions to each other and to the fiberglass which is located well away from the bore thereof.

Abstract: An improved housing for a high-voltage device which may be subjected to rough handling during installation and to high internal pressure during operation. A flexible, thick outer enclosure is molded about an inner, thin reinforcing layer which has interstices and high tensile strength. The molding locks the enclosure to the layer as the material of the former enters the interstices. The flexibility of the enclosure protects the housing and the device from the effects of rough handling. The flexibility of the enclosure also ensures that it is deformed or stretched sufficiently by high pressures accompanying device operation to ensure that the layer is loaded in tension. Loading the layer in tension ensures that the housing does not fracture or violently rupture.

Abstract: A rapid opening and closing interrupter includes a stationary contact mounted in a cylindrical housing and a moving contact mounted on an operating rod by an opening spring. A trailer formed of a material that produces an arc quenching gas when exposed to an arc is mounted on the moving contact, and an engaging nipple is formed on the end of the trailer. A snap spring engages the nipple in such a manner that when the operating rod is moved in a direction to open the contacts, the contacts remain in engagement until the force exerted by the opening spring overcomes the force exerted by the snap spring on the engaging nipple causing the contacts to snap open rapidly.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism for preventing the operation of a circuit interrupting device during the occurrence of excessive overcurrent. The circuit interrupting device includes an insulative housing having circuit-connectable opposed terminals thereon. Included within the housing is an arcing rod which is electrically connected to one terminal and which, in response to an overcurrent, moves away from a stationary contact electrically connected to the other terminal. Arcing rod movement elongates an arc formed between the arcing rod and the contact in an arc extinguishing environment to extinguish the arc and interrupt the circuit. The mechanism of the invention includes a shoulder on the arcing rod and one or more magnetic yokes positioned adjacent, but normally out of contact with, the shoulder. When an overcurrent through the device occurs which exceeds the device's rating, flux generated by current flow through the arcing rod moves the yoke to engage the shoulder thus preventing arcing rod movement.

Abstract: The bird feeder includes an elongated plastic tank having a series of axially spaced groups of feeding apertures about its periphery. The tank is sandwiched between base and top members, the top member including an access aperture and cover for filling it with food. Positioned about the exterior of the tank are a series of vertical perches on which the birds can perch in generally sideways fashion to eat.

Abstract: An improved circuit-interrupting device of the type which includes an arcing rod which is moved away from a stationary contact in response to an overcurrent through the device. The device includes a container of pressurized dielectric fluid having a port from which the fluid is directed at an elongating arc formed between the moving arcing rod and the stationary contact. The device also includes a diaphragm normally contacted by the arcing rod which normally closes the port and restrains arcing rod movement. The improvement includes a pattern of reduced thickness in the diaphragm about the point of contact between the diaphragm and the arcing rod. The pattern may be circular or star-shaped and may be produced by pressing, dieing, stamping, scoring, forming, etching, or coating. Depending on the specific construction of the device, the diaphragm either fuses or melts along the pattern or is ruptured or torn by arcing rod movement following an overcurrent through the device.

Abstract: An improved circuit interrupting device includes a pair of contacts which are relatively movable and between which an arc is established. Following melting of a fusible element, a stored energy source relatively moves the contacts apart to elongate the arc, and a container of pressurized dielectric fluid simultaneously directs fluid from a port at the arc. The fluid and the arc elongation ultimately extinguish the arc. A fusible diaphragm normally closes the port to prevent the escape of fluid, and also, due to its mechanical attachment to the contacts, restrains relative movement therebetween. The fusible element is so connected as to normally shunt current through the device away from the diaphragm. When the fusible element melts, all of the current through the device flows through and melts the diaphragm. As the diaphragm melts, two results are effected: fluid is permitted to escape from the port, and relative movement between the contacts occurs.

Abstract: An improved circuit interrupting device includes a pair of relatively movable contacts between which an arc is established. As the contacts are moved apart to elongate the arc, a container of pressurized dielectric fluid directs a flow of the fluid from a port at the arc. The fluid and arc elongation ultimately extinguish the arc. A diaphragm which normally closes the port to prevent fluid flow is normally mechanically attached to one of the contacts. When the contacts are moved apart, the container and the one contact also move apart tearing or cutting open the diaphragm to permit the fluid to flow at the arc. Both relative contact movement and the relative movement of the container and the one contact are effected by the action of the ignition products of a power cartridge on a piston-cylinder.

Abstract: A cylindrical sleeve having annular flanges is formed of irradiated terpolymers of ethylene, propylene, and a diene monomer (EPDM) material. The sleeve is then expanded, but the irradiated EPDM material has a "memory" which tends to cause it to return to its original dimension when heated to a predetermined elevated temperature. The expanded sleeve is positioned over the body of a current limiting fuse and heated so that the sleeve shrinks back to tend to assume its original dimension thereby sealing the sleeve around the body of the fuse. The inside surface of the sleeve may be coated with a thermosetting plastic sealing coating which softens at the elevated temperature further aiding in sealing between the fuse body and the sleeve. The sleeve may be heated in a vacuum oven to ensure that air is not trapped between the body of the fuse and the sleeve.

Abstract: A dropout type fuse cutout is provided having a high current limiting fuse section and a serially connected expulsion fuse section mounted on a conventional dropout toggle linkage arrangement so that fuse action by the expulsion fuse section causes the cutout to dropout and pivot free of the upper terminal. The current limiting fuse section may comprise a helically edge wound fusible member that reduces the terminal-to-terminal distance thereby reducing the length of the current limiting fuse section so that there is a very short external gap.

Abstract: A high speed switch usable at high voltage includes a pair of contacts movable apart along a fixed line. When the contacts are normally interconnected, at least one of them contributes to the definition of an enclosed chamber. Pressurization of the chamber by the ignition of a power cartridge therein rapidly drives the contacts apart, forming a first gap between them. When the contacts are interconnected, a first one of them is electrically connected to a terminal. As the contacts move apart, a second gap forms between the first contact and the terminal. The second gap is electrically insulated and may both be shielded from the ignition products of the cartridge and have any arc forming therein constricted and subjected to arc-extinguishing gas. The contacts may be shunted by a fuse to which current is commutated after the contacts move apart.