Quick-Set Clevis Joint for a Three-Phase Electric Disconnect Switch Linkage

Abstract

A quick-set clevis joint for a three-phase electric disconnect switch linkage includes a clevis housing having a spring chamber axially aligned and disposed around a linkage pipe extending through the clevis housing. A spring positioned within the spring chamber provides play in the linkage. First and second thrust disks compress the spring in a first axial direction with the first thrust disk pushed against a first spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the first axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction. In addition. the first and second thrust disks compress the spring in the second axial direction with the second thrust disk pushed against the second spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the second axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the second axial direction.

Description

Claims

1. A quick-set clevis joint for a three-phase electric disconnect switch linkage, comprising: a clevis housing comprising a spring chamber axially aligned and disposed around a linkage pipe extending through the clevis housing;a support guide disposed around the linkage pipe, secured to the linkage pipe, and extending through the clevis housing;a spring positioned within the spring chamber allowing the support guide and linkage pipe to slide axially with respect to the clevis housing in first and second axial directions.

2. The quick-set clevis joint of claim 1, wherein: the spring chamber bounded in the first axial direction by a first spring chamber end wall at a junction between the spring chamber and a first channel;the spring chamber bounded in the second axial direction by a second spring chamber end wall at a junction between the spring chamber and a second channel.

3. The quick-set clevis joint of claim 2, further comprising: a first retaining disk captured within the clevis housing, attached to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in first and second axial directions within the first channel and the spring chamber;a second retaining disk captured within the clevis housing, attached to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in first and second axial directions within the second channel and the spring chamber.

4. The quick-set clevis joint of claim 3, further comprising: a first thrust disk captured within the clevis housing, axially movable with respect to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in the first and second axial directions within the spring chamber, while blocked from moving into the first channel by the first spring chamber end wall;a second thrust disk captured within the clevis housing, axially movable with respect to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in the first and second axial directions within the spring chamber, while blocked from moving into the second channel by the second spring chamber end wall.

5. The quick-set clevis joint of claim 4, wherein: the first and second thrust disks is positioned to compress the spring with the first thrust disk pushed against the first spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the first axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction.the first and second thrust disks is positioned to compress the spring with the second thrust disk pushed against the second spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the second axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction.

6. The quick-set clevis joint of claim 1, further comprising a clevis bracket formed by the clevis housing.

7. The quick-set clevis joint of claim 1, further comprising a self-piercing set screw attaching the support guide to the linkage pipe.

8. A quick-set clevis joint for a three-phase electric disconnect switch linkage, comprising: a clevis housing comprising a spring chamber, a first channel, and a second channel axially aligned and disposed around a linkage pipe extending through the clevis housing;a support guide disposed around the linkage pipe, secured to the linkage pipe, and extending through the clevis housing;a spring positioned within the spring chamber allowing the support guide and linkage pipe to slide axially with respect to the clevis housing in first and second axial directions;first and second thrust disks positioned to compress the spring with the first thrust disk pushed against a first spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the first axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction;the first and second thrust disks positioned to compress the spring with the second thrust disk pushed against a second spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the second axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction.

9. The quick-set clevis joint of claim 8, further comprising a clevis bracket formed by the clevis housing.

10. The three-phase electric disconnect switch of claim 8, wherein: the spring chamber is bounded in the first axial direction by first spring chamber end wall at a junction between the spring chamber and the first channel;the spring chamber is bounded in the second axial direction by thesecond spring chamber end wall at a junction between the spring chamber and the second channel.

11. The three-phase electric disconnect switch of claim 10, further comprising: a first retaining disk captured within the clevis housing, attached to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in first and second axial directions within the first channel and the spring chamber;a second retaining disk captured within the clevis housing, attached to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in first and second axial directions within the second channel and the spring chamber.

12. The three-phase electric disconnect switch of claim 11, further comprising: a first thrust disk captured within the clevis housing, axially movable with respect to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in the first and second axial directions within the spring chamber, while blocked from moving into the first channel by the first spring chamber end wall;a second thrust disk captured within the clevis housing, axially movable with respect to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in the first and second axial directions within the spring chamber, while blocked from moving into the second channel by the second spring chamber end wall.

13. The three-phase electric disconnect switch of claim 12, wherein: the first and second thrust disks is positioned to compress the spring with the first thrust disk pushed against the first spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the first axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction;the first and second thrust disks is positioned to compress the spring with the second thrust disk pushed against the second spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the second axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction.

14. The three-phase electric disconnect switch of claim 13, further comprising a clevis bracket formed by the clevis housing.

15. The three-phase electric disconnect switch of claim 9, further comprising a self-piercing set screw attaching the support guide to the linkage pipe.

16. A quick-set clevis joint for a three-phase electric disconnect switch linkage, comprising: a clevis housing comprising a spring chamber, a first channel, and a second channel axially aligned and disposed around a linkage pipe extending through the clevis housing;the spring chamber bounded in a first axial direction by a first spring chamber end wall at a junction between the spring chamber and the first channel;the spring chamber bounded in a second axial direction by a second spring chamber end wall at a junction between the spring chamber and the second channel;a support guide disposed around the linkage pipe, secured to the linkage pipe, and extending through the clevis housing;a first retaining ring captured within the clevis housing, attached to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in the first and second axial directions within the first channel and the spring chamber;a second retaining ring captured within the clevis housing, attached to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in the first and second axial directions within the second channel and the spring chamber;a first thrust disk captured within the clevis housing, axially movable with respect to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in the first and second axial directions within the spring chamber, while blocked from moving into the first channel by the first spring chamber end wall;a second thrust disk captured within the clevis housing, axially movable with respect to the linkage pipe, sized and positioned to move in the first and second axial directions within the spring chamber, while blocked from moving into the second channel by the second spring chamber end wall;a spring positioned within the spring chamber captured between the first and second thrust disks allowing the support guide and linkage pipe to slide axially with respect to the clevis housing in first and second axial directions;the first and second thrust disks movable within the spring chamber to compress the spring in the first axial direction with the first thrust disk pushed against the first spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the first axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the first axial direction;the first and second thrust disks movable within the spring chamber to compress the spring in the second axial direction with the second thrust disk pushed against the second spring chamber end wall when the linkage pipe moves in the second axial direction while the clevis housing is blocked from moving in the second axial direction.