Safety switch

Dec. 11, 1934. c. e. hanny 1,983,902

SAFETY SWITCH Filed June 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 1

<img file="US1983902A_D0001.tif" />

Dec. 11, 1934.

1,983,902

C. E. HANNY

SAFETY SWITCH

Filed June 19, 1934 2 Sheets-Sheet 2

<img file="US1983902A_D0002.tif" />

Patented Dec. 11, 1934

1,983,902

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1,983,902 SAFETY SWITCH Charles E. Hanny, Plainville, Conn., assignor to The Trumbull Electric Manufacturing Company, Plainville, Conn., a corporation of Connecticut

Application June 19, 1934, Serial No. 731,238

Claims.

My invention relates to enclosed switches or circuit breakers.

One object is to provide a simple and reliable mechanism by means of which the switch box δ may be locked closed with the switch either on or off.

Another object is to provide a construction in which the switch mechanism may be locked either on or off.

Another object is to provide a construction in which a single padlock or other locking device may be employed to secure the switch in either the closed or open circuit position and at the same time fasten the cover catch so 15 that the cover of the box or cabinet cannot be opened when the switch is locked in either On or Off position.

Another object is to provide a construction of the character described in which the box 20 may be padlocked separately from the locking of the switch itself.

In carrying out the invention I provide a box or enclosure having a hinged cover and a spring pressed catch. The switch mechanism 25 or circuit breaker may be of any suitable kind and provided with a manually operable lever or handle piece. The cover is provided with a sliding bolt which is adapted to coact with the cover catch to prevent the operation of the 30 cover catch or permit the operation, as may be desired.

The cover is also provided with a movable locking plate adapted to coact with the handle piece of the switch actuating mechanism to 35 lock it in the On or Off position when desired This locking piece coacts with the bolt which in turn is adapted to coact with the cover catch. The construction and method of operation will be understood from the following 40 specification.

Fig. 1 is a front view of one form of construction embodying my invention, the cover of the box being shown closed and the locking devices all in position to hold the cover catch, the 45 locking bolt and the switch actuating lever but omitting the padlock or other sealing device commonly employed in such mechanisms.

Fig. 2 is a side view of the same.

Fig. 3 is an end view.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view showing the cover of the box partly opened.

Fig. 5 is a detail view of the cover catch and spring.

In the form shown the box 7 has a cover 8 55 hinged at 9. The cover is adapted to be (Cl. 200—44) latched in its closed position by means of a catch 10 pivoted at 11 and held under tension of spring 12. The cover is provided with a slot 13 to accommodate the catch when the cover is closed. , __ 0

The cover is provided with a handle 14 located adjacent the catch so as to permit the catch to be released by the thumb when the handle is engaged by one or more Angers for opening the cover. ₁₀

The switch or circuit breaking mechanism within the box may be of any suitable character and in the present instance includes an insulating housing 15 and has an operating lever 16 adapted to be actuated by the Anger in the 15 usual manner.

The cover is provided with an opening 17 through which the operating lever 16 projects when the cover is closed. The cover is also provided with a locking plate 18 which is pref- 20 erably hinged at 19 and provided with openings 20 and 21 adapted to register with the outer end of the operating member 16 to lock the lever in its On or Off position. At the sides of the opening 17 are arranged two Aanges 22 25 which may conveniently, be made integral with the wall of the cover. These Aanges are provided with openings 23 for the reception of the shackle of a padlock or any other suitable locking or sealing device so as to facilitate locking the plate 30 18 in position.

When the locking plate 18 is in the closed position its upper end overlaps the face of the cover above the opening 17 and stands in the path of the bolt 24 which is supported by pin 35 and slot connections 25 permitting the bolt to slide transversely of the cover. The end 26 of the bolt is adapted to project into the path of movement of the cover catch 10 in the position shown in Fig. 1 and the opposite end 27 40 of the bolt 24 is bent outward to form a more extended surface for engagement with the upper end of the locking plate 18.

The operation of the switch and the cover and the latch 10 will be understood as they are 45 merely typical of standard enclosed switch constructions. The catch 10 may be provided with an opening 28 so that it may be locked or sealed in the customary manner independently of the switch per se. ₅₀

In the position shown in Fig. 1 the bolt 24 stands in the path of movement of the cover catch 10 so that the cover cannot be opened. At the same time the locking plate 18 stands in the path of movement of the bolt 24 so that 55

1,902 handle to prevent its movement, and a latch bolt carried by the cover and coacting with both . the cover catch and the locking plate so that when the cover is closed and the plate is locked the switch cannot be actuated and the catch can- 5 not be released.

