Patent Application
20070039928
1. Field of the Disclosure
The present invention relates to high-voltage, overhead, non-enclosed electric switches. More particularly, the present invention a safety device which indicates the switch is properly closed. It is necessary for the switch to be properly closed in order to safely operate the switch to open. If the switch is not properly closed the loadbreak interrupter will not interrupt the high-voltage circuit which can cause damage to the switch, injure personnel operating the switch, and ignite fires.
2. The Prior Art
High voltage loadbreak circuit interrupter safety devices are known in the art. One known type of visual safety indicating device of a closed loadbreak switch is a highly visible plastic cover bonded over interrupter actuating arm. The plastic cover is designed to provide visual indication of a properly closed switch. The plastic covered actuating arm does increase the visibility of the actuating arm, but does not increase the visibility of the interrupter trip arm, or the actuating and trip arm alignment. The interrupter trip arm must pass by the interrupter actuating arm and be properly aligned upon switch closure for proper circuit interruption when the switch is actuated to open. The plastic covered interrupter actuating arm does not provide positive indication that the switch is properly closed.
Another kind of known loadbreak interrupter safety indicator is a device which is mounted to the rotating shaft which connects the loadbreak device to the interrupter actuating arm. This device indicates that the loadbreak internal mechanism has been reset to its properly closed position, but does not indicate that the interrupter trip arm and actuating arms are properly aligned to actuate the interrupter upon switch opening operations.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative only and not in any way limiting. Other modifications and improvements will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. In the following description, like reference numerals refer to like elements throughout.
Accordingly, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide a high-voltage loadbreak switch safety device which provides easily visible positive alignment and engagement of the high-voltage switch loadbreak actuating and trip arms.
It is yet another object of this invention to provide a means to allow the interrupter safety flag to be utilized in any construction method commonly employed of high-voltage loadbreak switches.
It is yet another object of this invention that it can be easily adapted to various types of high-voltage loadbreak switch designs.
To attain these objects, the present invention discloses a new high-voltage loadbreak switch interrupter safety device. The safety device of the present invention comprises a non-metallic shape that is held to the loadbreak switch interrupter trip arm at a specific location and orientation. The interrupter safety device is caused to rotate to a secondary position only when the high-voltage switch loadbreak actuator and trip arms are properly aligned. The visual indication method can be any suitable reflective or illuminating device that can be seen from a distance of at least fifty feet. Suitable indicating means include, but are not limited to, pigments, paints, tape, light emitting diodes, or incandescent lighting devices. Generally these types of visual indicators require a mechanical means to properly orient the visual indicating device to be effected.
According to the teaching of the invention, the loadbreak interrupter safety device is caused to indicate a properly closed loadbreak switch by means of a visual indication of the alignment of an interrupter trip arm fastened to a movable switch contact which is fastened to a rotating insulator which is caused to move by any suitable means, and a mating interrupter actuating arm component comprised within the high voltage loadbreak device.
By interlocking the loadbreak interrupter safety indicator device with the contact blade in the vertical position, a positive indication of the interrupter trip arm in the closed position is possible.
While embodiments and applications of this disclosure have been shown and described, it would be apparent to those skilled in the art that many more modifications and improvements than mentioned above are possible without departing from the inventive concepts herein. The disclosure, therefore, is not to be restricted except in the spirit of the appended claims.