3. An enclosed switch having a box with a cover, switch mechanism in the box and having a handle piece projecting through the cover when the cover is closed, a catch for holding the cover 10 closed, a bolt for blocking the catch, and a locking plate for holding the handle piece and the bolt with the switch either on or off.

4. An enclosed switch having a box with a cover hinged at one edge and a catch pivoted 15 in another edge, mechanism in the box having a handle piece, the cover having passages for the end of the catch and for the handle piece, and means for simultaneously locking the handle piece and the cover catch when the cover is 20 closed.

5. A switch including a box having a cover with an opening and flanges at opposite sides of the opening, switch mechanism in the box having a handle piece projecting through the 25 opening when the cover is closed, a locking plate hinged to the cover at one end of the opening and adapted to swing between; the flanges and having means for interlocking with the handle piece, at least one of said flanges providing 30 means for padlocking the movement of the locking plate, a catch for holding the cover closed, and a bolt obstructed by the locking plate and in turn blocking release of the catch.

6. A switch having a box for containing the 35 circuit making and breaking mechanism and having a cover with an opening for the usual handle piece, a cover hinged to one edge of the box, a spring pressed catch carried by the opposite edge of the box and interlocking 40 with the closed cover, a bolt carried by the cover for blocking the catch when the cover is closed and a locking plate carried by the cover for blocking movement of the switch handle piece and also blocking movement of the bolt. 45

7. A switch having a box for containing the circuit making and breaking mechanism and having a cover with an opening for the usual handle piece, a cover hinged to one edge of the box, a catch carried by another edge of the box 50 and interlocking with the closed cover, a bolt carried by the cover for blocking the catch when the cover is closed and a locking plate carried by the cover for blocking movement of the switch handle piece when the switch circuit 55 is open or closed and also blocking movement of the bolt.

8. An enclosed switch having a box with a cover and switch mechanism in the box having a handle piece projecting through the cover 60 when the cover is closed, a spring catch for holding the cover closed, a bolt for blocking the catch, and a locking plate for holding the handle piece and the bolt,, said catch having means to permit it to be locked independently of the 65 bolt.

9. A safety switch including a box having a cover hinged at one edge and a catch at an- . other edge, switch mechanism in the box having a handle piece projecting through the cover when 70 the cover is closed, a locking plate hinged to the cover and coacting with the handle piece to prevent its movement when the switch is On or Off, and a latch bolt carried by the cover and coacting with both the cover catch and the 75 ι,θβί the bolt cannot be refracted from the cover catch. It will also be seen that the cross piece 30 in the locking plate 18 stands in the path of movement of the switch actuating member 16 so 5 that the switch is locked in the On or closed circuit position. By padlocking or otherwise locking or latching the plate 18 in the position shown in Fig. 1, for instance by means of a padlock or sealing wire in one of the openings 23, 10 the mechanism will be completely locked in the

On position.

By swinging the locking plate 18 outwardly in the position shown in Fig. 4 when the cover is closed, the actuating handle member 16 is re15 leased so that the switch can be moved to the Off or open circuit position. The locking lever 18 can then be replaced to the position shown in Fig. 1 and the switch locked with the parts in the Off position. Obviously when the cover is 20 closed and the locking plate 18 is dropped into the position shown in Fig. 4 the latch bolt is free to be retracted and, under these conditions, the switch may be operated and the cover may be opened or closed independently of the 25 locking means.

By this mechanism it will be seen that the handle of the switching mechanism may be padlocked or sealed in either the On or Off position when the cover is closed and that when so locked 30 the interlocking mechanism fastens the cover catch 10 which ordinarily holds the cover or door closed, thus making it impossible to open the box when the switch is locked in either the On or Off position. It is thus necessary to em35 ploy only one lock to secure the switch in either the open or closed position and at the same time fasten the cover catch so that the cover cannot be opened when the switch is locked in either the On or Off position.

While the above described special means are provided for locking both the switch and the cover under ordinary circumstances with one padlock, it is sometimes desirable or necessary to provide extra locking means.

For instance, in mines or other similar places where a number of electricians are working on the line, it is desirable that each workman should have his own padlock so that he may be sure no one will remove the padlock and turn on the 50 circuit while he is still working on the line.

For such conditions I provide the flanges 22 with a plurality of openings 23 so that each workman is free to insert his own padlock into one of these openings and, obviously, if the 55 switch is locked Off, the switch cannot be operated and the cover cannot be opened until all of the padlocks are removed.

It will also be seen that the mechanism permits locking of the cover in the closed position βο regardless of whether the switch is locked or not.